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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Optical Tweezers: Exerting Force With Light, Gabriella Seifert Jan 2023

Optical Tweezers: Exerting Force With Light, Gabriella Seifert

Scripps Senior Theses

Photons carry momentum. When a tightly-focused beam of photons hit a particle, they transfer some of their momentum to the particle, exerting a force. Optical tweezers take advantage of this phenomenon to trap (or “tweeze”) a spherical bead just after the focus of a diverging laser beam, creating a potential well that pulls in beads. In this thesis, I predict the force exerted on trapped beads and measure the actual force using an optical tweezers setup that I built. To predict the force, I follow the path of all possible rays from a diverging beam incident on a spherical bead …


Using Powder Diffraction To Give Insight Into Structures Of Ir2(Diisocyanomenthane)4x2 [Dimen] (X = Cl; Pf6; Bph4), Mairead Brownell Jan 2022

Using Powder Diffraction To Give Insight Into Structures Of Ir2(Diisocyanomenthane)4x2 [Dimen] (X = Cl; Pf6; Bph4), Mairead Brownell

Scripps Senior Theses

Ir2(dimen)42+ (dimen = 1,8-diisocyanomenthane) has been studied extensively as model compound to better understand catalysis of photochemical reactions. Although Ir2(dimen)42+ has been used primarily to observe the photophysical changes of metal-metal transitions, it gives great insight into the transitions that allow other d8-d8 metal complexes to undergo photochemical processes and generate hydrogen gas. The large visible range by which Ir2(dimen)42+ (1) can be electronically excited in solution is indicative of its two solution phase ground states, which interestingly have been hypothesized to resemble two unique packing structures observed in the powder state. In this study, the powder diffraction patterns of …


Maximal Lelm Distinguishability Of Qubit And Qutrit Bell States Using Projective And Non-Projective Measurements, Nathaniel Leslie Jan 2017

Maximal Lelm Distinguishability Of Qubit And Qutrit Bell States Using Projective And Non-Projective Measurements, Nathaniel Leslie

HMC Senior Theses

Many quantum information tasks require measurements to distinguish between different quantum-mechanically entangled states (Bell states) of a particle pair. In practice, measurements are often limited to linear evolution and local measurement (LELM) of the particles. We investigate LELM distinguishability of the Bell states of two qubits (two-state particles) and qutrits (three-state particles), via standard projective measurement and via generalized measurement, which allows detection channels beyond the number of orthogonal single-particle states. Projective LELM can only distinguish 3 of 4 qubit Bell states; we show that generalized measurement does no better. We show that projective LELM can distinguish only 3 of …


Experimental Realization Of Slowly Rotating Modes Of Light, Fangzhao A. An Jan 2014

Experimental Realization Of Slowly Rotating Modes Of Light, Fangzhao A. An

HMC Senior Theses

Beams of light can carry spin and orbital angular momentum. Spin angular momentum describes how the direction of the electric field rotates about the propagation axis, while orbital angular momentum describes the rotation of the field amplitude pattern. These concepts are well understood for monochromatic beams, but previous theoretical studies have constructed polychromatic superpositions where the connection between angular momentum and rotation of the electric field becomes much less clear. These states are superpositions of two states of light carrying opposite signs of angular momentum and slightly detuned frequencies. They rotate at the typically small detuning frequency and thus we …


Balconies, Joe Guimera Mar 2013

Balconies, Joe Guimera

The STEAM Journal

Recent developments in theoretical physics suggest the possibility of parallel universes. What if we could see two or more universes at the same time? In effect, superimpose a scene from one universe; say a street corner, over the image of the same scene from a second universe? The photograph “Balconies” imagines the possibilities.


