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.

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 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.

The unique compendium presents special principles and techniques of spectroscopic measurements that are used in semiconductor manufacturing.Since industrial applications of spectroscopy are significantly different from those traditionally used in scientific laboratories, the design concepts and characteristics of industrial spectroscopic devices may vary significantly from conventional systems. These peculiarities are thus succinctly summarized in this volume for a wide audience of students, engineers, and scientific workers.Exceptionally well-illustrated with practical solutions in detail, this useful reference text will open new horizons in new research areas.

This book gathers contributions on various aspects of the theory and applications of linear and nonlinear waves and associated phenomena, as well as approaches developed in a global partnership of researchers with the national Centre of Excellence in Nonlinear Studies (CENS) at the Department of Cybernetics of Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia. The papers chiefly focus on the role of mathematics in the analysis of wave phenomena. They highlight the complexity of related topics concerning wave generation, propagation, transformation and impact in solids, gases, fluids and human tissues, while also sharing insights into selected mathematical methods for the analytical and numerical treatment of complex phenomena. In addition, the contributions derive advanced mathematical models, share innovative ideas on computing, and present novel applications for a number of research fields where both linear and nonlinear wave problems play an important role. The papers are written in a tutorial style, intended for non-specialist researchers and students. The authors first describe the basics of a problem that is currently of interest in the scientific community, discuss the state of the art in related research, and then share their own experiences in tackling the problem. Each chapter highlights the importance of applied mathematics for central issues in the study of waves and associated complex phenomena in different media. The topics range from basic principles of wave mechanics up to the mathematics of Planet Earth in the broadest sense, including contemporary challenges in the mathematics of society. In turn, the areas of application range from classic ocean wave mathematics to material science, and to human nerves and tissues. All contributions describe the approaches in a straightforward manner, making them ideal material for educational purposes, e.g. for courses, master class lectures, or seminar presentations.

Quantum information science is a new field of science and technology which requires the collaboration of researchers coming from different fields of physics, mathematics, and engineering: both theoretical and applied. Quantum Computing and Quantum Bits in Mesoscopic Systems addresses fundamental aspects of quantum physics, enhancing the connection between the quantum behavior of macroscopic systems and information theory. In addition to theoretical quantum physics, the book comprehensively explores practical implementation of quantum computing and information processing devices.
On the experimental side, this book reports on recent and previous observations of quantum behavior in several physical systems, coherently coupled Bose-Einstein condensates, quantum dots, superconducting quantum interference devices, Cooper pair boxes, and electron pumps in the context of the Josephson effect. In these systems, the book discusses all required steps, from fabrication through characterization to the final basic implementation for quantum computing.

The need for both intrinsic and extrinsic fiber-optic sensor technologies continues to grow. To meet the demands of this fast-expanding applications-driven market, this book, Fiber-Optic-Based Sensing Systems, presents both the latest advances in fiber-optic sensor technology, such as applications of photonic crystal fibers to fiber optic gyroscopes and recent application opportunities, including the use of fiber optic sensors as a minimally invasive medical treatment and in structural health monitoring. The book highlights the development of fiber optic sensors while also providing an overview of current methods for the construction of high-speed and high-capacity fiber-optic systems. It provides a thorough presentation of novel fiber-optic based sensing systems with state-of-the-art signal processing of the interferometric signals. Key features: Highlights the uniqueness of the fiber-optics sensors Presents state-of-the-art technology in optical fiber sensors Discusses a variety of fiber-optic topologies Considers different detection techniques Gives special attention to distributed fiber-optic sensing systems Dealing with the applicative aspects of using optical fibers as the sensing medium as well as the medium for transmitting the corresponding optical signals to the receiving unit, the book discusses the basic optical phenomena with their main emphasis on applying the optical knowledge for solving real-life engineering problems. Basic tools and concepts are presented in the earlier chapters, which are then developed in more detail in the later chapters. The book is organized in seven chapters covering a broad range of fiber-optical sensing phenomena. Written for undergraduate and graduate students who want to broaden their knowledge of fiber-optic sensing system applications to the real-life engineering problems, the volume is also valuable for engineers who want to acquire the basic principles of optics, especially fiber-optics.

This book deals with the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) a widely used atomic emission spectroscopy technique for elemental analysis of materials. It is based on the use of a high-power, short pulse laser excitation. The book is divided into two main sections: the first one concerning theoretical aspects of the technique, the second one describing the state of the art in applications of the technique in different scientific/technological areas. Numerous examples of state of the art applications provide the readers an almost complete scenario of the LIBS technique. The LIBS theoretical aspects are reviewed. The book helps the readers who are less familiar with the technique to understand the basic principles. Numerous examples of state of the art applications give an almost complete scenario of the LIBS technique potentiality. These examples of applications may have a strong impact on future industrial utilization. The authors made important contributions to the development of this field.

