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DOE OSTI2012

Head-on-collision of modulated dust acoustic waves in strongly coupled dusty plasma

The derivative expansion perturbation method is applied to a strongly coupled dusty plasma system consisting of negatively charged dust grains, electrons, and ions. The basic equations are reduced to a nonlinear Schroedinger type equation appropriate for describing the modulated dust acoustic (DA) waves. We have examined the modulation (in) stability and the dependence of the system physical parameters (angular frequency and group velocity) on the polarization force variation. Finally, the extended Poincare-Lighthill-Kuo technique is employed to investigate the head-on collision (HoC) between two DA dark solitons. The analytical phase shifts and the trajectories of these dark solitons after the collision are derived. The numerical illustrations show that the polarization effect has strong influence on the nature of the phase shifts and the trajectories of the two DA dark solitons after collision.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2012

Spin precession modulation in a magnetic bilayer

We report on modulation of the spin precession in a Co/garnet bilayer by femtosecond laser excitation using time-resolved magneto-optical tools. Damped oscillations in the Faraday rotation transients representing precessional motion of the magnetization vector are observed in both the 2 nm Co layer and 1.8 {mu}m garnet of the bilayer with distinct frequencies differing by about a factor of two. The excitation efficiency of these precessions strongly depends on the out-of-plane magnetic field. The modulation effect with the coupling in a magnetic bilayer can be useful for non-thermally controlling the magnetization of nanomagnets and ultrafast switching in magnetic nanodevices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2012

Self-modulation of long electron beams in plasma at PITZ

The Photo Injector Test facility at DESY, Zeuthen site (PITZ), offers the unique possibility to study and demonstrate the self-modulation of long electron bunches in plasma. A set of numerical simulations with the particle-in-cell code OSIRIS has been carried out for a better understanding of the process. Of particular interest is the measurement of the energy modulation induced to the beam itself by means of the generated wakefields in plasma. It will reflect the key properties of the accelerating electric fields such as their magnitude and their phase velocity, both of significant importance in the design of experiments relying on this technique.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2012

Long-range persistence of femtosecond modulations on laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams

Laser plasma accelerators have produced femtosecond electron bunches with a relative energy spread ranging from 100% to a few percent. Simulations indicate that the measured energy spread can be dominated by a correlated spread, with the slice spread significantly lower. Measurements of coherent optical transition radiation are presented for broad-energy-spread beams with laser-induced density and momentum modulations. The long-range (meter-scale) observation of coherent optical transition radiation indicates that the slice energy spread is below the percent level to preserve the modulations.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Laser-seeded modulation instability in a proton driver plasma wakefield accelerator

A new method for initiating the modulation instability (MI) of a proton beam in a proton driver plasma wakefield accelerator using a short laser pulse preceding the beam is presented. A diffracting laser pulse is used to produce a plasma wave that provides a seeding modulation of the proton bunch with the period equal to that of the plasma wave. Using the envelope description of the proton beam, this method of seeding the MI is analytically compared with the earlier suggested seeding technique that involves an abrupt truncation of the proton bunch. The full kinetic simulation of a realistic proton bunch is used to validate the analytic results. It is further used to demonstrate that a plasma density ramp placed in the early stages of the laser-seeded MI leads to its stabilization, resulting in sustained accelerating electric fields (of order several hundred MV/m) over long propagation distances (∼100–1000 m)

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Supercontinuum spatial modulation spectroscopy: Detection and noise limitations

Supercontinuum spatial modulation spectroscopy is a facile tool for conducting single molecule/particle extinction spectroscopy throughout the visible and near infrared (420–1100 nm). The technique's capabilities are benchmarked using individual Au nanoparticles (NPs) as a standard since they are well studied and display a prominent plasmon resonance in the visible. Extinction spectra of individual Au NPs with diameters (d) ranging from d ∼ 8 to 40 nm are resolved with extinction cross sections (σ{sub ext}) of σ{sub ext} ∼1 × 10{sup −13}–1 ×10{sup −11} cm{sup 2}. Corresponding signal-to-noise ratios range from ∼30 to ∼1400. The technique's limit of detection is determined to be 4.3 × 10{sup −14} cm{sup 2} (4.3 nm{sup 2}). To showcase supercontinuum spatial modulation spectroscopy's broader applicability, extinction spectra are acquired for other model systems, such as individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and CdSe nanowires. We show for the first time extinction spectra of individual (8,3) and (6,5) SWCNTs. For both chiralities, their E{sub 11} [(8,3) 1.30 eV (952 nm); (6,5) 1.26 eV (986 nm)] and E{sub 22} [(8,3) 1.86 eV (667 nm); (6,5) 2.19 eV (567 nm)] excitonic resonances are seen with corresponding cross sections of σ{sub ext} ∼ 10{sup −13} cm{sup 2} μm{sup −1}.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2013

