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The 2D Bi2Te3 narrow bandgap semiconductor is an outstanding applicant for optoelectronics and thermoelectric devices. The doping of Se into Bi2Te3 makes metal-double chalcogenide more important. In the current investigation, the Se diffusion into the Bi2Te3 film by thermal annealing at different temperatures is probed through a temperature-dependent Raman study along with other characterizations. Upon annealing, the Se/Bi2Te3 films of ∼810 nm thickness resulted in significant changes to their structural, electronic, and optical behavior. The existence of a rhombohedral Bi2Te3 phase was confirmed by structural investigation. The improvement in crystallinity and decrease in lattice strain modified the optical behavior of the films. The morphology analysis showed a slight aggregation at the higher annealed stage. The uniform and homogeneous dispersal and the composition of elements in the film were verified through surface mapping and compositional analysis. The optical investigation revealed a drop in absorbance with increased transmittance. The direct optical bandgap increased from 0.53 ± 0.002 to 0.77 ± 0.002 eV, showing a blue shift. The non-linear refractive index decreased from 3.72 to 1.85 × 10−16 m2/W upon annealing. The temperature-dependent Raman analysis demonstrated a thermally induced significant vibrational change in the material with specific additional peaks at higher annealing. Such findings can be employed as a phase change material at very high temperatures. The obtained findings are very useful for optoelectronic applications. Surface wettability shows a reduction in hydrophilicity, thus inching toward a hydrophobic one with an increase in annealing temperatures. The enhancement in the photocurrent with the increment in the annealing temperature is more suitable for photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrational sum frequency spectra provide information about interfaces that is sensitive to the orientation of molecules, their electronic environment, and the local electric fields. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations in order to study a surfactant, para-cyanophenol, at the air–water interface. The volume fractions of water and the organic surfactant are considered at various points over the nanometer-scale region in a Lorentz–Lorenz model. We find that the calculated ratios of nonlinear susceptibility tensor elements are in agreement with experimental data only when this depth profile was considered. We also use these data to evaluate the ratio of the C–N hyperpolarizability tensor elements in the interfacial region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used surface plasmon resonant metal gratings to induce and probe the dielectric response (i.e., electro-optic modulation) of ionic liquids (ILs) at electrode interfaces. Here, the cross-plane electric field at the electrode surface modulates the refractive index of the IL due to the Pockels effect. This is observed as a shift in the resonant angle of the grating (i.e., Δϕ), which can be related to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte (i.e., Δnlocal). The reflection modulation of the IL is compared against a polar (D2O) and a non-polar solvent (benzene) to confirm the electro-optic origin of resonance shift. The electrostatic accumulation of ions from the IL induces local index changes to the gratings over the extent of electrical double layer (EDL) thickness. Finite difference time domain simulations are used to relate the observed shifts in the plasmon resonance and change in reflection to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte and the thickness of the EDL. Simultaneously using the wavelength and intensity shift of the resonance enables us to determine both the effective thickness and Δn of the double layer. We believe that this technique can be used more broadly, allowing the dynamics associated with the potential-induced ordering and rearrangement of ionic species in electrode–solution interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, design and fabrication of a dual-band near-zero index metamaterial (MTM) structure using copper on an epoxy resin fiber (FR-4) dielectric substrate is reported for refractive index sensing applications. The primary objective is to achieve dual-band operation spanning a 1–15 GHz frequency range, with a specific focus on achieving a broad bandwidth in the C-band. The resonance of the MTM structure was ascribed to the coupling of plane electromagnetic waves with surface plasmon polaritons on the structure, resulting in a quadrupole plasmon resonance mode. Furthermore, transmission characteristics of the fabricated MTM structure were experimentally measured and found to align closely with the simulated results obtained through the finite element method in COMSOL Multiphysics. The designed MTM structure demonstrates negative and near-zero permittivity at resonance frequencies, enabling left-handed and near-zero index behavior in dual microwave frequency bands. Under room temperature conditions, the MTM sensor exhibited sensitivities of 1 GHz/RIU and 3 GHz/RIU at resonance frequencies of 2.7 and 7.3 GHz, respectively. Consequently, the MTM structure exhibits significant potential for diverse applications, serving as a valuable component in sensors, detectors, and optoelectronic devices operating in the GHz region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical biosensors with their sensitivity, compact design, and reliability stand out as versatile tools capable of detecting a wide range of analytes. Recently, nanophotonic structures supporting bound states in the continuum (BIC) modes have been actively studied, which is especially interesting for biosensing applications due to their high quality (Q) factor and strongly localized electric field, achieving favorable interaction between field and nanometer scale analyte on the sensing surface. Herein, we demonstrate an optical label-free sensing by accidental or Friedrich–Wintgen (FW) BIC supported on silicon nitride gratings. We compared the sensing performance in terms of bulk, and surface sensitivity, and figure of merit with FW-BIC in the leaky regime and with a symmetry-protected (SP) BIC, which are also supported by the studied platform. We exploit the fact that for FW-BIC a high-Q factor up to 498 comparable to that of SP-BIC (up to 425) retains for a much larger set of interrogation angles, providing excellent interrogation stability. We observed that FW-BIC has slightly higher bulk sensitivity than SP-BIC [186 and 158 nm/RIU (refractive index unit), respectively], but at the same time similar characteristics in terms of surface sensitivity and figure of merit. In addition, we show that both BIC resonances are significantly superior in all respects to the leaky regime due to better field confinement. Finally, the surface of sensing device was also functionalized to detect a cardiac biomarker, myoglobin, exhibiting the limit of detection of 49 ng/ml with clinically relevant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new microwave metamaterial microstrip line (meta-MSL) is studied by integrating planar mushroom metamaterial structures into a conventional MSL. The meta-MSL is featured with an enhanced effective refractive index than the conventional, extracted from numerical demonstrations using the S-parameter method. The extraordinarily increased refractive index is