Showing papers on "Total internal reflection published in 2009"

Measurement of spin Hall effect of reflected light.

Abstract: We have measured the spin-dependent nanometer-sized displacements of the spin Hall effect of the reflected light from a planar air-glass interface. In the case of the vertical polarization, the displacement is found to increase with the incident angle and subsequently decrease after approximately 48 deg, while in the case of the horizontal polarization, it changes rapidly near the Brewster angle. For a fixed incident angle of 30 deg, the displacement decreases to zero as the polarization angle approaches approximately 39 deg from 0 deg (the horizontal polarization) and then increases in the opposite direction until 90 deg (the vertical polarization).

Quantum Goos-Hänchen effect in graphene.

Abstract: The Goos-Hanchen (GH) effect is an interference effect on total internal reflection at an interface, resulting in a shift sigma of the reflected beam along the interface. We show that the GH effect at a p-n interface in graphene depends on the pseudospin (sublattice) degree of freedom of the massless Dirac fermions, and find a sign change of sigma at angle of incidence alpha=arcsin sqrt[sinalpha{c}] determined by the critical angle alpha{c} for total reflection. In an n-doped channel with p-doped boundaries the GH effect doubles the degeneracy of the lowest propagating mode, introducing a twofold degeneracy on top of the usual spin and valley degeneracies. This can be observed as a stepwise increase by 8e;{2}/h of the conductance with increasing channel width.

Waveguide-Based Biosensors for Pathogen Detection

Abstract: Optical phenomena such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, polarization, interference and non-linearity have been extensively used for biosensing applications. Optical waveguides (both planar and fiber-optic) are comprised of a material with high permittivity/high refractive index surrounded on all sides by materials with lower refractive indices, such as a substrate and the media to be sensed. This arrangement allows coupled light to propagate through the high refractive index waveguide by total internal reflection and generates an electromagnetic wave—the evanescent field—whose amplitude decreases exponentially as the distance from the surface increases. Excitation of fluorophores within the evanescent wave allows for sensitive detection while minimizing background fluorescence from complex, “dirty” biological samples. In this review, we will describe the basic principles, advantages and disadvantages of planar optical waveguide-based biodetection technologies. This discussion will include already commercialized technologies (e.g., Corning’s EPIC® O, SRU Biosystems’ BIND™, Zeptosense®, etc.) and new technologies that are under research and development. We will also review differing assay approaches for the detection of various biomolecules, as well as the thin-film coatings that are often required for waveguide functionalization and effective detection. Finally, we will discuss reverse-symmetry waveguides, resonant waveguide grating sensors and metal-clad leaky waveguides as alternative signal transducers in optical biosensing.

Optical device, and virtual image display

Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.

Microwave surface-plasmon-like modes on thin metamaterials.

Abstract: It has recently been shown that the structured surface of a perfect conductor can support surface-plasmon-like modes [Pendry et al., Science 305, 847 (2004)]. Such structures have a thickness of at least the order of the wavelength. Here, using microwave wavelength radiation incident beyond the critical angle of a wax prism, we quantify the surface-plasmon-like dispersion for a metamaterial surface with a thickness very much smaller than the incident wavelength.

Critical angle for electrically driven coalescence of two conical droplets.

Abstract: Oppositely charged drops attract one another and, when the drops are sufficiently close, electrical stresses deform the leading edges of each drop into cones. We investigate whether or not the liquid cones coalesce immediately following contact. Using high-speed imaging, we find that the coalescence behavior depends on the cone angle, which we control by varying the drop size and the applied voltage across the drops. The two drops coalesce when the slopes of the cones are small, but recoil when the slopes exceed a critical value. We propose a surface energy model (volume-constrained area minimization) to describe the transition between these two responses. The model predicts a critical cone angle of 30.8 degrees , which is in good agreement with our measurements.

Analysis of Bloch-surface-wave assisted diffraction-based biosensors

Abstract: A systematic study of Bloch surface wave (BSW) properties and applications in diffraction-based biosensors is presented. The design of such devices starts with the calculation of the BSW dispersion relation for a semi-infinite one-dimensional photonic crystal. We propose an approach in which polarization and 1DPC termination effects are simply described. Since in a realistic device the number of periods is limited, we investigate the issues arising from finite size effects and the choice of a structure substrate. Diffraction efficiency is studied as a function index contrast, multilayer termination, grating thickness, and number of periods. Numerical examples for Si/SiO2 and a-Si1−xNx:H periodic dielectric stacks are presented, showing that BSW can be exploited for the realization of efficient diffraction-based biosensors from the infrared to the visible range.

