Spin Hall effect induced by a gravitational field

The experiment by Collela et al. (1975) [1] evidenced in a striking manner how the gravitational field appears in quantum mechanics. Within the modern framework of gauge theories, one can ascribe such effect as due to gauge fields originated from fundamental symmetries of spacetime: local transformations of the Lorentz-Poincaré group. When this gauge principle is applied to the Dirac equation, we obtain kinematical correlations between the gravitational field and the spin of the particles. The phenomenon is similar to the spin Hall effect found in condensed matter systems, although much smaller in magnitude. Actual measurements may require highly precision interferometric techniques with spin-polarized neutrons.     

Study of Frozen Waves’ theory through a continuous superposition of Bessel beams

This paper presents a study of a recent solution to Maxwell's equation, the so-called “Frozen Waves”, whose main characteristics are to remain static in space, and to keep an arbitrary longitudinal field pattern previously chosen. These waves could be obtained by an adequate, but discrete, superposition of monochromatic Bessel beams. Contrary to that, we have here proposed a new way to get these waves through a continuous superposition of Bessel beams, and discussed some physical aspects and then exemplified for both loss and lossless media.     

Study of Gaussian and Bessel beam propagation using a new analytic approach

The main feature of Bessel beams realized in practice is their ability to resist diffractive effects over distances exceeding the usual diffraction length. The theory and experimental demonstration of such waves can be traced back to the seminal work of Durnin and co-workers already in 1987.Despite that fact, to the best of our knowledge, the study of propagation of apertured Bessel beams found no solution in closed analytic form and it often leads to the numerical evaluation of diffraction integrals, which can be very awkward. In the context of paraxial optics, wave propagation in lossless media is described by an equation similar to the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation of quantum mechanics, but replacing the time t in quantum mechanics by the longitudinal coordinate z. Thus, the same mathematical methods can be employed in both cases. Using Bessel functions of the first kind as basis functions in a Hilbert space, here we present a new approach where it is possible to expand the optical wave field in a series, allowing to obtain analytic expressions for the propagation of any given initial field distribution. To demonstrate the robustness of the method two cases were taken into account: Gaussian and zeroth-order Bessel beam propagation.     

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of poly(lactic acid) with polysaccharide as nucleating agent

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - An ever-increasing concern about environmental pollution has spearheaded research into alternative biodegradable polymers. Currently, poly(lactic acid)...     

The role of the sol–gel route on the interaction between rhodamine B and a silica matrix

A series of silica xerogels having rhodamine B (RhB) as a template and Ti centers were synthesized by distinct sol–gel routes, namely, acid-catalyzed, base-catalyzed, acid-catalyzed with base-catalyzed (two steps) hydrolytic routes and a FeCl₃-catalyzed non-hydrolytic route. The interaction of RhB with the prepared silica matrix was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the ultraviolet–visible region, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) and confocal microscopy. Raman spectroscopy suggested the presence of Ti–O and Si–O–Ti moieties within the silica matrix. Infrared band shifts provided insight into potential interaction sites. Taking into account the results from ART, XPS, PL and confocal microscopy, encapsulation of RhB preferentially occurs inside the silica network for acid 1, basic and two-steps routes, and the presence of Ti occurs on the surface of the silica occurs for acid 2, basic and two-steps routes. Also, we have shown that although the structural characteristics of the encapsulated and extracted systems are affected by the route, the molecular structure is conserved during and after the encapsulation process.     

A general theory for the Frozen Waves and their realization through finite apertures

In this paper, we present a generalization of the so-called Frozen Waves, which are new solutions to Maxwell’s equations having the important characteristic of remaining static in space and keeping any previously chosen arbitrary longitudinal field pattern. In the pioneering work, these waves were introduced as a discrete superposition of zero-order Bessel beams. As a fact, here we will represent these waves as a continuous superposition of Bessel beams leading to a simpler and more compact mathematical formalism, which allows us to derive certain inequalities that restrict the physical properties of the Frozen Waves, such as their attainable longitudinal resolution. Besides this, we will discuss losses compensation in a lossy medium and, finally, their practical realization through finite apertures.     

Optical analogue of the Aharonov-Bohm effect using anisotropic media

We show that in the context of paraxial optics, which can be analyzed through a wave equation similar to the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation of quantum mechanics but replacing time t by spatial coordinate z, the existence of a vector potential A_⊥ mimicking the magnetic vector potential in quantum mechanics is allowed by specific gauge symmetries of the optical field in a medium with anisotropic refractive index. In this way, we use Feynman?s path integral to demonstrate an optical analogue of the quantum-mechanical Aharonov-Bohm effect, encouraging the search for another optical systems with analogies with more complex quantum field theories.     

Realization of Graphene Physics Through a Fully Optical System

The two-dimensional form of carbon known as graphene awaken the scientific community interest due to its exotic electronic properties, emerging from the behavior of electrons near the Fermi level as massless Dirac fermions in a (1+2)-dimensional “relativistic” space-time, which renders a bridge between condensed matter and relativistic quantum field theory. Optical systems are also prodigal in providing analogues of complex quantum mechanical systems. Here, it is proposed an optical realization capable of capturing the essential physics of the Dirac equation in (1+2)-D dimensions, simulating the properties of graphene through the use of lightwave technology.     

A simple model for maser action obtained through a magnetic tunnel junction placed inside a resonant cavity

Magnetic tunnel junctions are currently being used in magnetoresistive reading heads, magnetic field sensors and MRAMs, due to its giant magnetoresistance effect whose roots are linked to strong spin-dependent scattering mechanisms. The existence of spin-polarized currents in such devices posed us the question over the possibility to generate coherent microwave radiation in a spin inverted population medium, maintained through a spin-polarized current. In this paper we investigate the possibility of obtaining a maser effect considering a magnetic tunnel junction placed inside a resonant cavity. We put forward a simple model based on phenomenological rate equations, being the spin-polarized currents determined by the physics of the magnetic tunnel junction.