Scattering and propagation of UV pulses in soot aerosols

Scattering and propagation of a UV pulse in soot aerosols are studied using generalized multi-sphere Mie theory (GMM) and a two-frequency mutual coherence function. Soot aerosols are obtained by the diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) model. Scattering characteristics of aggregate structures in soot aerosols are analyzed by GMM theory in detail. Scattering intensities versus scattering angles are given and discussed. The effects of different-positions of the aggregate on the scattering intensities, scattering cross section, extinction cross section, absorption cross section and asymmetry factor are computed and compared. The two-frequency mutual coherence functions of UV pulses in soot aerosols are simulated, and the effects of optical distance, frequency difference are analyzed.     

Scattering of ultrashort laser pulses on “ion‐sphere” in dense plasmas

Scattering of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses on the dense strongly coupled plasma is under consideration in the frame of hard ion sphere model. The electron distribution inside the ion sphere is obtained from self‐consistent solution of the Shrodinger equation for bound electrons and the Poisson equation for free electrons. The electron density distribution is determined by plasma electron temperatures. The ion density of Al plasmas under consideration is of the order of 10²⁰–10²² cm^?3, the electron temperature changes between 54 and 816 eV. Dynamical polarizability of the hard sphere determining the scattering cross sections is calculated using the modified local plasma frequency approximation. The spectrum of scattering cross section has maxima in the vicinity of the mean plasma frequency. Dependencies of scattering probability on carrier frequency and pulse duration are analysed in detail. The transition of the total scattering probabilities from nonlinear time dependence at small times to standard linear ones with the increase of pulse duration is demonstrated.     

太赫兹波在雾中的多重散射特性

太赫兹(THz)波作为微波和毫米波的延伸,它所提供的通信带宽和容量远大于毫米波。在随机介质中传播时,不但会发生时域和空域的形变,介质中的粒子还会对入射波发生散射,这些都会使得脉冲信号发生衰减。根据Mie理论与随机离散分布粒子的波传播与散射理论,计算了THz波信号入射下雾滴粒子的消光系数。结合雾滴粒子谱分布,得到了雾媒质的平均体系散射特性,采用蒙特卡罗法得到了平流雾对THz信号的多重散射特性,计算了THz波段信号对平流雾的透过率与反射率,分析了THz波段信号的前向、后向散射特性随散射角的分布。结果表明,低能见度大气环境中,雾对THz波产生的吸收和衰减不容忽视。相关研究结果对THz在大气传输、通信等方面的应用具有重要意义。     

Generation of 30 microJ single-cycle terahertz pulses at 100 Hz repetition rate by optical rectification

We report the generation of 30 microJ single-cycle terahertz pulses at 100 Hz repetition rate by phase-matched optical rectification in lithium niobate using 28 mJ femtosecond laser pulses. The phase-matching condition is achieved by tilting the laser pulse intensity front. Temporal, spectral, and propagation properties of the generated terahertz pulses are presented. In addition, we discuss possibilities for further increasing the energy of single-cycle terahertz pulses obtained by optical rectification.     

Effects of soot absorption and scattering on LII intensities in laminar coflow diffusion flames

Absorption and scattering of laser-induced incandescence (LII) intensities by soot particles present between the measurement volume and the detector were numerically investigated at detection wavelengths of 400 and 780 nm in a laminar coflow ethylene/air flame. The radiative properties of aggregated soot particles were calculated using the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans polydisperse fractal aggregate theory. The radiative transfer equation in emitting, absorbing, and scattering media was solved using the discrete-ordinates method. The radiation intensity along an arbitrary direction was obtained using the infinitely small weight technique. The effects of absorption and scattering on LII intensities are found to be significant under the conditions of this study, especially at the shorter detection wavelength and when the soot volume fraction is higher. Such a wavelength-dependent signal-trapping effect leads to a lower soot particle temperature estimated from the ratio of uncorrected LII intensities at the two detection wavelengths. The corresponding soot volume fraction derived from the absolute LII intensity technique is overestimated. The Beer-Lambert relationship can be used to describe radiation attenuation in absorbing and scattering media with good accuracy provided the effective extinction coefficient is adequately.     

