Corrado de Lisio

Polarization pattern of vector vortex beams generated by q-plates with different topological charges

We describe the polarization topology of the vector beams emerging from a patterned birefringent liquid crystal plate with a topological charge q at its center (q-plate). The polarization topological structures for different q-plates and different input polarization states have been studied experimentally by measuring the Stokes parameters point-by-point in the beam transverse plane. Furthermore, we used a tuned q=1/2-plate to generate cylindrical vector beams with radial or azimuthal polarizations, with the possibility of switching dynamically between these two cases by simply changing the linear polarization of the input beam.

Quantum walks and wavepacket dynamics on a lattice with twisted photons

A discrete quantum walk occurs in the orbital angular momentum space of light, both for a single photon and for two simultaneous photons. The “quantum walk” has emerged recently as a paradigmatic process for the dynamic simulation of complex quantum systems, entanglement production and quantum computation. Hitherto, photonic implementations of quantum walks have mainly been based on multipath interferometric schemes in real space. We report the experimental realization of a discrete quantum walk taking place in the orbital angular momentum space of light, both for a single photon and for two simultaneous photons. In contrast to previous implementations, the whole process develops in a single light beam, with no need of interferometers; it requires optical resources scaling linearly with the number of steps; and it allows flexible control of input and output superposition states. Exploiting the latter property, we explored the system band structure in momentum space and the associated spin-orbit topological features by simulating the quantum dynamics of Gaussian wavepackets. Our demonstration introduces a novel versatile photonic platform for quantum simulations.

Detection of Zak phases and topological invariants in a chiral quantum walk of twisted photons.

Topological insulators are fascinating states of matter exhibiting protected edge states and robust quantized features in their bulk. Here we propose and validate experimentally a method to detect topological properties in the bulk of one-dimensional chiral systems. We first introduce the mean chiral displacement, an observable that rapidly approaches a value proportional to the Zak phase during the free evolution of the system. Then we measure the Zak phase in a photonic quantum walk of twisted photons, by observing the mean chiral displacement in its bulk. Next, we measure the Zak phase in an alternative, inequivalent timeframe and combine the two windings to characterize the full phase diagram of this Floquet system. Finally, we prove the robustness of the measure by introducing dynamical disorder in the system. This detection method is extremely general and readily applicable to all present one-dimensional platforms simulating static or Floquet chiral systems.

Statistical moments of quantum-walk dynamics reveal topological quantum transitions.

Many phenomena in solid-state physics can be understood in terms of their topological properties [1, 2]. Recently, controlled protocols of quantum walks are proving to be effective simulators of such phenomena [3–6]. Here we report the realization of a photonic quantum walk showing both the trivial and the non-trivial topologies associated with chiral symmetry in one-dimensional periodic systems, as in the SuSchrieffer-Heeger model of polyacetylene [7]. We find that the probability distribution moments of the walker position after many steps behave differently in the two topological phases and can be used as direct indicators of the quantum transition: while varying a control parameter, these moments exhibit a slope discontinuity at the transition point, and remain constant in the non-trivial phase. Extending this approach to higher dimensions, different topological classes, and other typologies of quantum phases may offer new general instruments for investigating quantum transitions in such complex systems.Many phenomena in solid-state physics can be understood in terms of their topological properties. Recently, controlled protocols of quantum walk (QW) are proving to be effective simulators of such phenomena. Here we report the realization of a photonic QW showing both the trivial and the non-trivial topologies associated with chiral symmetry in one-dimensional (1D) periodic systems. We find that the probability distribution moments of the walker position after many steps can be used as direct indicators of the topological quantum transition: while varying a control parameter that defines the system phase, these moments exhibit a slope discontinuity at the transition point. Numerical simulations strongly support the conjecture that these features are general of 1D topological systems. Extending this approach to higher dimensions, different topological classes, and other typologies of quantum phases may offer general instruments for investigating and experimentally detecting quantum transitions in such complex systems.

Time resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy of carbonaceous particles produced in combustion systems

The size of nanometric carbonaceous particles produced in various combustion systems is determined by means of time resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy (TRFPA). We also compare the performances of two different experimental implementations of thetechnique, which are complementary in terms of cost, simplicity and resolution. Both methods are first employed on standard molecules to demonstrate the reliability of the results. A study of the sizes of nanometric particles collected at the exhaust of diesel and gasoline vehicle engine, as well as from controlled laminar flames is presented. The high sensitivity (0.04 nm) achieved with the use of a streak camera as detector makes the TRFPA technique particularly suitable for characterizing nanometric particles.

Detection of fluorescent nanoparticles in flame with femtosecond laser-induced fluorescence anisotropy

The mean size of fluorescent nanoparticles produced in a propane flame has been measured with an in-situ technique employing a femtosecond laser to excite the sample and a streak camera for time-resolved detection of the fluorescence. The time profile of the fluorescence anisotropy showed a Gaussian behaviour, typical of free rotor reorientation. By measuring its width, we estimated an average carbon particle diameter of 3.3 nm, thus confirming the existence of combustion produced nanoparticles. The technique proves to be applicable to the study of gas-phase nanoparticles, both in combustion and environmental studies.

Topological features of vector vortex beams perturbed with uniformly polarized light

Optical singularities manifesting at the center of vector vortex beams are unstable, since their topological charge is higher than the lowest value permitted by Maxwell’s equations. Inspired by conceptually similar phenomena occurring in the polarization pattern characterizing the skylight, we show how perturbations that break the symmetry of radially symmetric vector beams lead to the formation of a pair of fundamental and stable singularities, i.e. points of circular polarization. We prepare a superposition of a radial (or azimuthal) vector beam and a uniformly linearly polarized Gaussian beam; by varying the amplitudes of the two fields, we control the formation of pairs of these singular points and their spatial separation. We complete this study by applying the same analysis to vector vortex beams with higher topological charges, and by investigating the features that arise when increasing the intensity of the Gaussian term. Our results can find application in the context of singularimetry, where weak fields are measured by considering them as perturbations of unstable optical beams.

Disorder-sensitive pump-probe measurements on Nd 1.83 Ce 0.17 CuO 4 ± δ films

We find an unambiguous relationship between disorder-driven features in the temperature dependence of the resistance and the behavior, as functions of the temperature, of the parameters necessary to describe some of the relaxation processes in the photoinduced differential time-resolved reflectivity of three samples of Nd

Anomalous evolution of broadband optical absorption reveals dynamic solid state reorganization during eumelanin build-up in thin films

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Transport and optical properties of epitaxial Nd1.83Ce0.17Cu04−δthin films

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