Near-field optics and control of photonic crystals

We discuss recent progress and the exciting potential of scanning probe microscopy methods for the characterization and control of photonic crystals. We demonstrate that scanning near-field optical microscopy can be used to characterize the performance of photonic crystal device components on the sub-wavelength scale. In addition, we propose scanning probe techniques for realizing local, low-loss tuning of photonic crystal resonances, based on the frequency shifts that high-index nanoscopic probes can induce. Finally, we discuss prospects for on-demand spontaneous emission control. We demonstrate theoretically that photonic crystal membranes induce large variations in spontaneous emission rate over length scales of 50 nm that can be probed by single light sources, or nanoscopic ensembles of light sources attached to the end of a scanning probe.     

Radiation properties of sources inside an opal structure modified by changing the incident angle of pump light

In this paper we discuss the strong incident angle dependence of the modification of emission in an opal structure. We study the emission with oblique incidence and find that we can control the emission properties, such as emission intensity and spectral width, just by changing the incident angle of pump light. Calculations with varying incident angles show that the band gap of the structure blue shifts with the increase of incident angle and the emission power of embedded sources is strongly determined by this gap change. In addition, the photonic band gap determines the emission spectrum. With the incident angle increasing, the width of emission spectrum increases first and then decreases.     

熔融静电纺丝法制备单根聚合物微米纤维全可见光谱的放大自发发射特性研究

具有高能量转化效率的微纳尺度的激光光源的开发将极大地促进光电子系统的进一步集成。本文采用熔融静电纺丝方法成功制备了单根有机聚合物微米纤维,所制备的微米纤维表面光滑,成规范的圆柱形结构。我们通过在聚合物纤维中掺入不同的荧光染料,实现了在整个可见光范围内的光发射可调性。在光泵浦条件下,我们详细研究了单根聚合物微米纤维的放大自发发射特性,三种颜色的微米纤维均表现了较低的阈值和高增益的放大自发发射特性。采用时域有限差分法模拟微米纤维中的电场分布结果表明,纤维的柱状微结构有效地将光限制在圆柱体内,形成环形腔反馈,并沿着轴向传播,因而发射光表现了很好的方向性。这种可见光范围内可全色发射的单根的微米纤维的成功制备将为实现智能化、集成化、低成本和高可靠性的微纳激光光源器件提供可靠的技术支持。     

White-Light Nonlinear Photonic Lattices in Self-Defocusing Media

Using fully incoherent white light emitted from an incandescent lamp and amplitude mask, we experimentally investigate the influence of several factors on the fabrication of the lattice in photovoltaic self-defocusing LiNbO3：Fe crystal, the factors include the orientation of the crystalline c axis relative to the principal axis of the photonic lattice and the filament, the diameter of input dark spot and the separation of the adjacent input dark spots. Experimental results reveal that the best fabricating condition of photonic lattices is that the principal axis of lattice is tilted for 45^o relative to the crystalline c axis which is parallel to the filament of the lamp. In addition, it is necessary that the diameter of the input dark spot is larger than the half of their separation.     

Quenching of fluorescence by light: A new method to control the excited-state lifetimes and orientations of fluorophores

We report steady-state and time-resolved studies of quenching of fluorescence by light i.e. light quenching. The dyes rhodamine B (RhB) and 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6(p-dimethamino)-4H-pyrane (DCM) were excited in the anti-Stokes region from 560 to 615 nm. At a high illumination power the intensities of DCM and RhB were sublinear with incident power, an effect we believe is due to stimulated emission, andnot ground-state depopulation. The extent of light quenching was proportional to the amplitude of the emission spectrum at the incident wavelength, as expected for light-stimulated decay from the excited state. Control measurements at a decreased average illumination power, and in solvents of various viscosities, indicated that the effect was not due to undesired photochemical processes. Importantly, the frequency-domain intensity decays remained single exponentials, and the lifetimes were unchanged with light quenching, which suggests that the effect was not due to heating or other photochemical effects. These results are consistent with a quenching process which occurs within the quenching pulse. Importantly, as expected for light quenching with a single pulsed laser beam, the time 0 anisotropies of RhB and DCM were decreased due to orientation-dependent quenching of the excited-state population. In closing we discuss some possible future applications of light quenching to studies of dynamic processes.This report is partially based on the experimental data published previously [1,2].     

