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DOE OSTI2017

Scanning holographic optical tweezers

The aim of this Letter is to introduce a new optical tweezers approach, called scanning holographic optical tweezers (SHOT), which drastically increases the working area (WA) of the holographic-optical tweezers (HOT) approach, while maintaining tightly focused laser traps. A 12-fold increase in the WA is demonstrated. The SHOT approach achieves its utility by combining the large WA of the scanning optical tweezers (SOT) approach with the flexibility of the HOT approach for simultaneously moving differently structured optical traps in and out of the focal plane. This Letter also demonstrates a new heuristic control algorithm for combining the functionality of the SOT and HOT approaches to efficiently allocate the available laser power among a large number of traps. The proposed approach shows promise for substantially increasing the number of particles that can be handled simultaneously, which would enable optical tweezers additive fabrication technologies to rapidly assemble microgranular materials and structures in reasonable build times.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS2019

Bit Error Rate Performance of a Free Space Optical Link Using Double Clad Fibers

Mobile and embedded applications are emerging in the growing field of free space optical links (FSOL). Some mobile applications for FSOL include spacecraft, aircraft, and automotive. These applications by nature require low size weight and power (SWaP) solutions. The main challenge with any FSOL system is the strict pointing requirements. Common solutions to pointing and alignment of FSOL include gimbals, fast steering mirrors, and adaptive optics. All of which provide viable solutions at the cost of increased SWaP. Previously, we presented the use of both large core fibers and double clad fibers (DCF) to interface FSOL transmit and receive optics with small form factor pluggable optical transceivers (SFP). Double clad fibers have been shown to enable a common optical path by transmitting through a single mode core and receiving through a large inner cladding. This enables a single set of symmetric transmit and receive optics, which decreases the SWaP. In addition, using DCF increases the received power stability of the link relative to a multi-mode fiber (MMF) transmitting. To determine the viability of the system, bit error rate performance needs to be investigated. The results of this paper show that at a bit rate of 10 Gbps, double clad fibers offer similar bit error rate performance to single mode fibers when transmitting and multi-mode fibers when receiving enabling a symmetric duplex FSOL reducing SWaP.

Small Form-Factor Pluggable Optical Transceiver↗

NASA NTRS2019

Bit Error Rate Performance of a Free Space Optical Link Using Double Clad Fibers

Double Clad Fiber↗

DOE OSTI2022

Optical diagnostics of laser-produced plasmas

Laser-produced plasmas (LPPs) engulf exotic and complex conditions ranging in temperature, density, pressure, magnetic and electric fields, charge states, charged particle kinetics, and gas-phase reactions, based on the irradiation conditions, target geometries, and the background cover gas. The application potential of the LPP is so diverse that it generates considerable interest for both basic and applied research areas. The fundamental research on LPPs can be traced back to the early 1960s, immediately after the invention of the laser. In the 1970s, the laser was identified as a tool to pursue inertial confinement fusion, and since then, several other technologies emerged out of LPPs. These applications prompted the development and adaptation of innovative diagnostic tools for understanding the fundamental nature and spatiotemporal properties of these complex systems. Although most of the traditional characterization techniques developed for other plasma sources can be used to characterize the LPPs, care must be taken to interpret the results because of their small size, transient nature, and inhomogeneities. The existence of the large spatiotemporal density and temperature gradients often necessitates non-uniform weighted averaging over distance and time. Among the various plasma characterization tools, optical-based diagnostic tools play a key role in the accurate measurements of LPP parameters. The optical toolbox contains optical spectroscopy (emission, absorption, and fluorescence), passive and active imaging and optical probing methods (shadowgraphy, Schlieren, interferometry, Thomson scattering, deflectometry, and velocimetry). Each technique is useful for measuring a specific property, and its use is limited to a certain time span during the LPP evolution because of the sensitivity issues related to the selected measuring tool. Therefore, multiple diagnostic tools are essential for a comprehensive insight into the entire plasma behavior. In recent times, the improvements in performance in the lasers and detector systems expanded the capability of the aforementioned passive and active diagnostics tools. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of optical diagnostic tools frequently employed for the characterization of the LPPs and emphasizes techniques, associated assumptions, and challenges. Considering most of the industrial and other applications of the LPP belong to low to moderate laser intensities (10 8 – 10 15 Wcm –2 ), this review focuses on diagnostic tools pertaining to this regime.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Hot‐Electron‐Assisted Femtosecond All‐Optical Modulation in Plasmonics

