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Gennady Shvets

Publications and source records attributed to Gennady Shvets.

88 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Large-area, wide-angle, spectrally selective plasmonic absorber

A simple metamaterial-based wide-angle plasmonic absorber is introduced, fabricated, and experimentally characterized using angle-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The metamaterials are prepared by nano-imprint lithography, an attractive low-cost technology for making large-area samples. The matching of the metamaterial's impedance to that of vacuum is responsible for the observed spectrally selective "perfect" absorption of infrared light. The impedance is theoretically calculated in the single-resonance approximation, and the responsible resonance is identified as a short-range surface plasmon. The spectral position of the absorption peak (which is as high as 95%) is experimentally shown to be controlled by the metamaterial's dimensions. The persistence of "perfect" absorption with variable metamaterial parameters is theoretically explained. The wide-angle nature of the absorber can be utilized for sub-diffraction-scale infrared pixels exhibiting spectrally selective absorption/emissivity.

physics.optics↗

Broadband Slow Light Metamaterial Based on a Double-Continuum Fano Resonance

We propose a concept of a low-symmetry three-dimensional metamaterial exhibiting a Double- Continuum Fano (DCF) optical resonance. Such metamaterial is described as a birefringent medium supporting a discrete "dark" electromagnetic state weakly coupled to the continua of two nondegen- erate "bright" bands of orthogonal polarizations. It is demonstrated that light propagation through such DCF metamaterial can be slowed down over a broad frequency range when the medium param- eters (e.g. frequency of the "dark" mode) are adiabatically changed along the optical path. Using a specific metamaterial implementation, we demonstrate that the DCF approach to slow light (SL) is superior to that of the EIT because it enables spectrally uniform group velocity and transmission coefficient.

physics.optics↗

Highly Confined Hybrid Spoof Surface Plasmons in Ultra-thin Metal/Dielectric Heterostructures

Highly confined "spoof" surface plasmon-like (SSP) modes are theoretically predicted to exist in a perforated metal film coated with a thin dielectric layer. Strong modes confinement results from the additional waveguiding by the layer. Spectral characteristics, field distribution, and lifetime of these SSPs are tunable by the holes' size and shape. SSPs exist both above and below the light line, offering two classes of applications: "perfect" far-field absorption and to efficient emission into guided modes. It is experimentally shown that these plasmon-like modes can turn thin, weakly-absorbing semiconductor films into perfect absorbers.

physics.optics↗

Phase Conjugation and Negative Refraction Using Nonlinear Active Metamaterials

We present experimental demonstration of phase conjugation using nonlinear metamaterial elements. Active split-ring resonators loaded with varactor diodes are demonstrated theoretically to act as phase-conjugating or time-reversing discrete elements when parametrically pumped and illuminated with appropriate frequencies. The metamaterial elements were fabricated and shown experimentally to produce a time reversed signal. Measurements confirm that a discrete array of phase-conjugating elements act as a negatively-refracting time reversal RF lens only 0.12$λ$ thick.

physics.optics↗

Wide-angle infrared absorber based on negative index plasmonic metamaterial

A metamaterials-based approach to making a wide-angle absorber of infrared radiation is described. The technique is based on an anisotropic Perfectly Impedance Matched Negative Index Material (PIMNIM). It is shown analytically that a sub-wavelength in all three dimensions PIMNIM enables absorption of close to 100% for incidence angles up to $45°$ to the normal. A specific implementation of such frequency-tunable PIMNIM based on plasmonic metamaterials is presented. Applications to infrared imaging and coherent thermal sources are described.

physics.optics↗

Three dimensional filamentary structures of a relativistic electron beam in Fast Ignition plasmas

The filamentary structures and associated electromagnetic fields of a relativistic electron beam have been studied by three dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations in the context of Fast Ignition fusion. The simulations explicitly include collisions in return plasma current and distinctly examine the effects of beam temperature and collisions on the growth of filamentary structures generated.

physics.plasm-ph↗

On collisions driven negative energy waves and Weibel instability of a relativistic electron beam in a quasi-neutral plasma

A new quasi-neutral model describing the Weibel instability of a high-current relativistic beam propagating through a resistive plasma is developed. It treats beam electrons as kinetic particles, and ambient plasma as a non-relativistic fluid. For a finite-temperature beam, a new class of negative energy magneto-sound waves is identified, which can possess negative energy. Their growth due to collisional dissipation in the cold return current destabilizes the beam-plasma system even for high beam temperatures. We perform detailed two- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of the thermal beam and collisional plasma. It is shown that in three dimensions, the Weibel instability persists even for physically collisionless background plasma. The anomalous plasma resistivity is then caused by the two-stream instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Observation of simultaneous fast and slow light

We present a microresonator-based system capable of simultaneously producing time-advanced and time-delayed pulses. The effect is based on the combination of a sharp spectral feature with two orthogonally-polarized propagating waveguide modes. We include an experimental proof-of-concept implementation using a silica microsphere coupled to a tapered optical fiber and use a time-domain picture to interpret the observed delays. We also discuss potential applications for future all-optical networks.

physics.optics↗

Polarization conversion in a silica microsphere

We experimentally demonstrate controlled polarization-selective phenomena in a whispering gallery mode resonator. We observed efficient ($\approx 75 %$) polarization conversion of light in a silica microsphere coupled to a tapered optical fiber with proper optimization of the polarization of the propagating light. A simple model treating the microsphere as a ring resonator provides a good fit to the observed behavior.

