Reflectance Modulation Research Articles

Research on the fiber intensity modulation model of superconducting magnetic levitation rotor.

The measurement of the pole axis deviation angle of superconducting magnetic levitation rotors plays a crucial role in the field of high-precision navigation. This article conducts theoretical analysis and experimental research on the diffuse reflection intensity modulation principle of optical fiber sensors and the ideal diffuse reflection modulation model under ideal conditions. First, the structural distribution of optical fiber sensors is presented, and the principle of measuring the polar deviation angle of superconducting magnetic levitation rotors is analyzed. Then, based on the diffuse reflection intensity modulation principle, an optical fiber intensity modulation model for ideal superconducting magnetic levitation rotors is established. The correctness of this model was verified through simulation and calibration experiments, and the error between the simulation and experimental results was less than 8%.

Coded digital inspired tunable metamaterial absorber based on liquid crystals

This paper proposes a fully electrically controlled metamaterial absorber based on liquid crystal (LC) in the terahertz band. The proposed structure consists of a metal resonant and grating layers, with LC injected into the formed cavity. By encoding the grating and applying different voltages, LC molecules are selectively oriented in specific regions within the structure, enabling rapid switching between various specific absorption states. Experimental results indicate that rapid responses for five states can be achieved within the frequency range from 116.5 GHz to 121.8 GHz. Compared to traditional LC absorbers, this structure allows reflection modulation through different bias voltages and enables fast modulation of specific states through grating encoding.

Thermo‐Optical Switches Based on Spin‐Crossover Molecules with Wideband Transparency

AbstractIn this work, a thermally tunable optical resonator operating in the visible wavelength range is reported, which consists of a bilayer structure composed of a thin silver layer and a dielectric coating of [Fe(HB(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)3)2] switchable spin‐crossover (SCO) molecules. White light is coupled to the resonant structure using a prism and the resulting resonance spectra are investigated as a function of the incident angle and temperature. Switching the SCO molecules from the low‐spin to the high‐spin state gives rise to a substantial blueshift of the resonances reaching up to 30 nm (associated with a reflectance modulation of up to 70%), which can be linked, through transfer‐matrix simulations, to the variation of the optical thickness of the molecular layer. Interestingly, the study demonstrated that the large thermal tunability of the device also gives rise to a photothermal nonlinearity, which can be leveraged for achieving optical limiting applications. Overall, through the present study, it is shown that molecular SCO nanomaterials can be superior to commonly used thermo‐optical switches and well‐established optical phase‐change materials for applications requiring high broadband optical transparency in the visible spectral domain.

Origami metamaterials for ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation

The dynamic control of electromagnetic waves is a persistent pursuit in modern industrial development. The state-of-the-art dynamic devices suffer from limitations such as narrow bandwidth, limited modulation range, and expensive features. To address these issues, we fuse origami techniques with metamaterial design to achieve ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation. Through a folding process, our proposed metamaterial achieves over 10-dB modulation depth over 4.96 – 38.8 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 155% and tolerance to incident angles and polarizations. Its ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation performance is verified through experiments and analyzed through multipole decomposition theory. To enhance its practical applicability, transparent conductive films are introduced to the metamaterial, achieving high optical transparency (>87%) from visible to near-infrared light while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Benefiting from lightweight, foldability, and low-cost properties, our design shows promise for extensive satellite communication and optical window mobile communication management.

Reflection modulation generated by scale-free network resonator periodic structure

The pattern of resonator in a periodical array is decisive for its response under impinging electromagnetic wave. A scale-free network resonator is proposed by connecting sub-units in the form of scale free network. Scale-free network resonator array’s reflectivity near resonant frequency could be modulated at arbitrary value between zero and unity, which is different from known resonator array or frequency selective surface. Reflection amplitude modulation could generate rich behaviors, as effective medium property in wide band could be maintained near zero constant, which means zero phase shift and is favorable in radar radome structure. S-parameter analysis indicates amplitude modulation is owing to polarization conversion generated by network links. Scale-free network resonator array has application potentials in future radar radomes, electromagnetic wave lens and microwave antenna panels.

Design Optimization of Silicon-Based Optically Excited Terahertz Wave Modulation

The modulation of a terahertz (THz) wave on amplitude, phase and polarization is important for the application of THz technology, especially in the field of imaging, and is one of the current research hotspots. Silicon-based, optically excited THz modulator is a wavefront modulation technique with a simple, compact and reconfigurable optical path. It can realize the dynamic modulation of THz wavefronts by only changing the projected two-dimensional pattern, but it still suffers from the problems of lower modulation efficiency and slower modulation rates. In this article, the Drude model in combination with the multiple thin layers structure model and Fresnel matrix method is used to compare the modulation efficiencies of three modulation modes and more factors. The method is more accurate than the popular proposed method, especially when the thickness of the excited photoconductive layers reaches a few hundred microns. In comparing the three modes, namely transmission, ordinary reflection and total internal reflection, it is found the total internal reflection modulation mode has the best modulation efficiency. Further, under this mode, the effects of three factors, including the lifetime of photo-excited carriers, the wavelength of pump light and the frequency of THz wave, on the performance of THz modulator are analyzed. The simulation results show that the realization of total internal reflection using silicon prisms is a simple and effective method to improve the modulation efficiency of a silicon-based optically excited THz modulator, which provides references for the design of a photo-induced THz modulator.

