Wavelength Range Research Articles

A Facile One-Step Conversion of Biobased Magnolol (Honokiol) toward High Refractive Materials.

A series of polymers with both high refractive index and high Abbe number have been successfully synthesized through the photoclick thiol-ene reaction between the monomers derived from biobased magnolol (or honokiol) and commercial mercaptans and thiophenols. The polymer films not only exhibit a high refractive index and a high Abbe number but also display a transmittance of up to 90% in a range of wavelengths from 550 to 2000 nm and nearly 0% in the UV region. Moreover, these polymers also display low haze values in the visible-light region as well as exhibit good thermostability. These data indicate that they have potential applications for the fabrication of optical lenses and anti-UV coatings. In particular, this series of polymers are readily used for industrialization due to its excellent optical properties but low expense, simplicity, and efficiency of synthesis.

Investigation of laser-assisted micromachining of NiTi SMA bimorph based actuators toward developing optical shutters

Abstract This work explores laser-assisted micromachining for the precision cutting of NiTi SMA-based bimorph in a single-pass laser scan. NiTi SMA bimorph was fabricated using the e-beam evaporation technique followed by micromachining using a 1064 nm fiber laser. The influence of laser power, laser speed, spot diameter, and laser travel direction on kerf width and heat-affected zone after micromachining was studied using the design of experiments. The optimized parameter for micromachining was at laser power 5 W with 5 mm/s laser speed and 50 μm spot diameter. Various shapes were cut at the optimized parameter, including an optical shutter of a diameter of 30 mm. A laser speed of 6 mm/s has produced microchannels in the bimorph due to NiTi film removal only. The SEM analysis of the shutter reveals the formation of refined grains at micromachined edges compared to the center of the actuator. Fabricated optical shutter shows negligible optical transmittance in the 450 to 700 nm wavelength range.

Searching for magnetic fields in featureless white dwarfs with the DIPOL-UF polarimeter at the Nordic Optical Telescope

About 20<!PCT!> of the white dwarfs possess a magnetic field that may be detected by the splitting and/or polarization of their spectral lines. As they cool, the effective temperatures of the white dwarfs become so low that no spectral lines can be seen in the visible wavelength range. If their atmospheres are not polluted by the debris of a planetary system, these cool white dwarfs have featureless optical spectra. Until quite recently, very little was known about the incidence of magnetic fields in these objects. However, when observed with polarimetric techniques, a significant number of featureless white dwarfs reveal strong magnetic fields in their optical continuum spectra. Measuring the occurrence rate and strength of magnetic fields in old white dwarfs may help us to understand how these fields are generated and evolve. We report the results of an ongoing survey of cool white dwarfs with the high-precision broad-band polarimeter DIPOL-UF, which is deployed at the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, Spain. This survey has led to the firm discovery of 13 new cool magnetic white dwarfs in the solar neighborhood so far, including six new detections that we report in this paper.

Chiral Liquid-Crystal-Based Concave Holographic Spectrometer on a Curved Substrate.

Chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) self-assemble into a helical structure and can efficiently reflect circularly polarized light with corresponding handedness. Utilizing a curved glass substrate and polymerization of photoaligned CLCs, the operation of focusing and diffraction of incident light can be performed efficiently by a single component. When focusing and diffraction in a planar CLC cell are combined between two glass plates, the imaging suffers from astigmatism in the resulting spectrum. In this work, we demonstrate the operation of a spectrometer with low astigmatism using a polymerized CLC layer on a curved substrate. Two samples are fabricated, and the resulting components are operating in the wavelength range of 500-650 nm. Numerical optical modeling is used to minimize transverse aberrations and obtain a highly linear mapping on a camera sensor. In this way, it is demonstrated that a single reflective thin-film optical CLC component with a thickness of only a few micrometers can be used to realize a compact and efficient spectrometer.

