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At least 577 records · Page 32

Chemical Control of Plasmons in Metal Chalcogenide and Metal Oxide Nanostructures

The field of plasmonics has grown to impact a diverse set of scientific disciplines ranging from quantum optics and photovoltaics to metamaterials and medicine. Plasmonics research has traditionally focused on noble metals; however, any material with a sufficiently high carrier density can support surface plasmon modes. Recently, researchers have made great gains in the synthetic (both intrinsic and extrinsic) control over the morphology and doping of nanoscale oxides, pnictides, sulfides, and selenides. These synthetic advances have, collectively, blossomed into a new, emerging class of plasmonic metal chalcogenides that complement traditional metallic materials. Chalcogenide and oxide nanostructures expand plasmonic properties into new spectral domains and also provide a rich suite of chemical controls available to manipulate plasmons, such as particle doping, shape, and composition. As a result, new opportunities in plasmonic chalcogenide nanomaterials are highlighted in this article, showing how they may be used to fundamentally tune the interaction and localization of electromagnetic fields on semiconductor surfaces in a way that enables new horizons in basic research and energy-relevant applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Exclusive dielectron production in ultraperipheral Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV with ATLAS

Exclusive production of dielectron pairs, γγ → e + e – , is studied using $\mathcal{L}_{int}$ = 1.72 nb –1 of data from ultraperipheral collisions of lead nuclei at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The process of interest proceeds via photon–photon interactions in the strong electromagnetic fields of relativistic lead nuclei. Dielectron production is measured in the fiducial region defined by following requirements: electron transverse momentum $p^{e}_{T}$ > 2.5 GeV, absolute electron pseudorapidity |η e | < 2.5, dielectron invariant mass m ee > 5 GeV, and dielectron transverse momentum $p^{ee}_{T}$ < 2 GeV. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of m ee , average $p^{e}_{T}$, absolute dielectron rapidity |y ee |, and scattering angle in the dielectron rest frame, |cos θ*|, in the inclusive sample, and also with a requirement of no activity in the forward direction. The total integrated fiducial cross-section is measured to be 215 ± 1 (stat) $^{+23}_{-20}$ (syst.) ± 4 (lumi.) μ b. Within experimental uncertainties the measured integrated cross-section is in good agreement with the QED predictions from the Monte Carlo programs STARLIGHT and SUPERCHIC, confirming the broad features of the initial photon fluxes. The differential cross-sections show systematic differences from these predictions which are more pronounced at high |y ee | and |cos θ*| values.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Exact quantisation of the relativistic Hopfield model

We investigate the quantisation in the Heisenberg representation of a relativistically covariant version of the Hopfield model for dielectric media, which entails the interaction of the quantum electromagnetic field with the matter dipole fields, represented by a mesoscopic polarisation field. A full quantisation of the model is provided in a covariant gauge, with the aim of maintaining explicit relativistic covariance. Breaking of the Lorentz invariance due to the intrinsic presence in the model of a preferred reference frame is also taken into account. Relativistic covariance forces us to deal with the unphysical (scalar and longitudinal) components of the fields, furthermore it introduces, in a more tricky form, the well-known dipole ghost of standard QED in a covariant gauge. In order to correctly dispose of this contribution, we implement a generalised Lautrup trick. Furthermore, causality and the relation of the model with the Wightman axioms are also discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Dispersion, spatial growth rate, and start current of a Cherenkov free-electron laser with negative-index material

We present an analysis of a Cherenkov free-electron laser based on a single slab made from negative-index materials. In this system, a flat electron beam with finite thickness travelling close to the surface of the slab interacts with the copropagating electromagnetic surface mode. The dispersion equation for a finitely thick slab is worked out and solved numerically to study the dispersion relation of surface modes supported by negative-index materials, and the calculations are in good agreement with the simulation results from a finite difference time domain code. We find that under suitable conditions there is inherent feedback in such a scheme due to the characteristics of negative-index materials, which means that the system can oscillate without external reflectors when the beam current exceeds a threshold value, i.e., start current. Using the hydrodynamic approach, we setup coupled equations for this system, and solve these equations analytically in the small signal regime to obtain formulas for the spatial growth rate and start current.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Plasma channel produced by femtosecond laser pulses as a medium for amplifying electromagnetic radiation of the subterahertz frequency range

