This thesis provides deep insights into currently controversial questions in laser filamentation, a highly complex phenomenon involving nonlinear optical effects and plasma physics. First, based on the concrete picture of a femtosecond laser beam which self-pinches its radial intensity distribution, the thesis delivers a novel explanation for the remarkable and previously unexplained phenomenon of pulse self-compression in filaments. Moreover, the work addresses the impact of a non-adiabatic change of both nonlinearity and dispersion on such an intense femtosecond pulse transiting from a gaseous dielectric material to a solid one. Finally, and probably most importantly, the author presents a simple and highly practical theoretical approach for quantitatively estimating the influence of higher-order nonlinear optical effects in optics. These results shed new light on recent experimental observations, which are still hotly debated and may completely change our understanding of filamentation, causing a paradigm change concerning the role of higher-order nonlinearities in optics.

How do you protect electrical systems from high energy electromagnetic pulses? This book completes the overview of systems and practices against EMPs from high altitude sources started with the previous "Protecting Electrical Equipment - Good Practices for preventing high altitude electromagnetic pulse impacts", including practical protection methods and means for evaluating their effectiveness.

In the fourty-six years that have gone by since the first volume of Progress in Optics was published, optics has become one of the most dynamic fields of science. The volumes in this series which have appeared up to now contain nearly 300 review articles by distinguished research workers, which have become permanent records for many important developments.
- Historial Overview
- Attosecond Laser Pulses
- History of Conical refraction
- Particle Concept of Light
- Field Quantization in Optics
- History of Near-Field Optics
- History of Tunneling
- Influence of Young's Interference Experiment ob Development of Statistical optics
- Planck, Photon Statistics and Bose-Einstein Condensation

The monograph is devoted to the systematic presentation of the so called dressing method for solving differential equations (both linear and nonlinear) of mathematical physics. The essence of the dressing method consists in a generation of new non-trivial solutions of a given equation from (maybe trivial) solution of the same or related equation. The Moutard and Darboux transformations discovered in XIX century as applied to linear equations, the Backlund transformation in differential geometry of surfaces, the factorization method, the Riemann-Hilbert problem in the form proposed by Shabat and Zakharov for soliton equations and its extension in terms of the d-bar formalism comprise the main objects of the book. Throughout the text, a generally sufficient linear experience of readers is exploited, with a special attention to the algebraic aspects of the main mathematical constructions and to practical rules of obtaining new solutions.

Although it has long been possible to make organic materials emit light, it has only recently become possible to do so at the level and with the efficiency and control necessary to make the materials a useful basis for illumination or displays. The early electroluminescent devices provided reasonably bright light, but required high operating voltages, produced only a narrow range of colors, and had severely limited lifetimes. Recent developments, however, make it possible to manufacture organic light-emitting devices that are thin, bright, efficient, and stable and that produce a broad range of colors. This book surveys the current status of the field. It begins with an overview of the physics and chemistry of organic light emitting devices by J. Shinar and V. Savvateev. Subsequenbt chapters discuss the design of molecular materials for high performance devices (C. Adachi and T. Tsutsui) and chemical degradation and physical aging (K. Higginson, D. L. Thomsen, B. Yang, and F. Papadimitrakopoulos). A. Dodabalapur describes microcavity OLEDs, and Y. Shi, J. Liu, and Y. Yang discuss polymer morphology and device performance. Various aspects of devices based on polyparaphenylene vinylenes are discussed in chapters by N.C. Greenham and R.H. Friend and by H. Chayet, V. Savvateeyv, D. Davidov and R. Neumann. Chapters by S. Tasch, W. Graupner, and G. Leising and by Y. Z. Wang, D. Gebler, and A. J. Epstein describe OLEDs based on poly(paraphenylene) and poly(pyridine), respectively. The book concludes with a chapter on polyfluorene-based devices, which show great promise for producing light in all colors from blue to red.

