Ray tracing based path-length calculations for polarized light tomographic imaging

A ray tracing based path length calculation is investigated for polarized light transport in a pixel space. Tomographic imaging using polarized light transport is promising for applications in optical projection tomography of small animal imaging and turbid media with low scattering. Polarized light transport through a medium can have complex effects due to interactions such as optical rotation of linearly polarized light, birefringence, diattenuation and interior refraction. Here we investigate the effects of refraction of polarized light in a non-scattering medium. This step is used to obtain the initial absorption estimate. This estimate can be used as prior in Monte Carlo (MC) program that simulates the transport of polarized light through a scattering medium to assist in faster convergence of the final estimate. The reflectance for p-polarized (parallel) and s-polarized (perpendicular) are different and hence there is a difference in the intensities that reach the detector end. The algorithm computes the length of the ray in each pixel along the refracted path and this is used to build the weight matrix. This weight matrix with corrected ray path length and the resultant intensity reaching the detector for each ray is used in the algebraic reconstruction (ART) method. The proposed method is tested with numerical phantoms for various noise levels. The refraction errors due to regions of different refractive index are discussed, the difference in intensities with polarization is considered. The improvements in reconstruction using the correction so applied is presented. This is achieved by tracking the path of the ray as well as the intensity of the ray as it traverses through the medium.

Quasiequilibrium optical nonlinearities from spin-polarized carriers in GaAs

Semiconductor Bloch equations, which microscopically describe the dynamics of a Coulomb interacting, spin-unpolarized electron-hole plasma, can be solved in two limits: the coherent and the quasiequilibrium regimes. These equations have been recently extended to include the spin degree of freedom and used to explain spin dynamics in the coherent regime. In the quasiequilibrium limit, one solves the Bethe-Salpeter equation in a two-band model to describe how optical absorption is affected by Coulomb interactions within a spin unpolarized plasma of arbitrary density. In this work, we modified the solution of the Bethe-Salpeter equation to include spin polarization and light holes in a three-band model, which allowed us to account for spin-polarized versions of many-body effects in absorption. The calculated absorption reproduced the spin-dependent, density-dependent, and spectral trends observed in bulk GaAs at room temperature, in a recent pump-probe experiment with circularly polarized light. Hence, our results may be useful in the microscopic modeling of density-dependent optical nonlinearities due to spin-polarized carriers in semiconductors.

Simplified theory of optical nonlinearities in spin-polarized bulk GaAs

Apart from their intrinsic physical interest, spin-polarized many-body effects are expected to be important to the working of spintronic devices. A vast literature exists on the effects of a spin-unpolarized electron-hole plasma on the optical properties of a semiconductor. Here, we include the spin degree of freedom to model optical absorption of circularly polarized light by spin-polarized bulk GaAs. Our model is easy to implement and does not require elaborate numerics, since it is based on the closed-form analytical pair-equation formula that is valid in 3d. The efficacy of our approach is demonstrated by a comparison with recent experimental data.

Simplified theory of optical nonlinearities in spin-polarized bulk GaAs

Apart from their intrinsic physical interest, spin-polarized many-body effects are expected to be important to the working of spintronic devices. A vast literature exists on the effects of a spin-unpolarized electron-hole plasma on the optical properties of a semiconductor. Here, we include the spin degree of freedom to model optical absorption of circularly polarized light by spin-polarized bulk GaAs. Our model is easy to implement and does not require elaborate numerics, since it is based on the closed-form analytical pair-equation formula that is valid in 3d. The efficacy of our approach is demonstrated by a comparison with recent experimental data.

