Design of photonic crystal optical waveguides with single-mode propagation in the photonic bandgap

The authors present a systematic method for designing dielectric-core photonic crystal optical waveguides that support only one mode in the photonic bandgap (PBG). It is shown that by changing the sizes of thc air columns (without perturbing the positions of the centres of the air column) in the two rows that are adjacent to the middle slab, the higher order mode(s) can be pushed out of the photonic bandgap, resulting in single-mode wave propagation in the bandgap

Finite-difference time-domain calculation of spontaneous emission lifetime in a microcavity

We developed a general numerical method to calculate the spontaneous emission lifetime in an arbitrary microcavity, using a finite-difference time-domain algorithm. For structures with rotational symmetry we also developed a more efficient but less general algorithm. To simulate an open radiation problem, we use absorbing boundaries to truncate the computational domain. The accuracy of this method is limited only by numerical error and finite reflection at the absorbing boundaries. We compare our result with cases that can be solved analytically and find excellent agreement. Finally, we apply the method to calculate the spontaneous emission lifetime in a slab waveguide and in a dielectric microdisk, respectively

Characterization of 1D photonic crystal nanobeam cavities using curved microfiber

We investigate high-Q, small mode volume photonic crystal nanobeam cavities using a curved, tapered optical microfiber loop. The strength of the coupling between the cavity and the microfiber loop is shown to depend on the contact position on the nanobeam, angle between the nanobeam and the microfiber, and polarization of the light in the fiber. The results are compared to a resonant scattering measurement

A Robust Semidefinite Programming Approach to the Separability Problem

We express the optimization of entanglement witnesses for arbitrary bipartite states in terms of a class of convex optimization problems known as Robust Semidefinite Programs (RSDP). We propose, using well known properties of RSDP, several new sufficient tests for the separability of mixed states. Our results are then generalized to multipartite density operators.Comment: Revised version (minor spell corrections) . 6 pages; submitted to Physical Review

Aluminum Oxide Layers as Possible Components for Layered Tunnel Barriers

We have studied transport properties of Nb/Al/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions with ultrathin aluminum oxide layers formed by (i) thermal oxidation and (ii) plasma oxidation, before and after rapid thermal post-annealing of the completed structures at temperatures up to 550 deg C. Post-annealing at temperatures above 300 deg C results in a significant decrease of the tunneling conductance of thermally-grown barriers, while plasma-grown barriers start to change only at annealing temperatures above 450 deg C. Fitting the experimental I-V curves of the junctions using the results of the microscopic theory of direct tunneling shows that the annealing of thermally-grown oxides at temperatures above 300 deg C results in a substantial increase of their average tunnel barriers height, from ~1.8 eV to ~2.45 eV, versus the practically unchanged height of ~2.0 eV for plasma-grown layers. This difference, together with high endurance of annealed barriers under electric stress (breakdown field above 10 MV/cm) may enable all-AlOx and SiO2/AlOx layered "crested" barriers for advanced floating-gate memory applications.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Edge-emitting quantum well laser with integrated intracavity electrostatic gate

Ridge waveguide, edge-emitting single quantum well GaAs lasers with an integrated gating electrode have been fabricated. These devices integrate a MESFET structure with the laser PN junction so that the SBD (Schottky barrier diode) depletion layer can be used for transverse current confinement in the laser. Device fabrication was very simple requiring only an anisotropic etch for waveguide definition followed by a single self-aligned contact deposition step. The Schottky barrier depletion layers on either side of the ridge waveguide act to confine free carriers. This structure allows for separation of the optical and electrical confinement in the transverse direction without requiring complex fabrication. The device demonstrated modulation of the pulsed lasing threshold with gate control voltage on a 30 micron wide ridge. Above threshold, increasing power output with increasing gate voltage was demonstrated with negligible gate current. The multimode lasing spectrum showed that the increased power output occurred for all modes with no shift in the mode wavelengths to within the resolution of the measurement system

Virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon at low energies

We investigate the low-energy behavior of the four-point Green's function $\Gamma^{\mu\nu}$ describing virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon. Using Lorentz invariance, gauge invariance, and crossing symmetry, we derive the leading terms of an expansion of the operator in the four-momenta $q$ and $q'$ of the initial and final photon, respectively. The model-independent result is expressed in terms of the electromagnetic form factors of the free nucleon, i.e., on-shell information which one obtains from electron-nucleon scattering experiments. Model-dependent terms appear in the operator at $O(q_\alpha q'_\beta)$, whereas the orders $O(q_\alpha q_\beta)$ and $O(q'_\alpha q'_\beta)$ are contained in the low-energy theorem for $\Gamma^{\mu\nu}$, i.e., no new parameters appear. We discuss the leading terms of the matrix element and comment on the use of on-shell equivalent electromagnetic vertices in the calculation of ``Born terms'' for virtual Compton scattering.Comment: 26 pages, RevTex, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Single-stage sealing of ceramic tiles by means of high power diode laser radiation

An investigation has been carried out using a 60 W high power diode laser (HPDL) to determine the feasibility of sealing the void between adjoining ceramic tiles with a specially developed grout material. A single-stage process has subsequently been devised using a new grout material which consists of two distinct components: a crushed ceramic tile mix substrate and a glazed enamel surface; the crushed ceramic tile mix provides a tough, inexpensive bulk substrate, whilst the enamel provides an impervious surface glaze. HPDL processing has resulted in crack and porosity free seals produced in normal atmospheric conditions. The single-stage grout is simple to formulate and easy to apply. Tiles were successfully sealed with power densities as low as 750 W/cm2 and at rates of up to 420 mm/min. Bonding of the enamel to the crushed ceramic tile mix was identified as being primarily due to van der Waals forces and, on a very small scale, some of the crushed ceramic tile mix material dissolving into the glaze

Nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung: An example of the impossibility of measuring off-shell amplitudes

For nearly fifty years theoretical and experimental efforts in nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung (NN$\gamma$) have been devoted to measuring off-shell amplitudes and distinguishing among various NN potentials on the basis of their off-shell behavior. New experiments are underway, designed specifically to attain kinematics further off shell than in the past, and thus to be more sensitive to the off-shell behavior. This letter shows that, contrary to these expectations, and due to the invariance of the S-matrix under transformations of the fields, the off-shell NN amplitude is as a matter of principle an unmeasurable quantity in NN$\gamma$.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, using RevTeX; Minor wording changes, title changed, version to be published in Phys. Rev. Letter

Optical modulation and detection in slotted Silicon waveguides

We demonstrate a novel mechanism for low power optical detection and modulation in a slotted waveguide geometry filled with nonlinear electro-optic polymers. The nanoscale confinement of the optical mode, combined with its close proximity to electrical contacts, enables the direct conversion of optical energy to electrical energy, without external bias, via optical rectification, and also enhances electro-optic modulation. We demonstrate this process for power levels in the sub-milliwatt regime, as compared to the kilowatt regime in which optical nonlinear effects are typically observed at short length scales. Our results suggest that a new class of detectors based on nonlinear optics may be practical