Changes In Polarization Properties Research Articles

The ever-surprising blazar OJ 287: multi-wavelength study and appearance of a new component in X-rays

We present a multi-wavelength spectral and temporal investigation of OJ 287 emission during its strong optical-to-X-ray activity between July 2016 - July 2017. The daily $\gamma$-ray fluxes from \emph{Fermi}-LAT are consistent with no variability. The strong optical-to-X-ray variability is accompanied by a change in power-law spectral index of the X-ray spectrum from $< 2$ to $>2$, with variations often associated with changes in optical polarization properties. Cross-correlations between optical-to-X-ray emission during four continuous segments show simultaneous optical-ultraviolet (UV) variations while the X-ray and UV/optical are simultaneous only during the middle two segments. In the first segment, the results suggest X-rays lag the optical/UV, while in the last segment X-rays lead by $\sim$ 5-6 days. The last segment also shows a systematic trend with variations appearing first at higher energies followed by lower energy ones. The LAT spectrum before the VHE activity is similar to preceding quiescent state spectrum while it hardens during VHE activity period and is consistent with the extrapolated VHE spectrum during the latter. Overall, the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) during high activity periods are a combination of a typical OJ 287 SED and an HBL SED, and can be explained in a two-zone leptonic model, with the second zone located at parsec scales, beyond the broad line region, being responsible for the HBL-like spectrum. The change of polarization properties from systematic to chaotic and back to systematic, before, during and after the VHE activity, suggest dynamic roles for magnetic fields and turbulence.

Probing the Large Faraday Rotation Measure Environment of Compact Active Galactic Nuclei

Knowing how the ambient medium in the vicinity of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is shaped is crucial to understanding generally the evolution of such cosmic giants as well as AGN jet formation and launching. Thanks to the new broadband capability now available at the Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), we can study changes in polarization properties, fractional polarization, and polarization angles, together with the total intensity spectra of a sample of 14 AGNs, within a frequency range from 1 to 12 GHz. Depolarization modeling has been performed by means of so-called “qu-fitting” to the polarized data, and a synchrotron self absorption model has been used for fitting to the total intensity data. We found complex behavior both in the polarization spectra and in the total intensity spectra, and several Faraday components with a large rotation measure (RM) and several synchrotron components were needed to represent these spectra. Here, results for three targets are shown. This new method of analyzing broadband polarization data through qu-fitting successfully maps the complex surroundings of unresolved objects.

Effects of induced birefringence in nanoscale heterostructures

The influence of a complex of elastic strains caused by technological stresses and external shear strains on the optical properties of cubic crystals has been analyzed. Data on the changes in optical symmetry of such crystals have been obtained. The changes in polarization characteristics of the radiation during propagation in both strained crystal and shear-strained nanoscale heterostructures have been studied. The effects of the acoustoelectronic and photoelastic deformation mechanisms on the changes in polarization properties of the radiation of nanoscale heterostructures have been compared.

Changes in polarization properties of partially polarized, partially coherent vectorial cosh-Gaussian beams propagating in oceanic turbulence

Changes in polarization properties of partially polarized, partially coherent vectorial cosh-Gaussian (ChG) beams propagating in oceanic turbulence are studied with the unified theory of coherence and polarization. Numerical examples of changes in optical intensity and polarization properties such as the degree of polarization, orientation angle, and degree of ellipticity of the beam propagating in the turbulent ocean are given. We find that both parameters of the source and oceanic turbulence have an effect upon the polarization properties of the beam. The degree of polarization fluctuates when the ChG beam propagates in the oceanic turbulence, and it has an obvious reconstruction phenomenon in the far-field zone.

Polarization changes in a partially coherent radially polarized doughnut beam through turbulent ocean

On the basis of the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral principle and unified theory of coherence and polarization of light, we studied the effects of oceanic turbulence on polarization properties of a partially coherent radially polarized doughnut (PCRPD) beam. The ocean-induced fluctuations in the refractive index are assumed be driven by temperature and salinity fluctuations. Numerical examples of changes in polarization properties, such as the degree of polarization, the degree of ellipticity, and the orientation angle in the oceanic turbulence for the PCRPD beam, are given. Our analysis demonstrates how polarization of the PCRPD beam is affected by statistical properties of the source and by several parameters of oceanic turbulence. We find that the propagation of the PCRPD beam is different from that of stochastic beams in oceanic turbulence. The degree of polarization for the PCRPD beam approaches a certain steady value, and the elliptical polarized state of the fully polarized portion of the beam will become fully linear in the far field.

Evaluation of {112̄2} Semipolar Multiple Quantum Wells Using Relaxed Thick InGaN Layers with Various In Compositions

We have succeeded in the growth of a high-quality semipolar {112̄2} GaN layer on an r-plane patterned sapphire substrate (r-PSS). In this study, we fabricated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using relaxed thick InGaN layers with various In compositions. There were significant changes in polarization properties, indicating lattice mismatch reduction due to the use of a relaxed thick InGaN layer. Electroluminescence (EL) intensity was improved by using a relaxed thick InGaN layer with low In composition. In particular, the EL intensity improved approximately twofold compared with that in the case of LEDs without relaxed thick InGaN layers at an injection current of 200 mA.