found to be associated with weak dispersion and low dissipation loss, making the meta-MSL particularly beneficial to compact a microwave Wilkinson power divider (WPD). One metamaterial WPD (meta-WPD) is built using new meta-MSLs. Full-wave numerical calculations reveal that the new meta-WPD has low insertion losses, low reflections, and high isolations between the output ports, working as a good substitute for the conventional WPD. However, the new meta-WPD is exceptional in its small size, which is particularly useful in mobile and wireless applications where compact microwave components are in critical demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the frequency-dependent spectrum of ice Ih in the range of 0.2–2 THz. We confirm the presence of a feature that blue-shifts from around 1.55–1.65 THz with a decreasing temperature from 260 to 160 K. There is also a change in the trend of the refractive index of ice corresponding to a dispersion, which is also around 1.6 THz. The features are reproduced in data acquired with three commercial terahertz time-domain spectrometers. Computer-simulated spectra assign the feature to lattice translations perpendicular to the 110 and 1 ̄ 10 planes of the ice Ih crystal. The feature's existence should be recognized in the terahertz measurements of frozen aqueous solution samples to avoid false interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytical expressions for the cross-spectral density matrix elements of the partially coherent elegant Laguerre–Gaussian (eLG) vortex beam propagating through anisotropic turbulent plasma were derived based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle and used to study the changes in the polarization degree and the coherence degree of the partially coherent eLG vortex beam in the turbulent plasma. The numerical results show that the polarization degree of a partially coherent eLG vortex beam reaches a specific value (which is equal to the degree of polarization in the source plane) after a long propagation distance in the turbulent plasma. Moreover, this value is independent of the beam order, topological charge, correlation coefficient, wavelength of the source plane, anisotropy parameter, refractive index fluctuation variance, and outer and inner scales of the turbulent plasma. The results also show that with increasing distance, the coherence degree first decreases from unity and then oscillates around zero. However, this oscillation gradually disappears after traveling a long distance. Our results intuitively present the beam polarization and coherence properties through anisotropic hypersonic turbulence, which can be useful for optical communication in hypersonic turbulent environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of the refractive index in a medium by external stimuli enables fast and reversible control of light propagation. This technology for controlling light has led to new discoveries in a wide range of research fields from physics to life sciences and has played a major role in the development of photonics devices. In this article, we focus on ultrasound as an external stimulus and have devised a method to control the refractive index of a medium using ultrasound. Our research group has previously discovered that a giant refractive-index gradient (Δn on the order of 10−2) was induced when water was irradiated with high-frequency (100 MHz range), high-intensity (on the order of MPa) ultrasound. Here, we report ray-tracing simulations in a medium with a refractive-index gradient induced by ultrasonic radiation. A numerical model of the refractive-index gradient was developed based on the experimental data, and ray-tracing simulations were performed using the Euler–Lagrange equation. The ray-tracing simulation results were close numerically to the profiles of the laser beam observed in the experiment when the laser beam was incident on the refractive-index-gradient medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic water-splitting represents a promising avenue for clean hydrogen production, necessitating an in-depth understanding of the photocatalytic reaction mechanism. The majority of the photocatalytic materials need cocatalysts to enhance the photo-oxidation or reduction reactions. However, the working mechanism, such as collecting charge carriers or reducing the reaction barrier, is not clear because they disperse inhomogeneously on a surface, and it is difficult to follow the local charge carrier behavior. This study employs the pattern-illumination time-resolved phase microscopy (PI-PM) method to unravel the spatial charge carrier behavior in photocatalytic systems, utilizing time-resolved microscopic image (refractive index change) sequences and their clustering analyses. This approach is robust for studying the change in local charge carrier behavior. We studied two major cocatalyst effects on photocatalysts: TiO2 with/without Pt and hematite with/without CoPi. The PI-PM method, supported by charge type clustering and the effects of scavengers, allowed for the analysis of local activity influenced by cocatalysts. This approach revealed that the introduction of cocatalysts alters the local distribution of charge carrier behavior and significantly impacts their decay rates. In TiO2 systems, the presence of Pt cocatalysts led to a local electron site on the micron scale, extending the lifetime to a few tens of microseconds from a few microseconds. Similarly, in hematite films with CoPi, we observed a notable accumulation of holes at cocatalyst sites, emphasizing the role of cocatalysts in enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. The study's findings highlight the complexity of charge carrier dynamics in photocatalytic processes and the significant influence of cocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasmonic coupling between silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) under four polarization modes was examined: a longitudinal mode (L-mode), where the electric field of a linearly polarized incident light parallels the dimer axis, and three transverse modes (T-modes), where the electric field of the light is perpendicular to the dimer axis. The coupling was studied using the discrete dipole approximation followed by an in-house postprocessing code that determines the extinction (Qext), absorption (Qabs), and near-field (Qnf) spectra from the individual NPs as well as the whole system. In agreement with the literature results, the extinction/absorption spectra of the whole dimer have two peaks, one near the Ag localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) region and the other at the Au LSPR region, with the peak at Ag LSPR being reduced in all modes and the peak at Au LSPR being red-shifted and increased in the L-mode but not in the T-modes. It is further shown that the scattering at the Ag LSPR region is reduced and becomes less than the isolated Ag NPs, but the absorption at the Ag LSPR is increased and becomes greater than the isolated Ag NPs for the 50 nm Ag–Au heterodimer. This suggests that the scattering from Ag NPs is being reabsorbed by the neighboring Au NPs due to the interband electronic transition in Au at that wavelength range. The Qext from the individual NP in the heterodimer shows the presence of the Fano profile on the Au NP but not on the Ag NP. This phenomenon was further investigated by using a dielectric particle (DP) placed near the Ag or Au NPs. The Fano profile appears in