In the last 30 days

• Open/close Diamond-based single-photon emitters

  I Aharonovich et al 2011 Rep. Prog. Phys. 74 076501 Tag this article

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  The exploitation of emerging quantum technologies requires efficient fabrication of key building blocks. Sources of single photons are extremely important across many applications as they can serve as vectors for quantum information—thereby allowing long-range (perhaps even global-scale) quantum states to be made and manipulated for tasks such as quantum communication or distributed quantum computation. At the single-emitter level, quantum sources also afford new possibilities in terms of nanoscopy and bio-marking. Color centers in diamond are prominent candidates to generate and manipulate quantum states of light, as they are a photostable solid-state source of single photons at room temperature. In this review, we discuss the state of the art of diamond-based single-photon emitters and highlight their fabrication methodologies. We present the experimental techniques used to characterize the quantum emitters and discuss their photophysical properties. We outline a number of applications including quantum key distribution, bio-marking and sub-diffraction imaging, where diamond-based single emitters are playing a crucial role. We conclude with a discussion of the main challenges and perspectives for employing diamond emitters in quantum information processing.

• Open/close Theory of surface plasmons and surface-plasmon polaritons

  J M Pitarke et al 2007 Rep. Prog. Phys. 70 1 Tag this article

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  Collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces are well known to play a key role in a wide spectrum of science, ranging from physics and materials science to biology. Here we focus on a theoretical description of the many-body dynamical electronic response of solids, which underlines the existence of various collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces, such as the conventional surface plasmon, multipole plasmons and the recently predicted acoustic surface plasmon. We also review existing calculations, experimental measurements and applications.

• Open/close Polymer–fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells

  Carsten Deibel and Vladimir Dyakonov 2010 Rep. Prog. Phys. 73 096401 Tag this article

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  Organic solar cells have the potential to be low-cost and efficient solar energy converters, with a promising energy balance. They are made of carbon-based semiconductors, which exhibit favourable light absorption and charge generation properties, and can be manufactured by low temperature processes such as printing from solvent-based inks, which are compatible with flexible plastic substrates or even paper. In this review, we will present an overview of the physical function of organic solar cells, their state-of-the-art performance and limitations, as well as novel concepts to achieve a better material stability and higher power conversion efficiencies. We will also briefly review processing and cost in view of the market potential.

• Open/close A status report on the observability of cosmic bubble collisions

  Anthony Aguirre and Matthew C Johnson 2011 Rep. Prog. Phys. 74 074901 Tag this article

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  In the picture of eternal inflation as driven by a scalar potential with multiple minima, our observable universe resides inside one of many bubbles formed from transitions out of a false vacuum. These bubbles necessarily collide, upsetting the homogeneity and isotropy of our bubble interior, and possibly leading to detectable signatures in the observable portion of our bubble, potentially in the cosmic microwave background or other precision cosmological probes. This constitutes a direct experimental test of eternal inflation and the landscape of string theory vacua. Assessing this possibility roughly splits into answering three questions: What happens in a generic bubble collision? What observational effects might be expected? How likely are we to observe a collision? In this review we report the current progress on each of these questions, improve upon a few of the existing results and attempt to lay out directions for future work.

• Open/close Solar radiation and human health

  Asta Juzeniene et al 2011 Rep. Prog. Phys. 74 066701 Tag this article

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  The Sun has played a major role in the development of life on Earth. In Western culture, people are warned against Sun exposure because of its adverse effects: erythema, photoimmunosuppression, photoageing, photocarcinogenesis, cataracts and photokeratitis. However, Sun exposure is also beneficial, since moderate doses give beneficial physiological effects: vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure and mental health. Shortage of Sun exposure may be even more dangerous to human health than excessive exposure. Avoiding Sun exposure leads to vitamin D deficiency which is associated not only with rickets and osteomalacia, but also with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, influenza, many types of cancer and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Solar radiation induces nitric oxide release in tissue and immediate pigment darkening which certainly play important roles, although these are still unknown. Action spectra relevant for health are described. We will also review what is known about spectral and intensity variations of terrestrial solar radiation as well as its penetration through the atmosphere and into human skin and tissue.

