Optical modelling of photonic crystals and VCSELs using eigenmode expansion and perfectly matched layers

We present a modelling approach for photonic crystal structures and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). This method is based on vectorial eigenmode expansion combined with perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions. Compared to other methods, a relatively small computational effort is required, while at the same time accurate results are obtained, even in the presence of strong scattering and diffraction losses.     

Identification of a TGBA liquid crystal phase via its defects

We have shown that cholesteryl nonanoate, a thermotropic compound which is well known to exhibit pretransitional effects at the smectic A (SmA) cholesteric (N*) transition (W.L. McMillan, Phys. Rev. A 4, 1238 (1971); 6, 936 (1972)), has in fact a TGBA phase in between. Our arguments rely on the observation of new TGBA defects, either in Robinson spherulites cooled from the N* phase or in free-standing films. The same new defects can be obtained in a well-documented TGBA phase of a tolane compound. We analyze qualitatively the TGBA defects in both geometries, in particular their relation to the disclination radius of the N* Robinson spherulites. Received 12 February 2001     

Higher-order Dirac solitons in binary waveguide arrays

We study optical analogues of higher-order Dirac solitons (HODSs) in binary waveguide arrays. Like higher-order solitons obtained from the well-known nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the pulse propagation in an optical fiber, these HODSs have amplitude profiles which are numerically shown to be periodic over large propagation distances. At the same time, HODSs possess some unique features. Firstly, the period of a HODS depends on its order parameter. Secondly, the discrete nature in binary waveguide arrays imposes the upper limit on the order parameter of HODSs. Thirdly, the order parameter of HODSs can vary continuously in a certain range.     

Elastic properties of finite three-dimensional solid phononic-crystal slabs

We study theoretically, by means of layer-multiple scattering techniques, the propagation of elastic waves through finite slabs of phononic crystals consisting of metallic spheres in polyester matrix, embedded in air. We focus on the study of modes localized on the surfaces of the structure, investigating the physical parameters which influence and determine their appearance. Our results reveal the existence of absolute phononic frequency gaps in these finite structures, and point out the possibility, under an appropriate choice of the parameters, of tunable regions of frequency free of propagating and/or surface-localized modes. This could be very useful in the design of devices related to frequency filtering, waveguiding, etc.     

Structure and optical damage resistance of near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals

A series of near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by the high-temperature top-seed solution growth (HTTSSG) method from stoichiometric melts doped with 6 mol% K₂O. Infrared (IR) transmission spectra were measured and discussed in terms of the defect structure of the near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals. The results of the transmitted beam pattern distortion method show that the optical damage resistance of the near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals increases rapidly when the ZnO concentration exceeds a threshold value. The threshold value concentration of ZnO of the near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals is much lower than that of the congruent LiNbO₃ crystals. The dependence of the optical damage resistance on the defect structure of the near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals are discussed, and the holographic recording properties of the near-stoichiometric Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals are investigated.     

Synthesis, growth, spectral, thermal and photoluminescence properties of a new semiorganic NLO crystal—Thiosemicarbazide lithium chloride [TSLC]

Thiosemicarbazide lithium chloride [TSLC] a new semiorganic nonlinear optical crystal has been synthesized. Single crystals by TSLC have been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique at room temperature. Chemical composition of the synthesized material was confirmed by elemental analysis. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the grown crystal has been studied. Functional groups present in the materials were identified by FT IR spectral analysis ranging between 4000 and 450 cm⁻¹. The optical transmission was studied through UV-vis spectrophotometer. Thermal analysis is carried out on the crystal and inferred to be stable at 176 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) of the TSLC crystal was confirmed using Nd:YAG laser and also fluorescence spectral analysis is carried out for the TSLC crystal.     

Extended defect removal in silicon by rapid thermal annealing

Summary Germanium, arsenic and krypton ions of 600 keV energy were implanted in <100> silicon substrate at 250°C. The hot implantation results in the formation of extended defects (dislocation loops and cluster of point defects) as residual damage. Rapid thermal annealing process at a temperature above 1000°C was used to remove the damage. Rutherford-backscattering channelling technique was used to measure the amount of defects and their annealing. In some cases the channelling results were correlated to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The annealing process of the damage is governed by an activation energy of (4.4±0.2) eV for both germanium and arsenic implants. During RTA processes broadening of the As and Ge distributions is quite negligible. The Kr atoms interact instead with defects and the annealing even after a prolonged time at 1100°C is not complete, bubbles surrounded by extended defects are left The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Realistic rotating convection in a DNA suspension

In this work we report theoretical and numerical results on convection in a viscoelastic binary mixture under rotation for realistic rigid-rigid boundary conditions. We focus our analysis in the DNA aqueous suspensions. Instability thresholds for oscillatory convection are calculated. Finally, we analyze the stabilizing effect for the onset of convection.     

Multistability of impact, utility and threshold concepts of binary choice models

The decision making problem in the context of binary choice is considered by means of impact function, utility function and threshold model approaches. The properties of generalized impact function and utility function are examined; it is shown that these two approaches are equivalent. Their relation to the threshold model is studied and the correspondence between respective cumulative distribution functions is displayed. The stationary state corresponding to the thermodynamic equilibrium is determined within mean field approximation. Multistability of the stationary state is expressed in terms of the distribution function of the random variable of impact/utility function. The correspondence with statistical physics predictions for Ising model is discussed: logistic distribution leads to the mean-field result, i.e. Curie-Weiss approximation. Variations of the distribution functions and/or other model parameters, of social character, self-support, nonlinearity of social interactions, etc., would break the direct correspondence to statistical physics of Ising model, leading in particular cases to richer structure of the multistability.