A theoretical and experimental investigation of scatter from surface roughness and core refractive index fluctuations in planar waveguides was performed, with an emphasis placed on applications in solution-deposited SiO₂-TiO₂ (silica titania) planar waveguiding systems. A perturbation theory was used to model TE₀ mode scattering from surface and volume microstructure, and to predict attenuation when provided with the necessary waveguide and scattering parameters. Final forms for the equations predicting surface and volume scatter losses into the cover and substrate regions of the waveguides were provided. The rather complex perturbation theory model of surface scatter was compared to a very simple, intuitive model based on the Rayleigh criterion. The two models were shown to predict surface induced attenuation values which were in very close agreement when the guided mode propagation angle approached 90°. Thus, the simple model was shown to be adequate for predicting TE₀ mode surface scattering losses for waveguides which were very thick, and/or possessed a low refractive index. Considerable emphasis was placed on providing a simple, physical picture of guided mode scattering, utilizing rays to represent the scattered light. Following the development of this technique, it was utilized to explain the origins of interference peaks in surface scattered radiation at certain values of film thickness. Solution chemistry and processing methodologies for 50:50 mol% and 35:65 mol% SiO₂-TiO₂ sol-gel films, yielding high quality, amorphous, glass waveguides, were discussed. Attenuation in the 50:50 mol% films was 1-2 dB/cm, while attenuation in the 35:65 mol% films was 0.3-0.5 dB/cm, at λ = 0.6328 μm. Absorption in these films was negligible. Waveguide losses were measured by transferring the scattered streak to a remote image plane (using a coherent fiber bundle) and scanning it using an automated, stepper-motor controlled, apertured photomultiplier tube. Testing and calibration techniques were described in detail. We found that surface-induced scattering was the dominant loss mechanism in the 35:65 mol% SiO₂-TiO₂ films. Surface roughnesses of the sol-gel films, measured using Atomic Force Microscopy, ranged from about 2-5 A rms, with correlation lengths from about 0.05-0.75 μm.

