Tuning the band gap of self-assembled superparamagnetic photonic crystals in colloidal magnetic fluids using external magnetic fields

The model of tunable superparamagnetic photonic crystals self-assembled in colloidal magnetic fluids under externally applied magnetic fields is established. The mechanisms, which are in charge of the tunability of the band gaps with magnetic fields are clarified. The band structures of the triangularly-arrayed two-dimensional photonic crystals with limited heights of magnetic columns are calculated with the experimental data of structures and refractive indices in the literatures. The field-dependent properties of the first band gaps are gained for the z-odd and z-even modes, respectively. Simulation results indicate that the mid frequencies of the first band gaps of the z-odd modes can be easily tuned by the external magnetic fields, while those of the z-even modes bear relatively weak dependence on the external magnetic fields. Simultaneously, the first band gaps of both kinds of modes become wide along with the increase of the magnetic fields. The results presented in this work give a guideline for realizing the tunable photonic crystals with magnetically colloidal materials and magnetic stimuli.     

A Zone Plate as a Tunable Terahertz Filter

A broadband tunable terahertz filter based on a zone plate is demonstrated in our terahertz time domain spec- trometer. The central bandpass frequency covers the whole spectral range of the terahertz wave emitted from a ZnTe emitter, from 0.5 THz to 2.5 THz, and can be tuned continuously by simply moving the zone plate along the terahertz beam path. The peak transmission is about 40% and the bandwidth varies from 0.16 THz to 0.25 THz at different bandpass frequencies when the aperture size is kept constant.     

Narrow band filters in both transmission and reflection with metal/dielectric thin films

We present a novel narrow band filter operating in both transmission and reflection for the first time to our knowledge. This proposed structure consists of one unsymmetrical dielectric Fabry-Perot cavity and an ultrathin metal film with n ≈ k. Theoretical analysis shows that both the reflectance and transmittance at the central wavelength are maximums. Due to the high absorption induced by the metal, a good rejection level can be obtained for a wide spectral range. In addition, the changes of peak value ratio R_max/T_max is also investigated by adjusting the amount of dielectric stacks. We finally demonstrate the experimental results to verify these designs.     

Cross-phase modulation in one-dimensional photonic crystals: applications to all-optical devices

We present a numerical study of a finite photonic band gap structure with a χ⁽³⁾ nonlinearity that couples two input pump beams at frequencies ω₁ and ω₂. We show that in this configuration a variety of all-optical devices can be obtained: an optical transistor, a double switch, and a dynamical switch.     

Narrow transmission bands of quasi-1D comb-like photonic waveguides containing negative index materials

Using the interface response theory, we investigate the band structure and transmission of quasi-1D comb-like photonic waveguides with side branches composed of negative index materials. Numerical results exhibit the existence of discrete modes in band structure. These discrete modes are corresponding to narrow transmission bands which separated by large forbidden band in the transmission spectrum. Meanwhile it is shown that the narrow transmission bands become narrower with the increase of the number of side branches. The above properties are still maintained when the negative index materials are dispersive and lossy.     

Special control of the cutoff frequencies in a 2D photonic crystal coupled-cavity waveguide

We show theoretically that the upper and lower cutoff frequencies of the guided band in a 2D photonic crystal coupled-cavity waveguide can be controlled independently or synchronously by changing two configuration parameters of the waveguide simultaneously. The independent control range for the lower and upper cutoff frequencies can be as large as 68.6% and 67.9% of photonic band gap, respectively. The two cutoff frequencies can also be tuned in the same direction over equal distances up to 25.7% of photonic band gap. These results offer an efficient way for designing the various dispersion relations for photonic crystal waveguides.     

Properties of defect modes in one-dimensional photonic crystals containing a graded defect layer

The properties of defect modes in one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) containing a graded defect layer are studied theoretically. The relative permittivity and magnetic permeability of the graded defect layer vary continuously along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the layer. The effect of the linear gradation profiles of the relative permittivity and permeability are studied in detail. It is shown that the defect modes appear inside the forbidden band gaps in its transmission spectra and the gradation profiles of the relative permittivity and permeability affect the defect modes significantly. By changing the gradation parameters, the intensity and position of the defect modes can be tuned. Therefore, introducing a graded defect layer in one-dimensional PCs provides possible mechanism for tuning the defect modes. This may be useful in the design of channeled filters.     

