Nanoscale magnetophotonics

This Perspective surveys the state-of-the-art and future prospects of science and technology employing the nanoconfined light (nanophotonics and nanoplasmonics) in combination with magnetism. We denote this field broadly as nanoscale magnetophotonics. We include a general introduction to the field and describe the emerging magneto-optical effects in magnetoplasmonic and magnetophotonic nanostructures supporting localized and propagating plasmons. Special attention is given to magnetoplasmonic crystals with transverse magnetization and the associated nanophotonic non-reciprocal effects, and to magneto-optical effects in periodic arrays of nanostructures. We give also an overview of the applications of these systems in biological and chemical sensing, as well as in light polarization and phase control. We further review the area of nonlinear magnetophotonics, the semiconductor spin-plasmonics, and the general principles and applications of opto-magnetism and nano-optical ultrafast control of magnetism and spintronics

Physics with Coherent Matter Waves

This review discusses progress in the new field of coherent matter waves, in particular with respect to Bose-Einstein condensates. We give a short introduction to Bose-Einstein condensation and the theoretical description of the condensate wavefunction. We concentrate on the coherence properties of this new type of matter wave as a basis for fundamental physics and applications. The main part of this review treats various measurements and concepts in the physics with coherent matter waves. In particular we present phase manipulation methods, atom lasers, nonlinear atom optics, optical elements, interferometry and physics in optical lattices. We give an overview of the state of the art in the respective fields and discuss achievements and challenges for the future

Monitoring stimulated emission at the single photon level in one-dimensional atoms

We theoretically investigate signatures of stimulated emission at the single photon level for a two-level atom interacting with a one-dimensional light field. We consider the transient regime where the atom is initially excited, and the steady state regime where the atom is continuously driven with an external pump. The influence of pure dephasing is studied, clearly showing that these effects can be evidenced with state of the art solid state devices. We finally propose a scheme to demonstrate the stimulation of one optical transition by monitoring another one, in three-level one-dimensional atoms.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Improved introduction; Comments adde

Probing Phases and Quantum Criticality using Deviations from the Local Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem

Introduction Cold atomic gases in optical lattices are emerging as excellent laboratories for testing models of strongly interacting particles in condensed matter physics. Currently, one of the major open questions is how to obtain the finite temperature phase diagram of a given quantum Hamiltonian directly from experiments. Previous work in this direction required quantum Monte Carlo simulations to directly model the experimental situation in order to extract quantitative information, clearly defeating the purpose of an optical lattice emulator. Here we propose a new method that utilizes deviations from a local fluctuation dissipation theorem to construct a finite temperature phase diagram, for the first time, from local observables accessible by in situ experimental observations. Our approach extends the utility of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem from thermometry to the identification of quantum phases, associated energy scales and the quantum critical region. We test our ideas using state-of-the-art large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional Bose Hubbard model.Comment: 7 pages; 4 figures; also see supplementary material of 7 pages with 3 figure

Performance issues in optical burst/packet switching

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01524-3_8This chapter summarises the activities on optical packet switching (OPS) and optical burst switching (OBS) carried out by the COST 291 partners in the last 4 years. It consists of an introduction, five sections with contributions on five different specific topics, and a final section dedicated to the conclusions. Each section contains an introductive state-of-the-art description of the specific topic and at least one contribution on that topic. The conclusions give some points on the current situation of the OPS/OBS paradigms

Wavelength Shift in Erbium-doped Glass microspherical Whispering Gallery Mode Lasers

http://www.iop.vast.ac.vn/activities/5-8April/Proceedings_IWPA2004/proceeding_IWPA_2004.htmlInternational audienceWe have succeeded in continuous-wave laser oscillation on 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ions around 1550 nm in microspheres fabricated with Erbium doped fluoride ”ZBLALiP” and phosphate ”Schott” glasses. The microsphere lasers have been studied under pumping at 1480 nm. Whispering Gallery Mode laser spectra were analyzed for different sphere diameters. Wavelength Red-shift effect of both fluorescence and laser spectra was experimentally observed in Er3+ doped phosphate glass when the pump power was increased, originating from thermal effects. We showed coupling effect between microspherical laser and an external cavity made by a metallic mirror. We observed line shift to lower wavelengths due to optical feedback effect. A general overview of the current state of the art in microspheres is given as well as a more general introduction

Black hole mass measurements using ionized gas discs: systematic dust effects

Using detailed Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations in realistic models for galactic nuclei, we investigate the influence of interstellar dust in ionized gas discs on the rotation curves and the resulting black hole mass measurements. We find that absorption and scattering by interstellar dust leaves the shape of the rotation curves basically unaltered, but slightly decreases the central slope of the rotation curves. As a result, the "observed" black hole masses are systematically underestimated by some 10 to 20% for realistic optical depths. We therefore argue that the systematic effect of dust attenuation should be taken into account when estimating SMBH masses using ionized gas kinematics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in "Observational Evidence for Black Holes in the Universe", AIP Conference Proceeding