Broadening of paramagnetic resonance lines by charged point defects in neodymium-doped scheelites

We study paramagnetic resonance linewidth in a series of CaWO₄ and CaMoO₄ crystals with different concentrations of neodymium ions (0.0031–0.81 at %). Experimental data are interpreted in the framework of the statistical theory of line broadening by charged point defects. In our calculations, three different contributions are singled out: arising from the local electric fields, electric field gradients and magnetic fields of the nearby point defects. The interaction parameters are determined from the spectroscopic data available for Nd:CaWO₄ crystal. Direct calculations of the linewidth are performed for different crystal orientations with respect to external magnetic field. We conclude that major contribution to the broadening comes from the interactions with random electric fields produced by neodymium and charge compensator ions.     

THz near-field measurements of metal structures

We report on electro-optic measurements of THz electric fields in the near-field of metal structures lying on GaP electro-optic sampling crystals. With (110) oriented crystals, the x or y component of the THz electric field is measured, whereas with a (001) oriented crystal, the z-component is measured. With an estimated spatial resolution of 20 μm, the technique allows us to map the field on a scale, orders of magnitude smaller than the spatial dimensions of these structures. We illustrate the technique by showing results of measurements of the THz electric field in a plane underneath a metal sphere and a single square hole in a metal foil. The technique provides us with a wealth of information on the time-evolution of light fields near metal structures. To cite this article: A.J.L. Adam et al., C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

晶体的双参量调制及其应用

利用折射率椭球分析法,分析了某些具有多重光学效应的光学晶体在两个外场同时作用下的一些特有调制规律.结果表明,当晶体的折射率椭球方程的三个交叉项中只有一项x1x2不为零时,可以得到其外场诱导新主轴折射率及其主轴取向的简单计算式.据此可以揭示出某些晶体在两个外加电场同时作用下将具有双横向电光Pockels效应,例如ˉ6点群的电光晶体.但一般晶体在双横向应力作用下不具有与双横向电光效应类似的调制特性,其弹光双折射大小与其应力差成正比,其双折射主轴方向一般为固定值.在相互垂直的外加应力和电场同时作用下,某些晶体(例如ˉ43m点群晶体)的双折射大小与外加应力和外加电场的加权几何平均值成正比,且新折射率主轴旋转角由外加应力和外加电场的比值来确定.晶体的上述双参量调制特性对设计新型光学调制器或传感器具有重要指导意义.     

Probing subcycle spectral structures and dynamics of high-order harmonic generation in crystals

Subcycle spectral structures and dynamics of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) processes of atoms and molecules driven by intense laser fields on the attosecond time scale have been originally studied theoretically and experimentally. However, the time scale of HHG dynamics in crystals is in the order of sub-femtosecond, and the carrier dynamics of HHG in crystals driven by subcycle laser pulses are largely unexplored. Here we perform a theoretical study of subcycle structures, spectra, and dynamics of HHG of crystals in mid-infrared laser fields subject to excitation by a subcycle laser pulse with a time delay. The HHG spectra as a function of time delay between two laser fields are calculated by using a single-band model for the intra-band carrier dynamics in crystal momentum space and by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in velocity gauge for the treatment of multi-band crystal systems. The results exhibit a complex time-delay-dependent oscillatory pattern, and the enhancement and suppression of the HHG related to subcycle pulse are observed at the given time delay in either single-band or multi-band crystal systems. To understand oscillation structures with respect to the dependence for the subcycle laser fields, the time-frequency characteristics of the HHG as well as the probability density distribution of the radiation are analyzed in detail.     

Effect of uniform magnetic and electric fields on microstructure and substructure characteristics of combustion products of aluminum nanopowder in air

We have analyzed the effect of constant electric and magnetic fields on the micro- and substructure characteristics of the combustion products of aluminum nanopowder in air. It has been found that the combustion of aluminum nanopowder in a magnetic field leads to the formation of single crystals of the hexagonal habitus, while the combustion in an electric field results in the formation of faceted crystallites with layered morphology. The fields noticeably affect the crystal lattice parameters of aluminum oxide and nitride (reduce the coherent scattering regions in aluminum nitride and increase such regions in aluminum γ-oxide). At the same time, the displacement of atoms relative to the equilibrium position becomes noticeably smaller for all crystal phases under the action of the fields (except for aluminum nitride in a magnetic field). These results have been explained by the orienting and stabilizing actions of the fields on the combustion products of aluminum nanopowder in air.     