A New Class Of Photo-Cross-Linkable Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Polymers Containing Bis(Benzylidene)Cyclohexanone Units

This paper reports a new class of photo-cross-linkable side chain liquid crystalline polymers (PSCLCPs) based on the bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone unit, which functions as both a mesogen and a photoactive center. Polymers with the bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone unit and varying spacer length have been synthesized. Copolymers of bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone containing monomer and cholesterol benzoate containing monomer with different compositions have also been prepared. All these polymers have been structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Thermal transitions were studied by DSC, and mesophases were identified by polarized light optical microscopy (POM). The intermediate compounds OH-x, the monomers SCLCM-x, and the corresponding polymers PSCLCP-x, which are essentially based on bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone, all show a nematic mesophase. Transition temperatures were observed to decrease with increasing spacer length. The copolymers with varying compositions exhibit a cholesteric mesophase, and the transition temperatures increase with the cholesteric benzoate units in the copolymer. Photolysis of the low molecular weight liquid crystalline bis(benzylidene)-cyclohexanone compound reveals that there are two kinds of photoreactions in these systems: the EZ photoisomerization and 2 pi + 2 pi addition. The EZ photoisomerization in the LC phase disrupts the parallel stacking of the mesogens, resulting in the transition from the LC phase to the isotropic phase. The photoreaction involving the 2 pi + 2 pi addition of the bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone units in the polymer results in the cross-linking of the chains. The liquid crystalline induced circular dichroism (LCICD) studies of the cholesterol benzoate copolymers revealed that the cholesteric supramolecular order remains even after the photo-cross-linking.

Synthesis and properties of main chain discotic liquid crystalline polyethers based on rufigallol

Two series of thermotropic main chain discotic liquid crystalline polyethers, PR4m-n, based on rufigallol were prepared starting from the symmetric tetraethers of rufigallol, R4m; m and n represent the number of carbon atoms in the side chain and spacer segment, respectively. The symmetric tetraethers were in turn readily prepared by selective alkylation of rufigallol under controlled phase-transfer conditions. GPC analysis of the polymers suggested that they were all of moderate molecular weights, with M-n varying between 5400 and 17 000. The length of the spacer segment n in these polyethers was systematically varied, and its effect on the phase transition temperatures and the mesophase structure was examined using DSC, polarized light microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It is noticed that when the spacer lengths are relatively long(n greater than or equal to 2m), the isotropization temperature (TD-i) decreases as the spacer length n increases, an observation that is in accordance with those previously made. However, when the spacer lengths are relatively small (n < 2m), the dependence of TD-i is quite the opposite; TD-i actually increases with an increase in spacer length. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction studies indicate that, in the discotic columnar mesophases that are formed, the columns pack in a hexagonal manner when n greater than or equal to 2m, while they do so in a rectangular lattice when n < 2m, leading to the formation of Dh and Dr mesophases, respectively. Finally, comparison of the discotic polyethers with their low molar mass analogues confirms the role of polymerization in stabilizing the mesophase; while all the polymers exhibit columnar mesophases, some of their low molar mass analogues are not liquid crystalline.

Synthesis and characterization of photo-crosslinkable main-chain liquid-crystalline polymers containing bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanone units

A series of new photo-crosslinkable main-chain liquid-crystalline polymers containing bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanone units have been studied. These units in the polymers function as mesogens as well as photoactive centres. Polyesters with three different bis(4-hydroxybenzylidene)cycloalkanones corresponding to three cycloalkanones, namely cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone and cycloheptanone, have been prepared. Three dicarboxylic acids with ether linkages, which were derived from oligoethylene oxides, namely triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol and pentaethylene glycol, have been used as spacers in these polymers. Polymerization was carried out by both solution and interfacial polycondensation; the latter method gave high-molecular-weight polymers. Structural characterizations were done by ultra-violet, infra-red and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Liquid-crystalline properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized-light optical microscopy. These polymers show a nematic mesophase. Liquid-crystalline transition temperatures were correlated with polymer structure. The decrease in transition temperature with increase in cycloalkanone ring size was explained in terms of the change in geometrical anisotropy of bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanone units. MNDO (modified neglect of differential overlap) calculations were performed on the model compounds, bis(4-acetyloxybenzylidene)cycloalkanone to elucidate the geometrical variation of the mesogenic units with cycloalkanone ring size. Studies of photolysis reveal the two kinds of photoreactions that proceed in these polymer systems, namely photoisomerization and photo-crosslinking. The former reaction disrupts the parallel stacking of the chromophores and is reflected as an increase in the ultra-violet spectral intensity. The favourability of these two reactions depends on the mobility of the polymer chains. When the photolysis was done below T-g, photo-crosslinking dominates over photoisomerization. Above T-g, photoisomerization is followed by photo-crosslinking. The photosensitivity of the polymers decreases with increase in size of the cycloalkanone ring.

