Delay limit of slow light in an optical fiber

We show that coherent population oscillations effect produces a very narrow spectral hole in the absorption spectrum. The large dispersion of the refractive index associated with this hole permits us to achieve a group velocity as low as 1496.25 m/s at room temperature in an erbium-doped fiber. When the input intensity is equal to the saturation intensity, the dispersion is optimal. The optimal dispersion corresponds to the maximum fractional delay. Therefore, the input intensity can be used as a control parameter to increase the fractional delay. Our theoretical results based on population oscillation agree very well with the experimental data. In addition, we confirm that the spectral hole experiences power broadening for optical fibers of different lengths.     

Observation of ultraslow light propagation in a ruby crystal at room temperature

We have observed slow light propagation with a group velocity as low as 57.5+/-0.5 m/s at room temperature in a ruby crystal. A quantum coherence effect, coherent population oscillations, produces a very narrow spectral "hole" in the homogeneously broadened absorption profile of ruby. The resulting rapid spectral variation of the refractive index leads to a large value of the group index. We observe slow light propagation both for Gaussian-shaped light pulses and for amplitude modulated optical beams in a system that is much simpler than those previously used for generating slow light.     

A Doppler lidar with atomic Faraday devices frequency stabilization and discrimination

In this paper, we report a Doppler lidar in which the laser frequency is stabilized and the backscattered light frequency is discriminated by a multi-peak and a less-peak atomic Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter (FADOF), respectively. The transmission spectrum of the FADOF is stable as it is based on an atomic transition, and slightly tunable with a magnet due to Zeeman effect. The high frequency stability of the FADOF provides a high velocity accuracy; and the tunability of the FADOF transmission spectrum makes the measurement range flexible. We describe an experimental lidar system based on cesium FADOFs, and the experimental error is of±0.74 m/s over velocities ranging from ?40 to +40 m/s.     

Infrared spectroscopy of Landau levels of graphene

We report infrared studies of the Landau level (LL) transitions in single layer graphene. Our specimens are density tunable and show in situ half-integer quantum Hall plateaus. Infrared transmission is measured in magnetic fields up to B=18 T at selected LL fillings. Resonances between hole LLs and electron LLs, as well as resonances between hole and electron LLs, are resolved. Their transition energies are proportional to sqrt[B], and the deduced band velocity is (-)c approximately equal to 1.1 x 10(6) m/s. The lack of precise scaling between different LL transitions indicates considerable contributions of many-particle effects to the infrared transition energies.     

An investigation into melt flow dynamics during repetitive pulsed laser drilling of transparent media

This paper presents an investigation into the dynamics of repetitive pulsed laser drilling of a visually transparent media using a CO₂ laser source. This enabled the use of a high-speed imaging system for observing, in real time, the behaviour of the drilling process in the laser drilled cavity of 1.5 mm diameter holes of up to 18.5 mm in depth. The work revealed that the instantaneous drilling velocity within each laser pulse can vary considerably from the average drilling velocity as a result of the non-uniform temporal pulse shape and the oscillation of the melt ejection rate. During beam breakthrough, both upward and downward melt ejections were observed to occur inside the drilled hole for a short period of time, after which the material was ejected through the exit end of the holes. It has been shown in this work that the downward melt flow velocity increases with hole depth for a positively tapered hole (from 0.09 to 1.43 m/s) and decreases with hole depth for a negatively tapered hole geometry (from 0.4 to 0.1 m/s), as a result of the change in the assist gas velocity inside the drilled hole with respect to the hole taper geometry. The mechanisms of forming the positively and negatively tapered holes in the transparent media have been correlated with the hole geometry and melt flow velocity. The work has demonstrated a new method of studying the melt dynamics in laser drilling.     

A cold cesium atomic beam produced out of a pyramidal funnel

We have built an atomic funnel which produces a slow and cold cesium atomic beam. The atomic funnel is based on a pyramidal Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) with a small hole at its apex. Characterization of the funnel operation has been carried out by fluorescence emission and absorption spectroscopy, and optical time of flight (TOF) methods. The atomic beam has a longitudinal velocity in the range 8–12 m/s and a spread less than 1.5 m/s. The transverse temperature is close to the Doppler limit. Typically, an atom flux 4×10⁹ atoms/s is attained. These features, combined with the compactness and simplicity of the experimental arrangement, make this system an ideal source for experiments in atom lithography and atom optics.     

