分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: Pulsar timing array collaborations, such as the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), are seeking nanohertz gravitational waves emitted by supermassive black hole binaries formed in the aftermath of galaxy mergers. We have searched for continuous waves from individual circular supermassive black hole binaries using the NANOGrav's recent 12.5-year data set. We created new methods to accurately model the uncertainties on pulsar distances in our analysis, and we implemented new techniques to account for a common red noise process in pulsar timing array data sets while searching for deterministic gravitational wave signals, including continuous waves. As we found no evidence for continuous waves in our data, we placed 95\% upper limits on the strain amplitude of continuous waves emitted by these sources. At our most sensitive frequency of 7.65 nanohertz, we placed a sky-averaged limit of $h_0 < $ $(6.82 \pm 0.35) \times 10^{-15}$, and $h_0 <$ $(2.66 \pm 0.15) \times 10^{-15}$ in our most sensitive sky location. Finally, we placed a multi-messenger limit of $\mathcal{M} <$ $(1.41 \pm 0.02) \times 10^9 M_\odot$ on the chirp mass of the supermassive black hole binary candidate 3C~66B.
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: We present multi-wavelength high-spatial resolution (~0.1'', 70 pc) observations of UGC 4211 at z=0.03474, a late-stage major galaxy merger at the closest nuclear separation yet found in near-IR imaging (0.32'', ~230 pc projected separation). Using Hubble Space Telescope/STIS, VLT/MUSE+AO, Keck/OSIRIS+AO spectroscopy, and ALMA observations, we show that the spatial distribution, optical and NIR emission lines, and millimeter continuum emission are all consistent with both nuclei being powered by accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Our data, combined with common black hole mass prescriptions, suggests that both SMBHs have similar masses, log MBH~8.1 (south) and log MBH~8.3 (north), respectively. The projected separation of 230 pc (~6X the black hole sphere of influence) represents the closest-separation dual AGN studied to date with multi-wavelength resolved spectroscopy and shows the potential of nuclear (<50 pc) continuum observations with ALMA to discover hidden growing SMBH pairs. While the exact occurrence rate of close-separation dual AGN is not yet known, it may be surprisingly high, given that UGC 4211 was found within a small, volume-limited sample of nearby hard X-ray detected AGN. Observations of dual SMBH binaries in the sub-kpc regime at the final stages of dynamical friction provide important constraints for future gravitational wave observatories.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: The research of two-dimensional (2D) materials with atomic-scale thicknesses and unique optical properties has become a frontier in photonics and electronics. Borophene, a newly reported 2D material provides a novel building block for nanoscale materials and devices. We present a simple borophene-based absorption structure to boost the light-borophene interaction via critical coupling in the visible wavelengths. The proposed structure consists of borophene monolayer deposited on a photonic crystal slab backed with a metallic mirror. The numerical simulations and theoretical analysis show that the light absorption of the structure can be remarkably enhanced as high as 99.80% via critical coupling mechanism with guided resonance, and the polarization-dependent absorption behaviors are demonstrated due to the strong anisotropy of borophene. We also examine the tunability of the absorption behaviors by adjusting carrier density and lifetime of borophene, air hole radius in the slab, the incident angle and polarization angle. The proposed absorption structure provides novel access to the flexible and effective manipulation of light-borophene interactions in the visible, and shows a good prospect for the future borophene-based electronic and photonic devices.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: Optical metasurfaces enable to engineer the electromagnetic space and control light propagation at an unprecedented level, offering a powerful tool to achieve modulation of light over multiple physical dimensions. Here, we demonstrate a Sb$_{2}$S$_{3}$ phase-change metasurface platform that allows active manipulation of both amplitude and phase. In particular, we implement dynamic nanoprinting and holographic image display through tuning crystallization levels of this phase-change material. The Sb$_{2}$S$_{3}$ nanobricks tailored to function the amplitude, geometric and propagation phase modulation constitute the dynamic meta-atoms in the multiplexed metasurfaces. Using the incident polarizations as decoding keys, the encoded information can be reproduced into a naonprinting grayscale image in the near field and two holographic images in the far field. These images can be switched on and off by taking advantages of the reversible tunability of Sb$_{2}$S$_{3}$ nanostructure between amorphous and crystalline states. The proposed phase-change metasurfaces featuring manifold information and multifold encryption promise ultracompact data storage with high capacity and high security, which suggests an exciting direction for modern cryptography and security applications.