Quantum mechanics has shown unprecedented success as a physical theory, but it has forced a new view on the description of physical reality. In recent years, important progress has been achieved both in the theory of open quantum systems and in the experimental realization and control of such systems. A great deal of the new results is concerned with the characterization and quantification of quantum memory effects. From this perspective, the 684. WE-Heraeus-Seminar has brought together scientists from different communities, both theoretical and experimental, sharing expertise on open quantum systems, as well as the commitment to the understanding of quantum mechanics. This book consists of many contributions addressing the diversified physics community interested in foundations of quantum mechanics and its applications and it reports about recent results in open quantum systems and their connection with the most advanced experiments testing quantum mechanics.

This book explains physical principles, unique benefits, broad categories, implementation aspects, and performance criteria of distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS). For each kind of sensor, the book highlights industrial applications, which range from oil and gas production to power line monitoring, plant and process engineering, environmental monitoring, industrial fire and leakage detection, and so on. The text also includes a discussion of such key areas as backscattering, launched power limitations, and receiver sensitivity, as well as a concise historical account of the field's development.

This book introduces readers to the cutting-edge topic of nanophotonic photochemical reactions and their applications. From among the various innovations in optical technology achieved by means of the non-uniform optical near field, it focuses on photochemical reactions at the nanoscale. Optical near fields are the elementary surface excitations of nanometric particles with non-uniform field distributions. After reviewing the unique properties of the non-uniform optical field, the book presents a range of applications of near-field assisted photochemical reactions, including near-field etching, visible water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction and reactions in solar cells.

Spectropolarimetry embraces the most complete and detailed measurement and analysis of light, as well as its interaction with matter. This book provides an introductory overview of the area, which plays an increasingly important role in modern solar observations. Chapters include a comprehensive description of the polarization state of polychromatic light and its measurement, an overview of astronomical (solar) polarimetry, the radiative transfer equation for polarized light, and the formation of spectral lines in the presence of a magnetic field. Most topics are dealt with within the realm of classical physics, although a small amount of quantum mechanics is introduced where necessary. This text will be a valuable reference for graduates and researchers in astrophysics, solar physics and optics.

This textbook is based on a course given by the first-named author to third and fourth year undergraduate students from physics, engineering physics and electrical engineering. The purpose is to introduce and explain some of the fundamental principles underlying laser beam control in optoelectronics, especially those in relation to optical anisotropy which is at the heart of many optical devices. The book attempts to give the reader the background knowledge needed to work in a laser, optoelectronic or photonic environment, and to manage and handle laser beam equipment with ease.In this edition, recent research results on modern technologies and instruments relevant to laser optoelectronics have been added to each chapter. New material include: chirped pulse amplification for petawatt lasers; optical anisotropy; physical explanations for group velocity dispersion, group delay dispersion, and third order dispersion; an introduction of different types of laser systems; and both optical isotropy and anisotropy in different types of harmonic generation.Theories based upon mode-locking and chirped pulse amplifications have become increasingly more important. It is thus necessary that students learn all these in a course devoted to laser optoelectronics. As such, Chapter 12 is now devoted to mode-locking and carrier-envelope phase locking. A new chapter, Chapter 13, which focuses on chirped pulse amplification has also been added.

This textbook offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to electrodynamics, one of the core components of undergraduate physics courses. The first part of the book describes the interaction of electric charges and magnetic moments by introducing electro- and magnetostatics. The second part of the book establishes deeper understanding of electrodynamics with the Maxwell equations, quasistationary fields and electromagnetic fields. All sections are accompanied by a detailed introduction to the math needed. Ideally suited to undergraduate students with some grounding in classical and analytical mechanics, the book is enhanced throughout with learning features such as boxed inserts and chapter summaries, with key mathematical derivations highlighted to aid understanding. The text is supported by numerous worked examples and end of chapter problem sets. About the Theoretical Physics series Translated from the renowned and highly successful German editions, the eight volumes of this series cover the complete core curriculum of theoretical physics at undergraduate level. Each volume is self-contained and provides all the material necessary for the individual course topic. Numerous problems with detailed solutions support a deeper understanding. Wolfgang Nolting is famous for his refined didactical style and has been referred to as the "German Feynman" in reviews.

