Exciton Molecules in Quantum Wells: Influence of the Well Width Fluctuations

The influence of the well width fluctuations on the dependence of the binding energy of excitonic complexes in quantum wells is studied by using the path-integral Monte-Carlo technique. The results are compared with available experimental data and a good agreement is found.Postdoctoral researcher of FWO-Vlaanderen     

On the dynamical Casimir effect in a one-dimensional contracting cavity

The dynamical Casimir effect is analyzed in the framework of the S-matrix formulation for a one-dimensional cavity that exhibits contraction at a constant rate over a finite time interval. The exact solution to the problem is presented. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of the creation of pairs nonmonotonically depends on the contraction time. This is due to the fact that the particles are only created at the moments corresponding to the acceleration and stopping of the moving boundary, so that the contributions of these processes on the number of the created particles interfere with each other. The parameters that correspond to the optimal creation of pairs and the stability of a vacuum are presented. The effect of the finiteness of the cavity-boundary acceleration on the results obtained is studied.     

Structural properties of the condensate in two-dimensional mesoscopic systems of strongly correlated excitons

A two-dimensional mesoscopic Bose system of dipoles in a 2D trap is considered using computer simulation by the quantum path-integral Monte Carlo method. The model describes a rarefied system of spatially indirect excitons in a confining potential. Bose condensation in the system and its superfluid and structural properties are studied over a wide range of interparticle spatial correlations, from an almost ideal Bose gas to the regime of a strongly correlated system. It is found that, at strong interparticle spatial correlations, particles in the condensate form a crystal-like structure. In this case, the spatial correlations of particles in the condensate are less pronounced than the correlations of noncondensed particles. The effect of recurrent crystallization is observed in the regime of strong interparticle correlations.     

“Horizontal” and “vertical” quantum-dot molecules

An analysis is made of a two-electron system of two adjacent quantum dots (QD) with a two-dimensional parabolic lateral confining potential, and of two coupled or double, spatially separated QDs (a “horizontal” and a “vertical” QD molecule), and of their behavior in an external transverse magnetic field. The ground-state energies and energy spectra of the system have been determined by various methods (Heitler-London, molecular-orbital, variational approach, and numerical diagonalization of Hamiltonian), with inclusion of electron-electron interaction, and for a broad range of confining-potential steepness, QD-center spacing (interlayer distance), and external magnetic field. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2127–2133 (November 1998)     

Light passage through a film with subwavelength slits

The effect of anomalously high transmission of an electromagnetic wave through a periodic array of subwavelength slits in a metal film was studied. Results of numerical simulation were compared with theoretical and semi-analytical calculations of anomalous transmission through a silver film. Transmission through a perfectly conductive metal film with subwavelength slits was considered; anomalous transmission through it was detected.     

An electromechanical nanothermometer based on thermal vibrations of carbon nanotube walls

Physics of the Solid State - A new concept is proposed for an electromechanical nanothermometer. The temperature measurements are performed by measuring the conductivity of the nanosystem, which...     

Role of propagating slit mode in enhanced transmission through slit arrays in a metallic films

The mechanisms responsible for enhanced transmission of electromagnetic wave through an array of subwavelength slits in a metallic film are analyzed. Theoretical model of the enhanced transmission which takes into account the penetration of electromagnetic field into real metal is developed. Semi-analytical model based on Fabry–Perot formula is considered. Comparison of theoretical model, semi-analytical model and results of numerical simulation of Maxwell equations in time-dependent form (FDTD method) for silver with various geometric parameters is presented. The roles of surface plasmons and plasmon localized along slits are studied.     

Time-resolved nonlinear surface plasmon optics

A new surface-sensitive method of time-resolved optical studies is proposed. The method consists in the independent excitation of several surface electromagnetic waves (SEW) by two laser femtosecond pulse beams with varied time delay Δτ and distance Δr between corresponding excitation regions on the surface. To fulfill the phase-matching condition for plasmon-photon coupling, metal grating is used. Due to nonlinear plasmon interaction, the optical radiation with ω₁ + ω₂ and 2ω₁ ? ω₂ (where ω₁, ω₂ are corresponding laser beam frequencies) is generated. The intensity of this nonlinear response versus Δτ and Δr are studied. The direct measurements of the SEW temporal properties are presented. Experiments of this type are important for the development of femtosecond surface plasmon optics.     

On the crystallization of two-dimensional electron system in strong magnetic field

The possibility of the two-dimensional electron crystallization in the strong magnetic field is discussed by comparison between electron free energies in liquid and crystal states. The electron free energy in the liquid state is determined in Hartree-Fock approximation, while the correlation phenomena are proved to be negligible. The electron free energy in the crystal state is calculated in the harmonic approximation. The magnetic field is shown to “nonmonotonously” affect the crystal formation. From one hand, an electron crystal may exist in an interval of the strong magnetic field H at rather high density, where that is impossible at H=0. From the other hand, at any density the sufficiently strong field forces electron lattice to melt at finite temperature.