X-ray gain in laser-produced carbon plasmas using double-layer targets

We investigate from a theoretical point of view the basic possibilities for the effect of ionizing radiation on the X-ray gain in recombining laser-produced plasmas, in particular with regard to recently performed experiments in which targets consisting of two different-material layers (double-layer targets) were used. We discuss an increase of the gain for the 3 2 transition in hydrogenic ions which is due to photoionization causing, mainly, a decrease of the Lyman- reabsorption and an increase of the population of higher levels. In our numerical simulations we consider single-material and double-layer targets, concentrating particularly on carbon and titanium. We obtain and discuss the time behaviour of the X-ray emission from the laser-produced plasma with regard to its application as pump radiation.     

光子晶体中四能级系统的量子相干效应

研究了处于光子带隙材料中的四能级原子系统的电磁感应透明、自发辐射和光子开关效应，分析了其稳态与瞬态特性, 发现特殊的模密度能够导致反常的吸收、色散、自发辐射及瞬态无反转增益, 并可以通过外加调制场进行控制.详细讨论了特殊频率处模密度的变化对透明窗口和光子开关效应的影响. 关键词： 光子带隙材料 电磁感应透明 模密度 光子开关     

Photonic quantum-well structures containing negative-index materials

The properties of photonic quantum-well structures containing negative-index materials are studied theoretically, showing features remarkably better than conventional photonic quantum-well structures. Owning to the zero- gap of one-dimensional photonic crystals containing negative-index materials, the photonic quantum-well structures can be proposed as a multiple channeled filter which is very weak dependent on incident angle and polarization, and insensitive to the thickness disorder of the barrier photonic crystals.     

Resonant tunneling effect in one-dimensional twinned lattice photonic crystal under total reflection conditions

Under total reflection conditions, it typically seems as though light waves will be reflected completely on the interface; in actuality, the waves can penetrate the medium as evanescent waves. In this paper, we present a twinned lattice photonic crystal with a unit cell composed of AB layers and their mirror. We assume that the refractive index n ₀ of the input and output end is equal to n _B and larger than n _A . We first demonstrate the dependence of band structure on the incidence angle and normalized wavelength, in which the resonant tunneling bands are exposed. We then draw a comparison of bands between ABBA and AB. To conclude, we discuss the resonant tunneling effect in the twinned lattice photonic crystal under the total reflection conditions. As incidence angle increases, the resonant tunneling band ultimately vanishes completely.     

Fusion in prospect

In the first part of this introductory review we outline the developments in photonic band gap materials from the physics of photonic band gap formation to the fabrication and potential applications of photonic crystals. We briefly describe the analogies between electron and photon localization, present a simple model of a band structure calculation and describe some of the techniques used for fabricating photonic crystals. Also some applications in the field of photonics and optical circuitry are briefly presented. In the second part, we discuss the consequences for the interaction between an atom and the light field when the former is embedded in photonic crystals of a specific type, exhibiting a specific form of a gap in the density of states. We first briefly review the standard treatment (Weisskopf?–?Wigner theory) in describing the dynamics of spontaneous emission in free space from first principles, and then proceed by explaining the alterations needed to properly treat the case of a two-level atom embedded in a photonic band gap material.     