如何在納米結構中控制的光的傳播，一直是物理和應用技術方面被廣泛研究的其中一個課題。在這篇論文中，我們從理論上探討在納米結構中表面等離子體激元(Surface plasmon polariton) 的特性以及其雜化。我們研究的納米結構包括金屬電介質金屬平板導波(chirped metaldielectric wave-guides) ，慘入納米金屬球的金屬電介質平板導波(metal dielectric waveguides with metallic narnoparticle doped)與光子晶體(photoniccrystals) 。 / 金屬-電介質-金屬平板導波由三層的金屬及電介質平板所組成，原本各自獨立存在於兩層金屬-介電介面的表面等離子體激元在兩層介面相距足夠近的情況下，會產生稱合作用而導致雜化表面等離子體激元(Hybridizedsurface plasmon polariton) 的產生，並且能在色散關係中被一條接近平坦、位於中頻附近的帶所表示。 / 同樣地，透過在金屬介電介面附近的電介質平板部份中加入納米金屬球，我們也能引起納米金屬球上的表面等離子體與平面金屬-介電介面上的表面等離子體激元之間的耦合作用，從而在色散關係產生另一條分支帶。 / 這些由雜化作用所導致的平坦的分支帶，其特性很容易透過操縱模型參數所改變。因此，我們可以在模型中引入一個介電常數(或厚度)的漸變梯度，從而達成表面等離子體激元的定域化，或多頻率表面等離子體激元(SPP rainbow) 的誘捕。 / 另外，透過轉移距列(transfer matrix)及哈密頓光學(Hamiltonian opticsapproach) 的應用，我們同時研究了表面等離子波在一維二元光子晶體中的斜入射色散關係及其傳播。結果證明，它可以用來引起波長尺度級別的表面等離子波的軌跡彎曲。 / Controlling the light propagation in nanostructures is one of the extensively studied topics in physics and technology. In this thesis, we theoretically investigate the behaviours of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and the hybridized nanostructures, which include chirped metal-dielectric waveguides, metal-dielectric waveguides with metallic nanoparticle doped and photonic crystals. / In the system of chirped metal-dielectric waveguides which compose of metal-dielectric-metal multilayers, the evanescent coupling of the SPP waves at the two interfaces in the dielectric layer lead to a new hybridized surface plasmon polariton (HSPP) branch with a nearly flat dispersion at intermediate frequencies. / Similarly, by adding metallic nano-particles into the dielectric media, we can also achieve another HSPP branch which is caused by the coupling between the surface plasmon (SP) on the nanoparticles and SPP at the waveguide interface. Moreover, the nearly flat branch is tunable through changing the system parameters. Therefore by imposing a gradual variation of per-mittivity (or thickness), it is possible to achieve a localization of SPP wave, which is useful for achieving trapped SPP rainbow. / We also study at oblique incidence the dispersion relation and the propagation of SP in one dimension binary photonic crystals by using methods of transfer matrix and Hamiltonian optics approach. The result shows that it can be used to achieve a superbending of SP waves in wavelength scales. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chau, Cheung Wai = 表面等離子光學及納米光學中的雜交化電磁極化子 / 鄒長威. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chau, Cheung Wai = Biao mian deng li zi guang xue ji na mi guang xue zhong de za jiao hua dian ci ji hua zi / Zou Changwei. / Abstract --- p.i / 概要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.v / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Plasmonics and nanophotonics --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Surface plasmon polaritons --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- History of SPP --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Investigations and applications of SPPs --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objective of thesis --- p.3 / Chapter 2 --- Basic principles --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Drude model --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- SPP formalism --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- SPP excitation --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Level repulsion phenomenon --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Simple coupled oscillator --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Diatomic elastic chain --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Summary --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- Transfer matrix method --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5 --- Hamiltonian optics approach --- p.16 / Chapter 2.6 --- Maxwell Garnett approximation --- p.17 / Chapter 3 --- Thomson plasmonics --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2 --- Model and scheme --- p.21 / Chapter 3.3 --- HSPP formalism --- p.22 / Chapter 3.4 --- HSPP bands with varying inclusions of metallic nanospheres --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5 --- Confinement scheme --- p.25 / Chapter 3.6 --- HO simulation and localization --- p.26 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Center excitation --- p.28 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Off center excitation --- p.30 / Chapter 3.7 --- Tunability and fabrication --- p.31 / Chapter 3.8 --- Complications and loss --- p.33 / Chapter 3.9 --- Summary --- p.33 / Chapter 4 --- Chirped metal-dielectric waveguides --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.42 / Chapter 4.2 --- Model and scheme --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- SPP formalism --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4 --- HSPP bands with varying permittivity and thickness --- p.45 / Chapter 4.5 --- Confinement scheme --- p.46 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Varying permittivity --- p.47 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Varying thickness --- p.47 / Chapter 4.6 --- Ho simulation and localization --- p.48 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Varying permittivity --- p.49 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Varying thickness --- p.51 / Chapter 4.7 --- Summary --- p.53 / Chapter 5 --- Dispersion and mirage of surface plasmon waves in metallic photonic crystals --- p.60 / Chapter 5.1 --- Photonic crystal --- p.60 / Chapter 5.2 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3 --- Dispersion relation formalism --- p.61 / Chapter 5.4 --- Graded material --- p.64 / Chapter 5.5 --- Ho simulation --- p.65 / Chapter 5.6 --- Results --- p.66 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- Lowest band excitation --- p.66 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- Second lowest band excitation --- p.69 / Chapter 5.6.3 --- Multiangle incidence --- p.71 / Chapter 5.7 --- Summary --- p.72 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.82 / Bibliography --- p.84