Universality and scaling behavior of injected power in elastic turbulence in wormlike micellar gel

We study the statistical properties of spatially averaged global injected power fluctuations for Taylor-Couette flow of a wormlike micellar gel formed by surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate. At sufficiently high Weissenberg numbers the shear rate, and hence the injected power p(t), at a constant applied stress shows large irregular fluctuations in time. The nature of the probability distribution function (PDF) of p(t) and the power-law decay of its power spectrum are very similar to that observed in recent studies of elastic turbulence for polymer solutions. Remarkably, these non-Gaussian PDFs can be well described by a universal, large deviation functional form given by the generalized Gumbel distribution observed in the context of spatially averaged global measures in diverse classes of highly correlated systems. We show by in situ rheology and polarized light scattering experiments that in the elastic turbulent regime the flow is spatially smooth but random in time, in agreement with a recent hypothesis for elastic turbulence.

Measurement of Electron Spin Lifetime and Optical Orientation Efficiency in Germanium Using Electrical Detection of Radio Frequency Modulated Spin Polarization

We propose and demonstrate a technique for electrical detection of polarized spins in semiconductors in zero applied magnetic fields. Spin polarization is generated by optical injection using circularly polarized light which is modulated rapidly using an electro-optic cell. The modulated spin polarization generates a weak time-varying magnetic field which is detected by a sensitive radio-frequency coil. Using a calibrated pickup coil and amplification electronics, clear signals were obtained for bulk GaAs and Ge samples from which an optical spin orientation efficiency of 4.8% could be determined for Ge at 1342 nm excitation wavelength. In the presence of a small external magnetic field, the signal decayed according to the Hanle effect, from which a spin lifetime of 4.6 +/- 1.0 ns for electrons in bulk Ge at 127 K was extracted.

Determination of electric field at and near the focus of a cylindrical lens for applications in fluorescence microscopy

We present an explicit computable integral solution of the electric field generated at the focal region of a cylindrical lens. This representation is based on vectorial diffraction theory and further enables the computation of the system point spread function of a cylindrical lens. It is assumed that there is no back-scattering and the contribution from the evanescent field is negligible. Stationary phase approximation along with the Fresnel transmission coefficients are employed for evaluating the polarization dependent electric field components. Studies were carried out to determine the polarization effects and to calculate the system resolution. The effect of s -, p - and randomly polarized light is studied on the fixed sample (electric dipole is fixed in space). Proposed approach allows better understanding of electric field effects at the focus of a cylindrical aplanatic system. This opens up future developments in the field of fluorescence microscopy and optical imaging. (C) 2013 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Metallic Nanoparticles Arranged in a Helical Geometry: Route Towards Strong and Broadband Chiro-optical Response

Recent advances in nanotechnology have paved ways to various techniques for designing and fabricating novel nanostructures incorporating noble metal nanoparticles, for a wide range of applications. The interaction of light with metal nanoparticles (NPs) can generate strongly localized electromagnetic fields (Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance, LSPR) at certain wavelengths of the incident beam. In assemblies or structures where the nanoparticles are placed in close proximity, the plasmons of individual metallic NPs can be strongly coupled to each other via Coulomb interactions. By arranging the metallic NPs in a chiral (e.g. helical) geometry, it is possible to induce collective excitations, which lead to differential optical response of the structures to right-and left circularly polarized light (e.g. Circular Dichroism - CD). Earlier reports in this field include novel techniques of synthesizing metallic nanoparticles on biological helical templates made from DNA, proteins etc. In the present work, we have developed new ways of fabricating chiral complexes made of metallic NPs, which demonstrate a very strong chiro-optical response in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Using DDA (Discrete Dipole Approximation) simulations, we theoretically studied the conditions responsible for large and broadband chiro-optical response. This system may be used for various applications, for example those related to polarization control of visible light, sensing of proteins and other chiral bio-molecules, and many more.