室温条件下掺铒光纤中光脉冲群速可控特性的研究

利用相干布居振荡技术在介质吸收光谱上产生烧孔，孔宽大约为基态粒子数恢复时间的倒数. 由增益理论分析得到不同抽运光功率对介质吸收状态的影响. 在介质的吸收区域，振荡导致光脉冲经历饱和吸收，脉冲传输延迟；在介质的增益区域，振荡又导致光脉冲经历增益饱和，脉冲传输超前. 应用此技术在掺铒光纤中实现了光速人为可控. 在掺铒光纤晶体中观测到了最慢为2.857×10³m/s的光速减慢传输，相应感生群折射率为10.5×10⁴. 根据布居振荡效应及增益理论，由速率方程出发，得到了 关键词： 光谱烧孔 相干布居振荡 饱和吸收 慢光     

Control of condensation and evaporation of electron–hole liquid in diamond by femtosecond laser pulses

We demonstrate the ultrafast control of condensation and evaporation of an electron–hole liquid in diamond prepared by chemical vapor deposition. The electron–hole liquid dynamics was measured using a three‐pulse pump and probe experiment. The transient transmission changes in the presence of electron–hole drops were assigned to the increase in the Drude scattering rate in the model of free carrier absorption due to a high carrier density. The fast (～1 ps) liquid evaporation was induced by infrared femtosecond pulses and its dynamics was investigated under different photon energies and fluences. The value of the electron–hole liquid binding energy per electron–hole pair 80 ± 40 meV determined from the measured transient transmission signal agrees well with previously published values. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Greybody factor for a scalar field coupling to Einstein's tensor

We study the greybody factor and Hawking radiation for a scalar field coupling to Einstein's tensor in the background of Reissner–Nordström black hole in the low-energy approximation. We find that the presence of the coupling terms modifies the standard results in the greybody factor and Hawking radiation. Our results show that both the absorption probability and Hawking radiation increase with the coupling constant. Moreover, we also find that for the stronger coupling, the charge of black hole enhances the absorption probability and Hawking radiation of the scalar field, which is different from those of ones without coupling to Einstein's tensor in the black hole spacetime.     

Transmission loss and dispersion in plastic terahertz photonic band-gap fibers

We present an investigation into the transmission loss and dispersion of terahertz waves in plastic photonic band-gap fibers having a cladding with a finite number of air hole rings. The leakage loss and absorption loss caused by background material are analyzed by a full-vectorial two-dimensional finite difference frequency domain method and the lowest power transmission loss of 6.126 dB/m at 1.75 THz is realized. Numerical results show that a larger diameter-to-pitch ratio is suitable for lower transmission loss and lower group-velocity dispersion in plastic terahertz photonic band-gap fibers. PACS 41.20.Jb; 41.20.Cv; 42.81.Dp     

Maximum kick from nonspinning black-hole binary inspiral

When unequal-mass black holes merge, the final black hole receives a kick due to the asymmetric loss of linear momentum in the gravitational radiation emitted during the merger. The magnitude of this kick has important astrophysical consequences. Recent breakthroughs in numerical relativity allow us to perform the largest parameter study undertaken to date in numerical simulations of binary black-hole inspirals. We study nonspinning black-hole binaries with mass ratios from q=M1/M2=1 to q=0.25 (eta=q/(1+q)2 from 0.25 to 0.16). We accurately calculate the velocity of the kick to within 6%, and the final spin of the black holes to within 2%. A maximum kick of 175.2+/-11 km s(-1) is achieved for eta=0.195+/-0.005.     

Er~(3+)掺杂Na_5Lu_9F_(32)单晶体的红外光学特性

采用坩埚下降法成功地生长了Er~(3+)离子掺杂的Na_5Lu_9F_(32)(NLF)单晶体。测定了单晶体在400~2 500nm波段的吸收光谱与2.5~25μm红外波段的透过光谱。Na_5Lu_9F_(32)单晶体在400~7 150 nm宽波段范围具有好的光学透过性,在该波段的透过率达到90%。在透过光谱中几乎观察不到2.7μm中红外波段的吸收,说明单晶体中OH~-离子的含量极低。根据测定的吸收光谱,通过Judd-Ofelt理论计算了Er~(3+)在单晶体中的光学强度参数Ω_t(Ω_2=2.08,Ω_4=2.07,Ω_6=0.75),以及相应的辐射跃迁速率、荧光分支比和荧光寿命。根据Futchbauer-Ladenburg公式估算了样品的发射截面大约分别为1.42×10~(-20)cm~2(~4I_(13/2)→~4I_(15/2))和1.66×10~(-20)cm~2(~4I_(11/2)→~4I_(13/2))。在980 nm半导体激光器(LD)激发下,研究了单晶体的近红外1.5μm与中红外2.7μm的发射光谱特性。     

Extraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN film

We studied numerically the temperature dependent extraordinary terahertz transmission through niobium nitride(NbN) film perforated with subwavelength spindle-like apertures. Both the resonant frequency and intensity of extraordinary terahertz transmission peaks can be greatly modified by the transition of NbN film from the normal state to the superconducting state. An enhancement of the(±1, 0) NbN/magnesium oxide(MgO) peak intensity as high as 200% is demonstrated due to the combined contribution of both the superconducting transition and the excitation of localized surface plasmons(LSPs) around the apertures. The extraordinary terahertz transmission through spindle-like hole arrays patterned on the NbN film can pave the way for us to explore novel active tuning devices.     

