214 research outputs found

    Time delay in thin slabs with self-focusing Kerr-type nonlinearity

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    Time delays for an intense transverse electric (TE) wave propagating through a Kerr-type nonlinear slab are investigated. The relation between the bidirectional group delay and the dwell time is derived and it is shown that the difference between them can be separated into three terms. The first one is the familiar self interference time, due to the dispersion of the medium surrounding the slab. The other two terms are caused by the nonlinearity and oblique incidence of the TE wave. It is shown that the electric field distribution along the slab may be expressed in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions while the phase difference introduced by the slab is given in terms of incomplete elliptic integrals. The expressions for the field intensity dependent complex reflection and transmission coefficients are derived and the multivalued oscillatory behavior of the delay times for the case of a thin slab is demonstrated

    Towards automated design of quantum cascade lasers

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    We present an advanced technique for the design and optimization of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures. It is based on the implementation of the simulated annealing algorithm with the purpose of determining a set of design parameters that satisfy predefined conditions, leading to an enhancement of the device output characteristics. Two important design aspects have been addressed: improved thermal behavior, achieved by the use of higher conduction band offset materials, and a more efficient extraction mechanism, realized via a ladder of three lower laser states, with subsequent pairs separated by the optical phonon energy. A detailed analysis of performance of the obtained structures is carried out within a full self-consistent rate equations model of the carrier dynamics. The latter uses wave functions calculated by the transfer matrix method, and evaluates all relevant carrier–phonon and carrier–carrier scattering rates from each quantized state to all others within the same and neighboring periods of the cascade. These values are then used to form a set of rate equations for the carrier density in each state, enabling further calculation of the current density and gain as a function of the applied field and temperature. This paper addresses the application of the described procedure to the design of lambda~9 µm GaAs-based mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers and presents the output characteristics of some of the designed optimized structures. © 2005 American Institute of Physic

    Homeostatic Modulation of Stimulation-Dependent Plasticity in Human Motor Cortex

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    Since recently, it is possible, using noninvasive cortical stimulation, such as the protocol of paired associative stimulation (PAS), to induce the plastic changes in the motor cortex, in humans that mimic Hebb's model of learning. Application of TMS conjugated with peripheral electrical stimulation at strictly coherent temporal manner lead to convergence of inputs in the sensory-motor cortex, with the consequent synaptic potentiation or weakening, if applied repetitively. However, when optimal interstimulus interval (ISI) for induction of LTP-like effects is applied as a single pair, Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude inhibition is observed, the paradigm known as short-latency afferent inhibition (SLAI). Aiming to resolve this paradox, PAS protocols were applied, with 200 repetitions of TMS pulses paired with median nerve electrical stimulation, at ISI equal to individual latencies of evoked response of somatosensory cortex (N-20) (PASLTP), and at ISI of N-20 shortened for 5 msec (PASLTD) protocols that mimic LTP-like changes in the human motor cortex. MEP amplitudes before, during and after interventions were measured as an indicator based on output signals originating from the motor system. Post-intervention MEP amplitudes following the TMS protocols of PASLTP and PASLTD were facilitated and depressed, respectively, contrary to MEP amplitudes during intervention. During PASLTP MEP amplitudes were significantly decreased in case of PASLTP, while in the case of PASLTD an upward trend was observed. In conclusions, a possible explanation for the seemingly paradoxical effect of PAS can be found in the mechanism of homeostatic modulation of plasticity. Those findings indicate the existence of complex relationships in the development of plasticity induced by stimulation, depending on the level of the previous motor cortex excitability

    Time-dependent mode structure for Lyapunov vectors as a collective movement in quasi-one-dimensional systems

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    Time dependent mode structure for the Lyapunov vectors associated with the stepwise structure of the Lyapunov spectra and its relation to the momentum auto-correlation function are discussed in quasi-one-dimensional many-hard-disk systems. We demonstrate mode structures (Lyapunov modes) for all components of the Lyapunov vectors, which include the longitudinal and transverse components of their spatial and momentum parts, and their phase relations are specified. These mode structures are suggested from the form of the Lyapunov vectors corresponding to the zero-Lyapunov exponents. Spatial node structures of these modes are explained by the reflection properties of the hard-walls used in the models. Our main interest is the time-oscillating behavior of Lyapunov modes. It is shown that the largest time-oscillating period of the Lyapunov modes is twice as long as the time-oscillating period of the longitudinal momentum auto-correlation function. This relation is satisfied irrespective of the particle number and boundary conditions. A simple explanation for this relation is given based on the form of the Lyapunov vector.Comment: 39 pages, 21 figures, Manuscript including the figures of better quality is available from http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~gary/Research.htm

