Revisiting silk: a lens-free optical physical unclonable function

For modern security, devices, individuals, and communications require unprecedentedly unique identifiers and cryptographic keys. One emerging method for guaranteeing digital security is to take advantage of a physical unclonable function. Surprisingly, native silk, which has been commonly utilized in everyday life as textiles, can be applied as a unique tag material, thereby removing the necessary apparatus for optical physical unclonable functions, such as an objective lens or a coherent light source. Randomly distributed fibers in silk generate spatially chaotic diffractions, forming self-focused spots on the millimeter scale. The silk-based physical unclonable function has a self-focusing, low-cost, and eco-friendly feature without relying on pre-/post-process for security tag creation. Using these properties, we implement a lens-free, optical, and portable physical unclonable function with silk identification cards and study its characteristics and reliability in a systemic manner. We further demonstrate the feasibility of the physical unclonable functions in two modes: authentication and data encryption.

Self-Focusing Property of Partially Coherent Beam With Non-Uniform Correlation Structure in Non-Linear Media

Coherence in a light beam has the potential to serve as a degree of freedom for manipulating the beam. In this work, the self-focusing property of a partially coherent beam with a non-uniform correlation structure propagating in a non-linear medium is investigated. The analysis of the evolution of beam width reveals that the coherence structure plays a vital role in the self-focusing formation. A threshold condition for the coherence radius is proposed for the first time, and the relation of self-focusing length and initial coherence radius is studied numerically and analytically. It is shown that a feasible approach for manipulating the self-focusing length by adjusting the initial coherence radius is achieved.

Исследование параметров самосфокусированного электронного пучка, выведенного за анод вакуумного диода

The parameters of a high-current electron beam extracted from the self-focusing zone through a hole in the anode into a vacuum chamber are investigated. The beam parameters were determined from the measurement of the spatial distribution of destruction and glow arising in polymethyl methacrylate samples installed at different distances from the anode (electron beam autographs). The formation of two electron beams - a self-focused with a high energy density, propagating along the axis of the cone facing the base to the anode with an apex angle of ~ 7º and a high-energy beam of low density, propagating in a hollow truncated cone and surrounding self-focused, was found. The oscillograms of the current and the energy of the electron beams were measured.

Studying the Nonlinear Optical Properties of Fluoride Laser Host Materials in the Ultraviolet Wavelength Region

Fluoride host materials doped with trivalent cerium ions have previously been demonstrated as successful laser materials in the ultraviolet wavelength region. However, the nonlinear optical properties of the fluoride hosts in this wavelength region have not been investigated yet, although nonlinearity could result in undesirable effects such as self-focusing and pulse distortion when these fluoride materials are used as gain media in high-power, ultrashort pulse laser oscillator and amplifier systems. In this work, the nonlinear refractive index of lithium calcium aluminum fluoride (LiCaAlF6), lithium strontium aluminum fluoride (LiSrAlF6), lanthanum fluoride (LaF3), and yttrium lithium fluoride (YLiF4) fluoride host materials are determined using the Kramers–Krönig relation model in the ultraviolet wavelength region. Self-focusing conditions, particularly at the peak laser emission wavelength of these materials, are further analyzed. Results show that LiCaAlF6 has the smallest nonlinear refractive index and self-focusing, making it an ideal host material under the conditions of ultrashort pulse and ultrahigh-power laser generation.

Generation of Efficient Terahertz Radiation by Relativistic Self-Focusing of A Cosh-Gaussian Laser Beam in A Magnetized Plasma

This paper presents a scheme for the generation of terahertz (THz) radiation by self-focusing of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in the magnetized and rippled density plasma, when relativistic nonlinearity is operative. The strong coupling between self-focused laser beam and pre-existing density ripple produces nonlinear current that originates THz radiation. THz radiation is produced by the interaction of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam with electron plasma wave under the appropriate phase matching conditions. Expressions for the beamwidth parameter of cosh-Gaussian laser beam and the electric vector of the THz radiation have been obtained using higher-order paraxial theory and solved numerically. The self-focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam and its effect on the generated THz amplitude have been studied for specific laser and plasma parameters. Numerical study has been performed on various values of the decentered parameter, incident laser intensity, magnetic field, and relative density. The results have also been compared with the paraxial region as well as the Gaussian profile of laser beam. Numerical results suggest that the self-focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam and the amplitude of THz radiation increase in the extended paraxial region compared to the paraxial region. It is also observed that the focusing of the cosh-Gaussian laser beam in the magnetized plasma and the amplitude of the THz radiation increases at higher values of the decentered parameter.

Effects of interactions between facial expressions and self-focused attention on emotion

Self-focus is a type of cognitive processing that maintains negative emotions. Moreover, bodily feedback is also essential for maintaining emotions. This study investigated the effect of interactions between self-focused attention and facial expressions on emotions. The results indicated that control facial expression manipulation after self-focus reduced happiness scores. On the contrary, the smiling facial expression manipulation after self-focus increased happiness scores marginally. However, facial expressions did not affect positive emotions after the other-focus manipulation. These findings suggest that self-focus plays a pivotal role in facial expressions’ effect on positive emotions. However, self-focusing is insufficient for decreasing positive emotions, and the interaction between self-focus and facial expressions is crucial for developing positive emotions.

Third harmonic generation of a relativistic self-focusing laser in plasma under exponential density ramp

Present study focuses on self-focusing and its effect on third harmonic generation (THG) of a Gaussian laser beam in plasma under the influence of exponential density ramp. Relativistic nonlinearity has been taken into account which is aroused due the modification of electron’s mass in the presence of high intensity laser. Under strong ponderomotive force, electrons acquire very high quiver velocity and mass variation takes place. Equations for beam width parameter of incident laser and the amplitude of THG have been derived under WKB and paraxial ray approximation, and solved them numerically. It is found that the presence of exponential plasma density ramp results strong self-focusing of laser which further leads to enhance the efficiency of THG. Wiggler magnetic field adds an additional momentum to the photons of third harmonic due to which appreciable gain is observed in the normalized amplitude of THG. Significant enhancement in the THG amplitude has been reported in the presence of exponential density ramp for optimum values of intensity of incident laser, wiggler magnetic field and plasma frequency.

The Propagation Properties of a Laguerre–Gaussian Beam in Nonlinear Plasma

The self-focusing properties of the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam in nonlinear plasma, characterized by significant collisional or ponderomotive nonlinearity have been explored. The second-order differential equation of the beam width is established from Maxwell’s equations with Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) and paraxial like approximation. The effect of the vortex charge number, intensity parameter and plasma temperature on the self-focusing properties of the Laguerre-Gaussian beam has been investigated.