Wafer‐Scale Fabrication of Broadband Sb2Se3 Photodetectors and their Multifunctional Optoelectronic Applications

AbstractLow‐dimensional van der Waals materials (vdWMs) have attracted worldwide interest on account of numerous advantages including self‐passivated surface, high carrier mobility, excellent flexibility, etc. Among multiple vdWMs, Sb2Se3 stands out due to its high light absorption coefficient, environmentally friendly components, excellent stability, and abundant reserve. However, limited effective wavelength range and unscalable preparation have been obstinate issues standing in the way of further development. Herein, pulsed‐laser deposition (PLD) has been developed for synthesizing Sb2Se3 nanofilms, and wafer‐scale deposition has been realized. The PLD‐derived Sb2Se3 photodetector demonstrates broadband photoresponse across UV to NIR. First‐principles calculations have determined that this is because the formation of Se vacancies can result in a reduction of the bandgap. Upon 635 nm illumination, an optimal responsivity of 2.68 A W−1 has been achieved, corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 524% and a specific detectivity of 1.34 × 1012 Jones. Furthermore, the device manifests a short response/recovery time of ≈2/1 ms. Proof‐of‐concept broadband imaging as well as fitness monitoring (respiratory rate & heart rate) have been realized. Profited from the scalable preparation, an array of Sb2Se3 photodetectors have been produced, exhibiting qualified device‐to‐device variation. On the whole, this study has depicted an attractive landscape for next‐generation integrated optoelectronics.

Infrared photodetectors based on wide bandgap two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides via efficient two-photon absorption

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and ease of integration, making them ideal candidates for high-performance photodetectors. However, the excessive width of the bandgap in some 2D TMDs presents a challenge for achieving infrared photodetection. One approach to broaden the photoresponse wavelength range of TMDs is through the utilization of two-photon absorption (TPA) process. Unfortunately, the inefficiency of TPA hinders its application in infrared photodetection. In this study, we propose the design of two photodetectors utilizing high TPA coefficient materials, specifically ReSe2 and MoS2, to exploit their TPA capability and extend the photoresponse to the near-infrared region at 1550 nm. The ReSe2 photodetector demonstrates an unprecedented responsivity of 43 μA W−1, surpassing that of current single-material TPA photodetectors. Similarly, the MoS2 photodetector achieves a responsivity of 18 μA W−1, comparable to state-of-the-art TPA photodetectors. This research establishes the potential of high TPA coefficient 2D TMDs for infrared photodetection.

Transparent Perovskite Wafers via Nanocrystals Ordered Coalescence Toward Sensitive and Stable X‐Ray Detection and Imaging

AbstractMetal halide perovskite wafers have shown significant potential in large‐area X‐ray detection and imaging. However, a distinct difference in optical transparency between state‐of‐the‐art perovskite wafers and single crystals indicates the inferior crystal quality of perovskite wafers, which limits the performance and stability of wafer‐based X‐ray detectors. Here, nano‐sized MAPbBr3 powders are utilized to fabricate dense perovskite wafers by low‐temperature hot‐pressing with high transparency above 60% within the 552–800 nm wavelength range. Adjacent nanocrystals assemble following the ordered coalescence mechanism, resulting in the exclusion of nanoscopic pores and crystallographic reorientation. The transparent MAPbBr3 wafer‐based detectors achieve an impressively high X‐ray sensitivity of 1.14 × 105 µC Gyair−1 cm−2 and a low detection limit of 149 nGyair s−1, which is superior to opaque MAPbBr3 wafer detectors (5.64 × 104 µC Gyair−1 cm−2 and 316.7 nGyair s−1) and comparable to MAPbBr3 single‐crystal detectors. Moreover, the detectors demonstrate high uniformity and outstanding stability under continuous X‐ray irradiation of a total dose of up to 5.9 Gyair, equaling to 29 500 times posteroanterior chest examinations. The high sensitivity and low detection limit of the detectors lead to clear X‐ray imaging performance.

Influence of material and geometry parameters on resonance linewidths of plasmonic modes in gratings made from highly doped Ge1− x Sn x

Highly doped group IV semiconductors such as Ge or GeSn are promising candidates for plasmonic mid infrared applications. The lower effective mass of GeSn alloys in comparison to pure Ge can result in lower plasma wavelengths and extend the application wavelength range. Devices made from doped GeSn alloys, therefore, are one interesting route towards plasmonic applications in the mid-infrared wavelength range, possibly extending to the NIR. Here, we specifically explore how spectrally narrow plasmonic resonances can be obtained in comb-like grating antennas by combining aspects of material growth with geometry optimization. We investigate both in simulation and in experiment how the interplay of localised surface plasmon resonances and Rayleigh anomalies can be tuned to achieve narrow extinction peaks originating from the resulting surface lattice resonances generated in our antennas made from highly doped Ge1−x Sn x .

