Polarization properties of the acousto-optical interaction in a planar layer

Polarization features of the Bragg diffraction of light on ultrasound in a planar layer are studied. It is shown that the rotation of the polarization plane of the diffracted wave is determined by Fresnel reflection of the s and p components of the incident light and by anisotropy of the photoelastic effect in the crystalline layer perturbed by the ultrasound. It is established that the inclusion of an analyzer into the scheme of the acousto-optical interaction allows one to transform the rotation of the polarization plane of the diffracted wave transmitted through and reflected from the layer into the amplitude modulation of light.     

Reflection of light from a plane-parallel layer modulated by ultrasound

The features of Bragg reflection of light from a plane-parallel layer perturbed by a standing ultrasonic wave are investigated. It is shown that, with an increase in the thickness of the modulated layer, the reflection coefficient of the light wave diffracted by the ultrasound reaches the maximum value at smaller intensities of the ultrasound and is determined by the relation between the refractive indices of the adjoining media. The possibility of efficient acousto-optical diffraction of light in the Bragg reflection regime at superlattices of photoelasticity in the field of low-frequency ultrasonic waves with a moderate level of acoustic power is established.     

Generation of femtosecond dual pulses by a transverse standing wave in a volume holographic grating

Based on Kogelnik's coupled-wave theory, it is found that when a femtosecond pulse is incident on a transmitted volume holographic grating, two transverse standing waves along the grating vector direction will be generated inside the volume holographic grating(VHG). Due to field localization of two standing waves, they have two different velocities along the propagation depth. On the output plane of the VHG, femtosecond dual pulses are generated in both the diffracted and transmitted directions. Results show that the pulse interval is determined by the refractive index modulation and thickness of the grating, while the waveform of the dual pulses is independent of the grating parameters.     

Propagation of light in a structure with a regular magnetic inhomogeneity

The reflection and transmission of a light wave normally incident on a layer with a regular magnetic inhomogeneity described by a harmonic function are investigated. Solutions to the Maxwell equations for such a medium and the Jones matrices determining the magneto-optical characteristics of the structure under consideration (the coefficients of transmission and reflection and the degrees of polarization of transmitted and reflected waves) are obtained.     

局域体全息光栅的衍射特性

基于三维耦合波理论，研究了两束有限宽度的任意偏振平面波干涉产生的局域体全息光栅的衍射问题。以单位均匀振幅的任意偏振平面波为例，给出了透射波和衍射波振幅的主分量和交叉分量的解析表达式，讨论了记录过程和再现过程中入射的参考光波的偏振角对透射波和衍射波振幅的影响。计算结果表明，记录过程中的偏振角越小，形成的光栅内的耦合越强，衍射效率越高，但光束质量越差；再现过程中不同的偏振角，由于入射波和衍射波的电矢量的不同方向的耦合强弱不同，透射波和衍射波振幅的主分量和交叉分量的振幅变化行为不同。     

超短脉冲激光光束被局域体全息光栅衍射的性质分析

利用二维耦合波理论,分析了超短脉冲激光光束被完全重叠型的局域体全息光栅衍射的时空变化性质,给出了衍射和透射脉冲激光光束沿光栅出射边界的强度时空分布。以LiNbO3晶体为例,数值研究了衍射光脉冲强度沿光栅出射边界的分布和脉冲波形的变化及光栅的总衍射效率受光栅二维尺寸、入射角度、光栅折射率调制度及入射脉冲的脉冲时域半峰全宽等条件的影响而变化的情况。与一维体全息光栅对超短脉冲激光光束衍射的性质,及此光栅对连续光衍射的性质作比较,给出了合理选择光栅参量及入射条件以在光栅出射边界上得到总衍射效率较大且分布较均匀的衍射光脉冲的方法。     

