Linewidth Enhancement Factor Impact on Optical Feedback Mutual Coupled Quantum Dot Lasers

In this article, we numerically study and analyse the roles of linewidth enhancement factor (α) in the dynamic operation of the mutual regime of the transmitter and receiver quantum dot laser lasers supported by optical feedback. A set model of adequate rate equations describing the overall dynamics in a quantum dot system subjected to optical feedback were solved numerically. The results reveal a clear chaotic regime between the receiver and the transmitter lasers at α = 3, which is incredibly advantageous for secure optical communications and encoding decoding data transmission. Moreover, at the other value of linewidth enhancement factors, namely 2, 2.5, 3.5 and 4, the optical regime works in high synchronisation with either periodic or steady state forms.

Zeptomolar detection of 4-aminothiophenol by SERS using silver nanodendrites decorated with gold nanoparticles

In the present work we report a simple, fast, reproducible and cheap methodology for SERS substrate fabrication of silver dendritic nanostructures (prepared by electrodeposition) decorated with gold nanospheres by electrophoretic deposition. This is the first report where a metal dendritic nanostructure has been decorated with another type of metal nanoparticles by this technique. The decorated nanostructures were used directly as SERS substrate using 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) as analyte. The objective of the decoration is to create more hot-spots in order to detect the analyte in a lower concentration. Decorated nanodendrites had a detection limit one million times lower than bare silver nanodendrites and all the substrates showed an increase in the Raman intensity at concentrations below 1 nM; because this concentration corresponds to the threshold for the formation of a monolayer resulting in a triple mechanism of intensity increase, namely electric field, chemical factor and hot-spots. 4-ATP was detected in zeptomolar concentration, which is below 1 ppq, corresponding to an analytical enhancement factor (AEF) in the order of 1015.

A Fit to the Available e+e-→Λc+Λ-c- cross Section Data Nearby Production Threshold by Means of a Strong Correction to the Coulomb Enhancement Factor

There are two available sets of data on the e+e−→Λc+Λ¯c− cross section at energies close to the production threshold, collected by the Belle and by the BESIII Collaborations. The measurement of the former, performed by means of the initial state radiation technique, is compatible with the presence of a resonance, called ψ(4660), observed also in other final states. On the contrary, the latter is measured an almost flat and hence non-resonant cross section in the energy region just above the production threshold, but the data stop before the possible rise in the cross section for the resonant production. We propose an effective model to describe the behavior of the data near this threshold, which is based on a Coulomb-like enhancement factor due to the strong interaction among the final state particles. In the framework of this model, it is possible to describe both datasets.

Improved electronic structure prediction of chalcopyrite semiconductors from a semilocal density functional based on Pauli kinetic energy enhancement factor

The correct treatment of d electrons is of prime importance in order to predict the electronic properties of the prototype chalcopyrite semiconductors. The effect of d states is linked with the anion displacement parameter u, which in turn influences the bandgap of these systems. Semilocal exchange-correlation functionals which yield good structural properties of semiconductors and insulators often fail to predict reasonable u because of the underestimation of the bandgaps arising from the strong interplay between d electrons. In the present study, we show that the meta-generalized gradient approximation (meta-GGA) obtained from the cuspless hydrogen density (MGGAC) [Phys. Rev. B 100, 155140 (2019)] performs in an improved manner in apprehending the key features of the electronic properties of chalcopyrites, and its bandgaps are comparative to that obtained using state-of-art hybrid methods. Moreover, the present assessment also shows the importance of the Pauli kinetic energy enhancement factor, α=(τ-τ<W>)/\τ<unif> in describing the d electrons in chalcopyrites. The present study strongly suggests that the MGGAC functional within semilocal approximations can be a better and preferred choice to study the chalcopyrites and other solid-state systems due to its superior performance and significantly low computational cost.

Quantification of the Enhancement Factor in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

<p>This thesis presents a rigorous stepwise methodology towards the accurate measurement and quantification of the SERS enhancement factor (EF), the key parameter in describing the SERS effect. The work represents, we believe, a successful attempt to resolve some of the inconsistencies in the literature and to refocus the field by emphasizing the importance of consistent definitions and rigorous quantification to elucidate matters of fundamental importance in SERS. The success in our approach is that it combines careful experimental measurements upon a sound theoretical framework, and utilizes a 'toolbox' of techniques developed in recent years, such as bi-analyte SERS (BiASERS) techniques for single-molecule (SM) detection, and isotopic editing. In experimental work, we measure the bare Raman cross-sections of five common probes used in SERS as a first step in measuring the analytical enhancement factor (AEF) and single-molecule enhancement factor (SMEF). The methodology in measuring these EFs involved the use of a reference standard of known cross-section along with a careful characterization of the scattering volume through beam profiling experiments. As a guide to validating the reference cross-section we make extensive use of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to obtain estimates for the intrinsic Raman cross-sections of small, non-resonant probes. The results of this work showed that previous upper limits for the EF reported in the literature of 1014 were based on a faulty normalization of the EF. In fact, EFs of 108 were sufficient to see single molecules, which is much lower than previously expected; under optimum conditions, even lower EFs, possibly down to 105 could be sufficient for the SM detection of resonant probes. As a valuable extension of BiASERS, we elaborate on the synthesis of isotopic analogues of a rhodamine dye as ideal partners for SM experiments. The synthesis and definitive characterization of these probes enable their use in an experiment to determine the SM regime in a liquid colloidal sample. Isotopically edited dyes such as these, in combination with the methodologies of EF quantification outlined herein, set the standard for those interested in accurate quantification of the SERS effect. This approach is useful in terms of both basic theoretical questions and applications such as the effective comparison of SERS substrates. Finally, we extend the techniques developed over the thesis to a long-standing and largely unresolved question in SERS: What is the minimum intrinsic Raman cross-section that can be measured as a single molecule in standard SERS conditions. In this work, we explore the SM detection non-resonant probes, which are the molecules of interest for many practical applications such as forensics and biological assays. Specifically, we demonstrate the successful SM detection of isotopically edited adenine probes.</p>

