Search Results
Generation of Multiple Vector Optical Bottle Beams
2021, Khonina, Svetlana N., Porfirev, Alexey P., Volotovskiy, Sergey G., Ustinov, Andrey V., Fomchenkov, Sergey A., Pavelyev, Vladimir S., Schröter, Siegmund, Duparré, Michael
We propose binary diffractive optical elements, combining several axicons of different types (axis-symmetrical and spiral), for the generation of a 3D intensity distribution in the form of multiple vector optical ‘bottle’ beams, which can be tailored by a change in the polarization state of the illumination radiation. The spatial dynamics of the obtained intensity distribution with different polarization states (circular and cylindrical of various orders) were investigated in paraxial mode numerically and experimentally. The designed binary axicons were manufactured using the e-beam lithography technique. The proposed combinations of optical elements can be used for the generation of vector optical traps in the field of laser trapping and manipulation, as well as for performing the spatial transformation of the polarization state of laser radiation, which is crucial in the field of laser-matter interaction for the generation of special morphologies of laser-induced periodic surface structures.
Valley control by linearly polarized laser pulses: example of WSe2
2022, Sharma, S., Elliott, P., Shallcross, S.
Electrons at the band edges of materials are endowed with a valley index, a quantum number locating the band edge within the Brillouin zone. An important question is then how this index may be controlled by laser pulses, with current understanding that it couples exclusively via circularly polarized light. Employing both tight-binding and state-of-the-art time dependent density function theory, we show that on femtosecond time scales valley coupling is a much more general effect. We find that two time separated linearly polarized pulses allow almost complete control over valley excitation, with the pulse time difference and polarization vectors emerging as key parameters for valley control. Our findings highlight the possibility of controlling coherent electronic excitation by successive femtosecond laser pulses, and offer a route towards valleytronics in two-dimensional materials.
Mueller matrix imaging microscope using dual continuously rotating anisotropic mirrors
2021, Ruder, Alexander, Wright, Brandon, Feder, Rene, Kilic, Ufuk, Hilfiker, Matthew, Schubert, Eva, Herzinger, Craig M., Schubert, Mathias
We demonstrate calibration and operation of a Mueller matrix imaging microscope using dual continuously rotating anisotropic mirrors for polarization state generation and analysis. The mirrors contain highly spatially coherent nanostructure slanted columnar titanium thin films deposited onto optically thick titanium layers on quartz substrates. The first mirror acts as polarization state image generator and the second mirror acts as polarization state image detector. The instrument is calibrated using samples consisting of laterally homogeneous properties such as straight-through-air, a clear aperture linear polarizer, and a clear aperture linear retarder waveplate. Mueller matrix images are determined for spatially varying anisotropic samples consisting of a commercially available (Thorlabs) birefringent resolution target and a spatially patterned titanium slanted columnar thin film deposited onto a glass substrate. Calibration and operation are demonstrated at a single wavelength (530 nm) only, while, in principle, the instrument can operate regardless of wavelength. We refer to this imaging ellipsometry configuration as rotating-anisotropic-mirror-sample-rotating-anisotropic-mirror ellipsometry (RAM-S-RAM-E).
Robust nuclear hyperpolarization driven by strongly coupled nitrogen vacancy centers
2021, Wunderlich, Ralf, Staacke, Robert, Knolle, Wolfgang, Abel, Bernd, Haase, Jürgen, Meijer, Jan
Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques are widely used in the natural sciences but they lack sensitivity. Therefore, large sample volumes or long measurement times are necessary. In this work, we investigate the polarization of bulk 13C nuclei in a diamond above the thermal equilibrium at room temperature. Previously studied mechanisms utilize direct coupling to nitrogen vacancy centers or the additional assistance of substitutional nitrogen impurities for this purpose. We exploit strongly coupled nitrogen vacancy centers as polarization sources. We study two approaches to transfer the optically induced polarization of the electron spins of the nitrogen vacancy centers to nearby nuclear spins. First, the electron-nuclear polarization transfer is achieved by energy matching conditions or, second, by magnetic field sweeps inducing Landau–Zener-like transitions. Simulations according to a quantum mechanical system consisting of two coupled nitrogen vacancy centers and a weakly coupled 13C spin show an excellent agreement with the experimental data. Both approaches allow a reduction of the measurement time by roughly three orders of magnitude.
