Supercontinuum Generation by Stimulated Raman Scattering and Parametric Four-Wave Mixing in Photonic Crystal Fibers

Supercontinuum generation is investigated experimentally and numerically in a highly nonlinear indexguiding photonic crystal optical fiber in a regime in which self-phase modulation of the pump wave makes a negligible contribution to spectral broadening. An ultrabroadband octave-spanning white-light continuum is generated with 60-ps pump pulses of subkilowatt peak power. The primary mechanism of spectral broadening is identified as the combined action of stimulated Raman scattering and parametric four-wave mixing. The observation of a strong anti-Stokes Raman component reveals the importance of the coupling between stimulated Raman scattering and parametric four-wave mixing in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers and also indicates that non-phase-matched processes contribute to the continuum. Additionally, the pump input polarization affects the generated continuum through the influence of polarization modulational instability. The experimental results are in good agreement with detailed numerical simulations. These findings demonstrate the importance of index-guiding photonic crystal fibers for the design of picosecond and nanosecond supercontinuum light sources. © 2002 Optical Society of America.

Raman spectroelectrochemical studies and crystal structure of a binuclear copper(I) complex with a bridging diimine ligand

Raman spectroelectrochemical and X-ray crystallographic studies have been made for the binuclear copper(I) complex, [(Ph(3)P)(2)Cu(dpq)Cu(PPh(3))(2)][BF4](2), where dpq is the bridging ligand 2,3-di(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline. The X-ray data show that the pyridine rings are twisted out of plane with respect to the quinoxaline ring which is itself non-planar. The UV/VIS spectra of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state and those of the electrochemically reduced complex are similar. The resonance-Raman spectrum of the latter species exhibits little change in the frequency of the pyridinylquinoxaline inter-ring C-C bond stretching mode, compared to the ground electronic state. This suggests minimum change in the inter-ring C-C bond order in the electrochemically or charge-transfer generated radical anion. Semiempirical molecular-orbital calculations on both the neutral dpq and radical anion show two near-degenerate lowest unoccupied orbitals in the neutral species. One is strongly bonding across the inter-ring C-C bond while the other is almost nun-bonding. The Raman data suggest that it is this latter orbital which is populated in the transient and electrochemical experiments.

Crystal growth, Raman scattering and optical properties of the superconductor Cd2Re2O7(16O, 18O)/

Using the Physical Vapor Transport method, single crystals of Cd2Re207 have been grown, and crystals of dimensions up to 8x6x2 mm have been achieved. X-ray diffraction from a single crystal of Cd2Re207 has showed the crystal growth in the (111) plane. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on ^^O and ^^O samples, however no difference was observed. Assigning the space group Fd3m to Cd2Re207 at room temperature and using structure factor analysis, the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample was explained through systematic reflection absences. The temperatiure dependence of the resistivity measurement of ^^O has revealed two structural phase transitions at 120 and 200 K, and the superconducting transition at 1.0 K. Using Factor Group Analysis on three different structiures of Cd2Re207, the number of IR and Raman active phonon modes close to the Brillouin zone centre have been determined and the results have been compared to the temperature-dependence of the Raman shifts of ^^O and ^*0 samples. After scaling (via removing Bose-Einstein and Rayleigh scattering factors from the scattered light) all spectra, each spectrum was fitted with a number of Lorentzian peaks. The temperature-dependence of the FWHM and Raman shift of mode Eg, shows the effects of the two structurjil phase transitions above Tc. The absolute reflectance of Cd2Re207 - '^O single crystals in the far-infrared spectral region (7-700 cm~^) has been measured in the superconducting state (0.5 K), right above the superconducting state (1.5 K), and in the normal state (4.2 K). Thermal reflectance of the sample at 0.5 K and 1.5 K indicates a strong absorption feature close to 10 cm~^ in the superconducting state with a reference temperature of 4.2 K. By means of Kramers-Kronig analysis, the absolute reflectance was used to calculate the optical conductivity and dielectric function. The real part of optical conductivity shows five distinct active phonon modes at 44, 200, 300, 375, and 575 cm~' at all temperatures including a Drude-like behavior at low frequencies. The imaginary part of the calculated dielectric function indicates a mode softening of the mode 44 cm~' below Tc.

Raman spectra of KTP crystal in an in situ electric field

Raman spectra of the KTP single crystal are recorded in electric fields (dc and ac) applied along the polar axis c. Spectra with the laser beam focused near the cathode end, anode end and the centre of the crystal are recorded. The cathode end of the crystal develops a spot ‘grey track’ where the laser beam is focused after a lapse of 5 h from the application of a dc electric field of 38 V/cm. The spectra recorded at the cathode end after the application of field show variations in intensity of bands. A new band appears at 177 cm21. Changes in band intensities are explained on the basis of changes in polarizability of the crystal due to the movement of K1 ions along the polar axis. K1 ions accumulate at the cathode end, where the ‘Grey track’ formation occurs. The intensity enhancement observed for almost all bands in the ac field is attributed to the improvement of crystalline quality.