Entangled photons are ideally suited to the transmission of photonic quantum information. Mitigating the effects of decoherence is fundamental to distributing photonic entanglement across large distances. One such proposal is entanglement distillation, in which operations on a large ensemble of weakly entangled states generate a smaller ensemble of more strongly entangled states. In this thesis, we experimentally and theoretically analyse various tools required for demonstrating continuous-variable (CV) entanglement distillation, following the proposal by Browne et al., [Phys. Rev. A <b>67</b>, 062320 (2003)]. Specifically, we propose figures of merit to account for the practical limitations of non-deterministic non-Gaussian operations, and analyse the experimental parameters necessary to optimise them. We develop a source of pulsed two-mode squeezed states, which are the initial states of our entanglement distillation protocol. We use weak-field homodyne detection as a phase-dependent photon counting detector, and demonstrate its utility in conditional state generation. Using these states, we demonstrate sub-binomial light as a tool for benchmarking quantum states. Finally, we applied two-mode weak-field homodyne detection to two entangled states and demonstrate correlations in the photon counting statistics which depend on a joint phase from two independent local oscillators. This setup is sufficient to apply an entanglement witness developed by Puentes et al. [New J. Phys. <b>12</b>, 033042 (2010)]. Despite encouraging simulations, we do not witness entanglement with this scheme, which we attribute to a noise source unaccounted for in the simulations. Although we do not demonstrate entanglement distillation outright, the tools we develop to do so represent a general, hybrid approach to CV quantum optics. Developing tools such as phase-resolved projective measurement on two-mode states allows us to probe both the wave and particle nature of entangled light at the single-photon level. Using and expanding these techniques to probe larger quantum systems may prove useful in studies of fundamental physics and quantum enhanced technologies.

Proefschrift - Utrecht.

Compressive sampling enables signal reconstruction using less than one measurement per reconstructed signal value. Compressive measurement is particularly useful in generating multidimensional images from lower dimensional data. We demonstrate single frame 3D tomography from 2D holographic data. / Dissertation

This thesis describes a number of studies on organic semiconductors focused around using them as gain media for lasers. The photophysical properties of organic semiconductors are studied using a wide range of experimental techniques, allowing the evaluation of new materials and novel excitation schemes for use in organic semiconductor lasers. Polyfluorene is a well-established conjugated polymer laser gain medium and in this thesis its excellent lasing properties are combined with its two photon absorption properties to demonstrate a tunable two-photon pumped solid-state laser based on a commercially available organic semiconductor. A family of bisfluorene dendrimers was studied using a number of photophysical techniques to evaluate their potential as laser materials. Distributed feedback lasers based on one of the dendrimers are demonstrated with lasing thresholds comparable to polyfluorene. The same materials were found to have enhanced two-photon absorption properties in comparison to polyfluorene, leading to the fabrication of tunable two-photon pumped dendrimer lasers. A member of a novel family of star-shaped oligofluorene truxenes was evaluated as a laser gain material and the distributed feedback lasers made from them show some of the lowest lasing thresholds reported for organic semiconductors, partly as a consequence of exceptionally low waveguide losses in comparison to other single-material thin films. Finally, an organic laser dye is blended with a conjugated polymer, where the dye molecules harvest the excitation light of a GaN laser diode and transfer its energy to the polymer molecules. This is the first time such a scheme is used in an organic laser and in combination with a novel surface-emitting distributed Bragg reflector resonator allows the demonstration of a diode-pumped organic laser, a significant step towards simplifying organic lasers.

Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 115-119.

