Nearly perfect absorption in a single-layer metallic grating with rectangular grooves on its front surface

A subwavelength metallic grating can support horizontal surface plasmons (HSPs) at its horizontal metallic boundaries and vertical cavity modes (CMs) inside its slits. It has been shown that the coupling between these two resonant modes can enhance the absorption of the transverse magnetic polarized wave with the maximum absorption up to 75 % (Roszkiewicz et al. in Opt Lett 37(18):3759–3761, 2012). In this work, we propose and analyze a modified grating structure and show that it is possible to raise the absorption to nearly 100 %. The modified structure is a freestanding metallic grating with rectangular grooves on its front surface which can change the distribution of the HSPs on the same side, while leave those on the other side unaffected. When the HSPs on the front surface are changed to some certain situations, all incident energy can be launched into the grating slits by the CMs resonance and then be prohibited from transmitting through the grating by the HSPs on the back surface. Therefore, in such a single-layer metallic grating structure, all of the incident energy is absorbed, i.e., nearly 100 % absorption is obtained.     

Numerical simulation of the optical reflection and transmission coefficients of a periodic surface of metallic nanowire grating

The optical reflection and transmission coefficients of a metallic nanograting have been studied with the use of numerical simulation in a wide range of the size of structural units of the grating. The grating is composed of silver nanowires arranged periodically on a quartz substrate. The cases of s- and p-polarized incident waves have been considered. In particular, it has been found that the spectral dependence of the reflection and transmission coefficients of the nanograting becomes oscillatory and exhibits several deep minima when all structural parameters of the grating (the nanowire’s width and height, and the grating period) approach tens of nanometers. The physical reason of the appearance of these oscillations has been analyzed. It has been shown how the depth and position of the discovered minima depend on the light angle of the incident wave and the rotation angle of the grating around its normal surface.     

Measuring the Magnetooptic Kerr effect by diffraction

A method is presented to measure the Magnetooptic Kerr Effect (MOKE) by diffraction. This is accomplished by giving the magnetized surface a magnetization distribution which functions like a linear diffraction grating. It is shown that the first and higher orders of the light diffracted by such a grating are produced by MOKE whereas the zero order approximately represents the reflectivity of the surface (given by the Fresnel formulae assuming zero magnetization). The procedure used here to form a grating is restricted to thin soft magnetic films, and has been demonstrated on evaporated Fe-Ni films. It uses the magnetic field of a pulse-driven meandered stripe-conductor placed in close contact with the film in the presence of a homogeneous external magnetic field. Experimentally determined Kerr intensities were compared with those measured by ellipsometric methods. Good agreement was found in the case of films with uniaxial anisotropy. For films with no anisotropy, the relative dependence of Kerr intensity vs wavelength, polarisation and angle of incidence could be derived.     

Acceleration of charged particles and radiation reaction in strong plane and spherical waves. II

Particle motion in a superstrong wave field (Laser or Pulsar field) is considered in the presence of an additional longitudinal magnetic field. It is shown that the particle motion is distinctly different from that in a previously considered pure wave field and that the maximum obtainable energy is substantially reduced. We also reconsider the effects of radiation reaction on a particle moving in a plane linearily polarized wave.     

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.     

Generating magnetic field pulses in the development of an explosive Alfvén wave instability in a flow-plasma system

The excitation of Alfvén radiation is studied when an explosive instability is developed in a heated gyrotropic plasma penetrated by a monovelocity flow of ionized gas. It is shown that magnetic field pulses are generated in the plasma under certain conditions. The amplitudes of the Alfvén wave harmonics are found and the conditions for stabilization of the explosion due to the nonlinear absorption associated with weakly damped Alfvén wave harmonics are specified.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 39, No. 8, pp. 1001–1006, August, 1996.This work was supported in part by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research under Grant No. 95-02-05255.     

Giant negative and positive lateral shifts in graphene superlattices

Electronic analogy of Goos-Hänchen shift has been well established and investigated in various graphene-based nanostructures, including p-n interface, single and double barriers. In this paper, we have studied the giant negative and positive lateral shifts of the transmitted electron beam through graphene superlattices. It is found that the lateral shifts, depending on the location of new Dirac point, can be negative as well as positive near the band edges of zero-k? (non-Bragg) gap. We have also achieved the enhanced opposite shifts in the graphene superlattice with defect layer, since such structure possesses the defect mode inside the zero-k? gap. The modulations of negative and positive lateral shifts by incidence angles, width and potential height of defect layer may lead to potential applications in the graphene-based electron wave devices.     

