Anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model beams: Passage through optical systems and associated invariants

Anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model (AGSM) fields and their transformation by first-order optical systems (FOS’s) forming Sp(4,R) are studied using the generalized pencils of rays. The fact that Sp(4,R), rather than the larger group SL(4,R), is the relevant group is emphasized. A convenient geometrical picture wherein AGSM fields and FOS’s are represented, respectively, by antisymmetric second-rank tensors and de Sitter transformations in a (3+2)-dimensional space is developed. These fields are shown to separate into two qualitatively different families of orbits and the invariants over each orbit, two in number, are worked out. We also develop another geometrical picture in a (2+1)-dimensional Minkowski space suitable for the description of the action of axially symmetric FOS’s on AGSM fields, and the invariants, now seven in number, are derived. Interesting limiting cases forming coherent and quasihomogeneous fields are analyzed.

Structural origin of set-reset processes in Ge15Te83Si2 glass investigated using in situ Raman scattering and transmission electron microscopy

We report here that the structural origin of an easily reversible Ge15Te83Si2 glass can be a promising candidate for phase change random access memories. In situ Raman scattering studies on Ge15Te83Si2 sample, undertaken during the amorphous set and reset processes, indicate that the degree of disorder in the glass is reduced from off to set state. It is also found that the local structure of the sample under reset condition is similar to that in the amorphous off state. Electron microscopic studies on switched samples indicate the formation of nanometric sized particles of c-SiTe2 structure. ©2009 American Institute of Physics

Optical and nonlinear absorption properties of Na doped ZnO nanoparticle dispersions

We report linear and nonlinear optical properties of the biologically important Na doped ZnO nanoparticle dispersions. Interesting morphological changes involving a spherical to flowerlike transition have been observed with Na doping. Optical absorption measurements show an exciton absorption around 368 nm. Photoluminescence measurements reveal exciton recombination emission, along with shallow and deep trap emissions. The increased intensity of shallow trap emission with Na doping is attributed to oxygen deficiency and shape changes associated with doping. Nonlinear optical measurements show a predominantly two-photon induced, excited state absorption, when excited with 532 nm, 5 ns laser pulses, indicating potential optical limiting applications.

Glass-Transition In Isopentane - A Monte-Carlo Study

Monte Carlo simulations with realistic interaction potentials have been carried out on isopentane to investigate the glass transition. Intermolecular pair-correlation functions of the glass show distinct differences from those of the liquid, the CH-CH pair-correlation function being uniquely different from the other pair-correlation functions. The coordination number of the glass is higher than that of the liquid, and the packing in the glass seems to be mainly governed by the geometrical constraints of the molecule. Annealing affects the properties of the glass significantly.

Glass transition. A new approach based on cluster model of glasses

The structure of real glasses has been considered to be microheterogeneous, composed of clusters and connective tissue. Particles in the cluster are assumed to be highly correlated in positions. The tissue is considered to have a truly amorphous structure with its particles vibrating in highly anharmonic potentials. Glass transition is recognized as corresponding to the melting of clusters. A simple mathematical model has been developed which accounts for various known features associated with glass transition, such as range of glass transition temperature,T g, variation ofT g with pressure, etc. Expressions for configurational thermodynamic properties and transport properties of glass forming systems are derived from the model. The relevence and limitations of the model are also discussed.

Observation of reentrant spin glass behavior in LaCo0.5Ni0.5O3

The magnetic and transport properties of LaCo0.5Ni0.5O3 have been studied. The dc magnetization and the ac susceptibility studies suggest the presence of a magnetic-phase transition from a ferromagnetic (FM) to a spin glass phase at a low temperature. This type of reentrant spin-glass (RSG) behavior attached to a long-range ordered ferromagnet is observed in this system. A magnetoresistance of ~10% is observed at 5 K which is unsaturated up to 11 Tesla suggests the presence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions. It is likely that the competition between such AFM interactions with FM interactions yield an RSG phase.

Ultrasonic velocities and thermal expansion coefficients of amorphous Se80Te20 and Se90Te10 alloys near glass transitions

Precise measurements of the ultrasonic velocities and thermal expansivities of amorphous Se80Te20 and Se90Te10 alloys are reported near the glass transition. The samples are produced by liquid quenching. The longitudinal and transverse velocities are measured at 10 MHz frequency using the McSkimin pulse superposition technique. The thermal expansivities,agr, are measured using a three-terminal capacitance bridge. Theagr-values show a sharp maximum near the glass transition temperature,T g. The ultrasonic velocities also show a large temperature derivative, dV/dT nearT g. The data are discussed in terms of existing theories of the glass transition. The continuous change inagr shows that the glass transition is not a first-order transition, as suggested by some theories. The samples are found to be deformed by small loads nearT g. The ultrasonic velocities and dV/dT have contributions arising from this deformation.