Ultra-high-Q tunable whispering-gallery-mode microresonator

Abstract: Optical microresonators hold great potential for many fields of research and technology. However, due to their small dimensions typical microresonators exhibit a large frequency spacing between resonances and a limited tunability. This impedes their use in a large class of applications which either require a resonance of the microcavity to coincide with a predetermined frequency, e.g., an optical transition in atoms, or a tailored frequency spacing between resonances, e.g., for the generation of optical frequency combs. Here, we present a fully tunable ultra-high-Q whispering-gallery-mode “bottle microresonator”, fabricated from standard optical glass fibres. Due to its highly prolate shape, the bottle microresonator gives rise to a class of whispering-gallery-modes (WGMs) with advantageous properties, see Fig. 1. In addition to the radial confinement by continuous total internal reflection at the resonator surface, the light in these “bottle modes” oscillates back and forth along the resonator axis between two turning-points which are defined by an angular momentum barrier [1]. The resulting axial standing wave structure can be compared to the one observed in Fabry-Perot microresonators.

Exceptionally efficient organic light emitting devices using high refractive index substrates.

Abstract: Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) are now used in commercial cell phones and flat screen displays, but may become even more successful in lighting applications, in which large area, high efficiency, long lifetime and low cost are essential. Due to the relatively high refractive index of the organic layers, conventional planar bottom emitting OLEDs have a low outcoupling efficiency. Various approaches for enhancing the optical outcoupling efficiency of bottom emitting OLEDs have been introduced in the literature. In this paper we demonstrate a green bottom emitting OLED with a record external quantum efficiency (42%) and luminous efficacy (183 lm/W). This OLED is based on a high index substrate and a thick electron transport layer (ETL) which uses electrical doping. The efficient light outcoupling is modeled by optical simulations.

Measurement of mechanical properties of bone material in vitro by ultrasound reflection: Methodology and comparison with ultrasound transmission

Abstract: An ultrasound reflection technique was designed and implemented to study the mechanical properties of bone material. The technique uses the fact that an ultrasound beam produced in water undergoes total internal reflection off a bone sample at a critical angle formally related to the velocity of a pressure wave in bone. When the plane of scattering is rotated around the normal to the sample surface, the critical angle varies with a periodic dependence dictated by the intrinsic symmetry of the bone structure at the point being examined. Most current measurements of sound velocity are made using transmission techniques. A double-blind intercomparison between this technique and a transmission technique, which was previously validated against tensile mechanical testing, was performed for samples of isotropic materials and of human cortical bone. Strong correlations were found for both sets of samples. For the isotropic materials the velocities were approximately equal, but for bone they were on average 11% higher in reflection than in transmission. This was the result both of the higher frequency employed in reflection (3.5 rather than 2.25 MHz) and of the different effects of sample imperfections on the two measurements. In particular, the reflection technique used in this work studied the surface of the sample, but the ultrasound beam in the transmission method propagated through its interior. In assessing the mechanical properties of bone specimens by ultrasound, the reflection technique samples a discrete bone surface element and the transmission method analyzes the entire volume of the specimen. Thus the reflection technique may yield a measure of the mechanical property of bone trabeculae that is largely unaffected by the mass of the entire specimen, but mass and the structural density of the specimen affect the transmission method.

Evanescent-wave fluorescence microscopy using symmetric planar waveguides

Abstract: We describe a new evanescent-wave fluorescence excitation method, ideally suited for imaging of biological samples. The excitation light propagates in a planar optical waveguide, consisting of a thin waveguide core sandwiched between a sample in an aqueous solution and a polymer with a matching refractive index, forming a symmetric cladding environment. This configuration offers clear advantages over other waveguide-excitation methods, such as superior image quality, wide tunability of the evanescent field penetration depth and compatibility with optical fibers. The method is well suited for cell membrane imaging on cells in culture, including cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction, monitoring of surface binding events and similar applications involving aqueous solutions.

