Calculation of second-harmonic wave pattern generated by focused cylindrical vector beams

We calculated the second-harmonic wave pattern induced by focused cylindrically symmetric, polarized vector beams. The second-order nonlinear polarization was expressed for fundamental electric field components passed through a dielectric interface based on vector diffraction theory. Furthermore, the second-harmonic wave pattern was represented on the basis of the far-field approximate expression derived from the formulation of higher-order harmonic generation including a Green’s function. For a (110) zinc selenide crystal, the calculated forward emission patterns of the second-harmonic wave were eight-figure shaped as observed in experiment.     

Second-harmonic wave induced by vortex beams with radial and azimuthal polarizations

The author investigated second-harmonic (SH) wave patterns generated by focused vortex beams with radial and azimuthal polarizations. Expressions for electric field components near the focus through a dielectric interface were obtained based on vector diffraction theory. Furthermore, the (110) and (001) planes of a crystal classified in the symmetry group 4?3m were considered as second order nonlinear optical medium to analyze nonlinear polarization and the intensity distributions of the SH wave in the far-field were simulated for topological charge m = 1 and 2. Numerical simulations indicated that the intensity and emission pattern of the SH wave depended principally on the electric field component and distribution near the focus. In particular, for the (001) plane, the intensity of the SH wave was strongly correlated with the existence of a longitudinal electric field.     

Surface hardening of titanium by pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation at 1064- and 532-nm wavelengths in nitrogen atmosphere

The surface hardness of titanium modified by laser irradiation at different wavelengths in nitrogen atmosphere was investigated. Further, surface characteristics such as morphology, chemical state, and chemical composition in the depth direction were also studied. The size and depth of the craters observed in the laser-irradiated spots increased monotonically with an increase in the laser power. Furthermore, the crater formed by the 532-nm laser was deeper than that formed by the 1064-nm laser for the same laser power. Laser power beyond a certain threshold value was required to obtain a titanium nitride layer. When the laser power exceeds the threshold value, a titanium nitride layer of a few tens of nanometers in thickness was formed on the substrate, whereas a titanium oxide layer containing small amounts of nitrogen was formed when the laser power is below the threshold value. Thus, it was shown that laser irradiation using appropriate laser parameters can successfully harden a titanium substrate, and the actual hardness of the titanium nitride layer, measured by nanoindentation, was approximately five times that of an untreated titanium surface.     

Energy loss of 1000 keV electrons in thin silicon crystals as measured by high voltage electron microscopy

Abstract

Energy loss spectra of 1000 keV electrons transmitted by [111]-: riented thin silicon crystals were observed by an energy analyzer attached to the HVEM. The crystals were set to the systematic 220 Bragg reflection. Measurements were made for crystal thickness ranging from 1000 to 10,000 Å, which were determined by observations of pendellösung fringes.

Results were analyzed with Landau's transport equation, giving the : onclusion that the loss probability, which is the reciprocal of the mean free path, is 0.52 ± 0.02 × 10^?3 A^?1 for plasmon excitation and 1.50 ± 0.02 × 10^?3 A^?1 for L-electron excitation.     

Parameter settings in a compact laser-nitriding system for titanium composed of a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow

The aim of the present study was to form a nitride layer on a titanium (Ti) substrate through a compact laser-nitriding system comprising a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow. To obtain a high-quality layer, the effects of pulse frequency and gas flow rate on the surface characteristics were investigated by using plasma emission analysis as well as X-ray analyses. Optical emission spectra from the laser-induced plasma mainly consisted of ionic Ti lines, and their intensities when the pulse frequency was 15 Hz were much higher than those for 8 Hz. Similarly, the reflections from the δ-TiN phase in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern were enhanced when using 15 Hz. On the other hand, the flow rate of nitrogen gas blow had a significant effect on the thickness of the thin oxide layer that formed above the nitride layer. Using a lower flow rate resulted in the formation of a thicker oxide layer. The higher pulse frequency and the faster flow rate were beneficial for obtaining a higher-quality layer because of the enhancement of nitridation and the suppression of oxidation, respectively.     

Direct Observation of Ordered High‐Spin–Low‐Spin Intermediate States of an Iron(III) Three‐Step Spin‐Crossover Complex

A neutral mononuclear Fe^III complex [Fe^III(H‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)(5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)]?H₂O ( 1 ; H₂‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me=5‐bromosalicylaldehyde methylthiosemicarbazone) was prepared that exhibited a three‐step spin‐crossover (SCO) with symmetry breaking and a 14 K hysteresis loop owing to strong cooperativity. Two ordered intermediate states of 1 were observed, 4HS–2LS and 2HS–4LS, which exhibited reentrant phase‐transition behavior. This study provides a new platform for examining multistability in SCO complexes.     

Hierarchy in optical near-fields based on compositions of nanomaterials

Optical near-field interactions exhibit hierarchical responses in the nanometer scale allowing unique functions in nanophotonic systems. Such hierarchical properties in optical near-fields originate various physical entities in the nanometer scale. Engineering nanomaterial compositions, while maintaining geometrically equivalent conditions, leads to characteristic hierarchical responses. We experimentally demonstrate such material-dependent optical near-field hierarchy using core–shell-type nanostructures composed of gold and silver.     

Observation of quantum confinement in ZnO nanorods fabricated using a two-temperature growth method

We observed a quantum confinement effect in vertically well-aligned ultrafine ZnO nanorods using polarized excitation photoluminescence measurements. Room-temperature and low-temperature photoluminescence spectra revealed that free excitons were confined in the nanorods. The magnitude of the energy shift due to the quantum confinement in the ultrafine ZnO nanorods was 6 meV at room temperature, which corresponded to the luminescence from ZnO nanorods 12.8 nm in diameter. The diameter estimated from the spectra was comparable to the value measured from SEM images.