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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

Self-consistent Maxwell-Bloch theory of quantum-dot-population switching in photonic crystals

We theoretically demonstrate the population switching of quantum dots (QD's), modeled as two-level atoms in idealized one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PC's) by self-consistent solution of the Maxwell-Bloch equations. In our semiclassical theory, energy states of the electron are quantized, and electron dynamics is described by the atomic Bloch equation, while electromagnetic waves satisfy the classical Maxwell equations. Near a waveguide cutoff in a photonic band gap, the local electromagnetic density of states (LDOS) and spontaneous emission rates exhibit abrupt changes with frequency, enabling large QD population inversion driven by both continuous and pulsed optical fields. We recapture and generalize this ultrafast population switching using the Maxwell-Bloch equations. Radiative emission from the QD is obtained directly from the surrounding PC geometry using finite-difference time-domain simulation of the electromagnetic field. The atomic Bloch equations provide a source term for the electromagnetic field. The total electromagnetic field, consisting of the external input and radiated field, drives the polarization components of the atomic Bloch vector. We also include a microscopic model for phonon dephasing of the atomic polarization and nonradiative decay caused by damped phonons. Our self-consistent theory captures stimulated emission and coherent feedback effects of the atomic Mollow sidebands, neglected in earlier treatments. This leads to remarkable high-contrast QD-population switching with relatively modest (factor of 10) jump discontinuities in the electromagnetic LDOS. Switching is demonstrated in three separate models of QD's placed (i) in the vicinity of a band edge of a 1D PC, (ii) near a cutoff frequency in a bimodal waveguide channel of a 2D PC, and (iii) in the vicinity of a localized defect mode side coupled to a single-mode waveguide channel in a 2D PC.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2010

Theory of Bloch cavity solitons

We present a detailed study of light dynamics in passive nonlinear resonators with shallow intracavity periodic modulation of the refractive index in both longitudinal and transverse directions of the resonator. Specifically, we concentrate on the nonlinear envelopes of dissipative Bloch modes, localized in the transverse plane of the resonator, the so-called Bloch cavity solitons, predicted recently in K. Staliunas et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 153903 (2008)]. Bloch cavity solitons, being dissipative structures, are attractors, therefore they can be excited from a wide range of initial conditions (the attractor basin) depending on the system's parameters. A unique property of Bloch cavity solitons is that they are envelopes of waves with tailored diffraction. Using the round-trip model for forward- and backward-propagating waves we reveal different types of Bloch cavity solitons supported by both focusing (at normal diffraction) and defocusing (at anomalous diffraction) nonlinearities. We show also the coexistence of solitons bifurcating from different Bloch wave dispersion branches. In order to analyze the properties of Bloch cavity solitons and to obtain an analytical access we develop a modified mean-field model and prove its validity. In particular, we demonstrate substantial narrowing of Bloch cavity solitons near the zero-diffraction regime.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Phase field method to optimize dielectric devices for electromagnetic wave propagation

We discuss a phase field method for shape optimization in the context of electromagnetic wave propagation. The proposed method has the same functional capabilities as the level set method for shape optimization. The first advantage of the method is the simplicity of computation, since extra operations such as re-initialization of functions are not required. The second is compatibility with the topology optimization method due to the similar domain representation and the sensitivity analysis. Structural shapes are represented by the phase field function defined in the design domain, and this function is optimized by solving a time-dependent reaction diffusion equation. The artificial double-well potential function used in the equation is derived from sensitivity analysis. We study four types of 2D or 2.5D (axisymmetric) optimization problems. Two are the classical problems of photonic crystal design based on the Bloch theory and photonic crystal wave guide design, and two are the recent topics of designing dielectric left-handed metamaterials and dielectric ring resonators.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

The magnetic, electronic, and light-induced topological properties in two-dimensional hexagonal FeX 2 (X = Cl, Br, I) monolayers