Field-Induced Hybridization of Moiré Excitons in MoSe_{2}/WS_{2} Heterobilayers.

We study experimentally and theoretically the hybridization among intralayer and interlayer moiré excitons in a MoSe_{2}/WS_{2} heterostructure with antiparallel alignment. Using a dual-gate device and cryogenic white light reflectance and narrow-band laser modulation spectroscopy, we subject the moiré excitons in the MoSe_{2}/WS_{2} heterostack to a perpendicular electric field, monitor the field-induced dispersion and hybridization of intralayer and interlayer moiré exciton states, and induce a crossover from type I to type II band alignment. Moreover, we employ perpendicular magnetic fields to map out the dependence of the corresponding exciton Landé g factors on the electric field. Finally, we develop an effective theoretical model combining resonant and nonresonant contributions to moiré potentials to explain the observed phenomenology, and highlight the relevance of interlayer coupling for structures with close energetic band alignment as in MoSe_{2}/WS_{2}.

Dual-stimuli responsive chromatic cholesteric fibres with programmable structural-colour

An active dual-stimulus responsive coloured cholesteric fibre that enables orthogonal modulation of reflection bands and reflectance by optical and gaseous means, respectively.

Reflective Index Modulation for IRS Assisted Integrated Data and Energy Transfer

Reflective Index Modulation for IRS Assisted Integrated Data and Energy Transfer

Bio-inspired hierarchical wrinkles for tunable infrared reflectance

Wrinkles with large infrared emissivity regulation are attractive for thermal management. Here we present the design and preparation of hierarchical wrinkles (H-wrinkles) of POE-POE/Al, which exhibit a high reflectance modulation range from 0.60 to 0.16 upon mechanical actuation. The POE-POE/Al primary wrinkles (P-wrinkles) with optimum structure factors are prepared by hot-pressing. According to the FDTD calculation, the infrared absorption by plasma resonance in periodic structure mainly occurs at the troughs. Hierarchical troughs would further promote the infrared absorption by dual plasma resonance. Then sub-troughs via mechanical instability are introduced in the primary troughs according to prediction of theoretical analysis. When placed on a hot stage of 40°C, a temperature difference of ∼5.3°C is obtained for the H-wrinkles before and after a uniaxial stretching of 150%. Meanwhile, when being covered on the artificial skin, the H-wrinkles could achieve a dynamic temperature modulation of ∼1.4°C upon mechanical actuation. The study offers a strategy for preparation of the biomimetic wrinkles with high infrared modulation ability for applications in infrared camouflage and thermal management.

Tunable Radiative Cooling by Mechanochromic Electrospun Micro-Nanofiber Matrix.

Radiative thermoregulation has been regarded as an energy-efficient method for thermal management. In this study, the development of a mechanoresponsive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-nanofiber matrix capable of both sub-ambient radiative cooling and solar heating is presented, achieved through a core-shell electrospinning technique. The electrospun PDMS micro-nanofibers, with diameters comparable to the solar wavelengths, exhibit excellent solar reflectivity (≈93%) while preserving its pristine high infrared (IR) emissivity. As a result, the electrospun PDMS radiative cooler (EPRC) successfully demonstrated sub-ambient radiative cooling performance (≈3.8°C) during the daytime. Furthermore, the exceptional resilient property of PDMS facilitated the reversible alteration of the structural morphology created by the fiber-based matrix under mechanical force, resulting in the modulation of solar reflectivity (≈80%). The precise modulation of solar reflectivity enabled reversibly switchable multi-step radiative thermoregulation, offering enhanced flexibility in addressing varying thermal environments even in maintaining the desired temperature. The findings of this work offer a promising approach toward dynamic radiative thermoregulation, which holds significant potential for addressing global climate change concerns and energy shortage.

Giant photoinduced reflectivity modulation of nonlocal resonances in silicon metasurfaces

Giant photoinduced reflectivity modulation of nonlocal resonances in silicon metasurfaces

Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells with Homogeneous Transmission and Colorful Reflection Enabled by an ITO-Free Microcavity Architecture.

