ABSTRACT
The main concern of this investigation was the relation between the representative volume element of the scattered flux from 2D random agglomerates, composed of sub-wavelength interacting particles, and the extraction of their effective electromagnetic properties. Using a constant ratio between agglomerates radius and wavelength, behaviors of the scattered flux mean value and standard deviation were studied as a function of the agglomerate surface, in the case of relevant particle permittivities. Using the mean or standard deviation functions, two criteria for homogenization were derived. Compared to the extraction of the effective refractive index, both criteria failed to predict the minimal surface needed for homogenization, questioning the existence of a link between the accuracy of the scattered flux evaluation and homogenization. However, it is shown that when no surface-plasmon resonances are excited, a single minimal representative surface for homogenization can be defined.
ABSTRACT
We report on near normal far- and mid-infrared emission and reflectivity of NdMnO3 perovskite from room temperature to sample decomposition above 1800 K. At 300 K the number of infrared active phonons is in close agreement with the 25 calculated for the orthorhombic D(2h)(16)-Pbnm (Z = 4) space group. Their number gradually decreases as we approach the temperature of orbital disorder at ~1023 K where the orthorhombic O' lower temperature cooperative phase coexists with the cubic orthorhombic O. At above ~1200 K, the three infrared active phonons coincide with that expected for cubic Pm-3m (Z = 1) in the high temperature insulating regime. Heating samples in dry air triggers double exchange conductivity by Mn(3+) and Mn(4+) ions and a small polaron mid-infrared band. Fits to the optical conductivity single out the octahedral antisymmetric and symmetric vibrational modes as the main phonons in the electron-phonon interactions at 875 K. For 1745 K, it is enough to consider the symmetric stretching internal mode. An overdamped defect induced Drude component is clearly outlined at the highest temperatures. We conclude that rare earth manganite eg electrons are prone to spin, charge, orbital, and lattice couplings in an intrinsic orbital distorted perovskite lattice, favoring embryonic low energy collective excitations.
ABSTRACT
A new expression of dielectric function model based on piecewise polynomials is introduced. Its association with spline and more recent shape preserving interpolation algorithms allows easy reproduction of every kind of experimental spectra and thus retrieval of all the linear optical functions of a material. Based on a pure mathematical framework, the expression of the model is always applicable and does not necessitate any knowledge of the microscopic mechanisms of absorption responsible for the optical response. The potential of piecewise polynomial dielectric functions is shown through synthetic examples and the analysis of experimental spectra.