Design and optimization of hexagonal tungsten ring metasurface perfect absorbers with circuit model

In this paper, a perfect absorber (PA) based on tungsten is proposed to include hexagonal‐shaped metasurface absorbers with varying hole sizes ranging from quadrangular to circular, allowing them to cover a wide wavelength spectrum. The study investigates the effects of various parameters, including the number of sides of the inner hole, on the absorber's performance and identifies the most suitable absorber by introducing an equivalent circuit. The outcomes of full‐wave numerical simulations primarily based on the finite element method (FEM) highly correspond to the final results of the circuit model. Additionally, the circuit model significantly reduces computation time and requires less storage compared with full‐wave simulations. The results show that the hexagonal‐square metasurface absorber achieves exceptional absorption rates, with an average of 99.9% in the 431 to 532 nm wavelength range and over 90% in the 300 to 915 nm range. The hexagonal‐hexagonal metasurface absorber also exhibits high absorption rates, with an average of over 99% in the 431 to 518 nm and 700 to 780 nm ranges, and over 90% in the 300 to 940 nm range. The absorption performance of the proposed hexagonal‐circle metasurface absorber is also remarkable, with an absorption value of over 99% in the 670 to 771 nm range and above 90% in the 365 to 991 nm range. These models can be utilized to design and simulate other subwavelength absorbers in a broad frequency range, including terahertz and visible light, making them suitable for various applications.

Large Mid‐Infrared Magneto‐Optic Response from Doped Cadmium Oxide at Its Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Frequency

AbstractThe epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) frequency regime of transparent conducting oxide materials is known to yield large enhancements in their optical nonlinearity and electro‐optic response. Here, Faraday rotation is investigated in Gd and In‐doped CdO films and it is found that the Verdet constant peaks at values >3 105 deg T−1 m−1 near the ENZ frequency, which is tunable in the wavelength range 2 < λ< 10 µm by varying the doping concentration. These results are among the highest reported to date in the mid‐infrared spectral range and are in good agreement with the Drude model, which confirms that the magneto‐optic response of doped CdO derives from its free carriers. The combination of a tunable Verdet constant, low optical loss compared to other plasmonic materials, and the ability to deposit CdO on Si with no loss in performance make this material a promising platform for integrated magneto‐optic and magnetoplasmonic devices that operate across the mid‐infrared.

Three-wave mixing experiments in indium–tin–oxide thin-films with no phase matching

Abstract One challenge of using nonlinear optical phenomena for practical applications is the need to perform phase-matching. Recently, epsilon-near-zero materials have been shown to demonstrate strong optical nonlinearities, in addition to their other unique properties. As suggested by their name, the permittivity of the material is close to zero for a certain wavelength range. We demonstrate that this small permittivity allows for efficient three-wave mixing interactions to take place in indium–tin–oxide thin films without the need for phase matching the pump and signal beams. The efficiency of the second-order nonlinear interactions is characterized, and cascaded three-wave mixing is demonstrated.

A Dual-Function Design of an Oscillating Water Column Integrated with a Slotted Breakwater: A Wave Flume Study

Wave energy conversion holds promise for renewable energy, but challenges like high initial costs hinder commercialization. Integrating wave-energy converters (WECs) into shore-protection structures creates dual-function structures for both electricity generation and coastal protection. Oscillating water columns (OWCs) have been well studied in the past with their simple generation mechanism and their out-of-water power take-off (PTO) system, which can minimize bio-fouling effects and maintenance costs compared to other submerged WECs. In addition, a slotted barrier allows for better circulation behind the breakwater while dissipating incoming wave energy through viscous damping. This study examines the performance of a new design which combines an OWC with a slotted breakwater. Small-scale (1:49) laboratory tests were performed with a piston-type wave generator. The performance is evaluated in terms of wave transmission, wave energy extraction, and wave loading under various wave conditions while focusing on the effects of the porosity of the slotted barrier and tide level changes. Results show that under larger waves, a decreasing wave transmission, increasing power extraction from the OWC, and energy dissipation from the slotted barrier are observed. On the other hand, under increasing wavelengths, wave transmission is observed to be constant; this is important for harbor design, which means that the breakwater is effective under a wider range of wavelengths. Porosity allows for more transmission while inducing less horizontal force on the structure.

Data Processing for Predicting DNA Damaging Properties of Complex UV Sources.