Nonlinear switching and solitons in PT‐symmetric photonic systems

One of the challenges of the modern photonics is to develop all‐optical devices enabling increased speed and energy efficiency for transmitting and processing information on an optical chip. It is believed that the recently suggested Parity‐Time (PT) symmetric photonic systems with alternating regions of gain and loss can bring novel functionalities. In such systems, losses are as important as gain and, depending on the structural parameters, gain compensates losses. Generally, PT systems demonstrate nontrivial non‐conservative wave interactions and phase transitions, which can be employed for signal filtering and switching, opening new prospects for active control of light. In this review, we discuss a broad range of problems involving nonlinear PT‐symmetric photonic systems with an intensity‐dependent refractive index. Nonlinearity in such PT symmetric systems provides a basis for many effects such as the formation of localized modes, nonlinearly‐induced PT‐symmetry breaking, and all‐optical switching. Nonlinear PT‐symmetric systems can serve as powerful building blocks for the development of novel photonic devices targeting an active light control.

     

Silicon nanocrystals in silica—Novel active waveguides for nanophotonics

Nanophotonic structures combining electronic confinement in nanocrystals with photon confinement in photonic structures are potential building blocks of future Si-based photonic devices. Here, we present a detailed optical investigation of active planar waveguides fabricated by Si⁺-ion implantation (400 keV, fluences from 3 to 6×10¹⁷ cm⁻²) of fused silica and thermally oxidized Si wafers. Si nanocrystals formed after annealing emit red-IR photoluminescence (PL) (under UV-blue excitation) and define a layer of high refractive index that guides part of the PL emission. Light from external sources can also be coupled into the waveguides (directly to the polished edge facet or from the surface by applying a quartz prism coupler). In both cases the optical emission from the sample facet exhibits narrow polarization-resolved transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes instead of the usual broad spectra characteristic of Si nanocrystals. This effect is explained by a theoretical model which identifies the microcavity-like peaks as leaking modes propagating below the waveguide/substrate boundary. We present also permanent changes induced by intense femtosecond laser exposure, which can be applied to write structures like gratings into the Si-nanocrystalline waveguides. Finally, we discuss the potential for application of these unconventional and relatively simple all-silicon nanostructures in future photonic devices.     

Ritz,Einstein, and the Emission Hypothesis

Just as Albert Einsteins special theory of relativity was gaining acceptance around 1908, the young Swiss physicist Walter Ritz advanced a competing though preliminary emission theory that sought to explain the phenomena of electrodynamics on the assumption that the speed of light depends on the motion of its source. I survey Ritzs unfinished work in this area and review the reasons why Einstein and other physicists rejected Ritzs and other emission theories. Since Ritzs emission theory attracted renewed attention in the 1960s, I discuss how the earlier observational evidence was misconstrued as telling against it more conclusively than actually was the case. Finally, I contrast the role played by evidence against Ritzs theory with other factors that led to the early rejection of his approach.     

The slow light in the closed-packed face-centered cubic photonic crystal: characteristics and application design

Using the plane wave expansion method, we calculated the energy band distribution of face-centered cubic (FCC) photonic crystals in the reciprocal lattice space. The influences of various dielectric constant materials on the properties of slow light are discussed. The results show that, in the close-packed hollow spherical FCC photonic crystal, the group velocity of light can be slow down to the velocity about $10^{-4}c$ 10 - 4 c . And the slow light effect tends to occur more strongly in the hollow spherical structure in comparison with the dielectric spherical structure. The possible applications of the slow light effect in the 3D photonic crystal are proposed for solar cells and optical communication devices.     