The perfect absorber

Abstract: We demonstrate that films of very lossy metal or dielectric, with a thickness of only a few nanometers, can absorb almost all incident radiation when illuminated from the substrate side at the critical angle for total internal reflection. The absorption for s-polarized light approaches 100%, while the absorption for p-polarized light vanishes. We demonstrate this effect by measuring the absorption as a function of the angle of incidence at a wavelength of 775 nm in a 4.5 nm thick NbN film with a dielectric constant ϵNbN=−8.2+31.4i. The measured absorption in this film reaches a maximum of 94%. We discuss the design of a near-unity efficiency single-photon detector for s-polarized light that has a broadband absorption coefficient of >90% for wavelengths from 700 to 1600 nm.

Temperature-dependent Goos-Hänchen shift on the interface of metal/dielectric composites

Abstract: The temperature-dependent Goos-Hanchen shift (GHS) for an electromagnetic wave reflected from a metal/dielectric composite material is investigated With the stationary-phase method, we theoretically show that the effect of the temperature on GHS is significant near the Brewster angle for the dielectric composites and at the grazing angle for the metallic composites For dielectric composites, the lateral shift can be negative as well as positive And GHS may become much negative, much positive, and nonmonotonic variation with increasing the temperature under different conditions Moreover, through the suitable adjustment of the temperature, one may realize the reversal of the GHS To support the above results, numerical simulations for Gaussian incident beams based on the momentum method and COMSOL Multiphysics software are provided, and reasonable agreement between the theoretical results and numerical simulations is found

Discontinuous Galerkin time-domain computations of metallic nanostructures

Abstract: We apply the three-dimensional Discontinuous-Galerkin Time-Domain method to the investigation of the optical properties of bar- and V-shaped metallic nanostructures on dielectric substrates. A flexible finite element-like mesh together with an expansion into high-order basis functions allows for an accurate resolution of complex geometries and strong field gradients. In turn, this provides accurate results on the optical response of realistic structures. We study in detail the influence of particle size and shape on resonance frequencies as well as on scattering and absorption efficiencies. Beyond a critical size which determines the onset of the quasi-static limit we find significant deviations from the quasi-static theory. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the excitation by comparing normal illumination and attenuated total internal reflection setups. Finally, we examine the possibility of coherently controlling the local field enhancement of V-structures via chirped pulses.

Total-reflection active-mirror laser with cryogenic Yb:YAG ceramics

Abstract: An efficient high-power laser operation has been demonstrated by using a cryogenic Yb:YAG composite ceramic with a total-reflection active-mirror arrangement. The composite ceramic, which had no high-reflection coating and was cooled with liquid nitrogen directly, showed four-level operation even at 67 kW/cm3 of high pump density. A 273 W cw output power was obtained with 65% optical efficiency and 72% slope efficiency.

Effect of metallic surface on electric dipole and magnetic dipole emission transitions in Eu3+ doped polymeric film

Abstract: Spontaneous emission of Eu(3+) ions is studied in thin organic films deposited onto several different substrates. It has been demonstrated that the presence of a metallic surface in close vicinity to emitting Eu(3+) ions causes modifications of their spontaneous emission spectra, in particular, the change in the relative strengths of magnetic-dipole and electric-dipole transitions. The character and the magnitude of the effect depend on the polarization and the observation angle. The experimental data are discussed in terms of modification of transition probabilities and account for the interference between directly emitted and reflected light waves.

Light-extraction enhancement of red AlGaInP light-emitting diodes with antireflective subwavelength structures.

Abstract: We demonstrate the enhancement of light extraction in 633 nm AlGaInP light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with antireflective subwavelength structures (SWS). From the contour plots by the rigorous coupled wave analysis method, it is found that the reduction of the internal reflection strongly depends on the period of SWS. The Ag nanoparticles formed by thermal dewetting were used as an etch mask for dry etch process to fabricate antireflective SWS on the LED surface. The tapered pillars on the GaP were fabricated, on average, with distances below 200 nm, satisfying the required antireflection condition at the emission wavelength. The improvement in light output power by approximately 26.4% was achieved for the fabricated AlGaInP LEDs with SWS compared to the conventional LEDs due to a strongly reduced Fresnel internal reflection at the GaP/air interface. The improved directionality in the far-field pattern was also obtained due to the directional light extraction enhancement.