Using Floquet–Bloch theory, we propose to realize chiral topological phases in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal FeX 2 (X = Cl, Br, I) monolayers under irradiation of circularly polarized light. Such 2D FeX 2 monolayers are predicted to be dynamically stable and exhibit both ferromagnetic and semiconducting properties. To capture the full topological physics of the magnetic semiconductor under periodic driving, we adopt ab initio Wannier-based tight-binding methods for the Floquet–Bloch bands, with the light-induced bandgap closings and openings being obtained as the light field strength increases. The calculations of slabs with open boundaries show the existence of chiral edge states. Interestingly, the topological transitions with branches of chiral edge states changing from zero to one and from one to two by tuning the light amplitude are obtained, showing that the topological Floquet phase of high Chern number can be induced in the present Floquet–Bloch systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Realizing high-quality ultralarge momentum states and ultrafast topological transitions using semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials

We employ both the effective medium approximation (EMA) and Bloch theory to compare the dispersion properties of semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials (SHMs) at mid-infrared frequencies and metallic hyperbolic metamaterials (MHMs) at visible frequencies. This analysis reveals the conditions under which the EMA can be safely applied for both MHMs and SHMs. We find that the combination of precise nanoscale layering and the longer infrared operating wavelengths puts the SHMs well within the effective medium limit and, in contrast to MHMs, allows for the attainment of very high photon momentum states. Additionally, SHMs allow for new phenomena such as ultrafast creation of the hyperbolic manifold through optical pumping. Furthermore, we examine the possibility of achieving ultrafast topological transitions through optical pumping which can photo-dope appropriately designed quantum wells on the femtosecond time scale.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1996

Predicting the stability of a compressible periodic parallel jet flow

It is known that mixing enhancement in compressible free shear layer flows with high convective Mach numbers is difficult. One design strategy to get around this is to use multiple nozzles. Extrapolating this design concept in a one dimensional manner, one arrives at an array of parallel rectangular nozzles where the smaller dimension is omega and the longer dimension, b, is taken to be infinite. In this paper, the feasibility of predicting the stability of this type of compressible periodic parallel jet flow is discussed. The problem is treated using Floquet-Bloch theory. Numerical solutions to this eigenvalue problem are presented. For the case presented, the interjet spacing, s, was selected so that s/omega =2.23. Typical plots of the eigenvalue and stability curves are presented. Results obtained for a range of convective Mach numbers from 3 to 5 show growth rates omega(sub i)=kc(sub i)/2 range from 0.25 to 0.29. These results indicate that coherent two-dimensional structures can occur without difficulty in multiple parallel periodic jet nozzles and that shear layer mixing should occur with this type of nozzle design.

Miles, Jeffrey H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Collective Interaction of a Compressible Periodic Parallel Jet Flow

A linear instability model for multiple spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets is solved using Floquet-Bloch theory. The disturbance environment is investigated using a two dimensional perturbation of a mean flow. For all cases large temporal growth rates are found. This work is motivated by an increase in mixing found in experimental measurements of spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets with phase-locked screech. The results obtained in this paper suggests that phase-locked screech or edge tones may produce correlated spatially periodic jet flow downstream of the nozzles which creates a large span wise multi-nozzle region where a disturbance can propagate. The large temporal growth rates for eddies obtained by model calculation herein are related to the increased mixing since eddies are the primary mechanism that transfer energy from the mean flow to the large turbulent structures. Calculations of growth rates are presented for a range of Mach numbers and nozzle spacings corresponding to experimental test conditions where screech synchronized phase locking was observed. The model may be of significant scientific and engineering value in the quest to understand and construct supersonic mixer-ejector nozzles which provide increased mixing and reduced noise.

Miles, Jeffrey Hilton↗
NASA NTRS1999

Collective Interaction in a Linear Array of Supersonic Rectangular Jets: A Linear Spatial Instability Study

A linear spatial instability model for multiple spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets is solved using Floquet-Bloch theory. It is assumed that in the region of interest a coherent wave can propagate. For the case studied large spatial growth rates are found. This work is motivated by an increase in mixing found in experimental measurements of spatially periodic supersonic rectangular jets with phase-locked screech and edge tone feedback locked subsonic jets. The results obtained in this paper suggests that phase-locked screech or edge tones may produce correlated spatially periodic jet flow downstream of the nozzles which creates a large span wise multi-nozzle region where a coherent wave can propagate. The large spatial growth rates for eddies obtained by model calculation herein are related to the increased mixing since eddies are the primary mechanism that transfer energy from the mean flow to the large turbulent structures. Calculations of spacial growth rates will be presented for a set of relative Mach numbers and spacings for which experimental measurements have been made. Calculations of spatial growth rates are presented for relative Mach numbers from 1.25 to 1.75 with ratios of nozzle spacing to nozzle width ratios from s/w(sub N) = 4 to s/w(sub N) = 13.7. The model may be of significant scientific and engineering value in the quest to understand and construct supersonic mixer-ejector nozzles which provide increased mixing and reduced noise.

