In previous work, we have introduced an analytical approach that utilizes the dispersion relation for an infinite periodic multilayer structure to predict the performance of finite multilayer structures. We have validated the accuracy of our predictions by demonstrating numerical agreement with other established simulation methods, such as the transfer matrix method, and through experimental confirmation. In this work, we employ dispersion relations to first illustrate that metallo-dielectric structures, as opposed to multilayer dielectric-dielectric structures, can efficiently yield a sharp-edge transmittance spectrum profile, with control over both sides of the bandpass cutoff edges. Our approach also enables the calculation of effective permittivity without relying on traditional homogenization techniques. Next, utilizing the concept of effective permittivity, we illustrate that increasing the thickness of specific dielectric layers within MD structures leads to narrower passbands without significant loss in transmission, demonstrating the potential of this approach for engineering the transmittance spectrum of bandpass filters in the visible and near-IR regions. The capability to achieve a sharp-edge filter with a limited number of layers further underscores the cost-effectiveness of such bandpass filters.
This study examines the tuning capabilities in Yagi-Uda antenna arrays for terahertz frequencies through electro-optic modulation using nematic liquid crystals. The investigated structure consists of a periodic 2D array of Yagi-Uda antennas on a dielectric substrate. The substrate is covered below with a metallic ground plane, and further beneath is a vacuum layer. The space above the antenna array is filled with a nematic liquid crystal, which is bounded above by a glass substrate. Strong anchoring boundary conditions for the liquid crystal ensure an initial pi/2 twist configuration. The plane wave is normally incident on the Yagi-Uda antenna arrays while following the Mauguin regime. The application of an external electric field perpendicularly to the substrates reorients the liquid crystal director from its initial twisted state to a homeotropic state, resulting in the change of polarization of the light when it reaches the antenna array. The numeric simulations of the mentioned structure were conducted in COMSOL Multiphysics, and have shown that varying the applied voltage in the mentioned structure enables the tunability of the plasmonic resonances in the antenna array. The tunability frequency interval was found to span approximately 7 to 12THz, with the absorbance tuning range reaching 95% of the incident intensity. By leveraging the electro-optic properties of nematic liquid crystals, the research highlights a controlled method for tuning THz antenna arrays, presenting a solution for the advanced control of antenna properties in THz applications.
We aim to realize a novel nanotechnology-based biosensor specifically utilized to detect harmful bacteria in potable water. The nano-inspired device makes use of a chemically functionalized gold nanorods array (for the selective selection of specific pathogens) layered with a photo-responsive nematic liquid crystal (NLC) film for real-time and high sensitivity detection. The first experimental results are presented and discussed.
Two-wave mixing adaptive interferometers based on photorefractive crystals allow for precise remote detection of small displacements. Using dynamic holograms, they compensate for ambient disturbances in factory environments and can process speckled beams with complicated wavefronts. Linear phase-to-intensity conversion with maximum sensitivity is achieved when the response becomes local when a dc-field is applied to the photorefractive crystal. In the present work we study experimentally the change of the shape of the amplification spectrum induced by a dc field in the two-wave mixing geometry. The shape of the spectrum is used for identification of the type of response (local or nonlocal). High sensitivity for detection of surface displacements is demonstrated for a two-wave mixing interferometer with a dc-biased CdTe:Ge crystal.
Two-wave mixing adaptive interferometer based on photorefractive crystal allows for compensation of temporal disturbances in ambient environment and operation with speckled beams. The crystal should exhibit large effective trap density, low dark conductivity and large photoconductivity. Deliberately doped semiconductor may meet these requirements. In the present work the photorefractive, spectroscopic and magneto-optical study of CdTe:Sn is performed aiming to estimate these characteristics and to describe the space-charge formation. The photon energies for optical ionization/neutralization of the tin ions are estimated. The crystal is characterized as a medium for two-wave mixing adaptive interferometer with excellent performance.
The Berreman matrix method has been previously used to model electromagnetic plane wave propagation through a hyperbolic metamaterial, and to determine transmission and reflection coefficients as a function of wavelength and varying angles of incidence. The Berreman matrix approach is now used to derive the propagation transfer function matrix in such materials. The eigenvalues of the Berreman matrix, which determine the transfer function, depend on the anisotropy. Beam propagation in such anisotropic materials are simulated using the transfer functions of all components of the electric (and magnetic) fields. Implications of this on negative refraction and the self-lensing of beams are explored.