Conductivity, polarization and electrorheological activity of polyaniline nanotubes during thermo-oxidative treatment

A facile thermal oxidation method in air is suggested to treat chemically synthesized conducting polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes in order controllably to decrease the conductivity. The structure, morphology and conductivity were characterized, and the polarization and electrorheological (ER) properties of nanotubes when dispersed in insulating oil were measured as a function of the thermal-oxidative time. Results showed that the appropriate thermal oxidation treatment did not destroy the nanotube morphology but induced the deprotonation and oxidation of PANI backbone. As a result, the conductivity was decreased and the polarization properties were changed. The nanotubes obtained after thermal oxidation at 200 °C for 4 h demonstrated the optimal ER performances. The ER activity decreased as the thermal oxidation time increased, and this could be explained by the change of polarization properties.

The first IRAM/PdBI polarimetric millimeter survey of active galactic nuclei

We have studied the linear polarization of 86 active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the observed frequency range 80-267 GHz (3.7-1.1mm in wavelength), corresponding to rest-frame frequencies 82-738 GHz, with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI). The large number of measurements, 441, makes our analysis the largest polarimetric AGN survey in this frequency range to date. We extracted polarization parameters via earth rotation polarimetry with unprecedented median precisions of ~0.1% in polarization fractions and ~1.2 degrees in polarization angles. For 73 of 86 sources we detect polarization at least once. The degrees of polarization are as high as ~19%, with the median over all sources being ~4%. Source fluxes and polarizations are typically highly variable, with fractional variabilities up to ~60%. We find that BLLac sources have on average the highest level of polarization. There appears to be no correlation between degree of polarization and redshift, indicating that there has been no substantial change of polarization properties since z~2.4. Our polarization and spectral index distributions are in good agreement with results found from various samples observed at cm/radio wavelengths; thus our frequency range is likely tracing the signature of synchrotron radiation without noticeable contributions from other emission mechanisms. The "millimeter-break" located at frequencies >1 THz appears to be not detectable in the frequency range covered by our survey.

Polarized Raman Spectra of Molten Carbonates Influenced by the Surface Acidity of the Coexisting Inorganic Powder

Raman spectra and the polarization behaviors of molten alkali carbonates coexisting inorganic powder were measured. The deformation and the change of polarization properties by the coexisting with the solid phase are discussed. The symmetry of the band shape of the Raman spectra for CO32− stretching band (ν1) was deformed asymmetrically by coexisting with α-Al2O3 powder. The deconvolution of spectra of mixtures exhibited two band components. The observed bands are evidence of the existence of two different types of CO32− ions in these systems. Raman depolarization ratio for molten carbonate systems increases from the base line with the decrease of the apparent average thickness. The degree of the anomalous behavior of the molten carbonate by the solid phase have been observed in the order of α-Al2O3>γ-LiAlO2>ZrO2 which is related to the surface acidity defined by the value of point of zero charge (pzc). Consequently, the carbonate ion is deformed asymmetrically by coexisting with inorganic oxide powder.

Experimental determination of electric cross-spectral density matrix and generalized Stokes parameters for a laser beam

We report an experimental method to determine the elements of the electric cross-spectral density matrix for laser light. For this purpose an additional setup consisting of mirrors and reflecting prisms is utilized with the conventional Young's interferometer to overcome existing experimental limitations. The generalized Stokes parameters, which are the characteristics of two spatial points of the electromagnetic field, are also obtained for a pair of points. The knowledge of these two quantities might be useful in determining the change in polarization properties of light in propagation and their effects in optical measurements.

Free-electron laser diagnosis by polarization analysis of Thomson backscattered light

The polarization properties of backscattered radiation from a relativistic electron beam are analyzed. It is shown that the polarization state of the backscattered radiation is changed with respect to that of the incoming radiation whenever a transverse component is present in the velocity distribution of the electron beam. Changes of polarization properties are evaluated in order to serve as a diagnostic tool for electron-beam parameters relevant to the performance of free-electron lasers, namely the beam emittance and the wiggler parameter. A measurable dimensionless ‘‘depolarization parameter’’ is introduced which directly measures these two parameters.

Optical depolarization changes on the diffraction pattern in the transition of skinned muscle fibers from relaxed to rigor state

Light diffraction spectra from single or small bundles of skinned striated muscle fibers show large changes in polarization properties when muscles are placed into rigor. The technique of combining optical diffraction and ellipsometry measurements has previously been shown by Yeh and Pinsky to be a sensitive probe of periodic anisotropic regions of the fiber. In the present work, using this method, the observed spectrum shows marked decrease in the measured phase angle, delta, as the fiber approaches the rigor state. The degree of phase angle change is a function of sarcomere length: Maximum overlap of approximately 2.3 microns gives the most change in delta a delta delta R-R approximately 35 degrees decrease for a bundle of three fibers. At a sarcomere length of 2.9 microns this delta delta R-R value is only 10 degrees. At a nonoverlapping length of approximately 3.8 microns, delta does not vary at all upon the removal of ATP. The rigor state was confirmed by stiffness measurements made after small-amplitude (0.75%), quick length changes. Upon re-relaxation, the stiffness of the skinned fiber decreased to the value of the resting state (4 mM ATP) and the phase angle delta returned to its original value. A model based on either anisotropic subunit-2 (S-2) movements or other cross-bridge-related structural anisotropy (form birefringence) changes during the relaxed-rigor transition is suggested.