FDTD analysis of photonic crystal defect layers filled with liquid crystals

Dielectric and metallic photonic crystals comprising nematic liquid crystal materials as defect layers or elements are investigated by the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. Appropriate formulations of the FDTD algorithm, for the simulation of anisotropic and dispersive media as well as periodic geometries, are utilised and combined with the proper absorbing and periodic boundary conditions. The spectral properties of the presented structures are tuned by means of applying static electric fields across the defect layers, thus affecting the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal material. Numerical results show that sufficient tuning ranges are achieved, requiring low operating voltages. Moreover, high and sharp resonance peaks are observed.     

Ordered dust structures in glow discharge plasmas

Ordering of dust grains suspended in glow discharge plasmas into quasi-steady liquid-or crystallike structures in an external field is considered. The self-consistent electric field generated by free electrons, ions, and dust grains is found. An estimate is obtained for the confining potential required to hold dust grains in the direction perpendicular to the discharge axis. It is shown that the potential energy of interaction between ordered dust particles has the form characteristic of ionic crystals. Critical parameters are estimated for a liquidlike dust structure. The correlation function calculated for a dusty plasma by using this approach is compared with a measured one.     

Theory and simulation of ion Coulomb crystal formation in a Penning trap

Ion Coulomb crystals (ICCs) are formed by laser-cooled ions in both radio-frequency and Penning traps. In radio-frequency traps, the crystals are generally stationary. In Penning traps, ICCs always rotate. The frequency of rotation is often set by an applied rotating wall drive that forces the crystal to rotate at the same frequency as the drive. In the absence of any applied rotating or oscillating fields, ICCs in a Penning trap can be in stable equilibrium with a range of rotation frequencies. The density and shape of the crystal adjust with the rotation frequency to ensure that equilibrium is reached. Here, we show that the parameters of the radial laser-cooling beam determine the rotation frequency of a small crystal in a Penning trap when no driving fields are present. We demonstrate, using an approximate theoretical treatment and realistic simulations, that the crystal rotation frequency is independent of the number of ions and the trap parameters, so long as the crystal radius remains smaller than the cooling laser beam waist. As the rotation frequency increases, the crystal eventually becomes a linear string, at which point it is no longer able to adjust its density. Instead, a small amplitude vibration in the zigzag mode of oscillation manifests itself as a rotation of the crystal at a fixed frequency that depends only on the applied trap potential.     

Strain mapping in nanocrystalline grains simulated by phase field crystal model

In recent years, the phase field crystal (PFC) model has been confirmed as a good candidate to describe grain boundary (GB) structures and their nearby atomic arrangement. To further understand the mechanical behaviours of nanocrystalline materials, strain fields near GBs need to be quantitatively characterized. Using the strain mapping technique of geometric phase approach (GPA), we have conducted strain mapping across the GBs in nanocrystalline grains simulated by the PFC model. The results demonstrate that the application of GPA in strain mapping of low and high angles GBs as well as polycrystalline grains simulated by the PFC model is very successful. The results also show that the strain field around the dislocation in a very low angle GB is quantitatively consistent with the anisotropic elastic theory of dislocations. Moreover, the difference between low angle GBs and high angle GBs is revealed by the strain analysis in terms of the strain contour shape and the structural GB width.     

