Parametric optical rectification due to the near-field interaction between nanosized metallic domains.

In this paper, we study parametric optical rectification that is not due to material properties but emerges from the electrostatic near-field interaction between nanosized metallic domains. The ability to demonstrate this effect comes from samples based on a unique slab waveguide with deeply buried nanometer-thin metallic layers. These samples intensify the presumed rectification mechanism while suppressing competing effects. We describe three experiments that, combined, indicate a non-material-based nonlinear mechanism in our samples. The origin of the nonlinear mechanism responsible for rectification is elucidated by invoking a toy model whose sole nonlinearity comes from the interaction between strictly linear oscillators.

Second-harmonic generation from subwavelength metal heterodimers.

We experimentally study the optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) from deep subwavelength gold-silver heterodimers, and silver-silver and gold-gold homodimers. Our results indicate a heterodimer SHG that is an order of magnitude more intense than that of the homodimers. In contrast, full-wave calculations that consider the surface and bulk contribution of individual particles, which is the conventional view on such processes, suggest that it is the silver-silver homodimer that should prevail. Based on the deep subwavelength dimension of our structure, we propose that the heterodimer nonlinearity results from a Coulomb interaction between lumped oscillating charges and not from the surface nonlinearity of each particle, as convention would have it. Our proposed model can explain the larger SHG emission observed in gold-silver heterodimers and reproduces its unique spectral lineshape.

Second-harmonic generation of electrostatic origin from extreme nanosized bi-metal structures.

We experimentally studied the second-harmonic generation from 5 and 25 nm-sized gold nanoparticles positioned 5-75 nm away from a thick silver layer. While known theories fail, a proposed model that takes into account the quasi-static interaction of the particles with the underlying silver layer shows good agreement with measured data. This agreement points to the possibility of nonlinear optics based on the interaction between extreme nanoscaled particles, rather than emanating from the particles themselves.

Toward Monolayered Solar Cells: Luminescence Properties and Light Soaking in TMDs.

The optical and photonic characteristics of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) play a pivotal role in their functionality as solar cell materials, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other electro-optical applications. In this study, we reveal the impact of prolonged illumination on the luminescence properties and Raman spectra of monolayered MoS2 and WS2─a process known as "light soaking". We find a light-induced transition from the physisorption to the chemisorption of ambient O2 and H2O molecules. In parallel, we observe the activation and passivation of defect sites in the samples (depending on their initial defect density), which is attributed to the adsorbed ambient molecules and the resulting light-driven interactions with defect sites. Thus, we can control the active defect density of monolayered TMDs and shed light on the fundamental mechanisms underlying their luminescence properties. Therefore, this work clarifies the source of changes to the luminescence properties of TMDs and opens the path toward their integration into advanced applications that may be affected by light soaking, such as solar cells and energy devices.

Singular polarimetry: evolution of polarization singularities in electromagnetic waves propagating in a weakly anisotropic medium.

We describe the evolution of a paraxial electromagnetic wave characterizing by a non-uniform polarization distribution with singularities and propagating in a weakly anisotropic medium. Our approach is based on the Stokes vector evolution equation applied to a non-uniform initial polarization field. In the case of a homogeneous medium, this equation is integrated analytically. This yields a 3-dimensional distribution of the polarization parameters containing singularities, i.e. C-lines of circular polarization and L-surfaces of linear polarization. The general theory is applied to specific examples of the unfolding of a vectorial vortex in birefringent and dichroic media.

Excitation of a single hollow waveguide mode using inhomogeneous anisotropic subwavelength structures.

We propose and analyze a general approach for coupling a free space uniformly polarized beam to a desired hollow waveguide mode, thus enabling a single mode operation. The required spatial polarization state manipulation is achieved by use of inhomogeneous anisotropic subwavelength structures. Demonstration is obtained by coupling a linearly polarized CO(2) laser beam at a wavelength of 10.6 mum to the TE(01), TM(01), EH(11), EH(21), and EH(31) modes of a 300 mum diameter dielectric-coated hollow metallic waveguide. Full polarization and intensity analysis of the beam at the waveguide's inlet and outlet ports indicates a high coupling efficiency to a single waveguide mode. Finally, shaping the waveguide mode to a nearly diffraction limited linearly polarized beam and to a radially polarized vectorial vortex are also demonstrated.

Light generated bubble for microparticle propulsion.

Light activated motion of micron-sized particles with effective forces in the range of micro-Newtons is hereby proposed and demonstrated. Our investigation shows that this exceptional amount of force results from accumulation of light-generated heat by a micron-sized particle that translates into motion due to a phase transition in the nearby water. High-speed imagery indicates the role of bubble expansion and later collapse in this event. Comparing observations with known models reveals a dynamic behavior controlled by polytropic trapped vapor and the inertia of the surrounding liquid. The potential of the proposed approach is demonstrated by realization of disordered optical media with binary light-activated switching from opacity to high transparency.

Manipulation of the Pancharatnam phase in vectorial vortices.

Linearly polarized vectorial vortices are analyzed according to their Pancharatnam phase and experimentally demonstrated using a geometric phase element consisting of space-variant subwavelength gratings. It is shown that in the absence of a Pancharatnam phase, stable vectorial vortices that have no angular momentum arise. In contrast, if a Pancharatnam phase is present the vectorial vortices have orbital angular momentum and collapse upon propagation.

Topological spin-orbit interaction of light in anisotropic inhomogeneous subwavelength structures.

Spin-orbit interaction resulting from spatial polarization state manipulation is demonstrated. Polarization-state manipulation is achieved by utilizing the effective birefringent nature of subwavelength structures acting as an anisotropic inhomogeneous medium. Experimental verification is obtained by measuring the effect of the unavoidable spin-dependent Pancharatnam-Berry phase modulation on the far-field diffraction pattern of the beam. Unlike the usual dynamic spin-orbit interaction that splits spin states in the temporal frequency (energy) domain, this topological spin-orbit interaction results in the splitting of spin states degenerated by their spatial frequencies (momentum).