Stimulation of neurite growth under broadband pulsed THz radiation

The effect of low-intensity broadband pulsed THz radiation in the range from 0.05 to 1.2 THz, with power from 0.25 to 11.6 µW, on the growth of neurites of spinal ganglia of (10–12)-day chick embryos has been investigated. An analysis of the 3-min irradiation with powers in this range has demonstrated both stimulating and suppressive effects of THz radiation on the proliferative activity of neurites. This effect manifests itself with a decrease in the THz radiation power.     

Monochromaticity of the Smith-Purcell optical radiation generated by a 75-keV electron beam

The monochromaticity of the Smith-Purcell optical radiation generated by a 75-keV electron beam with a final emittance of ε = 0.65 × 10^?4 mm rad that passes over a grating with a period of D = 0.833 μm has been analyzed. It has been shown that the monochromaticity of Smith-Purcell radiation is determined not only by the angular aperture of a monochromator but also by the divergence of the electron beam.     

Observation of the Talbot effect for ultrasonic waves

The diffraction of ultrasonic radiation on an amplitude diffraction grating in the near-field area (Fresnel diffraction) has been studied. The effect of self-imaging of the grating (Talbot effect) has been detected for ultrasonic radiation at distances from the grating in the range from z = 0 to z = 2L _T, where L _T is the Talbot length. The fractional Talbot effect, i.e., the ultrasonic image of the grating with the period d/2, has been observed.     

X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations of atomic interactions in surface layers of multilayered nanostructures (Co45Fe45Zr10/a-Si)40 and (Co45Fe45Zr10/SiO2)32

The interatomic interaction and chemical state of elements in amorphous multilayered (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/a-Si)₄₀ and (Co₄₅Fe₄₅Zr₁₀/SiO₂)₃₂ nanostructures with different interlayers have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations have demonstrated that, in surface layers of all the studied multilayered structures, the metallic layer components Co, Fe, and Zr are in the oxidized state. The silicon state is found to be identical and close to the state of nonstoichiometric silicon oxide, regardless of the presumed compositions of SiO₂ and a-Si interlayers. After the removal of surface layers of the multilayered structures in the sample preparation chamber by ion etching, the metallic layer components Co, Fe, and Zr are predominantly in the elemental state.     

Photoemission electron microscopy of arrays of submicron nickel rods in a silicon dioxide matrix

Arrays of Ni rods (～500 nm diameter) formed by the ion-track technology in combination with electrochemical deposition into a SiO₂ matrix on the surface of single-crystal silicon plates have been investigated using photoemission electron microscopy with high-intensity synchrotron (undulator) radiation. An analysis of the Ni L _2,3 X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra has demonstrated that rod-like structures in pores and connecting bridges between the rods are formed by a metallic nickel phase, which is stable to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. No formation of intermediate compound phases (nickel silicides and oxides) is observed at the Ni/SiO₂ heterojunction, whereas oxidized nickel(II) species are identified on the surface of the SiO₂ matrix, which presumably can be attributed to nickel silicate and hydroxide compounds formed upon nickel(II) chemisorption in electrochemical deposition electrolytes.     

Development of a compact hardware/software package for noninvasive diagnostics of skin diseases in the THz frequency range

The key elements of a mobile hardware/software package for noninvasive diagnostics of skin diseases in the THz frequency range have been designed, produced, and approved in model experiments. These elements are a compact THz oscillator based on an all-fiber femtosecond laser system and a unit for recovering electrodynamic characteristics of layered objects from scattered THz radiation spectra. Generation of 250-fs optical pulses at a wavelength of 1.03 µm with energy of 0.3 µJ and a repetition frequency of 1MHz is demonstrated and the efficiency of optical-THz conversion is found to be 5×10^?6. The proposed algorithm is constructed based on an iterative procedure and can be used for dispersive and absorbing media. It has higher operating speed in comparison with the algorithms for solving inverse problems, which are based on functional minimization methods.     

