219 research outputs found
Sub-wavelength terahertz beam profiling of a THz source via an all-optical knife-edge technique
Terahertz technologies recently emerged as outstanding candidates for a variety of applications in such sectors as security, biomedical, pharmaceutical, aero spatial, etc. Imaging the terahertz field, however, still remains a challenge, particularly when sub-wavelength resolutions are involved. Here we demonstrate an all-optical technique for the terahertz near-field imaging directly at the source plane. A thin layer (<100 nm-thickness) of photo carriers is induced on the surface of the terahertz generation crystal, which acts as an all-optical, virtual blade for terahertz near-field imaging via a knife-edge technique. Remarkably, and in spite of the fact that the proposed approach does not require any mechanical probe, such as tips or apertures, we are able to demonstrate the imaging of a terahertz source with deeply sub-wavelength features (<30 μm) directly in its emission plane
C in intense femtosecond laser pulses: nonlinear dipole response and ionization
We study the interaction of strong femtosecond laser pulses with the C
molecule employing time-dependent density functional theory with the ionic
background treated in a jellium approximation. The laser intensities considered
are below the threshold of strong fragmentation but too high for perturbative
treatments such as linear response. The nonlinear response of the model to
excitations by short pulses of frequencies up to 45eV is presented and analyzed
with the help of Kohn-Sham orbital resolved dipole spectra. In femtosecond
laser pulses of 800nm wavelength ionization is found to occur multiphoton-like
rather than via excitation of a ``giant'' resonance.Comment: 14 pages, including 1 table, 5 figure
Ultrafast changes in lattice symmetry probed by coherent phonons
The electronic and structural properties of a material are strongly
determined by its symmetry. Changing the symmetry via a photoinduced phase
transition offers new ways to manipulate material properties on ultrafast
timescales. However, in order to identify when and how fast these phase
transitions occur, methods that can probe the symmetry change in the time
domain are required. We show that a time-dependent change in the coherent
phonon spectrum can probe a change in symmetry of the lattice potential, thus
providing an all-optical probe of structural transitions. We examine the
photoinduced structural phase transition in VO2 and show that, above the phase
transition threshold, photoexcitation completely changes the lattice potential
on an ultrafast timescale. The loss of the equilibrium-phase phonon modes
occurs promptly, indicating a non-thermal pathway for the photoinduced phase
transition, where a strong perturbation to the lattice potential changes its
symmetry before ionic rearrangement has occurred.Comment: 14 pages 4 figure
Formalism for Multiphoton Plasmon Excitation in Jellium Clusters
We present a new formalism for the description of multiphoton plasmon
excitation processes in jellium clusters. By using our method, we demonstrate
that, in addition to dipole plasmon excitations, the multipole plasmons
(quadrupole, octupole, etc) can be excited in a cluster by multiphoton
absorption processes, which results in a significant difference between plasmon
resonance profiles in the cross sections for multiphoton as compared to
single-photon absorption. We calculate the cross sections for multiphoton
absorption and analyse the balance between the surface and volume plasmon
contributions to multipole plasmons.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figur
Calculations of the A_1 phonon frequency in photoexcited Tellurium
Calculations of the A_1 phonon frequency in photoexcited tellurium are
presented. The phonon frequency as a function of photoexcited carrier density
and phonon amplitude is determined. Recent pump probe experiments are
interpreted in the light of these calculatons. It is proposed that, in
conjunction with measurements of the phonon period in ultra-fast pump-probe
reflectivity experiments, the calculated frequency shifts can be used to infer
the evolution of the density of photoexcited carriers on a sub-picosecond
time-scale.Comment: 15 pages Latex, 3 postscript figure
Characterizing temporary hydrological regimes at a European scale
Monthly duration curves have been constructed from climate data across Europe to help address the relative frequency of ecologically critical low flow stages in temporary rivers, when flow persists only in disconnected pools in the river bed. The hydrological model is 5 based on a partitioning of precipitation to estimate water available for evapotranspiration and plant growth and for residual runoff. The duration curve for monthly flows has then been analysed to give an estimate of bankfull flow based on recurrence interval. The corresponding frequency for pools is then based on the ratio of bank full discharge to pool flow, arguing from observed ratios of cross-sectional areas at flood 10 and low flows to estimate pool flow as 0.1% of bankfull flow, and so estimate the frequency of the pool conditions that constrain survival of river-dwelling arthropods and fish. The methodology has been applied across Europe at 15 km resolution, and can equally be applied under future climatic scenarios
Enhanced Lifetime Of Excitons In Nonepitaxial Au/cds Core/shell Nanocrystals
The ability of metal nanoparticles to capture light through plasmon excitations offers an opportunity for enhancing the optical absorption of plasmon-coupled semiconductor materials via energy transfer. This process, however, requires that the semiconductor component is electrically insulated to prevent a backward charge flow into metal and interfacial states, which causes a premature dissociation of excitons. Here we demonstrate that such an energy exchange can be achieved on the nanoscale by using nonepitaxial Au/CdS core/shell nanocomposites. These materials are fabricated via a multistep cation exchange reaction, which decouples metal and semiconductor phases leading to fewer interfacial defects. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements confirm that the lifetime of excitons in the CdS shell (tau approximate to 300 ps) is much longer than lifetimes of excitons in conventional, reduction-grown Au/CdS heteronanostructures. As a result, the energy of metal nanoparticles can be efficiently utilized by the semiconductor component without undergoing significant nonradiative energy losses, an important property for catalytic or photovoltaic applications. The reduced rate of exciton dissociation in the CdS domain of Au/CdS nanocomposites was attributed to the nonepitaxial nature of Au/CdS interfaces associated with low defect density and a high potential barrier of the interstitial phase
- …