This work provides a convincing motivation for and introduction to magnon-based computing. The challenges faced by the conventional semiconductor-transistor-based computing industry are contrasted with the many exciting avenues for developing spin waves (or magnons) as a complementary technology wherein information can be encoded, transmitted, and operated upon: essential ingredients for any computing paradigm. From this general foundation, one particular operation is examined: phase conjugation via four-wave-mixing (FWM). The author constructs an original theory describing the generation of a phase conjugate mirror with the remarkable property that any incident spin wave will be reflected back along the same direction of travel. After establishing a theoretical framework, the careful design of the experiment is presented, followed by the demonstration of a magnetic phase conjugate mirror using four-wave mixing for the first time. The thesis concludes with an investigation into the unexpected fractal behaviour observed arising from the phase conjugate mirror - a result that is testament to the richness and vibrancy of these highly nonlinear spin wave systems.

Solitons are a fascinating topic for study and a major source of interest for potential application in optical communication. Possibly the first observation of a soliton occurred in 1838 and was made by a clerical gentleman riding a horse along a canal towpath. When a barge under tow came to a stop alongside him the bow wave did not stop, but continued to travel on its own for several miles with no change in shape. At the time this unusual phenomenon was not understood and remained unexplained. Interest was revived with the development of optical fibres and the realisation that at the high intensities possible in their very small cores the onset of non-linear effects could modify the propagation characteristics in a significant way. In a seminal paper in 1973 Hasegawa and Tappert solved a non-linear Schrodinger equation for fibre propagation and found solutions for solitary waves, i.e. solitons. Since then advances have been very rapid resulting in a much better understanding of a wide variety of soliton effects, and, crucially, the realisation that soliton propagation can be used to potentially great advantage in practical long-distance systems. There is, as a result, a wealth of theoretical and experimental research in progress all over the world. At NTT (Japan) a pule-code-modulated soliton train has been transmitted at 10Gbit/s over one million kilometres with zero error! Perhaps all long-distance, large bandwidth communication problems have been solved for ever. This book gives a clear account of the theory and mathematics of solitons travelling in optical fibres. It is written by the authority on the subject.

Transformation electromagnetics is a systematic design technique for optical and electromagnetic devices that enables novel wave-material interaction properties. The associated metamaterials technology for designing and realizing optical and electromagnetic devices can control the behavior of light and electromagnetic waves in ways that have not been conventionally possible. The technique is credited with numerous novel device designs, most notably the invisibility cloaks, perfect lenses and a host of other remarkable devices. Transformation Electromagnetics and Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications presents a comprehensive treatment of the rapidly growing area of transformation electromagnetics and related metamaterial technology with contributions on the subject provided by a collection of leading experts from around the world. On the theoretical side, the following questions will be addressed: "Where does transformation electromagnetics come from?," "What are the general material properties for different classes of coordinate transformations?," "What are the limitations and challenges of device realizations?," and "What theoretical tools are available to make the coordinate transformation-based designs more amenable to fabrication using currently available techniques?" The comprehensive theoretical treatment will be complemented by device designs and/or realizations in various frequency regimes and applications including acoustic, radio frequency, terahertz, infrared, and the visible spectrum. The applications encompass invisibility cloaks, gradient-index lenses in the microwave and optical regimes, negative-index superlenses for sub-wavelength resolution focusing, flat lenses that produce highly collimated beams from an embedded antenna or optical source, beam concentrators, polarization rotators and splitters, perfect electromagnetic absorbers, and many others. This book will serve as the authoritative reference for students and researchers alike to the fast-evolving and exciting research area of transformation electromagnetics/optics, its application to the design of revolutionary new devices, and their associated metamaterial realizations.

This textbook presents a comprehensive introduction to ultrafast laser physics with a keen awareness of the needs of graduate students. It is self-contained and ready to use for both ultrafast laser courses and background for experimental investigation in the lab. The book starts with an advanced introduction to linear and nonlinear pulse propagation, details Q-switching and modelocking and goes into detail while explaining ultrashort pulse generation and measurement. Finally, the characterization of the laser signals is illustrated, and a broad range of applications presented. A multitude of worked examples and problems with solutions help to deepen the reader's understanding.