physics.optics↗

Optical polarizer/isolator based on a rectangular waveguide with helical grooves

A chirality-based approach to making a one-way waveguide that can be used as an optical isolator or a polarizer is described. The waveguide is rectangular, and chirality is introduced by making slanted rectangular grooves on the waveguide walls. Chirality of the waveguide manifests as a strong circular dichroism, and is responsible for transmitting one circular polarization of light and reflecting the other. Optical isolation of the propagating circular polarization is accomplished when the chiral waveguide is placed in front of a non-chiral optical device. Even the crudest implementations of chirality are shown to exhibit significant circular dichroism.

physics.optics↗

Nonlinear evolution of the plasma beatwave: Compressing the laser beatnotes via electromagnetic cascading

The near-resonant beatwave excitation of an electron plasma wave (EPW) can be employed for generating the trains of few-femtosecond electromagnetic (EM) pulses in rarefied plasmas. The EPW produces a co-moving index grating that induces a laser phase modulation at the difference frequency. The bandwidth of the phase-modulated laser is proportional to the product of the plasma length, laser wavelength, and amplitude of the electron density perturbation. The laser spectrum is composed of a cascade of red and blue sidebands shifted by integer multiples of the beat frequency. When the beat frequency is lower than the electron plasma frequency, the red-shifted spectral components are advanced in time with respect to the blue-shifted ones near the center of each laser beatnote. The group velocity dispersion of plasma compresses so chirped beatnotes to a few-laser-cycle duration thus creating a train of sharp EM spikes with the beat periodicity. Depending on the plasma and laser parameters, chirping and compression can be implemented either concurrently in the same, or sequentially in different plasmas. Evolution of the laser beatwave end electron density perturbations is described in time and one spatial dimension in a weakly relativistic approximation. Using the compression effect, we demonstrate that the relativistic bi-stability regime of the EPW excitation [G. Shvets, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 195004 (2004)] can be achieved with the initially sub-threshold beatwave pulse.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Stimulated Raman backscattering of laser radiation in deep plasma channels

Stimulated Raman backscattering (RBS) of intense laser radiation confined by a single-mode plasma channel with a radial variation of plasma frequency greater than a homogeneous-plasma RBS bandwidth is characterized by a strong transverse localization of resonantly-driven electron plasma waves (EPW). The EPW localization reduces the peak growth rate of RBS and increases the amplification bandwidth. The continuum of non-bound modes of backscattered radiation shrinks the transverse field profile in a channel and increases the RBS growth rate. Solution of the initial-value problem shows that an electromagnetic pulse amplified by the RBS in the single-mode deep plasma channel has a group velocity higher than in the case of homogeneous-plasma Raman amplification. Implications to the design of an RBS pulse compressor in a plasma channel are discussed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Beatwave Excitation of Plasma Waves Based on Relativistic Bi-Stability

A nonlinear beatwave regime of plasma wave excitation is considered. Two beatwave drivers are considered: intensity-modulated laser pulse and density-modulated (microbunched) electron beam. It is shown that a long beatwave pulse can excite strong plasma waves in its wake even when the beatwave frequency is detuned from the electron plasma frequency. The wake is caused by the dynamic bi-stability of the nonlinear plasma wave if the beatwave amplitude exceeds the analytically calculated threshold. In the context of a microbunched beam driven plasma wakefield accelerator, this excitation regime can be applied to developing a femtosecond electron injector.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Engineering Electromagnetic Properties of Periodic Nanostructures Using Electrostatic Resonances

Electromagnetic properties of periodic two-dimensional sub-wavelength structures consisting of closely-packed inclusions of materials with negative dielectric permittivity $ε$ in a dielectric host with positive $ε_h$ can be engineered using the concept of multiple electrostatic resonances. Fully electromagnetic solutions of Maxwell's equations reveal multiple wave propagation bands, with the wavelengths much longer than the nanostructure period. It is shown that some of these bands are described using the quasi-static theory of the effective dielectric permittivity $ε_{qs}$, and are independent of the nanostructure period. Those bands exhibit multiple cutoffs and resonances which are found to be related to each other through a duality condition. An additional propagation band characterized by a negative magnetic permeability develops when a magnetic moment is induced in a given nano-particle by its neighbors. Imaging with sub-wavelength resolution in that band is demonstrated.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Photonic Approach to Making a Left-Handed Material

A new approach to producing a composite material with negative refraction index is demonstrated. It is shown that a photonic structure consisting of two dielectric materials, with positive and negative dielectric permittivities, can support electromagnetic surface waves which exhibit the unusual electromagnetic property of left-handedness (or negative refraction index). Depending on the dielectric materials, these surface waves localized at the dielectric interfaces can be either surface plasmons, or phonons. The detailed geometry of the structure determines whether this composite left-handed material is isotropic, or anisotropic.

physics.optics↗

Left-Handed Surface Waves in a Photonic Structure

It is demonstrated that an isotropic left-handed medium can be constructed as a photonic structure consisting of two dielectric materials, one with positive and another with negative dielectric permittivities epsilon. Electromagnetic waves supported by this structure are the surface waves localized at the dielectric interfaces. These surface waves can be either surface phonons or surface plasmons. Two examples of negative epsilon materials are used: silicon carbide and free-electron gas.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