Decomposition of the optical transfer function: wavefront coding imaging systems

We describe the mapping of the optical transfer function (OTF) of an incoherent imaging system into a geometrical representation. We show that for defocused traditional and wavefront-coded systems the OTF can be represented as a generalized Cornu spiral. This representation provides a physical insight into the way in which wavefront coding can increase the depth of field of an imaging system and permits analytical quantification of salient OTF parameters, such as the depth of focus, the location of nulls, and amplitude and phase modulation of the wavefront-coding OTF.     

Gouy wave modes: undistorted pulse focalization in a dispersive medium

Gouy wave modes are linear waves with finite energy that propagate without distortion at any phase and group velocity through a focal region in a dispersive medium. These features make them potentially useful for the onset and control of nonlinear interactions.     

Large-scale Monte Carlo study of a realistic lattice model for Ga(1-x)MnxAs

Mn-doped GaAs is studied with a real-space Hamiltonian on an fcc lattice that reproduces the valence bands of undoped GaAs. Large-scale Monte Carlo (MC) simulations on a Cray XT3, using up to a thousand nodes, were needed. Spin-orbit interaction and the random distribution of the Mn ions are considered. The hopping amplitudes are functions of the GaAs Luttinger parameters. At the realistic coupling J approximately 1.2 eV the MC Curie temperature and magnetization curves agree with experiments for x = 8.5% annealed samples. Mn-doped GaSb and GaP are also briefly discussed.     

Phase diagram of a model for diluted magnetic semiconductors beyond mean-field approximations

A lattice spin-fermion model for diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) is investigated numerically, improving on previously used mean-field approximations. Curie temperatures are obtained varying the Mn spin x and hole n densities, and the impurity-hole exchange J in units of the hop-ping t. Optimal values are found in the subtle intermediate regime between itinerant and localized carriers. At intermediate and large J/t, a "clustered" state is observed above the Curie temperature and ferromagnetism is suppressed. Formal analogies between DMS and manganites are discussed.     

Polarization transforming properties of Dove prisms

We analyze the polarization changes introduced by a rotated Dove prism on the linearly polarized light, using the Jones calculus and the exact ray trace analysis. The state of polarization changes from the linear to a mildly elliptical one when a plane wave front passes through a rotated Dove prism: its semi-major axis is nearly parallel to the input plane of polarization, for any angle of prism rotation. The interferogram contrast remains high for all shearing angles in spite of polarization changes when the Dove prism is incorporated into a rotational shearing interferometer. These results are confirmed experimentally.     

Tuning the nonlocal spin-spin interaction between quantum dots with a magnetic field

We describe a device where the nonlocal spin-spin interaction between quantum dots (QDs) can be turned on and off with a small magnetic field. The setup consists of two QDs at the edge of two two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs). The QDs' spins are coupled through a RKKY-like interaction mediated by the electrons in the 2DEGs. A magnetic field B(z) perpendicular to the plane of the 2DEG is used as a tuning parameter. When the cyclotron radius is commensurate with the interdot distance, the spin-spin interaction is amplified by a few orders of magnitude. The sign of the interaction is controlled by finely tuning B(z). Our setup allows for several dots to be coupled in a linear arrangement and it is not restricted to nearest-neighbor interaction.     

Multiple image encryption using an aperture-modulated optical system

A multiple image cryptosystem based on different apertures in an optical set-up under a holographic arrangement is proposed. The system is a security architecture that uses different pupil aperture mask in the encoding lens to encrypt different images. Based on this approach multiple encryption is achieved by changing the pupil aperture arrangement of the optical system among exposures. In addition to the classical speckle phase mask, the geometrical parameters characterizing the apertures are introduced to increase the system security. Even when an illegal user steals the speckle phase mask, the system cannot be broken into without the correct pupil geometrical parameters. The experimental set-up is based on a volume photorefractive BSO crystal as storing device. Information retrieval is done via a phase conjugation operation. We also have to stress that the multiple storage under this scheme, is only possible with the help of the aperture mask. Simulation and experimental results are further introduced to verify the proposed method.     

Quantum parallelism as a tool for ensemble spin dynamics calculations

Efficient simulations of quantum evolutions of spin-1/2 systems are relevant for ensemble quantum computation as well as in typical NMR experiments. We propose an efficient method to calculate the dynamics of an observable provided that the initial excitation is "local." It resorts to a single entangled pure initial state built as a superposition, with random phases, of the pure elements that compose the mixture. This ensures self-averaging of any observable, drastically reducing the calculation time. The procedure is tested for two representative systems: a spin star (cluster with random long range interactions) and a spin ladder.     

The 2.7 K black-body radiation background reference frame

This paper reports that the directional temperature is used to present a scheme for deducing the velocity of the reference frame where the black-body which produces the 2.7 K radiation background is at rest.The new renormalized relativistic thermodynamics lays the foundations of the method.     

Cavity effects in coiled coil IR reference source

We performed a high resolution imaging of a coiled coil filament used in tungsten lamps, a standard reference source in spectroscopy. The radiometric results using two-wavelength thermometry indicate that its configuration also introduces cavity effects and non-uniformity of filament temperature distribution, with the average temperature calculated to be 2869 K. Considering the tungsten source as an extended body, significant temperature variations of up to +19 K are found above its nominal 2850 K value.