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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Development Of A Vector Magnetometer Based On Electromagnetically Induced Transparency In 87rb Atomic Vapor, Alexander Toyryla
Development Of A Vector Magnetometer Based On Electromagnetically Induced Transparency In 87rb Atomic Vapor, Alexander Toyryla
Undergraduate Honors Theses
We present progress towards the development of an atomic magnetometer capable of accurate scalar and vector magnetic field measurements with high sensitivity and no need for external calibration. The proposed device will use the interaction between a bi-chromatic laser field and rubidium vapor to derive magnetic field magnitude and direction from measured amplitudes of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) resonances. Since the proposed method requires precision control of light polarization, we observe the performance capabilities of a liquid crystal device to dynamically rotate the polarization of the laser field. Another goal in this project is to establish a polarization locking mechanism …
Alkali Linewidths Under High Temperatures And Pressures Of 3he, Michael Parker
Alkali Linewidths Under High Temperatures And Pressures Of 3he, Michael Parker
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Current research at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is being conducted to study the spin structure of the neutron through collisions with polarized 3He nuclei. The helium is contained in high pressure glass vessels (called cells) along with nitrogen, rubidium, and potassium. To deduce the spin structure from collisions, we need to know the precise number density of 3He in the cell. The process of polarizing 3He through spin-exchange optical pumping requires nitrogen and alkali metal. We can use the absorption linewidths of rubidium and potassium to more accurately determine the density of helium. Throughout my research, I collected absorption …
Progress Towards Electromagnetic Manipulation And Trapping Of Micro-Particles, Andrew John Beling
Progress Towards Electromagnetic Manipulation And Trapping Of Micro-Particles, Andrew John Beling
Undergraduate Honors Theses
This thesis describes research to investigate the electromagnetic manipulation of microspheres and microrings. The work consists of three main thrusts: 1) the use of an electric field gradient to move dielectric microspheres, 2) the use of an AC magnetic field to move a conducting ring, and 3) the preparation of substrates for a microwave atom chip. The electrostatic movement of dielectric polyethylene microspheres was observed and recorded with a CCD imaging system. The microspheres were suspended in various liquids and placed on top of a microstrip transmission line, which consists of a conducting copper trace separated from a ground plate …
Nonlinear Optical Studies Of Photoelastic Effect And Magneto-Plasmonics, Wei Zheng
Nonlinear Optical Studies Of Photoelastic Effect And Magneto-Plasmonics, Wei Zheng
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Nonlinear optical (NLO) processes are optical phenomena involving a nonlinear response to an applied light field. Two kinds of nonlinearities are studied in this dissertation: magnetic-induced second-harmonic generation (MSHG) interacting with surface plasmon, called "nonlinear magnetoplasmonics" (NMP), and the nonlinear index induced by a strong pump beam in Titanium doped sapphire crystal, referred to as population-induced nonlinear index effect.;The fundamentals of the major effects involved are discussed, which include: surface plasmon and its field enhancement effect, MSHG technique and phenomenological calculations, the contrast ratio of magnetic switching, the calculation of lensing effects, population induced strain, and photoelastic effect. Furthermore, the …
Optical Characterization Of Magnetism In Magnetic/Nonmagnetic Heterostructures, Yichun Fan
Optical Characterization Of Magnetism In Magnetic/Nonmagnetic Heterostructures, Yichun Fan
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis focuses on the study of the static and dynamic magnetic interactions in ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic heterostructures using interface-specific and time-resolved optical techniques. The goal of this thesis is to elucidate the interface exchange coupling, magnetic anisotropy, and coherent spin dynamics in these advanced material systems, crucial to the realization of high performance spintronic devices.;First, a pronounced exchange bias (EB) phenomenon is observed in Fe/MgO (001) by magnetic second harmonic generation. The bulk magnetization does not, in marked contrast to typical systems where EB is manifested only in the net magnetization. The magnitude of the exchange bias varies with interface oxygen …
Experimental Generation And Manipulation Of Quantum Squeezed Vacuum Via Polarization Self-Rotation In Rb Vapor, Travis Scott Horrom
Experimental Generation And Manipulation Of Quantum Squeezed Vacuum Via Polarization Self-Rotation In Rb Vapor, Travis Scott Horrom
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Nonclassical states of light are of increasing interest due to their applications in the emerging field of quantum information processing and communication. Squeezed light is such a state of the electromagnetic field in which the quantum noise properties are altered compared with those of coherent light. Squeezed light and squeezed vacuum states are potentially useful for quantum information protocols as well as optical measurements, where sensitivities can be limited by quantum noise. We experimentally study a source of squeezed vacuum resulting from the interaction of near-resonant light with both cold and hot Rb atoms via the nonlinear polarization self-rotation effect …
