Lúcio H. Acioli

Bio: Lúcio H. Acioli is an academic researcher from Federal University of Pernambuco. The author has contributed to research in topics: Femtosecond & Laser. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 69 publications receiving 2004 citations. Previous affiliations of Lúcio H. Acioli include Universidade de Pernambuco & Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Femtosecond-tunable measurement of electron thermalization in gold

Abstract: Femtosecond electron thermalization in metals was investigated using transient thermomodulation transmissivity and reflectivity. Studies were performed using a tunable multiple-wavelength femtosecond pump-probe technique in optically thin gold films in the low perturbation limit. An IR pump beam is used to heat the electron distribution and changes in electron temperature are measured with a visible probe beam at the d band to Fermi-surface transition. We show that the subpicosecond optical response of gold is dominated by delayed thermalization of the electron gas. This effect is particularly important far off the spectral peak of the reflectivity or transmissivity changes, permitting a direct and sensitive access to the internal thermalization of the electron gas. Using a simple rate-equation model, line-shape analysis of the transient reflectivity and transmissivity indicates a thermalization time of the order of 500 fs. At energies close to the Fermi surface, longer thermalization times \ensuremath{\sim}1--2 ps are observed. These results are in agreement with a more sophisticated model based on calculations of the electron-thermalization dynamics by numerical solutions of the Boltzmann equation. This model quantitatively describes the measured transient optical response during the full thermalization time of electron gas, of the order of 1.5 ps, and gives new insight into electron thermalization in metals.

Femtosecond investigation of electron thermalization in gold.

Abstract: Electron-electron and electron-phonon thermalization processes are investigated in gold films using a high-sensitivity multiple-wavelength femtosecond pump-probe technique. A nonequilibrium electron distribution is excited by free-carrier absorption of an infrared femtosecond pulse and its relaxation dynamics followed by measuring the transient reflectivity and transmissivity with a visible probe pulse. Measurements performed in a thin gold film in the very low perturbation limit (\ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}$\ensuremath{\sim}20 K) yield evidence for the existence of a non-Fermi electron distribution with an electron thermalization time of \ensuremath{\sim}500 fs and an electron-lattice interaction time of 1 ps. The apparent thermalization dynamics of the electron gas is much faster in optically thick samples and is shown to be dominated by transport effects.

Femtosecond investigation of electron thermalization in gold

Abstract: The possibility of creating and probing a transient nonequilibrium electron population in metals with ultrashort laser pulses has been demonstrated by different groups.1,2 Because of the large electron densities, electron-electron interactions were assumed to be sufficiently fast to instantaneously thermalize the electron gas, although some deviations from Fermi-distribution behavior were observed dose to the Fermi surface.2 Recently, by using a photoemission technique, thermalization times as long as 600 fs were measured in gold films for large changes of the electron temperature (of the order of 400 K).3

Femtosecond temporal encoding in barium titanate.

Abstract: We describe two-beam coupling and temporal encoding experiments in barium titanate. Volume gratings are created in the photorefractive material by 50-fs optical pulses. Information in the writing pulses may be encoded as spatially distributed volume gratings in the crystal. Femtosecond temporal waveform reconstruction is demonstrated.

Self-focusing-induced saturable loss for laser mode locking

Abstract: Self-focusing has recently been used for fast saturable absorber mode locking and femtosecond pulse generation in Ti:Al(2)O(3) lasers. We describe the operation, design, and optimization of self-focusing loss modulators for mode locking. A new formalism is developed that simplifies the treatment of self-focusing in thick nonlinear media by using a simple transform of the complex Gaussian beam parameter. Theoretical predictions are confirmed by experimental measurements.

Chemistry and properties of nanocrystals of different shapes.

Abstract: The interest in nanoscale materials stems from the fact that new properties are acquired at this length scale and, equally important, that these properties * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, 404-8940292; fax, 404-894-0294; e-mail, mostafa.el-sayed@ chemistry.gatech.edu. † Case Western Reserve UniversitysMillis 2258. ‡ Phone, 216-368-5918; fax, 216-368-3006; e-mail, burda@case.edu. § Georgia Institute of Technology. 1025 Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1025−1102

Upconversion and Anti-Stokes Processes with f and d Ions in Solids

Abstract: Before the 1960s, all anti-Stokes emissions, which were known to exist, involved emission energies in excess of excitation energies by only a few kT. They were linked to thermal population of energy states above excitation states by such an energy amount. It was the well-known case of anti-Stokes emission for the so-called thermal bands or in the Raman effect for the well-known anti-Stokes sidebands. Thermoluminescence, where traps are emptied by excitation energies of the order of kT, also constituted a field of anti-Stokes emission of its own. Superexcitation, i.e., raising an already excited electron to an even higher level by excited-state absorption (ESA), was also known but with very weak emissions. These types of well-known anti-Stokes processes have been reviewed in classical textbooks on luminescence.1 All fluorescence light emitters usually follow the well-known principle of the Stokes law which simply states that excitation photons are at a higher energy than emitted ones or, in other words, that output photon energy is weaker than input photon energy. This, in a sense, is an indirect statement that efficiency cannot be larger than 1. This principle is

Spectral properties and relaxation dynamics of surface plasmon electronic oscillations in gold and silver nanodots and nanorods

Abstract: The field of nanoparticle research has drawn much attention in the past decade as a result of the search for new materials. Size confinement results in new electronic and optical properties, possibly suitable for many electronic and optoelectronic applications. A characteristic feature of noble metal nanoparticles is the strong color of their colloidal solutions, which is caused by the surface plasmon absorption. This article describes our studies of the properties of the surface plasmon absorption in metal nanoparticles that range in size between 10 and 100 nm. The effects of size, shape, and composition on the plasmon absorption maximum and its bandwidth are discussed. Furthermore, the optical response of the surface plasmon absorption due to excitation with femtosecond laser pulses allowed us to follow the electron dynamics (electron−electron and electron−phonon scattering) in these metal nanoparticles. It is found that the electron−phonon relaxation processes in nanoparticles, which are smaller than t...

Interparticle Coupling Effect on the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Gold Nanoparticles: From Theory to Applications

Abstract: 12.2.2. Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) 4849 12.2.3. Dye Aggregation 4850 12.2.4. Optoelectronic Nanodevices 4850 12.3. Sensor 4851 12.3.1. Chemical Sensor 4851 12.3.2. Biological Sensor 4851 12.4. Catalysis 4852 13. Conclusion and Perspectives 4852 14. Abbreviations 4853 15. Acknowledgements 4854 16. References 4854 * Corresponding author E-mail: tpal@chem.iitkgp.ernet.in. † Raidighi College. § Indian Institute of Technology. 4797 Chem. Rev. 2007, 107, 4797−4862

Femtosecond pulse shaping using spatial light modulators

Abstract: We review the field of femtosecond pulse shaping, in which Fourier synthesis methods are used to generate nearly arbitrarily shaped ultrafast optical wave forms according to user specification. An emphasis is placed on programmable pulse shaping methods based on the use of spatial light modulators. After outlining the fundamental principles of pulse shaping, we then present a detailed discussion of pulse shaping using several different types of spatial light modulators. Finally, new research directions in pulse shaping, and applications of pulse shaping to optical communications, biomedical optical imaging, high power laser amplifiers, quantum control, and laser-electron beam interactions are reviewed.