The phase shift occurred by optical waves in nonlinear interaction may be considered as phase shift resulted from a nonlinear refractive index. Consequently, a spectrum of the nonlinear phase shift in non-degenerate in frequency interactions represents nonlinear dispersion. Thus the nonlinear interaction with such dispersion may be used to achieve slow and fast light. The phase-conjugate reflectivity in photorefractive four-wave mixing may reveal spectrum with two maxima, which are located symmetrically with respect to zero frequency detuning. A complicated nonlinear dispersion corresponds to such reflectivity spectrum. Qualitative analysis of the nonlinear dispersion suggests unusual behavior when the nonlinear effect, i.e., delay of the light pulse, may decrease with increase of nonlinear coupling strength. The numerical calculations confirm such a nontrivial behavior. The experimental conditions are found, for which the delay of the phase-conjugate pulse decreases when the coupling strength increases. The conclusions of the theoretical analysis are confirmed experimentally for photorefractive four-wave mixing in barium titanate.
Exciting experimental results on the response properties of hybridized photo responsive liquid crystal test cells are reported, where iron doped lithium niobate substrates were used to photo generate electric fields and indium tin oxide coated cover glasses were used to confine these photo generated fields in a liquid crystal layer. Samples were investigated in a modified inverted optical polarizing microscope with white probe light (crossed polarizers) and exposed with a Gaussian laser beam focused to a small spot (14 μm FWHM). Test cells filled with nematic LC showed homeotropic director alignment. Upon exposure, this alignment was maintained at the exposure spot center and the LC director was selectively realigned in a surrounding single ring. This ring had a thickness of a few microns and its diameter increased with increasing exposure intensity (112 μm at 0.7 mW, 204 μm at 1.1 mW). This characteristic director realignment was traced back to the optically generated electric field distributions by simulations. In samples filled with chiral nematic LC, uniformly standing helix alignment was found. Textural transitions were induced at the focus position, which again led to the formation of well-defined circular defects. We could show that these defects can be permanently stored within the chiral nematic LC. Polarized optical microscopy of a rotated sample revealed that a point like defect with +1 topological charge was enclosed in each of these defects. Photovoltaic fields generated in small lithium niobate particles dispersed in a LC were found to cause promising optical responses and particle movement.
Anisotropic metamaterials are widely used in the field of optics because of their unique electromagnetic properties. These metamaterials can be made from multilayer metallo-dielectric structures. Such stacks can be represented as an anisotropic bulk medium using effective medium theory. Optical properties of anisotropic media are mostly described in terms of effective parameters such as permittivity and permeability, or alternatively, refractive index and characteristic impedance. These properties depend not only on the wavelength and polarization but also the direction of the optical wave-vector. In this work optical wave propagation through such anisotropic media is studied in detail. The Berreman 4 × 4 matrix along with appropriate boundary conditions is used to determine all electric and magnetic fields inside and outside the structure. The overall transmission and reflection are investigated as a function of the thickness of each layer (metal/dielectric), the number of layers, and the wavelength for oblique incidence. The validity of the effective medium theory is also investigated by changing the thickness and number of layers.
Surface plasmons in graphene possess stronger mode confinement and lower propagation loss. One way to excite the surface plasmons is placing a periodic array of graphene nano-ribbons on top of a dielectric substrate. However once the system is fabricated it is not possible to change its optical properties. Liquid crystals (LC) are a uniaxial medium with an optical axis easily controlled by external stimuli. We suggest tuning the surface plasmons in an array of graphene ribbons by placing a LC slab on top of the ribbons. A voltage applied to the LC layer shifts the graphene ribbons plasmonic notch and changes its depth.
Liquid crystal light valve with GaAs substrate operating in the transmission mode in the infrared is studied. The
nonlinear phase shift of the transmitted light wave is measured as a function of applied voltage. The dynamic grating
recording is achieved. A fourfold amplification of the weak signal beam is reached. The gain is increased by means of
proper tilting of the cell that increases an effective pretilt of the liquid crystal molecules. The amplitude of the refractive
index modulation and nonlinear coupling constant are estimated from the experimental results.