    Position-dependent mass models and their nonlinear characterization

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    We consider the specific models of Zhu-Kroemer and BenDaniel-Duke in a sech2^{2}-mass background and point out interesting correspondences with the stationary 1-soliton and 2-soliton solutions of the KdV equation in a supersymmetric framework.Comment: 8 Pages, Latex version, Two new references are added, To appear in J.Phys.A (Fast Track Communication

    Modeling and applications of Quantum Cascade in external magnetic field

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    The rapidly emerging field of nano-optoelectronics is based on the understanding and control of intersubband transitions in nano-dimensional systems. One of the most striking outcomes of intersubband transitions engineering is the quantum cascade laser (QCL) – an efficient and reliable unipolar semiconductor laser source [1], with the possibility to operate from the mid-infrared (MIR) to the THz range of frequencies. These powerful devices are particularly appreciated for such wide scope of operating wavelengths which can be achieved by using the same heterostructure combination, but changing the design of the active region, i.e. ‘tailoring’ the layers’ widths and composition. This renders QCLs suitable for numerous applications, including free-space communications, medical diagnostics and in particular, chemical sensing and monitoring [2]. In the MIR part of the spectrum, QCLs are of great interest for gas sensing and monitoring. We explore the possibilities of using advanced tools for global optimization, namely the genetic algorithm, to obtain structural parameters of gain-maximized QCL emitting at specified wavelengths, suitable for detection of pollutant gasses, such as SO2, HNO3, CH4 and NH3, in the ambient air. Then we introduce a strong external magnetic field perpendicular to the epitaxial layers, to fine tune the laser output properties [2]. This magnetic field alters the electron energy spectrum by splitting the continuous energy subbands into discrete Landau levels whose arrangement influences the magnitude of the optical gain. In addition, strong effects of band nonparabolicity result in subtle changes in the lasing wavelength at magnetic fields which maximize the gain, thus allowing us to explore the prospects of multi-wavelength emission of the given structure. THz frequencies belong to the quite under-utilized part of the electromagnetic spectrum, despite their significant application potential. This is mostly due to the lack of coherent solid-state THz sources. The so called „THz gap“ falls between two frequency ranges that have been well developed, the microwave and millimeter-wave frequency range. THz QCLs are great candidates to fill in this gap [3]. We have analyzed two structures lasing in this region (both of them reported in the literature, but not studied under the influence of an external magnetic field), the three- and four-well (per period) based structures that operate at 3.9THz and 1.9THz, respectively, implemented in GaAs/Al0.15Ga0.85As. Numerical results are presented for magnetic field values from 1.5 T up to 20 T, while the band nonparabolicity is carefully accounted for. Because of their high output gain, QCLs are suitable to be used as active media in metamaterial unit cells, thus enabling evasion of metallic inclusions present in conventional metamaterials [4]. We analyze a quantum cascade structure lasing at 4.6THz, placed under the influence of a strong magnetic field. We first solve the full system of rate equations for all the relevant Landau levels, and obtain the necessary information about the carrier distribution among the levels, after which we are able to evaluate the permittivity component along the growth direction of the structure, as well as the range of frequencies at which the structure exhibits negative refraction for a predefined total electron sheet density.V International School and Conference on Photonics and COST actions: MP1204, BM1205 and MP1205 and the Second international workshop "Control of light and matter waves propagation and localization in photonic lattices" : PHOTONICA2015 : book of abstracts; August 24-28, 2015; Belgrad

    Nonparabolicity effects and the spin-split electron dwell time in symmetric III-V double-barrier structures

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    We start from the fourth order nonparabolic and anisotropic conduction band bulk dispersion relation to obtain an one-band effective Hamiltonian which we apply to an AlGaSb symmetric double-barrier structure with resonant energies significantly (more than 200meV) above the well bottom. The spin-splitting is described by the k3 Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling term modifying only the effective mass of the spin eigenstates in the investigated structure. Apart from the bulk-like resonant energy shift due to the band nonparabolicity, we obtain a substantial shift depending on the choice of boundary conditions for the envelope functions at interfaces between different materials. The shift of resonant energy levels leads to the change of spin-splitting and the magnitude of the dwell times. We attempt to explain the influence of both the nonparabolicity and boundary conditions choice by introducing various effective masses

    A mechanism for the non-Fermi-liquid behavior in CeCu_{6-x}Au_x

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    We propose an explanation for the recently observed non-Fermi-liquid behavior of metallic alloys CeCu_{6-x}Au_x: near x=0.1, the specific heat c is proportional to T \ln (T_0/T) and the resistivity increases linearly with temperature T over a wide range of T. These features follow from a model in which three-dimensional conduction electrons are coupled to two-dimensional critical ferromagnetic fluctuations near the quantum critical point, x_{c}=0.1. This picture is motivated by the neutron scattering data in the ordered phase (x=0.2) and is consistent with the observed phase diagram.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, 3 figure
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