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs), owing to the merits of high power generation, thermal insulation, and aesthetic features, have become a promising candidate for intellectual building- integrated photovoltaic windows. However, the traditional optical evaluation only focuses on the transmission properties and ignores the reflection behaviors. And the lack of quantitative descriptions for array appearance hinders implementation of ST-OPV based large-area modules. To tackle with these issues, an indium tin oxide (ITO)-free optical microcavity architecture into ST-OPVs for achieving high homogeneity in transmittance with controllable reflective appearances through tunning the thickness of individual component layers is introduced. A set of parameters based on optical characteristics of sub-units to provide a quantitative description for the transmittance brightness, transmissive and reflective color purity, and versatility of optical arrays, is further proposed. The optical simulations reveal that reflection modulation from blue to red colors can be realized for devices based on various bulk-heterojunction material systems through regulating the thickness of active layers and antireflection coatings. This work offers a viable design strategy for ST-OPVs toward applications in next-generation smart photovoltaic windows.

Perfect Absorption and Reflection Modulation Based on Asymmetric Slot-Assisted Gratings without Mirrors.

As a perfect graphene absorber without any external mirrors, we proposed asymmetric slot-assisted grating structures supporting two degenerate resonant modes of the guided-mode resonances (GMR) and the quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BIC). The GMR mode functions as an internal mirror in conjunction with the background scattering, while the quasi-BIC, which is responsible for perfect graphene absorption, stems from the horizontal symmetry breaking by an asymmetric slot. By properly shifting the slot center from the grating center, the leakage rate of quasi-BIC can be controlled in such a way as to satisfy the critical coupling condition. We provide a comprehensive study on the coupling mechanism of two degenerate resonant modes for a one-port system mimicking the resonance. We also numerically demonstrated that our proposed grating structures show an excellent reflection-type modulation performance at optical wavelength ranges when doped double-layer graphene is applied. Due to the perfect absorption at the OFF state, a high modulation depth of ~50 dB can be achieved via a small Fermi level variation of ~0.05 eV. To obtain the lower insertion loss at the ON state, the higher Fermi level is required to decrease the graphene absorption coefficient.

Dynamic multiplexing manipulation of amplitude and phase in metasurfaces with vanadium dioxide

In this study, we reported the amplitude and phase modulation based on the VO2 tunable metasurface and verified the impact of incident angle on the reflection spectrum. The maximum reflectance modulation is 80.5 % when VO2 changes from insulating to metallic state, at resonance wavelength 1550 nm the phase shifts of TE polarization and TM polarization are 219° and 141°, respectively. We also investigated the angular dispersion characteristics of this metasurface, and the results showed that the resonance wavelength under TE polarization is not affected by the incident angle, while the resonance wavelength under TM polarization shifts when increasing incident angle. In addition, the resonate peak spacing of TE and TM modes is over 200 nm. Angular dispersion and polarization dependence give our device the ability of angle multiplexing and polarization multiplexing.

Introducing TiO2 to design high-reflectivity AlN composite substrates to synthesize green/white converters for high-brightness reflective laser illumination☆

Phosphor-in-glass (PiG) has been prepared into various types of phosphor films owing to its simplicity process, exceptional color purity, and convenient color adjustability. Nevertheless, existing reflective PiGs films have encountered limitations in terms of stability and feasibility as reliable color converters, mainly attributed to issues related to thermal deposition and insufficient optical efficiency. Herein, we propose to use AlN substrate with superior thermal conductivity to coat the TiO2 layer to obtain TiO2–AlN (TA), which enhances the reflectivity of blue light to facilitate the light conversion process. By incorporating highly thermally stable LuAG:Ce-PiGs on a TA substrate, the LuAG:Ce-PiTA converter exhibits a luminous flux of 1102 lm@6.4 W, and maintains a relative intensity of 94.6% at 473 K benefiting from the high thermal conductivity of 34.1 W/(m·K). The addition of CASN3:Eu to the color converter 50 L&10C-PiTA enables an impressive CRI of 90.7. Relative luminescence intensities of LuAG:Ce-PiTA and 50 L&10C-PiTA only decrease by 5.35% and 3.28%, respectively, in the 24 h illumination aging decay test of the reflective laser module. The results confirm the suitability of the optimally designed TA substrate for LuAG:Ce color converter applications in high-power reflective laser illumination.

Neutral density filter-based catadioptric optical design for thin virtual reality head-mounted device

Virtual reality (VR) has been a popular trending technology affecting the lifestyles of humans. Especially for near-eye displays, VR head-mounted devices (HMDs) are designed accordingly and widely used in different fields. Nowadays, small structure size is a challenge and an urgent need for the VR HMD, while catadioptric optics is an effective and promising approach to solving this problem. Thus, this paper develops three kinds of catadioptric optical systems for thin VR HMDs by adjusting the configuration positions of the light refraction module created by the aspheric lens and the light partial reflection module formed by the neutral density (ND) filter. The comparison results of the three designs in terms of structure size and imaging quality show that multiple reflections during the light divergence process can effectively reduce the thickness of the optical structure. Reasonable transmission during the reflection process is also favorable for size reduction. Based on the designed catadioptric optical module, a varifocal VR HMD is developed to mitigate the vergence-accommodation conflict, thereby improving the image quality and the sensory experience of users.