Abstract The optical Kerr nonlinearity of plasmonic metals provides enticing prospects for developing reconfigurable and ultracompact all‐optical modulators. In nanostructured metals, the coherent coupling of light energy to plasmon resonances creates a nonequilibrium electron distribution at an elevated electron temperature that gives rise to significant Kerr optical nonlinearities. Although enhanced nonlinear responses of metals facilitate the realization of efficient modulation devices, the intrinsically slow relaxation dynamics of the photoexcited carriers, primarily governed by electron–phonon interactions, impedes ultrafast all‐optical modulation. Here, femtosecond (≈190 fs) all‐optical modulation in plasmonic systems via the activation of relaxation pathways for hot electrons at the interface of metals and electron acceptor materials, following an on‐resonance excitation of subradiant lattice plasmon modes, is demonstrated. Both the relaxation kinetics and the optical nonlinearity can be actively tuned by leveraging the spectral response of the plasmonic design in the linear regime. The findings offer an opportunity to exploit hot‐electron‐induced nonlinearities for design of self‐contained, ultrafast, and low‐power all‐optical modulators based on plasmonic platforms.

Taghinejad, Mohammad↗

DOE OSTI2022

Tailoring the Thickness‐Dependent Optical Properties of Conducting Nitrides and Oxides for Epsilon‐Near‐Zero‐Enhanced Photonic Applications

Abstract The unique properties of the emerging photonic materials, conducting nitrides and oxides, especially their tailorability, large damage thresholds, and, importantly, the so‐called epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) behavior, have enabled novel photonic phenomena spanning optical circuitry, tunable metasurfaces, and nonlinear optical devices. This work explores direct control of the optical properties of polycrystalline titanium nitride (TiN) and aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) by tailoring the film thickness, and their potential for ENZ‐enhanced photonic applications. This study demonstrates that TiN–AZO bilayers support Ferrell–Berreman modes using the thickness‐dependent ENZ resonances in the AZO films operating in the telecom wavelengths spanning from 1470 to 1750 nm. The bilayer stacks also act as strong light absorbers in the ultraviolet regime using the radiative ENZ modes and the Fabry–Perot modes in the constituent TiN films. The studied Berreman resonators exhibit optically induced reflectance modulation of 15% with picosecond response time. Together with the optical response tailorability of conducting oxides and nitrides, using the field enhancement near the tunable ENZ regime can enable a wide range of nonlinear optical phenomena, including all‐optical switching, time refraction, and high‐harmonic generation.

Saha, Soham↗

DOE OSTI2023

Physics‐Informed Machine Learning for Inverse Design of Optical Metamaterials

Optical metamaterials manipulate light through various confinement and scattering processes, offering unique advantages like high performance, small form factor and easy integration with semiconductor devices. However, designing metasurfaces with suitable optical responses for complex metamaterial systems remains challenging due to the exponentially growing computation cost and the ill‐posed nature of inverse problems. To expedite the computation for the inverse design of metasurfaces, a physics‐informed deep learning (DL) framework is used. A tandem DL architecture with physics‐based learning is used to select designs that are scientifically consistent, have low error in design prediction, and accurate reconstruction of optical responses. The authors focus on the inverse design of a representative plasmonic device and consider the prediction of design for the optical response of a single wavelength incident or a spectrum of wavelength in the visible light range. The physics‐based constraint is derived from solving the electromagnetic wave equations for a simplified homogenized model. The model converges with an accuracy up to 97% for inverse design prediction with the optical response for the visible light spectrum as input, and up to 96% for optical response of single wavelength of light as input, with optical response reconstruction accuracy of 99%.

Sarkar, Sulagna↗

DOE OSTI2019

Application of nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonators in realizing all optical OR/NOT/AND gates

Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is the core of any digital processing systems. For creating an all optical ALU one needs basic logic gates such as optical NOT, OR and AND gates along with an optical full adder and optical multiplexer. In this paper we aim to design and propose these three basic logic gates using nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonators. The simulations will be done using plane wave expansion and finite difference time domain methods. The proposed structures work based on controlling the optical behavior of the nonlinear resonators using optical power. The simulation results show that the switching threshold for this resonant ring is about 15 mW/μm{sup 2}. Reduced delay times and switching optical power are the main advantages of the proposed structures. Also by adding two resonant rings in input ports we reduced the cross reflection between the input ports.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2013