The electron energy distribution function in the plasma channel produced by a femtosecond laser pulse with a wavelength of 248 nm in atmospheric-pressure gases was considered. Conditions were determined whereby this channel may be employed for amplifying electromagnetic waves up to the terahertz frequency range over the energy spectrum relaxation time ∼10{sup -7} s. Gains were calculated as functions of time and radiation frequency. The effect of electron – electron collisions on the rate of relaxation processes in the plasma and on its ability to amplify the electromagnetic radiation was investigated. (interaction of laser radiation with matter)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Understanding the nature of mean-field semiclassical light-matter dynamics: An investigation of energy transfer, electron-electron correlations, external driving, and long-time detailed balance

Semiclassical electrodynamics (with quantum matter plus classical electrodynamics fields) is an appealing approach for studying light-matter interactions, especially for realistic molecular systems. However, there is no unique semiclassical scheme. On the one hand, intermolecular interactions can be described instantaneously by static two-body interactions connecting two different molecules, while a classical transverse E field acts as a spectator at short distance; we will call this Hamiltonian no. I. On the other hand, intermolecular interactions can also be described as effects that are mediated exclusively through a classical one-body Ε field without any quantum effects at all (assuming we ignore electronic exchange); we will call this Hamiltonian no. II. Moreover, one can also mix these two different Hamiltonians into a third, hybrid Hamiltonian, which preserves quantum electron-electron correlations for lower excitations but describes higher excitations in a mean-field way. To investigate which semiclassical scheme is most reliable for practical use, here we study the real-time dynamics of a minimalistic many-site model—a pair of identical two-level systems (TLSs)—undergoing either resonance energy transfer (RET) or collectively driven dynamics. While both approaches (no. 1 and no. 2) perform reasonably well when there is no strong external excitation, we find that no single approach is perfect for all conditions (and all methods fail when a strong external field is applied). Each method has its own distinct problems: Hamiltonian no. I performs best for RET but behaves in a complicated manner for driven dynamics; Hamiltonian no. II is always stable, but obviously fails for RET at short distances. One key finding is that, for externally driven dynamics, a full configuration-interaction description of Hamiltonian no. I strongly overestimates the long-time electronic energy, highlighting the not obvious fact that, if one plans to merge quantum molecules with classical light, a full, exact treatment of electron-electron correlations can actually lead to worse results than a simple mean-field electronic structure treatment. Future work will need to investigate (i) how these algorithms behave in the context of more than a pair of TLSs and (ii) whether or not these algorithms can be improved in general by including crucial aspects of spontaneous emission.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Reaching high laser intensity by a radiating electron

The question of whether an electron radiating its energy away during the interaction with a laser can reach the region of highest intensity with energy high enough to make a number of different phenomena observable is one of the most studied and most important in strong field quantum electrodynamics. Here a simple analytical estimate for an average electron energy evolution is proposed and benchmarked against particle-in-cell simulations. Here, these results are used to estimate the electron and laser pulse properties required to make vacuum Cherenkov emission observable.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Information Carried by Electromagnetic Radiation Launched from Accelerated Polarization Currents

We show experimentally that a continuous, linear, dielectric antenna in which a superluminal polarization-current distribution accelerates can be used to transmit a broadband signal that is reproduced in a comprehensible form at a chosen target distance and angle. The requirement for this exact correspondence between broadcast and received signals is that each moving point in the polarization-current distribution approaches the target at the speed of light at all times during its transit along the antenna. This results in a one-to-one correspondence between the time at which each point on the moving polarization current enters the antenna and the time at which all of the radiation emitted by this particular point during its transit through the antenna arrives simultaneously at the target. This has the effect of reproducing the desired time dependence of the original broadcast signal. For other observer-detector positions, the time dependence of the signal is scrambled, due to the nontrivial relationship between emission (retarded) time and reception time. This technique represents a contrast to conventional radio transmission methods; in most examples of the latter, signals are broadcast with little or no directivity, selectivity of reception being achieved through the use of narrow frequency bands. In place of this, the current paper uses a spread of frequencies to transmit information to a particular location; the signal is weaker and has a scrambled time dependence elsewhere. Here, we point out the possible relevance of this mechanism to 5G neighborhood networks and pulsar astronomy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Exclusive dimuon production in ultraperipheral Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with ATLAS