锆英石的抗γ射线辐照能力和Rietveld结构精修

为研究放射性核素固化介质备选矿物锆英石的抗γ射线辐照结构稳定性,以澳大利亚锆英石为研究对象,通过⁶⁰Co源γ射线辐照装置对样品施以1728 kGy的γ射线辐照.利用X射线荧光光谱仪、扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射仪对样品的元素含量、γ射线辐照前后的微观形貌及物相变化进行表征,同时利用Rietveld方法对γ射线辐照前后的样品进行了结构精修.结果表明:澳大利亚锆英石经1728 kGy剂量的γ射线辐照后未发生物相变化,射线辐照前后样品的晶胞参数仅发生了10^-4 量级的变 关键词： 锆英石 γ射线 辐照 Rietveld结构精修     

Phase behaviour of lyotropic liquid crystals in external fields and confinement

This mini-review discusses the influence of external fields on the phase behaviour of lyotropic colloidal liquid crystals. The liquid crystal phases reviewed, formed in suspensions of highly anisotropic particles ranging from rod- to board- to plate-like particles, include nematic, smectic and columnar phases. The external fields considered are the earth gravitational field and electric and magnetic fields. For electric and magnetic fields single particle alignment, collective reorientation behaviour of ordered phases and field-induced liquid crystal phase transitions are discussed. Additionally, liquid crystal phase behaviour in various confining geometries, e.g. slit-pore, circular and spherical confinement will be reviewed.     

Confined colloidal crystals in and out of equilibrium

Recent studies on confined crystals of charged colloidal particles are reviewed, both in equilibrium and out of equilibrium. We focus in particular on direct comparisons of experiments (light scattering and microscopy) with lattice sum calculations and computer simulations. In equilibrium we address buckling and crystalline multilayering of charged systems in hard and soft slit confinement. We discuss also recent crystalline structures obtained for charged mixtures. Moreover we put forward possibilities to apply external perturbations, in order to drive the system out of equilibrium. These include electrolyte gradients as well as the application of shear and electric fields.     

Tunable band gaps in electro-optical photonic bi-oriented crystals

Electrically induced birefringence is studied in photonic bi-oriented crystals in terms of molding lightflow in optical devices. In photonic bi-oriented crystals, misorientation of dielectric anisotropic grains results in a dielectric contrast at the grain boundaries. The translational periodicity of the optical constants depends upon a regular network of twisted dielectrics. Due to the anisotropy of the bicrystalline structure the direction of light propagation determines the dielectric contrast at the grain boundaries. In a specific crystallographic arrangement the optical properties of the bi-oriented crystal can be tuned by the electro-optical effect: the periodic dielectric contrast is electrically induced and photonic bandgaps are generated by applying external electric fields. The geometrical requirements for tunable photonic bicrystals are evaluated based on materials employed for electro-optical applications. Tunable photonic bi-oriented crystals may be candidates for fast optical switches, modulators and multiplexers in the optical communication network. Received: 5 July 2001 / Revised version: 3 August 2001 / Published online: 15 October 2001     

Prediction and observation of crystal structures of oppositely charged colloids

We studied crystal structures in mixtures of large and small oppositely charged spherical colloids with size ratio 0.31 using Monte Carlo simulations and confocal microscopy. We developed an interactive method based on simulated annealing to predict new binary crystal structures with stoichiometries from 1 to 8. Employing these structures in Madelung energy calculations using a screened Coulomb potential, we constructed a ground-state phase diagram, which shows a remarkably rich variety of crystals. Our phase diagram displays colloidal analogs of simple-salt structures and of the doped fullerene C60 structures, but also novel structures that do not have an atomic or molecular analog. We found three of the predicted structures experimentally, which provides confidence that our method yields reliable results.     

Structure of grain boundaries in nanostructured powders: a Monte-Carlo/EAM numerical investigation

A new approach based on the Embedded Atom Method is applied to model the structure of grain boundaries in nanostructured powders. We choose a set of EAM parameters reproducing bcc as well as fcc structures. A Monte-Carlo scheme, namely various modifications of the well established simulated annealing/Metropolis algorithm, is used to obtain realistic structures of twisted and tilted double and triple grain boundaries as a function of the relative disorientation of the grains. We devise a completely general way to take into account the structure of the grains far from the interface as well as to constraint the relative orientation of the grains, without using periodic boundaries conditions, which would restrict the simulation to certain relative twist or tilt angles for the grains. A few parameters having to be assumed, we compare two methods to model the structure of the grain boundaries. As these two methods, depending on different parameters, lead to similar results, we therefore reduce the number of parameters to be assumed. Results indicate a new configuration which is closer to the bcc structure than the fcc one in the case of iron nanopowders.     