the absorbing DP spectra placed near either Ag or Au NPs. However, the Fano profile is masked upon further increases in the refractive index value of the DP particle. This explains the absence of a Fano profile on the Ag NPs in the Ag–Au heterodimer. The large near-field enhancement on both Ag and Au NPs at the Au plasmonic wavelength in the L-mode for large NPs was investigated through a DP-Au system. The large enhancement was shown to arise from a large imaginary component of the DP refractive index and a small real component. Through examination of both the near- and far-field properties of the individual NPs as well as the whole system and examinations of DP-Ag and DP-Au systems, our study provides a new understanding of the couplings between Ag and Au NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrawide bandgap ZnGa2O4 (ZGO) thin films were grown on sapphire (0001) substrates at various growth temperatures with a perspective to investigate the electrical and optical characteristics required for high-power electronic applications. Due to the variation in the vapor pressure of Zn and Ga, severe loss of Zn was observed during pulsed laser deposition, which was solved by using a zinc-rich Zn0.98Ga0.02O target. A pure phase single-crystalline ZGO thin film was obtained at a deposition temperature of 750 °C and an oxygen pressure of 1 × 10−2 Torr. The out-of-plane epitaxial relationship between the sapphire and ZGO thin film was obtained from φ-scan. The x-ray rocking curve of the ZGO thin film grown at 750 °C exhibits a full width at half maximum of ∼0.098°, which indicates a good crystalline phase and quality of the thin film. Core-level x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of ZGO grown at 750 °C indicated that Zn and Ga were in the 2+ and 3+ oxidation states, respectively, and the atomic ratio of Zn/Ga was estimated to be ∼0.48 from the fitted values of Zn-2p3/2 and Ga-2p3/2. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed a sharp interface with the thickness of the ZGO film of ∼265 nm, and the signature of minor secondary phases was observed. The bandgap of the ZGO film at different growth temperatures was calculated from the ultraviolet-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy spectra, and its value was obtained to be ∼5.08 eV for the 750 °C grown sample. The refractive index (n) and the extinction coefficient (k) were determined to be ∼1.94 and 0.023 from the ellipsometric data, respectively, and the real dielectric function (ɛr) was estimated to be ∼6.8 at energy 5 eV. The ultrawide bandgap and dielectric function of ZGO recommend its possible potential applications in deep-ultraviolet optoelectronic devices and high-power electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise detection of target substances through refractive-index sensing is essential in various fields such as environmental monitoring, food assessment, and optical applications. This study demonstrates a real-time refractive index sensor based on a liquid-infiltrated metal-insulator-metal island (MIMi) structure in a lithography-free manner. In the MIMi structure, the top layer of the metal islands is formed through solid-state dewetting, which serves as an etching mask to form nanopillars in the insulator layer. This allows for the infiltration of external substances, resulting in different structural colors depending on the refractive index. This design results in a redshift of the resonance peak as the infiltrated refractive index increases. Furthermore, by adjusting the area fraction of the metal-island layer and etching depth of the insulator layer, the resonance-peak position can be controlled within the visible range according to the target refractive index. The advantages of our design are the use of cost-effective materials and the ability to implement scalable fabrication. Our proposed method offers a convenient method to sense the target refractive index in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we combine the concepts of magnetic circular dichroism, nanocavities, and magneto-optical hyperbolic metamaterials (MO-HMMs) to demonstrate an approach for sensing down to a few molecules. Our proposal comprises a multilayer MO-HMM with a square, two-dimensional arrangement of nanocavities. The magnetization of the system is considered in polar configuration, i.e., in the plane of polarization and perpendicular to the plane of the multilayer structure. This allows for magneto-optical chirality to be induced through the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect, which is exhibited by reflected light from the nanostructure. Numerical analyses under the magnetization saturation condition indicate that magnetic circular dichroism peaks can be used instead of reflectance dips to monitor refractive index changes in the analyte region. Significantly, we obtained a relatively high sensitivity value of S = 40 nm/RIU for the case where refractive index changes are limited to the volume inside nanocavities, i.e., in the limit of a few molecules (or ultralow concentrations), while a very large sensitivity of S = 532 nm/RIU is calculated for the analyte region distributed along the entire superstrate layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the structural relaxation of lithium silicate glass during isothermal physical aging by monitoring the temporal evolution of its refractive index and enthalpy following relatively large (10–40 °C) up- and down-jumps in temperature. The Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function aptly describes the up- and down-jump data when analyzed separately. For temperature down-jumps, the glass exhibits a typical stretched exponential kinetic behavior with the non-exponentiality parameter β < 1, whereas up-jumps show a compressed exponential behavior (β > 1). We analyzed these datasets using the non-exponential and non-linear Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan (TNM) model, aiming to provide a comprehensive description of the primary or α-relaxation of the glass. This model described both up- and down-jump datasets using a single value of β ≤ 1. However, the standard TNM model exhibited a progressively reduced capacity to describe the data for larger temperature jumps, which is likely a manifestation of the temperature dependence of the non-exponentiality or non-linearity of the relaxation process. We hypothesize that the compressed exponential relaxation kinetics observed for temperature up-jumps stems from a nucleation-growth-percolation-based evolution on the dynamically mobile regions within the structure, leading to a self-acceleration of the dynamics. On the other hand, temperature down-jumps result in self-retardation, as the slow-relaxing denser regions percolate in the structure to give rise to a stretched exponential behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that structural disorder-in the form of anisotropic, picoscale atomic displacements-modulates the refractive index tensor and results in the giant optical anisotropy observed in BaTiS3, a quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal the presence of antipolar displacements of Ti atoms within adjacent TiS6 chains along the c-axis, and threefold degenerate Ti displacements in the a-b plane. 47/49Ti solid-state NMR provides additional evidence for those Ti displacements in the form of a three-horned NMR lineshape resulting from a low symmetry local environment around Ti atoms. Scanning transmission electron microscopy is used to directly observe the globally disordered Ti a-b plane displacements and find them to be ordered locally over a few unit cells. First-principles calculations show that the Ti a-b plane displacements selectively reduce the refractive index along the ab-plane, while having minimal impact on the refractive index along the chain direction, thus resulting in a giant enhancement in the optical anisotropy. By showing a strong connection between structural disorder with picoscale displacements and the optical response in BaTiS3, this study opens a pathway for designing optical materials with high refractive index and functionalities such as large optical anisotropy and nonlinearity.

