Simple method to evaluate the pixel crosstalk caused by fringing field effect in liquid-crystal spatial light modulators

In this work we provide a simple experimental method to measure and evaluate the pixel crosstalk in phase-only liquid-crystal displays caused by the fringing field effect. The technique is a reverse engineering method that does not require information about the microscopic physical parameters of the liquid-crystal material or details of the fabrication and electronics of the display. Instead, it is based on the overall effect on the diffraction efficiency of displayed binary phase gratings as a function of the addressed gray level. We show how the efficiency of the zero (DC) and first diffraction orders provides valuable information enough to identify and quantify the pixel crosstalk. The technique is demonstrated with a modern phase-only liquid-crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulator (SLM), illustrating the limitations that this effect imposes to the spatial resolution of the device and providing quantitative measurement of the impact on the diffraction efficiency.

Fabrication of a light-emitting device based on the CdS/ZnS spherical quantum dots

In this work, we focus on the colloidal quantum dot based light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) performance. First, we synthesize the spherical QDs with a CdS core that covered with a wider band gap II–VI semiconductor acting as a shell (ZnS). In order to synthesize this nano crystal QDs with structure of CdS/ZnS/CdS/ZnS, we use a reverse micelle process. These four-layer quantum well quantum dots (QWQDs) can generate the white light emission. The positional design of different layers i.e., core/shell QD emitters is a critical factor for white emissive devices. The blue emission generated by CdS core mixes with green/orange components originating from ZnS inner shell and creates an efficiency white light emission. Then, we fabricate a white-QDLED with a device structure of FTO/ ZnO / QD / CBP/ MoO3 / Al films. A thin film of CdS/ZnS/CdS/ZnS QDs is deposited by electrostatically assembled colloidal QD solutions. The experimental results show that the emission spectra of QDs and current density through the LED are controlled by varying the particle sizes. The peaks of absorbance and Photoluminescence (PL) spectrums for core/shell structures get the red shifted as the dot size increases. Furthermore, this QD-LED with a smaller nano particle layer has a higher current density.

Drastic advancement in nanophotonics achieved by a new dressed photon study

On the very recent advancement of dressed photon studies A timely review of the emerging new phase of dressed photon (DP) studies, not yet prevailing in the global nanophotonic society, is given in contradistinction to its preceding incipient phase. A new theory on DPs crucially depends on a couple of important elements, namely, the knowledge on quantum field theory (QFT) having infinite degrees of freedom, notably on the micro-macro duality (MMD) theory developed by Ojima, and a newly proposed Clebsch dual (CD) electromagnetic field as a specific implementation of MMD theory. The main aim of the first part of this article after the introduction, the section of “In search of refinement of the theoretical models”, is twofold: to explain plainly, without resorting to mathematical equations, the essence of the highly mathematical contents of MMD theory, which clarifies a problematic aspect of the Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment, and to explain the physical meanings of the CD field. Preliminary study on the existence of DP light with spin zero In the section of “Observed “photon cluster” and light field with spin zero”, we briefly report a new intriguing experimental discovery implying the existence of propagating particle-like “quantum DP light” together with a conjecture on its possible theoretical explanation. A perspective on a variety of possible research directions for DPs is then briefly mentioned in mentioned in the final section.

Precise spectrophotometric method for semitransparent metallic thin-film index determination using interference enhancement

A precise spectrophotometric method to determine the refractive index of a semitransparent metallic thin film is presented. This method relies on interference enhancement of the measured spectra, employing an opaque substrate with a dielectric spacer layer beneath the absorbing layer of interest to create interference fringes.The resulting spectral oscillations of the stack are highly sensitive to the properties of the top absorbing layer, allowing precise determination of the refractive index via fitting. The performance of this method is verified using simulations in comparison to the typical method of depositing the absorbing thin film directly onto a transparent substrate. An experimental demonstration is made for titanium thin films over the visible range (370-835 nm). The refractive index of these films is extracted from experimental data using a combination of the Modified Drude and Forouhi-Bloomer models. This method showed high repeatability and precision, and is verified for Ti films between 6-70 nm thickness.

