970 research outputs found
Momentum transfer to small particles by aloof electron beams
The force exerted on nanoparticles and atomic clusters by fast passing
electrons like those employed in transmission electron microscopes are
calculated and integrated over time to yield the momentum transferred from the
electrons to the particles. Numerical results are offered for metallic and
dielectric particles of different sizes (0-500 nm in diameter) as well as for
carbon nanoclusters. Results for both linear and angular momentum transfers are
presented. For the electron beam currents commonly employed in electron
microscopes, the time-averaged forces are shown to be comparable in magnitude
to laser-induced forces in optical tweezers. This opens up the possibility to
study optically-trapped particles inside transmission electron microscopes.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Collective oscillations in optical matter
Atom and nanoparticle arrays trapped in optical lattices are shown to be
capable of sustaining collective oscillations of frequency proportional to the
strength of the external light field. The spectrum of these oscillations
determines the mechanical stability of the arrays. This phenomenon is studied
for dimers, strings, and two-dimensional planar arrays. Laterally confined
particles free to move along an optical channel are also considered as an
example of collective motion in partially-confined systems. The fundamental
concepts of dynamical response in optical matter introduced here constitute the
basis for potential applications to quantum information technology and signal
processing. Experimental realizations of these systems are proposed.Comment: 4 figures. Optics Express (in press
Electron energy loss in carbon nanostructures
The response of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes is investigated by
representing each carbon atom by its atomic polarizability. The polarization of
each carbon atom produces an induced dipole that is the result of the
interaction with a given external field plus the mutual interaction among
carbon atoms. The polarizability is obtained from the dielectric function of
graphite after invoking the Clausius-Mossotti relation. This formalism is
applied to the simulation of electron energy loss spectra both in fullerenes
and in carbon nanotubes. The case of broad electron beams is considered and the
loss probability is analyzed in detail as a function of the electron deflection
angle within a fully quantum-mechanical description of the electrons. A general
good agreement with available experiments is obtained in a wide range of probe
energies between 1 keV and 60 keV.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, submitted to PR
Plasmon Generation through Electron Tunneling in Graphene
The short wavelength of graphene plasmons relative to the light wavelength
makes them attractive for applications in optoelectronics and sensing. However,
this property limits their coupling to external light and our ability to create
and detect them. More efficient ways of generating plasmons are therefore
desirable. Here we demonstrate through realistic theoretical simulations that
graphene plasmons can be efficiently excited via electron tunneling in a
sandwich structure formed by two graphene monolayers separated by a few atomic
layers of hBN. We obtain plasmon generation rates of s
over an area of the squared plasmon wavelength for realistic values of the
spacing and bias voltage, while the yield (plasmons per tunneled electron) has
unity order. Our results support electrical excitation of graphene plasmons in
tunneling devices as a viable mechanism for the development of optics-free
ultrathin plasmonic devices.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, 92 reference
Probing the photonic local density of states with electron energy loss spectroscopy
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed in transmission electron
microscopes is shown to directly render the photonic local density of states
(LDOS) with unprecedented spatial resolution, currently below the nanometer.
Two special cases are discussed in detail: (i) 2D photonic structures with the
electrons moving along the translational axis of symmetry and (ii) quasi-planar
plasmonic structures under normal incidence. Nanophotonics in general and
plasmonics in particular should benefit from these results connecting the
unmatched spatial resolution of EELS with its ability to probe basic optical
properties like the photonic LDOS.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
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