Sub-cycle valleytronics: control of valley polarization using few-cycle linearly polarized pulses
2021, Jiménez-Galán, Álvaro, Silva, Rui E. F., Smirnova, Olga, Ivanov, Misha
So far, it has been assumed that selective excitation of a desired valley in the Brillouin zone of a hexagonal two-dimensional material has to rely on using circularly polarized fields. We theoretically demonstrate a way to control the valley excitation in hexagonal 2D materials on a few-femtosecond timescale using a few-cycle, linearly polarized pulse with controlled carrier–envelope phase. The valley polarization is mapped onto the strength of the perpendicular harmonic signal of a weak, linearly polarized pulse, which allows to read this information all-optically without destroying the valley state and without relying on the Berry curvature, making our approach potentially applicable to inversion-symmetric materials. We show applicability of this method to hexagonal boron nitride and MoS2.
Magnetoelectricity induced by rippling of magnetic nanomembranes and wires
2023, Ortix, Carmine, van den Brink, Jeroen
Magnetoelectric crystals have the interesting property that they allow electric fields to induce magnetic polarizations, and vice versa, magnetic fields to generate ferroelectric polarizations. Having such a magnetoelectric coupling usually requires complex types of magnetic textures, e.g., of spiraling type. Here, we establish a previously unknown approach to generate linear magnetoelectric coupling in ferromagnetic insulators with intrinsic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). We show that the effect of nanoscale curved geometries combined with the intrinsic DMI of the magnetic shell lead to a reorganization of the magnetic texture that spontaneously breaks inversion symmetry and thereby induces macroscopic magnetoelectric multipoles. Specifically, we prove that structural deformation in the form of controlled ripples activates a magnetoelectric monopole in the recently synthesized two-dimensional magnets. We also demonstrate that in zigzag-shaped ferromagnetic wires in planar architectures, a magnetic toroidal moment triggers direct linear magnetoelectric coupling.
Multiscale thermodynamics of charged mixtures
2021, Vágner, Petr, Pavelka, Michal, Esen, Oğul
A multiscale theory of interacting continuum mechanics and thermodynamics of mixtures of fluids, electrodynamics, polarization, and magnetization is proposed. The mechanical (reversible) part of the theory is constructed in a purely geometric way by means of semidirect products. This leads to a complex Hamiltonian system with a new Poisson bracket, which can be used in principle with any energy functional. The thermodynamic (irreversible) part is added as gradient dynamics, generated by derivatives of a dissipation potential, which makes the theory part of the GENERIC framework. Subsequently, Dynamic MaxEnt reductions are carried out, which lead to reduced GENERIC models for smaller sets of state variables. Eventually, standard engineering models are recovered as the low-level limits of the detailed theory. The theory is then compared to recent literature. © 2020, The Author(s).
Polarization-resolved second-harmonic generation imaging through a multimode fiber
2021, Cifuentes, Angel, Pikálek, Tomáš, Ondráčková, Petra, Amezcua-Correa, Rodrigo, Antonio-Lopez, José Enrique, Čižmár, Tomáš, Trägårdh, Johanna
Multimode fiber-based endoscopes have recently emerged as a tool for minimally invasive endoscopy in tissue, at depths well beyond the reach of multiphoton imaging. Here, we demonstrate label-free second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy through such a fiber endoscope. We simultaneously fully control the excitation polarization state and the spatial distribution of the light at the fiber tip, and we use this to implement polarization-resolved SHG imaging, which allows imaging and identification of structural proteins such as collagen and myosin. We image mouse tail tendon and heart tissue, employing the endoscope at depths up to 1 mm, demonstrating that we can differentiate these structural proteins. This method has the potential for enabling instant and in situ diagnosis of tumors and fibrotic conditions in sensitive tissue with minimal damage.
Evidence of the Anomalous Fluctuating Magnetic State by Pressure-Driven 4f Valence Change in EuNiGe3
2023, Chen, K., Luo, C., Zhao, Y., Baudelet, F., Maurya, A., Thamizhavel, A., Rößler, U. K., Makarov, D., Radu, F.
In rare-earth compounds with valence fluctuation, the proximity of the 4f level to the Fermi energy leads to instabilities of the charge configuration and the magnetic moment. Here, we provide direct experimental evidence for an induced magnetic polarization of the Eu3+ atomic shell with J = 0, due to intra-atomic exchange and spin-orbital coupling interactions with the Eu2+ atomic shell. By applying external pressure, a transition from antiferromagnetic to a fluctuating behavior in EuNiGe3 single crystals is probed. Magnetic polarization is observed for both valence states of Eu2+ and Eu3+ across the entire pressure range. The anomalous magnetism is discussed in terms of a homogeneous intermediate valence state where frustrated Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya couplings are enhanced by the onset of spin-orbital interaction and engender a chiral spin-liquid-like precursor.