Effect of various additives on aluminum oxide thin films prepared by dip coating, thermal behavior, kinetics and optical properties

Aluminum oxide thin films attract research interest due to their properties. Aluminum acetate was used as an Al source with acetic acid, oxalic acid, and nitric acid as additives. The transmittance and the thickness of the films strongly depend on the additives, with the approximate bandgap energy changing from 5 ev to 5.4 ev. The aluminum oxide film deposited by dip-coating is presented great uniform surface morphology. The knowledge of the degradation kinetics of materials is essential for investigating the thermal stability of compounds. The acetic acid thin film proved to be the most efficient additive by demonstrating interesting optoelectronic properties. The thin films deposited by dip-coating were characterized by using X-ray grazing incidence diffraction, SEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy. Gamma aluminum oxide thin films prepared by acetic acid can be a good candidate for a wide range of optical applications.

Lossy mode resonances in photonic crystal fibers

The interaction effect of the fundamental mode in a special photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a thin-film absorbing coating deposited on a surface of a fiber cladding on the optical transmission of the PCF is theoretically studied. It is shown that the transmission has a multi-peak spectrum that is determined by the resonance capture of the fundamental PCF mode energy by the coating. In some cases, this capture is explained by a resonance coupling between the fundamental core mode and leaky modes of the coating, or between the fundamental PCF mode and cladding modes located between PCF air channels and the coating. Examples are presented of using this effect to develop fiber-optic sensors of refractive index or pressure, and to sense a nanoscale adsorption layer of ammonia molecules deposited on a coating surface contacting air.

Realization of a polarization-insensitive optical frequency-domain reflectometer using an I/Q homodyne detection

We report on the development and implementation of an optical frequency-domain reflectometer (OFDR) sensing platform. OFDR allows to measure changes in strain and temperature using optical fibers with a length of several tens of meters with very high spatial resolution. We discuss the operation principles and challenges to implement an OFDR system using optical homodyne detection based on a dual-polarization 90° optical hybrid. Our setup exhibits polarization and phase diversity, fully automated data acquisition and data processing using a LabVIEW-based implemented software environment. Using an optical hybrid enables to discriminate phase, amplitude and polarization by interfering the Rayleigh scatter signal and a local oscillator with four 90° phase stepped interferences between the two signals. Without averaging and a fast acquisition time of 230 ms, our preliminary results show a spatial resolution of 5 cm and a temperature resolution of about 0.1 Kelvin on a 3 m-long fiber.

Methodology of optimisation for a nanostructured two-photon absorption photodetector

We introduce a 3-step method to optimise a nanostructured photodetector for infrared sensing through non degenerated two-photon absorption (NDTPA). First, the nanostructure is designed to tailor the distribution and concentration of both pump and signal intensities within the absorbing layer, thus leading to a gain in two-photon absorption. Second, the issue of the competition between NDTPA and other sub-bandgap transitions is tackled with a new figure of merit to favor as much as possible NDTPA while minimising other absorption processes. Third, a refined computation of the gain and the figure of merit is done to consider focused beams. Finally, two scenarios based on low power infrared photodetection are investigated to illustrate the flexibility and adaptibility of the method. It is shown that the gain is up to 7 times higher and the figure of merit is up to 20 times higher compared to the literature.

Autocompensating measurement-device-independent quantum cryptography in space division multiplexing optical fibers

Single photon or biphoton states propagating in optical fibers or in free space are affected by random perturbations and imperfections that disturb the information encoded in such states and accordingly quantum key distribution is prevented. We propose three different systems for autocompensating such random perturbations and imperfections when a measurement-device-independent protocol is used. These systems correspond to different optical fibers intended for space division multiplexing and supporting collinear modes, polarization modes or codirectional modes such as few-mode optical fibers and multicore optical fibers. Accordingly, we propose different Bell-states measurement devices located at Charlie system and present simulations that confirm the importance of autocompensation. Moreover, these types of optical fibers allow the use of several transmission channels, which compensates the reduction of the bit rate due to losses.