利用耦合波导列提高光子晶体波导辐射

将耦合波导列应用于光子晶体单模波导,提出一种提高光辐射的光子晶体结构. 基于时域有限差分方法的理论研究表明,当将耦合波导列附加到单模光子晶体波导出口端的适当位置,使出射光分成若干强弱不一的光束,这些光束在传播空间通过干涉形成一定程度的汇聚,大大提高了光子晶体波导在水平方向的光辐射效率. 另外,当耦合波导列的行数大于某固定值(2N=8)时,辐射质量基本保持不变,由此可获得最紧凑的器件结构. 这种类型光子晶体在近场光学和集成光学等诸多方面有潜在的应用价值. 关键词： 光子晶体波导 光辐射 波导列 耦合波导     

Angular correlation of photons emitted from an excited quantum well

We study the angular correlation of single photons emitted from excited semiconductor quantum wells. The considered physical system is described in terms of two subsystems, the electronic part constituting the bath and the photonic part constituting the bathed subsystem, both being coupled by the light-matter interaction. From the master equations describing the coarse-grained Markovian evolution of the photonic subsystem, we derive the corresponding equations of motion for the photonic angular correlation functions. These equations are solved in the stationary, low-density limit. Experimentally, the angular correlations can be assessed by studying the interference of light emitted in different directions. In agreement with recent experimental results, we find that for ordered quantum wells angular correlations exist only in emission directions for which the projections of the photon momenta onto the plane of the quantum well are equal. This feature is a direct consequence of the Bloch character of the electronic states in an ordered quantum well. Thus the experimental study of the angular correlations of emitted photons may provide an interesting diagnostic tool to reveal the presence of disorder in semiconductor heterostructures and to characterize its influence on the electronic states near the band edges.     

Photonic defect modes in cholesteric liquid crystal films

We discuss the properties of photonic defect modes in cholesteric liquid crystals. Twist defects, isotropic defect layers, and combinations of both are considered. After deriving the reflection and transmission properties of the defects, we study the effect of a finite sample thickness on the defect modes amplitude and on the required polarization of incident light to excite the defect mode.Received: 18 August 2003, Published online: 5 February 2004PACS: 42.70.Qs Photonic bandgap materials - 61.30.-v Liquid crystals     

Room temperature all‐silicon photonic crystal nanocavity light emitting diode at sub‐bandgap wavelengths

Silicon is now firmly established as a high performance photonic material. Its only weakness is the lack of a native electrically driven light emitter that operates CW at room temperature, exhibits a narrow linewidth in the technologically important 1300–1600 nm wavelength window, is small and operates with low power consumption. Here, an electrically pumped all‐silicon nano light source around 1300–1600 nm range is demonstrated at room temperature. Using hydrogen plasma treatment, nano‐scale optically active defects are introduced into silicon, which then feed the photonic crystal nanocavity to enhance the electrically driven emission in a device via Purcell effect. A narrow ( nm) emission line at 1515 nm wavelength with a power density of is observed, which represents the highest spectral power density ever reported from any silicon emitter. A number of possible improvements are also discussed, that make this scheme a very promising light source for optical interconnects and other important silicon photonics applications.     

Diffractionless flow of light in all-optical microchips

We introduce the concept of a hybrid 2D-3D photonic band gap (PBG) heterostructure which enables both complete control of spontaneous emission of light from atoms and planar light-wave propagation in engineered wavelength-scale microcircuits. Using three-dimensional (3D) light localization, this heterostructure enables flow of light without diffraction through micron-scale air waveguide networks. Achieved by intercalating two-dimensional photonic crystal layers containing engineered defects into a 3D PBG material, this provides a general and versatile solution to the problem of "leaky modes" and diffractive losses in integrated optics.     

Color-tunable organic microcavity laser array using distributed feedback

Distributed feedback microstructures play a fundamental role in confining and manipulating light to obtain lasing in media with gain. Here, we present an innovative array of organic, color-tunable microlasers which are intrinsically phase locked. Dye-doped helixed liquid crystals were embedded within periodic, polymeric microchannels sculptured by light through a single-step process. The helical superstructure was oriented along the microchannels; the lasing was observed along the same direction at the red edge of the stop band. Several physical and technological advantages arise from this engineered heterostructure: a high quality factor of the cavity, ultralow lasing threshold, and thermal and electric control of the lasing wavelength and emission intensity. This level of integration of guest-host systems, embedded in artificially patterned small sized structures, might lead to new photonic chip architectures.