arXiv subjects

Natalia M. Litchinitser

Publications and source records attributed to Natalia M. Litchinitser.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Free-Space Nonlinear Beam Combining Towards Filamentation

Multi-filamentation opens new degrees of freedom for manipulating electromagnetic waves in air. However, without control, multiple filament interactions, including attraction, repulsion or fusion often result in formation of complex disordered filament distributions. Moreover, high power beams conventionally used in multi-filament formation experiments often cause significant surface damage. The growing number of applications for laser filaments requires fine control of their formation and propagation. We demonstrate, experimentally and theoretically, that the attraction and fusion of ultrashort beams with initial powers below the critical value enable the eventual formation of a filament downstream. Filament formation is delayed to a predetermined distance in space, avoiding optical damage to external beam optics while still enabling robust filaments with controllable properties as if formed from a single high power beam. This paradigm introduces new opportunities for filament engineering eliminating the need to use high peak power lasers sources.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Hyper-lithography

The future success of integrated circuits (IC) technology relies on the continuing miniaturization of the feature size, allowing more components per chip and higher speed. Extreme anisotropy opens new opportunities for spatial pattern compression from the micro- to nano-scale. Such compression, enabling visible light-based lithographic patterning not restricted by the fundamental diffraction limit,if realized,may address the ever-increasing demand of IC industry for inexpensive, all-optical nanoscale lithography. By exploiting strongly anisotropic optical properties of engineered nanostructures, we realize the first experimental demonstration of hyperlens-based photolithography, facilitating optical patterning below the diffraction limit using a diffraction-limited mask. We demonstrate that the diffraction-limited features on a mask can be de-magnified to form the subwavelength patterns on the photoresist using visible light. This unique functionality,enabled by the hyperbolic dispersive properties of the medium combined with the cylindrical shape of the structure, opens a new approach to the future all-optical nanolithography.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

M$^2$I: Channel Modeling for Metamaterial-Enhanced Magnetic Induction Communications

Magnetic Induction (MI) communication technique has shown great potentials in complex and RF-challenging environments, such as underground and underwater, due to its advantage over EM wave-based techniques in penetrating lossy medium. However, the transmission distance of MI techniques is limited since magnetic field attenuates very fast in the near field. To this end, this paper proposes Metamaterial-enhanced Magnetic Induction (M$^2$I) communication mechanism, where a MI coil antenna is enclosed by a metamaterial shell that can enhance the magnetic fields around the MI transceivers. As a result, the M$^2$I communication system can achieve tens of meters communication range by using pocket-sized antennas. In this paper, an analytical channel model is developed to explore the fundamentals of the M$^2$I mechanism, in the aspects of communication range and channel capacity, and the susceptibility to various hostile and complex environments. The theoretical model is validated through the finite element simulation software, Comsol Multiphysics. Proof-of-concept experiments are also conducted to validate the feasibility of M$^2$I.

cs.OH↗

arXiv2016

Modulation instability of structured-light beams in negative-index metamaterials

One of the most fundamental properties of isotropic negative-index metamaterials, namely opposite directionality of the Poynting vector and the wavevector, enable many novel linear and nonlinear regimes of light-matter interactions. Here, we predict distinct characteristics of azimuthal modulation instability of optical vortices with different topological charges in negative-index metamaterials with Kerr-type and saturable nonlinearity. We derive an analytical expression for the spatial modulation-instability gain for the Kerr-nonlinearity case and show that a specific condition relating the diffraction and the nonlinear lengths must be fulfilled for the azimuthal modulation instability to occur. Finally, we investigate the rotation of the necklace beams due to the transfer of orbital angular momentum of the generating vortex on the movement of solitary necklace beams. We show that the direction of rotation is opposite in positive- and negative-index materials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Meta-$\mathcal{PT}$ Symmetry in Asymmetric Directional Couplers

