J. E. Lugo

Influence of surface coverage on the effective optical properties of porous silicon modeled as a Si-wire array

The effective dielectric function, effective absorption coefficient and effective refractive index for a model of porous silicon (PS) are calculated using the volume and surface averaging method. The model consists of periodic Si wires with different surface coverages. This approach allows to obtain analytical results within certain approximations. The method uses experimental parameters to characterize the bulk and the surface. We choose the bulk c-Si, and cover it with three different possible surface skins: siloxanes, a-Si:H and SiO2. The results are compared with PS experimental data and other theoretical approaches for silicon wires. We obtain good agreement for certain coatings. Our results emphasize the important role of surface coatings in the effective response of porous silicon.

Multisensory Integration Central Processing Modifies Peripheral Systems

Multisensory integration in humans is thought to be essentially a brain phenomenon, but theories are silent as to the possible involvement of the peripheral nervous system. We provide evidence that this approach is insufficient. We report novel tactile-auditory and tactilevisual interactions in humans, demonstrating that a facilitating sound or visual stimulus that is exactly synchronous with an excitatory tactile signal presented at the lower leg increases the peripheral representation of that excitatory signal. These results demonstrate that during multisensory integration, the brain not only continuously binds information obtained from the senses, but also acts directly on that information by modulating activity at peripheral levels. We also discuss a theoretical framework to explain this novel interaction.

Negative refraction angular characterization in one-dimensional photonic crystals.

Background Photonic crystals are artificial structures that have periodic dielectric components with different refractive indices. Under certain conditions, they abnormally refract the light, a phenomenon called negative refraction. Here we experimentally characterize negative refraction in a one dimensional photonic crystal structure; near the low frequency edge of the fourth photonic bandgap. We compare the experimental results with current theory and a theory based on the group velocity developed here. We also analytically derived the negative refraction correctness condition that gives the angular region where negative refraction occurs. Methodology/Principal Findings By using standard photonic techniques we experimentally determined the relationship between incidence and negative refraction angles and found the negative refraction range by applying the correctness condition. In order to compare both theories with experimental results an output refraction correction was utilized. The correction uses Snells law and an effective refractive index based on two effective dielectric constants. We found good agreement between experiment and both theories in the negative refraction zone. Conclusions/Significance Since both theories and the experimental observations agreed well in the negative refraction region, we can use both negative refraction theories plus the output correction to predict negative refraction angles. This can be very useful from a practical point of view for space filtering applications such as a photonic demultiplexer or for sensing applications.

Anomalous patterned scattering spectra of one-dimensional porous silicon photonic crystals

Far-field secondary emission spectra of one-dimensional periodic photonic structures based on porous silicon show characteristic co-focal rings centered close to the structure plane normal. The rings appear when the frequency of picosecond excitation laser pulses is tuned to the edges of the fourth photonic band gap. They can be clearly distinguished from the typical reflected and transmitted light in the oblique incidence geometry. The rings number is dependent on the excitation frequency and the incidence angle. We explain these anomalous spectral features of porous silicon structures by the spectral filtering of light elastically scattered inside the photonic structure by the narrow photonic bands. The elastic scattering of light due to the photonic disorder in the structure causes the appearance of secondary waves propagating in any direction. But only those waves which fall into the allowed photonic bands penetrate through the whole structure and move through its front or back surfaces. The observed patterned secondary emission is an example of efficient photonic engineering by simple means of multilayer porous silicon structures.

The bifoil photodyne: a photonic crystal oscillator

Optical tweezers is an example how to use light to generate a physical force. They have been used to levitate viruses, bacteria, cells, and sub cellular organisms. Nonetheless it would be beneficial to use such force to develop a new kind of applications. However the radiation pressure usually is small to think in moving larger objects. Currently, there is some research investigating novel photonic working principles to generate a higher force. Here, we studied theoretically and experimentally the induction of electromagnetic forces in one-dimensional photonic crystals when light impinges on the off-axis direction. The photonic structure consists of a micro-cavity like structure formed of two one-dimensional photonic crystals made of free-standing porous silicon, separated by a variable air gap and the working wavelength is 633 nm. We show experimental evidence of this force when the photonic structure is capable of making auto-oscillations and forced-oscillations. We measured peak displacements and velocities ranging from 2 up to 35 microns and 0.4 up to 2.1 mm/s with a power of 13 mW. Recent evidence showed that giant resonant light forces could induce average velocity values of 0.45 mm/s in microspheres embedded in water with 43 mW light power.

Effective Tactile Noise Facilitates Visual Perception

The fulcrum principle establishes that a subthreshold excitatory signal (entering in one sense) that is synchronous with a facilitation signal (entering in a different sense) can be increased (up to a resonant-like level) and then decreased by the energy and frequency content of the facilitating signal. As a result, the sensation of the signal changes according to the excitatory signal strength. In this context, the sensitivity transitions represent the change from subthreshold activity to a firing activity in multisensory neurons. Initially the energy of their activity (supplied by the weak signals) is not enough to be detected but when the facilitating signal enters the brain, it generates a general activation among multisensory neurons, modifying their original activity. In our opinion, the result is an integrated activation that promotes sensitivity transitions and the signals are then perceived. In other words, the activity created by the interaction of the excitatory signal (e.g., visual) and the facilitating signal (tactile noise) at some specific energy, produces the capability for a central detection of an otherwise weak signal. In this work we investigate the effect of an effective tactile noise on visual perception. Specifically we show that tactile noise is capable of decreasing luminance modulated thresholds.

Biological Infrared Antenna and Radar

This paper presents a report on the wasp antenna working in infrared region and the communication between two wasps at 5 m distance resembling radar equation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first theoretical analysis and simulation to illustrate the presence of radar-like mechanism in living systems.

Theoretical and experimental study of electromagnetic forces induced in one-dimensional photonic crystals

We studied theoretically and experimentally the induction of electromagnetic forces in one-dimensional photonic crystals with localized defects when light impinges transversally to the defect layer. The theoretical calculations indicate that the electromagnetic forces increases at a certain frequency that coincide with a defect photonic state. The photonic structure consists of a microcavity like structure formed of two one-dimensional photonic crystals made of free-standing porous silicon, separated by variable air gap and the working wavelength is 633 nm. The force generation is made evident by driving a laser light by means of a chopper; the light hits the photonic structure and induces a vibration and the vibration is characterized by using a very sensitive vibrometer.

DNA as an Electromagnetic Fractal Cavity Resonator: Its Universal Sensing and Fractal Antenna Behavior

We report that 3D-A-DNA structure behaves as a fractal antenna, which can interact with the electromagnetic fields over a wide range of frequencies. Using the lattice details of human DNA, we have modeled radiation of DNA as a helical antenna. The DNA structure resonates with the electromagnetic waves at 34 GHz, with a positive gain of 1.7 dBi. We have also analyzed the role of three different lattice symmetries of DNA and the possibility of soliton-based energy transmission along the structure.

A photonic self-oscillator based on porous silicon

Abstract We induced mechanical self-oscillations in a microcavity structure made of porous silicon onedimensional photonic crystals (PSi-1DPC) with an air gap. The electromagnetic force generated within the whole photonic structure, by light with a wavelength of 633 nm, is enough to overcome energy losses and sustain selfoscillations. From these mechano-optical measurements we estimated the stiffness and Young’s modulus of porous silicon and compared the results with values reported elsewhere and with values estimated herein by a mechanical method.We obtained good agreement between all values.