FDTD modeling of realistic semicontinuous metal films

We have employed a parallelized 3D FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) solver to study the electromagnetic properties of random, semicontinuous, metal films. The structural features of the simulated geometries are exact copies of the fabricated films and are obtained from SEM images of the films themselves. The simulation results show good agreement with the experimentally observed far-field spectra, allowing us to also study the nonlinear moments of the optical responses for these realistic nanostructures.     

Nonlinear phase characteristics of the dispersion interferometer at high-intensity pulses

The dependences of the second harmonic (SH) intensity output by the dispersion interferometer (DI) upon the relative phase of the SH and fundamental waves θ₀ (called phase characteristics) are studied both experimentally and theoretically. It has been found that high irradiance (when self-action effects are not negligible) makes the phase characteristics differ from the cosine type which is usual for linear interferometry. In the case of high power pulsed radiation, a strong dependence of the SH pulse shape on θ₀ was observed. The evolution of the SH pulse shape in the DI output registered as θ₀ varies is checked against the numeric simulation data. By measuring the nonlinear phase characteristics of the DI, the main influence of the slow (response time of ≈ 1 ns) cubic nonlinearity on the frequency doubling of nanosecond pulses is determined for the employed KTP crystals.     

Conducting Polymer Layers Obtained by Direct-Current Discharge Polymerization of 1-Amino-9,10-anthraquinone

The polymerization of 1-amino-9,10-anthraquinone in a direct-current discharge was studied. It was found that polymer films with a conductivity of 10^–5–10^{–4 –1} cm^–1 were formed at the cathode. It was assumed that the semiconductor properties are due to the presence of a conjugated cyclic moiety in the films. The layers deposited at the anode turned out to be typical dielectrics with a conductivity of 10^{–16 –1} cm^–1.     

The effect of gain and absorption on surface plasmons in metal nanoparticles

The compensation of loss in metal by gain in interfacing dielectric has been demonstrated in a mixture of aggregated silver nanoparticles and rhodamine 6G dye. An increase of the quality factor of surface plasmon (SP) resonance was evidenced by the sixfold enhancement of Rayleigh scattering. The compensation of plasmonic losses with gain enables a host of new applications for metallic nanostructures, including low- or no-loss negative-index metamaterials. We have also predicted and experimentally observed a suppression of SP resonance in metallic nanoparticles embedded in dielectric host with absorption. PACS 61.46.Df; 73.20.Mf; 78.67.Bf     

Metal nanoslit lenses with polarization-selective design

We present comprehensive studies on thin diffraction lenses made of arrays of subwavelength, parallel nanoslits in a gold film. Such a nanoslit lens can operate either as a conventional convex or concave lens. The lenses can be designed to focus linearly polarized light with polarization either perpendicular (TM-lens) or parallel to the slits (TE-lens), while the orthogonal polarization diverges when passing through the lens. The designs of each lens are initially built on the dispersion relations for wave propagation through a parallel-plate waveguide. Both TM- and TE-lenses were realized experimentally, and full-wave numerical simulations fully support the experimental results.     

Dual-band negative index metamaterial: double negative at 813 nm and single negative at 772 nm

This work is concerned with the experimental demonstration of a dual-band negative index metamaterial. The sample is double negative (showing both a negative effective permeability and a negative effective permittivity) for linearly polarized light with a wavelength between 799 and 818 nm, and the real part of its refractive index is approximately -1.0 at 813 nm. The ratio of -Re(n)/Im(n) is close to 1.3 at 813 nm. For an orthogonal polarization, the same sample also exhibits a negative refractive index in the visible (at 772 nm). The spectroscopic measurements of the material are in good agreement with the results obtained from a finite-element electromagnetic solver for the actual geometry of the fabricated sample at both polarizations.     

Polarization effects in nanoaggregates of silver caused by local and nonlocal nonlinear-optical responses

A theoretical and experimental study is made into the combined manifestation of local and nonlocal optical responses in a cubic nonlinear isotropic medium such as an aggregated colloidal silver solution. The phenomenological treatment of polarization effects is performed for the general case with due regard for the frequency dispersion of both local and nonlocal nonlinearities and for the noncollinear propagation of pump and probe light waves. The inverse Faraday effect, the optical Kerr effect, and the self-rotation of the polarization ellipse in a fractal-disordered nonlinear medium are observed for the first time. The tensor components of the local and nonlocal cubic nonlinearities of colloidal silver solutions are measured for different degrees of aggregation. It is demonstrated that, as the size of silver aggregate increases, the nonlocal nonlinear response increases much more strongly than the local one. An inference is made that the mechanical motion of metal nanoparticles because of their dynamic interaction with the light wave field can contribute to the nonlinear polarization effects.     

Surfactant-induced amorphous aggregation of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein: a physical methods approach

The interactions of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 and the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus, which is an established model for both ordered and non-ordered protein aggregation, were studied using turbidimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and dynamic light scattering. It was found that at the critical aggregation concentration (equal to critical micelle concentration) of 138 x 10(-6) M, Triton X-100 induces partial denaturation of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein molecules followed by protein amorphous aggregation. Protein aggregation has profound ionic strength dependence and proceeds due to hydrophobic sticking of surfactant-protein complexes (start aggregates) with initial radii of 46 nm. It has been suggested that the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate forms mixed micelles with Triton X-100 and therefore reverses protein amorphous aggregation with release of protein molecules from the amorphous aggregates. A stoichiometric ratio of 5 was found for Triton X-100-sodium dodecyl sulfate interactions.     

The relationship between gas-phase processes and the structure of polyaniline obtained by plasma polymerization

The composition of the gas phase during plasma polymerization of aniline was studied with the use of mass spectrometry; it was shown that at least 20% of aniline is consumed for the formation of secondary products (C₂H₂ and HCN). According to solid-state NMR data, the macromolecular chain of polyaniline obtained by plasma polymerization includes both aniline and aliphatic units. The latter units appear as a result of polymerization of the secondary product acetylene.     

Investigation of electrotransport properties of poly(ethylene terephtalate) track membranes modified by plasma of aniline

The pore walls, and one of the surfaces of poly(ethylene terephtalate) track membrane were modified by plasma of aniline, which resulted in formation of the polyelectrolyte transient cationite-anionite layers. It is shown that the membrane produced possesses asymmetry of conductivity, i.e., the effect of the current rectification similar to p-n junction in semiconductors is observed.