Polychromatic vectorial vortex formed by geometric phase elements.

We propose the use of a geometric phase, obtained by spatial polarization state manipulations, for the formation of polychromatic vectorial vortices. Experimental demonstration is obtained by using Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements formed by a space-variant subwavelength grating etched on a GaAs wafer. We further demonstrate formation of scalar and unpolarized polychromatic vortices.

Metallic subwavelength structures for a broadband infrared absorption control.

We present a method to control the absorption of a resonator by using a subwavelength structure consisting of thin metallic plates that behaves as a metamaterial film. We demonstrate the ability to tailor the conductivity of such a metallic subwavelength structure to achieve a resonator with the desired impedance matching for the mid-infrared range. This approach provides for broadband, as well as broad-angle, enhanced absorption. Theoretical analyses, as well as experimental results of the optical properties of a metallic NiCr structure at 8-12 microm spectral range are introduced.

Vectorial vortex mode transformation for a hollow waveguide using Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements.

Transformation and inverse transformation between a free-space linearly polarized beam and the vectorial vortex mode of a circular hollow waveguide by use of Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements is proposed. Demonstration was achieved by fabricating GaAs subwavelength gratings and utilizing a 300 microm diameter hollow metallic waveguide for 10.6 microm wavelength CO(2) laser radiation. The mode transformations and the excitation of a single vectorial mode inside the hollow waveguide were verified by full polarization measurements. In addition, the inverse mode transformation of the single vectorial mode excitation in the waveguide enabled us to experimentally obtain a linearly polarized bright spot with a high central lobe.

Manipulation of polarization-dependent multivortices with quasi-periodic subwavelength structures.

Multiple vortices with different topological charges are formed by the use of two sequential geometric phase elements. These elements are realized by quasi-periodic subwavelength gratings. The first element is a spiral phase element and the second element is a spherical phase element. We provide a theoretical analysis and an experimental demonstration of the formation of the multiple vortices that comprise scalar vortices and a vectorial vortex.

Rotating vectorial vortices produced by space-variant subwavelength gratings.

A new class of vectorial vortex based on coherent addition of two orthogonal circularly polarized Bessel beams of identical order but with different propagation constants is presented. The transversely space-variant axially symmetric polarization distributions of these vectorial fields rotate as they propagate, while they maintain a propagation-invariant Bessel intensity distribution. These properties were demonstrated by use of discrete space-variant subwavelength gratings for 10.6 microm CO2 laser radiation. The polarization properties were verified by both full space-variant polarization analysis and measurements. Rotating intensity patterns are also demonstrated by transmitting the vectorial vortices through a linear polarizer.

Geometrical phase image encryption obtained with space-variant subwavelength gratings.

An optical encryption method based on a geometrical phase produced by space-variant polarization manipulation is presented. The decrypted picture is retrieved either by a polarization measurement of the beam emerging from the encrypted element or by a single intensity measurement of the beam transmitted through the encrypted element followed by an optical key element. Both elements are realized by use of computer-generated space-variant subwavelength dielectric gratings. Theoretical analyses of the optical concept are presented along with experimental results.

Thermal image encryption obtained with a SiO2 space-variant subwavelength grating supporting surface phonon-polaritons.

Space-variant partially polarized thermal emission is investigated. We show that by coupling surface phonon-polaritons to a propagating field, large anisotropy of the emissivity is obtained within a narrow spectral range. We experimentally demonstrate this effect by fabricating a space-variant subwavelength grating on a SiO2 substrate to encrypt an image in the polarization state of a thermal radiation field.

Space-variant polarization manipulation for far-field polarimetry by use of subwavelength dielectric gratings.

A method for polarimetric measurement that uses a discrete space-variant subwavelength dielectric grating is presented. One retrieves the polarization state by measuring the far-field intensity of a beam emerging from the grating followed by a polarizer. The analysis for a partially polarized, quasi-monochromatic beam is performed by use of the beam coherence polarization matrix along with an extended van Cittert-Zernike theorem. We experimentally demonstrate polarization measurements of both fully and partially polarized light.

Propagation-invariant vectorial Bessel beams obtained by use of quantized Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements.

Propagation-invariant vectorial Bessel beams with linearly polarized axial symmetry based on quantized Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements are described. The geometric phase is formed through the use of discrete computer-generated space-variant subwavelength dielectric gratings. We have verified the polarization properties of our elements for laser radiation at 10.6-microm wavelength and also demonstrated propagation-invariant, controlled rotation of a propeller-shaped intensity pattern through the simple rotation of a polarizer.

Formation of linearly polarized light with axial symmetry by use of space-variant subwavelength gratings.

We present a novel method for forming linearly polarized axially symmetric beams with various polarization orders that is based on computer-generated space-variant subwavelength gratings. We introduce and experimentally demonstrate that our space-variant polarization state manipulations are accompanied by a phase modification of a helical structure that results from the Pancharatnam-Berry phase. We have verified the polarization properties of our gratings for laser radiation at 10.6-microm wavelength.

Near-field Fourier transform polarimetry by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating.

We present a unique method for real-time polarization measurement by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating. The formation of the grating is done by discrete orientation of the local subwavelength grooves. The complete polarization analysis of the incident beam is determined by spatial Fourier transform of the near-field intensity distribution transmitted through the discrete subwavelength dielectric grating followed by a subwavelength metal polarizer. We discuss a theoretical analysis based on Stokes-Mueller formalism, as well as on Jones calculus, and experimentally demonstrate our approach with polarization measurements of infrared radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 microm.