This book presents high-quality papers from the 2019 International Conference on Optoelectronics and Measurement (ICOM2019) which was held on November 28-30, 2019, in Hangzhou, China. It focuses on the latest developments in the fields of optics, photonics, optoelectronics, sensors, and related measurement technology. Being closely related to either the key device technology or the important commercial applications, topics of fiber optics, photodetectors, sensors, and measurement technology are of particular interest for the readers. The book contains the illustrations of advanced device technologies, measurement principles, as well as scientific and technological conclusions of the great reference value. The readers will gain deep insight into the latest development in the related fields, obtain important technical data and scientific conclusions, and inspire new ideas for their research.

The International Workshop on Coherent Control of Carrier Dynamics in Semiconductors was held May 19 to 22, 1998 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Its intent was to bring together an international and interdisciplinary group of scientists to discuss recent progress, pertinent problems, and open questions in the field of coherent control in atoms, molecules, and semiconductors, in particular. Twenty-seven scientists from the physical chemistry, quantum optics, semiconductor, electrical engineering, and laser communities accepted our invitation and made this event a meeting of exciting presentations and vivid discussions. This volume contains the proceedings of this workshop. Most speakers accepted our invitation to provide a manuscript either on specific aspects of their work or a brief review of their area of research. All manuscripts were reviewed. It is hoped that they provide not merely an overview of most of the issues covered during the workshop, but also represent an account of the current state of coherent control in general. Hence, it is hoped that they are also of interest to a large number of scientists active in one of the areas listed above. The organizers of this workshop would like to thank all the participants for making this meeting a complete success. We are particularly indebted to Dr. Larry R. Cooper at the U.S. Office of Naval Research and Dr.

Readily available commercial software enables engineers and students to perform routine calculations and design without necessarily having a sufficient conceptual understanding of the anticipated solution. The software is so user-friendly that it usually produces a beautiful colored visualization of that solution, often camouflaging the fact that the program is executing the wrong simulation of the physical problem. Electromagnetic Waves, Materials, and Computation with MATLAB (R) takes an integrative modern approach to the subject of electromagnetic analysis by supplementing quintessential "old school" information and methods with instruction in the use of newer commercial software such as MATLAB and methods including FDTD. Delving into the electromagnetics of bounded simple media, equations of complex media, and computation, this text includes: Appendices that cover a wide range of associated issues and techniques A concluding section containing an array of problems, quizzes, and examinations A downloadable component for instructors including PowerPoint (TM) slides, solutions to problems, and more Striking a balance between theoretical and practical aspects, internationally recognized expert Dikshitulu Kalluri clearly illustrates how intuitive approximate solutions are derived. Providing case studies and practical examples throughout, he examines the role of commercial software in this process, also covering interpretation of findings. Kalluri's extensive experience teaching this subject enables him to streamline and convey material in a way that helps readers master conceptual mathematical aspects. This gives them confidence in their ability to use high-level software to write code, but it also ensures that they will never be solely dependent on such programs.

In this book, the author describes the development of the experimental diffraction setup and structural analysis of non-crystalline particles from material science and biology. Recent advances in X-ray free electron laser (XFEL)-coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) experiments allow for the structural analysis of non-crystalline particles to a resolution of 7 nm, and to a resolution of 20 nm for biological materials. Now XFEL-CXDI marks the dawn of a new era in structural analys of non-crystalline particles with dimensions larger than 100 nm, which was quite impossible in the 20th century. To conduct CXDI experiments in both synchrotron and XFEL facilities, the author has developed apparatuses, named KOTOBUKI-1 and TAKASAGO-6 for cryogenic diffraction experiments on frozen-hydrated non-crystalline particles at around 66 K. At the synchrotron facility, cryogenic diffraction experiments dramatically reduce radiation damage of specimen particles and allow tomography CXDI experiments. In addition, in XFEL experiments, non-crystalline particles scattered on thin support membranes and flash-cooled can be used to efficiently increase the rate of XFEL pulses. The rate, which depends on the number density of scattered particles and the size of X-ray beams, is currently 20-90%, probably the world record in XFEL-CXDI experiments. The experiment setups and results are introduced in this book. The author has also developed software suitable for efficiently processing of diffraction patterns and retrieving electron density maps of specimen particles based on the diffraction theory used in CXDI.