Infrared and polarized Raman spectra of Cu(HSeO3)2 • H20 single crystal

Infrared and polarized Raman spectra of Cu(HSeO3) 2 - H20 single crystal have been recorded and analysed. The appearance of non-degenerate Se-OH stretching vibrations in the ~x: and ~y: polarizations of Raman spectra indicate distortion of the HSeO~- ion in the Cu(HSeO3)2 - H20 crystal. The low wavenumber values obtained for the symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the HSeO 3 ion are consistent with the strong hydrogen bonding and the influence of Jahn-Teller distortion as predicted in X-ray diffraction data. The shifting of the stretching and bending vibrations of the hydroxyl groups and water molecules from the free state values also confirms the strong hydrogen bonding in this crystal. Broad bands observed for both stretching and bending regions become sharp in the Raman spectrum recorded at 77 K. A doublet appears for the Se-OH stretching mode at this temperature indicating the settling of protons in an ordered position and the absence of intrabond proton tunnelling

Temperature dependent polarized Raman spectra of nonaaqualanthanoid (Pr) single crystal

Polarized Raman spectral changes with respect to temperature were investigated for Pr(BrO3)3·9H2O single crystals. FTIR spectra of hydrated and deuterated analogues were also recorded and analysed. Temperature dependent Raman spectral variation have been explained with the help of the thermograms recorded for the crystal. Factor group analysis could propose the appearance ofBrO3 ions at sites corresponding to C3v (4) and D3h (2). Analysis of the vibrational bands at room temperature confirms a distorted C3v symmetry for the BrO3 ion in the crystal. From the vibrations of water molecules, hydrogen bonds of varying strengths have also been identified in the crystal. The appearance υ1 mode of BrO3− anion at lower wavenumber region is attributed to the attachment of hydrogen atoms to the BrO3− anion. At high temperatures, structural rearrangement is taking place for bothH2Omolecule and BrO3 ions leading to the loss ofwater molecules and structural reorientation of bromate ions causing phase transition of the crystal at the temperature of 447 K.

Ab initio calculations, Raman and NMR investigation of the plastic crystal di-methyl pyrrolidinium iodide

Above 110 °C the symmetric di-methyl-pyrrolidinium iodide salt forms a plastic crystal phase of interest in the area of new electrolyte materials. In this study ab initio calculations of this material has been conducted in order to assign the vibrational spectra. Raman spectroscopy measurements on the solid salt as well as on the salt dissolved in different solvents has been performed and these have been compared to the theoretical spectra. Furthermore, Raman spectra as a function of temperature have been recorded to investigate possible changes in inter-ionic interaction and/or structure through the phase transition. 1H NMR linewidth measurements as a function of temperature showed a large decrease in linewidth above 100 °C, attributed here to an increase in mobility in agreement with a previously reported phase transition at ~110 °C.

Redox-Switching in a Viologen-type Adlayer: An Electrochemical Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Study on Au(111)-(1 x 1) Single Crystal Electrodes

We reported the first application of in situ shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) to an interfacial redox reaction under electrochemical conditions. We construct gap-mode sandwich structures composed of a thiol-terminated HS-6V6H viologen adlayer immobilized on a single crystal Au(111)-(1x1) electrode and covered by Au(60 nm)@SlO(2) core shell nanoparticles acting as plasmonic antennas. We observed high-quality, potential-dependent Raman spectra of the three viologen species V(2+),V(+center dot) and V(0) on a well-defined Au(111) substrate surface and could map their potential-dependent evolution. Comparison with experiments on powder samples revealed an enhancement factor of the nonresonant Raman modes of similar to 3 x 10(5), and up to 9 x 10(7) for the resonance modes. The study illustrates the unique capability of SHINERS and its potential in the entire field of electrochemical surface science to explore structures and reaction pathways on well-defined substrate surfaces, such as single crystals, for molecular, (electro-)- catalytic, bioelectrochemical systems up to fundamental double layer studies at electrified solid/liquid interfaces.

Characterization of a zeolite-templated carbon by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and in situ Raman spectroscopy

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was used to monitor the mass changes during the electrochemical characterization of a zeolite-templated carbon (ZTC) in 1 M H2SO4 medium. Under electrochemical oxidation conditions, a high anodic current and a net mass increase were recorded, resulting in the increase of the specific capacitance owing to the contribution of the pseudocapacitance, mainly derived from the hydroquinone–quinone redox couple. Under more severe electrochemical conditions, a net mass loss was observed, revealing that electrochemical gasification took place. Surface chemistry, before and after the electrochemical treatments, was analyzed through temperature programmed desorption experiments. Furthermore, in situ Raman spectroscopy was used to further characterize the structural changes produced in ZTC under the electrochemical conditions applied, supporting that high potential values produce the electrochemical oxidation and degradation of the carbon material.