随机取向烟尘团簇粒子的光学截面的数值计算

采用蒙特卡罗方法根据团簇—团簇凝聚（CCA）模型对由球形原始微粒凝聚而成的烟尘团簇粒子进行了模拟,利用离散偶极子近似（DDA）方法数值计算了不同原始微粒粒径和数目组成的随机取向的烟尘团簇粒子的总消光截面、吸收截面及散射截面等光学特性参数,研究了原始微粒粒径及数目对随机取向烟尘团簇粒子光学特性的影响。结果表明：当入射波长一定时,随机取向烟尘団簇粒子的光学特性主要取决于原始微粒的粒径和数目;烟尘团簇粒子对不同波段激光的吸收和散射存在差别,这种差别随原始微粒粒径及数目变化而变化。这一工作为研究电磁波在烟尘中的传输特性提供重要参考数据。     

Scattering of an ultrashort electromagnetic radiation pulse by an atom in a broad spectral range

The scattering of an ultrashort electromagnetic pulse by atomic particles is described using a consistent quantum-mechanical approach taking into account excitation of a target and nondipole electromagnetic interaction, which is valid in a broad spectral range. This approach is applied to the scattering of single- and few-cycle pulses by a multielectron atom and a hydrogen atom. Scattering spectra are obtained for ultrashort pulses of different durations. The relative contribution of “elastic” scattering of a single-cycle pulse by a hydrogen atom is studied in the high-frequency limit as a function of the carrier frequency and scattering angle.     

Light scattering by composite particles comparable with wavelength and their approximation by systems of spheres

Scattering properties of an ensemble of independent, randomly-oriented systems consisting of two contacting wavelength-sized dielectric particles of spherical and random shapes are studied. The optical properties of such ensembles are shown to be determined, to a considerable degree, by the properties of individual components of the system; the role of collective effects is insignificant. For large scattering angles, systems consisting of two spheres form the negative branch of the degree of linear polarization when an individual sphere also forms it, and when systems composed of equivalent particles of random shape do not exhibit the negative branch. The conclusion is made that the modeling of the scattering properties of aspherical and aggregate particles by using systems of spheres of size of the order of the optical wavelength is inadequate.     

Angular distributions of scattering intensities with the SAP code

Compton and Rayleigh scattering peak intensities and their ratio are used in reflection and transmission experiments to obtain information about the density of the investigated specimen. The ratio is preferred because it allows the reduction of the errors due to attenuation and geometry. In all cases it is fundamental to predict their angular distributions in order to design the optimal experiment for a given material. The code SAP (Scattering Angular distribution Plot) is a graphical tool to compute and plot Rayleigh and Compton differential cross‐sections (atomic and electronic), form factors and incoherent scattering functions. In this work, the code is improved by adding the computation of Rayleigh and Compton first‐order peak fluxes and intensities, and the Rayleigh‐to‐Compton peak ratio, in both, reflection and transmission geometries, for single elements, compounds and mixture of compounds, for monochromatic excitation in the range of 1–1000 keV. The new characteristics of the code are illustrated with some examples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrafast thin-disk Yb:KY(WO4)2 regenerative amplifier with a 200-kHz repetition rate

We report an Yb:KYW thin-disk amplifier system that provides ultrashort pulses in the 10-microJ energy range at high repetition rates. The thin-disk concept uses large laser beam cross sections to avoid high peak intensities. Without using a traditional diffraction-grating stretcher, pulse energies of approximately 9 microJ with pulse durations of 280 fs at repetition rates of 200 kHz were generated.     

