4,211 research outputs found
Modelling ultraviolet-line diagnostics of stars, the ionized and the neutral interstellar medium in star-forming galaxies
We combine state-of-the-art models for the production of stellar radiation
and its transfer through the interstellar medium (ISM) to investigate
ultraviolet-line diagnostics of stars, the ionized and the neutral ISM in
star-forming galaxies. We start by assessing the reliability of our stellar
population synthesis modelling by fitting absorption-line indices in the
ISM-free ultraviolet spectra of 10 Large-Magellanic-Cloud clusters. In doing
so, we find that neglecting stochastic sampling of the stellar initial mass
function in these young (-100 Myr), low-mass clusters affects
negligibly ultraviolet-based age and metallicity estimates but can lead to
significant overestimates of stellar mass. Then, we proceed and develop a
simple approach, based on an idealized description of the main features of the
ISM, to compute in a physically consistent way the combined influence of
nebular emission and interstellar absorption on ultraviolet spectra of
star-forming galaxies. Our model accounts for the transfer of radiation through
the ionized interiors and outer neutral envelopes of short-lived stellar birth
clouds, as well as for radiative transfer through a diffuse intercloud medium.
We use this approach to explore the entangled signatures of stars, the ionized
and the neutral ISM in ultraviolet spectra of star-forming galaxies. We find
that, aside from a few notable exceptions, most standard ultraviolet indices
defined in the spectra of ISM-free stellar populations are prone to significant
contamination by the ISM, which increases with metallicity. We also identify
several nebular-emission and interstellar-absorption features, which stand out
as particularly clean tracers of the different phases of the ISM.Comment: 27 pages, 21 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Observation of enhanced transmission for s-polarized light through a subwavelength slit
Enhanced optical transmission (EOT) through subwavelength apertures is
usually obtained for p-polarized light. The present study experimentally
investigates EOT for s-polarized light. A subwavelength slit surrounded on each
side by periodic grooves has been fabricated in a gold film and covered by a
thin dielectric layer. The excitation of s-polarized dielectric waveguide modes
inside the dielectric film strongly increases the s-polarized transmission.
Transmission measurements are compared with a coupled mode model and show good
qualitative agreement. Adding a waveguide can improve light transmission
through subwavelength apertures, as both s and p-polarization can be
efficiently transmitted.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Applied Physics Letter
Terahertz surface plasmon polariton propagation and focusing on periodically corrugated metal wires
In this letter we show how the dispersion relation of surface plasmon
polaritons (SPPs) propagating along a perfectly conducting wire can be tailored
by corrugating its surface with a periodic array of radial grooves. In this
way, highly localized SPPs can be sustained in the terahertz region of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Importantly, the propagation characteristics of these
spoof SPPs can be controlled by the surface geometry, opening the way to
important applications such as energy concentration on cylindrical wires and
superfocusing using conical structures.Comment: accepted at PRL, submitted 29th May 200
Optical bistability in subwavelength apertures containing nonlinear media
We develop a self-consistent method to study the optical response of metallic
gratings with nonlinear media embedded within their subwavelength slits. An
optical Kerr nonlinearity is considered. Due to the large E-fields associated
with the excitation of the transmission resonances appearing in this type of
structures, moderate incoming fluxes result in drastic changes in the
transmission spectra. Importantly, optical bistability is obtained for certain
ranges of both flux and wavelength.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Transformation Optics Approach to Plasmon-Exciton Strong Coupling in Nanocavities
We investigate the conditions yielding plasmon-exciton strong coupling at the
single emitter level in the gap between two metal nanoparticles. A
quasi-analytical transformation optics approach is developed that makes
possible a thorough exploration of this hybrid system incorporating the full
richness of its plasmonic spectrum. This allows us to reveal that by placing
the emitter away from the cavity center, its coupling to multipolar dark modes
of both even and odd parity increases remarkably. This way, reversible dynamics
in the population of the quantum emitter takes place in feasible
implementations of this archetypal nanocavity.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Transmission properties of a single metallic slit: From the subwavelength regime to the geometrical-optics limit
In this work we explore the transmission properties of a single slit in a
metallic screen. We analyze the dependence of these properties on both slit
width and angle of incident radiation. We study in detail the crossover between
the subwavelength regime and the geometrical-optics limit. In the subwavelength
regime, resonant transmission linked to the excitation of waveguide resonances
is analyzed. Linewidth of these resonances and their associated electric field
intensities are controlled by just the width of the slit. More complex
transmission spectra appear when the wavelength of light is comparable to the
slit width. Rapid oscillations associated to the emergence of different
propagating modes inside the slit are the main features appearing in this
regime.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
On the transmission of light through a single rectangular hole
In this Letter we show that a single rectangular hole exhibits transmission
resonances that appear near the cutoff wavelength of the hole waveguide. For
light polarized with the electric field pointing along the short axis, it is
shown that the normalized-to-area transmittance at resonance is proportional to
the ratio between the long and short sides, and to the dielectric constant
inside the hole. Importantly, this resonant transmission process is accompanied
by a huge enhancement of the electric field at both entrance and exit
interfaces of the hole. These findings open the possibility of using
rectangular holes for spectroscopic purposes or for exploring non-linear
effects.Comment: Submitted to PRL on Feb. 9th, 200
The Research Environment of Universities
P. 183-189El objetivo de este estudio es describir el entorno real de una universidad con referencia a su investigación. Las actividades y para medir la influencia de la proximidad geográfica como factor decisivo en el establecimiento de colaboración entre la universidad y otras instituciones. Para hacer este análisis, se ha realizado un estudio de caso sobre dos Universidades: la Universidad de León y la Universidad de Salamanca. La conclusión principal es que el entorno de una universidad no necesariamente consisten en elementos de su proximidad geográfica y medio ambiente. Eso sugiere que la proximidad geográfica no se documenta que garantice mayores oportunidades para las relaciones. Los dos factores más importantes son la actitud de las empresas hacia la innovación y el crecimiento y los contactos personalesS
Surface shape resonances in lamellar metallic gratings
The specular reflectivity of lamellar gratings of gold with grooves 0.5
microns wide separated by a distance of 3.5 microns was measured on the 2000
cm - 7000 cm spectral range for p-polarized light. For the first
time, experimental evidence of the excitation of electromagnetic surface shape
resonances for optical frequencies is given. In these resonances the electric
field is highly localized inside the grooves and is almost zero in all other
regions. For grooves of depth equal to 0.6 microns, we have analyzed one of
these modes whose wavelength (3.3 microns) is much greater than the lateral
dimension of the grooves.Comment: 4 pages (LaTex), 5 postscript figures, to be published in Physical
Review Letter
Resonant transmission of light through finite chains of subwavelength holes
In this paper we show that the extraordinary optical transmission phenomenon
found before in 2D hole arrays is already present in a linear chain of
subwavelength holes, which can be considered as the basic geometrical unit
showing this property. In order to study this problem we have developed a new
theoretical framework, able to analyze the optical properties of finite
collections of subwavelength apertures and/or dimples (of any shape and placed
in arbitrary positions) drilled in a metallic film.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
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