Dipole polarizability of time-varying particles

Invariance under time translation (or stationarity) is probably one of the most important assumptions made when investigating electromagnetic phenomena. Breaking this assumption is expected to open up novel possibilities and result in exceeding conventional limitations. However, to explore the field of time-varying electromagnetic structures, we primarily need to contemplate the fundamental principles and concepts from a nonstationarity perspective. Here, we revisit one of those key concepts: the polarizability of a small particle, assuming that its properties vary in time. We describe the creation of induced dipole moment by external fields in a nonstationary, causal way, and introduce a complex-valued function, called temporal complex polarizability, for elucidating a nonstationary Hertzian dipole under time-harmonic illumination. This approach can be extended to any subwavelength particle exhibiting electric response. In addition, we also study the classical model of the polarizability of an oscillating electron using the equation of motion whose damping coefficient and natural frequency are changing in time. Next, we theoretically derive the effective permittivity corresponding to time-varying media (comprising free or bound electrons, or dipolar meta-atoms) and explicitly show the differences with the conventional macroscopic Drude–Lorentz model. This paper will hopefully pave the road towards better understanding of nonstationary scattering from small particles and homogenization of time-varying materials, metamaterials, and metasurfaces.

From Polarizability to Effective Permittivity of Time-Varying Materials

Romain Christophe Rémy Fleury, Theodoros Koutserimpas, Mohammad Sajjad Mirmoosa

In this talk, we describe excitation of time-varying dipolar particles (time-modulated meta-atoms) by external time-varying fields from a nonstationary and causal perspective. For a time-harmonic excitation, we introduce a complex-valued function, called temporal complex polarizability, and use this function to study a classical electron through the equation of motion whose damping coefficient and natural frequency are changing in time. We theoretically derive the temporal complex permittivity corresponding to time-varying media formed by timemodulated meta-atoms and explicitly show the differences with the conventional macroscopic Drude-Lorentz model.

IEEE2020

Building optical matter with binding and trapping forces

Gerben Boer, Guy Delacrétaz, Jean-Marc Fournier, Johann Rohner, René Salathé

Very high frequency oscillations of intense light fields interact with micron-size dielectric objects to exert dc optical forces that allow polarizable particles to levitate, to be trapped and to be bound. Such optical forces are also suitable to arrange cold atoms in optical lattices. Various assemblages of optical traps, including periodic arrays, can be constructed either with independent lasers, or with a single laser beam split into different parts later recombined by interference, as well as through the use of diffractive elements. These optical-well arrays serve as templates for writing and erasing dynamic two-dimensional and three-dimensional "optical crystals", composed of mono-dispersed polystyrene spheres in water. Subsequently, the crystals become diffractive structures themselves. The association of micro-fluidics and optical trapping allows for the formation of optical traps into micro-channels. This leads to perform microchemistry experiments, such as fluorescence detection, on individual bodies attached to trapped particles. Self-trapping due to the optical binding force relates to the interaction between different dielectric objects located in an electromagnetic field; each one reacts not only to the field of the incident beam, but also to the induced fields radiated coherently by all other particles. Optical binding strongly influences the equilibrium state and the behavior of optical crystals. It must have the potential for creating collective effects.

2004

Monte Carlo Modeling of Crystal Channeling at High Energies

Philippe Jean Schoofs

Charged particles entering a crystal close to some preferred direction can be trapped in the electromagnetic potential well existing between consecutive planes or strings of atoms. This channeling effect can be used to extract beam particles if the crystal is bent beforehand. Crystal channeling is becoming a reliable and efficient technique for collimating beams and removing halo particles. At the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the installation of silicon crystals in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is under scrutiny by the UA9 collaboration with the goal of investigating if they are a viable option for the collimation system upgrade. This thesis describes a new Monte Carlo model of planar channeling which has been developed from scratch in order to be implemented in the FLUKA code simulating particle transport and interactions. Crystal channels are described through the concept of continuous potential taking into account thermal motion of the lattice atoms and using Moliere screening function. The energy of the particle transverse motion determines whether or not it is trapped between the crystal planes while single Coulomb scattering on lattice atoms can lead to dechanneling. The volume capture and reflection applying to quasi-channeled particles are also modeled. Analogously to dechanneling, single scattering is used to determine the occurrence of volume capture. The parameters of the crystals, such as torsion or miscut, are described as well. For channeled particles, the suppression of electromagnetic and nuclear collisions is implemented. It is stronger for particles oscillating close to the center of the channel and is crucial for a correct evaluation of the rate of dechanneling without having recourse to the use of a macroscopic dechanneling length. The UA9-H8 experiment conducted at CERN aims at investigating new crystal physics as well as characterizing crystals that can be of interest in view of the implementation of crystal collimation at CERN, including in the LHC. This experiment uses silicon strip detectors situated on both sides of the crystal. Putting together upstream and downstream tracks in coincidence and matching at an identical fitted location on the crystal, it yields information about the deflections given to the beam population. Several runs from the UA9-H8 experiment are analyzed and compared to the model results. Channeling and dechanneling rates, as well as angular distributions at crystal exit are shown to be in a very encouraging agreement both for strip and quasi-mosaic crystals.

EPFL2014

Monte Carlo Modeling of Crystal Channeling at High Energies

Philippe Jean Schoofs

EPFL2014