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83 records · Page 5

Angle-resolved polarimetry of hybrid perovskite emission for photonic technologies

Coupling between light and matter strongly depends on the polarization of the electromagnetic field and the nature of excitations in a material. As hybrid perovskites emerge as a promising class of materials for light-based technologies such as LEDs, LASERs, and photodetectors, it is critical to understand how their microstructure changes the intrinsic properties of the photon emission process. While the majority of optical studies have focused on the spectral content, quantum efficiency and lifetimes of emission in various hybrid perovskite thin films and nanostructures, few studies have investigated other properties of the emitted photons such as polarization and emission angle. Here, we use angle-resolved cathodoluminescence microscopy to access the full polarization state of photons emitted from large-grain hybrid perovskite films with spatial resolution well below the optical diffraction limit. In this work, mapping these Stokes parameters as a function of the angle at which the photons are emitted from the thin film surface, we reveal the effect of a grain boundary on the degree of polarization and angle at which the photons are emitted. Such studies of angle- and polarization-resolved emission at the single grain level are necessary for future development of perovskite-based flat optics, where effects of grain boundaries and interfaces need to be mitigated.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DNA-mediated assembly of Au bipyramids into anisotropic light emitting kagome superlattices

Colloidal crystal engineering with DNA allows one to design diverse superlattices with tunable lattice symmetry, composition, and spacing. Most of these structures follow the complementary contact model, maximizing DNA hybridization on building blocks and producing relatively close-packed lattices. Here, low-symmetry kagome superlattices are assembled from DNA-modified gold bipyramids that can engage only in partial DNA surface matching. The bipyramid dimensions and DNA length can be engineered for two different superlattices with rhombohedral unit cells, including one composed of a periodic stacking of kagome lattices. Enabled by the partial facet alignment, the kagome lattices exhibit lattice distortion, bipyramid twisting, and planar chirality. When conjugated with Cy-5 dyes, the kagome lattices serve as cavities with high-density optical states and large Purcell factors along lateral directions, leading to strong dipole radiation along thezaxis and facet-dependent light emission. Such complex optical properties make these materials attractive for lasers, displays, and quantum sensing constructs.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Sub-threshold ultrafast one-photon photoemission from a Cu(111) photocathode

Single-photon photoemission of electrons for incident photon energies below the surface work function is reported for a single-crystal Cu(111) photocathode. Spectral characterization of the quantum efficiency and mean transverse energy of the emitted electrons is shown to be consistent with emission from a thermalized hot electron distribution photoexcited on sub-picosecond time scales into an upper conduction band at the L-point of the Brillouin zone of copper. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such excited-state thermionic emission has been observed from a planar metal photocathode, and then from a commonly used photocathode material. The results, therefore, indicate the potential importance of such band structure dependent sub-threshold photoemission mechanisms on the performance of photocathodes employed for the generation of short electron pulses using sub-picosecond laser pulses. Consequently, the combined experimental and theoretical work presented in this paper contributes to solid-state photocathode-based research aimed at our understanding and selection (or discovery) of high brightness photo-electron sources required for many electron-based diffraction, imaging, and accelerator applications.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Spectral emission properties of a nitrogen-doped diamond (001) photocathode: Hot electron transport and transverse momentum filtering

The electron emission properties of a single-crystal nitrogen-doped diamond(001) photocathode inserted in a 10 kV DC photoelectron gun are determined using a tunable (235–410 nm) ultraviolet laser radiation source for photoemission from both the back nitrogen-doped substrate face and the front homoepitaxially grown and undoped diamond crystal face. Here, the measured spectral trends of the mean transverse energy and quantum efficiency of the emitted electrons are both anomalous and nonmonotonic, but are shown to be consistent with (i) the known physics of electron photoexcitation from the nitrogen substitution states into the conduction bands of diamond, (ii) the energy position and dispersion characteristics of the conduction bands of diamond in the (001) emission direction, (iii) the effective electron affinity of the crystal faces, (iv) the strong electron-(optical)phonon coupling in diamond, and (v) the associated hot electron transport dynamics under energy equipartition with the optical phonons. Notably, the observed hot electron emission is shown to be restricted parallel to the photocathode surface by the low transverse effective masses of the emitting band states—a transverse momentum filtering effect.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NIF-TAS Miniature Calibration Station