Graphene-based nano-patch antenna for terahertz radiation

The scattering of terahertz radiation on a graphene-based nano-patch antenna is numerically analyzed. The extinction cross section of the nano-antenna supported by silicon and silicon dioxide substrates of different thickness are calculated. Scattering resonances in the terahertz band are identified as Fabry–Perot resonances of surface plasmon polaritons supported by the graphene film. A strong tunability of the antenna resonances via electrostatic bias is numerically demonstrated, opening perspectives to design tunable graphene-based nano-antennas. These antennas are envisaged to enable wireless communications at the nanoscale.     

Statistical temporal behaviour of pulse wave propagation through continuous random media

Pulse waves propagating through random media suffer distortions, such as fluctuation of arrival time, temporal broadening, and alteration of skewness and kurtosis, due to both the background medium and embedded irregularities. We carry out a study on the temporal behaviour of electromagnetic pulses propagating through random media using temporal moments and an analytic solution of a two-frequency mutual coherence function recently obtained by iteration. We treat the temporal characteristics sequentially, with general expressions obtained first. Then the concise forms are given for pulse propagation in the turbulent non-dispersive atmosphere and the ionosphere, with numerical calculations for the latter. The results show that the mean arrival time is dominated by the term propagating at group velocity, and small corrections arise from higher-order dispersion of the background medium and random scattering of irregularities, but the correction from dispersion of irregularities is neglected as it is so small. As for pulse broadening in trans-ionospheric propagation, the results show that contributions are mainly from the dispersion of the background ionosphere and scattering of electron density irregularities in most cases, and the contribution of dispersion of irregularities is so small that it can be neglected. Finally, we find that the temporal skewness of a trans-ionospheric pulse is negative and its energy is shifted to the leading edge, and the contributions from scattering and dispersion of irregularities dominate over those of background, so the latter can be neglected in most cases.     

Numerical investigation of the effect of signal trapping on soot measurements using LII in laminar coflow diffusion flames

Laser-induced incandescence has been rapidly developed into a powerful diagnostic technique for measurements of soot in many applications. The incandescence intensity generated by laser-heated soot particles at the measurement location suffers the signal trapping effect caused by absorption and scattering by soot particles present between the measurement location and the detector. The signal trapping effect was numerically investigated in soot measurements using both a 2D LII setup and the corresponding point LII setup at detection wavelengths of 400 and 780 nm in a laminar coflow ethylene/air flame. The radiative properties of aggregated soot particles were calculated using the Rayleigh–Debye–Gans polydisperse fractal aggregate theory. The radiative transfer equation in emitting, absorbing, and scattering media was solved using the discrete-ordinates method. The radiation intensity along an arbitrary direction was obtained using the infinitely small weight technique. The contribution of scattering to signal trapping was found to be negligible in atmospheric laminar diffusion flames. When uncorrected LII intensities are used to determine soot particle temperature and the soot volume fraction, the errors are smaller in 2D LII setup where soot particles are excited by a laser sheet. The simple Beer–Lambert exponential attenuation relationship holds in LII applications to axisymmetric flames as long as the effective extinction coefficient is adequately defined.     

Terahertz emission from a metallic surface induced by a femtosecond optic pulse

Results of experimental and theoretical investigations on generation of terahertz radiation at the interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with a metal surface are presented. Investigations are performed with the laser pulse intensities higher compared with that used in papers [Opt. Lett.29, 2674 (2004); Opt. Lett.30, 1402 (2005)]. The most effective generation is observed for p-polarized optical pulses with incidence angles in the range 5°-10° (from the surface), depending on the kind of metal. For the copper, the exponential growth of terahertz pulse energy with the increase of optical pulse energy was registered. Theoretical interpretation for some of the experimental results is proposed based on the model of free electrons in metal.     