Continuous-wave 2.52 Terahertz Gabor inline compressive holographic tomography

Continuous-wave (CW) 2.52 Terahertz (THz) 3D tomographic images were obtained by numerically reconstructing a single Gabor inline digital hologram based on modified compressive sensing reconstruction algorithm. Three metallic copper samples which are separately adhered to three Teflon plate were used as the targets. The actual axial resolution achieved was higher than 6 mm, and the lateral resolution was higher than 0.4 mm. Similarly, a paper clip and a handwritten character sample on a white paper were also imaged. Numerical simulation and experimental results verified the preferable reconstruction characteristics of the proposed modified algorithm. The feasibility of CW THz Gabor inline compressive holographic tomography is confirmed by adding barriers such as Teflon boards and thermal paper to block the samples.     

Statistical estimates of the contribution of multiply scattered radiation to the intensity of acoustic radiation transmitted through a lower 500-m atmospheric layer

The problem of acoustic radiation propagation through a lower 500-m plane-stratified turbulent atmospheric layer has been solved by the Monte Carlo method. Statistical estimates of the contribution of multiply scattered radiation to the transmitted acoustic radiation intensity are obtained. A point omnidirectional source of monochromatic acoustic radiation was placed at a height of 35 m above the absorbing Earths surface. Statistical estimates of the contribution of multiply scattered radiation to the transmitted radiation intensity have shown that it does not exceed 15% for the outer scale of atmospheric turbulence L₀ = 10 m and sound frequency F = 1700 Hz, reaches 30% for L₀ = 20 m, and increases to 90% for L₀ = 80 m. A comparison of the calculated results with the available experimental data demonstrates their satisfactory agreement.__________Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 72–79, December, 2004.     

Terahertz,X-ray and neutron computed tomography of an Eighteenth Dynasty Egyptian sealed pottery

An Eighteenth Dynasty Egyptian sealed pottery stored at the Museum of Aquitaine (Bordeaux, France) has been investigated using terahertz radiation, X-rays and neutrons. THz computed tomography revealed nondestructively the presence of content, whereas X-rays and neutrons analyzed more precisely the fabrication process and conservation of the pottery together with the nature of this content owing to higher spatial resolution and contrast. With neutron tomography, we determined the method used to seal the jar as well as the finer structure of the inner content. Neutron-induced prompt gamma spectroscopy was finally applied to measure the elemental composition of the content, which is supposed to consist of dried germinated seeds.     

Calculation and optimization of parameters of deep groove gratings with multilayer dielectric coating for compression of high-power laser pulses

The method of calculating the electromagnetic wave field diffracted by a holographic grating with a multilayer dielectric coating is developed. The method consists of the representation of the field inside dielectric layers in the form of a plane-wave expansion for weakly damped harmonics and an expansion over functions of the concomitant coordinate system for strongly damped orders. This modification of the method allows calculation of the diffraction efficiency and the electric field strength for the deep groove gratings. It is shown that a diffraction element that possess high efficiency and radiation strength can be obtained even when the profile of the dielectric layers flattens with an increase in the distance from the grating’s metallic layer.     

Nonlinear model of sequential recording of superimposed holographic gratings in photopolymer composites with allowance for the self-diffraction from spatial harmonics

The problems of sequential recording of superimposed holographic diffraction structures of transmission and reflection types in photopolymer composites have been investigated taking into account an arbitrary degree of photopolymerization nonlinearity and the interference pattern contrast at an arbitrary ratio of the photopolymerization and diffusion mechanisms of recording and self-diffraction processes. A theoretical model for N superimposed phase diffraction structures has been constructed by solving interrelated kinetic equations of photopolymerization for H + 1 spatial harmonics of each diffraction structure. This approach makes it possible to investigate the temporal dynamics of the harmonic amplitudes, spatial profile, diffraction efficiency, and angular selectivity of recorded gratings. The model proposed takes into account the diffraction of recording beams from the first harmonic of the ith grating during formation of the (i + 1)th grating.     

Complete optoelectronic simulation of patterned silicon solar cells

In this paper, patterned silicon solar cells are fully modelled optically and electrically using Lumerical Solutions’ optical simulation software, FDTD Solutions and electrical simulation solver, DEVICE. The optical simulation calculates the spatial distribution of photon absorption in the silicon when the cell is illuminated by unpolarized sunlight with the AM1.5 solar spectral intensity. The photon absorption data is converted into a spatial generation rate of electron-hole pairs. The electrical simulation uses this generation rate to calculate the collection efficiency of electron and hole carriers, accurately accounting for surface and bulk recombination in silicon. Two main designs are simulated, each with periodic structures: a grating structure and a square pyramid structure. The short-circuit current as well as the overall conversion efficiency for the two devices are calculated.