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Authentication of a product's originality by anticounterfeiting labels represents a crucial point toward protection against forgery. Fast and scalable fabrication methods of original labels with a high degree of protection are in high demand for the protection of valuable goods. Here, we propose a simple strategy for fabrication of hidden security tags with IR luminescent readout by the direct femtosecond laser patterning of silicon-erbium-silicon sandwiched thin films. The choice of laser processing parameters makes possible the creation of random or quasi-regular self-organized surface nanotextures. The controlled laser-driven oxidation accompanying this process provides simultaneous regulation of the film's optical properties and spontaneous emission yield of the embedded Er atoms. The regimes are detected when optically similar patterned areas demonstrate different Er emission intensities, allowing us to create hidden security tags with facile readout at the C-band telecommunication wavelengths. The obtained results take another step toward the application of IR-luminescent erbium-based anticounterfeiting labels for covert and/or forensic security levels.

Electric field is a powerful instrument in nanoscale engineering, providing wide functionalities for control in various optical and solid-state nanodevices. The development of a single optically resonant nanostructure operating with a charge-induced electrical field is challenging, but it could be extremely useful for novel nanophotonic horizons. Here, we show a resonant metal-semiconductor nanostructure with a static electric field created at the interface between its components by charge carriers generated via femtosecond laser irradiation. We study this field experimentally, probing it by second-harmonic generation signal, which, in our system, is time-dependent and has a non-quadratic signal/excitation power dependence. The developed numerical models reveal the influence of the optically induced static electric field on the second harmonic generation signal. We also show how metal work function and silicon surface defect density for different charge carrier concentrations affect the formation of this field. We estimate the value of optically-generated static electric field in this nanoantenna to achieve ≈10 8 V/m. These findings pave the way for the creation of nanoantenna-based optical memory, programmable logic and neuromorphic devices., (© 2023. Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP), CAS.)

Conventional cancer therapy methods have serious drawbacks that are related to the nonspecific action of anticancer drugs that leads to high toxicity on normal cells and increases the risk of cancer recurrence. The therapeutic effect can be significantly enhanced when various treatment modalities are implemented. Here, we demonstrate that the radio- and photothermal therapy (PTT) delivered through nanocarriers (gold nanorods, Au NRs) in combination with chemotherapy in a melanoma cancer results in complete tumor inhibition compared to the single therapy. The synthesized nanocarriers can be effectively labeled with 188 Re therapeutic radionuclide with a high radiolabeling efficiency (94-98%) and radiochemical stability (>95%) that are appropriate for radionuclide therapy. Further, 188 Re-Au NRs, mediating the conversion of laser radiation into heat, were intratumorally injected and PTT was applied. Upon the irradiation of a near-infrared laser, dual photothermal and radionuclide therapy was achieved. Additionally, the combination of 188 Re-labeled Au NRs with paclitaxel (PTX) has significantly improved the treatment efficiency ( 188 Re-labeled Au NRs, laser irradiation, and PTX) compared to therapy in monoregime. Thus, this local triple-combination therapy can be a step toward the clinical translation of Au NRs for use in cancer treatment.

It is very natural to use silicon as a primary material for microelectronics. However, silicon application in nanophotonics is limited due to the indirect gap of its energy band structure. To improve the silicon emission properties, it can be combined with a plasmonic part. The resulting metal-dielectric (hybrid) nanostructures have shown their excellence compared to simple metallic dielectric nanostructures. Still, in many cases, the fabrication of such structures is time consuming and quite difficult. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a single-step and lithography-free laser-induced dewetting of bi-layer nanoscale-thickness gold-silicon films supported by a glass substrate to produce hybrid nanoparticles. For obtaining hybrid nanoparticles, we study nonlinear photoluminescence by mapping their optical response and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. This method can be used for the fabrication of arrays of hybrid nanoparticles providing white-light photoluminescence with a good control of their microscopic sizes and position. The developed approach can be useful for a wide range of photonic applications including the all-optical data processing and storage where miniaturization down to micro- and nanoscale together with an efficiency increase is of high demand.