Exclusive dimuon production in ultraperipheral collisions (UPC), resulting from photon-photon interactions in the strong electromagnetic fields of colliding high-energy lead nuclei, PbPb(γγ) → μ + μ - (Pb (*) Pb (*) ), is studied using $\mathcal{L}$ int = 0.48 nb -1 of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV lead-lead collision data at the LHC with the ATLAS detector. Dimuon pairs are measured in the fiducial region p T,μ >4 GeV, |η μ |<2.4, invariant mass m μμ >10 GeV, and p T,μμ <2 GeV. The primary background from single-dissociative processes is extracted from the data using a template fitting technique. Differential cross sections are presented as a function of m μμ , absolute pair rapidity (|y μμ |), scattering angle in the dimuon rest frame (| cos $\mathscr{O}$$^{*}_{μμ}$|), and the colliding photon energies. The total cross section of the UPC γγ → μ + μ - process in the fiducial volume is measured to be $σ^{μμ}_{fid}$ = 34.1 ± 0.3(stat.) ± 0.7(syst.) μb. Generally good agreement is found with calculations from STARlight, which incorporate the leading-order Breit-Wheeler process with no final-state effects, albeit differences between the measurements and theoretical expectations are observed. In particular, the measured cross sections at larger |y μμ | are found to be about 10–20% larger in data than in the calculations, suggesting the presence of larger fluxes of photons in the initial state. Modification of the dimuon cross sections in the presence of forward and/or backward neutron production is also studied and is found to be associated with a harder incoming photon spectrum, consistent with expectations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Bunch Shaping in Electron Linear Accelerators

Modern electron linear accelerators are often designed to produce smooth bunch distributions characterized by their macroscopic ensemble-average moments. However, an increasing number of accelerator applications call for finer control over the beam distribution, such as by requiring specific shapes for its projection along one coordinate. Ultimately, the control of the beam distribution at the single-particle level could enable new opportunities in accelerator science. This review discusses the recent progress toward controlling electron beam distributions on the “mesoscopic” scale with an emphasis on shaping the beam or introducing complex correlations required for some applications. This review emphasizes experimental and theoretical developments of electron-bunch shaping methods based on bounded external electromagnetic fields or via interactions with the self-generated velocity and radiation fields.

Ha, G.↗

Exact solution of the DeWitt-Brehme-Hobbs equation in copropagating electromagetic and gravitational waves

An accelerated charge interacts with its own electromagnetic field, a phenomenon known as electromagnetic radiation reaction. The DeWitt-Brehme-Hobbs (DWBH) equation describes the motion of a charged mass in the presence of combined electromagnetic and gravitational fields, taking into account electromagnetic radiation-reaction effects. Here, we find the first exact analytical solution of the DWBH equation in the case of a charged mass in the presence of copropagating and otherwise arbitrary electromagnetic and gravitational plane waves. As a consequence of the Penrose limit, the scenario considered here can be seen as a local limit around ultrarelativistic trajectories in a general curved spacetime. Finally, the paradigmatic example of an electromagnetic wave in the presence of a constant-amplitude gravitational wave is worked out explicitly and it is shown how the presence of the gravitational wave can qualitatively change electromagnetic radiation-reaction effects.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Photonic Crystal-Based High-Power Backward Wave Oscillator

