Chen S. Tsai

Spin waves in periodic magnetic structures—magnonic crystals

Propagation of spin waves (SWs) through a periodic multilayered magnetic structure is analyzed. It is assumed that the structure consists of ferromagnetic layers having the same thickness but different magnetizations. The wave spectrum obtained contains forbidden zones (stop bands) in which wave propagation is prohibited. Introduction into the structure of the ferromagnetic layer with a different thickness breaks the structural symmetry and leads to a localization of the SW mode with the frequency lying in the stop band. Reflection of the wave by the structure of the finite length and transmission of the wave through the structure are also investigated. Numerical calculations of the wave dispersion and the transmission coefficients for symmetrical periodic structures as well as the structures with a defect are presented. Drawing an analogy from photonic crystals known in optics, such magnetic structures can be called one-dimensional (1-D) magnonic crystals (MCs). The possibilities of existence of the 2-D MCs are also discussed.

Optical channel waveguide switch and coupler using total internal reflection

Light beam switching and coupling in a four-port channel waveguide-horn structure has been accomplished using electrooptic modulation of the critical angle of a refractive index interface in aY-cut LiNbO3substrate. The resulting double-pole double-throw switch/coupler is potentially capable of simultaneously providing a combination of desirable characteristics.

Stimulated emission in a nanostructured silicon pn junction diode using current injection

Stimulated emission at bandgap energy of 1.1 eV was observed in a silicon nanostructured pn junction diode using current injection at room temperature. Nonuniform diffusion using spin-on boron dopant mixed with silicon dioxide nanoparticles was used to fabricate the device. The spatial confinement of carriers through such localization structures contributes to the enhancement of the stimulated emission. The experimental results show a drastic increase in the optical power and multiple spectral peaks at wavelengths longer than the main peak of spontaneous emission through various phonon-assisted radiative recombination processes. When the injection current significantly exceeds a threshold, a single peak dominates, exhibiting stimulated emission.

Ferromagnetic films with magnon bandgap periodic structures: Magnon crystals

A new type of photonic crystals is proposed. The new crystals have a forbidden gap in the microwave spectrum of magnetostatic spin waves, and, by analogy with photonic crystals, they are called magnon crystals. Specimens of such crystals were fabricated on the basis of yttrium iron garnet films. The surfaces of ferromagnetic films containing two-dimensional etched hole structures were studied by atomic force and magnetic force mag-netometry. The propagation of spin waves through the magnon crystals was investigated.

Noncollinear coplanar magneto-optic interaction of guided optical wave and magnetostatic surface waves in yttrium iron garnet-gadolinium gallium garnet waveguides

Wideband noncollinear coplanar guided‐wave magneto‐optic diffraction and mode conversion by magnetostatic surface waves at multigigahertz (3–7 GHz) carrier frequencies in yttrium iron garnet‐gadolinium gallium garnet waveguides have been observed and measured in detail for the first time. Interaction configuration, physical mechanisms, summary of a theoretical treatment, and some experimental results obtained at 1.152 μm optical wavelength are presented. This noncollinear coplanar magneto‐optic interaction configuration should result in a number of integrated optic devices for wideband communications and signal processing applications at electronically tunable microwave carrier frequencies. The potential advantages of the resulting magneto‐optic devices over the existing acousto‐optic devices are also discussed.

Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis for nanoparticles synthesis

This article presents new findings regarding the effects of precursor drop size and precursor concentration on product particle size and morphology in ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. Large precursor drops (diameter > 30 μm) generated by ultrasonic atomization at 120 kHz yielded particles with holes due to high solvent evaporation rate, as predicted by the conventional one particle per drop mechanism. Precursor drops 6–9 μm in diameter, generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer at 1.65 MHz and 23.5 W electric drive power, yielded uniform spherical particles 90 nm in diameter with proper control of precursor concentration and residence time. Moreover, air-assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis at 120 kHz and 2.3 W yielded spherical particles about 70% of which were smaller than those produced by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of the 6–9 μm precursor drops, despite much larger precursor drop size (28 μm peak diameter versus 7 μm mean diameter). These particles are much smaller than predicted by the conventional one particle per drop mechanism, suggesting that a gas-to-particle conversion mechanism may also be involved in spray pyrolysis.

A silicon-based spot-size converter between single-mode fibers and Si-wire waveguides using cascaded tapers

Theoretical and experimental performances of a robust Si-based spot-size converter (SSC) for efficient coupling between a single-mode fiber and a photonic Si-wire waveguide are reported. The SSC is comprised of cascaded horizontal linear and vertical nonlinear up tapers measured 2.0mm and 86μm in length, respectively, in a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The fine modal field of a Si-wire waveguide, 0.54×0.38μm2 in diameters, was expanded to diameters of 5.1×9.2μm2 with measured net transmission loss of 0.5dB at the wavelength of 1.55μm by the miniature SSC.Theoretical and experimental performances of a robust Si-based spot-size converter (SSC) for efficient coupling between a single-mode fiber and a photonic Si-wire waveguide are reported. The SSC is comprised of cascaded horizontal linear and vertical nonlinear up tapers measured 2.0mm and 86μm in length, respectively, in a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The fine modal field of a Si-wire waveguide, 0.54×0.38μm2 in diameters, was expanded to diameters of 5.1×9.2μm2 with measured net transmission loss of 0.5dB at the wavelength of 1.55μm by the miniature SSC.

Wideband electronically tunable microwave bandstop filters using iron film-gallium arsenide waveguide structure

A wideband electronically tunable microwave bandstop (notch) filter has been realized using ultrathin iron film-gallium arsenide (FeGaAs) material structure. A tuning range as large as 8 to 27 GHz for the peak absorption carrier frequency of a propagating microwave has been accomplished.

Single‐mode waveguide microlenses and microlens arrays fabrication in LiNbO3 using titanium indiffused proton exchange technique

Single‐mode planar waveguide microlenses and microlens arrays in LiNbO3 have been fabricated using a combination of titanium diffusion and proton exchange processes. The lenses have demonstrated properties such as very short focal length, micron focal spot size, and large angular field of view that are desirable for applications in integrated and fiber‐optic signal processing and computing as well as communication systems.

Integrated acoustooptic circuits and applications

The recent development of titanium-indiffusion proton-exchange (TIPE) microlenses and lens arrays has made possible the construction of a variety of single- and multichannel integrated acoustooptic (AO) and acoustooptic-electrooptic (EO) circuits in LiNbO/sub 3/ channel-planar waveguides 0.1*1.0*2.0 cm/sup 3/ in size. These hybrid AO and AO-EO circuits can be fabricated through compatible and well-established technologies. The most recent realization of ion-milled microlenses and lens arrays together with the recent development of gigahertz AO Bragg modulators and EO Bragg modulator arrays have also paved the way for construction of similar but monolithic AO and AO-EO GaAs/GaAlAs waveguides of comparable size. Both types of integrated AO and AO-EO circuits suggest versatile applications in communications signal processing, and computing. Efficient and simultaneous excitation of the channel waveguide array using an ion-milled planar microlens array has facilitated the demonstration of some of these applications.<<ETX>>