Floating electrode dielectrophoresis

In practice, dielectrophoresis (DEP) devices are based on micropatterned electrodes. When subjected to applied voltages, the electrodes generate nonuniform electric fields that are necessary for the DEP manipulation of particles. In this study, electrically floating electrodes are used in DEP devices. It is demonstrated that effective DEP forces can be achieved by using floating electrodes. Additionally, DEP forces generated by floating electrodes are different from DEP forces generated by excited electrodes. The floating electrodes' capabilities are explained theoretically by calculating the electric field gradients and demonstrated experimentally by using test-devices. The test-devices show that floating electrodes can be used to collect erythrocytes (red blood cells). DEP devices which contain many floating electrodes ought to have fewer connections to external signal sources. Therefore, the use of floating electrodes may considerably facilitate the fabrication and operation of DEP devices. It can also reduce device dimensions. However, the key point is that DEP devices can integrate excited electrodes fabricated by microtechnology processes and floating electrodes fabricated by nanotechnology processes. Such integration is expected to promote the use of DEP devices in the manipulation of nanoparticles.     

Simultaneous dual mode add/drop multiplexers for optical interconnects buses

For the potential realization of optical interconnect scheme based on modal diversity, we propose and analyze efficient mode add drop multiplexers (MADM). Each of the two types of MADM proposed here enables a simultaneous two channels (modes) add/drop to/from a multimode bus. The simultaneous operation is of importance in reducing the device footprint within the expected ultra-dense interconnects schemes. We developed analytical design rules for the adiabatic devices and verified by simulation that an implementation based on Silicon over Insulator waveguides, is exhibiting low loss and low channels crosstalk (below −22 dB).     

Ultrafast three-photon counting in a photomultiplier tube

We demonstrate experimentally ultrafast three-photon counting by three-photon absorption in a GaAsP photomultiplier tube at the wavelength range of 1800-1900?nm, and analyze its sensitivity and time response. Pulse energy of ～500?fJ is shown to be detectable for ultrafast 170?fs pulses. The presented three-photon counter may serve as a unique tool for ultrafast quantum state characterization as well as for ultrasensitive third-order temporal measurements.     

Circulating spatial solitons

A class of optical spatial solitons exhibiting propagation in a closed-loop orbit in a two-dimensional plane is presented. A closed-form particlelike model is derived, indicating that the quasi-centrifugal force acting on these solitons can be balanced by an inhomogeneity in the nonlinear index of refraction. Specifically, a circular-shaped nonlinear interface is shown to facilitate stable orbital propagation of solitons that carve their own circular cavity for a wide range of nonlinearity parameters.     

Gap plasmon polariton structure for very efficient microscale-to-nanoscale interfacing

The seamless transition between microscale photonics and nanoscale plasmonics requires overpassing different waveguiding mechanisms and a few orders of magnitude in the lateral dimension. Exploiting gap plasmon-polariton waves both at the microscale and nanoscale with an ultrashort (few micrometers) nonadiabatic tapered gap plasmon waveguide, we show theoretically that very high-power transfer efficiency (approximately 70%) is achieved. The same mechanism may be used to harvest impinging light waves and direct them into a nanohole or slit to exhibit an anomalous transmission without the conventional periodic structures. The interplay of plasmonic and oscillating modes is analyzed.     

Exact SU(2) symmetry and persistent spin helix in a spin-orbit coupled system

Spin-orbit coupled systems generally break the spin rotation symmetry. However, for a model with equal Rashba and Dresselhauss coupling constants, and for the [110] Dresselhauss model, a new type of SU(2) spin rotation symmetry is discovered. This symmetry is robust against spin-independent disorder and interactions and is generated by operators whose wave vector depends on the coupling strength. It renders the spin lifetime infinite at this wave vector, giving rise to a persistent spin helix. We obtain the spin fluctuation dynamics at, and away from, the symmetry point and suggest experiments to observe the persistent spin helix.     

Hyperentanglement source by intersubband two-photon emission from semiconductor quantum wells

We propose an efficient hyperentanglement source emitting photon pairs entangled in both energy and polarization. The compact electrically driven room-temperature source, based on intersubband two-photon emission from semiconductor quantum wells (QWs) exhibits pair generation rates several orders of magnitude higher than alternative conventional schemes. A theoretical formalism is derived for the calculation of photon pair generation spectra and rates. The results are presented for superlattice structures similar to quantum cascade lasers of GaAs/AlGaAs QWs emitting in the mid-IR and far-IR and for InN/AlN QW structures suitable for telecommunication wavelengths.     

Ultrafast pulse compression by semiconductor two-photon gain

We demonstrate experimentally the compression of femtosecond-scale pulses by two-photon gain in a compact electrically driven AlGaAs waveguide. Dynamic control of the pulse width from 240 to 140 fs is achieved by varying the current injection levels--in good agreement with the calculations. The pulse width is measured by a high-sensitivity intensity autocorrelator based on two-photon absorption in a GaAs photomultiplier tube.     

Absolute phase measurement in heterodyne detection of transient gratings

We present a method of measuring the absolute phase in heterodyne-detected transient grating experiments. The method permits direct and sensitive characterization of the amplitude and phase of the grating parameters. We also present a convenient implementation of this technique and demonstrate its efficacy in a cuprate superconductor.     

Interactions and switching of spatial soliton pairs in the vicinity of a nonlinear interface

The interaction of spatial soliton pairs with a nonlinear interface was studied theoretically. With mediation of the interface, the two solitons exhibited efficient switching and double switching. A closed-form particlelike model, validated by propagation calculations, yielded the soliton trajectories and switching characteristics.