A growing number of experimental evidence emphasizes that photobiological phenomena are not always the sum of the effect of individual wavelengths present in the emission spectrum of light sources. Unfortunately, tools are missing to identify such non-additive effects and predict effects of various exposure conditions. In the present work, we addressed these points for the formation of pyrimidine dimers in DNA upon co-exposure to UVC, UVB and UVA radiation. We first applied a combination index approach to determine whether mixtures of theses UV ranges exhibited additive, inhibitory or synergistic effects on the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, (6-4) photoproducts and Dewar valence isomers. A predictive approach based on an experimental design strategy was then used to quantify the contribution of each wavelength range to the formation of DNA photoproducts. The obtained models allowed us to accurately predict the level of pyrimidine dimers in DNA irradiated under different conditions. The data were found to be more accurate than those obtained with the simple additive approach underlying the use of action spectra. Experimental design thus appears as an attractive concept that could be widely applied in photobiology even for cellular experiments.

Laser irradiation-induced surface-enhanced Raman scattering of Sn@SnO composite films

In this work, Sn@SnO composite films were obtained by Nd:YAG fiber pulsed laser ablation at room temperature. The effects of laser ablation on the microstructure, optical properties, and Raman scattering properties of the films were investigated. Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon resonance(LSPR)of Sn nanoparticles was realized in the wavelength range of 380–450 nm by varying the scanning rate to modulate the degree of oxidation of Sn nanoparticles. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was also observed in the composite structure, which was demonstrated excellent stability and SERS sensitivity with the detectable concentration of methylene blue (MB) as low as 10−9 M and an enhancement factor of 1.75 × 105 as well as a good uniformity. Finally, the electric field distribution of the samples before and after the laser treatment is simulated by the finite difference in time domain (FDTD) method, and the results are consistent with those of experimental ones.

Vibration-Induced Sweeping Operation in Fiber Lasers

A new vibration-based mechanism of optical frequency/wavelength sweeping in fiber lasers induced by optical path length modulation of a laser cavity section is proposed. The mechanism is implemented for an erbium-doped fiber ring laser with a saturable absorber. Without the vibrations, the laser generates a single longitudinal mode (SLM) radiation. We show experimentally for the first time that mechanical vibrations of the laser cavity section can lead to mode dynamics in both frequency and time domains. The possibility of obtaining various mode dynamics, such as vibration-induced sweeping in a wavelength range of up to 2.2 nm or SLM generation with periodic mode hopping between two fixed longitudinal modes depending on the pump wavelength, is experimentally shown. In this vibration-based approach, the interval between changes in the laser cavity modes has good stability, because it directly relates to the vibration period.

High-Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensor with Dual-Channel Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Photonic Crystal Fiber

In order to achieve a high-precision synchronous detection of two different refractive index (RI) analytes, a D-type surface plasmon resonance (SPR) photonic crystal fiber (PCF) RI sensor based on two channels is designed in this paper. The sensor uses a D-shaped planar region of the PCF and a large circular air hole below the core as the sensing channels. Surface plasmon resonance is induced by applying a coating of gold film on the surface. The full-vector finite-element method (FEM) is used to optimize the structural parameters of the optical fiber, and the sensing characteristics are studied, including wavelength sensitivity, RI resolution, full width at half maximum (FWHM), figure of merit (FOM), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The results show that the channel 1 (Ch 1) can achieve RI detection of 1.36–1.39 in the wavelength range of 1500–2600 nm, and the channel 2 (Ch 2) can achieve RI detection of 1.46–1.57 in the wavelength range of 2100–3000 nm. The two sensing channels can detect independently or simultaneously measure two analytes with different RIs. The maximum wavelength sensitivity of the sensor can reach 30,000 nm/RIU in Channel 1 and 9900 nm/RIU in Channel 2. The RI resolutions of the two channels are 3.54 × 10−6 RIU and 10.88 × 10−6 RIU, respectively. Therefore, the sensor realizes dual-channel high- and low-RI synchronous detection in the ultra-long wavelength band from near-infrared to mid-infrared and achieves an ultra-wide RI detection range and ultra-high wavelength sensitivity. The sensor has a wide application prospect in the fields of chemical detection, biomedical sensing, and water environment monitoring.

Elevating the performance of quantum well infrared detectors at 12.55 μm with an all-dielectric scheme

Improving the signal-to-noise ratio of infrared photodetectors is a primary goal especially for those operating in the long wavelength range. Optical design in the sub-wavelength scale provides a feasible routine toward this purpose, previous efforts mainly concentrated on integrating metallic antennas and plasmonic cavities with light absorption materials like semiconductor quantum wells (QWs). This study presents an all-dielectric way that can profit the electrical and photoelectric performance of detector concurrently. By fabricating the multiple QWs into linked micro-pillar arrays, the device yields 2.3 times enhanced responsivity at 12.55 μm relative to that of the 45° mesa counterpart, meanwhile the dark current density is found to decrease by 5.7-fold at −2.5 V and 50 K. These help to elevate the background-limited infrared photodetection (BLIP) temperature of the micro-pillar array QW photodetector by 4.0 K.

