Linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of orthorhombic rare earth molybdates RE2(MoO4)3

The dielectric responses (i.e. the refractive indices and the second order nonlinear susceptibilities) of all orthorhombic rare earth molybdates have been studied on the basis of the relationship between dielectric responses and the average atomic number of constituent atoms of crystals. Both the linear and second order nonlinear optical responses at 1.064 μm decrease with increasing atomic number from La to Lu.     

Study of ferroelectric switching by domain-wall induced light scattering

Measurements of 90°-scattering of weak laser light are used to investigate pulsed domain switching in ferroelectrics. The studies were performed on strontium-barium niobate (SBN) single crystals. A good agreement of the switching parameters estimated from the optical measurements with those obtained by means of conventional electrical methods proves the validity of the optical method for switching studies. Due to the limited scattering volume in all three spatial dimensions, the method facilitates local probing of the switching within the crystal bulk. In particular, local specialities of the domain density can be detected. Furthermore, the excellent time resolution inherent in optical probing techniques allows for a comprehensive study of the dynamics.     

Frequency doubling of Nd:YAG- and GaAs-lasers by KNbO3: Ta crystals

Abstract

For KNb_1-xTa_xO₃ crystals the influence of the Ta-concentration on the phase-matching properties for optical second harmonic generation (SHG) was measured. For non-critical phase matched SHG of the Nd:YAG-laser (1064nm) the coefficient d₃₁ of the tensor of the nonlinear susceptibility was applied, while for the GaAs-laser (905 nm) the coefficient d₃₂ was used. For both laser wavelengths the phase-matching temperature decreases with increasing Ta-concentration. Non-critical phase-matching at room temperature can be reached with the GaAs-laser for a Ta-concentration of ≈9%. The corresponding value for the Nd:YAG-laser is ≈14%.     

Two-electron band to band transitions in silicon

Radiative two-electron band to band transitions are investigated experimentally in silicon. The question of phonon-participation is investigated. It turns out that at low temperature the phononless transitions dominate, whereas above room-temperature the phonon-assisted transitions become more important. A theoretical discussion leads to the conclusion that at least one participating phonon is an acoustical one.     

Determination of the Li/Nb ratio in lithium niobate by means of birefringence and Raman measurements

Two optical methods for the determination of the Li/Nb ratio in lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) are discussed. Data for the optical birefringence method are presented, they cover the entire composition range in which LiNbO₃ can be fabricated and a wide spectral region. The line-widths of lattice modes have been measured by means of Raman scattering as a function of the Li/Nb ratio for single crystals with polished and rough surfaces.     

Noncollinear optical frequency doubling in strontium barium niobate

The observation of a novel noncollinear optical second-harmonic generation mechanism is reported. In strontium barium niobate crystals, a circular cone of second-harmonic light is generated when a fundamental beam of intensive laser light is directed along the crystallographic c axis. It can be shown that the effect is caused by the nonlinear polarization of antiparallel ordered ferroelectric microdomains.     

Magnetic-field dependent intensity oscillations of the EHD luminescence in pure germanium

The magnetic-field dependence of the EHD luminescence in pure germanium is investigated using pulsed laser excitation. Intensity oscillations are found which vary with the delay time of the detection. A fit to a reaction-kinetic model yields a quantum efficiency of Q ≈ 25%. The main nonradiative process in the electron-hole liquid is found to be the Auger-recombination.     

Tree decompositions of graphs: Saving memory in dynamic programming

We propose a simple and effective heuristic to save memory in dynamic programming on tree decompositions when solving graph optimization problems. The introduced “anchor technique” is based on a tree-like set covering problem. We substantiate our findings by experimental results. Our strategy has negligible computational overhead concerning running time but achieves memory savings for nice tree decompositions and path decompositions between 60% and 98%.