Numerical simulation of a plasmonic lens for laser light focusing

In this paper, the design of a plasmonic lens in gold and silver thin films for focusing the light with radial polarization is presented. Using the finite difference time domain method the optimal parameters of the plasmonic lens design are found. It was shown that the silver plasmonic lens produces a tight focal spot with a full width at half maximum of 0.38 of the incident light wavelength.

Design and Manufacturing of a Nd-Doped Phosphate Glass-Based Jewel

This paper reports the results of the designing, manufacturing and characterization of a jewel obtained by means of coupling the dogmas of industrial design to the analytical engineering approach. The key role in the design of the jewel was played by an in-house synthesized Neodymium (Nd)-doped phosphate glass, selected due to its easy handling and capability to change color according to the incident light wavelength. The glass core was covered by a metal alloy to mitigate its relatively high fragility and sensitivity to thermal shock and, at the same time, to highlight and preserve its beauty. The selection of the proper metal alloy, having thermo-mechanical properties compatible with those exhibited by the glass, was carried out by means of Ashby’s maps, a powerful tool commonly adopted in the field of industrial design.

Emergent Phototactic Responses of Cyanobacteria under Complex Light Regimes

ABSTRACT Environmental cues can stimulate a variety of single-cell responses, as well as collective behaviors that emerge within a bacterial community. These responses require signal integration and transduction, which can occur on a variety of time scales and often involve feedback between processes, for example, between growth and motility. Here, we investigate the dynamics of responses of the phototactic, unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to complex light inputs that simulate the natural environments that cells typically encounter. We quantified single-cell motility characteristics in response to light of different wavelengths and intensities. We found that red and green light primarily affected motility bias rather than speed, while blue light inhibited motility altogether. When light signals were simultaneously presented from different directions, cells exhibited phototaxis along the vector sum of the light directions, indicating that cells can sense and combine multiple signals into an integrated motility response. Under a combination of antagonistic light signal regimes (phototaxis-promoting green light and phototaxis-inhibiting blue light), the ensuing bias was continuously tuned by competition between the wavelengths, and the community response was dependent on both bias and cell growth. The phototactic dynamics upon a rapid light shift revealed a wavelength dependence on the time scales of photoreceptor activation/deactivation. Thus, Synechocystis cells achieve exquisite integration of light inputs at the cellular scale through continuous tuning of motility, and the pattern of collective behavior depends on single-cell motility and population growth. IMPORTANCE The photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. exhibits phototaxis that is dependent on the incident light wavelength through the action of various photoreceptors. In natural environments, cells experience a set of highly dynamic and complex light inputs, yet how cells transduce multiple or dynamic inputs into motion is unknown. In this study, we measured the phototactic behaviors of single cells and communities as a function of light intensity or when illuminated by combinations of lights of different wavelengths or incidence directions. Responses to a spectrum of light regimes revealed that Synechocystis sp. integrates information about the light environment to tune its phototactic response, which is likely generated by competition among photoreceptors and the degree of wavelength-regulated growth to sensitively control the direction and degree of movement. The photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. exhibits phototaxis that is dependent on the incident light wavelength through the action of various photoreceptors. In natural environments, cells experience a set of highly dynamic and complex light inputs, yet how cells transduce multiple or dynamic inputs into motion is unknown. In this study, we measured the phototactic behaviors of single cells and communities as a function of light intensity or when illuminated by combinations of lights of different wavelengths or incidence directions. Responses to a spectrum of light regimes revealed that Synechocystis sp. integrates information about the light environment to tune its phototactic response, which is likely generated by competition among photoreceptors and the degree of wavelength-regulated growth to sensitively control the direction and degree of movement.

Polarization Sensitive Reflection and Dielectric Spectra in GaSe Thin Films

The light polarization effects on the optical reflective and dielectric spectra of GaSe thin films are studied in the incident light wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. In this range of measurement, the angle of incidence (θi) of light was varied between 30° and 80°. In addition, at θi of 30° the light polarizing angle (δ) was altered in the range of 0–90°. Regardless of the value of λ, for all θi≻65°, the total reflectance sharply decreased with increasing θi. In addition, when θi is fixed at 30° and δ was varied, the amplitudes ratio of the polarized waves exhibits a resonance-antiresonance phenomenon at a wavelength that coincides with the film’s thickness (800 nm). This behavior was assigned to the coupled interference between incident and reflected waves and to the strong absorption effects. Two main resonance peaks are observed as response to s-polarized and normal incident beam: one is at ~540 (556 nm) and the other at ~420 THz (714 nm). The dielectric constant of the GaSe films exhibits anisotropic characteristics that nominate it for use as multipurpose optoelectronic devices.

