The propagation of light beams in inhomogeneous dielectric media is considered. The derivation begins with first principles and remains general enough to include off-axis asymmetric multimode input beams in tapered lenslike media with spatial variations of gain or loss. The tapering of lenslike media leads to a number of important applications. A parabolic taper is proposed as a model for a heated axially stretched fiber taper, and beams in such media are fully characterized. Other models are proposed by the concatenation of a parabola with other taper functions.

The first part of my PhD work is about the lattice vibrations in silicon nanowires. First-principles calculations based on the linear response are performed to investigate the quantum confinement effect in lattice vibrations of silicon nanowires (SiNW). The radial breathing modes (RBM) are found in our calculations, which have a different size-dependent frequency shift compared with the optical modes. They are well explained by the elastic model. Finally, the relative activity of the Raman scattering in the smallest SiNW is calculated. The RBM can be clearly identified in the Raman spectrum, which can be used to estimate the size of nanowires in experiment. In the second part of my PhD work, we focus on the electron-hole pair (exciton) in semiconductor nanowires and its influence on the optical absorption spectra. First-principles calculations are performed for a hydrogen-passivated silicon nanowire with a diameter of 1.2 nm. Using plane wave and pseudopotentials, the quasiparticle states are calculated within the so-called GW approximation, and the electron-hole interaction is evaluated with the Bethe-Salpeter Equation (BSE). The enhanced excitonic effect is found in the absorption spectrum. The third part of my work is about the electronic structure in Si/Ge core-shell nanowires. The electronic band structure is studied with first-principles methods. Individual conduction and valence bands are found in the core part and the shell part, respectively. The band offsets are determined, which give rise to the spatial separation of electron and hole charge carriers in different regions of the nanowires. This allows for a novel-doping scheme that supplies the carriers into a separate region in order to avoid the scattering problem. This is the key factor to create high-speed devices. With the confinement effect, our results show important correction in the band offset compared with the bulk heterostructure. Finally, an optimum doping strategy is proposed based on our band-offset data.

Tailoring the radiative properties of periodic micro/nanostructures can be used as an efficient way to create devices which have applications in energy harvesting, bioengineering and optical sensing. These structures are analyzed by a rigorous solution of the electromagnetic wave phenomena at the interfaces. The thesis explores the application of rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) method to study the optical responses of microstructure arrays. First section of the thesis elucidates the various mechanisms which are responsible for causing enhanced light absorption in inclined parallel plate grating arrays. Illustrative evidences of surface plasmon and magnetic resonances are provided by one and two-dimensional plots prepared by RCWA. Analytical agreement with visual data is obtained through use of LC circuit models. Finally, the effects of different geometric parameters on the resonance conditions are investigated. The second part of the thesis deals with application of RCWA to study the effect of light scattering on inclined silver nanorod (AgNR) arrays grown on compact disc (CD) gratings. Depending on the manner in which AgNRs are oriented with respect to CD gratings, they exhibit different optical behavior to incoming light. Effects of both incident light polarization and AgNR orientation with respect to the grating have been studied through the use of RCWA and effective medium theory. Calculated results are compared with experimental values and good agreements are observed for total reflection as well as trends of individual diffraction orders.

Laser beams can be manipulated by volume diffractive elements in addition to conventional optical elements like mirrors, lenses, and beam splitters. Conventional optical elements can be described by applying the basic laws of reflection and refraction at the surfaces of the elements. Even diffraction by surface gratings utilizes relatively simple mathematics. This is to be contrasted with the volume diffraction, which requires coupled wave theory in the slowly varying envelope approximation (SVEA) to obtain accurate results. Efficient spatially distributed diffraction of laser beams is possible due to the high coherence of laser light, and it occurs at specific resonant Bragg conditions. This research work is inspired and driven by the successful development of recording technology for robust, high-efficiency volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) in photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass. Mostly VBGs of the reflective type are discussed in this dissertation. Starting with an analysis of electro-magnetic wave propagation in layered media, we have reformulated Fresnel and volume reflection phenomena in terms of a convenient parameter – strength of reflection. The influence that the different non-uniformities inside a VBG have on its spectral properties has been examined. One important result of this work is the proposal of moiré VBG and the derivation of an analytical expression for its bandwidth. A multiplexed VBG used as a coherent combiner is discussed as well. Beam distortion via transmission through and/or reflection by a heated VBG due to residual absorption is analyzed.