Interplay of local resonances and Bragg band gaps in acoustic waveguides with periodic detuned resonators

This letter is concerned with acoustic wave propagation and transmission in acoustic waveguides with periodically grafted detuned Helmholtz resonators. The interplay of local resonances and Bragg band gaps in such periodic systems is examined. It is shown that, when the resonant frequencies of the resonators are tuned close to a Bragg band gap, the behavior of the Bragg band gap can be affected dramatically. Particularly, by introducing appropriately tuned resonators, the bandwidth of a Bragg band gap can be reduced to zero, leading to a very narrow pass band with great wave attenuation performance near both band edges. The band formation mechanisms of such periodic waveguides are further examined, providing explicit formulae to locate the band edge frequencies of all the band gaps, as well as the conditions to achieve very narrow pass bands in such periodic waveguides.     

Tunable Infrared Luminescence and Optical Amplification in PbS Doped Glasses

PbS-doped glasses are prepared. Absorption and luminescence spectra show that both the absorption and infrared emission can be tuned widely by thermal treatment conditions. Optical amplification at 1300 nm is observed, and amplified spontaneous emission （ASE） spectrum is also measured to confirm the optical gain from PbS quantum dots.     

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.     

Surface bound states in the continuum

We introduce a novel concept of surface bound states in the continuum, i.e., surface modes embedded into the linear spectral band of a discrete lattice. We suggest an efficient method for creating such surface modes and the local bounded potential necessary to support the embedded modes. We demonstrate that the surface embedded modes are structurally stable, and the position of their eigenvalues inside the spectral band can be tuned continuously by adding weak nonlinearity.     

Improved chromatic dispersion monitoring technique

We consider and investigate an improved chromatic dispersion monitoring method using two RF tones with an inserted dispersion offset. This improved technique can be used to monitor both the positive and negative accumulated dispersion caused by optical fibers as well as other optical components in optical networks. We experimentally demonstrate that the monitoring range of the improved technique can be greater than 1150 ps/nm and the monitoring sensitivity better than 0.064 dB/ps/nm by selecting appropriate RF frequencies and dispersion offsets. Our investigations reveal that the RF modulation index should be greater than 10% but less than 20% so as to acquire a large monitoring range with a small power penalty. We also examine the CD monitoring errors caused by polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and self-phase modulation, and show that the use of a dispersion offset can effectively reduce the PMD-induced monitoring errors.     

石墨烯基双曲色散特异材料的负折射与体等离子体性质

基于有效介质理论研究了石墨烯/介质周期结构的电磁性质, 研究发现这种复合结构的等频面在太赫兹和远红外波段为双曲线, 可用来实现石墨烯基双曲色散特异材料. 通过改变石墨烯的费米能级、介质层厚度和单元结构中石墨烯的层数, 可很容易地调节双曲色散存在的频段. 由于等频面的双曲色散特性, 石墨烯基双曲色散特异材料在远低于截止频率的范围内, 对斜入射的电磁波具有负的能量折射率和正的相位折射率, 并支持局域体等离子体模式. 基于衰减全反射结构, 研究了体等离子体的激发, 探索了体等离子体在可调的光学反射调制器中的应用.     

Polarization-Independent Guided-Mode Resonance Filters under Oblique Incidence

We present the dispersion relation of guided-mode resonances in planar periodic waveguides, both for s-polarized （TF, mode） and p-polarized （TM mode） incident waves. For a fixed homogeneous planar waveguide, dispersion curves of the TE eigenmode cannot cross that of the TM eigenmode at all. That is to say, at a certain wavelength, TE and TM modes cannot be excited with the same propagation constant. Due to Bragg reflection in the planar periodic waveguide, dispersion curves of the TE leaky mode may intersect with that of the TM leaky mode in the first Brillouin zone. We employ these intersections to achieve polarization-independent guided-mode resonance filters.     

Superprism effect in 1D photonic crystal

It is shown that superprism effect can be observed not only in 2D and 3D photonic crystal but also in 1D photonic crystal. To observe the effect a diffraction grating should be put on the top of the 1D PC. It is shown that the band gap more dramatically appears in 1D PC than in 2D PC. This effect makes all PBG effects including superprism effect more pronounced and also weakens the influence of losses.     