The aim of this volume is to provide a comprehensive overview of optical tweezers setups, both in practical and theoretical terms, to help biophysicists, biochemists, and cell biologists to build and calibrate their own instruments and to perform force measurements on mechanoenzymes both in isolation in vitro and in living cells. Chapters have been divided in three parts focusing on theory and practical design of optical tweezers, detailed protocols for performing force measurements on single DNA- and microtubule/actin-associated mechanoenzymes in isolation, and describing recent advances that have opened up quantitative force measurements in living cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Optical Tweezers: Methods and Protocols aims help to further expand the accessibility and use of optical traps by scientists of diverse disciplines.

-Shear-Induced Transitions and Instabilities in Surfactant Wormlike Micelles By S. Lerouge, J.-F. Berret -Laser-Interferometric Creep Rate Spectroscopy of Polymers By V. A. Bershtein, P. N. Yakushev -Polymer Nanocomposites for Electro-Optics: Perspectives on Processing Technologies, Material Characterization, and Future Application K. Matras-Postolek, D. Bogdal

This book presents the latest results of quantum properties of light in the nanostructured environment supporting surface plasmons, including waveguide quantum electrodynamics, quantum emitters, strong-coupling phenomena and lasing in plasmonic structures. Different approaches are described for controlling the emission and propagation of light with extreme light confinement and field enhancement provided by surface plasmons. Recent progress is reviewed in both experimental and theoretical investigations within quantum plasmonics, elucidating the fundamental physical phenomena involved and discussing the realization of quantum-controlled devices, including single-photon sources, transistors and ultra-compact circuitry at the nanoscale.

Evanescent waves play a growing role in many different areas such as guided optics, optical-fiber couplers, integrated optical elements, internal reflection spectroscopy, atom optics, dark-field microscopy, scanning tunneling optical microscopy, microaperture microscopy, and apertureless microscopies. This book describes the near field of an object through the role of the evanescent field in these areas of research. It is intended as a reference for scientists and as an introduction at the graduate level.

Optical Fiber Sensor Technology, Advanced Applications - Bragg Gratings and Distributed Sensors, builds upon the foundations of the subject in the preceding four volumes of this series, concentrating as they do upon both applications and the technology of advanced optical fiber sensors. Previous volumes have covered the fundamentals of the field, devices and systems and chemical and environmental monitoring. This volume deals with a range of highly topical sensor devices and commercial systems, with considerable emphasis upon one of the most important areas, Bragg gratings in fibers, their fabrication and applications in advanced sensor systems and the principles and use of distributed fiber optic sensors. The volume is well illustrated and referenced, pointing to hundreds of key publications accessible in the open literature. It draws upon a group of authors with an international reputation for their work in the area, carefully edited into a coherent and logical text by the editors, based on their considerable experience in the field. This book series will provide an invaluable source for researchers, engineers and advanced students in the field of optical fibers, optoelectronics and measurement and sensing.

There is currently a high level of interest in the field of nonlinear guided wave optics with the availability of nonlinear materials and their use in new areas of application. This is particularly the case for solitons and other types of nonlinear pulses in optical fibers, high capacity dispersion-free communications. Further, soliton-like beams in highly nonlinear materials, such as organic polymers, are being studied with a view to using them for fast-switching purposes in devices where the light creates its own guiding channel. Written by two authors who are at the forefront of this research, Solitons provides a thorough treatment of the applications of switching devices. It presents the results of the most up to date research on the subject in an accessible manner and adopts a unified approach to solitons in fibers and the devices which use them. The book is an essential reference work for both professional engineers working in optoelectronics and telecommunications companies and graduate students and researchers in the area.