Photorefractive (PR) hybrid liquid crystal (LC) cells have combined the space-charge field generated in either a
polymer (using e.g. PVK;C60) with the large birefringence from a LC layer to generate PR grating for beam
coupling applications. The efficiency of PR beam coupling in hybrid devices is dependent on the amplitude of
the space-charge field, as well as the ability of the LC molecules to align with the corresponding field. In this
paper the time dynamics of the formation of the PR gratings are measured in LC hybrid systems and are used to
explain the large variation of gain coefficients found in the literature.
The transfer matrix method is used to analyze induced reflection gratings in photorefractive iron doped lithium niobate in a self-pumped configuration. The optical field distribution and the induced refractive index distributions inside the material are computed, and the overall transmission and reflection are determined for different orientations of the c-axis. Numerical simulations are compared with experimental results.
The complexity of photorefractive polymers arises from multiple contributions to the photo-induced index grating. Analysis of the time dynamics of the two-beam coupling signal is used to extract information about the charge species responsible for the grating formation. It has been shown in a commonly used photorefractive polymer at moderate applied electric fields, the primary charge carriers (holes) establish an initial grating which, however, are followed by a subsequent competing grating (electrons) that decreases the two-beam coupling efficiency. We show by upon using higher applied bias fields, gain enhancement can be achieved by eliminating the electron grating contribution and returning to hole gratings only.
Two-beam coupling (TBC) in a photorefractive polymer using transmission and reflection geometries is
investigated. With drift (due to an applied electric field) and diffusion, a linearized analysis suggests a phase shift
between the intensity grating and the induced refractive index grating different from the ideal value of 90 degrees,
which is supported by experimental results using a transmission grating geometry. In a self-pumped reflection
grating geometry, which is also experimentally studied, the phase shift can be closer to 90 degrees due to a shorter
grating period. Absorption and absorption gratings during TBC is also experimentally investigated.
Bragg gratings yield a single diffracted order when irradiated by a coherent beam at the appropriate Bragg angle. In
many cases, nearly all of the energy of the incident beam can be coupled to the diffracted beam. Hence these gratings
can form many useful optical elements, and this has been realized in 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D photonic crystals. Bragg gratings
made with liquid crystals offer the added dimension of dynamic properties through the large electro-optical effect
in liquid crystals. Applications for spatial light modulators are numerous, including optical switches, modulators, active
optical elements (e.g., lenses), laser sources, and tunable filters. We have been exploring a number of approaches for
making liquid crystal Bragg gratings, including holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals, cholesteric liquid crystals,
and homogenous nematic liquid crystals in hybrid devices. We have studied the dynamic properties of these Bragg
gratings by electrical, thermal, and optical stimulation. Modification and control of optical and dynamic properties have
been obtained through combinations of liquid crystals with polymers, combinations of various dopant materials, and
interactions of liquid crystals with organic and inorganic interfaces. We discuss the materials, fabrication, characterization,
and physics of liquid crystal Bragg gratings and present the results of various devices we have studied in our lab.
We will also discuss potential applications.
By using split-step beam propagation method, self-pumped contra-directional two-beam coupling is simulated in a photorefractive medium for arbitrary shaped beams. The simulation shows a positive influence of the photovoltaic effect on the two-beam coupling efficiency, in agreement with published experimental observations.
We demonstrate beam shaping in a hybrid acousto-optic device with adaptive electronic feedback. Cases of positive and negative feedback, and from the un-diffracted and diffracted orders are investigated. We also show the dependence of the final value of the induced grating strength in the acousto-optic cell on the feedback parameters.
Contradirectional two-beam coupling was achieved using a single laser beam incident on fibers grown from congruent iron doped lithium niobate using the laser heated pedestal growth technique. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a grating has been written in a fiber using a single laser beam and its Fresnel reflection in a 180 degree(s) contradirectional two-beam coupling geometry. Beam-coupling efficiencies were compared as a function of beam spot size for fibers and bulk crystals. At small spot sizes, the fibers outperformed the bulk crystals by reducing the diffraction effect.
In this work we present the experimental results of contradirectional two-beam coupling in a bulk crystal and single crystal fibers of iron-doped lithium niobate. Results of a reduction of the grating writing instability, a comparison of the two-beam coupling efficiency of the fibers and bulk crystal as a function of focusing geometry, as well as a comparison of theoretical and experimental results of the two-beam coupling efficiency are presented.
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