Intelligent non-colorimetric indicators for the perishable supply chain by non-wovens with photo-programmed thermal response.

Spoiled perishable products, such as food and drugs exposed to inappropriate temperature, cause million illnesses every year. Risks range from intoxication due to pathogen-contaminated edibles, to suboptimal potency of temperature-sensitive vaccines. High-performance and low-cost indicators are needed, based on conformable materials whose properties change continuously and irreversibly depending on the experienced time-temperature profile. However, these systems can be limited by unclear reading, especially for colour-blind people, and are often difficult to be encoded with a tailored response to detect excess temperature over varying temporal profiles. Here we report on optically-programmed, non-colorimetric indicators based on nano-textured non-wovens encoded by their cross-linking degree. This combination allows a desired time-temperature response to be achieved, to address different perishable products. The devices operate by visual contrast with ambient light, which is explained by backscattering calculations for the complex fibrous material. Optical nanomaterials with photo-encoded thermal properties might establish new design rules for intelligent labels.

Near-field imaging of surface-plasmon vortex-modes around a single elliptical nanohole in a gold film.

We present scanning near-field images of surface plasmon modes around a single elliptical nanohole in 88 nm thick Au film. We find that rotating surface plasmon vortex modes carrying extrinsic orbital angular momentum can be induced under linearly polarized illumination. The vortex modes are obtained only when the incident polarization direction differs from one of the ellipse axes. Such a direct observation of the vortex modes is possible thanks to the ability of the SNOM technique to obtain information on both the amplitude and the phase of the near-field. The presence of the vortex mode is determined by the rotational symmetry breaking of the system. Finite element method calculations show that such a vorticity originates from the presence of nodal points where the phase of the field is undefined, leading to a circulation of the energy flow. The configuration producing vortex modes corresponds to a nonzero total topological charge (+1).

Chiral optical tweezers for optically active particles in the T-matrix formalism.

Modeling optical tweezers in the T-matrix formalism has been of key importance for accurate and efficient calculations of optical forces and their comparison with experiments. Here we extend this formalism to the modeling of chiral optomechanics and optical tweezers where chiral light is used for optical manipulation and trapping of optically active particles. We first use the Bohren decomposition to deal with the light scattering of chiral light on optically active particles. Thus, we show analytically that all the observables (cross sections, asymmetry parameters) are split into a helicity dependent and independent part and study a practical example of a complex resin particle with inner copper-coated stainless steel helices. Then, we apply this chiral T-matrix framework to optical tweezers where a tightly focused chiral field is used to trap an optically active spherical particle, calculate the chiral behaviour of optical trapping stiffnesses and their size scaling, and extend calculations to chiral nanowires and clusters of astrophysical interest. Such general light scattering framework opens perspectives for modeling optical forces on biological materials where optically active amino acids and carbohydrates are present.

Electrospun Conjugated Polymer/Fullerene Hybrid Fibers: Photoactive Blends, Conductivity through Tunneling-AFM, Light Scattering, and Perspective for Their Use in Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells.

Hybrid conjugated polymer/fullerene filaments based on MEH-PPV/PVP/PCBM were prepared by electrospinning, and their properties were assessed by scanning electron, atomic and lateral-force, tunneling, and confocal microscopies, as well as by attenuated-total-reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence quantum yield, and spatially resolved fluorescence. Highlighted features include the ribbon shape of the realized fibers and the persistence of a network serving as a template for heterogeneous active layers in solar cell devices. A set of favorable characteristics is evidenced in this way in terms of homogeneous charge-transport behavior and formation of effective interfaces for diffusion and dissociation of photogenerated excitons. The interaction of the organic filaments with light, exhibiting specific light-scattering properties of the nanofibrous mat, might also contribute to spreading incident radiation across the active layers, thus potentially enhancing photovoltaic performance. This method might be applied to other electron donor-electron acceptor material systems for the fabrication of solar cell devices enhanced by nanofibrillar morphologies embedding conjugated polymers and fullerene compounds.

Strongly enhanced light trapping in a two-dimensional silicon nanowire random fractal array.