Optical metamaterials, sensing, nonlinear optics, and surface-enhanced spectroscopies have witnessed the remarkable potential of the anapole mode. While dielectric particles with a high refractive index have garnered significant attention in recent years, the exploration of plasmonic anapole modes with intense localized electric field enhancements in the visible frequency range remains limited. In this study, we present a theoretical investigation on the relationship between the strongest near-field response and magnetic anapole modes, along with their substantial enhancement of Raman signals from probing molecules. These captivating findings arise from the design of a practical metallic oblate spheroid–film plasmonic system that generates magnetic anapole resonances at frequencies within the visible–near-infrared range. This research not only sheds light on the underlying mechanisms in a wide range of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies but also paves the way for innovative nano-device designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong coupling of a confined optical field to the excitonic or vibronic transitions of a molecular material results in the formation of new hybrid states called polaritons. Such effects have been extensively studied in Fabry–Pèrot microcavity structures where an organic material is placed between two highly reflective mirrors. Recently, theoretical and experimental evidence has suggested that strong coupling can be used to modify chemical reactivity as well as molecular photophysical functionalities. However, the geometry of conventional microcavity structures limits the ability of molecules "encapsulated" in a cavity to interact with their local environment. Here, we fabricate mirrorless organic membranes that utilize the refractive index contrast between the organic active material and its surrounding medium to confine an optical field with Q-factor values up to 33. Using angle-resolved white light reflectivity measurements, we confirm that our structures operate in the strong coupling regime, with Rabi-splitting energies between 60 and 80 meV in the different structures studied. The experimental results are matched by transfer matrix and coupled oscillator models that simulate the various polariton states of the free standing membranes. Our work demonstrates that mechanically flexible and easy-to-fabricate free standing membranes can support strong light–matter coupling, making such simple and versatile structures highly promising for a range of polariton applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excitation and tuning of multiple resonances with narrow spectral width based on Brewster's effect is possible in an ultrathin dual-band terahertz absorber. The angular variation establishes a monotonic relation with the frequency of some generated resonances offering tunability. Moreover, burying a graphene ring resonator beneath the metallic ring splits the resonance for providing the triple narrow absorption windows. The electrical modulation offers the feature of independent tunability in the generated third absorption band. Thus, the frequency ratio of the upper to lower spectral absorption peak can be modulated by the electrically tunable Fermi energy of graphene. Engraving the graphene resonator also enhances the incident angle based tunability by affecting a greater number of Brewster generated resonance peaks. The narrow line shape of the triple band absorption can enable refractive index sensing and the detection of extraneous elements in localized analyte samples. The detection of imidacloprid pesticide in wheat flour is performed by the implemented sensor. The numerical analysis is done for the design and analysis of the absorber structures to report the above facts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, optical anapole resonances in nanostructures have attracted increasing attention due to the strong field confinement and substantially suppressed scattering. This study provides the results of three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations exhibiting the possibility of the anapole state in high refractive index dielectric nanohole array metasurfaces having different profiles of the holes (square, hexagon, and octagon). Behavior of the effective optical Kerr nonlinearity of the metasurfaces in the vicinity of the anapole state is investigated. Depending on the geometry, the absolute value of the effective nonlinear Kerr coefficient of the metasurface may be up to three orders of magnitude greater than that of the unstructured film. A square transverse section of the nanohole is preferable for the optical Kerr effect in the holey metasurfaces. The effect of the random rotation of the square holes representing the metasurface irregularity on the optical nonlinearity is examined. As a result, the dielectric nanohole array metasurfaces display a concrete possibility to have the anapole state with large enhancement of the optical nonlinearity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have effectively shown a technique for significantly altering the nonlinear saturable absorption (SA) properties of nanocomposite films (NCFs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) by regulating MoS2 concentration and input pulse energy of the laser. The NCFs are made using the straightforward drop-cast process on a glass substrate with varying quantities of MoS2. The produced NCFs' refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) values are determined using the Kramers–Kronig equations. Nonlinear studies show that the optical nonlinearity of pure PEDOT:PSS changes when mixed with MoS2. The Pauli blocking has been observed in MoS2/PEDOT:PSS NCFs. This leads to enhanced SA in NCF. The open-aperture Z-scan approach is used for the nonlinear optical research, and a nanosecond pulsed laser with a wavelength of 532 nm is used for the excitation. The findings obtained show the NCFs' strong SA qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An all-optical photoinduced lensing method is used to excite and monitor acoustic waves in liquids. Following optical absorption, the laser pulse induces a localized temperature gradient that launches pressure waves in the excited region at the nanosecond time scale. This generates a lens-like optical element in the sample. A probe laser beam senses the refractive index change due to the acoustic and thermal effects. Piezo-optic and thermo-optic coefficients govern how the refractive index of a material changes in response to mechanical stress and temperature variations, respectively. These effects are connected to the physical properties of the liquids and can be accessed by theoretically describing the intensity