Reflexion und Brechung des Lichtes an einer anisotropen Schicht

Reflection and Refraction of Light by an Anisotropic Layer The linear problem of reflection and refraction of plane monochromatic electromagnetic waves by a plane-parallel homogeneous anisotropic layer between (in general different) homogeneous optically isotropic semiinfinite media is treated on the basis of MAXWELL 's equations and the boundary conditions following from them. The permittivity tensor of the anisotropic layer is assumed to be widely arbitrary and therefore asymmetric, neglecting only the spatial dispersion, i. e., the dependence on the wave vector. The electrical fields of reflected, refracted, and transmitted waves are calculated in dependence on the electric field of the incident wave. The conditions for waveguide modes of the layer in the absence of incident waves are obtained from the vanishing of a determinant. The general formulae are specialized to the cases of normal incidence and also of perpendicular and parallel polarisation, relatively to the plane of incidence, of the refracted partial waves in the anisotropic layer thus obtaining simplifications in these cases. The interesting cases of uniaxial layers, when the optic axis lies either parallel or perpendicular to the plane of incidence, belong to the last mentioned special cases of perpendicular and parallel polarisation relatively to the plane of incidence.     

Influence of the cross-phase modulation effect on the polarization states of waves transmitted through a non-linear Fabry–Pe´rot cavity

An analysis of the influence of the cross-phase modulation effect on the polarization states of waves transmitted through a non-linear Fabry–Pe′rot resonator with a self- focusing and self-defocusing Kerr medium is presented. The case is considered of two plane waves with different wavelengths incident on a non-linear Fabry–Pe′rot cavity. It is shown that the polarization states of the transmitted waves change bistably or multistably and depend on the parameters of incident waves and the resonator. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The quantum acousto-optic effect in Bose-Einstein condensate

We investigate the interaction between a single mode light field and an elongated cigar shaped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), subject to a temporal modulation of the trap frequency in the tight confinement direction. Under appropriate conditions, the longitudinal sound like waves (Faraday waves) in the direction of weak confinement acts as a dynamic diffraction grating for the incident light field analogous to the acousto-optic effect in classical optics. The change in the refractive index due to the periodic modulation of the BEC density is responsible for the acousto-optic effect. The dynamics is characterised by Bragg scattering of light from the matter wave Faraday grating and simultaneous Bragg scattering of the condensate atoms from the optical grating formed due to the interference between the incident light and the diffracted light fields. Varying the intensity of the incident laser beam we observe the transition from the acousto-optic effect regime to the atomic Bragg scattering regime, where Rabi oscillations between two momentum levels of the atoms are observed. We show that the acousto-optic effect is reduced as the atomic interaction is increased.     

Magneto-optical effects for detection of in-plane magnetization in plasmonic crystals

Methods for magneto-optical detection of the in-plane magnetization in a magnetic film due to the deposition of a one-dimensional metallic diffraction grating on the film have been considered. This structure is a magnetoplasmonic crystal, in which the excitation of the waveguide and plasmon modes leads to the appearance of five resonant magneto-optical effects that consist in a change of the intensity, the polarization, and the phase of the transmitted and reflected waves. The conditions responsible for the origin of these effects and their magnitude are determined by the configuration of the incident light, the parameters of the metallic grating, and the chemical composition of the magnetic layer. It has been found that the magnetophotonic intensity effects are the most optimal for the detection of the in-plane magnetization. The influence of the parameters of the metallic grating on the magneto-optical effects has been analyzed and the most optimal conditions for the observation of these effects have been determined. It has also been found that an increase in the concentration of bismuth in a magnetic dielectric material can lead to a weakening of the optical and magneto-optical responses.     