An electron beam traversing a slow wave structure can be used to either generate or amplify electromagnetic radiation through the interaction of the slow space charge wave on the beam with the slow wave structure modes. Here, a cylindrical waveguide with a periodic array of conducting loops is used for the slow wave structure. This paper considers operation as a backward wave oscillator. The dispersion properties of the structure are determined using a frequency-domain eigenmode solver. The interaction of the electron beam with the structure modes is investigated using a 2-D particle-in-cell (PIC) code. In conclusion, the operating frequency and growth rate dependence on beam energy and beam current are investigated using the PIC code and compared with analytic and scaling estimates where possible.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Laser Acceleration of Nuclei for Synthesis of Superheavy Elements in the Stability Island of the Periodic Table

Within a three-dimensionalmodel of interaction of a powerful electromagnetic fieldwith plasma of solid-state density, the effect of acceleration of calcium nuclei ({sub 20}{sup 48}Ca) to high energies that are likely to be sufficient for the synthesis of superheavy elements within the “stability island” of the periodic table of elements is obtained by numerically solving the Vlasov–Maxwell equations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

On the problems of relativistic laboratory astrophysics and fundamental physics with super powerful lasers

The ways toward modeling of astrophysical processes and extreme field regimes with super-power lasers are discussed. The main attention is paid to the problem of limited similarity in using the dimensionless parameters characterizing the processes in the laser and astrophysical plasmas. As the most typical examples, we address the magnetic reconnection and collisionless shock waves relevant to the problem of ultrarelativistic particle acceleration. In the extreme field limits we consider the regimes of dominant radiation reaction, changing the electromagnetic wave-matter interaction. In these regimes it, in particular, results in a new powerful source of ultra high-brightness gamma-rays and will make possible electron-positron pair creation in vacuum in a multiphoton processes. This will allow modeling under terrestrial laboratory conditions the processes in astrophysical objects and paves the way to experimental verifications using ultra intense lasers as they are currently developed within the ELI project.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Two-Dimensional Triplet Magnetoexcitons and a Magnetofermionic Condensate in the GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostructures

A fundamentally new collective state, namely, the magnetofermionic condensate, is discovered during photoexcitation of a sufficiently dense gas of long-lived triplet cyclotron magnetoexcitons in a twodimensional Hall insulator with a high electron mobility, a filling factor of ν = 2, and temperatures of T < 1 K. The condensed phase coherently interacts with an external electromagnetic field, exhibits superradiant properties in the recombination of correlated condensate electrons with heavy holes in the valence band, and spreads nondissipatively in the layer of a two-dimensional electron gas to macroscopical large distances, transferring an integer spin. The observed effects are explained in terms of a coherent condensate in a nonequilibrium system of two-dimensional fermions with a fully quantized energy spectrum, in which a degenerate ensemble of long-lived triplet magnetoexcitons obeying the Bose statistics is present.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

MIXING THE SOLAR WIND PROTON AND ELECTRON SCALES: EFFECTS OF ELECTRON TEMPERATURE ANISOTROPY ON THE OBLIQUE PROTON FIREHOSE INSTABILITY

The double adiabatic expansion of the nearly collisionless solar wind plasma creates conditions for the firehose instability to develop and efficiently prevent the further increase of the plasma temperature in the direction parallel to the interplanetary magnetic field. The conditions imposed by the firehose instability have been extensively studied using idealized approaches that ignore the mutual effects of electrons and protons. Recently, more realistic approaches have been proposed that take into account the interplay between electrons and protons, unveiling new regimes of the parallel oscillatory modes. However, for oblique wave propagation the instability develops distinct branches that grow much faster and may therefore be more efficient than the parallel firehose instability in constraining the temperature anisotropy of the plasma particles. This paper reports for the first time on the effects of electron plasma properties on the oblique proton firehose (PFH) instability and provides a comprehensive vision of the entire unstable wave-vector spectrum, unifying the proton and the smaller electron scales. The plasma β and temperature anisotropy regimes considered here are specific for the solar wind and magnetospheric conditions, and enable the electrons and protons to interact via the excited electromagnetic fluctuations. For the selected parameters, simultaneous electron and PFH instabilities can be observed with a dispersion spectrum of the electron firehose (EFH) extending toward the proton scales. Growth rates of the PFH instability are markedly boosted by the anisotropic electrons, especially in the oblique direction where the EFH growth rates are orders of magnitude higher.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