“On Aug. 8, 2021, an experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) National Ignition Facility (NIF) made a significant step toward ignition, achieving a yield of more than 1.3 megajoules (MJ). This advancement puts researchers at the threshold of fusion ignition, an important goal of the NIF, and opens access to a new experimental regime.” NIF experiments are conducted by symmetrically focusing 192 laser beams from NIF (three football fields in length) into the Target Chamber (10-meter diameter sphere) onto a target 2mm in size. The reaction produces a hot spot the diameter of a human hair, generating more than 10 quadrillion watts of fusion power for 100 trillionths of a second. These high pressures and temperatures created by the NIF have only been seen on the surface of the sun. To achieve fusion ignition, the target must be compressed to high pressures and temperatures, which requires symmetric compression. This symmetry requires precise alignment of the laser beams to the target. To achieve this precise symmetry a Target Alignment System (TAS) was developed to aid in aligning the beams to the target. The accomplishment on Aug 8 th could not have been accomplished without the TAS. TAS has proven to be a critical contributor to the success of NIF experiments. Each TAS is composed of several Charge Couple Device (CCD) sensors and various support electronics. Unfortunately, these CCDs are no longer available in industry as they have become outdated and obsolete. There is a limited amount of spare CCDs in the facility. As the NIF continues to increase its energy output of its fusion ignition shot experiments (heigh yield shots), more neutrons are being emitted from the Target Chamber. These neutrons are very damaging to the TAS electronics and its sensors, thus degrading and reducing its life expectancy dramatically. The increase of neutrons exceeds the damage threshold of the CCDs. This would increase the demand for more frequent TAS refurbishments and calibrations. The increase in resources to perform these refurbishments and calibrations would not be sustainable. In efforts to prolong the life of each TAS system it was determined that the TAS should be removed for every High Yield Shot and then reinstalled. The high precision fully calibrated TAS can easily be knocked out of alignment during these installs and reinstall exchanges and being transported in and out of the NIF. The Miniature Calibration Station System was developed to verify that the critical calibration parameters have been preserved during every TAS exchange. The Miniature Calibration Station System (Mini-Cal) would need to be a scaled down (in size and scope), portable version of the offline TAS calibration station to verify the critical TAS parameters are still within tolerances.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Importance of bulk excitations and coherent electron-photon-phonon scattering in photoemission from PbTe(111): Ab initio theory with experimental comparisons

This paper presents a fully ab initio many-body photoemission framework that includes coherent three-body electron-photon-phonon scattering to predict the transverse momentum distributions and the mean transverse energies (MTEs) of bulk photoelectrons from single-crystal photocathodes. The need to develop such a theory stems from the lack of studies that provide complete understanding of the underlying fundamental processes governing the transverse momentum distribution of photoelectrons emitted from single crystals. For example, initial predictions based on density-functional theory calculations of effective electron masses suggested that the (111) surface of PbTe would produce very small MTEs (≤ 15 meV), whereas our experiments yielded MTEs ten to twenty times larger than these predictions and also exhibited a lower photoemission threshold than predicted. The ab initio framework presented in this paper correctly reproduces both the magnitude of the MTEs from our measurements in PbTe(111) and the observed photoemission below the predicted threshold. Our results show that both photoexcitations into states that propagate in the bulk of the material and coherent many-body electron-photon-phonon scattering processes, which initial predictions ignored, play surprisingly important roles in photoemission from PbTe(111). Lastly, from the lessons learned, we recommend a procedure for rapid computational screening of potential single-crystal photocathodes for applications in next-generation ultrafast electron diffraction and X-ray free-electron lasers, which will enable significant advances in condensed matter research.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ionization wave propagation in a He plasma jet in a controlled gas environment

Characterizing ionization wave propagation in low temperature plasma jets is critical to predicting production of reactive species and plasma–surface interactions for biomedical applications and surface functionalization. In this work, results from optical emission and laser induced fluorescence measurements of the ionization wave in a He plasma jet operating in a controlled gas environment are discussed and used for comparison with numerical modeling. Additionally, the ionization wave was observed using ICCD (Intensified Charge Coupled Device) imaging and characterized by time and spatially resolved electron density measurements using laser-collision-induced fluorescence. The plasma jet was initially characterized using pure He (nominally at 200 Torr), while varying pressure and voltage. When operating in pure He, the ionization wave broadly expands exiting the plasma tube. Increasing the operating pressure reduces the speed and isotropic expansion of the ionization wave. Furthermore, the jet operated with a humid He shroud was also studied. The humid He shroud results in the electron density increasing and having an annular profile due to the lower ionization potential of H2O compared to He and localized photoionization in the mixing region. Numerical modeling highlighted the importance of resonance radiation emitted by excited states of He, photoelectron emission from the quartz tube, and the kinetic behavior of the electrons produced by photoionization ahead of the ionization front.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