Adhesion of mineral and soot aerosols can strongly affect their scattering and absorption properties

We use the numerically exact superposition T-matrix method to compute the optical cross sections and the Stokes scattering matrix for polydisperse mineral aerosols (modeled as homogeneous spheres) covered with a large number of much smaller soot particles. These results are compared with the Lorenz-Mie results for a uniform external mixture of mineral and soot aerosols. We show that the effect of soot particles adhering to large mineral particles can be to change the extinction and scattering cross sections and the asymmetry parameter quite substantially. The effect on the phase function and degree of linear polarization can be equally significant.     

Scattering from rough surfaces

Scattering from rough surfaces is studied using a perturbative treatment of the Ewald-Oseen extinction theorem. Expressions for the first and second order fields in the roughness parameter are presented for arbitrary incident fields and used for the calculation of scattering and extinction cross sections. The cross sections are shown to have contributions from diffuse scattering as well as from surface polariton emission and include the hitherto studied effects such as Smith-Purcell radiation, Wood anomalies and reflectance drops at rough surfaces.     

激光在随机分布烟尘团簇粒子中的衰减特性

基于分形理论,采用团簇—团簇凝聚模型对随机分布烟尘团簇粒子的分形结构进行了模拟.利用离散偶极子近似方法研究了不同类型的随机分布烟尘团簇粒子的单次散射特性.利用蒙特卡罗方法研究了激光信号在随机分布烟尘团簇粒子中的传输衰减特性.讨论了入射角、激光波长、烟尘粒子数密度以及组成单个烟尘团簇粒子的原始微粒粒径和数目等参量对激光衰减特性的影响.研究结果对激光在复杂随机介质中的传输衰减特性分析提供了理论依据.     

Optical second harmonic generation induced by picosecond terahertz pulses in centrosymmetric antiferromagnet NiO

Optical second harmonic generation at the photon energy of 2?ω = 2eV in the model centrosymmetric antiferromagnet NiO irradiated with picosecond terahertz pulses (0.4–2.5 THz) at room temperature is detected. The analysis of experimental results shows that induced optical second harmonic generation at the moment of the impact of a terahertz pulse arises through the electric dipole mechanism of the interaction of the electric field of a pump pulse with the electron subsystem of NiO. Temporal changes in optical second harmonic generation during 7 ps after the action of the pulse are also of an electric dipole origin and are determined by the effects of propagation of the terahertz pulse in a NiO platelet. Coherent oscillations of spins at the antiferromagnetic resonance frequency induced by the magnetic component of the terahertz pulse induce a relatively weak modulation of magnetic dipole optical second harmonic generation.     

不同中心波长飞秒脉冲激发InAs表面辐射太赫兹波的机理研究

研究了p型(100)InAs在不同中心波长飞秒激发光(750—850nm)作用下的太赫兹(THz)波辐射特性.这种太赫兹辐射的光谱性质与光学Dember效应密切相关,飞秒脉冲激发下产生的载流子在InAs表面的Dember场内做加速运动,从而辐射出THz电磁波.实验结果表明：不同中心波长的激发光作用下,InAs表面产生的Dember电场、光生载流子浓度、谷间散射效应以及处于不同状态的载流子数目都发生了变化,因而激发出太赫兹波的功率、振幅、频谱分布和有效谱宽是不同的.这项研究将有利于THz时域光谱技术以及实验     

不同中心波长飞秒脉冲激发InAs表面辐射太赫兹波的机理研究

研究了p型(100)InAs在不同中心波长飞秒激发光(750—850nm)作用下的太赫兹(THz)波辐射特性.这种太赫兹辐射的光谱性质与光学Dember效应密切相关，飞秒脉冲激发下产生的载流子在InAs表面的Dember场内做加速运动，从而辐射出THz电磁波.实验结果表明：不同中心波长的激发光作用下，InAs表面产生的Dember电场、光生载流子浓度、谷间散射效应以及处于不同状态的载流子数目都发生了变化，因而激发出太赫兹波的功率、振幅、频谱分布和有效谱宽是不同的.这项研究将有利于THz时域光谱技术以及实验