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In dense multiple scattering media, optical fields evolve through both homogeneous and evanescent waves. New regimes of light transport emerge because of the near-field coupling between individual scattering centers at mesoscopic scales. We present a novel propagation model that is developed in terms of measurable far- and near-field scattering cross sections. Our quantitative description explains the increase of total transmission in dense scattering media and its accuracy is established through both full-scale numerical calculations and enhanced backscattering experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trigger for biomineralization of metazoans in the terminal Ediacaran, ca. 550 Ma, has been suggested to be the rise of oxygenation or an increase in seawater Ca concentration, but geochemical and fossil data have not been fully integrated to demonstrate cause and effect. Here we combine the record of macrofossils with early marine carbonate cement distribution within a relative depth framework for terminal Ediacaran to Cambrian successions on the eastern Siberian Platform, Russia, to interrogate the evolution of seawater chemistry and biotic response. Prior to ca. 545 Ma, the presence of early marine ferroan dolomite cement suggests dominantly ferruginous anoxic "aragonite-dolomite seas", with a very shallow oxic chemocline that supported mainly soft-bodied macrobiota. After ca. 545 Ma, marine cements changed to aragonite and/or high-Mg calcite, and this coincides with the appearance of widespread aragonite and high-Mg calcite skeletal metazoans, suggesting a profound change in seawater chemistry to "aragonite seas" with a deeper chemocline. By early Cambrian Stage 3, the first marine low-Mg calcite cements appear, coincident with the first low-Mg calcite metazoan skeletons, suggesting a further shift to "calcite seas". We suggest that this evolution of seawater chemistry was caused by enhanced continental denudation that increased the input of Ca into oceans so progressively lowering Mg/Ca, which, combined with more widespread oxic conditions, facilitated the rise of skeletal animals and in turn influenced the evolution of skeletal mineralogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much uncertainty remains as to the temporal relationship between the Ediacaran and Cambrian biotas, yet this is critical to our understanding of the rise of metazoans. Here we present new high-resolution carbon isotope chemostratigraphy and biostratigraphy for a terminal Ediacaran to Cambrian succession on the eastern Siberian Platform, Russia, which shows the presence of a succession of diverse fossil assemblages before the start of the basal Cambrian negative carbon isotope excursion (BACE). Soft-bodied Ediacaran biota (Beltanelliformis) occur before the start of the late Ediacaran positive carbon isotope plateau (EPIP), a mixed Ediacaran and Cambrian skeletal biota (Cloudina, Anabarites, Cambrotubulus) appears within the EPIP, and diverse Cambrian-type small shelly fossils including Protohertzina and other protocondonts, halkieriids, chancelloriids, hyoliths, hyolithelminthes, and the burrowing trace fossil Diplocraterion appear at the beginning of the BACE. These integrated data show that taxa attributed to so-called Ediacaran and earliest Cambrian skeletal biotas in fact overlap without notable biotic turnover, and thus refute the presence of a large isotope excursion coincident with mass extinction of all Ediacaran biota. We propose a new biozone, the Cloudina-Namacalathus-Sinotubulites Assemblage Zone, to precede the known small shelly fossil (SSF) zones. These observations raise doubts as to whether there is any true separation between the Ediacaran and Cambrian skeletal biotas, and suggest that there is a deep root for the Cambrian explosion of metazoans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial coherence function (SCF) is a complex function of two spatial coordinates that, in general, carries more information than the bare intensity distribution. A fast and quantitatively accurate measurement of the SCF is extremely important for a range of applications in optical sensing and imaging. Here, we demonstrate an efficient two-step procedure for measuring the full-field complex coherence function. The measurement relies on an optimized design of a wavefront shearing interferometer capable of characterizing spatially inhomogeneous fields over an extended angular domain. The measurement precision is confirmed by the excellent agreement with a numerical estimation based on Fresnel calculations. We demonstrate that the sensitivity and the measurement range afforded by our instrument permits us to reliably describe the differences in the complex coherence functions that are due to subtle modifications in the shape, position, and orientation of radiation sources.

The traditional Monte Carlo technique of photon transport in random media describes only single point properties of light, such as its intensity. Here we demonstrate an approach that extends these capabilities to simulations involving properties of spatial coherence, a two-point characteristic of light. Numerical experiments illustrate the use of this Monte Carlo technique for describing the propagation of partially spatially coherent light through random multiply scattering media.

Undoubtedly, laser tweezers are the most recognized application of optically induced mechanical action. Their operation is usually described in terms of conservative forces originating from intensity gradients. However, the fundamental optical action on matter is non-conservative. We will review different manifestations of non-conservative optical forces (NCF) and discuss their dependence on the specific spatial properties of optical fields that generate them. New developments relevant to the NCF such as tractor beams and transversal forces are also discussed.

In classical diffraction theory, Babinet's principle relates the electromagnetic fields produced by complementary sources. This theorem was always formulated for single-point quantities, both intensities or field amplitudes, in conditions where the full spatial coherence is implicitly assumed. However, electromagnetic fields are, in general, partially coherent, and their spatial properties are described in terms of two-point field-field correlation functions. In this case, a generalized Babinet's principle can be derived that applies to the spatial coherence functions. We present both the derivation and the experimental demonstration of this generalized Babinet theorem.

Advection is critical for efficient mass transport. For instance, bare diffusion cannot explain the spatial and temporal scales of some of the cellular processes. The regulation of intracellular functions is strongly influenced by the transport of mass at low Reynolds numbers where viscous drag dominates inertia. Mimicking the efficacy and specificity of the cellular machinery has been a long time pursuit and, due to inherent flexibility, optical manipulation is of particular interest. However, optical forces are relatively small and cannot significantly modify diffusion properties. Here we show that the effectiveness of microparticle transport can be dramatically enhanced by recycling the optical energy through an effective optical advection process. We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that this new advection mechanism permits an efficient control of collective and directional mass transport in colloidal systems. The cooperative long-range interaction between large numbers of particles can be optically manipulated to create complex flow patterns, enabling efficient and tunable transport in microfluidic lab-on-chip platforms.

The optical size and intrinsic material properties of scattering particles introduce inherent restrictions on their scattering patterns. We show that large size, core-shell dielectric structures with spherical symmetry provide the necessary flexibility for exciting higher-order spherical modes and, consequently, allow us to control the directivity of the scattered radiation. Significant scattering can be generated over angular domains that were formerly believed to be accessible only to dipolar scattering.

The symmetry in action and reaction between interacting particulate matter breaks down when the interaction is mediated by an out-of-equilibrium environment. Nevertheless, even in this case, the space translational invariance still imposes the conservation of canonical momentum. Here we show that optical binding of an asymmetric material system can result in non-reciprocal interactions between constituents. We demonstrate that a non-conservative force applies to the center of mass of an optically bound dimer of dissimilar particles, which leads to an unexpected action in the transversal direction. The sign and the magnitude of this positional force depend on the abrupt phase transitions in the properties of the asymmetric dimer.