In-situ synthesis of oxides by reactive process atmospheres during L-PBF of stainless steel

Traditionally, reactive gases such as oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) have been avoided during laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) of metals and alloys based on the notion that it may lead to defect formation and poor properties. Here, in this work, we show that instead, these gases can be used to form sub-μm-sized oxide particles in-situ during the L-PBF process in an Fe-Cr-Al-Ti stainless steel and lead to improved room temperature and high-temperature mechanical properties. We manufactured cube samples using pure Ar and various reactive gas atmospheres, namely an O 2 /Argon (Ar) mixture containing 0.2 % O 2 and CO 2 /Ar mixtures containing up to 100 % CO 2 . Co-axial measurements of infrared radiation emitted from the melt pool showed correlation to the presence of O 2 or CO 2 in the gas mixture. Builds produced under CO 2 -containing atmosphere contained complex oxides with an average diameter of ~40 nm, an Al-rich core and a Ti-rich shell. Due to the high cooling rates typical to L-PBF, agglomeration of oxides and slag formation on the surface of the samples could almost be entirely avoided. Compression tests at temperatures up to 800 °C showed that the samples produced in 100 % CO 2 have about 20 % higher yield stress compared to samples produced in Ar. The paper concludes with a discussion of the formation mechanism of the observed oxides. Our results show that in-situ reactions during additive manufacturing processes are a promising pathway to the synthesis of particle-reinforced alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An In-situ and Direct Confirmation of Super-Planckian Thermal Radiation Emitted From a Metallic Photonic-Crystal at Optical Wavelengths

Planck’s law predicts the distribution of radiation energy, color and intensity, emitted from a hot object at thermal equilibrium. The Law also sets the upper limit of radiation intensity, the blackbody limit. Recent experiments reveal that micro-structured tungsten can exhibit significant deviation from the blackbody spectrum. However, whether thermal radiation with weak non-equilibrium pumping can exceed the blackbody limit in the far field remains un-answered experimentally. Here, we compare thermal radiation from a micro-cavity/tungsten photonic crystal (W-PC) and a blackbody, which are both measured from the same sample and also in-situ. We show that thermal radiation can exceed the blackbody limit by >8 times at λ=1.7 μm resonant wavelength in the far-field. Our observation is consistent with a recent calculation by Wang and John performed for a 2D W-PC filament. This finding is attributed to non-equilibrium excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances coupled to nonlinear oscillators and the propagation of the electromagnetic waves through non-linear Bloch waves of the W-PC structure. This discovery could help create super-intense narrow band thermal light sources and even an infrared emitter with a laser-like input-output characteristic.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Optimizing fused silica debris shield use in the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) deliberately and routinely operates with its final optics exposed to fluences likely to induce and grow damage. This choice has enabled the NIF to operate at energies previously unachievable at the expense of limitations to delivered power and energy contingent on the ability to repair damage on the final optics. Prior to the introduction of the fused silica debris shield (FSDS), the grating debris shield (GDS) was the optic type on the NIF most prone to damage and hence a primary limiter to the delivered energy. The introduction of the FSDS has reduced the damage initiation rate on the GDS by about two orders of magnitude to date. Despite the FSDS being a disposable optic, it is important to understand how the FSDS damages and when its damage requires it to be exchanged to maximize the FSDS lifetime while still protecting the GDS from damage. We will define the FSDS exchange criteria and evaluate the damage initiation mechanisms of the FSDS. The surface damage morphologies provide insight into the impact of the various damage mechanisms that limit the FSDS lifetime. These results are utilized in our analysis to optimize the FSDS exchange criteria to further extend the GDS lifetime.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Surface-binding molecular multipods strengthen the halide perovskite lattice and boost luminescence

Reducing the size of perovskite crystals to confine excitons and passivating surface defects has fueled a significant advance in the luminescence efficiency of perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the persistent gap between the optical limit of electroluminescence efficiency and the photoluminescence efficiency of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) suggests that defect passivation alone is not sufficient to achieve highly efficient colloidal PeNC-LEDs. Here, we present a materials approach to controlling the dynamic nature of the perovskite surface. Our experimental and theoretical studies reveal that conjugated molecular multipods (CMMs) adsorb onto the perovskite surface by multipodal hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, strengthening the near-surface perovskite lattice and reducing ionic fluctuations which are related to nonradiative recombination. The CMM treatment strengthens the perovskite lattice and suppresses its dynamic disorder, resulting in a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield of PeNC films and a high external quantum efficiency (26.1%) of PeNC-LED with pure green emission that matches the Rec.2020 color standard for next-generation vivid displays.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