Tailored pump-probe transient spectroscopy with time-dependent density-functional theory: controlling absorption spectra

Recent advances in laser technology allow us to follow electronic motion at its natural time-scale with ultra-fast time resolution, leading the way towards attosecond physics experiments of extreme precision. In this work, we assess the use of tailored pumps in order to enhance (or reduce) some given features of the probe absorption (for example, absorption in the visible range of otherwise transparent samples). This type of manipulation of the system response could be helpful for its full characterization, since it would allow us to visualize transitions that are dark when using unshaped pulses. In order to investigate these possibilities, we perform first a theoretical analysis of the non-equilibrium response function in this context, aided by one simple numerical model of the hydrogen atom. Then, we proceed to investigate the feasibility of using time-dependent density-functional theory as a means to implement, theoretically, this absorption-optimization idea, for more complex atoms or molecules. We conclude that the proposed idea could in principle be brought to the laboratory: tailored pump pulses can excite systems into light-absorbing states. However, we also highlight the severe numerical and theoretical difficulties posed by the problem: large-scale non-equilibrium quantum dynamics are cumbersome, even with TDDFT, and the shortcomings of state-of-the-art TDDFT functionals may still be serious for these out-of-equilibrium situations.     

Navier-stokes equations for compressible fluids: Global existence and qualitative properties of the solutions in the general case

We consider the equations which describe the motion of a viscous compressible fluid, taking into consideration the case of inflow and/or outflow through the boundary. By means of some a priori estimates we prove the existence of a global (in time) solution. Moreover, as a consequence of a stability result, we show that there exist a periodic solution and a stationary solution.     

Vertical link solutions for multilayer optical-networks-on-chip topologies

This paper presents two different approaches that may allow the optical interconnection between superposed levels of multilayer photonic circuits as, for example, in optical-networks-on-chip. The first configuration is based on multi-mode interference devices, while the second one exploits multiple stacked directional couplers. The issues concerning the analytical and numerical design of such devices are discussed, together with a performance analysis in terms of efficiency and footprint.     

Low-energy termination of graphene edges via the formation of narrow nanotubes

We demonstrate that free graphene sheet edges can curl back on themselves, reconstructing as nanotubes. This results in lower formation energies than any other nonfunctionalized edge structure reported to date in the literature. We determine the critical tube size and formation barrier and compare with density functional simulations of other edge terminations including a new reconstructed Klein edge. Simulated high resolution electron microscopy images show why such rolled edges may be difficult to detect. Rolled zigzag edges serve as metallic conduction channels, separated from the neighboring bulk graphene by a chain of insulating sp(3)-carbon atoms, and introduce van Hove singularities into the graphene density of states.     

Real-time digital holographic microscopy of multiple and arbitrarily oriented planes

Digital holographic microscopy is used to numerically refocus a recorded hologram at an arbitrary axial distance. However, as a straightforward property of coherent light fields, image reconstruction on an arbitrary tilted plane could be directly obtained by a rotation in k-space. We demonstrate that this property allows the real-time microscopic inspection of particle distribution over three mutually orthogonal planes at the same time. As a straightforward application we use the proposed technique for real-time monitoring of fluid flow over the three cross sections of a microfluidic channel.