École Polytechnique

About: École Polytechnique is a education organization based out in Palaiseau, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Plasma. The organization has 18995 authors who have published 39265 publications receiving 1225163 citations. The organization is also known as: Ecole Polytechnique & Polytechnique.

Radio Imaging of the Very-High-Energy gamma-Ray Emission Region in the Central Engine of a Radio Galaxy

Abstract: The accretion of matter onto a massive black hole is believed to feed the relativistic plasma jets found in many active galactic nuclei (AGN). Although some AGN accelerate particles to energies exceeding 10(12) electron volts and are bright sources of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission, it is not yet known where the VHE emission originates. Here we report on radio and VHE observations of the radio galaxy Messier 87, revealing a period of extremely strong VHE gamma-ray flares accompanied by a strong increase of the radio flux from its nucleus. These results imply that charged particles are accelerated to very high energies in the immediate vicinity of the black hole.

Antifogging abilities of model nanotextures

Abstract: Nanometre-scale features with special shapes impart a broad spectrum of unique properties to the surface of insects. These properties are essential for the animal's survival, and include the low light reflectance of moth eyes, the oil repellency of springtail carapaces and the ultra-adhesive nature of palmtree bugs. Antireflective mosquito eyes and cicada wings are also known to exhibit some antifogging and self-cleaning properties. In all cases, the combination of small feature size and optimal shape provides exceptional surface properties. In this work, we investigate the underlying antifogging mechanism in model materials designed to mimic natural systems, and explain the importance of the texture's feature size and shape. While exposure to fog strongly compromises the water-repellency of hydrophobic structures, this failure can be minimized by scaling the texture down to nanosize. This undesired effect even becomes non-measurable if the hydrophobic surface consists of nanocones, which generate antifogging efficiency close to unity and water departure of droplets smaller than 2 μm.

Bottleneck effects in the relaxation and photoluminescence of microcavity polaritons

Abstract: A theoretical model for the investigation of the dynamics of microcavity polaritons in the strong-coupling regime is proposed. The resulting photoluminescence dynamics at small angles is studied as a function of the angle of observation, the cavity detuning, the lattice, and the free-carrier temperature. For small detunings, the strong dispersion of the microcavity polaritons at small angles results in a bottleneck relaxation dynamics, similar to the bulk one. However, important differences, related to the reduced dimensionality of the system, are found. In particular, a larger emission from the upper polariton with respect to the lower polariton is found for any temperature. Moreover, a two-lobe angular emission from the lower branch is also expected. In the case of large pump excess energies, when hot carriers are injected into the system, longitudinal-optical-phonon emission has also been considered as a possible polariton formation mechanism, and shown to reduce only partially the effects summarized above.

Terahertz achromatic quarter-wave plate

Abstract: Phase retarders usually present a strong frequency dependence. We discuss the design and characterization of a terahertz achromatic quarter-wave plate. This wave plate is made from six birefringent quartz plates precisely designed and stacked together. Phase retardation has been measured over the whole terahertz range by terahertz polarimetry. This achromatic wave plate demonstrates a huge frequency bandwidth (upsilonmax/upsilonmin approximately 7), and therefore can be applied to terahertz time domain spectroscopy and polarimetry.