signal. A complete set of physical properties of ten liquids are quantitatively described in this work. These effects find applications in a wide range of fields, from optical communication, ultrasonic imaging, and sensing to adaptive optics and fundamental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to finding the optimal parameters of the HgTe/CdHgTe multi-quantum-well structure for the generation of two-dimensional plasmon-phonons under optical excitation. It is shown that a decrease in the bandgap and an increase in the number of quantum wells lead to two consequences. The first is a decrease in the nonequilibrium carrier threshold concentration and the threshold power density of optical excitation required for the plasmon-phonon gain. The second is a significant (tens of times) decrease in the effective refractive index of the generated plasmon-phonons, which improves the output of the plasmon-phonon radiation from the edge of the structure. The value of the optimal bandgap and the optimal number of quantum wells in the structure for plasmon-phonon gain are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luneburg lens is traditionally a spherical dielectric with centro-symmetric and graded refractive index, which has been widely applied in civilian and military fields due to its outstanding abilities of focusing or collimating electromagnetic waves. However, the existing designs of Luneburg lens generally suffer from the disadvantages of bulkiness, complex fabrication process, and limited scanning angles, etc. Herein, a planar metasurface that could mimic the planar Luneburg lens is designed by utilizing the addition theorem. It has been experimentally verified that the Luneburg-like lens has large and continuous scanning angles from − 52 ° to 52° at a frequency of 10 GHz if an excitation antenna is moved along a straight line. Besides, the total thickness of the proposed lens is only 3 mm and it has the advantages of low cost, ease of fabrication, as well as being isolated from the feeder. As a result, the proposed Luneburg-like lens has great potential values of being flexibly applied in numerous fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air refractive index alteration is an important research technique used to examine blast density and pressure. However, precise time-course measurements of refractive index changes at a fixed point caused by air blast waves are challenging due to the necessity for high precision and noise immunity. This study proposes a dual-probe, dual-frequency fiber-optic displacement interferometer that achieves nanometer-level accuracy and can tolerate light intensity fluctuations and transmission-fiber interference. The specially designed sensor enables the measurement of refractive index at a fixed point resulting from explosive-driven air blast waves, further allowing for obtaining the pressure and density information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exceptional points (EPs) are critical phase points in non-Hermitian systems, exhibiting fantastic physical phenomena and plenty of applications, such as unidirectional reflectionless and ultrahigh-sensitive detection of perturbations. Here, a non-Hermitian metasurface based on multilayers split-ring resonators (SRRs) is proposed with specific EP effects. By changing the angle of the SRRs and adjusting the geometric parameters of the metasurface, EPs are generated with topologically protected 2π-phase accumulation. A unique EP effect can be achieved in the THz region, and high-performance sensing of environment refractive index can be realized around the EP position. Therefore, this work demonstrates an EP-based sensing enhancement at non-Hermitian systems compared to Hermitian ones and paves the way for the design of high-performance THz sensors based on topological polaritonic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical constants of single-crystal AlxGa1−xP and AlxGa1−xAs have been widely studied at various Al compositions but have not yet been thoroughly investigated as polycrystalline materials. Using variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, we estimate and analyze the optical constants of polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P and Al0.9Ga0.1As that were non-epitaxially deposited at deposition temperatures of either 250 or 420 °C, and with various dopant species, dopant concentrations, and V/III flux ratios. For wavelengths of 350–400 nm, decreasing the V/III ratio increases the refractive index of Be-doped polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P. For wavelengths >500 nm, as the targeted Be dopant concentration increases for polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P, the amount the extinction coefficient increases and the indirect bandgap decreases depends on the V/III ratio. Furthermore, Si-doped polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P has significantly smaller extinction coefficient values than when it is Be-doped, for the same V/III ratio and targeted doping concentration, at wavelengths >500 nm. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that the dopant species, dopant concentration, and the V/III ratio dictate various types of defect concentrations, which then affect the optical constants and indirect bandgap of polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P. Additionally, for wavelengths >500 nm, we find that polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P and Al0.9Ga0.1As have the lowest extinction coefficient values when deposited at 420 °C, as opposed to 250 °C. Thus, we hypothesize that the deposition temperature is the most significant factor in dictating the optical constants of these polycrystalline III-Vs. Ultimately, this work demonstrates alternative methods to tune the optical constants of polycrystalline Al0.25Ga0.75P and Al0.9Ga0.1As, as opposed to tuning the Al composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments investigating the properties of deeply supercooled liquid water are needed to develop a comprehensive understanding of water's anomalous properties. One approach involves transiently heating nanoscale water films into the supercooled region for several nanoseconds at a time and then interrogating the water films after they have quenched to cryogenic temperatures. To relate the results obtained with this approach to other experiments and simulations on supercooled water, it is important to understand how closely the quenched structure tracks the (metastable) equilibrium structure of water as a function of the transient heating temperature. A key step involves quantifying the extent to which water that is transiently heated to ambient temperatures [hyperquenched water (HQW)] subsequently relaxes toward the structure of low-density amorphous (LDA) ice as it cools. We analyzed the infrared reflection–absorption spectra of LDA, HQW, and crystalline ice films to determine their complex indices of refraction. With this information, we estimate that HQW retains ∼50%–60% of a structural motif characteristic of water at high temperatures with the balance comprised of a low-temperature motif. This result, along with results from x-ray diffraction experiments on water and amorphous ices, allows one to quantify the fraction of the high-temperature motif at approximately zero pressure as a function of temperature from 150 to 350 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At optical frequencies, the