Invisibility: A Mathematical Perspective, Austin G. Gomez Jan 2013

Invisibility: A Mathematical Perspective, Austin G. Gomez

CMC Senior Theses

The concept of rendering an object invisible, once considered unfathomable, can now be deemed achievable using artificial metamaterials. The ability for these advanced structures to refract waves in the negative direction has sparked creativity for future applications. Manipulating electromagnetic waves of all frequencies around an object requires precise and unique parameters, which are calculated from various mathemat- ical laws and equations. We explore the possible interpretations of these parameters and how they are implemented towards the construction of a suitable metamaterial. If carried out correctly, the wave will exit the metamaterial exhibiting the same behavior as when it had entered. …


Direct Measurements Of Island Growth And Step-Edge Barriers In Colloidal Epitaxy, Rajesh Ganapathy, Mark R. Buckley, Sharon J. Gerbode, Itai Cohen Jan 2010

Direct Measurements Of Island Growth And Step-Edge Barriers In Colloidal Epitaxy, Rajesh Ganapathy, Mark R. Buckley, Sharon J. Gerbode, Itai Cohen

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Epitaxial growth, a bottom-up self-assembly process for creating surface nano- and microstructures, has been extensively studied in the context of atoms. This process, however, is also a promising route to self-assembly of nanometer- and micrometer-scale particles into microstructures that have numerous technological applications. To determine whether atomic epitaxial growth laws are applicable to the epitaxy of larger particles with attractive interactions, we investigated the nucleation and growth dynamics of colloidal crystal films with single-particle resolution. We show quantitatively that colloidal epitaxy obeys the same two-dimensional island nucleation and growth laws that govern atomic epitaxy. However, we found that in colloidal …


Sum Rules And Universality In Electron-Modulated Acoustic Phonon Interaction In A Free-Standing Semiconductor Plate, Shigeyasu Uno, Darryl H. Yong, Nobuya Mori Jun 2009

Sum Rules And Universality In Electron-Modulated Acoustic Phonon Interaction In A Free-Standing Semiconductor Plate, Shigeyasu Uno, Darryl H. Yong, Nobuya Mori

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Analysis of acoustic phonons modulated due to the surfaces of a free-standing semiconductor plate and their deformation-potential interaction with electrons are presented. The form factor for electron-modulated acoustic phonon interaction is formulated and analyzed in detail. The form factor at zero in-plane phonon wave vector satisfies sum rules regardless of electron wave function. The form factor is larger than that calculated using bulk phonons, leading to a higher scattering rate and lower electron mobility. When properly normalized, the form factors lie on a universal curve regardless of plate thickness and material.


Using Ultrasonic Atomization To Produce An Aerosol Of Micron-Scale Particles, Thomas D. Donnelly, J. Hogan '03, A. Mugler '04, M. Schubmehl '02, N. Schommer '04, Andrew J. Bernoff, S. Dasnurkar, T. Ditmire Nov 2005

Using Ultrasonic Atomization To Produce An Aerosol Of Micron-Scale Particles, Thomas D. Donnelly, J. Hogan '03, A. Mugler '04, M. Schubmehl '02, N. Schommer '04, Andrew J. Bernoff, S. Dasnurkar, T. Ditmire

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

A device that uses ultrasonic atomization of a liquid to produce an aerosol of micron-scale droplets is described. This device represents a new approach to producing targets relevant to laser-driven fusion studies, and to rare studies of nonlinear optics in which wavelength-scale targets are irradiated. The device has also made possible tests of fluid dynamics models in a novel phase space. The distribution of droplet sizes produced by the device and the threshold power required for droplet production are shown to follow scaling laws predicted by fluid dynamics.


