381 research outputs found
Quasi-Homogeneous Backward-Wave Plasmonic Structures: Theory and Accurate Simulation
Backward waves and negative refraction are shown to exist in plasmonic
crystals whose lattice cell size is a very small fraction of the vacuum
wavelength (less than 1/40th in an illustrative example). Such
``quasi-homogeneity'' is important, in particular, for high-resolution imaging.
Real and complex Bloch bands are computed using the recently developed
finite-difference calculus of ``Flexible Local Approximation MEthods'' (FLAME)
that produces linear eigenproblems, as opposed to quadratic or nonlinear ones
typical for other techniques. FLAME dramatically improves the accuracy by
incorporating local analytical approximations of the solution into the
numerical scheme.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
A study of random laser modes in disordered photonic crystals
We studied lasing modes in a disordered photonic crystal. The scaling of the
lasing threshold with the system size depends on the strength of disorder. For
sufficiently large size, the minimum of the lasing threshold occurs at some
finite value of disorder strength. The highest random cavity quality factor was
comparable to that of an intentionally introduced single defect. At the
minimum, the lasing threshold showed a super-exponential decrease with the size
of the system. We explain it through a migration of the lasing mode frequencies
toward the photonic bandgap center, where the localization length takes the
minimum value. Random lasers with exponentially low thresholds are predicted.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
EM wave propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals: a study of anomalous refractive effects
We systematically study a collection of refractive phenomena that can
possibly occur at the interface of a two-dimensional photonic crystal, with the
use of the wave vector diagram formalism. Cases with a single propagating beam
(in the positive or the negative direction) as well as cases with birefringence
were observed. We examine carefully the conditions to obtain a single
propagating beam inside the photonic crystal lattice. Our results indicate,
that the presence of multiple reflected beams in the medium of incidence is
neither a prerequisite nor does it imply multiple refracted beams. We
characterize our results in respect to the origin of the propagating beam and
the nature of propagation (left-handed or not). We identified four distinct
cases that lead to a negatively refracted beam. Under these findings, the
definition of phase velocity in a periodic medium is revisited and its physical
interpretation discussed. To determine the ``rightness'' of propagation, we
propose a wedge-type experiment. We discuss the intricate details for an
appropriate wedge design for different types of cases in triangular and square
structures. We extend our theoretical analysis, and examine our conclusions as
one moves from the limit of photonic crystals with high index contrast between
the constituent dielectrics to photonic crystals with low modulation of the
refractive index. Finally, we examine the ``rightness'' of propagation in the
one-dimensional multilayer medium, and obtain conditions that are different
from those of two-dimensional systems.Comment: 65 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Glassy behavior of light in random lasers
A theoretical analysis [Angelani et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 065702 (2006)]
predicts glassy behaviour of light in a nonlinear random medium. This implies
slow dynamics related to the presence of many metastable states. We consider
very general equations (that also apply to other systems, like Bose-Condensed
gases) describing light in a disordered non-linear medium and through some
approximations we relate them to a mean-field spin-glass-like model. The model
is solved by the replica method, and replica-symmetry breaking phase transition
is predicted. The transition describes a mode-locking process in which the
phases of the modes are locked to random (history and sample-dependent) values.
The results are based on very general theory, and embrace a variety of physical
phenomena.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures. Revised and enlarged version. To be published in
Physical Review
Aspirin but not ibuprofen use is associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer: A PLCO Study
Background:
Although most epidemiological studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is inversely associated with prostate cancer risk, the magnitude and specificity of this association remain unclear. Methods:
We examined self-reported aspirin and ibuprofen use in relation to prostate cancer risk among 29 450 men ages 55–74 who were initially screened for prostate cancer from 1993 to 2001 in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Men were followed from their first screening exam until 31 December 2009, during which 3575 cases of prostate cancer were identified. Results:
After adjusting for potential confounders, the hazard ratios (HRs) of prostate cancer associated with \u3c1 and 1 pill of aspirin daily were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90–1.07) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–0.99), respectively, compared with never use (P for trend 0.04). The effect of taking at least one aspirin daily was more pronounced when restricting the analyses to men older than age 65 or men who had a history of cardiovascular-related diseases or arthritis (HR (95% CI); 0.87 (0.78–0.97), 0.89 (0.80–0.99), and 0.88 (0.78–1.00), respectively). The data did not support an association between ibuprofen use and prostate cancer risk. Conclusion:
Daily aspirin use, but not ibuprofen use, was associated with lower risk of prostate cancer risk
Classical limit for the scattering of Dirac particles in a magnetic field
We present a relativistic quantum calculation at first order in perturbation
theory of the differential cross section for a Dirac particle scattered by a
solenoidal magnetic field. The resulting cross section is symmetric in the
scattering angle as those obtained by Aharonov and Bohm (AB) in the string
limit and by Landau and Lifshitz (LL) for the non relativistic case. We show
that taking pr_0\|sin(\theta/2)|/\hbar<<1 in our expression of the differential
cross section it reduces to the one reported by AB, and if additionally we
assume \theta << 1 our result becomes the one obtained by LL. However, these
limits are explicitly singular in \hbar as opposed to our initial result. We
analyze the singular behavior in \hbar and show that the perturbative Planck's
limit (\hbar -> 0) is consistent, contrarily to those of the AB and LL
expressions. We also discuss the scattering in a uniform and constant magnetic
field, which resembles some features of QCD
Ultrahigh Bandwidth Spin Noise Spectroscopy: Detection of Large g-Factor Fluctuations in Highly n-Doped GaAs
We advance all optical spin noise spectroscopy (SNS) in semiconductors to
detection bandwidths of several hundred gigahertz by employing an ingenious
scheme of pulse trains from ultrafast laser oscillators as an optical probe.
