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At least 325 records · Page 18

Optical and magneto-optical studies of martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloys

Optical and magneto-optical properties of single crystal of Ni{sub 50.1}Mn{sub 28.4}Ga{sub 21.5} magnetic shape memory alloy during its transformation from martensite to austenite phase were systematically studied. Crystal orientation was approximately along (100) planes of parent cubic austenite. X-ray reciprocal mapping confirmed modulated 10 M martensite phase. Temperature depended measurements of saturation magnetization revealed the martensitic transformation at 335 K during heating. Magneto-optical spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were measured in the sample temperature range from 297 to 373 K and photon energy range from 1.2 to 6.5 eV. Magneto-optical spectra of polar Kerr rotation as well as the spectra of ellipsometric parameter Ψ exhibited significant changes when crossing the transformation temperature. These changes were assigned to different optical properties of Ni-Mn-Ga in martensite and austenite phases due to modification of electronic structure near the Fermi energy during martensitic transformation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Air nonlinear dynamics initiated by ultra-intense lambda-cubic terahertz pulses

We report on the measurement of the instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity and the retarded alignment of air molecules CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, and O{sub 2} triggered by an intense, lambda-cubic terahertz pulse, a diffraction- and transform-limited single-cycle pulse. The strong-field, impulsive low-frequency excitation (3.9 THz) leads to field-free alignment dynamics of these molecules thanks to the terahertz-induced transient dipole moments in the otherwise non-polar molecules. The strong coupling to the terahertz electric transient results in the excitation of coherent large amplitude long-living rotational states at room temperature and ambient pressure. Beyond fundamental investigations of nonlinear properties in gases, our results suggest a route towards field-free molecular alignment at laser intensity well below the ionization threshold.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Plasmonic lattice solitons in metallic nanowire materials

In this paper, we demonstrate theoretically that the plasmonic lattice solitons (PLSs) are formed in array of metallic nanowires embedded in Kerr-type material. The strong nonlinearity at metal surface, combined with the tight confinement of the guiding modes of the metallic nanowires, provide the main physical mechanism for balancing the creation of plasmonic lattice solitons and wave diffraction. We show that the PLSs are satisfied in a verity of plasmonic systems, which have important applications in nanophotonics and subwavelength optics.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Mössbauer and Kerr microscopy investigation of crystallization in FeCoB ribbons

The present work reports the crystallization study of amorphous FeCoB ribbons using x-ray diffraction, {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy in transmission mode and magneto-optical Kerr (MOKE) microscopy. Annealing at 673 K is found to result in crystallization. From the Mossbauer measurements it is observed that the Fe magnetic moments are in the plane of sample for as-cast ribbon; α-FeCo, (Fe{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}){sub 2}B and Fe{sub 2}B phases are formed after crystallization. MOKE microscopy revealed that wide 180° domain walls & narrow fingerprint domains are observed before crystallization and fine domains are observed after crystallization. The results are explained in terms of the presence of internal stresses and their annealing with thermal heat treatment.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy of flux beam formation in hard disk write heads

To meet growing data storage needs, the density of data stored on hard disk drives must increase. In pursuit of this aim, the magnetodynamics of the hard disk write head must be characterized and understood, particularly the process of “flux beaming.” In this study, seven different configurations of perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) write heads were imaged using time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy, revealing their detailed dynamic magnetic state during the write process. It was found that the precise position and number of driving coils can significantly alter the formation of flux beams during the write process. These results are applicable to the design and understanding of current PMR and next-generation heat-assisted magnetic recording devices, as well as being relevant to other magnetic devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Depth-resolved ballistic imaging in a low-depth-of-field optical Kerr gated imaging system

We demonstrate depth-resolved imaging in a ballistic imaging system, in which a heterodyned femtosecond optical Kerr gate is introduced to extract useful imaging photons for detecting an object hidden in turbid media and a compound lens is proposed to ensure both the depth-resolved imaging capability and the long working distance. Two objects of about 15-μm widths hidden in a polystyrene-sphere suspension have been successfully imaged with approximately 600-μm depth resolution. Modulation-transfer-function curves with the object in and away from the object plane have also been measured to confirm the depth-resolved imaging capability of the low-depth-of-field (low-DOF) ballistic imaging system. This imaging approach shows potential for application in research of the internal structure of highly scattering fuel spray.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Direct measurement of electron numbers created at near-infrared laser-induced ionization of various gases

In this work, we present temporally resolved measurements of electron numbers created at photoionization of various gases by a femtosecond-laser pulse at 800 nm wavelength. The experiments were conducted in O 2 , Xe, Ar, N 2 , Kr, and CO at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Elastic microwave scattering was used to directly measure the electron numbers. Numbers of electrons in the range 3 × 10 8 –3 × 10 12 were produced by the laser pulse energies 100–700 μ J. After the laser pulse, plasma decayed on the time scale from 1 to 40 ns depending on the gas type and governed by two competing processes, namely, the creation of new electrons from ionization of the metastable atoms and loss of the electrons due to dissociative recombination and attachment to oxygen.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Q-switching and mode-locking in a diode-pumped frequency-doubled Nd : YAG laser

