Properties of the 3D photonic nanojet based on the refractive index of surroundings

We exhibit a three-dimensional （3D） photonic nanojet based on a dielectric microsphere irradiated by a plane wave with the finite-difference time-domain （FDTD） method. We investigate the influence of the refractive index of the surrounding on the properties of the nanojet by simulating the electric field distributions in it. The simulation results show that, by optimally choosing the size of the sphere and the ratio of the refractive indices of the sphere and the surrounding, the focus point can occur just on the surface of the sphere even if the refractive index of the surrounding is changed. Additionally, the peak amplitude of the nanojet increases with increasing the refractive index of the surrounding. However, the decay length and the jet width of the nanojet decrease simultaneously. These effects may have potential applications in observation or manipulation of nano-objects such as antibodies in biology. In nanojet-enabled optical data storage, the photonic nanojet may be also helpful for improving data-storage capacities and retrieval speed by controlling the field amplitude, the decay length, and jet width of the nanojet.     

光子晶体线缺陷波导中的折射率相位移调制增强效应

在传统的基于全内反射原理的低折射率比介质波导所构建的相位移调制型光学器件中,调制区域的长度通常在毫米到厘米量级.由于器件横向尺寸保持在微米量级,因此狭长结构成为了传统光波导器件的典型特征,这限制了光学器件集成度的提高,严重制约了集成光路的进一步发展.光子晶体的出现为高密集成光路的发展提供了一条新的途径.本文使用平面波展开方法计算了光子晶体线缺陷波导中的色散曲线.研究发现:在色散曲线下边缘处,材料折射率的一个微小变化可以引起传输常数的较大变化,如果工作频率点选择在带下边缘附近,则可以大幅度减小相位移调制型器件调制区域的长度.本文使用时域有限差分方法进一步验证这种增强效应,计算结果表明,对于0.46%的折射率变化,光子晶体线缺陷波导中的相位调制长度仅为均匀媒质中相位移调制长度的11.7%.通过以进一步研究,这种增强效应有望应用与高密度集成光路.     

Characteristics of photonic nanojets from two-layer dielectric hemisphere

The properties of the photonic nanojet generated by a two-layer dielectric microsphere are studied. Simulation results indicate that this novel structure can generate a photonic nanojet outside its volume when the refractive index contrast relative to the background medium is higher than 2:1 in the condition of plane wave incidence. When the refractive index is smaller than 2, we show that an ultralong nanojet generated by the two-layer hemisphere has an extension of 28.2 wavelengths, and compared with the homogeneous dielectric hemisphere, it has superior performance in jet length and focal distance. Its dependence on the configuration and refractive index is investigated numerically. According to the simulation of the two-layer dielectric microsphere, a photonic nanojet with a full width at half maximum(FWHM) less than 1/2 wavelength is obtained and the tunable behaviors of the photonic nanojet are demonstrated by changing the reflective indices of the material or radius contrast ratio.     

Polarization‐independent absorption enhancement in a graphene square array with a cascaded grating structure

The polarization‐independent enhanced absorption effect of graphene in the near‐infrared range is investigated. This is achieved by placing a graphene square array on top of a dielectric square array backed by a two‐dimensional multilayer grating. Total optical absorption in graphene can be attributed to critical coupling, which is achieved through the combined effect of guided‐mode resonance with the dielectric square array and the photonic band gap with the two‐dimensional multilayer grating. To reveal the physical origin of such a phenomenon, the electromagnetic field distributions for both polarizations are illustrated. The designed graphene absorber exhibits near‐unity polarization‐independent absorption at resonance with an ultra‐narrow spectrum. Moreover, the polarization‐independent absorption can be tuned simply by changing the geometric parameters. The results may have promising potential for the design of graphene‐based optoelectronic devices.     

Intensity‐Enhanced Apodization Effect on an Axially Illuminated Circular‐Column Particle‐Lens

A particle can function as a refractive lens to focus a plane wave, generating a narrow, high intensive, weak‐diverging beam within a sub‐wavelength volume, known as the ‘photonic nanojet’. It is known that apodization method, in the form of an amplitude pupil‐mask centrally situated on a particle‐lens, can further reduce the waist of a photonic nanojet, however, it usually lowers the intensity at the focus due to blocking the incident light. In this paper, the anomalously intensity‐enhanced apodization effect was discovered for the first time via numerical simulation of focusing of the axially illuminated circular‐column particle‐lenses, and a greater than 100% peak intensity increase was realised for the produced photonic nanojets.     