This thesis exploits so called “Optical Eigenmodes” (OEi) in the focal plane of an optical system. The concept of OEi is introduced and the OEi operator approach is outlined, for which quadratic measures of the light field are expressed as real eigenvalues of an Hermitian operator. As an example, the latter is employed to locally minimise the width of a focal spot. The limitations of implementing these spots with state of the art spatial beam shaping technique are explored and a selected spot with a by 40 % decreased core width is used to confocally scan an in focus pair of holes, delivering a two-point resolution enhanced by a factor of 1.3. As a second application, OEi are utilised for fullfield imaging. Therefore they are projected onto an object and for each mode a complex coupling coefficient describing the light-sample interaction is determined. The superposition of the OEi weighted with these coefficients delivers an image of the object. Compared to a point-by-point scan of the sample with the same number of probes, i.e. scanning points, the OEi image features higher spatial resolution and localisation of object features, rendering OEi imaging a compressive imaging modality. With respect to a raster scan a compression by a factor four is achieved. Compared to ghost imaging as another fullfield imaging method, 2-3 orders of magnitude less probes are required to obtain similar images. The application of OEi for imaging in transmission as well as for fluorescence and (surface enhanced) Raman spectroscopy is demonstrated. Finally, the applicability of the OEi concept for the coherent control of nanostructures is shown. For this, OEi are generated with respect to elements on a nanostructure, such as nanoantennas or nanopads. The OEi can be superimposed in order to generate an illumination of choice, for example to address one or multiple nanoelements with a defined intensity. It is shown that, compared to addressing such elements just with a focussed beam, the OEi concept reduces illumination crosstalk in addressing individual nanoelements by up to 70 %. Furthermore, a fullfield aberration correction is inherent to experimentally determined OEi, hence enabling addressing of nanoelements through turbid media.

Optically-transparent solids have a significant role in many emerging topics of fundamental and applied research, in areas related to Applied Optics and Photonics. In the functional devices based on them, the presence of ‘time-varying temperature fields’ critically limit their achievable performance, when used particularly for high power laser-related tasks such as light-generation, light-amplification, nonlinear-harmonic conversion etc. For optimization of these devices, accurate knowledge of the material thermal parameters is essential. Many optical and non-optical methods are currently in use, for the reliable estimation of the thermal parameters. The thermal diffusivity is a key parameter for dealing with ‘transient heat transport’ related problems. Although its importance in practical design for thermal management is well understood, its physical meaning however continues to be esoteric. The present effort concerns with a few investigations on the “Optical interrogation of ‘transient thermal conduction’ in dielectric solids”. In dielectric solids, the current understanding is that the conductive heat transport occurs only through phonons relevant to microscopic lattice vibrations. Introducing for the first time, a virtual linear translator motion as the basis for heat conduction in dielectric materials, the present investigation discusses an alternative physical mechanism and a new analytical model for the transient heat conduction in dielectric solids. The model brings into limelight a ‘new law of motion’ and a ‘new quantity’ which can be defined at every point in the material, through which time-varying heat flows resulting in time-varying temperature. Physically, this quantity is a measure for the linear translatory motion resulting from transient heat conduction. For step-temperature excitation it bears a simple algebraic relation to the thermal diffusivity of the material. This relationship helps to define the thermal diffusivity of a dielectric solid as the “translatory motion speed” measured at unit distance from the heat source. A novel two-beam interferometric technique is proposed and corroborated the proposed concept with significant advantages. Two new approaches are introduced to estimate thermal diffusivity of optically transparent dielectric solid; first of them involves measurement of the position dependent velocity of isothermal surface and second one depend on the measurement of position dependent instantaneous velocity of normalized moving intensity points. A ‘new mechanism’ is proposed and demonstrated to visualize, monitor and interrogate optically, the ‘linear translatory motion’ resulting from the transient heat flow due to step- temperature excitation. Two new approaches are introduced, first one is ‘mark’ and ‘track’ approach, it involves a new interaction between sample supporting unsteady heat flow with its ambient and produces optical mark. Thermal diffusivity is estimated by tracking the optical mark. Second one involves measurement of instantaneous velocity of optical mark for different step-temperature at a fixed location to estimate thermal diffusivity. A new inverse method is proposed to estimate thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity from the volumetric specific heat capacity alone through thought experiment. A new method is proposed to predict volumetric specific heat capacity more accurately from thermal diffusivity.