Nondegenerate mirrorless oscillation in silicon waveguide

We propose nondegenerate four-wave mixing mirrorless oscillation in a multimode silicon nonlinear waveguide. Thanks to the large modal dispersion between two spatial modes caused by the high-index-contrast waveguide structure, two counterpropagating pumps of one spatial mode can generate two new optical waves of the other spatial mode at different frequencies. The phase-matching condition can be satisfied with the higher-order modes involved; therefore, frequencies of the newly generated light can be tuned by simply changing the pump frequency. The threshold power and conversion efficiency of the proposed mirrorless oscillation are investigated under different waveguide parameters.     

Comodulation masking release (CMR): effects of signal frequency, flanking-band frequency, masker bandwidth, flanking-band level, and monotic versus dichotic presentation of the flanking band

In experiment I, thresholds for 400-ms sinusoidal signals were measured in the presence of a continuous 25-Hz-wide noise centered at signal frequencies (fs) ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz in 1-oct steps. The masker was presented either alone or together with a second continuous 25-Hz-wide band of noise (the flanking band) whose envelope was either correlated with that of the on-frequency band or was uncorrelated; its center frequency ranged from 0.5 fs to 1.5 fs. The flanking band was presented either in the same ear (monotic condition) as the signal plus masker or in the opposite ear (dichotic condition). The on-frequency band and the flanking band each had an overall level of 67 dB SPL. The comodulation masking release, CMR (U-C), is defined as the difference between the thresholds for the uncorrelated and correlated conditions. The CMR (U-C) showed two components: a broadly tuned component, occurring at all signal frequencies and all flanking-band frequencies, and occurring for both monotic and dichotic conditions; and a component restricted to the monotic condition and to flanking-band frequencies close to fs. This sharply tuned component was small for low signal frequencies, increased markedly at 2000 and 4000 Hz, and decreased at 8000 Hz. Experiment II showed that the sharply tuned component of the CMR (U-C) was slightly reduced in magnitude when the level of the flanking band was 10 dB above that of the on-frequency band and was markedly reduced when the level was 10 dB below, whereas the broadly tuned component and the dichotic CMR (U-C) were only slightly affected. Experiment III showed that the sharply tuned component of the CMR (U-C) was markedly reduced when the bandwidths of the on-frequency and flanking bands were increased to 100 Hz, while the broadly tuned component and the dichotic CMR (U-C) decreased only slightly. The argument here is that the sharply tuned component of the monotic CMR (U-C) results from beating between the "carrier" frequencies of the two masker bands. This introduces periodic zeros in the masker envelope, which facilitate signal detection. The broadly tuned component, which is probably a "true" CMR, was only about 3 dB.     

Slowing light in diatomic nanoshelled chains

Coupled plasmon modes have been studied theoretically in periodic chains of shelled and unshelled metal nanoparticles embedded alternatively in a dielectric host, thus forming a diatomic chain. We calculate the dispersion relation of the diatomic chains and show that we can tune the shelled particle band into the unshelled particle band by varying the permittivity contrast and/or the core-shell radius ratio. This offers a precise control of the group velocity of coupled plasmon modes. The experimental realization of such diatomic chains by surface plasmon enhanced binding will be discussed.     

Semiclassical theory of three-level gas lasers

We present numerical solutions of the density matrix equations for a three-level gas laser gain medium with a single resonator mode at each of the two transition frequencies. Population pulsations and interference effects between the two transition amplitudes are included. Comparison with solutions obtained neglecting the interference terms shows these effects to be significant in low-pressure lasers at moderate intensities. Population pulsations also change results for resonator modes tuned near line center.     

Tuning the negative electromagnetic response in periodically perforated metal-dielectric-metal structures

We fabricate Ag-SU-8-Ag sandwich metamaterials perforated with a periodic array of dipoles. The transmittance spectra of both experiment and modeling have indicated the existence of low- and high-intensity transmission bands in midinfrared frequencies. The position of these transmission bands depend on the dipole length, and lattice structure. The high-intensity transmission bands are due to the excitation of the external surface plasmon plartion (SPP) modes and the localized modes, while the low-intensity transmission bands are from the excitation of the internal SPP modes. The transmittance of the low transmission bands can be increased by decreasing the relative position of the two transmission bands, and the negative electromagnetic response of the metamaterials is also increased. However, if we further decrease the relative position of the two bands, the low transmission band will be merged in the high transmission band, and no negative electromagnetic response can be retrieved.