Keya Zhou

Hollow sinh-Gaussian beams and their paraxial properties

A new mathematical model of dark-hollow beams, described as hollow sinh-Gaussian (HsG) beams, has been introduced. The intensity distributions of HsG beams are characterized by a single bright ring along the propagation whose size is determined by the order of beams; the shape of the ring can be controlled by beam width and this leads to the elliptical HsG beams. Propagation characteristics of HsG beams through an ABCD optical system have been researched, they can be regarded as superposition of a series of Hypergeometric-Gaussian (HyGG) beams. As a numerical example, the propagation characteristics of HsG beams in free space have been demonstrated graphically.

Defect modes in defective parity-time symmetric periodic complex potentials.

Defect modes are studied in parity-time (PT) symmetric periodic complex potentials for both positive and negative defects. Such new kinds of linear localized modes may conserve their energy or endure gain or loss upon propagating. The existence domain of the conserved modes would be prolonged by positive defects or shortened by negative defects, and the dissipative modes would appear before the phase transition point of the PT symmetric potential at stronger negative defects.

Polarization-independent longitudinal multi-focusing metalens.

A novel multi-focusing metalens in the longitudinal direction has been proposed and investigated based on the equal optical path principle, which is independent on the incident polarizations and can be suitable for both of the linear and circular polarization incidences simultaneously. Here, three novel designing principles: partitioned mode, radial alternating mode and angular alternating mode, have been proposed firstly for constructing different types of the longitudinal multi-focusing metalenses. The performances of the designed metalenses based on the different designed methods have also been analyzed and investigated in detail, and the intensity ratio of the focusing spots can be tuned easily by modulating the numbers of the relative type of nanoantennas, which is significant for the micro-manipulating optics and the multi-imaging technology in the integrated optics.

Analysis on volume grating induced by femtosecond laser pulses.

We report on a kind of self-assembled volume grating in silica glass induced by tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses. The formation of the volume grating is attributed to the multiple microexplosion in the transparent materials induced by the femtosecond pulses. The first order diffractive efficiency is in dependence on the energy of the pulses and the scanning velocity of the laser greatly, and reaches as high as 30%. The diffraction pattern of the fabricated grating is numerically simulated and analyzed by a two dimensional FDTD method and the Fresnel Diffraction Integral. The numerical results proved our prediction on the formation of the volume grating, which agrees well with our experiment results.

Propagation factors of multi-sinc Schell-model beams in non-Kolmogorov turbulence.

We derive several analytical expressions for the root-mean-square (rms) angular width and the M(2)-factor of the multi-sinc Schell-model (MSSM) beams propagating in non-Kolmogorov turbulence with the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle and the second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function. Numerical results show that a MSSM beam with dark-hollow far fields in free space has advantage over the one with flat-topped or multi-rings far fields for reducing the turbulence-induced degradation, which will become more obvious with larger dark-hollow size. Beam quality of MSSM beams can be further improved with longer wavelength and larger beam width, or under the condition of weaker turbulence. We also demonstrate that the non-Kolmogorov turbulence has significantly less effect on the MSSM beams than the Gaussian Schell-model beam.

Propagation characteristics of a non-uniformly Hermite-Gaussian correlated beam

We introduce a new kind of partially coherent beam, non-uniformly Hermite–Gaussian correlated beam, by employing a non-uniformly Hermite function to modulate the spectral degree of coherence. The evolution of such scalar beam on propagation in free space and turbulent atmosphere are investigated. It is demonstrated that the spectral intensity distributions exhibit extraordinary propagation characteristics, such as self-focusing and laterally shifted intensity maxima. The position of the maximum intensity and the intensity profile can be controlled by the order of the Hermite function. The results can be useful in free-space optical communications and beam shaping.

Current Approach in Surface Plasmons for Thin Film and Wire Array Solar Cell Applications

Surface plasmons, which exist along the interface of a metal and a dielectric, have been proposed as an efficient alternative method for light trapping in solar cells during the past ten years. With unique properties such as superior light scattering, optical trapping, guide mode coupling, near field concentration, and hot-electron generation, metallic nanoparticles or nanostructures can be tailored to a certain geometric design to enhance solar cell conversion efficiency and to reduce the material costs. In this article, we review current approaches on different kinds of solar cells, such as crystalline silicon (c-Si) and amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film solar cells, organic solar cells, nanowire array solar cells, and single nanowire solar cells.

Geometric dependence of antireflective nanocone arrays towards ultrathin crystalline silicon solar cells

The antireflective characteristics of Si nanocone (NC) arrays were estimated using a theory devised for an inhomogeneous antireflection layer, and further verified by the Fourier modal method (FMM). Considering a better impedance matching from air to Si, a minimum depth of 400 nm is essentially required. Although Si NC arrays have usually been suggested to be at a base diameter of ∼300 nm for infinitely thick Si wafers, as wafers become thinner than 50 μm, the optimal base diameter of the NCs is suggested to be ∼500 nm so as to excite more resonant modes. Our simulation work indicates that geometrical parameters such as the top diameter and filling ratio of the NCs are much more sensitive in terms of optimizing the optical performance on ultrathin (∼5 μm) wafers, suggesting the need for strict control of the surface morphology in the nanostructure fabrication process.

Investigation of mechanism: spoof SPPs on periodically textured metal surface with pyramidal grooves

In microwave and terahertz frequency band, a textured metal surface can support spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs). In this paper, we explore a SSPPs waveguide composed of a metal block with pyramidal grooves. Under the deep subwavelength condition, theoretical formulas for calculation of dispersion relations are derived based on the modal expansion method (MEM). Using the obtained formulas, a general analysis is given about the properties of the SSPPs in the waveguides with upright and downward pyramidal grooves. It is demonstrated that the SSPPs waveguides with upright pyramidal grooves give better field-confinement. Numerical simulations are used to check the theoretical analysis and show good agreement with the analytical results. In addition, the group velocity of the SSPPs propagating along the waveguide is explored and two structures are designed to show how to trap the SSPPs on the metal surface. The calculation methodology provided in this paper can also be used to deal with the SSPPs waveguides with irregular grooves.

Compact spoof surface plasmon polaritons waveguide drilled with L-shaped grooves

It has been recently demonstrated that a metallic surface with periodic grooves can support a laterally-confined surface wave called spoof plasmon polaritons (SSPPs). Here we propose a SSPPs waveguide drilled with L-shaped grooves which can support SSPPs efficiently. Dispersion relations based on the modal expansion method (MEM) are derived and discussed. Under the deep subwavelength condition, a concise formula for the dispersion relations is obtained. Our results show that the dispersion relations are sensitive to the transversal depths. The L-shaped groove is equivalent to a deeper rectangular groove, but more compact than the straight one. As an example of the applications, the rainbow-trapping effect is realized by changing the transversal depths of the L-shaped grooves.