22,160 research outputs found
Universal Vectorial and Ultrasensitive Nanomechanical Force Field Sensor
Miniaturization of force probes into nanomechanical oscillators enables
ultrasensitive investigations of forces on dimensions smaller than their
characteristic length scale. Meanwhile it also unravels the force field
vectorial character and how its topology impacts the measurement. Here we
expose an ultrasensitive method to image 2D vectorial force fields by
optomechanically following the bidimensional Brownian motion of a singly
clamped nanowire. This novel approach relies on angular and spectral tomography
of its quasi frequency-degenerated transverse mechanical polarizations:
immersing the nanoresonator in a vectorial force field does not only shift its
eigenfrequencies but also rotate eigenmodes orientation as a nano-compass. This
universal method is employed to map a tunable electrostatic force field whose
spatial gradients can even take precedence over the intrinsic nanowire
properties. Enabling vectorial force fields imaging with demonstrated
sensitivities of attonewton variations over the nanoprobe Brownian trajectory
will have strong impact on scientific exploration at the nanoscale
Electron spin resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in optically trapped nanodiamonds
Using an optical tweezers apparatus, we demonstrate three-dimensional control
of nanodiamonds in solution with simultaneous readout of ground-state
electron-spin resonance (ESR) transitions in an ensemble of diamond
nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers. Despite the motion and random orientation
of NV centers suspended in the optical trap, we observe distinct peaks in the
measured ESR spectra qualitatively similar to the same measurement in bulk.
Accounting for the random dynamics, we model the ESR spectra observed in an
externally applied magnetic field to enable d.c. magnetometry in solution. We
estimate the d.c. magnetic field sensitivity based on variations in ESR line
shapes to be ~50 microTesla/Hz^1/2. This technique may provide a pathway for
spin-based magnetic, electric, and thermal sensing in fluidic environments and
biophysical systems inaccessible to existing scanning probe techniques.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures for manuscript and supporting informatio
Roadmap on structured light
Structured light refers to the generation and application of custom light fields. As the tools and technology to create and detect structured light have evolved, steadily the applications have begun to emerge. This roadmap touches on the key fields within structured light from the perspective of experts in those areas, providing insight into the current state and the challenges their respective fields face. Collectively the roadmap outlines the venerable nature of structured light research and the exciting prospects for the future that are yet to be realized.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Nanoscale diffractive probing of strain dynamics in ultrafast transmission electron microscopy
The control of optically driven high-frequency strain waves in nanostructured
systems is an essential ingredient for the further development of
nanophononics. However, broadly applicable experimental means to quantitatively
map such structural distortion on their intrinsic ultrafast time and nanometer
length scales are still lacking. Here, we introduce ultrafast convergent beam
electron diffraction (U-CBED) with a nanoscale probe beam for the quantitative
retrieval of the time-dependent local distortion tensor. We demonstrate its
capabilities by investigating the ultrafast acoustic deformations close to the
edge of a single-crystalline graphite membrane. Tracking the structural
distortion with a 28-nm/700-fs spatio-temporal resolution, we observe an
acoustic membrane breathing mode with spatially modulated amplitude, governed
by the optical near field structure at the membrane edge. Furthermore, an
in-plane polarized acoustic shock wave is launched at the membrane edge, which
triggers secondary acoustic shear waves with a pronounced spatio-temporal
dependency. The experimental findings are compared to numerical acoustic wave
simulations in the continuous medium limit, highlighting the importance of
microscopic dissipation mechanisms and ballistic transport channels
Langevin Simulation of Thermally Activated Magnetization Reversal in Nanoscale Pillars
Numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert micromagnetic model
incorporating thermal fluctuations and dipole-dipole interactions (calculated
by the Fast Multipole Method) are presented for systems composed of nanoscale
iron pillars of dimension 9 nm x 9 nm x 150 nm. Hysteresis loops generated
under sinusoidally varying fields are obtained, while the coercive field is
estimated to be 1979 14 Oe using linear field sweeps at T=0 K. Thermal
effects are essential to the relaxation of magnetization trapped in a
metastable orientation, such as happens after a rapid reversal of an external
magnetic field less than the coercive value. The distribution of switching
times is compared to a simple analytic theory that describes reversal with
nucleation at the ends of the nanomagnets. Results are also presented for
arrays of nanomagnets oriented perpendicular to a flat substrate. Even at a
separation of 300 nm, where the field from neighboring pillars is only 1
Oe, the interactions have a significant effect on the switching of the magnets.Comment: 19 pages RevTeX, including 12 figures, clarified discussion of
numerical technique
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
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