Self-induced nonlinear spin-orbit interaction of light in liquid crystals

We report on the observation of self-induced nonlinear spin-orbit interaction of light driven by Kerr orientational optical nonlinearities in liquid crystals. It consists of the self-induced spin-to-orbital nonlinear conversion for the angular momentum of light. The optical angular momentum conversion is driven by the creation of a topological liquid crystal defect by the light itself. Moreover, we show that such a nonlinear process can be significantly enhanced by using additional electric fields.     

Enhancing transmission efficiency of bending waveguide based on graded sonic crystals using antireflection structures

The conventional antireflection coating (ARC) structure for sonic crystal devices is to place the cylinders at the interface between a sonic crystal device and a background medium. The radius of ARC cylinders and the distance between the ARC and the sonic crystal device are adjusted to obtain an optimal antireflection effect. We propose that ARC structures are directly designed by using the conventional ARC theory instead of scanning the geometric and spatial parameters of the conventional ARC structures. According to the concept of the effective refractive index of sonic crystals, the exact ARC structures can be implemented by sonic crystals. The transmission efficiency of a bending waveguide designed by graded sonic crystals can be enhanced by introducing the ARC structures based on sonic crystals. The performances of different ARC structure designs are compared and discussed.     

一维光子晶体中金属层内的电场分布增强

利用传输矩阵方法,研究了一维电介质-金属光子晶体的光学传输特性和金属层内的电场分布情况。计算结果表明,通过引入增透膜和优化结构参数,可以明显改变电介质-金属光子晶体的光学性能：在19%透射率的情况下,金属层内的平均电场相对于入射光场可以达到77%;而在金属层内平均电场相对入射光场为28%的情况下,可得到72%的透射率。这种可显著增强金属层内电场分布并且透射率、金属层内场强可调的光子晶体结构有望在非线性光子器件中得到重要应用。     

Electric field effects in RUS measurements

Much of the power of the Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) technique is the ability to make mechanical resonance measurements while the environment of the sample is changed. Temperature and magnetic field are important examples. Due to the common use of piezoelectric transducers near the sample, applied electric fields introduce complications, but many materials have technologically interesting responses to applied static and RF electric fields. Non-contact optical, buffered, or shielded transducers permit the application of charge and externally applied electric fields while making RUS measurements. For conducting samples, in vacuum, charging produces a small negative pressure in the volume of the material - a state rarely explored. At very high charges we influence the electron density near the surface so the propagation of surface waves and their resonances may give us a handle on the relationship of electron density to bond strength and elasticity. Our preliminary results indicate a charge sign dependent effect, but we are studying a number of possible other effects induced by charging. In dielectric materials, external electric fields influence the strain response, particularly in ferroelectrics. Experiments to study this connection at phase transformations are planned. The fact that many geological samples contain single crystal quartz suggests a possible use of the piezoelectric response to drive vibrations using applied RF fields. In polycrystals, averaging of strains in randomly oriented crystals implies using the “statistical residual” strain as the drive. The ability to excite vibrations in quartzite polycrystals and arenites is explored. We present results of experimental and theoretical approaches to electric field effects using RUS methods.     

Mechanism of phase conjugation via stimulated Brillouin scattering in narrow band gap semiconductors

We develop a theoretical model to study optical phase conjugation via stimulated Brillouin scattering (OPC-SBS) in narrow band gap transversely magnetized semiconductors. Threshold value of pump electric field and reflectivity of the image radiation for the onset of OPC-SBS are estimated. The analysis is applied to both cases viz. centrosymmetric (CS) and non-centrosymmetric (NCS) crystals. Numerical estimates made for n-type InSb crystal at liquid nitrogen temperature duly irradiated by nanosecond pulsed 10.6 μm CO₂ laser shows that high OPC-SBS reflectivity (90%) can be achieved in NCS crystals at moderate pump electric fields if the crystal is used as an optical waveguide with relatively large interaction length (L = 5 mm) which proves its potential in practical applications such as fabrication of phase conjugate mirrors.