A recyclable, interchangeable optical switch with a PDLC-PVA-PSCLC structure and a low-voltage drive system

ABSTRACT Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) and polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC) are an indispensable class of electrically switchable materials, which have been widely applied in the fabrication of efficient and systematic smart windows. And doping nanoparticles in PDLC films can greatly improve their properties. In this study, PDLC films doped with zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by polymerisation-induced phase separation (PIPS) method, PSCLC films with nematic liquid crystals as the main part (reflecting wavelengths in the range of 400–600 nm) were prepared by UV curing method, and a novel optical switch was developed by combining these two liquid crystal films. The optimal bilayer sample was developed through a comparative analysis of properties among samples with varying formulations for each liquid crystal layer. This study represents a novel advancement in PSCLC and nanoparticle-doped PDLC bilayer structures, showcasing fully actuatable properties in the visible wavelength range. These structures exhibit excellent electro-optical properties and demonstrate stable, sustainable performance that can be regenerated. The findings underscore the potential of PDLC and PSCLC for applications in smart curtains and flexible materials, opening up new avenues for innovative technological applications.

Thermal emitter performance of ultra-broadband solar metamaterial absorber based on metal-insulator-metal device structure

In this paper, we have designed a solar absorber with ultra-broadband absorption. The structure has seven layers with a metal-dielectric periodic film stack and a metallic copper substefficiency. The metal-dielectric periodic membrane stack and the dielectric are continuous to form a metal/dielectric composite microstructure. It has a very high absorption efficiency at 280 nm–2893 nm. The absorption efficiency in this wavelength range is 96.26% and absorption efficiency at AM 1.5 is up to 95.66% by finite difference time domain method (FDTD) simulation. The thermal radiation absorption efficiency of the structure is 93.69% at 1000K and 94.5% at 1200 K, which can also be used in the manufacture of the heat sink due to its high thermal radiation absorption efficiency. Our proposed solar absorber has good incidence angle insensitivity (0°–60°) and good polarization independence (0°–90°). These advantages enable our absorbers to be widely used for solar absorption and emission and offer a variety of design options for ideal absorbers.

A Comprehensive Systematic Review of the Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Different Light Wavelength Ranges (Blue, Green, Red, and Near-Infrared) on Sperm Cell Characteristics in Vitro and in Vivo.

Around 7% of the male population in the world are entangle with considerable situation which is known as male infertility. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is the application of low-level laser radiation, that recently used to increase or promote the various cell functions including, proliferation, differentiation, ATP production, gene expressions, regulation of reactive oxygen spices (ROS), and also boost the tissue healing and reduction of inflammation. This systematic review's main idea is a comprehensive appraisal of the literatures on subjects of PBMT consequences in four light ranges wavelength (blue, green, red, near-infrared (NIR)) on sperm cell characteristics, in vitro and in vivo. In this study, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were used for abstracts and full-text scientific papers published from 2003-2023 that reported the application of PBM on sperm cells. Criteria's for inclusion and exclusion to review were applied. Finally, the studies that matched with our goals were included, classified, and reported in detail. Also, searched studies were subdivided into the effects of four ranges of light irradiation, including the blue light range (400-500 nm), green light range (500-600 nm), red light range (600-780 nm), and NIR light range (780-3000 nm) of laser irradiation on human or animal sperm cells, in situations of in vitro or in vivo. Searches with our keywords results in 137 papers. After primary analysis, some articles were excluded because they were review articles or incomplete and unrelated studies. Finally, we use the 63 articles for this systematic review. Our category tables were based on the light range of irradiation, source of sperm cells (human or animal cells) and being in vitro or in vivo. Six% of publications reported the effects of blue, 10% green, 53% red and 31% NIR, light on sperm cell. In general, most of these studies showed that PBMT exerted a positive effect on the sperm cell motility. The various effects of PBMT in different wavelength ranges, as mentioned in this review, provide more insights for its potential applications in improving sperm characteristics. PBMT as a treatment method has significant effectiveness for treatment of different medical problems. Due to the lack of reporting data in this field, there is a need for future studies to assessment the biochemical and molecular effects of PBMT on sperm cells for the possible application of this treatment to the human sperm cells before the ART process.