651 research outputs found
Carrier relaxation in GaAs v-groove quantum wires and the effects of localization
Carrier relaxation processes have been investigated in GaAs/AlGaAs v-groove
quantum wires (QWRs) with a large subband separation (46 meV). Signatures of
inhibited carrier relaxation mechanisms are seen in temperature-dependent
photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence-excitation (PLE) measurements; we
observe strong emission from the first excited state of the QWR below ~50 K.
This is attributed to reduced inter-subband relaxation via phonon scattering
between localized states. Theoretical calculations and experimental results
indicate that the pinch-off regions, which provide additional two-dimensional
confinement for the QWR structure, have a blocking effect on relaxation
mechanisms for certain structures within the v-groove. Time-resolved PL
measurements show that efficient carrier relaxation from excited QWR states
into the ground state, occurs only at temperatures > 30 K. Values for the low
temperature radiative lifetimes of the ground- and first excited-state excitons
have been obtained (340 ps and 160 ps respectively), and their corresponding
localization lengths along the wire estimated.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B Attempted to correct
corrupt figure
Lasing at the band edges of plasmonic lattices
We report room temperature lasing in two-dimensional diffractive lattices of
silver and gold plasmon particle arrays embedded in a dye-doped polymer that
acts both as waveguide and gain medium. As compared to conventional dielectric
distributed feedback lasers, a central question is how the underlying band
structure from which lasing emerges is modified by both the much stronger
scattering and the disadvantageous loss of metal. We use spectrally resolved
back-focal plane imaging to measure the wavelength- and angle dependence of
emission below and above threshold, thereby mapping the band structure. We find
that for silver particles, the band structure is strongly modified compared to
dielectric reference DFB lasers, since the strong scattering gives large stop
gaps. In contrast, gold particles scatter weakly and absorb strongly, so that
thresholds are higher, but the band structure is not strongly modified. The
experimental findings are supported by finite element and fourier modal method
calculations of the single particle scattering strength and lattice extinction.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure
Grating coupled photonic crystal demultiplexer with integrated detectors on InP-membrane
We report on the successful integration of grating fiber couplers, compact photonic crystal demultiplexers and efficient p-i-n photodetectors on a single bonded InP-membrane chip. Polarization independent operation is obtained by implementing polarization diversity
Millimetre spectral indices of transition disks and their relation to the cavity radius
Transition disks are protoplanetary disks with inner depleted dust cavities
and excellent candidates to investigate the dust evolution under the existence
of a pressure bump. A pressure bump at the outer edge of the cavity allows dust
grains from the outer regions to stop their rapid inward migration towards the
star and efficiently grow to millimetre sizes. Dynamical interactions with
planet(s) have been one of the most exciting theories to explain the clearing
of the inner disk. We look for evidence of the presence of millimetre dust
particles in transition disks by measuring their spectral index with new and
available photometric data. We investigate the influence of the size of the
dust depleted cavity on the disk integrated millimetre spectral index. We
present the 3mm photometric observations carried out with PdBI of four
transition disks: LkHa330, UXTauA, LRLL31, and LRLL67. We use available values
of their fluxes at 345GHz to calculate their spectral index, as well as the
spectral index for a sample of twenty transition disks. We compare the
observations with two kind of models. In the first set of models, we consider
coagulation and fragmentation of dust in a disk in which a cavity is formed by
a massive planet located at different positions. The second set of models
assumes disks with truncated inner parts at different radius and with power-law
dust size distributions, where the maximum size of grains is calculated
considering turbulence as the source of destructive collisions. We show that
the integrated spectral index is higher for transition disks than for regular
protoplanetary disks. For transition disks, the probability that the measured
spectral index is positively correlated with the cavity radius is 95%. High
angular resolution imaging of transition disks is needed to distinguish between
the dust trapping scenario and the truncated disk case.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, including language editio
Measuring the quantum efficiency of single radiating dipoles using a scanning mirror
Using scanning probe techniques, we show the controlled manipulation of the
radiation from single dipoles. In one experiment we study the modification of
the fluorescence lifetime of a single molecular dipole in front of a movable
silver mirror. A second experiment demonstrates the changing plasmon spectrum
of a gold nanoparticle in front of a dielectric mirror. Comparison of our data
with theoretical models allows determination of the quantum efficiency of each
radiating dipole.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Jets and Outflows From Star to Cloud: Observations Confront Theory
In this review we focus on the role jets and outflows play in the star and
planet formation process. Our essential question can be posed as follows: are
jets/outflows merely an epiphenomenon associated with star formation or do they
play an important role in mediating the physics of assembling stars both
individually and globally? We address this question by reviewing the current
state of observations and their key points of contact with theory. Our review
of jet/outflow phenomena is organized into three length-scale domains: Source
and Disk Scales ( au) where the connection with protostellar and disk
evolution theories is paramount; Envelope Scales ( au) where the
chemistry and propagation shed further light on the jet launching process, its
variability and its impact on the infalling envelope; Parent Cloud Scales
( au) where global momentum injection into cluster/cloud
environments become relevant. Issues of feedback are of particular importance
on the smallest scales where planet formation regions in a disk may be impacted
by the presence of disk winds, irradiation by jet shocks or shielding by the
winds. Feedback on envelope scales may determine the final stellar mass
(core-to-star efficiency) and envelope dissipation. Feedback also plays an
important role on the larger scales with outflows contributing to turbulent
support within clusters including alteration of cluster star formation
efficiencies (feedback on larger scales currently appears unlikely). A
particularly novel dimension of our review is that we consider results on jet
dynamics from the emerging field of High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics
(HEDLA). HEDLA is now providing direct insights into the 3-D dynamics of fully
magnetized, hypersonic, radiative outflows.Comment: Accepted for publication as a chapter in Protostars and Planets VI,
University of Arizona Press (2014), eds. H. Beuther, R. Klessen, C.