• Open/close The fluctuation-dissipation theorem

  R Kubo 1966 Rep. Prog. Phys. 29 255 Tag this article

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  The linear response theory has given a general proof of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem which states that the linear response of a given system to an external perturbation is expressed in terms of fluctuation properties of the system in thermal equilibrium. This theorem may be represented by a stochastic equation describing the fluctuation, which is a generalization of the familiar Langevin equation in the classical theory of Brownian motion. In this generalized equation the friction force becomes retarded or frequency-dependent and the random force is no more white. They are related to each other by a generalized Nyquist theorem which is in fact another expression of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. This point of view can be applied to a wide class of irreversible process including collective modes in many-particle systems as has already been shown by Mori. As an illustrative example, the density response problem is briefly discussed.

• Open/close Emergence of magnetism in graphene materials and nanostructures

  Oleg V Yazyev 2010 Rep. Prog. Phys. 73 056501 Tag this article

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  Magnetic materials and nanostructures based on carbon offer unique opportunities for future technological applications such as spintronics. This paper reviews graphene-derived systems in which magnetic correlations emerge as a result of reduced dimensions, disorder and other possible scenarios. In particular, zero-dimensional graphene nanofragments, one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons and defect-induced magnetism in graphene and graphite are covered. Possible physical mechanisms of the emergence of magnetism in these systems are illustrated with the help of computational examples based on simple model Hamiltonians. In addition, this review covers spin-transport properties, proposed designs of graphene-based spintronic devices, magnetic ordering at finite temperatures as well as the most recent experimental achievements.

• Open/close Dynamics of nuclear wave packets at the F center in alkali halides

  Takeshi Koyama and Tohru Suemoto 2011 Rep. Prog. Phys. 74 076502 Tag this article

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  The F center in alkali halides is a well-known prototype of a strongly coupled localized electron–phonon system. This colour center is one of the long studied targets in the field of photophysics because it is simple but rich in variety. Steady-state spectroscopy, such as modulation spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy, has elucidated the strength of the electron–phonon coupling in the (meta-)stable state, i.e. the ground state and the relaxed excited state. Picosecond spectroscopy has improved understanding of the state mixing in the transient state. Owing to recent developments of ultrafast lasers with pulse widths shorter than oscillation periods of phonons, it has been possible to perform real-time observation of lattice vibration, and the understanding of the transient state has been remarkably expanded. In this paper, we review early and present studies on dynamics of electron–phonon coupling at the F center, especially recent real-time observations on the dynamics of nuclear wave packets in the excited state of the F center in KI, KBr, KCl and RbCl. These real-time observations reveal (i) spatial extension of the electronic wave function of a trapped electron, (ii) the difference between the coupled phonons in the ground state and the excited state, (iii) diabatic transition between the adiabatic potential energy surfaces and (iv) anharmonicity of the potential energy surface.

• Open/close Smoothed particle hydrodynamics

  J J Monaghan 2005 Rep. Prog. Phys. 68 1703 Tag this article

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  In this review the theory and application of Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) since its inception in 1977 are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the strengths and weaknesses, the analogy with particle dynamics and the numerous areas where SPH has been successfully applied.

• Open/close Physics of negative refractive index materials

  S Anantha Ramakrishna 2005 Rep. Prog. Phys. 68 449 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.61 MB)

  In the past few years, new developments in structured electromagnetic materials have given rise to negative refractive index materials which have both negative dielectric permittivity and negative magnetic permeability in some frequency ranges. The idea of a negative refractive index opens up new conceptual frontiers in photonics. One much-debated example is the concept of a perfect lens that enables imaging with sub-wavelength image resolution. Here we review the fundamental concepts and ideas of negative refractive index materials.

  First we present the ideas of structured materials or meta-materials that enable the design of new materials with a negative dielectric permittivity, negative magnetic permeability and negative refractive index. We discuss how a variety of resonance phenomena can be utilized to obtain these materials in various frequency ranges over the electromagnetic spectrum. The choice of the wave-vector in negative refractive index materials and the issues of dispersion, causality and energy transport are analysed. Various issues of wave propagation including nonlinear effects and surface modes in negative refractive materials (NRMs) are discussed. In the latter part of the review, we discuss the concept of a perfect lens consisting of a slab of a NRM. This perfect lens can image the far-field radiative components as well as the near-field evanescent components, and is not subject to the traditional diffraction limit. Different aspects of this lens such as the surface modes acting as the mechanism for the imaging of the evanescent waves, the limitations imposed by dissipation and dispersion in the negative refractive media, the generalization of this lens to optically complementary media and the possibility of magnification of the near-field images are discussed. Recent experimental developments verifying these ideas are briefly covered.