Small-signal modulation and differential gain of red-emitting (λ = 630 nm) InGaN/GaN quantum dot lasers

We report small-signal modulation bandwidth and differential gain measurements of a ridge waveguide In{sub 0.4}Ga{sub 0.6}N/GaN quantum dot laser grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The laser peak emission is at λ = 630 nm. The −3 dB bandwidth of an 800 μm long device was measured to be 2.4 GHz at 250 mA under pulsed biasing, demonstrating the possibility of high-speed operation of these devices. The differential gain was measured to be 5.3 × 10{sup −17} cm{sup 2}, and a gain compression factor of 2.87 × 10{sup −17} cm{sup 3} is also derived from the small-signal modulation response.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Ion-modulated nonlinear electronic transport in carbon nanotube bundle/RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} thin film composite nanostructures

We have explored the ion-modulated electronic transport properties of mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) composite nanostructures made of superionic conductor RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} films and carbon nanotube (CNT) bundle spiderwebs. Our experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the formation of ion-electron bound states (IEBSs) leads to strong ion-electron interference effect and interesting electronic transport of CNT, such as nonlinear current-voltage (I–V) characteristics and novel temperature dependence of the current. With increasing temperature, the hybrid nanostructures show rich phases with different dependence of current on temperature, which is related to the structural phase transition of RbAg{sub 4}I{sub 5} and the transition of dissociation of IEBSs. The ion-modulation of the electric conductivity in such MIEC composite nanostructures with great tunability has been used to design new ionic-electronic composite nano-devices with function like field effect transistor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Omnidirectional mirror based on Bragg stacks with a periodic gain-loss modulation

In this work we demonstrate that a Bragg Stack with a periodic gain-loss modulation can function as an Omnidirectional Mirror (OM) with complete reflection at any angle of incidence irrespective of the light polarization. The Bragg Stack is composed by the periodic variation of two layers with the same value of the real part of the refractive index (n{sub r}) and a periodic modulation in the imaginary part (n{sub i}). The origin of the band gaps is due to the interference of complex waves with propagating and evanescent fields in each layer. It is found that the band gaps are wider as the contrast n{sub i}/n{sub r} increases. We have found the ambient conditions to obtain an OM considering an auxiliary medium n{sup ′} external to the Bragg Stack.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Nanofocusing of longitudinally polarized light using absorbance modulation

Recently, many methods based on amplitude or phase modulation to reduce the focal spot and enhance the longitudinal field component of a tight-focused radially polarized light beam have been suggested. But they all suffer from spot size limit 0.36λ/NA and large side lobes strength in longitudinal component. Here, we report a method of generating a tighter focused spot by focusing radially polarized and azimuthally polarized beams of different wavelengths on a thin photochromic film through a high-numerical-aperture lens simultaneously. In this method, by suppressing the radial component and compressing the longitudinal component of radially polarized beam, absorbance modulation makes the ultimate spot size break the size limit of 0.36λ/NA with side-lobe intensity of longitudinal component below 1% of central-peak intensity. The theoretical analysis and simulation demonstrate that the focal spot size could be smaller than 0.1λ with nearly all radial component blocked at high intensity ratio of the two illuminating beams.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

An electrically driven terahertz metamaterial diffractive modulator with more than 20 dB of dynamic range

We design and experimentally demonstrate a switchable diffraction grating for terahertz modulation based on planar active metamaterials, where a Schottky gate structure is implemented to tune the metamaterial resonances in real-time via the application of an external voltage bias. The diffraction grating is formed by grouping the active split-ring resonators into an array of independent columns with alternate columns biased. We observe off-axis diffraction over a wide frequency band in contrast to the narrow-band resonances, which permits operation of the device as a relatively high-speed, wide-bandwidth, high-contrast modulator, with more than 20 dB of dynamic range.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Permanent polarization and charge distribution in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs): Insights from near-infrared charge-modulation spectroscopy of an operating OLED

Vapor-deposited Alq{sub 3} layers typically possess a strong permanent electrical polarization, whereas NPB layers do not. (Alq{sub 3} is tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III); NPB is 4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl.) The cause is a net orientation of the Alq{sub 3} molecules with their large dipole moments. Here we report on consequences for an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) with an NPB hole-transport layer and Alq{sub 3} electron-transport layer. The discontinuous polarization at the NPB|Alq{sub 3} interface has the same effect as a sheet of immobile negative charge there. It is more than compensated by a large concentration of injected holes (NPB{sup +}) when the OLED is running. We discuss the implications and consequences for the quantum efficiency and the drive voltage of this OLED and others. We also speculate on possible consequences of permanent polarization in organic photovoltaic devices. The concentration of NPB{sup +} was measured by charge-modulation spectroscopy (CMS) in the near infrared, where the NPB{sup +} has a strong absorption band, supplemented by differential-capacitance and current-voltage measurements. Unlike CMS in the visible, this method avoids complications from modulation of the electroluminescence and electroabsorption.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