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: Tailoring optical nonlinear effects (e.g. harmonic generation, sum-frequency mixing, etc.) in the recently emerging all-dielectric platform is important for both the fundamental science and industrial development of high-efficiency, ultrafast, and miniaturized photonic devices. In this work, we propose a novel paradigm for dynamically switchable high-harmonic generation in Silicon nanodimer metasurfaces by exploiting polarization-controlled dual bound states in the continuum (BIC). Owing to the high-quality factor of BIC resonances, efficient harmonic signals including the third-harmonic generation and fifth-harmonic generation from a direct process as well as a cascaded process by degenerate four-wave mixing are obtained. Moreover, the BICs and their resonantly enhanced harmonics can be switched on or off with high selectivity respect to the fundamental pump polarization. Compared with previous reports, our work provide a simple but effective tuning strategy by fully exploring the structural symmetry and polarization degree of freedom rather than resorting to additional external stimuli, which would have great advantages in smart designing tunable and switchable nonlinear light source for chip-scale applications.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: The ability to engineer nonlinear optical processes in all-dielectric nanostructures is both of fundamental interest and highly desirable for high-performance, robust, and miniaturized nonlinear optical devices. Herein, we propose a novel paradigm for the efficient tuning of second-harmonic generation (SHG) process in dielectric nanoantennas by integrating with chalcogenide phase change material. In a design with Ge$_{2}$Sb$_{2}$Te$_{5}$ (GST) film sandwiched between the AlGaAs nanoantennas and AlO$_{x}$ substrate, the nonlinear SHG signal from the AlGaAs nanoantennas can be boosted via the resonantly localized field induced by the optically-induced Mie-type resonances, and further modulated by exploiting the GST amorphous-to-crystalline phase change in a non-volatile, multi-level manner. The tuning strategy originates from the modulation of resonant conditions by changes in the refractive index of GST. With a thorough examination of tuning performances for different nanoantenna radii, a maximum modulation depth as high as 540$\%$ is numerically demonstrated. This work not only reveals out the potential of GST in optical nonlinearity control, but also provides promising strategy in smart designing tunable and reconfigurable nonlinear optical devices, e.g., light emitters, modulators, and sensors.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: The emerging all-dielectric platform exhibits high-quality ($Q$) resonances governed by the physics of bound states in the continuum (BIC) that drives highly efficient nonlinear optical processes. Here we demonstrate the robust enhancement of third-(THG) and fifth-harmonic generation (FHG) from all-dielectric metasurfaces composed of four silicon nanodisks. Through the symmetry breaking, the genuine BIC transforms into the high-$Q$ quasi-BIC resonance with tight field confinement for record high THG efficiency of $3.9\times10^{-4}$ W$^{-2}$ and FHG efficiency of $4.8\times10^{-10}$ W$^{-4}$ using a moderate pump intensity of 1 GW/cm$^{2}$. Moreover, the quasi-BIC and the resonantly enhanced harmonics exhibit polarization-insensitive characteristics due to the special $C_{4}$ arrangement of meta-atoms. Our results suggest the way for smart design of efficient and robust nonlinear nanophotonic devices.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: Enhancing absorption in optically thin semiconductors is the key in the development of high-performance optical and optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we resort to the concept of degenerate critical coupling and design an ultra-thin semiconductor absorber composed of free-standing GaAs nanocylinder metasurfaces in the near infrared. The numerical results show that perfect absorption can be achieved through overlapping two Mie modes with opposite symmetry, with each mode contributing a theoretical maximum of 50% in their respective critical coupling state. The absorption also shows the polarization-independent and angle-insensitive robustness. This work, together with the design concept, opens up great opportunities for the realization of high-efficiency metasurface devices, including optical emitters, modulators, detectors, and sensors.
分类: 光学 >> 量子光学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: We present nonlinear optical four-wave mixing in a silicon nanodisk dimer metasurface. Under the oblique incident plane waves, the designed metasurface exhibits a multi-resonant feature with simultaneous excitations of three quasi-bound states in the continuum (BIC). Through employing these quasi-BICs with maximizing electric field energy at the input bump wavelengths, significant enhancement of third-order nonlinear processes including third-harmonic generation, degenerate and non-degenerate four-wave mixing are demonstrated, giving rise to ten new frequencies in the visible wavelengths. This work may lead to a new frontier of ultracompact optical mixer for applications in optical circuitry, ultrasensitive sensing, and quantum nanophotonics.