Quantification of the Enhancement Factor in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

<p>This thesis presents a rigorous stepwise methodology towards the accurate measurement and quantification of the SERS enhancement factor (EF), the key parameter in describing the SERS effect. The work represents, we believe, a successful attempt to resolve some of the inconsistencies in the literature and to refocus the field by emphasizing the importance of consistent definitions and rigorous quantification to elucidate matters of fundamental importance in SERS. The success in our approach is that it combines careful experimental measurements upon a sound theoretical framework, and utilizes a 'toolbox' of techniques developed in recent years, such as bi-analyte SERS (BiASERS) techniques for single-molecule (SM) detection, and isotopic editing. In experimental work, we measure the bare Raman cross-sections of five common probes used in SERS as a first step in measuring the analytical enhancement factor (AEF) and single-molecule enhancement factor (SMEF). The methodology in measuring these EFs involved the use of a reference standard of known cross-section along with a careful characterization of the scattering volume through beam profiling experiments. As a guide to validating the reference cross-section we make extensive use of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to obtain estimates for the intrinsic Raman cross-sections of small, non-resonant probes. The results of this work showed that previous upper limits for the EF reported in the literature of 1014 were based on a faulty normalization of the EF. In fact, EFs of 108 were sufficient to see single molecules, which is much lower than previously expected; under optimum conditions, even lower EFs, possibly down to 105 could be sufficient for the SM detection of resonant probes. As a valuable extension of BiASERS, we elaborate on the synthesis of isotopic analogues of a rhodamine dye as ideal partners for SM experiments. The synthesis and definitive characterization of these probes enable their use in an experiment to determine the SM regime in a liquid colloidal sample. Isotopically edited dyes such as these, in combination with the methodologies of EF quantification outlined herein, set the standard for those interested in accurate quantification of the SERS effect. This approach is useful in terms of both basic theoretical questions and applications such as the effective comparison of SERS substrates. Finally, we extend the techniques developed over the thesis to a long-standing and largely unresolved question in SERS: What is the minimum intrinsic Raman cross-section that can be measured as a single molecule in standard SERS conditions. In this work, we explore the SM detection non-resonant probes, which are the molecules of interest for many practical applications such as forensics and biological assays. Specifically, we demonstrate the successful SM detection of isotopically edited adenine probes.</p>

Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics of Microchannel with Oval-Shaped Micro Pin Fins

A novel microchannel heat sink with oval-shaped micro pin fins (MOPF) is proposed and the characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer are studied numerically for Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 157 to 668. In order to study the influence of geometry on flow and heat transfer characteristics, three non-dimensional variables are defined, such as the fin axial length ratio (α), width ratio (β), and height ratio (γ). The thermal enhancement factor (η) is adopted as an evaluation criterion to evaluate the best comprehensive thermal-hydraulic performance of MOPF. Results indicate that the oval-shaped pin fins in the microchannel can effectively prevent the rise of heat surface temperature along the flow direction, which improves the temperature distribution uniformity. In addition, results show that for the studied Reynolds number range and microchannel geometries in this paper, the thermal enhancement factor η increases firstly and then decreases with the increase of α and β. In addition, except for Re = 157, η decreases first and then increases with the increase of the fin height ratio γ. The thermal enhancement factor for MOPF with α = 4, β = 0.3, and γ = 0.5 achieves 1.56 at Re = 668. The results can provide a theoretical basis for the design of a microchannel heat exchanger.

Methods for measuring the local emission characteristics of CNT based multi-tip emitters

The work is aimed at obtaining microscopic emission characteristics of individual emission sites of a multi-tip field cathode or large-area emitter (LAFE) based on processing the current-voltage characteristics and emission glow patterns. Processing was carried out on a hardware-software complex for the study of field emission characteristics in real time. The calculation of the microscopic characteristics of the local emission sites — the field enhancement factor and emission area — was carried out by several different algorithms. A comparison of the results showed that the algorithms gave close values of the characteristics, which increases the reliability of the estimates made.

Field electron emission from a nanostructured tungsten surface

In this paper, the electron emission from a nanostructured tungsten surface was investigated. A method for measuring an extremely low current (10−12 – 10−14 A) has been tested. It made possible to reduce the effect of the electric field on the sample surface and to minimize the probability of spontaneous breakdowns. For a detailed study of tungsten fuzz, a point tungsten anode (diameter 90 μm) was used. Field enhancement factor (β = 2000 – 3000) and effective emission area were calculated using the Fowler–Nordheim plots. The pre-breakdown current rise was studied. The emission current waveforms suggest the formation of several emission structures before the breakdown.