With clear illustrations throughout and without recourse to quantum mechanics, the reader is invited to revisit unsolved problems lying at the foundations of theoretical physics. Maxwell and his contemporaries abandoned their search for a geometrical representation of the electric and magnetic fields. The wave-particle dilemma and Bose-Einstein statistical counting have resulted in unsatisfactory non-realistic interpretations. Furthermore, a simple structure of the hydrogen atom that includes hyperfine levels is still wanting. Working with the latest experimental data in photoionics a proposed solution to the wave-particle dilemma is suggested based on an array of circular-polarized rays. The Bose-Einstein counting procedure is recast in terms of distinguishable elements. Finally, a vortex model of a 'particle' is developed based on a trapped photon. This consists of a single ray revolving around a toroidal surface, and allows a geometrical definition of mass, electric potential, and magnetic momentum. With the adjustment of two parameters, values to 4 dp for the hyperfine frequencies (MHz) of hydrogen can be obtained for which a computer program is available.

This book offers readers a comprehensive, detailed analysis and treatment of optical waveguides (fiber, slab), an essential component of ultra-high bandwidth long, medium and short-haul telecommunication. The author describes an analysis scheme for optical waveguides that combines both geometric|ray optics and Maxwell's equations-based classical electrodynamics. This unique approach enables readers to develop an intuitive understanding of this topic, starting with macro properties, e.g., V parameter of an optical fiber, and progressively refining the analysis to individual modes of propagation through an optical waveguide. An exhaustive set of diagrams highlight the key features of an optical waveguide property, such as acceptance angle, meridional and skew rays in an optical fiber, or signal attenuation and dispersion in an optical waveguide. The author also provides a set of ready-to-use, ANSI C executables (for both Linux and Windows) that enable the reader to e.g, determine the allowed propagation modes (even, odd TE|TM) of a graded, step index optical fiber and a slab waveguide. Offers readers a single-source reference to the analysis and design of optical waveguides; Begins with macro-level analysis of the properties of optical waveguides and dives deeply into details in a step-by-step manner, enabling readers to develop an intuitive understanding; Includes C language executables, along with optical waveguide analysis and design examples to demonstrate their use in context.

Borate-based phosphors have attracted much attention, due to their high optical stability, low-cost synthesis via conventional and non-conventional methods and resulting technology to be environmentally friendly. This book discusses the structural and chemical parameters of borates as a phosphor including suitable synthesis methods and proper characterization of materials. Further, it includes applications of borate materials such as photoluminescence, UV application, UVU application, photo therapy application and radiological applications. Features: Provides information on borate phosphors and their structure. Aids selection of proper structural and functional borates used in applications based on phosphor technology. Discloses the modification in properties of borate functional group upon mixing or substitution with other metallic functional groups. Discusses biological applications such as photo-thermal heating-based therapy, temperature sensors, imaging, and diagnosis. Includes current trends and innovations, limitations and challenges, prospects, and scope in each chapter. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in inorganic materials, luminescent/optical materials, materials science/engineering, and physics.

Semiconductor quantum dots represent one of the fields of solid state physics that have experienced the greatest progress in the last decade. Recent years have witnessed the discovery of many striking new aspects of the optical response and electronic transport phenomena. This book surveys this progress in the physics, optical spectroscopy and application-oriented research of semiconductor quantum dots. It focuses especially on excitons, multi-excitons, their dynamical relaxation behaviour and their interactions with the surroundings of a semiconductor quantum dot. Recent developments in fabrication techniques are reviewed and potential applications discussed. This book will serve not only as an introductory textbook for graduate students but also as a concise guide for active researchers.

Presents a comprehensive study of the physical models for quantum dots (QDs) Discusses the properties of QDs and their applications Suggests ways to fine tune the electronic properties of QDs for specific applications Will be helpful for solid state physicists, material scientists, and engineers

Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics merges two long-running serials, Advances in Electronics and Electron Physics and Advances in Optical and Electron Microscopy. The series features extended articles on the physics of electron devices (especially semiconductor devices), particle optics at high and low energies, microlithography, image science, digital image processing, electromagnetic wave propagation, electron microscopy, and the computing methods used in all these domains.