Unity‐Order Nonlinear Optical Index Change in Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Composite Materials of Gain Media and Metal Nanoparticles

This work reports giant optical nonlinearity of active gain composites containing metal nanoparticles. In the epsilon‐near‐zero regime, the effective index of the composite strongly depends on the magnitude of host material's saturable gain and one can obtain unity‐order nonlinear optical index change for the pump with gain saturation intensity. For pump intensity of about 100 kW/cm², the nonlinear refractive index (the refractive index change per unit pump intensity) reaches 10^?5 cm²/W, which is 6–8 orders‐of‐magnitude larger than the records recently obtained in epsilon‐near‐zero bulk materials. If the gain value of the host medium is slightly larger than a critical value, such large optical nonlinearity can be obtained without loss or even accompanying with amplification. The proposed materials also have the advantage of wide tunability of operating wavelength range from visible to infrared by changing the gain value of the host and the shape parameters and filling factors of metal nanoparticles.     

Properties of a three-dimensional photonic jet

By focusing light with a sphere several wavelengths in diameter, we can obtain a photonic nanojet [Opt. Express 13, 526 (2005)]: if light is focused on the surface of the sphere, the width of the beam stays smaller than the wavelength along a distance of propagation of approximately two wavelengths and reaches a high intensity. We use the rigorous Mie theory to analyze the basic properties of the photonic jet in the general three-dimensional polarized case. This fast algorithm allows us to determine the influence of the radius and the refractive index of the sphere on the photonic jet. The polarization response is also studied. We observe that high-intensity concentrations and subwavelength focusing are two different effects. Their basic properties are analyzed, and explanations are proposed.     

介质柱型二维Triangular格子光子晶体的禁带特性

采用平面波展开法数值计算了空气背景中由圆形、正六边形和正方形介质柱构造的二维三角晶格光子晶体禁带结构,并研究了介质方柱旋转角度、介质折射率和填充比对完全光子禁带宽度的影响.结果表明,在低频区,介质方柱旋转17°时,出现最大完全光子禁带,且最大禁带宽度随介质折射率的变化较为稳定.在高频区,介质方柱旋转30°时,完全光子禁带宽度最大;且介质材料折射率n=2.2时即出现完全光子禁带,n=2.6时,完全光子禁带达到最大.     

空气环型二维光子晶体完全带隙特性研究

采用平面波展开法, 系统研究了空气环型二维光子晶体的完全光子带隙随结构参数变化而改变的规律, 并将其与普通的空气孔型和介质柱型二维光子晶体的完全带隙进行了比较. 研究表明: 空气环型二维光子晶体不仅可以获得更宽的完全带隙, 而且, 当介质折射率较低时, 其可以获得普通空气孔型和介质柱型二维光子晶体在低折射率条件下所无法获得的完全带隙. 关键词： 空气环型二维光子晶体 完全带隙 平面波展开法     

Localized EM and photonic jets from non‐spherical and non‐symmetrical dielectric mesoscale objects: Brief review

The interest to mesoscale dielectric objects, whose effective dimensions are comparable with the incident radiation wavelength, is caused by their unique ability to modify the spatial structure of the incident wave in the specific manner and to produce a highly localized intensive optical flux (“photonic jet”) with the subwavelength spatial resolution. In the current paper we brief review the modern state‐of‐the‐art of main principles of the photonic jet formation by non‐spherical and non‐symmetrical dielectric mesoscale particles both in transmitting and reflection mode. A deeper understanding of the photonic jet is nevertheless needed to fully exploit the potential performance of nano‐ and micro‐ dielectric mesoscale objects as diffractive components at different wavebands.