collective excitation of the periodic array of metallic meta-molecules can support surface lattice resonances (SLRs) due to the coupling of localized surface-plasmon (LSP) resonances to Rayleigh anomaly diffraction. However, the LSP effect in metal blocks becomes negligible in the microwave region. Thus, how the SLRs behave in the microwave regime is very interesting. In this paper, a microwave metasurface consisting of periodic metallic cubes on an ultrathin dielectric substrate is investigated. Two high-Q transmission dips are found, which can be attributed, respectively, to electric-dipole SLRs (ED-SLRs) and magnetic-dipole SLRs (MD-SLRs), because of the non-resonant Rayleigh-like scattering of single cubes and diffraction coupling of the periodic array. The frequencies of both ED- and MD-SLRs are sensitive to the refractive index of the substrate, suggesting that the proposed metasurface may be used to measure the refractive index in the microwave range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a powerful method with high surface sensitivity that can be used to monitor the growth of even sub-monolayer films. However, analysis of ultrathin films is complicated by the correlation between the dielectric constant and thickness. This problem is usually resolved by fixing one or the other value, limiting the information that can be extracted. Here, we propose a method to determine unambiguously the refractive index, extinction coefficient, and thickness of a film when a transparent range is available in the energy range investigated. We decompose the analysis in three steps. First, the thickness of the film is determined from the transparent range of the film. Then, knowing the thickness of the layer, an initial estimation of the refractive index and extinction coefficient is made based on a first-order Taylor expansion of the ellipsometric ratio. Finally, using this estimation, a numerical iteration is done to ensure convergence of the fit toward the solution. A theoretical example of the method is given for two different thicknesses of TiO2 films. Finally, the method is applied to the experimental data measured during the atomic layer deposition of a thin film of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 grown on Si. The thickness, refractive index, and extinction coefficient are retrieved with high precision (respectively, 0.01 and 0.002) in the energy range of 3.5–6.5 eV. A detailed analysis is presented on the accuracy of the retrieved values and their dependency on random and systematic errors for different energy ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni-doped molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) powders at 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 7% of Ni are prepared by the hydrothermal method. Sophisticated analytical studies such as X-ray diffraction, Raman, TEM and photoluminescence (PL) were analyzed to predict their structural, morphological and optical properties. Effects of Ni-doping with MoS2 on crystalline structure, morphology as well their optical phenomenon were examined in detail. Ni doping on MoS2 revealed tetragonal crystal structure of the parent compound. A significant decrease in their optical energy gap (from 1.86 to 1.76 eV) was perceived with Ni doping concentration increment. PL intensity exhibited a considerable improvement with Ni-doped MoS2 samples at room temperature. From a theoretical viewpoint, the compact density matrix method is applied for Ni–MoS2 to calculate their linear and nonlinear absorption coefficients as well as refractive index modulations for undoped and Ni-doped samples at the focal points of their corresponding intra-band and inter-band transitions. Observed findings are well correlated with the practical results which prove that Ni–MoS2 layers are promoters for potential applications in optoelectronic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of five selected bulk chalcogenide glasses (Ge 28 Sb 6 Se 66 , Ge 19 Sb 17 Se 64 , Ge 12 Sb 25 Se 63 , Ge 28 Sb 12 Se 60 and As 40 Se 60) for broad wavelength range (0.3–15 μm) at the temperatures from room temperature up to glass transition temperature (with reserve). Temperature dependence of bandgap energy obtained from Tauc-Lorentz oscillator together with temperature dependence of refractive index for selected wavelengths (1.55, 3.4, 7.0 and 10.6 μm) where the studied materials are transparent are presented together with thermo-optic coefficients d E g /d T and d n /d T for these wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a distinguished luminescent matrix, rare earth (RE)-doped glass has garnered considerable attention across lighting, display, laser, and related domains. Nonetheless, the limited luminescent efficiency of such glass imposes constraints on its extensive utilization. In addressing this challenge, we have developed a novel formulation involving heavily Eu3+-doped black talc glass, boasting exceptional optical characteristics. Structural examination has validated the successful synthesis of the parent glass matrix comprising [SiO 4 ] and [AlO 4 ] units. With the escalating of Eu3+ doping concentrations, the glass manifested an upward trend in both density and refractive index. Under the excitation of 393 nm light, the glass exhibited strong red light emission, demonstrating a high internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of up to 84.67 %, surpassing markedly other Eu3+-doped glass variants. Furthermore, even under elevated temperatures reaching 150 °C, the glass retained 86.2 % of its luminescent intensity at room temperature, indicative of superior thermal resilience vis-à-vis alternative glass systems. As a proof-of-concept, we encapsulated a white light-emitting diode (W-LED) assembly employing a 395 nm LED chip, Eu3+-doped glass, BaMgAl 10 O 17 :Eu2+ blue phosphor, and Ba 2 SiO 4 :Eu2+ green phosphor. The resultant device exhibited favorable chromaticity coordinates (0.3566, 0.3994), boasting a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4791K and a high color rendering index (CRI) of 91. In summary, this investigation employs black talc ore to synthesize luminescent glass, thereby not only diversifying the application scope of black talc but also augmenting its additional value, while notably enhancing the luminescent efficiency of the glass through heavy Eu3+ doping. Through empirical validation, the significant potential benefits of Eu3+-doped black talc glass in the realm of W-LED lighting were convincingly demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niobium oxide (Nb 2 O 5) is widely used in optical and electrical fields because of its high refractive index, wide band gap, high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and high transparency in the ultraviolet to middle-infrared-wavelength range (0.35–7 μm). In this study, Nb 2 O 5 films with different crystalline phases were successfully prepared on BK7 and Si substrates through electron beam evaporation (EB) and post-annealing. