Photonic crystals--a step towards integrated circuits for photonics.

The field of photonic crystals has, over the past few years, received dramatically increased attention. Photonic crystals are artificially engineered structures that exhibit a periodic variation in one, two, or three dimensions of the dielectric constant, with a period of the order of the pertinent light wavelength. Such structures in three dimensions should exhibit properties similar to solid-state electronic crystals, such as bandgaps, in other words wavelength regions where light cannot propagate in any direction. By introducing defects into the periodic arrangement, the photonic crystals exhibit properties analogous to those of solid-state crystals. The basic feature of a photonic bandgap was indeed experimentally demonstrated in the beginning of the 1990s, and sparked a large interest in, and in many ways revitalized, photonics research. There are several reasons for this attention. One is that photonic crystals, in their own right, offer a proliferation of challenging research tasks, involving a multitude of disciplines, such as electromagnetic theory, nanofabrication, semi-conductor technology, materials science, biotechnology, to name a few. Another reason is given by the somewhat more down-to-earth expectations that photonics crystals will create unique opportunities for novel devices and applications, and contribute to solving some of the issues that have plagued photonics such as large physical sizes, comparatively low functionality, and high costs. Herein, we will treat some basics of photonic crystal structures and discuss the state-of-the-art in fabrication as well give some examples of devices with unique properties, due to the use of photonic crystals. We will also point out some of the problems that still remain to be solved, and give a view on where photonic crystals currently stand.     

A comparative study of the propagation of vectorial nonparaxial beams in the use of different approaches

Starting from the vectorial Rayleigh diffraction integral formula and using a simple expansion of the nucleus in the Rayleigh formula, an analytical propagation equation of vectorial nonparaxial Gaussian beams in free space is derived, which permits us to perform numerical calculations in comparison with the expression derived by Ciattoni et al. and with the direct numerical integration of the Rayleigh formula. It is found that as usual the use of expansion of vectorial Rayleigh diffraction integral is sufficient to provide satisfactory numerical results as compared with the direct integration of the Rayleigh formula. The above two analytical expressions are valid under certain conditions, however both are applicable in the far field.     

Measurement of wire diameter by optical diffraction

A combined interference and diffraction pattern, in the form of equidistant interference fringes, resulting from illuminating a vertical metallic wire by a laser beam is analyzed to measure the diameter of four standard wires. The diameters range from 170 to 450 μm. It is found that the error in the diameter measurements increases for small metallic wires and for small distances between the wire and the screen due to scattering effects. The intensity of the incident laser beam was controlled by a pair of sheet polaroids to minimize the scattered radiation. The used technique is highly sensitive, but requires controlled environmental conditions and absence of vibration effects. The expanded uncertainty for k=2 is calculated and found to decrease from U(D)=±1.45 μm for the wire of nominal diameter 170 μm to ±0.57 μm for the diameter 450 μm.     

Solid state phase equilibria in the Gd-Si-B system at 1270 K

Solid state phase equilibria in the ternary Gd-Si-B phase diagram have been proposed at 1270 K using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Prior to this work, the binary systems Gd-B, Gd-Si and Si-B have also been reinvestigated. The main characteristic of the ternary diagram is the occurrence of two new ternary compounds Gd₅Si₂B₈ and Gd₅Si₃B_0.64. The former crystallizes in tetragonal symmetry, space group P4/mbm with unit cell parameters a=7.2665(3), c=8.2229(7) Å, the second one presents hexagonal symmetry, space group P6₃/mcm with unit cell parameters a=8.5080(4),c=6.4141(2) Å. The X-ray structures of the two structurally related phases Gd₅Si₃B_0.64 and host binary Gd₅Si₃ have been refined from three-dimensional single-crystal intensity data to the final R values of 0.036 (R_w=0.046) and 0.046 (R_w=0.055) for 457 and 401 reflections, respectively with [F>4σ(F)]. Both structures exhibit the Mn₅Si₃-type structure, with in addition for Gd₅Si₃B_0.64 a partial occupancy by boron of the normally vacant interstitial site at the center of the Gd₆ octahedron, which corresponds to the origin of the unit cell. Bonding between the interstitial boron atoms and the gadolinium ones forming the Gd₆B polyhedra is indicated by the decrease in the corresponding Gd-Gd distances and consequently in the unit cell volume. Finally, the Gd-Si-B phase diagram is compared with the previously reported Er-Si-B, at 1070 K.     