Despite the benefits that directional coupler based parity-time symmetric systems may offer to the field of integrated optics, the realization of such couplers relies on rather strict design constraints on the waveguide parameters. Here, we investigate directional couplers built of asymmetric waveguides that do not fulfill parity-time symmetry. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that for properly designed parameters, at least one mode of such couplers shows a behavior similar to the one observed in parity-symmetric systems. We find an analytical condition relating gain and loss that enables such a behavior. Moreover, if the individual waveguides composing the asymmetric coupler are designed such that the propagation constants of their modes are identical, the behavior of both super-modes supported by the coupler resembles that of the parity-time symmetric systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Dynamics of large femtosecond filament arrays: possibilities, limitations, and trade-offs

Stable propagation of large, multifilament arrays over long distances in air paves new ways for microwave-radiation manipulation. Although, the dynamics of a single or a few filaments was discussed in some of the previous studies, we show that the stability of large plasma filament arrays is significantly more complicated and is constrained by several trade-offs. Here, we analyze the stability properties of rectangular arrays as a function of four parameters: relative phase of the generating beams, number of filaments, separation between them, and initial power. We find that arrays with alternating phase of filaments are more stable than similar arrays with all beams in phase. Additionally, we show that increasing the size of an array increases its stability, and that a proper choice of the beam separation and the initial power has to be made in order to obtain a dense and regular array of filaments.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Necklace Beam Generation in Nonlinear Colloidal Engineered Media

Modulational instability is a phenomenon that reveals itself as the exponential growth of weak perturbations in the presence of an intense pump beam propagating in a nonlinear medium. It plays a key role in such nonlinear optical processes as supercontinuum generation, light filamentation, and rogue waves. However, practical realization of these phenomena in the majority of available nonlinear media still relies on high-intensity optical beams. Here, we analytically and numerically show the possibility of necklace beam generation originating from low-intensity spatial modulational instability of vortex beams in engineered soft-matter nonlinear media.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Phase transition in multimode nonlinear parity-time-symmetric waveguide couplers

Parity-time-symmetric ($\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric) optical waveguide couplers have become a key component for integrated optics. They offer new possibilities for fast, ultracompact, configurable, all-optical signal processing. Here, we study nonlinear properties of finite-size multimode $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric couplers and report a peculiar type of dispersion relation in couplers made of more than one dimer. Moreover, we predict a $\mathcal{PT}$ transition triggered by nonlinearity in these structures, and we demonstrate that with the increase of the number of dimers in the system, the transition threshold decreases and converges to the value corresponding to an infinite array. Finally, we present a variety of periodic intensity patterns that can be formed in these couplers depending on the initial excitation.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear parity-time-symmetric transition in finite-size optical couplers

Parity-time-symmetric ($\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric) optical waveguide couplers offer a great potential for future applications in integrated optics. Studies of nonlinear $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric couplers present new possibilities for ultracompact configurable all-optical signal processing. Here, we predict nonlinearly triggered transition from a full to a broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric regime in finite-size systems described by smooth permittivity profiles and, in particular, in a conventional discrete waveguide directional coupler configuration with a rectangular permittivity profile. These results suggest a practical route for experimental realization of such systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

High-Efficiency All-Dielectric Metasurfaces for Ultra-Compact Beam Manipulation in Transmission Mode

Metasurfaces are two-dimensional optical structures enabling complete control of the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light. Unlike plasmonic metasurfaces, planar silicon structures facilitate high transmission, low losses and compatibility with existing semiconductor technologies. Here, we report an experimental demonstration of high-efficiency polarization- sensitive dielectric metasurfaces with full 2pi phase control in transmission mode at telecommunication wavelengths. Such silicon metasurfaces are poised to enable a versatile optical platform the realization of all-optical circuitry on a chip.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Inhomogeneous All-Dielectric Magnetic Metamaterials