Semiconductor quantum optics is on the verge of moving from the lab to real world applications. When stepping from basic research to new technologies, device engineers will need new simulation tools for the design and optimization of quantum light sources, which combine classical device physics with cavity quantum electrodynamics. This thesis aims to provide a holistic description of single-photon emitting diodes by bridging the gap between microscopic and macroscopic modeling approaches. The central result is a novel hybrid quantum-classical model system that self-consistently couples semi-classical carrier transport theory with open quantum many-body systems. This allows for a comprehensive description of quantum light emitting diodes on multiple scales: It enables the calculation of the quantum optical figures of merit together with the simulation of the spatially resolved current flow in complex, multi-dimensional semiconductor device geometries out of one box. The hybrid system is shown to be consistent with fundamental laws of (non-)equilibrium thermodynamics and is demonstrated by numerical simulations of realistic devices.

Perovskite is a well-known structure with the chemical formula ABX3, where A and B are cations coordinated with 12 and 6 anions, respectively, and X is an anion. When a halogen anion is used, the monovalent A and divalent B cations can be stabilized with respect to a tolerance factor ranging from ~0.8 to 1. Since the first report on ~10% efficiency and long-term stability of solid-state perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in 2012 and two subsequent seed reports on perovskite-sensitized solar cells in 2009 and 2011, PSCs have received increasing attention. The power conversion efficiency of PSCs was certified to be more than 25% in 2020, surpassing thin-film solar cell technologies. Methylammonium or formamidinium organic ion-based lead iodide perovskite has been used for high-efficiency PSCs. The first report on solid-state PSCs triggered perovskite photovoltaics, leading to more than 23,000 publications as of October 2021. In addition, halide perovskite has shown excellent performance when applied to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors, and resistive memory, indicating that halide perovskite is multifunctional. This book explains the electro-optical and ferroelectric properties of perovskite and details the recent progress in scalable and tandem PSCs as well as perovskite LEDs and resistive memory. It is a useful textbook and self-help study guide for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students of materials science and engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, and nanotechnology; for researchers in photovoltaics, LEDs, resistive memory, and perovskite-related opto-electronics; and for general readers who wish to gain knowledge about halide perovskite.

This book highlights the growing applications of THz technology and various modules used for their successful realization. The enormous advantages of THz devices like higher resolution, spatial directivity, high-speed communication, greater bandwidth, non-ionizing signal nature and compactness make them useful in various applications like communication, sensing, security, safety, spectroscopy, manufacturing, bio-medical, agriculture, imaging, etc. Since the THz radiation covers frequencies from 0.1THz to around 10THz and highly attenuated by atmospheric gases, they are used in short-distance applications only. The book focuses on recent advances and different research issues in terahertz technology and presents theoretical, methodological, well-established and validated empirical works dealing with the different topics.

This volume focuses on fundamental aspects of nano-electro-optics. Starting with fiber probes and related devices for generating and detecting the optical near-field with high efficiency and resolution, the next chapter addresses the modulation of an electron beam by optical near-fields. Further topics include: fluorescence spectroscopy, in which sample molecules are excited by the evanescent surface plasmon field close to metallic surfaces; spatially resolved near-field photoluminescence spectroscopy of semiconductor quantum dots, which will become an essential issue in future electro-optical devices and systems; and, finally, the quantum theory of the optical near-field. This latter theory accounts for all the essential features of the interaction between optical near-fields and nanomaterials, atoms and molecules. Together these overviews will be a valuable resource for engineers and scientists working in the field of nano-electro-optics.

Produced by an award-winning translator of Henri Poincare, this book contains translations of several seminal articles by Poincare and discusses the experimental and theoretical investigations of electrons that form their context. In the 1950s, a dispute ignited about the origin of the theory of special relativity and thrust considerable notoriety on a paper written by Henri Poincare in 1905. Accordingly, Part I presents the relevant translations of Poincare's work showing that radiation carries momentum and the covariance of the equations of electrodynamics, the continuity equation for charge, and the spacetime interval. Part II then discusses investigations by Thomson, Becquerel, and Kaufmann of electrons in diverse contexts; contributions of Abraham, Lorentz and Poincare to a theory of electrons that includes Lorentz transformations and explains the dependence of mass on velocity; and finally, Poincare's exploration of the relativity principle, electron stability, and gravitation while rejecting absolute motion (ether) and an electromagnetic origin of mass. Part III contains the 1904 article by H. A. Lorentz presenting his transformations.This book will be a fascinating read to graduate-level students, physicists, and science historians who are interested in the development of electrodynamics and the classical, relativistic theory of electrons at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Progress in Optics series contains more than 300 review articles by distinguished research workers, which have become permanent records for many important developments, helping optical scientists and optical engineers stay abreast of their fields.

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.