Electron diffraction investigation of PPTA/nylon 3T blends from shear-oriented anisotropic solutions

Nematic solutions of PPTA and nylon 3T were prepared in H₂SO₄ Optical microscopy was used to ascertain the phase behaviour of the blends. In the studied concentration range, no phase separation was observed. The solutions were shear-oriented and coagulated, and the resulting samples were studied by x-ray and electron diffraction. Nylon 3T crystallised even at a low concentration, which is indicative of a phase separation. Electron diffraction investigations of the oriented samples showed that well-oriented areas, which were predominantly composed of PPTA, adjoined areas where the major component, nylon 3T, showed no orientation. The relative proportion of the unoriented areas increased with increasing nylon concentration. It was concluded that, upon coagulation, the nylon was segregated into separate phases and crystallised unoriented, whereas for PPTA, crystallisation proceeded with very little chain rearrangement therefore preserving the orientation.     

Structure induced by irradiation of femtosecond laser pulse in dyed polymeric materials

We investigated the structures induced by an irradiation of a near‐infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser pulse in dye‐doped polymeric materials {poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), thermoplastic epoxy resin (Epoxy), and a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate and ethyl acrylate‐butyl acrylate [p(MMA/EA‐BA) block copolymer]}. Dyes used were classified into two types—type 1 with absorption at 400 nm and type 2 with no absorption at 400 nm. The 400‐nm wavelength corresponds to the two‐photon absorption region by the irradiated NIR laser pulse at 800 nm. Type 1 dye‐doped PMMA and p(MMA/EA‐BA) block copolymer showed a peculiar dye additive effect for the structures induced by the line irradiation of a NIR femtosecond laser pulse. On the contrary, dye‐doped Epoxy did not exhibit a dye additive effect. The different results among PMMA, p(MMA/EA‐BA) block copolymer, and Epoxy matrix polymers are supposed to be related to the difference of electron‐acceptor properties. The mechanism of this type 1 dye‐additive‐effect phenomenon for PMMA and p(MMA/EA‐BA) block copolymer is discussed on the basis of two‐photon absorption of type 1 dye at 400 nm by the irradiation of a femtosecond laser pulse with 800 nm wavelength and the dissipation of the absorbed energy to the polymer matrix among various transition processes. Dyes with a low‐fluorescence quantum yield favored the formation of thicker grating structures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2800–2806, 2002     

A method for determining optical constants, dimensions, and concentrations of “soft” absorbing particles in the brightening band region

We investigate the possibilities of creating a method for estimating the optical constants, dimensions, and concentrations of “soft” absorbing particles by applying a theoretical analysis of the angular dependence of the intergrated indicatrix, overall characteristics of light scattering, and absorption on the phase shift and diffraction parameter of particles in the brightening band region. We show that using the investigated optical characteristics, it is possible to determine the unknown parameters of a suspension from experimental data. Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 807–812, November–December, 1997.     

Mössbauer study of nanodimensional nickel ferrite – mechanochemical synthesis and catalytic properties

Iron–nickel spinel oxide NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been prepared by the combination of chemical precipitation and subsequent mechanical milling. For comparison, their analogue obtained by thermal synthesis is also studied. Phase composition and structural properties of iron–nickel oxides are investigated by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Their catalytic behavior in methanol decomposition to CO and methane is tested. An influence of the preparation method on the reduction and catalytic properties of iron–nickel samples is established.