Selectron Mass Reconstruction And The Resolution Of The Linear Collider Detector, Sharon J. Gerbode, Heath Holguin, Troy Lau, Paul Mooser, Adam Pearlstein, Joe Rose, Bruce Schumm Mar 2005

Selectron Mass Reconstruction And The Resolution Of The Linear Collider Detector, Sharon J. Gerbode, Heath Holguin, Troy Lau, Paul Mooser, Adam Pearlstein, Joe Rose, Bruce Schumm

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We have used ISAJET and the JAS LCD fast simulation to explore the precision of Snowmass Point SPS1a selectron mass reconstruction for the Silicon Detector concept. Simulating collisions at E_cm = 1 TeV, we have found that most of the information constraining the selectron mass is carried in the forward (|cos(theta)| > 0.8) region. We have also found that, for a beam energy spread of 1% (conventional RF design), detector resolution limitations compromise the selectron mass reconstruction only in the forward region. However, for a beam energy spread of less than 0.2% (superconducting RF design), the detector resolution compromises the selectron …


An Experimental Study Of Micron-Scale Droplet Aerosols Produced Via Ultrasonic Atomization, Thomas D. Donnelly, J. Hogan '03, A. Mugler '04, N. Schommer '04, M. Schubmehl '02, Andrew J. Bernoff, B. Forrest '02 Jun 2004

An Experimental Study Of Micron-Scale Droplet Aerosols Produced Via Ultrasonic Atomization, Thomas D. Donnelly, J. Hogan '03, A. Mugler '04, N. Schommer '04, M. Schubmehl '02, Andrew J. Bernoff, B. Forrest '02

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

In the last 10 years, laser-driven fusion experiments performed on atomic clusters of deuterium have shown a surprisingly high neutron yield per joule of input laser energy. Results indicate that the optimal cluster size for maximizing fusion events should be in the 0.01–μm diameter range, but an appropriate source of droplets of this size does not exist. In an attempt to meet this need, we use ultrasonic atomization to generate micron-scale droplet aerosols of high average density, and we have developed and refined a reliable droplet sizing technique based on Mie scattering. Harmonic excitation of the fluid in …


Nonlinear Dynamics Of Mode-Locking Optical Fiber Ring Lasers, Kristin M. Spaulding, Darryl H. Yong, Arnold D. Kim, J Nathan Kutz May 2002

Nonlinear Dynamics Of Mode-Locking Optical Fiber Ring Lasers, Kristin M. Spaulding, Darryl H. Yong, Arnold D. Kim, J Nathan Kutz

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We consider a model of a mode-locked fiber ring laser for which the evolution of a propagating pulse in a birefringent optical fiber is periodically perturbed by rotation of the polarization state owing to the presence of a passive polarizer. The stable modes of operation of this laser that correspond to pulse trains with uniform amplitudes are fully classified. Four parameters, i.e., polarization, phase, amplitude, and chirp, are essential for an understanding of the resultant pulse-train uniformity. A reduced set of four coupled nonlinear differential equations that describe the leading-order pulse dynamics is found by use of the variational nature …


The Interaction Of Intense Laser Pulses With Atomic Clusters, T. Ditmire, Thomas D. Donnelly, A. M. Rubenchik, R. W. Falcone, M. D. Perry May 1996

The Interaction Of Intense Laser Pulses With Atomic Clusters, T. Ditmire, Thomas D. Donnelly, A. M. Rubenchik, R. W. Falcone, M. D. Perry

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We examine the interaction of intense, femtosecond laser radiation with the large (50–200 Å) clusters produced in pulsed gas jets. Both experiment and simulation show that the plasmas produced during these interactions exhibit electron temperatures far in excess of that predicted by above-threshold ionization theory for a low-density gas. Efficient heating of the clusters by the laser is followed by rapid expansion of the clusters and long-lived x-ray emission from hot, decaying, underdense plasma.


High Order Harmonic Generation In Atom Clusters, Thomas D. Donnelly, T. Ditmire, K. Neuman, M. D. Perry, R. W. Falcone Apr 1996

High Order Harmonic Generation In Atom Clusters, Thomas D. Donnelly, T. Ditmire, K. Neuman, M. D. Perry, R. W. Falcone

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We report the generation of short-wavelength, high-order harmonics of intense laser radiation from atom clusters. Clusters containing about 103 atoms are produced in a high-pressure gas jet. We show them to be a unique nonlinear medium. Compared with monomer gases they yield a higher appearance intensity for a given harmonic order, stronger nonlinear dependence of harmonic signal on laser intensity, higher-order harmonics, and reduced saturation of the harmonic signal at high laser intensity.