Miles, Jeffrey Hilton↗
DOE OSTI2016

Unified theory of effective interaction

We present a unified description of effective interaction theories in both algebraic and graphic representations. In our previous work, we have presented the Rayleigh–Schrödinger and Bloch perturbation theories in a unified fashion by introducing the main frame expansion of the effective interaction. In this work, we start also from the main frame expansion, and present various nonperturbative theories in a coherent manner, which include generalizations of the Brandow, Brillouin–Wigner, and Bloch–Horowitz theories on the formal side, and the extended Krenciglowa–Kuo and the extended Lee–Suzuki methods on the practical side. We thus establish a coherent and comprehensive description of both perturbative and nonperturbative theories on the basis of the main frame expansion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Band-structure loops and multistability in cavity QED

We calculate the band structure of ultracold atoms located inside a laser-driven optical cavity. For parameters where the atom-cavity system exhibits bistability, the atomic band structure develops loop structures akin to the ones predicted for Bose-Einstein condensates in ordinary (noncavity) optical lattices. However, in our case the nonlinearity derives from the cavity back-action rather than from direct interatomic interactions. We find both bi- and tristable regimes associated with the lowest band, and show that the multistability we observe can be analyzed in terms of swallowtail catastrophes. Dynamic and energetic stability of the mean-field solutions is also discussed, and we show that the bistable solutions have, as expected, one unstable and two stable branches. The presence of loops in the atomic band structure has important implications for proposals concerning Bloch oscillations of atoms inside optical cavities [Peden et al., Phys. Rev. A 80, 043803 (2009); Prasanna Venkatesh et al., Phys. Rev. A 80, 063834 (2009)].

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Partial secular Bloch-Redfield master equation for incoherent excitation of multilevel quantum systems

We present an efficient theoretical method for calculating the time evolution of the density matrix of a multilevel quantum system weakly interacting with incoherent light. The method combines the Bloch-Redfield theory with a partial secular approximation for one-photon coherences, resulting in a master equation that explicitly exposes the reliance on transition rates and the angles between transition dipole moments in the energy basis. The partial secular Bloch-Redfield master equation allows an unambiguous distinction between the regimes of quantum coherent vs. incoherent energy transfer under incoherent light illumination. The fully incoherent regime is characterized by orthogonal transition dipole moments in the energy basis, leading to a dynamical evolution governed by a coherence-free Pauli-type master equation. The coherent regime requires non-orthogonal transition dipole moments in the energy basis and leads to the generation of noise-induced quantum coherences and population-to-coherence couplings. As a first application, we consider the dynamics of excited state coherences arising under incoherent light excitation from a single ground state and observe population-to-coherence transfer and the formation of non-equilibrium quasisteady states in the regime of small excited state splitting. Analytical expressions derived earlier for the V-type system [T. V. Tscherbul and P. Brumer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 113601 (2014)] are found to provide a nearly quantitative description of multilevel excited-state populations and coherences in both the small- and large-molecule limits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Metamaterial-based theoretical description of light scattering by metallic nano-hole array structures

We have experimentally and theoretically investigated the light-matter interaction in metallic nano-hole array structures. The scattering cross section spectrum was measured for three samples each having a unique nano-hole array radius and periodicity. Each measured spectrum had several peaks due to surface plasmon polaritons. The dispersion relation and the effective dielectric constant of the structure were calculated using transmission line theory and Bloch's theorem. Using the effective dielectric constant and the transfer matrix method, the surface plasmon polariton energies were calculated and found to be quantized. Using these quantized energies, a Hamiltonian for the surface plasmon polaritons was written in the second quantized form. Working with the Hamiltonian, a theory of scattering cross section was developed based on the quantum scattering theory and Green's function method. For both theory and experiment, the location of the surface plasmon polariton spectral peaks was dependant on the array periodicity and radii of the nano-holes. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and theoretical results. It is proposed that the newly developed theory can be used to facilitate optimization of nanosensors for medical and engineering applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

