Optical properties of nonstoichiometric ZrO<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript> according to spectroellipsometry data

Amorphous nonstoichiometric ZrO_x films of different composition have been synthesized by the method of ion-beam sputtering deposition of metallic zirconium in the presence of oxygen at different partial oxygen pressures in the growth zone, and their optical properties have been studied in the spectral range of 1.12–4.96 eV. It is found that light-absorbing films with metallic conductivity are formed at the partial oxygen pressure below 1.04 × 10^–3 Pa and transparent films with dielectric conductivity are formed at the pressure above 1.50 × 10^–3 Pa. It is shown that the spectral dependences of optical constants of ZrO_x films are described well by the corresponding dispersion models: the Cauchy polynomial model for films with dielectric conductivity and the Lorentz–Drude oscillator model for films with metallic conductivity.     

Scaling of optical forces in dielectric waveguides: rigorous connection between radiation pressure and dispersion

We show that eigenmodes of dielectric optical waveguides exert surface dilation forces on waveguide boundaries owing to radiation pressure, and we develop an exact scaling law relating modal dispersion of an arbitrary dielectric waveguide to the magnitude of optical forces generated by radiation pressure. This result points to highly dispersive waveguides as an optimal choice for the generation of large optical forces in nano-optomechanical systems. Exact agreement with ab initio calculations is demonstrated.     

Enhanced optical forces between coupled resonant metal nanoparticles

We investigate numerically the optical forces between noble metal nanoparticles sustaining localized surface plasmon resonances. Our results first point out enhanced binding optical forces compared with dielectric nanoparticles and nonresonant metallic nanoparticles. We also show that under suitable illumination conditions, short-range forces tend to make the nanoparticles cluster, leading to intense and localized hot spots in the interstices. This effect corroborates recent experimental observations of an enhanced Raman signal in trapped metal sphere ensembles.     

Tunable optical sorting and manipulation of nanoparticles via plasmon excitation

We numerically investigate the optical forces exerted by an incident light beam on Rayleigh metallic particles over a dielectric substrate. In analogy with atom manipulation, we identify two different trapping regimes depending on whether the illumination is performed within the plasmon band or out of it. By adjusting the incident wavelength, the particles can be selectively guided, or immobilized, at the substrate interface.     

Computation and visualization of Casimir forces in arbitrary geometries: nonmonotonic lateral-wall forces and the failure of proximity-force approximations

We present a method of computing Casimir forces for arbitrary geometries, with any desired accuracy, that can directly exploit the efficiency of standard numerical-electromagnetism techniques. Using the simplest possible finite-difference implementation of this approach, we obtain both agreement with past results for cylinder-plate geometries, and also present results for new geometries. In particular, we examine a pistonlike problem involving two dielectric and metallic squares sliding between two metallic walls, in two and three dimensions, respectively, and demonstrate nonadditive and nonmonotonic changes in the force due to these lateral walls.     

Pressure dependence of elastic constants of trigonal Se and Te

The pressure dependence of the symmetric elastic constants of Se and Te are analyzed. The weaker interchain forces are shown to increase rapidly with decreasing interchain distances, whereas covalent intrachain forces decrease. The results are consistent with a picture of the bonding having a partially metallic contribution which increases as the crystals approach the actual phase transition to metallic structures, stable at higher pressures.     

Dispersion characteristics of broadside coupled dielectric image guide at millimeter wave frequencies

Dispersion characteristics and wave impedance for the even and odd modes of the broad side coupled dielectric image guides are computed by using mode matching techniques. Dispersion curves for broadside image guide are plotted for various dielectric materials and dimensional parameters as a function of frequency. Normalized electric field for dominant electric field component E of TM even and odd modes for various half spacings between two dielectric slabs of broadside coupled image guide have been plotted. Polysterene ( r=2.56) and Stycast ( r=3.4) have been used as dielectric materials in fabricating broadside coupled image guide. This broadside coupled dielectric guide is very convenient as compared to the other dielectric guides. Since in case of broadside coupled image guide the dielectric slab can be bonded to the side metallic walls using some low loss adhesive material, while in other coupled dielectric guides the dielectric slab have to be supported by some low dielectric constant material (Eccofoam with r=1.02) to maintain the proper distance of side metallic walls from the dielectric slab. Since this structure is symmetrical, this configuration can be analysed in terms of even and odd mode phase velocities. The difference in these even and off mode phase velocities can be used to determine the coupling between coupled dielectric slab. Various couplers in this configuration can be realised.     