Anomalous field enhancement accompanied by resonant absorption phenomenon was originally discussed in the context of plasma physics and in applications related to radio-communications between the ground and spacecraft returning to Earth. Indeed, there is a critical period of time when all communications are lost due to the reflection/absorption of electromagnetic waves by the sheath of plasma created by a high speed vehicle re-entering the atmosphere. While detailed experimental studies of these phenomena in space are challenging, the emergence of electromagnetic metamaterials enables researchers exceptional flexibility to study them in the laboratory environment. Here, we experimentally demonstrated the localized field enhancement of the electromagnetic wave obliquely incident on a Mie-resonance-based inhomogeneous metamaterials with magnetic permeability gradually changing from positive to negative values.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Experimental Demonstration of Non-Resonant Hyperlens in the Visible Range

A metamaterial hyperlens offers a unique solution to overcome the diffraction limit by transforming evanescent waves responsible for imaging subwavelength features of an object into propagating waves. However, the first realizations of optical hyperlenses were limited by a narrow working bandwidth and significant resonance-induced loss. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of a non-resonant waveguide-coupled hyperlens operating in the visible wavelength range. A detailed investigation of various materials systems proves that a radial fan-shaped configuration is superior to the concentric layer-based configuration in that it relies on non-resonant negative dielectric response, and, as a result, enables broadband and low-loss performance in the visible range.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Gaussian Beams in Near-Zero Transition Metamaterials

We theoretically and numerically investigate the phenomenon of resonant field enhancement of Gaussian beams in two types of transition metamaterials: with a positive-zero-negative index profile and with a positive-zero-positive index profile and demonstrate strongly localized resonant field enhancement in both cases. This study is likely to have applications in the fields of nano-optics, sub-wavelength imaging, and nano-fabrication and lays a foundation for the studies of more complex vector and vortex beam propagation in graded-index metamaterials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Variable Focus Nonlinear Lens via Transformation Optics

We propose a structure consisting of nonlinear core and graded-index shell that can be switched from a concentrator squeezing light into the core to a variable focus lens by varying the intensity of incident light.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

Electromagnetic Enhancement in Lossy Optical Transition Metamaterials

We investigate the effect of anomalous field enhancement in metamaterials where the effective refractive index gradually changes from positive to negative values, i.e. transition metamaterials. We demonstrate that considerable field enhancement can be achieved in lossy optical transition metamaterials that have electromagnetic material properties obtained from experimental data. The field enhancement factor is found to be polarization-dependent and largely determined by the material parameters and the width of the transition layer.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

From Positive- to Negative-Index Materials: Transitional Phenomena

Electromagnetic field propagation through a transition layer between the positive-index and negative-index materials with linearly changing dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability was investigated. It is shown that at oblique incidence, the components of both TE- and TM-waves exhibit singular behavior in the vicinity of the point where both dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability are equal to zero. In this case, finite dissipation of electromagnetic field energy takes place even at infinitesimally small values of losses. These results are applicable to a broader class of inhomogeneous metamaterials and may provide a new platform for the realization of low intensity nonlinear optics in metamaterials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Optical Bistability in Nonlinear Optical Coupler with Negative Index Channel

We discuss a novel kind of nonlinear coupler with one channel filled with a negative index material (NIM). The opposite directionality of the phase velocity and the energy flow in the NIM channel facilitates an effective feedback mechanism that leads to optical bistability and gap soliton formation.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2005

Resonant interaction of optical pulses with plasmonic oscillations in metal nanoparticles

We derive envelope equations which generate the Maxwell-Lorentz model and describe the interaction of optical pulses with plasmonic oscillations in metal nanoparticle composites. A family of solitary wave solutions is found which is analogous to self-induced transparency in Maxwell-Bloch. The evolution of incident optical pulses is studied numerically as are the collision dynamics of the solitary waves. These simulations reveal that the collision dynamics vary from near perfectly elastic to highly radiative depending on the relative phase of the initial pulses.

physics.optics↗