How to SYN in seven easy steps

The calculation of expected spectral line strengths and profiles is a powerful tool for the analysis of the solar atmosphere, and other stellar atmospheres. We present here a recipe in seven easy steps for the development of such spectral synthesis software.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl

Rigorous analysis of grazing-angle scattering of electromagnetic waves in periodic gratings

Grazing-angle scattering (GAS) is a type of Bragg scattering of waves in slanted non-uniform periodic gratings, when the diffracted order satisfying the Bragg condition propagates at a grazing angle with respect to the boundaries of a slab-like grating. Rigorous analysis of GAS of bulk TE electromagnetic waves is undertaken in holographic gratings by means of the enhanced T-matrix algorithm. A comparison of the rigorous and the previously developed approximate theories of GAS is carried out. A complex pattern of numerous previously unknown resonances is discovered and analysed in detail for gratings with large amplitude, for which the approximate theory fails. These resonances are associated not only with the geometry of GAS, but are also typical for wide transmitting gratings. Their dependence on grating amplitude, angles of incidence and scattering, and grating width is investigated numerically. Physical interpretation of the predicted resonances is linked to the existence and the resonant generation of special new eigenmodes of slanted gratings. Main properties of these modes and their field structure are discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figure

Optical application and measurement of torque on microparticles of isotropic nonabsorbing material

We show how it is possible to controllably rotate or align microscopic particles of isotropic nonabsorbing material in a TEM00 Gaussian beam trap, with simultaneous measurement of the applied torque using purely optical means. This is a simple and general method of rotation, requiring only that the particle is elongated along one direction. Thus, this method can be used to rotate or align a wide range of naturally occurring particles. The ability to measure the applied torque enables the use of this method as a quantitative tool--the rotational equivalent of optical tweezers based force measurement. As well as being of particular value for the rotation of biological specimens, this method is also suitable for the development of optically-driven micromachines.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Calculation of the T-matrix: general considerations and application of the point-matching method

The T-matrix method is widely used for the calculation of scattering by particles of sizes on the order of the illuminating wavelength. Although the extended boundary condition method (EBCM) is the most commonly used technique for calculating the T-matrix, a variety of methods can be used. We consider some general principles of calculating T-matrices, and apply the point-matching method to calculate the T-matrix for particles devoid of symmetry. This method avoids the time-consuming surface integrals required by the EBCM.Comment: 10 pages. 2 figures, 1 tabl

Numerical Modelling of Optical Trapping

Optical trapping is a widely used technique, with many important applications in biology and metrology. Complete modelling of trapping requires calculation of optical forces, primarily a scattering problem, and non-optical forces. The T-matrix method is used to calculate forces acting on spheroidal and cylindrical particles.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Multipole expansion of strongly focussed laser beams

Multipole expansion of an incident radiation field - that is, representation of the fields as sums of vector spherical wavefunctions - is essential for theoretical light scattering methods such as the T-matrix method and generalised Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT). In general, it is theoretically straightforward to find a vector spherical wavefunction representation of an arbitrary radiation field. For example, a simple formula results in the useful case of an incident plane wave. Laser beams present some difficulties. These problems are not a result of any deficiency in the basic process of spherical wavefunction expansion, but are due to the fact that laser beams, in their standard representations, are not radiation fields, but only approximations of radiation fields. This results from the standard laser beam representations being solutions to the paraxial scalar wave equation. We present an efficient method for determining the multipole representation of an arbitrary focussed beam.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Rigorous analysis of extremely asymmetrical scattering of electromagnetic waves in slanted periodic gratings

Extremely asymmetrical scattering (EAS) is a new type of Bragg scattering in thick, slanted, periodic gratings. It is realised when the scattered wave propagates parallel to the front boundary of the grating. Its most important feature is the strong resonant increase in the scattered wave amplitude compared to the amplitude of the incident wave: the smaller the grating amplitude, the larger the amplitude of the scattered wave. In this paper, rigorous numerical analysis of EAS is carried out by means of the enhanced T-matrix algorithm. This includes investigation of harmonic generation inside and outside the grating, unusually strong edge effects, fast oscillations of the incident wave amplitude in the grating, etc. Comparison with the previously developed approximate theory is carried out. In particular, it is demonstrated that the applicability conditions for the two-wave approximation in the case of EAS are noticeably more restrictive than those for the conventional Bragg scattering. At the same time, it is shown that the approximate theory is usually highly accurate in terms of description of EAS in the most interesting cases of scattering with strong resonant increase of the scattered wave amplitude. Physical explanation of the predicted effects is presented.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures; v2: corrections to metadata and bibliographical info in preprin

Calculation and optical measurement of laser trapping forces on non-spherical particles

Optical trapping, where microscopic particles are trapped and manipulated by light is a powerful and widespread technique, with the single-beam gradient trap (also known as optical tweezers) in use for a large number of biological and other applications. The forces and torques acting on a trapped particle result from the transfer of momentum and angular momentum from the trapping beam to the particle. Despite the apparent simplicity of a laser trap, with a single particle in a single beam, exact calculation of the optical forces and torques acting on particles is difficult. Calculations can be performed using approximate methods, but are only applicable within their ranges of validity, such as for particles much larger than, or much smaller than, the trapping wavelength, and for spherical isotropic particles. This leaves unfortunate gaps, since wavelength-scale particles are of great practical interest because they are readily and strongly trapped and are used to probe interesting microscopic and macroscopic phenomena, and non-spherical or anisotropic particles, biological, crystalline, or other, due to their frequent occurance in nature, and the possibility of rotating such objects or controlling or sensing their orientation. The systematic application of electromagnetic scattering theory can provide a general theory of laser trapping, and render results missing from existing theory. We present here calculations of force and torque on a trapped particle obtained from this theory and discuss the possible applications, including the optical measurement of the force and torque.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Non-Equilibrium Electron Transport in Two-Dimensional Nano-Structures Modeled by Green's Functions and the Finite-Element Method

We use the effective-mass approximation and the density-functional theory with the local-density approximation for modeling two-dimensional nano-structures connected phase-coherently to two infinite leads. Using the non-equilibrium Green's function method the electron density and the current are calculated under a bias voltage. The problem of solving for the Green's functions numerically is formulated using the finite-element method (FEM). The Green's functions have non-reflecting open boundary conditions to take care of the infinite size of the system. We show how these boundary conditions are formulated in the FEM. The scheme is tested by calculating transmission probabilities for simple model potentials. The potential of the scheme is demonstrated by determining non-linear current-voltage behaviors of resonant tunneling structures.Comment: 13 pages,15 figure