Studies Of Left-Handed Electromagnetic Waves In Rare-Earth Doped Crystals
Abstract
The goal of this project is to investigate a new type of materials that support the formationof left-handed electromagnetic waves. We plan to utilize materials that are polarized and magnetizedexternally, i.e. using processes that do not depend on the incident probe wave. Comparedto materials with a negative refractive index, there is one clear advantage of materials withexternally-induced polarization and magnetization: the formation of left-handed waves does notrequire stringent material properties such as high atomic densities and narrow transition linewidths.We have recently performed exact numerical simulations of Maxwell’s equations inside these materialsthat demonstrated (i) left-handed wave propagation, and (ii) refraction with a negative angleat an interface. We plan to experimentally investigate left-handed waves in a europium doped yttriumorthosilicate (Eu:YSO) crystal. At the heart of our investigations is the 7F0 ! 5D1 strongmagnetic-dipole transition within the 4 f shell of Eu+3. We have recently built a liquid heliumcryostat and have performed absorption spectroscopy of this transition at a temperature of 4 K.We have also measured the lifetime of the 5D1 level and observed spectral hole burning with holelifetimes exceeding many minutes. Our plan is to induce magnetization using the 7F0!5D1 strongmagnetic-dipole transition of Eu+3 ions and to induce polarization using the second order nonlinearityof the host crystal. Our calculations predict that left-handed electromagnetic waves canbe observed inside an Eu:YSO crystal using modest experimental parameters. If successful, ourproject will result in the first observation of left-handed electromagnetic waves in atomic systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2016
- Source ID
- FA95501610337
Entities
People
- Deniz Yavuz
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Wisconsin System