Nonlinear viscoelasticity of entangled wormlike micellar fluid under large-amplitude oscillatory shear: Role of elastic Taylor-Couette instability

The role of elastic Taylor-Couette flow instabilities in the dynamic nonlinear viscoelastic response of an entangled wormlike micellar fluid is studied by large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) rheology and in situ polarized light scattering over a wide range of strain and angular frequency values, both above and below the linear crossover point. Well inside the nonlinear regime, higher harmonic decomposition of the resulting stress signal reveals that the normalized third harmonic I-3/I-1 shows a power-law behavior with strain amplitude. In addition, I-3/I-1 and the elastic component of stress amplitude sigma(E)(0) show a very prominent maximum at the strain value where the number density (n(v)) of the Taylor vortices is maximum. A subsequent increase in applied strain (gamma) results in the distortions of the vortices and a concomitant decrease in n(v), accompanied by a sharp drop in I-3 and sigma(E)(0). The peak position of the spatial correlation function of the scattered intensity along the vorticity direction also captures the crossover. Lissajous plots indicate an intracycle strain hardening for the values of gamma corresponding to the peak of I-3, similar to that observed for hard-sphere glasses.

Temperature-Induced Reversible First-Order Single Crystal to Single Crystal Phase Transition in Boc-gamma(4)(R)Val-Val-OH: Interplay of Enthalpy and Entropy

Crystals of Boc-gamma y(4)(R)Val-Val-OH undergo a reversible first-order single crystal to single crystal phase transition at T-c approximate to 205 K from the orthorhombic space group P22(1)2(1) (Z' = 1) to the monoclinic space group P2(1) (Z' = 2) with a hysteresis of similar to 2.1 K. The low-temperature monoclinic form is best described as a nonmerohedral twin with similar to 50% contributions from its two components. The thermal behavior of the dipeptide crystals was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry experiments. Visual changes in birefringence of the sample during heating and cooling cycles on a hot-stage microscope with polarized light supported the phase transition. Variable-temperature unit cell check measurements from 300 to 100 K showed discontinuity in the volume and cell parameters near the transition temperature, supporting the first-order behavior. A detailed comparison of the room-temperature orthorhombic form with the low-temperature (100 K) monoclinic form revealed that the strong hydrogen-bonding motif is retained in both crystal systems, whereas the non-covalent interactions involving side chains of the dipeptide differ significantly, leading to a small change in molecular conformation in the monoclinic form as well as a small reorientation of the molecules along the ac plane. A rigid-body thermal motion analysis (translation, libration, screw; correlation of translation and libration) was performed to study the crystal entropy. The reversible nature of the phase transition is probably the result of an interplay between enthalpy and entropy: the low-temperature monoclinic form is enthalpically favored, whereas the room-temperature orthorhombic form is entropically favored.

Enhancement of circular differential deflection of light in an optically active medium

In this letter, we investigate the circular differential deflection of a light beam refracted at the interface of an optically active medium. We show that the difference between the angles of deviation of the two circularly polarized components of the transmitted beam is enhanced manyfold near total internal reflection, which suggests a simple way of increasing the limit of detection of chiro-optical measurements. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Role of polarization in probing anomalous gauge interactions of the Higgs boson

We explore the use of polarized e(+)/e(-) beams and/or the information on final state decay lepton polarizations in probing the interaction of the Higgs boson with a pair of vector bosons. A model independent analysis of the process e(+)e(-) -> f (f) over barH, where f is any light fermion, is carried out through the construction of observables having identical properties under the discrete symmetry transformations as different individual anomalous interactions. This allows us to probe an individual anomalous term independent of the others. We find that initial state beam polarization can significantly improve the sensitivity to CP-odd couplings of the Z boson with the Higgs boson (ZZH). Moreover, an ability to isolate events with a particular tau helicity, with even 40% efficiency, can improve sensitivities to certain ZZH couplings by as much as a factor of 3. In addition, the contamination from the ZZH vertex contributions present in the measurement of the trilinear Higgs-W (WWH) couplings can be reduced to a great extent by employing polarized beams. The effects of initial state radiation and beamstrahlung, which can be relevant for higher values of the beam energy are also included in the analysis.