Optical properties of transparent glass–ceramics containing lithium–mica nanocrystals: Crystallization effect

Graphical abstract: Optical properties of transparent Li{sub 2}O–MgO–Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–SiO{sub 2}–F glasses containing lithium–mica nanocrystals are studied and crystallization condition has been evaluated and optimized to produce transparent glass–ceramics. Crystallization temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis and crystalline phases were identified and quantified by X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used for morphological variations and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy for comparative analysis of transparency. In order to investigate the optical properties of transparent glass–ceramics, optical band gap, Fermi energy level and Urbach energy are calculated. The results of the investigation illustrate that band gap is reduced with increases in crystallization time and temperature. Enhanced orderliness in the arrangement of atoms might be regarded as possible reasons for the above changes. - Highlights: • The optimum temperature and time of crystallization were determined. • Li–mica nanocrystals with size of <30 nm were formed using a two-step heat-treatment. • Optical band gap and Fermi energy of nanocrystalline materials decreased with increasing of crystallization temperature and time. • Urbach band tailing was decreased with increasing of crystallization condition. - Abstract: Optical properties of transparent Li{sub 2}O–MgO–Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–SiO{sub 2}–F glasses containing lithium–mica nanocrystals were studied. The crystallization condition of these glasses was evaluated and optimized to produce transparent glass–ceramics. Crystallization temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis and crystalline phases were identified and quantified by X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to detect morphological changes and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy was used for comparative analysis of transparency. In order to investigate the optical properties of the transparent glass–ceramics, optical band gap, Fermi energy level and Urbach energy were calculated. The results of the investigation illustrate that the band gap is reduced with increases in crystallization time and temperature. Enhanced orderliness in the arrangement of atoms might be regarded as possible reasons for the above changes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Metal-embedded fiber optic sensor packaging and signal demodulation scheme towards high-frequency dynamic measurements in harsh environments

Optical fiber-based sensors are commonly used for industrial monitoring and control processes due to their small size, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and ability to perform a wide variety of high-precision measurements. However, implementing optical fiber sensors in harsh environments is challenging because they are small and fragile. Proper packaging of fiber-optic sensors could extend their use to harsh environments, including at high temperature and under high radiation. Furthermore, conventional fiber optic-based measurement systems often use computationally expensive signal processing algorithms which hinder their use in high-frequency dynamic applications. This work reports on the design of an optical fiber-pressure sensor system based on low-coherence interferometry that uses a metal-embedded optical fiber to provide a robust sensor package. Additionally, a novel phase demodulation scheme is proposed to extract length changes from the deformation of a thin diaphragm within a Fabry–Pérot cavity to measure pressure. The sensor has been tested to ±100 kPa, has a theoretical linear response over a 270 kPa dynamic range (24 dB maximum signal-to-noise ratio), and can resolve pressure transients up to 3910 kPa/s. Sampling at 100 kHz, the present sensor can resolve 2 kPa dynamic pressures at frequencies up to 2 kHz. Faster transients on the order of tens to hundreds of kHz can theoretically be resolved at the expense of decreasing the maximum resolvable amplitude. A methodology for designing a LCI pressure sensor for a given application is outlined based on the limitations imposed by the Nyquist criterion, the diaphragm's resonant frequency, the LCI optoelectronics, and the phase demodulation scheme. The sensor is the first to implement a low-coherence light source and a Fabry–Pérot interferometer designed to provide real-time high-fidelity pressure measurements using a metal-embedded optical fiber. The demonstrated sensor provides a platform for sensing in harsh conditions such as in nuclear and energy applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2019

Differences in Ice Cloud Optical Depth From CALIPSO and Ground-Based Raman Lidar at the ARM SGP and TWP Sites