The ultrafast SNS technique avoids the need for optical pumping and enables
nearly perturbation free measurements of extremely short spin dephasing times.
We employ the technique to highly n-doped bulk GaAs where magnetic field
dependent measurements show unexpected large g-factor fluctuations.
Calculations suggest that such large g-factor fluctuations do not necessarily
result from extrinsic sample variations but are intrinsically present in every
doped semiconductor due to the stochastic nature of the dopant distribution.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Photonic Band Gaps of Three-Dimensional Face-Centered Cubic Lattices
We show that the photonic analogue of the Korringa-Kohn-Rostocker method is a
viable alternative to the plane-wave method to analyze the spectrum of
electromagnetic waves in a three-dimensional periodic dielectric lattice.
Firstly, in the case of an fcc lattice of homogeneous dielectric spheres, we
reproduce the main features of the spectrum obtained by the plane wave method,
namely that for a sufficiently high dielectric contrast a full gap opens in the
spectrum between the eights and ninth bands if the dielectric constant
of spheres is lower than the dielectric constant of
the background medium. If , no gap is found in the
spectrum. The maximal value of the relative band-gap width approaches 14% in
the close-packed case and decreases monotonically as the filling fraction
decreases. The lowest dielectric contrast for which a
full gap opens in the spectrum is determined to be 8.13. Eventually, in the
case of an fcc lattice of coated spheres, we demonstrate that a suitable
coating can enhance gap widths by as much as 50%.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figs., plain latex - a section on coated spheres, two
figures, and a few references adde
Optical response with threefold symmetry axis on oriented microdomains of opal photonic crystals
The paper deals with three-dimensional photonic crystals known as artificial opals, namely, fcc lattices of dielectric spheres: such systems have been the subject of numerous investigations.
Opal photonic crystals viewed along the [111] direction of the fcc structure have a threefold symmetry axis; however this microscopic symmetry is difficult to observe in optical measurements performed on macroscopic areas containing microdomains with different orientations. In this work polarized transmittance measurements on [111]-stacked silica opals with single oriented microdomains, identified by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and laser-scanning confocal microscopy, demonstrate different optical response of twin structures with the two possible vertical stacking sequences. A detailed comparison with theory shows that microtransmittance experiments probe the photonic band structure along the Gamma-L-K and Gamma-L-U orientations of the Brillouin zone, respectively, thus giving conclusive evidence for macroscopic optical response related to the presence of a threefold (instead of a sixfold) symmetry axis in the photonic microstructure.
The paper arises from a collaboration between the University of Pavia and the Politecnico di Torino
Spawning rings of exceptional points out of Dirac cones
The Dirac cone underlies many unique electronic properties of graphene and
topological insulators, and its band structure--two conical bands touching at a
single point--has also been realized for photons in waveguide arrays, atoms in
optical lattices, and through accidental degeneracy. Deformations of the Dirac
cone often reveal intriguing properties; an example is the quantum Hall effect,
where a constant magnetic field breaks the Dirac cone into isolated Landau
levels. A seemingly unrelated phenomenon is the exceptional point, also known
as the parity-time symmetry breaking point, where two resonances coincide in
both their positions and widths. Exceptional points lead to counter-intuitive
phenomena such as loss-induced transparency, unidirectional transmission or
reflection, and lasers with reversed pump dependence or single-mode operation.
These two fields of research are in fact connected: here we discover the
ability of a Dirac cone to evolve into a ring of exceptional points, which we
call an "exceptional ring." We experimentally demonstrate this concept in a
photonic crystal slab. Angle-resolved reflection measurements of the photonic
crystal slab reveal that the peaks of reflectivity follow the conical band
structure of a Dirac cone from accidental degeneracy, whereas the complex
eigenvalues of the system are deformed into a two-dimensional flat band
enclosed by an exceptional ring. This deformation arises from the dissimilar
radiation rates of dipole and quadrupole resonances, which play a role
analogous to the loss and gain in parity-time symmetric systems. Our results
indicate that the radiation that exists in any open system can fundamentally
alter its physical properties in ways previously expected only in the presence
of material loss and gain
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