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy analysis, the impact of the post-annealing technique on the structure, and optical and physical properties of Nb 2 O 5 films was thoroughly discussed at the molecular level. The crystal phase of an Nb 2 O 5 film and its molecular bonds considerably affect its properties. The Nb 2 O 5 (-12 1 2) film prepared in this study exhibited a higher LIDT (17.72 J/cm2) and a higher RMS (0.447 nm) than the corresponding films prepared in previous studies. Following the post-annealing process, the band gap and refractive index of the prepared films were significantly higher than those of the as-deposited film. Thus, this study has significant guiding implications for Nb 2 O 5 film applications and the development costs of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-reflection (AR) technology currently used in photovoltaic (PV) glass has reached its operational limit as the refractive index of existing materials cannot be lowered further. To overcome this, in this study, we selected formed methylsiloxane as an AR layer for PV glass. Its low refractive index (∼1.37) originates from the high content of methyl groups and the formation of voids during crosslinking. We acquired and compared the refractive index curves, conducted structural analyses, characterizations (optical, thermal, and surface), and performance evaluations to confirm the advantages of silicone as an AR layer for PV panels. The spreading and subsequent room-temperature self-curing characteristics of silicone considerably enhanced its applicability for upscaling and repair. The hydrophobic nature of the silicone AR layer imparted a new self-cleaning function to the solar panels; further, the methyl-silicone coating enhanced light transmission, resulting in electrical gain. Furthermore, the addition of the methyl-silicone layer created a refractive index gradient on the glass surface, making it fully compatible for use with the mainstream AR process, namely, the sol-gel method employed for PV glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, conventional melting techniques were employed to fabricate the fluorophosphate glass composites with a composition of 20NaF–60P 2 O 5 –20Na 2 O–3Fe 2 O 3 (mol.%). An investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of various doses of gamma-ray irradiation on certain optical properties. The alteration in the localized defects caused by gamma irradiation can explain the reduction in the refractive index (n) as the doses of gamma-ray irradiation increase, up to 10 kGy. The results of the solar skin protection factor (SSPF) and solar material protection factor (SMPF) tests demonstrate that the un-irradiated composite offers the highest level of protection against the harmful effects of solar energy on both human skin and materials. Some optical parameters, such as the concentrations of the charge carrier (N opt), the relaxation time (τ), the optical electronegativity (η opt), and the optical mobility (μ opt) showed gamma dose-dependent. The effects of gamma-ray irradiation on the composites were analyzed using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies, both before and after exposure to 10 and 20 kGy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the Schwarz primitive unit cell is used as the building block of different types of metastructures for steering and focusing elastic vibrations. The emergence of a Bragg-type bandgap when constructing a two-dimensional plate from such unit cells is experimentally validated. It is demonstrated that increasing both mass and porosity of the Schwarz primitive leads to a decrease in the frequency of the out-of-plane propagating wave targeted in this study. By arranging these modified Schwarz primitive unit cells in constant and graded layouts, two-dimensional plates with an embedded metabarrier and a metalens are numerically designed. The metabarrier protects an interior area of the plate from the propagating waves on a wide frequency band (approx. 1.4–3.4 kHz). Equally, the refractive index profile necessary for gradient index lenses is obtained via a progressive variation of the added mass or, alternatively, the porosity of the unit cell over a rectangular area. For the first time, bending of the out-of-plane mode towards the focusing point is practically validated in a challenging mesoscale experiment requiring the assembly of different three-dimensional printed sections of the plate. The increased porosity design is advantageous not only in terms of overall lightweight, but also towards additive manufacturing as it requires less material. This article is part of the theme issue 'Current developments in elastic and acoustic metamaterials science (Part 1)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General Relativity describes the trajectories of light-rays through curved spacetime near a massive object. In addition to gravitational lensing, we include an absorbing dielectric medium given by a complex refractive index known as the Drude model. When absorption is included the eikonal becomes complex, with the imaginary part related to the absorption along a ray between emission and observation points. We extend results from the literature to include dispersion in the index of refraction. The complex Hamiltonian splits into a real part that describes the equations of motion and a constraint equation that governs the momentum loss in the system. We work in coordinates which are fully real, with a real metric in physical spacetime. We assume the dust and plasma distributions of the Drude matter to coincide and vary as a power-law 1 / r h . We find that transmission requires h > 1, otherwise exponential absorption occurs along ray paths. We use ray-tracing through strongly absorbing matter near the surface of the compact star, as well as specializing to a point-lens in the weak-field limit with weakly absorbing matter to generate potentially observable light curves for distant observers. In the appropriate limits, our theory reproduces results from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research begins with the initial assessment of key physical properties—density (ρ), speed of sound (u), and refractive index (nD) in binary aqueous solutions of dorzolamide hydrochloride. These properties were measured in solutions with varying molalities, ranging from 0.0 to 0.0276, under standard atmospheric conditions and at temperatures between 300.15 and 320.15 K. From these measurements, we were able to calculate a range of important parameters, including the apparent molar volume (Vϕ), its limiting values ( V ϕ 0 ), limiting apparent molar expansivity ( E ϕ 0 ), Helper's constant ( ∂ 2 V ϕ 0 ∂ T 2 ), apparent molar isentropic compression (κϕ), and its limiting values ( κ ϕ 0 ), specific refraction (RD), molar refraction (RM), and hydration number (nh). These calculated values provided insights into the strong interactions between the solute and solvent in the liquid system. They also shed light on the presence of various molecular interactions, such as inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, dipole–dipole, and dipole-induced-dipole interactions, as well as the ability of the solute to influence the structure of the surrounding water molecules. Additionally, we derived the densities of dorzolamide hydrochloride solutions from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which showed a strong correlation with our experimental findings, underscoring the reliability of MD simulations in such studies. In the end, our combined study on dorzolamide hydrochloride in water demonstrates that it shapes structures because it has lower volumetric properties and stronger hydrogen bonds in MD simulations. More alchemical free energy calculations show that there are big changes in solvation energies. This is important for understanding how dorzolamide hydrochloride works in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of