Oblique-Incidence Characteristics of a Parallel-Aligned Nematic-Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We have developed optically-addressed and electrically-addressed liquid crystal spatial phase-only light modulators having no pixelized structures. We obtained a large depth of phase-only modulation and high diffraction efficiency based on the electro-optical characteristics of a parallel-aligned nematic liquid crystal. These spatial light modulators (SLM) are of the reflection type, so there would be a loss of power in the readout light from the half mirror, which was set up so as to separate the incident and reflected lights. To optimize the characteristics of a reflection type spatial phase-only light modulator, we have proposed an oblique incident optical readout setup. We have examined the effect of conditions such as the polarization direction and the incidence angle of the readout light, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the SLM. High diffraction efficiency close to the theoretical maximum value was obtained by adjusting the above conditions. The simulation analysis can well explain the experimental results of phase modulation.     

Diffraction of light by ultrasound under the conditions of Fresnel reflection

The features of the Bragg diffraction of light by ultrasound under the conditions of Fresnel reflection from the boundaries of a perturbed layer have been investigated. It has been shown that layers based on acousto-optical gyrotropic crystals perturbed by ultrasound can be used as efficient light modulators. The relative intensities of diffracted waves have been found to be determined by the relation of the refractive indices of adjacent media and by the ultrasound intensity. With an increase in the thickness of the modulated layer, the reflection and transmission coefficients of the first-order diffracted waves achieve their maxima at a lower ultrasound intensity.     

Modeling of atmospheric radiative transfer with polarization and its application to the remote sensing of tropospheric ozone

Light reflected or transmitted by a planetary atmosphere contains information about particles and molecules in the atmosphere. Therefore, accurate modeling of the radiation field may be used to retrieve information on atmospheric composition. In this paper, a multi-layer model for a vertically inhomogeneous atmosphere is implemented by using the doubling-adding method for a plane-parallel atmosphere. By studying the degree of linear polarization of the transmitted and reflected solar light in the Huggins bands, we find significant differences between tropospheric ozone and stratospheric ozone. The effects of tropospheric ozone change on the linear polarization are 10 times more than that of the same amount of stratospheric ozone change. We also show the aerosol effect on the linear polarization, but this effect is wavelength independent as compared to that caused by the tropospheric ozone change. The results provide a theoretical basis for the retrieval of tropospheric ozone from measurement of linear polarization of the scattered sunlight both from the ground and from a satellite.     

Interaction of light waves with an isolated domain wall in a ferrodielectric

The specific features of the reflection and transmission of light waves through a planar domain wall in a ferrodielectric are investigated with due regard for the linear and quadratic magneto-optical coupling. The polarization and intensity-related characteristics of the reflected and transmitted light waves are determined at an arbitrary angle of incidence of a normal mode of the uniformly magnetized medium.     

Subwavelength polarization rotators via double-layer metal hole arrays

We show that the polarization of linearly polarized light can be rotated an arbitrary angle by double-layer metal hole array structures in a subwavelength regime. The transmitted light with the rotated polarization, however, remains of nearly the same strength as the incident field at particular frequencies. The mechanism can be attributed to the subwavelength feature of the rectangular holes, and the tangential guiding modes between layers modulated by the orientation of the holes. The structures have potential applications as polarization rotators in a broad frequency range covering from terahertz (THz) to infrared frequencies.     

Retrieval of the complex reflection coefficient from nano scale thin films by using polarized neutrons and magnetic substrates

A method is proposed for overcoming the famous ‘phase problem’ in neutron specular reflectometry. It is shown that the complex reflection coefficient of any unknown non magnetic layer, with real scattering length density, can be determined by using a magnetic transmitted media and by measuring the polarization of the reflected beam relative to the incident beam. The method follows directly from a recent one which is limited to a one-dimensional neutron polarization. Here, the theory is generalized for a neutron polarization of arbitrary direction. We show that some combinations between the polarization of the incident and reflected beam must be used to determine the reflection coefficient. Also, it is shown that instead of full polarization or reflectivity analysis, some combinations between polarization and reflectivity can be used in the analysis process. The method is supplemented with a schematic example to test the method and its stability in the presence of experimental uncertainties and roughness of the interfaces. PACS 61.12.Ha; 28.20.-v     