Flexible PON systems enabling optical virtual private network and upstream channel upgrade

With the rapid growth of peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic in the access network, the capability to implement inter-optical network unit (ONU) communication (IOC) has become a fundamental requirement for the underlying passive optical network (PON). The conventional IOC is realized electronically on layer 2 or layer 3 and relies on the transfer operations in the optical line terminal (OLT), thus resulting in high transmission latency and excessive bandwidth consumption. To achieve an efficient IOC, the optical virtual private network (OVPN) is proposed to establish direct optical layer links among ONUs by adding some auxiliary optical components to the existing PON system. However, in previously reported OVPN schemes, the added devices are only used for IOC and cannot fulfill other network functions, which leads to poor flexibility. To improve the reconfigurability of the whole PON system, we present two simple modifications that can not only achieve a high-bandwidth OVPN but also increase the upstream channel capacity. The proposed schemes introduce a new wavelength as the OVPN channel to refrain from changing the physical configuration of the normal upstream and downstream. One scheme retrofits the optical line terminal (OLT) with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based reflection module, while the other employs an additional short-length distribution fiber for each ONU to redirect IOC traffic. In both schemes, optical switches (OSWs) are used to control the added OVPN wavelength and the original upstream wavelength so that the two wavelengths can transmit IOC traffic and upstream traffic flexibly. According to the states of OSWs, PON systems will form multiple working modes adapted to different network conditions. To evaluate the improvement in flexibility of wavelength usage, the throughput performances of proposed schemes were analyzed theoretically under varying offered loads and IOC traffic proportions. In addition, the feasibility of both schemes was verified through physical layer simulations, where the optical spectra and bit error rates (BERs) of signals on different wavelengths were investigated.

The Use of FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for the Seasonal Variation Analysis and for the Quality Control of Polysaccharides from Seaweeds.

Macroalgae are a potentially novel source of nutrition and biologically active molecules. Proliferative species such as Eucheuma denticulatum, Solieria chordalis (red algae) and Sargassum muticum (brown alga) constitute a huge biomass that can be exploited. In this study, we focus on the extraction of polysaccharides from these three macroalgae species and the characterization of cell wall polysaccharides such as carrageenans, fucoidans and alginates by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated Reflectance Module (FTIR-ATR). The comparison of purified extracts with commercial solutions of fucoidans, alginates or carrageenans shows a strong similarity between the spectra. It demonstrates that the methods of extraction that have been used are also suitable purifying technics. Moreover, it validates infrared spectroscopy as a quick, simple and non-destructive method for the accurate analysis of polysaccharides. The FTIR technique applied to samples collected at different periods of the year allowed us to highlight differences in the composition of fucoidans, alginates and carrageenans. Different classes corresponding to the season can be distinguished by statistical multidimensionnal analysis (Principal Component Analysis) showing that the structure of algal polysaccharides, related to bioactivity, depends on the period of harvest. FTIR results showed that S. chordalis and E. denticulatum possess a dominant type of carrageenan called iota-carrageenan. This type of carrageenan is in the majority when the alga is at maturity in its development cycle. During its growth phase, iota-carrageenan precursors can be detected by FTIR spectra, enabling a better control of the extraction and an application of these compounds in various economic sectors. When the alga E. denticulatum is in its juvenile stage, we found traces of kappa-carrageenan and nu-carrageenan polysaccharides in some extracts.

Tunable strong plasmon–exciton coupling based modulator employing borophene and deep subwavelength perovskite grating

Two-dimensional materials support deeply confined and tunable plasmonic modes, which have great potential for achieving device miniaturization and flexible manipulation. In this paper, we propose a diffraction-unlimited system (period ≈ λ/20) composed of borophene layer and perovskite grating to investigate the strong coupling between the borophene guiding plasmon (BGP) and perovskite exciton (PE) modes. The resonant energy of the BGP mode could be electrically tuned to match the energy of the PE mode, and a remarkable Rabi splitting is attained under zero-detuning conditions. The splitting energy could reach 230 meV due to the strong field enhancement provided by the BGP mode. Taking advantage of the proposed electrically tunable hybrid system, not only is the reflective amplitude modulation depth up to 99.9%, but the 1.76π phase range modulation is achieved. Furthermore, by increasing the distance between the borophene layer and perovskite grating, a passive parity-time symmetry breaking could be observed with the vanished energy splitting. Our results deepen our understanding of light–matter interactions at the sub-wavelength scale and provide a guideline for designing active plasmonic devices.