Dullemond, Th. Hennin
Kinetics of four-wave mixing for a 2D magneto-plasma in strong magnetic fields
We investigate the femtosecond kinetics of an optically excited 2D
magneto-plasma at intermediate and high densities under a strong magnetic field
perpendicular to the quantum well (QW). We assume an additional weak lateral
confinement which lifts the degeneracy of the Landau levels partially. We
calculate the femtosecond dephasing and relaxation kinetics of the laser pulse
excited magneto-plasma due to bare Coulomb potential scattering, because
screening is under these conditions of minor importance. In particular the
time-resolved and time-integrated four-wave mixing (FWM) signals are calculated
by taking into account three Landau subbands in both the valance and the
conduction band assuming an electron-hole symmetry. The FWM signals exhibit
quantum beats mainly with twice the cyclotron frequency. Contrary to general
expectations, we find no pronounced slowing down of the dephasing with
increasing magnetic field. On the contrary, one obtains a decreasing dephasing
time because of the increase of the Coulomb matrix elements and the number of
states in a given Landau subband. In the situation when the loss of scattering
channels exceeds these increasing effects, one gets a slight increase at the
dephasing time. However, details of the strongly modulated scattering kinetics
depend sensitively on the detuning, the plasma density, and the spectral pulse
width relative to the cyclotron frequency.Comment: 13 pages, in RevTex format, 10 figures, Phys. Rev B in pres
Electron-Phonon Interacation in Quantum Dots: A Solvable Model
The relaxation of electrons in quantum dots via phonon emission is hindered
by the discrete nature of the dot levels (phonon bottleneck). In order to
clarify the issue theoretically we consider a system of discrete fermionic
states (dot levels) coupled to an unlimited number of bosonic modes with the
same energy (dispersionless phonons). In analogy to the Gram-Schmidt
orthogonalization procedure, we perform a unitary transformation into new
bosonic modes. Since only of them couple to the fermions, a
numerically exact treatment is possible. The formalism is applied to a GaAs
quantum dot with only two electronic levels. If close to resonance with the
phonon energy, the electronic transition shows a splitting due to quantum
mechanical level repulsion. This is driven mainly by one bosonic mode, whereas
the other two provide further polaronic renormalizations. The numerically exact
results for the electron spectral function compare favourably with an analytic
solution based on degenerate perturbation theory in the basis of shifted
oscillator states. In contrast, the widely used selfconsistent first-order Born
approximation proves insufficient in describing the rich spectral features.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Exploring dust around HD142527 down to 0.025" / 4au using SPHERE/ZIMPOL
We have observed the protoplanetary disk of the well-known young Herbig star
HD 142527 using ZIMPOL Polarimetric Differential Imaging with the VBB (Very
Broad Band, ~600-900nm) filter. We obtained two datasets in May 2015 and March
2016. Our data allow us to explore dust scattering around the star down to a
radius of ~0.025" (~4au). The well-known outer disk is clearly detected, at
higher resolution than before, and shows previously unknown sub-structures,
including spirals going inwards into the cavity. Close to the star, dust
scattering is detected at high signal-to-noise ratio, but it is unclear whether
the signal represents the inner disk, which has been linked to the two
prominent local minima in the scattering of the outer disk, interpreted as
shadows. An interpretation of an inclined inner disk combined with a dust halo
is compatible with both our and previous observations, but other arrangements
of the dust cannot be ruled out. Dust scattering is also present within the
large gap between ~30 and ~140au. The comparison of the two datasets suggests
rapid evolution of the inner regions of the disk, potentially driven by the
interaction with the close-in M-dwarf companion, around which no polarimetric
signal is detected.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A
Optically Driven Qubits in Artificial Molecules
We present novel models of quantum gates based on coupled quantum dots in
which a qubit is regarded as the superposition of ground states in each dot.
Coherent control on the qubit is performed by both a frequency and a
polarization of a monochromatic light pulse illuminated on the quantum dots. We
also show that a simple combination of two single qubit gates functions as a
controlled NOT gate resulting from an electron-electron interaction. To examine
the decoherence of quantum states, we discuss electronic relaxation contributed
mainly by LA phonon processes.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review
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