Plasmonic nanosponges are a powerful platform for various nanophotonic applications owing to extremely high local field enhancement in metallic nanopores. The filling of the nanopores with high-refractive index semiconductors (e.g. Si, Ge, GaP, etc.) opens up opportunities for the enhancement of nonlinear effects in these materials. However, this task remains challenging due to the lack of knowledge on the integration process of metal and high-index semiconductor components in such nanoobjects. Here, we investigate metal-dielectric nanoparticles fabricated from bilayer Si/Au films by the laser printing technique via a combination of theoretical and experimental methods. We reveal that these hybrid nanoparticles represent the Au sponge-like nanostructure filled with Si nanocrystallites. We also demonstrate that the Au net provides strong near-field enhancement in the Si grains increasing the white light photoluminescence in the hybrid nanostructures compared to uniform Si nanoparticles. These results pave the way for engineering the internal structure of the sponge-like hybrid nanoparticles possessing white light luminescence and control of their optical properties on demand.

The coloration of stainless steel surface due to the formation of spatially periodic structures induced by laser pulses of nanosecond duration is demonstrated. The period of microstructures corresponds to the laser wavelength, and their orientation angle depends on the adjustment of laser polarization. The marking algorithm for the development of authentication patterns is presented. Such patterns provide several levels of protection against falsification (visual, colorimetric and structural) along with high recording speed and capability of automated reading.

A technology of laser-induced coloration of metals by surface oxidation is demonstrated. Each color of the oxide film corresponds to a technologic chromacity coefficient, which takes into account the temperature of the sample after exposure by sequence of laser pulses with nanosecond duration and effective time of action. The coefficient can be used for the calculation of laser exposure regimes for the development of a specific color on the metal. A correlation between the composition of the films obtained on the surface of stainless steel AISI 304 and commercial titanium Grade 2 and its color and chromacity coordinates is shown.

Purpose: The presented theoretical study investigates the influence of CFMA-like electromagnetic microstrip applicators (MAs) on ionizing radiation intensity and depth radiation dose distribution (DRDD) in irradiated tissues which are tightly covered with a MA., Methods: It is shown that at relatively low photon energy (<200 keV) the MA does not affect noticeable the profile of the DRDD curve and does not lead to skin overdosing. Nevertheless, it significantly (up to 20-35%) decreases the low energy ionizing radiation intensity. For high energy photons (>1 MeV), on the contrary, the decrease of radiation intensity, caused by the MA, is small (3-10%), but the profile of the DRDD curve, calculated by means of the Monte-Carlo method, is significantly affected., Results: The radiation dose maximum is shifted to the skin, resulting in possible skin overdosing. Radiation absorption characteristics of MA are calculated and compared with published parameters of EM horn and US applicators now in use for external simultaneous radiation and hyperthermia (ESRH) procedures. The MA provides the minor ionizing radiation absorption. Due to it and owing to their conformability with the tissue surface the MAs would not require any additional means or devices to be used for ESRH treatment procedures with any common ionizing radiation equipment., Conclusions: The necessity of development means for decreasing the time of radiation equipment occupation during ESRH procedures is pointed out.

According to the Russian norms, the permissible specific activity of 239Pu in the air and water are the lowest. Still the problem of low (compared to permissible) Pu activity measurement for environmental samples arises, for instance, in the case of radiation accident during transportation or storage of excess weapons-grade plutonium transferred to the civil sphere of utilisation. The base method of Pu activity measurement is alpha spectrometry by using silicon detector. A new model of alpha spectrometer, based on silicon surface-barrier detector with background level less than 1-3 pulses per day has been developed. A simple unfolding method for the determination of Pu activity of samples with various thickness based on alpha spectrum measurement has been also developed. L-X photon detection is also used for reducing the measurement threshold of Pu activity determination. A method based on detecting L-X photons of Pu, excited by X rays and beta particles, is applied for further reducing the threshold.