Strong X-Ray Emission From High-Temperature Plasmas Produced By Intense Irradiation Of Clusters, T. Ditmire, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, M. D. Perry Oct 1995

Strong X-Ray Emission From High-Temperature Plasmas Produced By Intense Irradiation Of Clusters, T. Ditmire, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, M. D. Perry

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The interaction of an intense laser pulse with large (∼100Å) clusters present in pulsed gas jets is shown to produce novel plasmas with electron temperatures far in excess of that predicted by above-threshold ionization theory. The enhanced absorption of the laser light by the dense clusters results in the production of high ion charge states via collisional ionization resulting in strong x-ray emission from the hot plasma.


Dynamics Of Optical-Field-Ionized Plasmas For X-Ray Lasers, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Lee, R. W. Falcone Apr 1995

Dynamics Of Optical-Field-Ionized Plasmas For X-Ray Lasers, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Lee, R. W. Falcone

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The success of recombination-pumped x-ray laser schemes is determined by the kinetics of ions in plasmas with relatively dense, cold-electron distributions. We examine how laser gain in such systems is affected by a multipeaked electron distribution generated by sequential ionization of atoms using high-intensity, ultrashort-pulse lasers. We also investigate the role of heating processes that modify electron energy distributions during the recombination and the accompanying collisional cascade. We find that conditions for the success of these schemes are critically modified by the inclusion of these effects.


Femtosecond Laser-Produced Plasma X-Rays From Periodically Modulated Surface Targets, J. C. Gautheir, S. Bastiani, P. Audebert, J. P. Geindre, K. Neuman, Thomas D. Donnelly, M. Hoffer, R. W. Falcone, R. Shepherd, D. Price, B. White Jan 1995

Femtosecond Laser-Produced Plasma X-Rays From Periodically Modulated Surface Targets, J. C. Gautheir, S. Bastiani, P. Audebert, J. P. Geindre, K. Neuman, Thomas D. Donnelly, M. Hoffer, R. W. Falcone, R. Shepherd, D. Price, B. White

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We have studied theoretically and experimentally the x-ray production above 1 keV from femtosecond laser plasmas generated on periodically modulated surface targets. Laser energy coupling to plasma surface waves has been modeled using a numerical differential method. Almost total absorption of incident laser radiation is predicted for optimized interaction conditions. Silicon gratings have been irradiated by a 120fs Ti:sapphire laser at irradiances in excess of 1016 W/cm2. X-ray intensities above 1.5 keV (K-shell lines) have been measured as a function of the incidence angle. Results show a distinct x-ray emission maximum for the first order diffraction …


Tabletop X-Ray Lasers, D. C. Eder, P. Amendt, L. B. Dasilva, R. A. London, B. J. Macgowan, D. L. Matthews, B. M. Penetrante, M. D. Rosen, S. C. Silks, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, G. L. Strobel May 1994

Tabletop X-Ray Lasers, D. C. Eder, P. Amendt, L. B. Dasilva, R. A. London, B. J. Macgowan, D. L. Matthews, B. M. Penetrante, M. D. Rosen, S. C. Silks, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, G. L. Strobel

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Details of schemes for two tabletop size x‐ray lasers that require a high‐intensity short‐pulse driving laser are discussed. The first is based on rapid recombination following optical‐field ionization. Analytical and numerical calculations of the output properties are presented. Propagation in the confocal geometry is discussed and a solution for x‐ray lasing in Li‐like N at 247 Å is described. Since the calculated gain coefficient depends strongly on the electron temperature, the methods of calculating electron heating following field ionization are discussed. Recent experiments aimed at demonstrating lasing in H‐like Li at 135 Å are discussed along with modeling results. The …