     

含负折射率层的多层体系的反常光子隧穿

研究了多层体系含负折射率层的光学传输特性,通过传输矩阵方法,给出了体系透射率的一般表达式,并讨论了含负折射率层的四层结构在入射角大于临界角时的反常光子隧穿现象。当体系参量完全匹配时,对于任意入射光波长及大于临界角的入射,透射率均为1;仅衬底层不匹配时,对于给定的衬底参量,透射率和入射波长无关,仅和入射角相关。对于TM波,存在多层体系的布儒斯特角,使得透射率等于1。对于TE波则没有类似现象;在衬底不匹配的情况下,提高出射端的折射率将增加体系的透射率;中间层的厚度或者折射率不匹配时,透射率关于匹配位置对称分布且随着失谐的增加指数衰减,随着入射角的增加,衰减速度加快。     

The wave flow effect on a plane boundary between vacuum and an optical medium with a quasi-zero refractive index

A boundary problem in which a plane electromagnetic wave is reflected and refracted at a plane boundary of a semi-infinite optical medium with a quasi-zero refractive index has been solved. Such a medium has a random refractive index taking values in an interval from zero to some finite value less than unity. It means that the concept of a sharp interface between two media loses its meaning, the boundary of the medium becomes inhomogeneous, and laws of reflection and refraction of light become non-Fresnelian. Formulas for non-Fresnelian amplitudes of reflection and refraction have been derived. It is shown that a surface wave arises near the boundary of a medium with a quasi-zero refractive index. The wave propagates both on the inside and outside of the boundary.     

Stamping plasmonic nanoarrays on SERS‐supporting platforms

The dielectric property of a nanoparticle‐supporting film has recently garnered attention in the fabrication of plasmonic surfaces. A few studies have shown that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and hence surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), strongly depends on the substrate refractive index. In order to create higher efficiency SERS‐active surfaces, it is therefore necessary to consider the substrate property along with nanoparticle morphology. However, due to certain limitations of conventional lithography, it is often not feasible to create well‐defined plasmonic nanoarrays on a substrate of interest. Here, an additive nanofabrication technique, i.e., nanotransfer printing (nTP), is implemented to integrate electron beam lithography (EBL) defined high‐aspect‐ratio nanofeatures on a variety of SERS‐supporting surfaces. With the aid of suitable surface chemistries, a wide range of plasmonic particles were successfully integrated on surfaces of three physically and chemically distinct dielectric materials, namely, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), SU‐8 photoresist, and glass surfaces, using silicon‐based relief pillars. These nTP‐created metal nanoparticles strongly amplify the Raman signal and complement the selection of suitable substrates for better SERS enhancement. Our experimental observations are also supported by theoretical calculations. The implementation of nTP to stamp out metal nanoparticles on a multitude conventional/unconventional substrates has novel applications in designing in‐built plasmonic microanalytical devices for SERS sensing and other related photonic studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Negative refractive behavior of a two-dimensional negative-index photonic crystals using a wave vector diagram method

We have theoretically studied the negative refractive behavior and the focusing effect in a two-dimensional square-lattice photonic crystal made of air rods in a dielectric background. Detailed explanations are given for the effect of the negative refraction, and the imaging of the plano-concave lens is shown by the use of a wave vector diagram formalism. The typical negative refractive behavior is demonstrated by considering the Bloch mode with the wave vector inside the first Brillouin zone, because only those wave vectors inside the first Brillouin zone of multiple Brillouin zones have a definite meaning. The single propagating beam is analyzed by the use of the wave vector diagram formalism following the folding of the wave vectors. Good-quality focusing of a plane wave can be realized by using a photonic crystal plano-concave lens, while a plane wave is formed by a point source placed at the focal point. Our results are in good agreement with the experimental ones shown for a negative-index plano-concave lens by Vodo et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 86 (2005) 201108]. Finally, we also have shown the focusing behavior of a plane wave and a Gaussian pulse by a plano-concave lens structure with high-index modulation instead of air in the concave region.     

全固双芯光子晶体光纤温度传感特性的研究

主要分析带隙型全固双芯光子晶体光纤填充高温度系数折射率敏感介质后的温度特性.应用平面波展开法和全矢量有限元法研究温度对其模场分布、有效折射率、耦合长度及温度传感的影响.理论计算结果表明,耦合长度随温度升高出现单极值或多极值点,奇模式的有效折射率随着温度的变化或波长的变化会出现跳变情况.     