Since their discovery, low dimensional materials have never stopped to intrigue scientists, whether they are physicists, chemists, or biochemists. Investigations of their nature and functions have always been and still are numerous and as soon as a solution is found for a given question, another one is raised. The coupling of nano-materials with photonics, i. e. nano-photonics, has produced a boiling pot of idea, problems, discovery and applications. This statement is abundantly illustrated in the present book. The interest in nano-optoelectronic materials and systems is very widespread, what gives a really international and multicultural flavour to nano-optoelectronic meetings. One of them was organized by our-self in May 2000 in Kiev as a NATO Advanced Research Workshop and EC-Spring School. The arrival of the new millennium provides an obvious transition point at which many aspects of nano-science and nano-engineering of nano photonic systems can be assessed with respect to the research progresses made in the pre ceding decades and to the challenges that lie ahead in the coming decades. This book was planed to mark this with the objective of presenting a collection of papers from experts, which provide broad perspectives on the state-of-the-art in the various disciplines of nano science and nano-engineering and on the directions for future research."

Provided by this book is a unified, comprehensive presentation of the foundations of the theory of viscoelastic solids. The large subject area is separated into self-contained chapters that give a full complete picture and allow a thorough understanding of the current status and future direction of individual topics. The author emphasizes the basic principles along with topics of fundamental importance to the understanding of viscoelasticity in its different regimes. Particular attention is paid to experimental activity, numerical characterization of the response of advanced industrial materials and the solution of the different categories of the associated boundary value problem. This book should be of interest to engineers and scientists working in all fields of materials, but especially the following: polymers; rubbers; plastics; fibres; pulp and paper; biomaterials; medical engineering; materials R mechanics of materials; evaluation and testing; engineering and medical applications. It should also be of interest to final year and postgraduate students and researchers in materials science at university level.

Springer/Praxis have a successful mini program of books on various aspects of light scattering, and now have a journal "Light Scattering Review" under consideration proposed by Alex Kokhanovsky. The atmospheric air contains not only gases but also various types of airborne particles (known as aerosols) ranging from dust grains to microbes. These small particles influence atmospheric visibility, the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, and they are also of great importance in any consideration of climate change problems. Aerosols may also be responsible for the loss of harvest, health problems among humans and ecological disasters. Therefore, it is of great importance to study aerosol properties on a global scale. Such studies ultimately should be based on global observations using instruments positioned on the space platforms.

This collection of papers will address the question "What is the Magnetospheric Cusp?" and what is its role in the coupling of the solar wind to the magnetosphere as well as its role in the processes of particle transport and energization within the magnetosphere. The cusps have traditionally been described as narrow funnel-shaped regions that provide a focus of the Chapman-Ferraro currents that flow on the magnetopause, a boundary between the cavity dominated by the geomagnetic field (i.e., the magnetosphere) and the external region of the interplanetary medium. Measurements from a number of recent satellite programs have shown that the cusp is not confined to a narrow region near local noon but appears to encompass a large portion of the dayside high-latitude magnetosphere. It appears that the cusp is a major source region for the production of energetic charged particles for the magnetosphere. This book will be of great interest to scientists in Space Physics as well as to those working in research organizations in governments and industries, university departments of physics, astronomy, space physics, and geophysics. Part of this book has already been published in a journal.

Modern advanced semiconductor lasers show complex spatio-temporal dynamics of the emitted optical fields. This book presents fundamental theories and simulations of the spatio-temporal dynamics and quantum fluctuations in semiconductor lasers. The dynamic interplay of light and matter is theoretically described by taking into account microscopic carrier dynamics, spatially dependent light-field propagation and the influence of spontaneous emission and noise. Microscopic simulations reveal the internal spatio-temporal dynamics of in-plane lasers, high-power amplifiers and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The theory developed here provides the basis for the interpretation of measured emission properties and may serve as a predictive guideline for the design of advanced semiconductor lasers.