subvisible particles (SbVPs) are critical quality attributes of injectable and ophthalmic solutions in pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, current compendial SbVP testing methods, namely the light obstruction method and the microscopic particle count method, are destructive and wasteful of target samples. In this study, we present the development of a non-destructive SbVP analyzer aiming to analyze SbVPs directly in drug product (DP) containers while keeping the samples intact. Custom sample housings are developed and incorporated into the analyzer to reduce optical aberrations introduced by the curvature of typical pharmaceutical DP sample containers. The analyzer integrates a light-sheet microscope structure and models the side scattering event from a particle with Mie scattering theory with refractive indices as prior information. Equivalent spherical particle size under assigned refractive index values is estimated, and the particle concentration is determined based on the number of scattering events and the volume sampled by the light sheet. The resulting analyzer's capability and performance to non-destructively analyze SbVPs in DP containers were evaluated using a series of polystyrene bead suspensions in ISO 2R and 6R vials. Our results and analysis show the particle analyzer is capable of directly detecting SbVPs from intact DP containers, sorting SbVPs into commonly used size bins (e.g. ≥ 2 µm, ≥ 5 µm, ≥ 10 µm, and ≥ 25 µm), and reliably quantifying SbVPs in the concentration range of 4.6e2 to 5.0e5 particle/mL with a margin of ± 15 % error based on a 90 % confidence interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein concentration (PC) is an essential characteristic of cells and organelles; it determines the extent of macromolecular crowding effects and serves as a sensitive indicator of cellular health. A simple and direct way to quantify PC is provided by brightfield‐based transport‐of‐intensity equation (TIE) imaging combined with volume measurements. However, since TIE is based on geometric optics, its applicability to micrometer‐sized particles is not clear. Here, we show that TIE can be used on particles with sizes comparable to the wavelength. At the same time, we introduce a new ImageJ plugin that allows TIE image processing without resorting to advanced mathematical programs. To convert TIE data to PC, knowledge of particle volumes is essential. The volumes of bacteria or other isolated particles can be measured by displacement of an external absorbing dye ("transmission‐through‐dye" or TTD microscopy), and for spherical intracellular particles, volumes can be estimated from their diameters. We illustrate the use of TIE on Escherichia coli, mammalian nucleoli, and nucleolar fibrillar centers. The method is easy to use and achieves high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a toroidal metamaterial for achieving highly sensitive sensors in the terahertz (THz) frequency range is proposed. Such a subwavelength structure consists of a pair of mirror-symmetric metal split-ring resonators and a single metal wire. By exciting the structure with vertically incident electromagnetic waves, high-Q transmission peaks are generated at 2.40 and 2.44 THz. Near-field analysis reveals that the reverse-flowing currents in the metal split-ring resonators and the metal wire create a pair of magnetic dipoles connected end to end, resulting in a vortex-like magnetic field known as a toroidal dipole. Calculations of multipole scattering energy further confirm that the rapidly enhanced toroidal dipole is the primary factor responsible for the high-Q transmission peaks. This toroidal metamaterial can be used to design refractive index sensors with a sensitivity of up to 20 GHz/RIU, enabling the detection of subtle changes in the surrounding environment's parameters. Our strategy paves an alternative route to the development of highly sensitive sensors for biological and chemical molecules in the THz frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we numerically investigate a tunable and switchable metamaterial absorber operating in the mid-infrared region. The metamaterial structure comprises an array of metal–dielectric concentric nanodisks and a metal square patch on a substrate coated with thin dielectric and metal layers. The two dielectric regions induce two absorption bands, which can be independently tuned by changing the refractive index and geometrical parameters of the dielectric layers. In an optimised geometry, a dual-band to a single-band switchable frequency response is achieved by interchanging the refractive index of the dielectric layers. The origin of the resonant absorptions is traced to the simultaneous excitation of electric and magnetic fields in the dielectric regions. Due to architectural symmetry, the investigated structure is polarisation-insensitive and exhibits high absorption over a wide range of angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present a new algorithm for analyzing ray deflection within spherical refractive index fields. The algorithm emanates from the well-known deconvolution algorithm for axisymmetric refractive index fields using the inverse Abel transformation and can be used for experimental Rainbow Schlieren Deflectometry (RSD) data. It was numerically validated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations of free convection around an isothermal sphere and successive ray tracing through the determined temperature field. The algorithm determined radial temperature profiles and local Nusselt numbers from resulting deflection angles of the ray tracing simulations. An excellent agreement between original and reconstructed temperature field within the limits of assumptions was reached. This proves the usability of the algorithm for the experimental determination of spherical refractive index fields from future heat or mass transfer experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the optical properties of porous silicon (PSi), such as the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, bandgap, reflectivity and refractive index, were studied as a function of porosities ranging from 3% to about 40% by using a supercell model in an ab-initio pseudo-potential plane wave (PP-PW) method based on density functional theory (DFT). To validate these theoretical results, various PSi samples were prepared by varying the etching parameters to achieve similar porosities. The PSi samples were subjected to UV–vis spectrophotometry in order to measure their reflectivity. The refractive indexes predicted by DFT were compared to those obtained by the Fresnel equation and the effective medium approximation methods (EMA), particularly Bruggeman's, Looyenga's and del Rio's model (dRZW). These studies showed that the PSi dielectric constant decreases with increasing porosity, which is consistent with a decrease in the refractive index. In addition, as the porosity of PSi rises, the bandgap energy values increase, which is closely related to the decrease in the refractive index. For low porosity, DFT and Looyenga refractive indexes fit better than dRZW or Bruggeman. Furthermore, when the porosity is increased, DFT gives similar results as dRZW and is better than the Bruggeman method. Moreover, at medium porosity (28 or 40%), DFT and EMA models agree well with the experimental refractive indexes of PSi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]