A new method for obtaining Q-switching simultaneously with mode-locking using one travelling-wave acousto-optic modulator in a frequency-doubled Nd : YAG laser cavity is described. Further shortening of output laser pulses (from 40 to 3.25 ps) is achieved by forming a Kerr lens in the frequency-doubling crystal. At an average power of {approx} 2 W and a Q-switching rate of 2 kHz, the peak power of the stably operating reached {approx} 50 MW.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Analysis of the process of visualisation of transparent objects using the phase-contrast method with a photothermal Zernike cell

Basic characteristics of the process of visualisation of transparent objects using the phase-contrast method with a photothermal Zernike cell are analysed and evaluated. It is shown that, in spite of nonlocality of the process, visualisation is accomplished with the resolution close to the diffraction limit. The results of the visualisation process analysis in the scheme with a photothermal sell are compared with those obtained in a similar scheme with a Zernike cell based on the local Kerr nonlinearity. (optical image processing)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Calculation and experimental verification of a collimator with a Kerr lens for fibre laser mode locking

We present the calculation and experimental verification of the operation of a collimator coupling a light beam into an optical fibre with an As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nonlinear plate. It is shown that a Kerr lens formed in the plate with an increase in the peak pulse power leads to an increase in the output coupling ratio by about 15%, which can be used for the passive mode locking of a fibre laser. (lasers)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Phase-contrast imaging method based on fast Kerr optical nonlinearity of air

The visualisation of a transparent phase object (gas jet) and the brightness inversion at the image of a nontransparent amplitude object (metal wire) is implemented using the nonlinear phase-contrast method based on the fast Kerr nonlinearity of the ambient air. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Resonant nonlinear refraction of 4.3-μm light in CO 2 gas

Here, we use time- and frequency-resolved measurements of self-focusing and self-defocusing of 4.3-μm radiation in CO 2 gas to study the resonant nonlinear optical response in the vicinity of individual rovibrational lines. Measurements over a range of lines on the 4P and 4R branch of the 000-001 transition indicate that the nonlinear response of CO 2 is strongly affected by power broadening, resulting in a sign reversal of the nonlinearity as compared to that of a saturable two-level system.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Resonant nonlinear refraction of 4 – 5 - μ m light in CO and C O 2 gas

The resonant nonlinear refraction of 4–5-μm light in CO and CO 2 gas at a peak intensity of 15MW/cm 2 was demonstrated using time- and frequency-resolved measurements of self-focusing and self-defocusing. The nonlinearity of these molecular gases exhibits intensity-dependent sign reversals and a <4-ns response time. A change from self-focusing to self-defocusing or vice versa was observed to occur for Rabi frequencies that are comparable to the collisional linewidth. A density matrix model for the nonlinear susceptibility of a strongly driven two-level system provides a qualitative explanation for these results.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Generators of nonclassical states by a combination of linear coupling of boson modes, Kerr nonlinearity, and strong linear losses

We show that the generators of quantum states of light can be built by employing the Kerr nonlinearity, a strong linear absorption or losses, and the linear coupling of optical modes. Our setup can be realized, for instance, with the use of the optical fiber technology. We consider in detail the simplest cases of three and four coupled modes, where a strongly lossy mode is linearly coupled to other linear and nonlinear modes. In the three-mode design, our scheme emulates the third-order nonlinear absorption, allowing for generation of the single-photon states, or two-photon absorption allowing the generation of the phase states. In the four-mode design, the scheme emulates a nonlocal absorption which produces an entangled state of two uncoupled modes. We also note that in the latter case and in the case of phase state generation the output state is in the linear mode, which prevents its subsequent degradation by strong losses accompanying a strong Kerr nonlinearity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ab initio dissipative solitons in an all-photonic crystal resonator

We identify dissipative solitons in a Kerr-nonlinear all-photonic crystal resonator by solving Maxwell's equations directly. The photonic crystal allows for diffraction management, leading to solitons with unique properties. These results are compared to a mean-field model based on Bloch waves, finding excellent agreement even for a high-contrast photonic crystal. By adjusting the quality factor and resonance frequencies of the resonator, optimal Bloch cavity solitons in terms of width and pump energy are identified. In particular, the width is independent of the quality factor, in contrast to the usual homogeneous cavity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Basic prerequisites for limit-cycle oscillations within a synchronously pumped passive optical nonlinear fiber-ring resonator

By taking into account Kerr nonlinearity and negative second-order dispersion, we show by numerical investigations that in a passive optical nonlinear fiber ring resonator synchronously pumped with femtosecond pulses a temporal delay via a resonator length detuning or via third-order dispersion leads to limit cycle behavior, which is represented by an oscillatory evolution of the temporal as well as the spectral pulse shape. By introducing a two-dimensional iterative map, we show that limit cycles arise due to the mutual coupling of different spectral pulse components. The resulting system behavior can be used to introduce additional adjustable frequency components into frequency combs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Oscillatory dynamics in nanocavities with noninstantaneous Kerr response

We investigate the impact of a finite response time of Kerr nonlinearities over the onset of spontaneous oscillations (self-pulsing) occurring in a nanocavity. The complete characterization of the underlying Hopf bifurcation in the full parameter space allows us to show the existence of a critical value of the response time and to envisage different regimes of competition with bistability. The transition from a stable oscillatory state to chaos is found to occur only in cavities which are detuned far off-resonance, which turns out to be mutually exclusive with the region where the cavity can operate as a bistable switch.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