Broadband bowtie belt nanoantennas

In this article, we study a linear array of bowtie nanoantennas placed between two metallic strips that can work from 800 to 1420 nm (600 nm linewidth), with an electric field enhancement factor close to 20. We study the dynamical change of the position of the electric field enhancement amongst different elements in the array and, at the same time, the effects of dispersion on the scalability of the array elements. A systematic analysis and methodology to produce an array that can operate over a large bandwidth whilst maintaining the electric field enhancement without significant variation is provided.     

Amplitude calibration of a digital radio antenna array for measuring cosmic ray air showers

Radio pulses are emitted during the development of air showers, where air showers are generated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays entering the Earth's atmosphere. These nano-second short pulses are presently investigated by various experiments for the purpose of using them as a new detection technique for cosmic particles. For an array of 30 digital radio antennas (LOPES experiment) an absolute amplitude calibration of the radio antennas including the full electronic chain of the data acquisition system is performed, in order to estimate absolute values of the electric field strength for these short radio pulses. This is mandatory, because the measured radio signals in the MHz frequency range have to be compared with theoretical estimates and with predictions from Monte Carlo simulations to reconstruct features of the primary cosmic particle. A commercial reference radio emitter is used to estimate frequency dependent correction factors for each single antenna of the radio antenna array. The expected received power is related to the power recorded by the full electronic chain. Systematic uncertainties due to different environmental conditions and the described calibration procedure are of order 20%.     

Adjustable plasmonic resonances of a gold nanotube array with a non-coaxial core

The plasmonic resonant properties of a gold nanotube array with a non-coaxial core were investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. There exist two large photonic band gaps in the transmission spectra for large core offset. It is observed that the plasmonic behaviors can also be tuned by the inter-tube spacing, the size and the thickness of the nanotube with a non-coaxial core in the metallic array structure. Based on the field distribution, we deduce that the lower energy peaks of the spectra are characterized by dipole resonances, while the higher energy peaks are characterized by multipolar resonances.     

Changes in the spectrum of radial array beams through turbulent atmosphere

According to the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, the propagation formulas of the spectrum for correlated superposition radial array Gaussian Schell-model (RAGSM) beams in a turbulent atmosphere have been derived. The spectral properties of correlated superposition RAGSM beams in free space and in turbulence have also been compared and analyzed. The results show that there exist two identical spectral maxima for the normalized on-axis spectrum of RAGSM beams at one critical position against propagation distance. When the propagation distance is large enough, the on-axis relative spectral shifts in free space and those in turbulence tend to a steady nonzero and zero value, respectively. The off-axis relative spectral shift in free space exhibits a blue-shift alternating with red-shift against off-axis distance, and it depends on the array radius and the beamlet number; whereas the spectral shift has a rapid transition in turbulence. In addition, the on-axis and off-axis relative spectral shifts also depend on the characteristic parameters of turbulence, the beam parameters, and the array parameters.     

Local-field enhancement of optical nonlinearities in the AGZO nano-triangle array

Enhancement of the third order optical nonlinearities in Ga and Al co-doped ZnO (AGZO) nano-triangle array was investigated by performing a Z-scan method with a femtosecond laser (800 nm, 40 fs). The AGZO nano-triangle array was fabricated on silica substrates by nanosphere lithography (NSL) method, showing a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak around 3 μm. The two photon absorption (TPA) coefficient and nonlinear refractive index of the AGZO nano-triangle array were determined to be 340 cm/GW and 3.22 × 10⁻² cm²/GW under an excitation intensity of 26 GW/cm². It shows a 3.4-fold enhancement of the nonlinear refraction in the AGZO array with respect to that in the AGZO film, which attributes to the local field enhancement effect. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation was in agreement with the experimental results. It indicates that the AGZO nano-triangle arrays have potential applications for nonlinear optical devices like all-optical switching, optical limiting and other types of signal processing.     

Theoretical study on the spectral shifts of partially coherent array beams passing through ABCD optical systems

According to the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral, the expressions for the on-axis spectrum of partially coherent Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) rectangular array beams passing through ABCD optical systems have been derived. The generalized Fresnel number of the system, the spatial coherent parameter of array beamlets and the array beam parameters including the number of beamlets and the separation distance between beamlets have been taken as the characteristic parameters to compare the spectral shifts of GSM array beams for the two types of the superposition, i.e. the correlated superposition and the uncorrelated superposition. In particular, the effect of characteristic parameters on the on-axis relative spectral shifts has been discussed in detail. The results show that the spectral intensity of GSM array beams for the two types of the superposition passing through ABCD systems depends on the source spectral density S ⁰(ω), the spatial coherent parameter of array beamlets β, the generalized Fresnel number of the system F and the array beam parameters. Furthermore, for the uncorrelated superposition, the spectrum of GSM array beams only exhibit the blue-shift, whereas for the correlated superposition, GSM array beams exhibit the spectral switch and the number of spectral switches increases with the increase of array beam parameters in the near field due to the interference between beamlets. In particular, the effect of the array beam parameters on the on-axis relative spectral shift is more obvious.     

Orientation phenomena in chromophore DR1-containing polymer films and their non-linear optical response

The effectiveness of chromophore alignment in polymer films following corona poling can be assessed by the generated second harmonic signal. Optimization of the stability and strength of this nonlinear optical response may improve with a better understanding of the underlying principal order phenomena. Structural analysis by vibrational, optical, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy reveals side chain tacticity, aggregation effects, and changes in orientation as a function of temperature. Co-polymers with the functionalized chromophore Disperse Red 1 methacrylate (MDR1) were prepared for three different methacrylate types. High side chain polarity and short side chain length increase generally chromophore aggregation in films, whereas the very long poly-ether side chains in PMEO based co-polymers are wrapped separately around the DR1 entities. Side chain tacticity depends on space requirements, but also on the capacity of side groups to form OH-bridges. Side chain tacticity might present an additional parameter for the assessment of chromophore aggregation and poling induced alignments. Stepwise heating of co-polymer films causes an increase in the number of random over ordered side chain arrangements. Cross-linking by anhydride formation is observed after heating the methacrylic acid based co-polymer.