Near‐forward/high‐pressure‐backward Raman study of Zn1 − xBexSe (x ~ 0.5) – evidence for percolation behavior of the long (Zn―Se) bond

The apparently universal 1‐bond → 2‐mode percolation behavior in the Raman spectra of zincblende semiconductor alloys is generally observed for the short bond only, and not for the long one. In this work we perform a combined high‐pressure‐backward/near‐forward Raman study of the leading percolation‐type (Zn,Be)Se alloy (~50 at.% Be), which exhibits a distinct percolation doublet in the spectral range of its short Be―Se bond, in search of a Zn―Se analogue. The high‐pressure‐backward insight is not conclusive per se, but clarifies the perspective behind the near‐forward Raman study. The latter reveals an unique Zn―Se phonon–polariton. Its fair contour modeling depending on the scattering angle is achieved within the linear dielectric approach, based on ellipsometry measurement of the ZnBeSe refractive index. Somewhat surprisingly this reveals that the phonon–polariton in question is a ‘fractional’ one in that it carries only half of the available Zn―Se oscillator strength, as ideally expected in case of a BeSe‐like bimodal Raman behavior of the long Zn―Se bond. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

光子晶体中基于有效折射率接近零的光束准直出射

利用平面波展开法(PWM)和时域有限差分法(FDTD)研究了二维正方格子光子晶体靠近禁带边沿附近频率光波的传输特性.研究发现,若有效折射率接近于零,可出现光束从晶体表面准直出射的现象,且光束的出射方向只与晶体表面的取向有关,而与晶格取向无关.这种现象与自准直现象有很大不同.     

Theoretical Design of a Pump‐Free Ultrahigh Efficiency All‐Optical Switching Based on a Defect Ring Optical Waveguide Network

A theoretical design of a defect ring optical waveguide network is proposed to construct a pump‐free ultrahigh efficiency all‐optical switch. This switch creates ultrastrong photonic localization and causes the nonlinear dielectric in the defect waveguide to intensely respond. At its ON state, this material defect without Kerr response helps to produce a pair of sharp pass bands in the transmission spectrum to form the dual channel of the all‐optical switch. When it is switched to its OFF state, the strong Kerr response induced refractive index change in the high nonlinear defect waveguide strongly alters the spectrum, leading to a collapse of the dual channels. Network equation and generalized eigenfunction method are used to numerically calculate the optical properties of the switch and obtain a threshold control energy of about 2.90 zJ, which is eight orders of magnitude lower than previously reported. The switching efficiency/transmission ratio exceeds 3× 10¹¹, which is six orders of magnitude larger than previously reported. The state transition time is nearly 108 fs, which is approximately two orders of magnitude faster than the previously reported shortest time. Furthermore, the switch size can be much smaller than 2.6 µm and will be suitable for integration.     

Numerical analysis of a temperature sensor based on the photonic band gap effect in a photonic crystal fiber

In this paper we investigate, by the plane wave expansion method and an analytical model, the temperature effect on the photonic band gap fiber, and we report on a numerical demonstration of a temperature sensor based on the photonic band gap (PBG) shift in a solid core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) infiltrated with a high refractive index oil. The bandwidth and the position of the central wavelength of the band gap are the parameters of interests for our temperature sensing purpose. Simulation results were found to be in excellent agreement with the refractive index scaling law and the highest sensitivity of 3.21?nm/°C was achieved, and it will be even higher than the grating based sensors written in PCFs with similar structure.     

Slow light in a dielectric slab waveguide with a negative refractive index photonic crystal substrate

Slow light effect in a dielectric slab waveguide with a negative refractive index photonic crystal substrate is numerically investigated. The guided modes are confined in the core layer by total internal reflection. Dispersion and wave propagating properties are explored in details. The result demonstrates that light speed can approach zero at two adjacent frequencies, which is also verified by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation. Calculated Q-factors both exceed several thousand. The structure has the potential to be used as high-Q open cavity for dual-wavelength lasers or traveling wave amplifiers.