离子推力器束流引出状态对栅极刻蚀的影响

为了研究30 cm离子推力器束流引出状态对栅极刻蚀的影响,建立了束流引出模型,并采用PIC-MCC方法对CEX离子造成的栅极腐蚀速率进行了计算,最后将计算结果与1500 h寿命试验结果进行比对分析。结果显示:束流正常聚焦时,在3 kW和5 kW两种工作模式下,加速栅和减速栅的质量刻蚀速率分别为(1.11～1.72)×10?15 kg/s及(1.22～1.26)×10?17 kg/s。在5 kW工况下,当屏栅上游等离子体密度达到4.03×1017 m?3时,束流出现欠聚焦现象,此时加速栅和减速栅的最大离子刻蚀速率分别为4.33×10?15 kg/s和4.02×10?15 kg/s;在3 kW工况下,当屏栅上游等离子体密度达到0.22×1017 m?3时,束流出现过聚焦现象,此时加速栅和减速栅的最大离子刻蚀速率分别为3.24×10?15 kg/s和5.01×10?15 kg/s。寿命试验结果表明,加速栅孔质量刻蚀速率的计算值与试验值比对误差较小,而由于束流离子对减速栅孔的直接轰击,导致减速栅孔刻蚀速率的计算值和试验值差异极大。经研究认为,对屏栅小孔采用变孔径设计,是降低当束流处于欠聚焦或过聚焦状态下,CEX离子造成加速栅孔和减速栅孔刻蚀速率,并提升推力器工作寿命的有效措施。     

Absorption of short laser pulses on solid targets in the ultrarelativistic regime

We report the first direct measurements of total absorption of short laser pulses on solid targets in the ultrarelativistic regime. The data show an enhanced absorption at intensities above 10(20) W/cm(2), reaching 60% for near-normal incidence and 80%-90% for 45 degrees incidence. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that such high absorption is consistent with both interaction with preplasma and hole boring by the intense laser pulse. A large redshift in the second harmonic indicates a surface recession velocity of 0.035c.     

Investigation of the performance of bipolar transverse plate ESP in the sintering flue control

In order to improve the particle collection efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator (ESP), a transverse plate ESP with bipolar discharge electrodes is proposed. The simulations of the velocity distribution have shown that when the inlet velocity is 1 m/s, within the range of 40 mm from electrode plate, the average velocities of windward side and leeward side are less than 0.7 m/s and 0.3 m/s respectively. It is clear that the velocity near the collection electrode plate of this bipolar ESP is much lower than that of the ordinary ESP at the same inlet velocity. This low velocity can lead to higher efficiency for fine dust collection due to the less dust re-entrainment in ESP. It is also found that the average velocities are getting lower when the distance between plates electrodes are greater than 150 mm in accordance with the simulations. The voltage current characteristics of the bipolar ESP are superior to the ordinary ESP. The pressure drop of the bipolar ESP is about 30% higher than that of the ordinary one. The dust penetration of the bipolar ESP is about 54% less than that of the ordinary ESP when the sintering dust with 25.405 μm mass median diameter is used as the test particulate under the condition of the electric field from 2.1 kV/cm to 3.2 kV/cm and the velocity from 1.0 m/s to 1.5 m/s.     

Slow light with persistent spectral hole burning in waveguides

We model numerically the reshaping of a weak probe pulse propagating in an absorptive, optically dense, persistent spectral hole burning medium under conditions of slow group velocity. Saturated holes are burned in waveguide geometry by illumination in the transverse direction with low absorption, whereas the probing is carried out in longitudinal wave guiding directions with high absorption. We show that by choosing optimum hole spectrum, the Gaussian probe pulse may be delayed by several times its original duration, while overall pulse shape distortion is less than 1% and average energy loss is less than 10%.     

红宝石晶体中慢光现象的实验观测

在室温下观测到了固体材料中的慢光现象。用氩离子激光(514.5nm)单光束入射到红宝石晶体中,用相干布居数振荡效应产生烧孔。利用光谱烧孔使介质折射率发生急剧变化,导致光的群速变慢。实验上观测的时延为(2.314±0.005)ms,推断光速值为(43.215±0.094)m／s,并观测到时延和光的群速随调制频率变化的规律。     

The effect of temperature on sound wave absorption in a sediment layer

The effect of temperature on sound velocity, absorption, and reflection coefficient in the seabed sediment layer is investigated. Experimental measurements of sound speed, absorption, and the reflection coefficient in a sandy sediment layer have been carried out at several temperatures. An absorption reduction of 75 dB/m and a velocity increase of 65 m/s have been measured at a frequency of 1 MHz when the temperature increases from 5 to 25 degrees C. Because of the absorption temperature dependence the amplitude of the reflected wave from the back surface of the sub-bottom layer after going back and forth across the layer increases with the temperature.     

Optical absorption enhancement in slanted silicon nanocone hole arrays for solar photovoltaics

We investigate slanted silicon nanocone hole arrays as light absorbing structures for solar photovoltaics via simulation.With only 1-μm equivalent thickness, a maximum short-circuit current density of 34.9 m A/cm~2 is obtained. Moreover, by adding an Ag mirror under the whole structure, a short-circuit current density of 37.9 m A/cm~2 is attained. It is understood that the optical absorption enhancement mainly results from three aspects. First, the silicon nanocone holes provide a highly efficient antireflection effect. Second, after breaking the geometric symmetry, the slanted silicon nanocone hole supports more resonant absorption modes than vertical structures. Third, the Fabry–Perot resonance enhances the light absorption after adding an Ag mirror.