Properties and Analysis of Transparency Conducting AZO Films by Using DC Power and RF Power Simultaneous Magnetron Sputtering

DC power and RF power were introduced into the magnetic controlled sputtering system simultaneously to deposit AZO films in order to get an acceptable deposition rate with high quality transparency conducting thin film. The resistivity decreases with the RF power for the as-deposited samples. The resistivity of 6 × 10−4 Ω-cm and 3.5–4.5 × 10−4 Ω-cm is obtained for the as-deposited sample, and for all annealed samples, respectively. The transmittance of the AZO films with higher substrate temperature is generally above 80% for the incident light wavelength within 400–800 nm. The transmittance of the as-deposited samples reveals a clear blue shift phenomenon. The AZO films present (002) oriented preference as can be seen from the X-ray diffraction curves. All AZO films reveal compressive stress. The annealing process improves the electrical property of AZO films. A significant blue shift phenomenon has been found, which may have a great application for electrode in solar cell.

Light-triggered Silicon-carbon Pi'npin Devices for Optical Communications: Theoretical and Electrical Approaches

In this paper a light-activated multiplexer/demultiplexer silicon-carbon device is analysed. An electrical model for the device operation is presented and used to compare output signals with experimental data. An algorithm that takes into accounts the voltage and the optical bias controlled sensitivities is developed. The device is a double pi'n/pin a-SiC:H heterostructure with two optical gate connections for light triggering in different spectral regions. Multiple monochromatic pulsed communication channels were transmitted together, each one with a specific bit sequence. The combined optical signal was analyzed by reading out, under different applied voltages and optical bias, the generated photocurrent across the device. Experimental and simulated results show that the output multiplexed signal has a strong nonlinear dependence on the light absorption profile, i.e. on the incident light wavelength, bit rate and intensity under unbalanced light generation of carriers. By switching between positive and negative voltages the input channels can be recovered or removed from the output signal.

Photocurrent Profile in a-SiC:H Monolithic Tandem Pinpin and Pinip Photodiodes

We present in this paper results about the analysis of photocurrent and spectral response in a-SiC:H/ a-Si:H pinpin and pinip structures. Our experiments and analysis reveal the photocurrent profile to have a strong nonlinear dependence on the externally applied bias and on the light absorption profile, i.e. on the incident light wavelength and intensity. Our interpretation points out the cause of such effect to a self biasing of the junctions under certain unbalanced light generation of carriers and to an asymmetric reaction of the internal electric fields to the externally imposed bias. The possibility to relate such a behavior to the light intensity and wavelength indicates realistic hypothesis of using these structures and this effect for color recognition sensors.We present results about the experimental characterization of the structures and numerical simulations obtained with the program ASCA. Considerations about electrical field profiles and inversion layers will be taken into account to explain the optical and voltage bias dependence of the spectral response. Our results show that in both structures the application of an external electrical bias (forward or reverse) mainly influences the field distribution within the less photo excited sub-cell.

Reduction of dark current in AlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier photodetectors with a low-temperature-grown GaN cap layer

ABSTRACTAlGaN/GaN-based ultraviolet (UV) Schottky barrier photodetectors (PDs) with and without the LT GaN cap layer were both fabricated. It was found that we could achieve a lower leakage current from sample A. With incident light wavelength of 320 nm and a –1 V reverse bias, the measured responsivity was around 0.03 A/W and 0.015 A/W for samples with and without the LT GaN cap layer, respectively. The response speed of the sample A was also found to be faster.

PLASMON MODES IN METAL NANOWIRES AND LEFT-HANDED MATERIALS

The electromagnetic field distribution for thin metal nanowires is found, by using the discrete dipole approximation. The plasmon polariton modes in wires are numerically simulated. These modes are found to be dependent on the incident light wavelength and direction of propagation. The existence of localized plasmon modes and strong local field enhancement in percolation nanowire composites is demonstrated. Novel left-handed materials in the near-infrared and visible are proposed based on nanowire composites.