This thesis considers molecular orientation in thin films and introduces an optical model describing this orientation as applied to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). It also describes the electronic structure of intermolecular charge transfer excitons correlated to molecular orientation in solids. It has long been known that molecular orientation influences the electrical and optical properties of molecular films. One notable example is in liquid crystals where rigid rod or disk shaped molecules are commonly used. Understanding the origin of the molecular orientation and its control by surface treatment and electric field resulted in the development of liquid crystal displays. The same thing has happened in organic electronics, and considerable effort has been devoted to understanding and controlling molecular orientation in solid films to improve charge carrier mobility and light absorption, ultimately to improve the performance of organic solar cells and thin film transistors. In contrast, less attention has been paid to molecular orientation and its influence on the characteristics of OLEDs, probably because of the use of amorphous films rather than micro-crystalline films, and it is only in recent years that some molecular films are known to have preferred orientation. This thesis addresses this topic, focusing on OLEDs, describing the origin and control of the orientation of phosphorescent Ir complexes possessing spherical shape rather than rod or disk shape, the simulation of the optical characteristics of OLEDs influenced by preferred molecular orientation, and finally the orientation of intermolecular charge transfer excitons and its correlation to electronic structures in thin films.

This is a self-contained, highly readable introduction to a new field of applied physics that makes use of non-linear optics in the design of new all-optical circuits. The book primarily considers third-order non-linear optical phenomena in layered structures, guiding interfaces, and channel waveguides, particularly focusing on the concepts of energy dependent periodicity, gyrotropy, reflection, mode conversion, and non-reciprocity. Non-Linear Pulses in Integrated and Waveguide Optics is an indispensable text for those requiring a structured explanation of the phenomena as well as information about the latest advances in a new generation of devices. Researchers, designers, users, and students of non-linear integrated optics will welcome this book.

Shuji Nakamura's development of a blue semiconductor laser on the basis of GaN opens the way for a host of new applications of semiconductor lasers. The wavelengths can be tuned by controlling the composition. For the first time it is possible to produce lasers with various wavelengths, ranging from red through yellow and green to blue, in one substrate material. This fact, together with their high efficiency, makes GaN-based lasers very useful for a wide spectrum of applications. The second edition of this basic book on GaN-based devices has been updated and significantly extended. It includes a survey of worldwide research on GaN, as well as Nakamura's latest important developments. The reader finds a careful introduction to the physics and properties of GaN. The main part of the book deals with the production and characteristics of GaN LDs and LEDs. To complete the spectrum of applications, GaN power devices are also described.

This book presents a new system of solar cells. Colloidal nanocrystals possess many physical and chemical properties which can be manipulated by advanced control over structural features like the particle size. One application field is photovoltaics where colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are explored as components of photo-active layers which can be produced from liquid media, often in combination with conductive polymers. The further development of this interdisciplinary field of research requires a deep understanding of the physics and chemistry of colloidal nanocrystals, conducting polymers and photovoltaic devices. This book aims at bridging gaps between the involved scientific disciplines and presents important fundamentals and the current state of research of relevant materials and different types of nanoparticle-based solar cells. The book will be of interest to researchers and PhD students. Moreover, it may also serve to accompany specialized lectures in related areas.

This book describes and provides design guidelines for antennas that achieve compactness by using the slot radiator as the fundamental building block within a periodic array, rather than a phased array. It provides the basic electromagnetic tools required to design and analyse these novel antennas, with sample calculations where relevant. The book presents a focused introduction and valuable insights into the relevant antenna technology, together with an overview of the main directions in the evolving technology of compact planar arrays. While the book discusses the historical evolution of compact array antennas, its main focus is on summarising the extensive body of literature on compact antennas. With regard to the now ubiquitous slot radiator, it seeks to demonstrate how, despite significant antenna size reductions that at times even seem to defy the laws of physics, desirable radiation pattern properties can be preserved. This is supported by an examination of recent advances in frequency selective surfaces and in metamaterials, which can, if handled correctly, be used to facilitate physics-defying designs. The book offers a valuable source of information for communication systems and antenna design engineers, especially thanks to its overview of trends in compact planar arrays, yet will also be of interest to students and researchers, as it provides a focused introduction and insights into this highly relevant antenna technology.