Symplectic geometry, well known as the basic structure of Hamiltonian mechanics, is also the foundation of optics. In fact, optical systems (geometric or wave) have an even richer symmetry structure than mechanical ones (classical or quantum). The symmetries underlying the geometric model of light are based on the symplectic group. Geometric Optics on Phase Space develops both geometric optics and group theory from first principles in their Hamiltonian formulation on phase space. This treatise provides the mathematical background and also collects a host of useful methods of practical importance, particularly the fractional Fourier transform currently used for image processing. The reader will appreciate the beautiful similarities between Hamilton's mechanics and this approach to optics. The appendices link the geometry thus introduced to wave optics through Lie methods. The book addresses researchers and graduate students.

This monograph is devoted to the creation of a comprehensive formalism for quantitative description of polarized modes' linear interaction in modern single-mode optic fibers. The theory of random connections between polarized modes, developed in the monograph, allows calculations of the zero shift deviations for a fiber ring interferometer. The monograph addresses also the Sagnac effect and the Thomas precession. Devices such as gyroscopes, used in navigation and flight control, work based on this technology. Given the ever increasing market for navigation and air traffic, researchers and practitioners in research and industry need a fundamental and sound understanding of the principles. This work presents the underlying physical foundations.

As we approach the end of the present century, the elementary particles of light (photons) are seen to be competing increasingly with the elementary particles of charge (electrons/holes) in the task of transmitting and processing the insatiable amounts of infonnation needed by society. The massive enhancements in electronic signal processing that have taken place since the discovery of the transistor, elegantly demonstrate how we have learned to make use of the strong interactions that exist between assemblages of electrons and holes, disposed in suitably designed geometries, and replicated on an increasingly fine scale. On the other hand, photons interact extremely weakly amongst themselves and all-photonic active circuit elements, where photons control photons, are presently very difficult to realise, particularly in small volumes. Fortunately rapid developments in the design and understanding of semiconductor injection lasers coupled with newly recognized quantum phenomena, that arise when device dimensions become comparable with electronic wavelengths, have clearly demonstrated how efficient and fast the interaction between electrons and photons can be. This latter situation has therefore provided a strong incentive to devise and study monolithic integrated circuits which involve both electrons and photons in their operation. As chapter I notes, it is barely fifteen years ago since the first demonstration of simple optoelectronic integrated circuits were realised using m-V compound semiconductors; these combined either a laser/driver or photodetector/preamplifier combination.

Theory of Nonlinear Propagation of High Harmonics Generated in a Gaseous Medium establishes the theoretical tools to study High-Order Harmonic Generation (HHG) by intense ultrafast infrared lasers in atoms and molecules. The macroscopic propagation of both laser and high-harmonic fields is taken into account by solving Maxwell's wave equations, while the single-atom or single-molecule response is treated with a quantitative rescattering theory by solving the time-dependent Schroedinger equation. This book demonstrates for the first time that observed experimental HHG spectra of atoms and molecules can be accurately reproduced theoretically when precise experimental conditions are known. The macroscopic HHG can be expressed as a product of a macroscopic wave packet and a photorecombination cross section, where the former depends on laser and experimental conditions while the latter is the property of target atoms or molecules. The factorization makes it possible to retrieve microscopically atomic or molecular structure information from the measured macroscopic HHG spectra. This book also investigates other important issues about HHG, such as contributions from multiple molecular orbitals, the minimum in the HHG spectrum, the spatial mode of laser beams, and the generation of an isolated attosecond pulse. Additionally, this book presents the photoelectron angular distribution of aligned molecules ionized by the HHG light.

This volume treats new materials (nanotubes and quantum dots) and new techniques (synchrotron radiation scattering and cavity confined scattering). In the past five years, Raman and Brillouin scattering have taken a place among the most important research and characterization methods for carbon nanotubes. Among the novel techniques discussed in this volume are those employing synchrotron radiation as a light source.