Microscopic Dynamics And Transport Of Hydrogen In Proton Conducting Oxides, Erik J. Spahr
Microscopic Dynamics And Transport Of Hydrogen In Proton Conducting Oxides, Erik J. Spahr
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The microscopic motion of hydrogen in solid oxides plays an important role in defect migration and reaction processes. Understanding the vibrational dynamics associated with both hydrogen-oxygen (O-H) bonds and the surrounding ionic environment allows one to better characterize these fundamental interactions. This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the vibrational decay dynamics of O-H and O-D stretch modes in crystalline oxides using time-resolved infrared pump-probe spectroscopy.;Measurements of the vibrational lifetimes of hydrogen related local modes in potassium tantalate (KTaO3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) show that the localized O-H vibration is very closely tied to proton transport. In KTaO3 we …
Slow And Stored Light Under Conditions Of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency And Four Wave Mixing In An Atomic Vapor, Nathaniel Blair Phillips
Slow And Stored Light Under Conditions Of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency And Four Wave Mixing In An Atomic Vapor, Nathaniel Blair Phillips
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The recent prospect of efficient, reliable, and secure quantum communication relies on the ability to coherently and reversibly map nonclassical states of light onto long-lived atomic states. A promising technique that accomplishes this employs Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), in which a strong classical control field modifies the optical properties of a weak signal field in such a way that a previously opaque medium becomes transparent to the signal field. The accompanying steep dispersion in the index of refraction allows for pulses of light to be decelerated, then stored as an atomic excitation, and later retrieved as a photonic mode. This …
Advancements In Dual-Pump Broadband Cars For Supersonic Combustion Measurements, Sarah Augusta. Tedder
Advancements In Dual-Pump Broadband Cars For Supersonic Combustion Measurements, Sarah Augusta. Tedder
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Space- and time-resolved measurements of temperature and species mole fractions of nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen were obtained with a dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) system in hydrogen-fueled supersonic combustion free jet flows. These measurements were taken to provide time-resolved fluid properties of turbulent supersonic combustion for use in the creation and verification of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models. CFD models of turbulent supersonic combustion flow currently facilitate the design of air- breathing supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engines. Measurements were made in supersonic axi-symmetric free jets of two scales. First, the measurement system was tested in a laboratory environment using …
The Effect Of Realistic Focal Conditions On Strong -Field Double Ionization, Jay Paul Paquette
The Effect Of Realistic Focal Conditions On Strong -Field Double Ionization, Jay Paul Paquette
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
In recent years, a great deal of progress has been made in understanding the ionization processes that result from the interaction of an intense laser pulse with multielectron atoms. However, due to experimental limitations, the effect of the laser field's spatial dependence on strong-field processes has rarely been investigated. Presented in this work is a theoretical analysis of this spatial dependence including a proposal for an experimentally observable result of the phenomenon. We begin by outlining the elements of the laser field that will vary as a function of position and show their effects on simple free electron trajectories. We …
Time-Resolved Magnetic Flux And Ac-Current Distributions In Superconducting Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide Thin Films And Multifilaments, Ran Yang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Time-resolved magneto-optical imaging (TRMOI) technique allows dynamic ac transport measurements on superconductors. The high time and spatial resolutions of the measurements also offer good quantitative data analysis of the MO images. YBa2Cu 3O7-delta (YBCO) was discovered as a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) which has wide applications due to its high critical temperature of Tc = 91 K, and high critical current density Jc in the order of 106-7 Acm-2. Many of the applications require high ac current load and a high magnetic field. We study the interaction behavior of YBCO thin films in an ac transport current and a dc magnetic …
Fluorescence Imaging Study Of Free And Impinging Supersonic Jets: Jet Structure And Turbulent Transition, Jennifer Ann Inman
Fluorescence Imaging Study Of Free And Impinging Supersonic Jets: Jet Structure And Turbulent Transition, Jennifer Ann Inman
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