Ice cloud column optical depths from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite and ground-based Raman lidars (RLs) at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) and Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) sites are compared for 8 and 4 years, respectively. The cloudy mean ice cloud column optical depths from CALIPSO Version 4 data product with a horizontal resolution of 5 km are 78% (63%) larger than those from the RLs with a resolution of 10 min/30 m at SGP (TWP) for collocated transparent profiles. The main difference at SGP is caused by the lidar ratio that for CALIPSO is related to its treatment of the multiple scattering factor. The main difference at TWP is caused by the averaging resolution. Large differences in the optical depth distribution between the CALIPSO and RL are found for small optical depths at both sites, which are due to optically very thin clouds only detectable by the RLs. The differences in ice cloud column optical depth distributions and their mean values between the CALIPSO and RL can largely be reconciled over both sites after accounting for the averaging resolutions, lidar ratios along with the CALIPSO multiple scattering factor treatment, sensitivity to optically very thin ice clouds, and definition of transparent profiles. This work also examines in detail the lidar ratios that are directly observed by the RLs, which does not support the temperature-dependent parameterizations of ice cloud lidar ratio and multiple scattering factor used in CALIPSO's Version 4 data product.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Solution processable and optically switchable 1D photonic structures

We report the first demonstration of a solution processable, optically switchable 1D photonic crystal which incorporates phototunable doped metal oxide nanocrystals. The resulting device structure shows a dual optical response with the photonic bandgap covering the visible spectral range and the plasmon resonance of the doped metal oxide the near infrared. By means of a facile photodoping process, we tuned the plasmonic response and switched effectively the optical properties of the photonic crystal, translating the effect from the near infrared to the visible. The ultrafast bandgap pumping induces a signal change in the region of the photonic stopband, with recovery times of several picoseconds, providing a step toward the ultrafast optical switching. Optical modeling uncovers the importance of a complete modeling of the variations of the dielectric function of the photodoped material, including the high frequency region of the Drude response which is responsible for the strong switching in the visible after photodoping. Our device configuration offers unprecedented tunability due to flexibility in device design, covering a wavelength range from the visible to the near infrared. Our findings indicate a new protocol to modify the optical response of photonic devices by optical triggers only.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2018

Visualizing the bidirectional optical transfer function for near-field enhancement in waveguide coupled plasmonic transducers

Here, we report visualizations of the bidirectional near-field optical transfer function for a waveguide-coupled plasmonic transducer as a metrology technique essential for successful development for mass-fabricated near-field devices. Plasmonic devices have revolutionized the observation of nanoscale phenomena, enabling optical excitation and readout from nanoscale regions of fabricated devices instead of as limited by optical diffraction. Visualizations of the plasmonic transducer modes were acquired both by local near-field excitation of the antenna on the front facet of a waveguide using the focused electron beam of a scanning electron microscope as a probe of the near-field cathodoluminescence during far-field collection from the back facet of the waveguide, and by local mapping of the optical near-field for the same antenna design using scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy as a probe of the near-field optical mode density for far-field light focused into the back facet of the waveguide. Strong agreement between both measurement types and numerical modeling was observed, indicating that the method enables crucial metrological comparisons of as fabricated device performance to as-modeled device expectations for heat-assisted magnetic recording heads, which can be extended to successful development of future near-field-on-chip devices such as optical processor interconnects.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Auger recombination on transient optical properties in XUV and soft X-ray irradiated silicon nitride

Spatially encoded measurements of transient optical transmissivity became a standard tool for temporal diagnostics of free-electron-laser (FEL) pulses, as well as for the arrival time measurements in X-ray pump and optical probe experiments. The modern experimental techniques can measure changes in optical coefficients with a temporal resolution better than 10 fs. This, in an ideal case, would imply a similar resolution for the temporal pulse properties and the arrival time jitter between the FEL and optical laser pulses. However, carrier transport within the material and out of its surface, as well as carrier recombination may, in addition, significantly decrease the number of carriers. This would strongly affect the transient optical properties, making the diagnostic measurement inaccurate. Below we analyze in detail the effects of those processes on the optical properties of XUV and soft X-ray irradiated Si 3 N 4 , on sub-picosecond timescales. Si 3 N 4 is a wide-gap insulating material widely used for FEL pulse diagnostics. Theoretical predictions are compared with the published results of two experiments at FERMI and LCLS facilities, and with our own recent measurement. The comparison indicates that three body Auger recombination strongly affects the optical response of Si 3 N 4 after its collisional ionization stops. By deconvolving the contribution of Auger recombination, in future applications one could regain a high temporal resolution for the reconstruction of the FEL pulse properties measured with a Si 3 N 4 -based diagnostics tool.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Optical switching and photoluminescence in erbium-implanted vanadium dioxide thin films