Propagation of polarized light in opals: Amplitude and phase anisotropy

The interaction of linearly polarized light with photonic crystals based on bulk and thin-film synthetic opals is studied. Experimental transmission spectra and spectra showing the polarization state of light transmitted through opals are discussed. A change in polarization is found for waves experiencing Bragg diffraction from systems of crystallographic planes of the opal lattice. It is shown that the polarization plane of the incident linearly polarized wave at the exit from photonic crystals can be considerably rotated. In addition, incident linearly polarized light can be transformed to elliptically polarized light with the turned major axis of the polarization ellipse. Analysis of polarization states of transmitted light by using the transfer-matrix theory and homogenization theory revealed good agreement between calculated and experimental spectra.     

Polarization characteristics and magneto-optic diffraction efficiency at oblique light incidence

In a great number of papers that deal with the study of the magneto-optic diffraction (MOD), theoretical analysis and interpretation of experimental data are performed without regard for reflection effects of the incident and diffracted light beams on the entrance and exit surfaces of the transparent film. In consequence the MOD parameters are not connected with the angle of light incidence and the orientation of the incident light polarization plane. In the present work the reflection effects are taken into account. For the Raman-Nat diffraction region the general expressions involving the relationships of diffracted light polarization and intensity with the symmetry of the grating, angle of incidence and polarization of the incident light are obtained. In particular it is shown that even for a symmetrical grating the polarization of the zeroth-order diffracted beam differs from that of the incident light, and the polarization of higher-order beams differs from the orthogonal one providing that the incident light is not s- or p-polarized. A maximum in the angular dependence of diffraction efficiency is predicted being observed experimentally.     

金膜上亚波长小孔阵列表面等离激元颜色滤波器偏振性质

金属薄膜上制备的表面等离激元颜色滤波器具有很强的颜色可调性. 在200 nm厚的金膜上, 通过聚焦离子束刻蚀, 制备一系列周期逐渐变化的圆形、方形、矩形亚波长尺寸小孔方阵列表面等离激元颜色滤波器, 改变入射光的偏振方向, 观察其超透射滤波现象. 研究发现: 对于矩形小孔阵列, 其透射光颜色随入射光偏振方向的变化而改变; 而对于圆形、方形的小孔阵列, 其透射光颜色对入射光的偏振方向并不敏感. 分析表明, 对于金膜上刻蚀的小孔结构, 虽然结构的周期性导致的表面等离激元极化子会对透射光的颜色变化产生一定影响, 但是随小孔形状变化的局域表面等离激元共振才是影响透射光颜色的决定性因素. 如果入射光没有在小孔中激发出局域表面等离激元, 则表面等离激元极化子对透射光的影响也会消失. 根据不同形状小孔周期结构透射光颜色随入射光的偏振变化特点, 制备出了包含两种小孔形状的复合周期结构. 随着入射光偏振方向的改变, 该结构会显示出不同的颜色图案. 关键词： 表面等离激元极化子 局域表面等离激元 颜色滤波器 亚波长小孔阵列     

多功能太赫兹超表面偏振控制器

本文提出了一种“金属栅-开口环/硅环-金属栅”结构的透射式超表面偏振控制器, 研究了入射角度和抽运光对该器件传输及偏振态控制性能的影响. 研究结果表明, 当线偏振太赫兹波垂直入射时, 可对0.39-1.11 THz频段的太赫兹波实现偏振方向90°旋转, 偏振旋转效率为99%, 损耗为1 dB. 对于斜入射的情况, 偏振转换性能在0-60°范围内基本保持不变, 且透过率达到90%以上. 同时, 通过调控抽运光强度的方式, 该器件能够实现对透射与反射太赫兹光束的强度调制, 调制深度均达到90%, 且可以实现太赫兹波偏振分束功能. 该器件可以作为未来太赫兹空间光通信和信息处理的宽带、角度不敏感、可调谐的偏振转换器和分束器.