A series of experiments into the behavior of underexpanded jet flows has been conducted at NASA Langley Research Center. This work was conducted in support of the Return to Flight effort following the loss of the Columbia. The tests involved simulating flow through a hypothetical breach in the leading edge of the Space Shuttle Orbiter along its reentry trajectory, with the goal of generating a data set with which other researchers can test and validate computational modeling tools. Two nozzles supplied with high-pressure gas were used to generate axisymmetric underexpanded jets exhausting into a low-pressure chamber. These nozzles had exit …
Magneto-Optical Imaging Of Superconducting Mgb2 Thin Films, Stephanie Maria Hummert
Magneto-Optical Imaging Of Superconducting Mgb2 Thin Films, Stephanie Maria Hummert
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Spatial Beam Shaping Of High-Power Ultrashort Laser Pulses, Shuyan Zhang
Spatial Beam Shaping Of High-Power Ultrashort Laser Pulses, Shuyan Zhang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis presents both theoretical and experimental studies of a diffractive beam shaping system for ultrashort high-power laser pulses.;A theoretical model is developed to simulate the reshaped intensity profiles for a 100-fs pulse with various energy levels. Both temporal evolution and spatial intensity distribution of the pulse at the target plane of the beam shaping system are calculated. Numerical simulation shows that after passing through the beam shaping system, the pulse front is significantly curved due to the propagation time delay, and the pulse duration time through the target plane is broadened because of the group velocity dispersion. However, for …
Optical Characterization Of Ferromagnetic Heterostructure *Interfaces And Thin Films, Haibin Zhao
Optical Characterization Of Ferromagnetic Heterostructure *Interfaces And Thin Films, Haibin Zhao
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis presents optical characterizations of interfaces in ferromagnetic heterostructures and thin films used for spin polarized electronic devices. In these experiments, femtosecond laser spectroscopies are exploited to investigate the interface magnetization reversal, spin precession, and band offset, which are crucial in determining the performances of spintronic devices.;First, magnetization-induced second-harmonic-generation (MSHG) is applied to study interface magnetism in a hybrid structure containing a noncentrosymmetric semiconductor---Fe/AlGaAs. The reversal process of Fe interface layer magnetization is compared with the bulk magnetization reversal. In Fe/AlGaAs (001), the interface magnetization is found to be decoupled from the bulk magnetization based on the different switching …
Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Of Half -Metallic Chromium Dioxide, Hailong Huang
Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Of Half -Metallic Chromium Dioxide, Hailong Huang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis presents ultrafast laser pump-probe differential transmission experiments on epitaxial CrO2 (110). The experiments were conducted at the wavelengths of 600 nm, 800 nm and 1200 nm, corresponding to the transition energies of 2 eV, 1.5 eV and 1 eV respectively. The wavelength dependent results, comparing with linear optical absorption, revealed the electronic structure of the material. The experimental results also showed polarization dependence of the probe beams. This is attributed to the electronic orbital anisotropy.;Temperature dependence was observed in the pump-probe experiments. The ultrafast transmission data show similar temperature dependence as ultrafast MOKE (Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect) data. A …
Static And Ultrafast Moke Studies Of Exchange -Biased Cobalt Systems, Keoki A. Seu
Static And Ultrafast Moke Studies Of Exchange -Biased Cobalt Systems, Keoki A. Seu
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
We have studied the exchange bias interaction in metal bilayers IrMn/Co and FeMn/Co using the static and ultrafast pump-probe Kerr effects. Experiments conducted on wedged Co samples show that the exchange bias interaction is sensitive to the buffer layers grown beneath it when the antiferromagnetic layer is FeMn. The exchange bias strength, as measured by the shift in the magnetic hysteresis loop, follows a 1/tFM dependence as reported in the literature. The time-domain pump-probe experiments reveal coherent magnetization oscillations, whose frequencies are comparable to those measured by frequency-domain FMR measurements, and they fit well to FMR equations for the frequency. …
Vibrational Lifetimes Of Hydrogen And Oxygen Defects In Semiconductors, Baozhou Sun
Vibrational Lifetimes Of Hydrogen And Oxygen Defects In Semiconductors, Baozhou Sun
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Characterization of defect and impurity reactions, dissociation, and migration in semiconductors requires a detailed understanding of the rates and pathways of vibrational energy flow and of the coupling mechanisms between local modes and the phonon bath of the host material. Information on the inelastic microscopic interaction can be obtained by measuring the lifetime of local vibrational modes. This dissertation presents lifetime measurements of hydrogen and oxygen defects in semiconductors by means of time-resolved infrared pump-probe spectroscopy.;First, we measured the vibrational lifetime of H- and D-related bending modes in Si and other semiconductors. Time-resolved pump-probe and linewidth measurements reveal that the …
Characterization Of Transient Behaviors In A Colliding Pulse Mode-Locked (Cpm) Laser, Wei Yang
Characterization Of Transient Behaviors In A Colliding Pulse Mode-Locked (Cpm) Laser, Wei Yang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