Vanadium dioxide (VO{sub 2}) is under intensive consideration for optical switching due to its reversible phase transition, which features a drastic and rapid shift in infrared reflectivity. Classified as an insulator–to–metal transition, the phase transition in VO{sub 2} can be induced thermally, electrically, and optically. When induced optically, the transition can occur on sub-picosecond time scales. It is interesting to dope VO{sub 2} with erbium ions (Er{sup 3+}) and observe their combined properties. The first excited-state luminescence of Er{sup 3+} lies within the wavelength window of minimal transmission-loss in silicon and has been widely utilized for signal amplification and generation in silicon photonics. The incorporation of Er{sup 3+} into VO{sub 2} could therefore result in a novel photonic material capable of simultaneous optical switching and amplification. In this work, we investigate the optical switching and photoluminescence in Er-implanted VO{sub 2} thin films. Thermally driven optical switching is demonstrated in the Er-implanted VO{sub 2} by infrared reflectometry. Photoluminescence is observed in the thin films annealed at ∼800 °C or above. In addition, Raman spectroscopy and a statistical analysis of switching hysteresis are carried out to assess the effects of the ion implantation on the VO{sub 2} thin films. We conclude that Er-implanted VO{sub 2} can function as an optical switch and amplifier, but with reduced switching quality compared to pure VO{sub 2}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Wavelength-encoded tomography based on optical temporal Fourier transform

We propose and demonstrate a technique called wavelength-encoded tomography (WET) for non-invasive optical cross-sectional imaging, particularly beneficial in biological system. The WET utilizes time-lens to perform the optical Fourier transform, and the time-to-wavelength conversion generates a wavelength-encoded image of optical scattering from internal microstructures, analogous to the interferometery-based imaging such as optical coherence tomography. Optical Fourier transform, in principle, comes with twice as good axial resolution over the electrical Fourier transform, and will greatly simplify the digital signal processing after the data acquisition. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, a 150 -μm (ideally 36 μm) resolution is achieved based on a 7.5-nm bandwidth swept-pump, using a conventional optical spectrum analyzer. This approach can potentially achieve up to 100-MHz or even higher frame rate with some proven ultrafast spectrum analyzer. We believe that this technique is innovative towards the next-generation ultrafast optical tomographic imaging application.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2015

Optical layer development for thin films thermal conductivity measurement by pulsed photothermal radiometry

Measurement of thermal conductivity and volumetric specific heat of optically transparent thin films presents a challenge for optical-based measurement methods like pulsed photothermal radiometry. We present two approaches: (i) addition of an opaque optical layer to the surface and (ii) approximate correction of the mathematical model to incorporate semitransparency of the film. Different single layer and multilayer additive optical layers were tested. The materials of the optical layers were chosen according to analysis and measurement of their optical properties: emissivity and absorption coefficient. Presented are thermal properties’ measurement results for 6 different thin films with wide range of thermal conductivity in three configurations of surface: as deposited, added Ti layer, and added Ti/TiAlSiN layer. Measurements were done in dependence on temperature from room temperature to 500 °C. The obtained thermal effusivity evolution in time after the laser pulse shows different effects of the surface layers: apparent effusivity change and time delay. Suitability of different measurement configurations is discussed and results of high temperature testing of different optical layers are presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2015

Optical conductivity of topological insulator thin films

We present a detailed theoretical study on the optoelectronic properties of topological insulator thin film (TITFs). The k·p approach is employed to calculate the energy spectra and wave functions for both the bulk and surface states in the TITF. With these obtained results, the optical conductivities induced by different electronic transitions among the bulk and surface states are evaluated using the energy-balance equation derived from the Boltzmann equation. We find that for Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3}-based TITFs, three characteristic regimes for the optical absorption can be observed. (i) In the low radiation frequency regime (photon energy ℏω<200 meV), the free-carrier absorption takes place due to intraband electronic transitions. An optical absorption window can be observed. (ii) In the intermediate radiation frequency regime (200<ℏω<300 meV), the optical absorption is induced mainly by interband electronic transitions from surface states in the valance band to surface states in the conduction band and an universal value σ{sub 0}=e{sup 2}/(8ℏ) for the optical conductivity can be obtained. (iii) In the high radiation frequency regime (ℏω>300 meV), the optical absorption can be achieved via interband electronic transitions from bulk and surface states in the valance band to bulk and surface states in the conduction band. A strong absorption peak can be observed. These interesting findings indicate that optical measurements can be applied to identify the energy regimes of bulk and surface states in the TITF.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