The quantum Hall effect at a weak magnetic field

Using a weak limit for the hopping integral in one direction in the Hofstadter model, we show that the fermion states in the gaps of the spectrum are determined within the Kitaev chain. The proposed approach allows us to study the behavior of Chern insulators (CI) in different classes of symmetry. We consider the Hofstadter model on the square and honeycomb lattices in the case of rational and irrational magnetic fluxes ϕ, and discuss the behavior of the Hall conductance at a weak magnetic field in a sample of finite size. We show that in the semiclassical limit at the center of the fermion spectrum, the Bloch states of fermions turn into chiral Majorana fermion liquid when the magnetic scale (1/ϕ) is equal to the sample size N. We are talking about the dielectric–metal phase transition, which is determined by the behavior of the Landau levels in 2D fermion systems in a transverse magnetic field. When a magnetic scale, which determines the wave function of fermions, exceeds the size of the sample, a jump in the longitudinal conductance occurs. The wave function describes non-localized states of fermions, the sample becomes a conductor, the system changes from the dielectric state to the metallic one. It is shown, that at 1∕ϕ>N the quantum Hall effect and the Landau levels are not realized, which makes possibility to study the behavior of CI in irrational magnetic fluxes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Surface-wave-assisted nonreciprocity in spatio-temporally modulated metasurfaces

Emerging photonic functionalities are mostly governed by the fundamental principle of Lorentz reciprocity. Lifting the constraints imposed by this principle could circumvent deleterious effects that limit the performance of photonic systems. Most efforts to date have been limited to waveguide platforms. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a spatiotemporally modulated metasurface capable of complete violation of Lorentz reciprocity by reflecting an incident beam into far-field radiation in forward scattering, but into near-field surface waves in reverse scattering. These observations are shown both in nonreciprocal beam steering and nonreciprocal focusing. We also demonstrate nonreciprocal behavior of propagative-only waves in the frequency- and momentum-domains, and simultaneously in both. We develop a generalized Bloch-Floquet theory which offers physical insights into Lorentz nonreciprocity for arbitrary spatial phase gradients, and its predictions are in excellent agreement with experiments. Our work opens exciting opportunities in applications where free-space nonreciprocal wave propagation is desired.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dynamics of the two-spin spin-boson model with a common bath

Dynamics of the two-spin spin-boson model in the presence of Ohmic and sub-Ohmic baths is investigated by employing a multitude of the Davydov D{sub 1} trial states, also known as the multi-D{sub 1} Ansatz. Its accuracy in dynamics simulations of the two-spin SBM is improved significantly over the single D{sub 1} Ansatz, especially in the weak to moderately strong coupling regime. Validity of the multi-D{sub 1} Ansatz for various coupling strengths is also systematically examined by making use of the deviation vector which quantifies how faithfully the trial state obeys the Schrödinger equation. The time evolution of population difference and entanglement has been studied for various initial conditions and coupling strengths. Careful comparisons are carried out between our approach and three other methods, i.e., the time-dependent numerical renormalization group (TD-NRG) approach, the Bloch-Redfield theory, and a method based on a variational master equation. For strong coupling, the multi-D{sub 1} trial state yields consistent results as the TD-NRG approach in the Ohmic regime while the two disagree in the sub-Ohmic regime, where the multi-D{sub 1} trial state is shown to be more accurate. For weak coupling, the multi-D{sub 1} trial state agrees with the two master-equation methods in the presence of both Ohmic and sub-Ohmic baths, but shows considerable differences with the TD-NRG approach in the presence of a sub-Ohmic bath, calling into question the validity of the TD-NRG results at long times in the literature.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Anharmonic Bloch oscillations in a waveguide array

Using the coupled-wave method, we consider anharmonic Bloch oscillations of light in an array of waveguides, taking into account the coupling between waveguides up to the third order. It is shown that the beam trajectory is periodic, with the trajectory oscillating within a single period. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