准相位型光子筛设计

提出了一种准相位型光子筛。该准相位型光子筛通过改变暗环上小孔直径与带宽的比值,对焦点处的相位分布进行调制,使通过亮环和暗环上小孔的光波在焦点处发生相长干涉,生成聚焦光斑。该准相位型光子筛无需对基底进行特殊处理,即可完成相位型光子筛的制作,降低了加工难度。和普通振幅型光子筛相比,在相同最小加工尺寸的条件下,准相位型光子筛具有较大的数值孔径,可降低聚焦光斑尺寸。并且,和多区光子筛相比,在同样的最小加工尺寸及数值孔径的条件下,准相位型光子筛光斑尺寸及质量均优于对方。为大数值孔径光子筛设计提供了一种新的设计方法。     

Melting and unzipping of DNA

Existing experimental studies of the thermal denaturation of DNA yield sharp steps in the melting curve suggesting that the melting transition is first order. This transition has been theoretically studied since the early sixties, mostly within an approach in which the microscopic configurations of a DNA molecule consist of an alternating sequence of non-interacting bound segments and denaturated loops. Studies of these models neglect the repulsive, self-avoiding, interaction between different loops and segments and have invariably yielded continuous denaturation transitions. In the present study we take into account in an approximate way the excluded-volume interaction between denaturated loops and the rest of the chain. This is done by exploiting recent results on scaling properties of polymer networks of arbitrary topology. We also ignore the heterogeneity of the polymer. We obtain a first-order melting transition in d = 2 dimensions and above, consistent with the experimental results. We also consider within our approach the unzipping transition, which takes place when the two DNA strands are pulled apart by an external force acting on one end. We find that the under equilibrium condition the unzipping transition is also first order. Although the denaturation and unzipping transitions are thermodynamically first order, they do exhibit critical fluctuations in some of their properties. For instance, the loop size distribution decays algebraically at the transition and the length of the denaturated end segment diverges as the transition is approached. We evaluate these critical properties within our approach. Received 21 August 2001 and Received in final form 26 January 2002     

A simple statistical modeling of random phase reference in holographic memory

We present a simple modeling of random phase reference in holographic memory. The proposed model is analyzed by a statistical approach. Improvement on selectivity using random phase reference is shown in comparison with uniform phase plane wave reference and Gaussian beam reference. This simple and efficient model provides a physical insight and is verified by some experiments.     

Asymmetric multimode interference isolator based on nonreciprocal phase shift

This paper presents an asymmetric multimode interference-based (MMI) optical isolator, by utilizing the magneto-optical nonreciprocal phase shift (NPS). Equivalent beam propagation method (BPM) simulation of symmetric and asymmetric isolators are performed using configuration of Air/Ce:YIG/SiO₂ on silicon substrate for integration. The asymmetric isolator is found to be much more compact in size and efficient in isolation compared with symmetric isolator. Simulation results show that the isolation of asymmetric structure is 23.8 dB higher than that of symmetric one. It is mainly because both symmetric mode and anti-symmetric mode are excited in asymmetric structure and hence can interfere destructively. The proposed device may play an important role in the optical communication systems and photonic integrated devices.     

Geometric Phase in a Two Energy Level <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-Photon Jaynes-Cummings Model with Imaginary Photon Process

By using the Lewis-Riesenfeld invariant theory, we have studied the dynamical phase and the geometric phase in a two energy level k-photon Jaynes-Cummings model with imaginary photon process. We find that the geometric phase in a cycle case is independent of the frequency of the photon field, the coupling coefficient between photons and atoms, and the atom transition frequency. We predict the physical effect of the geometric phase in the imaginary photon process may be measured.     

Study of theoretical tensile strength of Fe by afirst-principles computational tensile test

This paper employs a first-principles total-energy method to investigate the theoretical tensile strengths of bcc and fcc Fe systemically. It indicates that the theoretical tensile strengths are shown to be 12.4, 32.7, 27.5~GPa for bcc Fe, and 48.1, 34.6, 51.2~GPa for fcc Fe in the [001], [110] and [111] directions, respectively. For bcc Fe, the [001] direction is shown to be the weakest direction due to the occurrence of a phase transition from ferromagnetic bcc Fe to high spin ferromagnetic fcc Fe. For fcc Fe, the [110] direction is the weakest direction due to the formation of an instable saddle-point `bct structure' in the tensile process. Furthermore, it demonstrates that a magnetic instability will occur under a tensile strain of 14%, characterized by the transition of ferromagnetic bcc Fe to paramagnetic fcc Fe. The results provide a good reference to understand the intrinsic mechanical properties of Fe as a potential structural material in the nuclear fusion Tokamak.     

Structural phase transitions in KMnF3

The structural transitions of the perovskite KMnF₃ are studied with an energy-dispersive X-ray diffractometer. It is found that the 83 K transition is of first order, though the transition related to the condensation of a M₃-soft phonon mode is considerably affected by crystallographic domain-walls occurring below the 186 K transition. The latter transition is observed at 88.0 K (first-order), and 92.0 K (second-order) in different single crystals, respectively. The difference of the transition temperature and the transition order is interpreted in terms of inner strains appeared in the domain walls.     

Phase transitions and modulated structure of the incommensurate phase in Mg[H2O]6SiF6 crystal

The temperature and angular dependences of the EPR spectra of Mg[H₂O]₆SiF₆:Mn²⁺ crystal were investigated in order to clarify the successive phase transitions and existence of the incommensurate phase. Five successive phase transitions were found to occur, and phase II was found to be incommensurately modulated. The modulated structure is caused mainly by the vibrational displacement of the Mg[H₂O]²⁺ ₆ ion along the c-axis. The soliton density of this phase is almost independent of temperature and remains equal to unity.     

Phase transition in polymer gels due to local heating by illumination of light

The volume phase transition in gels induced by visible light and its related properties are presented, the mechanism of which is based on local heating of a polymer network by illumination of light. The gels consist of a covalently cross-linked copolymer network of thermosensitive N-isopropylacrylamide and a chromophore. Without light illumination, the gel volume changes sharply, but continuously at approximately 34°C when the temperature is varied. At a fixed temperature of an appropriate value, a discontinuous volume transition is observed when the light intensity is gradually changed. The phase transitions can be understood in terms of the temperature increment at the immediate vicinity of polymer chains due to the local heating via light absorption and subsequent thermal dissipation of light by the chromophore. The results can be qualitatively described by the Flory-Huggins mean-field equation of state of gels. In order to make clear the mechanism of the light-induced phase transition in the present system, we measured the light transmitting properties and the swelling as well as shrinking kinetics. These preliminary results are described semi-qualitatively by making use of a simple phenomenological model.