Mobilization of tungsten dust by electric forces and its bearing on tritiated particles in the ITER tokamak

Experimental investigations on the electric field strength required to overcome the adhesion forces of micron size tungsten metallic dust as well as silver and aluminum oxide in powdery form deposited on a conductive surface are presented. The results reveal a strong influence of particulate surface properties on the detachment threshold, especially for tungsten particles which exhibit a thin surface oxide layer that screens their electrical conductivity. Such tungsten particles makes possible that electrostatic self-charging occurs when tritiated because of their dielectric properties even if there are deposited on a conductive grounded surface.     

Optical properties of thin metallic film/dielectric superlattices constrained by the size effect

The dispersion relation of the 1D Bloch wave vector accompanied with an incident transverse electromagnetic wave on thin metallic film/dielectric superlattices is crucial to its optical properties. The interference of excited longitudinal plasmons between neighbouring metallic films induces a collective oscillation of the whole superlattice causing coupled plasmon polariton waves. A calculation of the optical reflectance manipulated by the size effect on the dielectric constant induces more allowable bands at < as the specularity parameters p and q decrease, meanwhile the cut-off frequency for band rejection also shows a blue shift.     

Maximum in vibrational frequency shift of a hydrogen molecule in solid hydrogen under pressure

Raman measurements on solid hydrogen show a maximum in the vibrational frequency of a H₂ molecule as a function of pressure, around 350 Kbar. We give an interpretation of this experimental data by considering a model in which a single H₂ molecule is immersed in a dielectric medium, and enclosed in a spheroidal box to simulate the effect of pressure. The maximum results from a balance between a decreasing equilibrium bond length of H₂ with pressure at low pressures and a term which reflects the pressure dependence of the dielectric constant. Our results are consistent with available calculations which give a much lower vibrational frequency at a much higher pressure, for a H₂ molecule embedded in a metallic medium.     

Plasma response to transient high voltage pulses

This review reports on plasma response to transient high voltage pulses in a low pressure unmagnetized plasma. Mainly, the experiments are reviewed, when a disc electrode (metallic and dielectric) is biased pulsed negative or positive. The main aim is to review the electron loss in plasmas and particle balance during the negative pulse electrode biasing, when the applied pulse width is less than the ion plasma period. Though the applied pulse width is less than the ion plasma period, ion rarefaction waves are excited. The solitary electron holes are reviewed for positive pulsed bias to the electrode. Also the excitation of waves (solitary electron and ion holes) is reviewed for a metallic electrode covered by a dielectric material. The wave excitation during and after the pulse withdrawal, excitation and propagation characteristics of various electrostatic plasma waves are reviewed here.     

The observable pressure of light in dielectric fluids

By considering a perfect reflector submerged in a dielectric fluid, we show that the Minkowski formulation describes the optical momentum transfer to submerged objects. This result is required by global energy conservation, regardless of the phase of the reflected wave. While the electromagnetic pressure on a submerged reflector can vary with phase of the mirror reflection coefficient between twice the Abraham momentum and twice the Minkowski momentum, the Minkowski momentum is always restored due to the additional pressure on the dielectric surface. This analysis also gives further evidence for use of the Minkowski stress tensor at the boundary of a dielectric interface, which has been the subject of a long-standing debate in physics and the source of uncertainty in the modeling of optical forces on submerged particles.     

Metallization of alkali-halide crystals under superhigh pressures

An estimation, based on thermodynamical considerations, of the pressure under which the NaCl crystal transforms into the metallic state, was carried out. Using the method of composite atomic orbitals, the thermodynamic potentials of dielectric and metallic phases of the NaCl crystal were calculated. The equations of state were obtained for both phases in a wide range of pressures, from 0 to 2000 kbar. From the point of intersection of the curves of thermodynamic potentials of two phases, the determination was made of the pressure of metallization equal to 1350 kbar. The temperature effects were not taken into account.Translated from Izvestiya VUZ, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 57–62, March, 1973.     

EPR Uniform Field Signal Enhancement by Dielectric Tubes in Cavities

The dielectric tube resonator (DTR) for electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy is introduced. It is defined as a metallic cylindrical TE₀₁₁ microwave cavity that contains a dielectric tube centered on the axis of the cylinder. Contour plots of dimensions of the metallic cylinder to achieve resonance at 9.5 GHz are shown for quartz, sapphire, and rutile tubes as a function of wall thickness and average radius. These contour plots were developed using analytical equations and confirmed by finite-element modeling. They can be used in two ways: design of the metallic cylinder for use at 9.5 GHz that incorporates a readily available tube such as a sapphire tube intended for NMR and design of a custom procured tube for optimized performance for specific sample-size constraints. The charts extend to the limiting condition where the dielectric fills the tube. However, the structure at this limit is not a dielectric resonator due to the metal wall and does not radiate. In addition, the uniform field (UF) DTR is introduced. Development of the UF resonator starting with a DTR is shown. The diameter of the tube remains constant along the cavity axis, and the diameter of the cylindrical metallic enclosure increases at the ends of the cavity to satisfy the uniform field condition. This structure has advantages over the previously developed UF TE₀₁₁ resonators: higher resonator efficiency parameter Λ, convenient overall size when using sapphire tubes, and higher quality data for small samples. The DTR and UF DTR structures fill the gap between free space and dielectric resonator limits in a continuous manner.     