Radiation of spin waves from the open end of a microscopic magnetic-film waveguide

Abstract: We have studied experimentally the radiation of spin waves from a permalloy-film microwaveguide into a continuous permalloy film. We show that due to a strong mismatch of the spin-wave spectrum caused by a variation in the demagnetizing field at the interface between the waveguide and the film, a frequency interval exists, where spin waves experience total reflection from the junction penetrating into the permalloy film in a tunnelinglike manner. At frequencies above this interval, complex frequency-dependent radiation patterns were observed characterized by a preferential radiation direction appearing due to the intrinsic anisotropy of the spin-wave dispersion characteristics in the film.

Nonparaxial Airy beams: role of evanescent waves.

Abstract: We report on the propagation dynamics of Airy light beams under nonparaxial conditions. The partial waves forming the Airy beam can be divided into two parts, the first of which contains only propagating waves, while the second part consists of evanescent waves. In this Letter we propose the concept of the evanescent Airy beam. We analyze the structure of the ideal evanescent Airy beam, the initial profile of which has the Airy form, while its spectral decomposition consists of only evanescent partial waves. Also, we discuss the refraction of the Airy beam through an interface and investigate the field of the transmitted Airy beam.

Image display device and head-mounted display

Abstract: A total reflection surface and a holographic optical element (HOE) surface are formed on the same surface (S3) in an eyepiece prism (15). In this structure, a smaller reflection angle can be set at an HOE (16) compared to a structure with the surfaces formed separately, and the HOE surface of the surface (S3) can be set in the direction parallel to a surface (S2). Thus, even in a structure in which at least a portion of the light flux of the image light fully reflected by the surface (S3) is incident on an affixing region (R1) of a hologram photosensitive material (16a), that portion of the light can be prevented from falling incident on the optical pupil (E) as ghost light. Consequently, in order to prevent the generation of ghost light, an optical path margin no longer needs to be provided between the diffraction and reflection region of the HOE (16) and the total reflection region of the image light; and the eyepiece prism (15) can be thinned by that amount. In addition, since a smaller reflection angle can be set at the HOE (16), the color dispersion caused by diffraction by the HOE (16) can also be reduced, and the image quality can be maintained.

Surface-plasmon polariton resonances in triangular-groove metal gratings

Abstract: Electromagnetic resonances of triangular-groove gold gratings illuminated with monochromatic light are studied theoretically. The calculations performed are based on the Green's-function surface-integral equation method with the periodic Green's function. Local-field-enhancement spectra and near-field calculations reveal three types of resonances, namely, geometric resonances determined by the shape of individual grooves, standing-wave surface-plasmon polariton (SPP) resonances due to SPPs reflected by the neighbor grooves, and very sharp resonances (Rayleigh anomalies) at wavelengths near the cutoff wavelength of higher grating-reflection orders, which can be tuned simply by changing the angle of incident light. These resonances are also found to be observable in the reflection spectra, whose minima correspond to peaks in the enhancement spectra. Typical enhancements of the electric field magnitude inside the grooves are larger than 20, reaching in some cases the level of $\ensuremath{\sim}35$. In the case of Rayleigh anomalies, the total reflection can be almost completely suppressed. The resonances can be realized in the wavelength range from visible to infrared by varying the groove height, angle, and periodicity, a feature that makes this configuration promising for a wide range of practical applications, for example, within surface-enhanced spectroscopies.

Optical characterization of bubbly flows with a near-critical-angle scattering technique

Abstract: The newly developed critical angle refractometry and sizing technique (CARS) allows simultaneous and instantaneous characterization of the local size distribution and the relative refractive index (i.e. composition) of a cloud of bubbles. The paper presents the recent improvement of this technique by comparison of different light scattering models and inversion procedures. Experimental results carried in various air/water and air/water-ethanol bubbly flows clearly demonstrate the efficiency and the potential of this technique.