L’objectif principal de ce travail est de développer des optiques moulées transparentes du visible à l’infrarouge thermique 8-12μm pour des applications de vision multi-spectrales. La recherche de compositions de verres utilisables pour ces applications a été faite parmi les verres de chalcogénures (connus pour leurs grandes transparences dans l’infrarouge), plus précisément dans les systèmes GeS2-Ga2S3-CsCl et GeSe2-Ga2Se3-CsI. Ces deux systèmes présentent des transparences étendues dans le visible avec l’ajout d’halogénures d’alcalin.En privilégiant une transparence dans le domaine visible, le système à base de soufre a été plus précisément étudié avec la sélection de deux compositions 75GeS2-15Ga2S3-10CsCl et 65GeS2-20Ga2S3-15CsCl. Les transmissions optiques, les indices de réfraction, les dispersions chromatiques et les variations d’indices en fonction de la température pour ces compositions ont été mesurés. Les propriétés thermiques, la mise en forme des verres ainsi que les propriétés mécaniques ont été présentées pour compléter la caractérisation de ces matériaux. Ces compositions possèdent de bonnes stabilités contre la cristallisation et des transparences étendues de 0,5μm à 11,5μm. Ces résultats nous permettent d’envisager la production d’optiques couvrant une large bande spectrale et de proposer une alternative au matériau ZnS pour les systèmes optiques. Cependant, les dispersions chromatiques de ces deux verres possèdent des comportements très similaires. Une étude de ce paramètre important pour corriger les aberrations chromatiques a été faite pour permettre de déterminer une composition avec une dispersion différente.Pour ces verres, l’addition de chlorure de césium engendre une légère dégradation des propriétés optiques due à la réaction du verre avec l’humidité environnante. Pour protéger ces verres contre la corrosion de l’atmosphère, une couche protectrice de ZnS a été appliquée par pulvérisation cathodique. De plus, un traitement antireflet a été appliqué par Thales Angénieux pour optimiser la transmission de ces verres dans les bandes spectrales spécifiées. Ce revêtement antireflet agit également comme un revêtement de protection. Ces travaux sur des verres à base de GeS2-Ga2S3 pour des applications optiques, nous ont également conduits à étudier ces verres contenant des ions de sodium pour la conduction ionique avec l’ajout d’halogénure de sodium (NaI et NaCl). La conductivité ionique de ces verres a été mesurée et comparée à la conductivité des verres contenant du lithium. Il a été démontré que le système GeS2-Ga2S3-NaI peut conduire à des verres avec une conductivité ionique de 10-6 S.cm-1 à température ambiante. / The objective of our study is to develop moldable optics operating simultaneously from the visible up to the thermal infrared region (8-12μm) for multispectral applications. The research of a suitable composition for optical applications has been done among chalcogenide glasses (well known for their extended transmission in the infrared domain), more precisely in the GeS2-Ga2S3-CsCl and GeSe2-Ga2Se3-CsI glass-forming systems. These two systems present extended transparency in the visible region due to alkali halide addition.In order to have enough transparency in the visible region, the sulfide based system has been more precisely studied with the selection of two compositions: 75GeS2-15Ga2S3-10CsCl and 65GeS2-20Ga2S3-15CsCl. Their optical transmissions, the refractive indices, the chromatic dispersions and the indices as function of temperature are studied. The thermal properties, molding ability and mechanical properties have been also studied in addition to the above-mentioned optical properties. These two compositions shows good stability against crystallization and extended transparency from 0,5 to 11,5 μm. It makes possible to consider the production of optics which cover a large spectral band, leading to an alternative to the ZnS for multispectral optical system. However, the chromatic dispersion of these two glasses is similar. A study of this important parameter as function of the glass composition has been performed in order to find a new composition with significantly different chromatic dispersion.For all these glasses, the addition of cesium chloride causes a slight degradation of optical properties due to its sensitivity to moisture. In order to protect these glasses against the atmospheric aggression, an efficient protective coatings of zinc sulfide has been applied by sputtering. An antireflective coating has been developed by Thales Angénieux to enhance the transmission in different specific wavelength ranges. The Antireflection coating acts also as a protective coating.This work on glasses in the GeS2- Ga2S3 system for optical applications, has also led us to study these glasses containing sodium ions for ionic conduction. The ionic conductivity has been measured and compared to that of glasses containing lithium ion. It has been demonstrated that the GeS2-Ga2S3-NaI can lead to glasses with an ionic conductivity of 10-6 S.cm-1 at room temperature.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A espectroscopia fotoacústica (PAS) é uma técnica não destrutiva e muito utilizada na caracterização óptica e térmica de materiais. Ela é baseada no efeito fotoacústico que consiste, basicamente, na absorção de onda eletromagnética modulada e na geração de calor no interior do material em estudo (amostra), via processo de desexcitação não-radiativa. Dentre as muitas aplicações relacionadas à caracterização de materiais, recentemente, a técnica PAS vem sendo desenvolvida para estudos de transição de fase de segunda ordem. Entretanto, poucos trabalhos são encontrados na literatura com relação à aplicação da técnica PAS ao estudo da transição vítrea. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é o de aplicar a técnica PAS na determinação da temperatura de transição vítrea de materiais poliméricos, de uma maneira inovadora com relação à célula fotoacústica e ao sistema de aquecimento. Para isso foi projetada e construída uma célula fotoacústica que possibilita a variação de temperatura da amostra, sem afetar a curva de resposta do microfone. Foi desenvolvido um sistema de aquecimento baseado no efeito Peltier, possibilitando fazer rampas de subida de temperatura, com várias velocidades, da temperatura ambiente até 130 C, de forma linear. Todo o aparato experimental foi testado e aplicado em várias amostras poliméricas: poliamida 6.0 (Nylon); poliestireno (PS-n1921 e PS-n2380); e poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET). Os resultados obtidos foram: para o Nylon, ; para o PS-n1921, ; para o PS-n2380, ; e para o PET, . Estes resultados estão de acordo com os respectivos valores da temperatura de transição vítrea encontrados na literatura e mostram a potencialidade da técnica PAS ao estudo da transição vítrea de materiais poliméricos. / Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a non-destructive technique and it has been largely applied to the thermal and optical characterization of materials. PAS technique is based on the photoacoustic effect which consist, basically, absorption of a modulated electromagnetic radiation and generation of heat inside of the material studied (sample), by a nonradiative deexcitation processes. Nowadays, among many PAS applications, effort are carried out to apply PAS technique for second-order phase transitions. However, only a few works can be found in the literature about glass transition studies with PAS technique. In this context, the main goal of this work is to apply PAS technique to determine glass transition temperature of the polymeric materials, based on the new photoacoustic cell configuration and on the new heating system. In this way, a photoacoustic cell was builted up for monitoring temperature variation of the sample, where the performance of the microphone was not affected. A heating system was developed based on the Peltier effect, in such way that it is possible to scan the temperature from the environment one up to 130 C, linearly at several speeds. The experimental apparatus was tested and applied to some polymeric materials: polyamide 6.0 (Nylon); polystyrene (PS-n1921 e PS-n2380); and poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET). The results obtained were: Nylon, ; PS-n1921, ; PS-n2380, ; and PET, . These results are in a good agreement with the respective values of glass transition temperature found in the literature and show the PAS technique potentiality for glass transition studies in polymeric materials.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A espectroscopia fotoacústica (PAS) é uma técnica não destrutiva e muito utilizada na caracterização óptica e térmica de materiais. Ela é baseada no efeito fotoacústico que consiste, basicamente, na absorção de onda eletromagnética modulada e na geração de calor no interior do material em estudo (amostra), via processo de desexcitação não-radiativa. Dentre as muitas aplicações relacionadas à caracterização de materiais, recentemente, a técnica PAS vem sendo desenvolvida para estudos de transição de fase de segunda ordem. Entretanto, poucos trabalhos são encontrados na literatura com relação à aplicação da técnica PAS ao estudo da transição vítrea. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é o de aplicar a técnica PAS na determinação da temperatura de transição vítrea de materiais poliméricos, de uma maneira inovadora com relação à célula fotoacústica e ao sistema de aquecimento. Para isso foi projetada e construída uma célula fotoacústica que possibilita a variação de temperatura da amostra, sem afetar a curva de resposta do microfone. Foi desenvolvido um sistema de aquecimento baseado no efeito Peltier, possibilitando fazer rampas de subida de temperatura, com várias velocidades, da temperatura ambiente até 130 C, de forma linear. Todo o aparato experimental foi testado e aplicado em várias amostras poliméricas: poliamida 6.0 (Nylon); poliestireno (PS-n1921 e PS-n2380); e poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET). Os resultados obtidos foram: para o Nylon, ; para o PS-n1921, ; para o PS-n2380, ; e para o PET, . Estes resultados estão de acordo com os respectivos valores da temperatura de transição vítrea encontrados na literatura e mostram a potencialidade da técnica PAS ao estudo da transição vítrea de materiais poliméricos. / Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a non-destructive technique and it has been largely applied to the thermal and optical characterization of materials. PAS technique is based on the photoacoustic effect which consist, basically, absorption of a modulated electromagnetic radiation and generation of heat inside of the material studied (sample), by a nonradiative deexcitation processes. Nowadays, among many PAS applications, effort are carried out to apply PAS technique for second-order phase transitions. However, only a few works can be found in the literature about glass transition studies with PAS technique. In this context, the main goal of this work is to apply PAS technique to determine glass transition temperature of the polymeric materials, based on the new photoacoustic cell configuration and on the new heating system. In this way, a photoacoustic cell was builted up for monitoring temperature variation of the sample, where the performance of the microphone was not affected. A heating system was developed based on the Peltier effect, in such way that it is possible to scan the temperature from the environment one up to 130 C, linearly at several speeds. The experimental apparatus was tested and applied to some polymeric materials: polyamide 6.0 (Nylon); polystyrene (PS-n1921 e PS-n2380); and poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET). The results obtained were: Nylon, ; PS-n1921, ; PS-n2380, ; and PET, . These results are in a good agreement with the respective values of glass transition temperature found in the literature and show the PAS technique potentiality for glass transition studies in polymeric materials.