133Cs high pressure Mössbauer spectroscopy: a new powerful tool for studying charge transfer and lattice dynamics in metallic Cs

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that¹³³Cs high pressure Mössbauer effect (ME) spectroscopy is an ideal technique to investigate on a microscopic level the pressure effects on charge transfer and lattice dynamics in metallic Cs. After discussing the experimental difficulties, which have been the reason for the lack of¹³³Cs ME studies on metallic Cs since 1965, we show that the results reveal first direct microscopic evidence for a pressure induced 6s 5d electronic transition in metallic Cs. We further investigate the change of Debye temperature with pressure at 4.2 K and obtain a new value of the Debye temperature of metallic Cs of _D = 64(2) K atp = 6 GPa. Special emphasis is given to the comparison of the experimental results with recent band structure calculations.     

Extraordinary Transmission through Metallic Grating with Subwavelength Slits for S-Polarization Illumination

Based on the rigorous coupled-wave analysis algorithm, we have systematically analysed the effect of the geometrical parameters of a dielectric film coated metallic grating with subwavelength slits on extraordinary optical transmission for s-polarization illumination. Results show that the dielectric film which sustains a waveguide electromagnetic mode on the top of the metallic lamellar grating can strongly enhance the transmittance, the positions of the transmission peaks are mainly determined by the period of the metallic grating, the thickness and refractive index of the dielectric film. This structure shows potential applications in excellent polarizers or polarization-isotropic devices at infrared spectral range by appropriately choosing the geometrical parameters.     

Dispersion Forces between Metal and Dielectric Plates Separated by a Magnetic Fluid

Technical Physics - The formalism of the Lifshitz theory has been used for determining the pressure exerted by dispersion forces between metal and dielectric plates separated by a thin layer of a...     

Structural,optical, and thermal properties of MAX-phase Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>AlB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

First-principles calculations of the structural, optical, and thermal properties of Cr₂AlB₂ are performed using the pseudopotential plane-wave method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Calculation of the elastic constant and phonon dispersion indicates that Cr₂AlB₂ is mechanically and thermodynamically stable. Analysis of the band structure and density of states indicates that Cr₂AlB₂ is metallic. The thermal properties under increasing temperature and pressure are investigated using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The results show that anharmonic effects on Cr₂AlB₂ are important at low temperature and high pressure. The calculated equilibrium primitive cell volume is 95.91 Å3 at T = 300 K, P = 0 GPa. The ability of Cr₂AlB₂ to resist volume changes becomes weaker with increasing temperature and stronger with increasing pressure. Analysis of optical properties of Cr₂AlB₂ shows that the static dielectric function of Cr₂AlB₂ is 53.1, and the refractive index n ₀ is 7.3. If the incident light has a frequency exceeding 16.09 eV, which is the plasma frequency of Cr₂AlB₂, Cr₂AlB₂ changes from metallic to dielectric material.     

Linear analysis of cyclotron-cherenkov and cherenkov instabilities in dielectric-loaded coaxial waveguides

We present, based on the cold fluid theory, linear analysis of the Cherenkov and cyclotron-Cherenkov instabilities which are driven when a linear electron beam is injected into a dielectric-loaded waveguide immersed in an axial magnetic field. In the analysis we consider azimuthally symmetric TM_0n modes. We derive dispersion relations for three types of waveguide, and compare computationally obtained linear growth rates of both instabilities. For the type A, which consists of a metallic cylinder with dielectric liner on its inner surface, the growth rate of the Cherenkov instability is larger than that of the cyclotron-Cherenkov instability. For the type B, which consists of a dielectric core and an outer metallic cylinder, both growth rates are comparable. And for the type C, which consists of a metallic core with dielectric liner on its surface and an outer metallic cylinder, the growth rate of the latter instability is higher than that of the former instability. Finally, for the type C, obtained are dependences of the oscillation frequency and the growth rates of both instabilities on the following parameters: the beam energy, the beam current, the axial magnetic field, the dielectric constant, and the thickness of the dielectric.