Surface plasmon resonance from metallic columnar thin films

Abstract: Surface plasmon (SP) waves on the interface of a dielectric (such as water) and a metallic columnar thin film (CTF) of porosity as high as 0.55 were experimentally and theoretically investigated. The CTFs were made of Al, Au, Ag, or Cr. As the porosity increases, the SP resonance (SPR) dip was found to widen, shift to higher wave numbers, and become asymmetric due to increasing scattering losses. With further increase of porosity, the SPR dip was found to disappear, leaving behind only a peak near the onset to the total internal reflection regime. The shape of the nanoislands constituting the CTF is better described as ellipsoidal than as spherical or spheroidal, indicating thereby the existence of orientational biaxial anisotropy even for CTFs thinner than 60 nm. For a best fit between the theoretical calculations and the experimental data, the CTF was divided into two layers having different porosity and nanoisland shape, particularly for the Ag- and Au-CTFs. The sensitivity of the CTF-based SPR signal to refractive index variations of an analyte infiltrating the nanopores of and in the region adjoining the metallic CTF was found to be doubly enhanced compared to that for the SPR signal from a nonporous metallic film.

Toward photonic crystal based spatial filters with wide angle ranges of total transmission

Abstract: Spatial filters with steep switching between wide ranges of total transmission and total reflection can be obtained by using two-dimensional dielectric photonic crystals, which are a few wavelengths thick. The guidelines for engineering bandpass and bandstop filters are given. The flatness of isofrequency contours that are localized around a periphery point of the first Brillouin zone is a necessary but insufficient condition for the existence of wide angle ranges of total transmission at intermediate and large angles of incidence. Such ranges that are wider than 20° are demonstrated.

High reflection mirrors for pulse compression gratings

Abstract: We report an experimental investigation of high reflection mirrors used to fabricate gratings for pulse compression application at the wavelength of 1.053microm. Two kinds of mirrors are studied: the mixed Metal MultiLayer Dielectric (MMLD) mirrors which combine a gold metal layer with some e-beam evaporated dielectric bilayers on the top and the standard e-beam evaporated MultiLayer Dielectric (MLD) mirrors. Various samples were manufactured, damage tested at a pulse duration of 500fs. Damage sites were subsequently observed by means of Nomarski microscopy and white light interferometer microscopy. The comparison of the results evidences that if MMLD design can offer damage performances rather similar to MLD design, it also exhibits lower stresses; being thus an optimal mirror substrate for a pulse compression grating operating under vacuum.

Free-form lenses for high illumination quality light-emitting diode MR16 lamps

Abstract: Light-emitting diode (LED) MR16 lamps, regarded as one typical general lighting product of LEDs, are being widely used in many applications. Light efficiency into a main beam and uniformity are two key issues for high quality illumination of LED MR16 lamps. In this study, a practical and precise nonimaging optical design method is presented, and two novel 90- and 120-deg free-form lenses for high illumination quality LED MR16 lamps are designed according to this method. Based on the Monte-Carlo ray-tracing method, numerical simulation results demonstrate that the light output efficiencies of these novel lenses reach as high as 98% and are 17% higher than that of traditional total internal reflection (TIR) MR16 lens. Moreover, more than 89% of light exiting from the surfaces of these novel lenses irradiate within the desired receive target, while only 60% irradiate for traditional TIR lens. The uniformities of illuminance distribution across the target of these novel MR16 lamps also are much higher. In addition, these novel lenses are both quite compact and no more than 1/5 of that of the TIR lens. Therefore, these LED MR16 lamps integrated by novel lenses provide an effective solution to high quality illumination.

Novel perspectives for the application of total internal reflection microscopy

Abstract: Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRM) is a sensitive non-invasive technique to measure the interaction potentials between a colloidal particle and a wall with femtonewton resolution. The equilibrium distribution of the particle-wall separation distance z is sampled monitoring the intensity I scattered by the Brownian particle under evanescent illumination. Central to the data analysis is the knowledge of the relation between I and the corresponding z, which typically must be known a priori. This poses considerable constraints to the experimental conditions where TIRM can be applied (short penetration depth of the evanescent wave, transparent surfaces). Here, we introduce a method to experimentally determine I(z) by relying only on the distance-dependent particle-wall hydrodynamic interactions. We demonstrate that this method largely extends the range of conditions accessible with TIRM, and even allows measurements on highly reflecting gold surfaces where multiple reflections lead to a complex (z).