The study of oxidation state of manganese in lead oxyhalide glasses by optical spectroscopy

Abstaract is not available.

Pressure-induced polymorphous crystallization in bulk Si20Te80 glass

The effect of pressure on the electrical resistivity of bulk Si20Te80 glass has been studied up to a pressure of 8 GPa. A discontinuous transition occurs at a pressure of 7 GPa. The X-ray diffraction studies on the pressure quenched sample show that the high pressure phase is crystalline with hexagonal structure (c/a = 1.5). On heating, the high pressure hexagonal phase has on exothermic decomposition atT = 586 K into two crystalline phases, which are the stable phases tellurium and SiTe2 obtained by simple heating of the glass.

Effect of pressure on the electrical resistivity of bulk Ge20Te80 glass

An irreversible pressure induced semiconductor-to-metal transition in bulk Ge20Te80 glass is observed at about 5 GPa pressure. The high pressure phase has a face centered cubic structure with a lattice constant 6.42 A° as deduced by X-ray diffraction studies on the pressure quenched samples. The temperature and pressure dependence of the electrical resistivity confirms the observed transition to be a semiconductor-to-metal transition. The temperature dependence of thermo electric power is also reported.

Realization of first order optical systems using thin lensest

A first order optical system is investigated in full generality within the context of wave optics. The problem is reduced to a study of the ray transfer matrices. The simplest such systems correspond to axially symmetric propagation. Realization of such systems by centrally located lenses separated by finite distances is studied. It is shown that, contrary to the commonly held view, the set of first order systems that can be realized using axially symmetric thin lenses exhausts the entire SL(2, R) group; at most three lenses are needed to realize any element of this group. In particular, the inverse of free propagation can be so realized. Among anisotropic systems it is again shown that every element of the lens group Sp(4, R) can be realized using a finite number of thin lenses.

Improved optical character recognition by matched filtering

The effectiveness of linear matched filters for improved character discrimination in presence of random noise and poorly defined characters has been investigated. We have found that although the performance of the filter in presence of random noise is reasonably good (16 dB gain in signal-to-noise-ratio) its performance is poor when the unknown character is distorted (linear shift and rotation).

Paraxial Maxwell beams: transformation by general linear optical systems

Extending the work of earlier papers on the relativistic-front description of paraxial optics and the formulation of Fourier optics for vector waves consistent with the Maxwell equations, we generalize the Jones calculus of axial plane waves to describe the action of the most general linear optical system on paraxial Maxwell fields. Several examples are worked out, and in each case it is shown that the formalism leads to physically correct results. The importance of retaining the small components of the field vectors along the axis of the system for a consistent description is emphasized.

Influence of Sm2O3 doping on formation and structure of SrBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals in lithium borate glasses

New glasses of 16.66SrO–16.66[(1 − x)Bi2O3–xSm2O3]–16.66Nb2O5–50Li2B4O7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5, in molar ratio), i.e., the pseudo-binary Sm2O3-doped SrBi2Nb2O9–Li2B4O7 glass system, giving the crystallization of Sm3+-doped SrBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals are developed. It is found that the thermal stability of the glasses against the crystallization and the optical band gap energy increases with increasing Sm2O3 content. The formation of fluorite-type Sm3+-doped SrBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals (diameters: 13–37 nm) with a cubic structure is confirmed in the crystallized (530 °C, 3 h) samples from X-ray powder diffraction analyses, Raman scattering spectrum measurements, and transmission electron microscope observations. The effect of Sm3+-doping on the microstructure, Raman scattering peak positions, and dielectric properties of composites comprising of fluorite-type SrBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals and the Li2B4O7 glassy phase is clarified. It is found that fluorite-type SrBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals transform to stable perovskite-type SrBi2Nb2O9 crystals with an orthorhombic structure by heat treatments at around 630 °C.

Study of linear and nonlinear optical properties of dendrimers using density matrix renormalization group method

We have used the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method to study the linear and nonlinear optical responses of first generation nitrogen based dendrimers with donor acceptor groups. We have employed Pariser–Parr–Pople Hamiltonian to model the interacting pi electrons in these systems. Within the DMRG method we have used an innovative scheme to target excited states with large transition dipole to the ground state. This method reproduces exact optical gaps and polarization in systems where exact diagonalization of the Hamiltonian is possible. We have used a correction vector method which tacitly takes into account the contribution of all excited states, to obtain the ground state polarizibility, first hyperpolarizibility, and two photon absorption cross sections. We find that the lowest optical excitations as well as the lowest excited triplet states are localized. It is interesting to note that the first hyperpolarizibility saturates more rapidly with system size compared to linear polarizibility unlike that of linear polyenes.