A colliding pulse mode-locked (CPM) laser achieves sub-picosecond operation by synchronizing two counter-propagating pulse trains to form a standing wave in a thin absorber jet. When properly aligned, these lasers maintain mode-locking for more than 100 seconds (1010 pulses), but eventually cease mode-locking for short periods of time. This thesis examines the characteristics of these transient events, when CPM mode-locking ceases (dropout) and when it resumes (dropin). The dropout is an apparently rapid event, typically lasting no longer than 5 microseconds or less than 500 pulses. The dropin takes significantly longer time, often has structure, and has a clear power …
Spontaneous Pulse Formation In Bistable Systems, George A. Andrews
Spontaneous Pulse Formation In Bistable Systems, George A. Andrews
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis considers localized spontaneous pulse formation in nonlinear, dissipative systems that are far from equilibrium and which exhibit bistability. It is shown that such pulses can form in systems that are dominated by the combined effects of: (1) a saturable amplifying or gain region, (2) a saturable absorbing or loss region, and (3) cavity effects. Analysis is based upon novel models for both an inertialess material in which the absorber responds instantaneously and inertial material in which there is temporal delay in the response. Additionally, we include the situation where the material does not fully relax between pulses, i.e. …
Time-Resolved Optical Studies Of Colossal Magnetoresistance And Charge -Density Wave Materials, Yuhang Ren
Time-Resolved Optical Studies Of Colossal Magnetoresistance And Charge -Density Wave Materials, Yuhang Ren
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis presents measurements of collective modes and ultrafast carrier relaxation dynamics in charge-density-wave (CDW) conductors and colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) manganites. A femtosecond laser pump pulse excites a broad frequency spectrum of low-energy collective modes and electron-hole pairs thereby changing its optical properties. The low-energy collective excitations and quasiparticle relaxation and recombination processes are monitored by measuring the resulting photoinduced absorption as a function of probe pulse wavelength and time delay.;A general model was developed for the photogeneration and detection mechanism of collective modes based on light absorption in two-color pump-probe experiments. A broad spectrum of collective modes (phasons and …
Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Generation Mechanisms For Laser Ultrasound In Woven Graphite /Epoxy Composites With Translaminar Stitching, Adam D. Friedman
Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Generation Mechanisms For Laser Ultrasound In Woven Graphite /Epoxy Composites With Translaminar Stitching, Adam D. Friedman
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The aerospace industry is beginning to use advanced composite materials for primary load bearing structures and their failure mechanisms must be better understood to predict their behavior in service. The Combined Loads Tests (COLTS) facility is being constructed at the NASA Langley Research Center to characterize these failure mechanisms. Laser based ultrasonic NDE can monitor the samples during dynamic loading without interfering with the structural tests. However, the constraints of implementing laser ultrasound in a structures laboratory reduces the efficiency of the technique. The system has to be "eye-safe" because many people will be present during the structural tests. Consequently, …
The Characterization Of The Radiative Energy Transfer Process Among Holmium(3+) Ions In Yttrium(3) Aluminum(5) Oxygen(12), Terri Lynn Lazarus
The Characterization Of The Radiative Energy Transfer Process Among Holmium(3+) Ions In Yttrium(3) Aluminum(5) Oxygen(12), Terri Lynn Lazarus
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This research comprises a comprehensive spectroscopic study of the characteristics of the solid state crystal YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) singly doped with Ho (Holmium) ions. An important area of solid state laser crystal research is the determination and optimization of the processes within these laser crystals which lead to efficient laser action. In most laser crystals, there is a donor ion such as Tm (Thulium) and an acceptor ion such as Ho. The donor ion generally has greater absorption than that of the acceptor at the wavelength of the pump source. The donor ion can transfer this absorbed energy to …
Injection Efficiency Of Bound Modes, Claudio Oliveira Egalon
Injection Efficiency Of Bound Modes, Claudio Oliveira Egalon
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Previous work on efficiency of light injection into the core of a fiber from a thin film and a bulk distribution of sources in the cladding, have made use of the fields of a weakly guiding fiber. This approximation simplifies the analysis of the power efficiency by introducing universal values for the eigenvalues of different fibers with same {dollar}V{dollar}-number, but can not predict accurately the behavior of the injected light into a fiber with arbitrary differences in indices of refraction. We have used the exact field solution in the expressions of the power efficiency, {dollar}P\sb{lcub}\rm eff{rcub}{dollar}, and analyzed its behavior …
The Visibility Of An Object In A Space Environment, Dennis J. Martin
The Visibility Of An Object In A Space Environment, Dennis J. Martin
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.