A current modulation in the Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Si/Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} quantum well structure as a mean to monitor oxygen vacancies

The Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer grown by electron beam evaporation system normally leads to oxygen deficient sites unless the oxygen partial pressure is provided. These oxygen vacancies were monitored through their current modulating effect. This modulation controlled the current within a Si well of the Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Si/Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} quantum well structure through the migration of the oxygen vacancies. Such behavior were not found in the structure that contains far less oxygen vacancy such as SiO{sub 2}/Si/SiO{sub 2} structure.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

Half-metallicity modulation of hybrid BN-C nanotubes by external electric fields: A first-principles study

On the basis of density functional theory, we systematically investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of hybrid BN-C nanotubes, C{sub x}(BN){sub y} where x + y = 12, with and without an external electric field. The BN-C nanotubes are totally distinct from pristine boron-nitride and carbon nanotubes. The electronic properties of C{sub x}(BN){sub y} change significantly with composition: from the nonmagnetic semiconductors to the half-metals. The half-metallicity is attributed to the competition among the band gap, which is related to the width of C domain, the width of BN domain, and the intrinsic polarization field. Application of the external fields can enhance or counterbalance the polarization fields and change the band gaps. The half-metallicity can be modulated. In BN-rich tubes, such as C{sub 2}(BN){sub 10}, the energy gap can be engineered from 0.50 eV to 0.95 eV and in C{sub 3}(BN){sub 9}, the ground state is converted from the nonmagnetic state into the anti-ferro-magnetic one. In other tubes, the half-metallicity can be enhanced or destroyed by different external fields. The modulation indicates that hybrid BN-C nanotubes can work as the components of the spin-filter devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2014

Dispersion interferometer using modulation amplitudes on LHD (invited)

Since a dispersion interferometer is insensitive to mechanical vibrations, a vibration compensation system is not necessary. The CO{sub 2} laser dispersion interferometer with phase modulations on the Large Helical Device utilizes the new phase extraction method which uses modulation amplitudes and can improve a disadvantage of the original dispersion interferometer: measurement errors caused by variations of detected intensities. The phase variation within ±2 × 10{sup 17} m{sup −3} is obtained without vibration compensation system. The measured line averaged electron density with the dispersion interferometer shows good agreement with that with the existing far infrared laser interferometer. Fringe jump errors in high density ranging up to 1.5 × 10{sup 20} m{sup −3} can be overcome by a sufficient sampling rate of about 100 kHz.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2014

Electrical modulation of superconducting critical temperature in liquid-gated thin niobium films

We demonstrate that the superconducting critical temperature (T{sub c}) of thin niobium films can be electrically modulated in a liquid-gated geometry device. T{sub c} can be suppressed and enhanced by applying positive and negative gate voltage, respectively, in a reversible manner within a range of about 0.1 K. At a fixed temperature below T{sub c}, we observed that the superconducting critical current can be modulated by gate voltage. This result suggests a possibility of an electrically controlled switching device operating at or above liquid helium temperature, where superconductivity can be turned on or off solely by the applied gate voltage.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Phase modulation mode of scanning ion conductance microscopy

This Letter reports a phase modulation (PM) mode of scanning ion conductance microscopy. In this mode, an AC current is directly generated by an AC voltage between the electrodes. The portion of the AC current in phase with the AC voltage, which is the current through the resistance path, is modulated by the tip-sample distance. It can be used as the input of feedback control to drive the scanner in Z direction. The PM mode, taking the advantages of both DC mode and traditional AC mode, is less prone to electronic noise and DC drift but maintains high scanning speed. The effectiveness of the PM mode has been proven by experiments.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2014

Alkali vapor pressure modulation on the 100 ms scale in a single-cell vacuum system for cold atom experiments

We describe and characterize a device for alkali vapor pressure modulation on the 100 ms timescale in a single-cell cold atom experiment. Its mechanism is based on optimized heat conduction between a current-modulated alkali dispenser and a heat sink at room temperature. We have studied both the short-term behavior during individual pulses and the long-term pressure evolution in the cell. The device combines fast trap loading and relatively long trap lifetime, enabling high repetition rates in a very simple setup. These features make it particularly suitable for portable atomic sensors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