Discusses the method to grow not only graphene over Cu but also allows the reader to know how to optimize graphene growth, using statistical design of experiments, on Cu interconnects in order to obtain good-quality and reliable interconnects Provides the basic understanding of graphene-Cu interaction mechanism Introduces a novel graphene growth process and graphene-assisted electroless copper plating

This thesis contains three breakthrough results in condensed matter physics. Firstly, broken reflection symmetry in the hidden-order phase of the heavy-fermion material URu2Si2 is observed for the first time. This represents a significant advance in the understanding of this enigmatic material which has long intrigued the condensed matter community due to its emergent long range order exhibited at low temperatures (the so-called "hidden order"). Secondly and thirdly, a novel collective mode (the chiral spin wave) and a novel composite particle (the chiral exciton) are discovered in the three dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3. This opens up new avenues of possibility for the use of topological insulators in photonic, optoelectronic, and spintronic devices. These discoveries are facilitated by using low-temperature polarized Raman spectroscopy as a tool for identifying optically excited collective modes in strongly correlated electron systems and three-dimensional topological insulators.

A. Sommerfeld's "Mathematische Theorie der Diffraction" marks a milestone in optical theory, full of insights that are still relevant today. In a stunning tour de force, Sommerfeld derives the first mathematically rigorous solution of an optical diffraction problem. Indeed, his diffraction analysis is a surprisingly rich and complex mix of pure and applied mathematics, and his often-cited diffraction solution is presented only as an application of a much more general set of mathematical results. This complete translation, reflecting substantial scholarship, is the first publication in English of Sommerfeld's original work. The extensive notes by the translators are rich in historical background and provide many technical details for the reader.

Dynamic light scattering is a new method for investigating macromolecular systems. The importance of the technique lies in its non-invasive character. It can be employed on extremely small fluid volumes, the instrumentation is relatively inexpensive and allows the rapid determination of diffusion coefficients as well as providing information on relaxation time distributions for the macromolecular components of complex systems. This volume is directed in part to the philosophy and current practice in dynamic light scattering. Single photon correlation techniques are introduced; a discussion of noise on photon correlation functions is given and data analysis in dynamic light scattering to polymer structure analysis is presented; and a comprehensive introduction to diffusing wave spectroscopy is given. Theoretical developments relating dynamic light scattering to the viscoelasticity of polymers in solution and in the bulk are described. A secondary aim of the work is to illustrate the widely varying fields in which the technique finds application. Chapters address multicomponent mixtures, polyelectrolytes, dense polymer systems, gels, rigid rods, micellar systems and the application of dynamic light scattering to biological systems.

Paul Ewald's 1916-1917 masterpiece "On the Foundations of Crystal Optics" described the self-consistent interaction of electromagnetic waves with crystals on a molecular level. While astonishing in its detailed predictions for X-ray diffraction, full appreciation of the theory and its utility had to await much later advances in measurement techniques and crystal growth. Today, concepts introduced in the theory--now known as the Ewald sphere, Ewald summation, and Ewald-Oseen extinction--have become mainstays in diverse areas of modern physics. This memorial volume, with contributions by leading figures in the field, is an affectionate survey of Ewald's life, scientific work, and leading role in the international crystallographic community. Historians of science, and particularly of solid state physics and crystallography, will find this volume a compelling and fascinating tribute to this important scientist.

Semiconductor lasers are small, reliable, low cost, high-performance and user-friendly optical devices which make them highly suitable for a variety of biomedical applications. This edited book gathers experts in the field to cover the fundamentals and technology advances of semiconductor lasers and diode-based lasers with a focus on their applications in medical optics and biophotonics including edge-emitting semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes, Q-switched and mode-locked lasers, quantum cascade lasers, semiconductor disk lasers, near-infrared spectroscopy systems for biomedical applications, bio-medical Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear imaging and optical coherence tomography.

This work studies the relaxation dynamics of molecules in both the gas and liquid phases after strong field ionization, using transient absorption in the soft X-rays. In particular, the thesis presents the first realization of time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the spectral water window with a laser-based HHG source. These remarkable experiments were not only performed for isolated molecules, but also in liquids, for which the spectral coverage of the K-edges of C, N, and O are of primary importance for investigating biological molecules. The technique relies on the generation of high-order harmonics to further probe the electronic structure of molecules. Using the atomic selectivity of high energies and the temporal coherence of laser technology, we demonstrate the observation of the first stages of chemical transformation of matter in the gas and liquid phases.