We report on the unconventional optical properties exhibited by a two-dimensional array of thin Si nanowires arranged in a random fractal geometry and fabricated using an inexpensive, fast and maskless process compatible with Si technology. The structure allows for a high light-trapping efficiency across the entire visible range, attaining total reflectance values as low as 0.1% when the wavelength in the medium matches the length scale of maximum heterogeneity in the system. We show that the random fractal structure of our nanowire array is responsible for a strong in-plane multiple scattering, which is related to the material refractive index fluctuations and leads to a greatly enhanced Raman scattering and a bright photoluminescence. These strong emissions are correlated on all length scales according to the refractive index fluctuations. The relevance and the perspectives of the reported results are discussed as promising for Si-based photovoltaic and photonic applications.

Superior plasmon absorption in iron-doped gold nanoparticles.

Although the excitation of localized surface plasmons is associated with enhanced scattering and absorption of incoming photons, only the latter is relevant for the efficient conversion of light into heat. Here we show that the absorption cross section of gold nanoparticles is sensibly increased when iron is included in the lattice as a substitutional dopant, i.e. in a gold-iron nanoalloy. Such an increase is size and shape dependent, with the best performance observed in nanoshells where a 90-190% improvement is found in a size range that is crucial for practical applications. Our findings are unexpected according to the common belief and previous experimental observations that alloys of Au with transition metals show a depressed plasmonic response. These results are promising for the design of efficient plasmonic converters of light into heat and pave the way to more in-depth investigations of the plasmonic properties in noble metal nanoalloys.

Ultrastrong coupling of plasmons and excitons in a nanoshell.

The strong coupling regime of hybrid plasmonic-molecular systems is a subject of great interest for its potential to control and engineer light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Recently, the so-called ultrastrong coupling regime, which is achieved when the light-matter coupling rate reaches a considerable fraction of the emitter transition frequency, has been realized in semiconductor and superconducting systems and in organic molecules embedded in planar microcavities or coupled to surface plasmons. Here we explore the possibility to achieve this regime of light-matter interaction at nanoscale dimensions. We demonstrate by accurate scattering calculations that this regime can be reached in nanoshells constituted by a core of organic molecules surrounded by a silver or gold shell. These hybrid nanoparticles can be exploited for the design of all-optical ultrafast plasmonic nanocircuits and -devices.

Size-scaling in optical trapping of silicon nanowires.

We investigate size-scaling in optical trapping of ultrathin silicon nanowires showing how length regulates their Brownian dynamics, optical forces, and torques. Force and torque constants are measured on nanowires of different lengths through correlation function analysis of their tracking signals. Results are compared with a full electromagnetic theory of optical trapping developed in the transition matrix framework, finding good agreement.

Fano-Doppler laser cooling of hybrid nanostructures.

Laser cooling the center-of-mass motion of systems that exhibit Fano resonances is discussed. We find that cooling occurs for red or blue detuning of the laser frequency from resonance depending on the Fano factor associated with the resonance. The combination of the Doppler effect with the radiation cross-section quenching typical of quantum interference yields temperatures below the conventional Doppler limit. This scheme opens perspectives for controlling the motion of mesoscopic systems such as hybrid nanostructures at the quantum regime and the exploration of motional nonclassical states at the nanoscale.

Plasmon-enhanced optical trapping of gold nanoaggregates with selected optical properties.

We show how light forces can be used to trap gold nanoaggregates of selected structure and optical properties obtained by laser ablation in liquid. We measure the optical trapping forces on nanoaggregates with an average size range 20-750 nm, revealing how the plasmon-enhanced fields play a crucial role in the trapping of metal clusters featuring different extinction properties. Force constants of the order of 10 pN/nmW are detected, the highest measured on a metal nanostructure. Finally, by extending the transition matrix formalism of light scattering theory to the optical trapping of metal nanoaggregates, we show how the plasmon resonances and the fractal structure arising from aggregation are responsible for the increased forces and wider trapping size range with respect to individual metal nanoparticles.

Brownian motion of graphene.

Brownian motion is a manifestation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem of statistical mechanics. It regulates systems in physics, biology, chemistry, and finance. We use graphene as prototype material to unravel the consequences of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem in two dimensions, by studying the Brownian motion of optically trapped graphene flakes. These orient orthogonal to the light polarization, due to the optical constants anisotropy. We explain the flake dynamics in the optical trap and measure force and torque constants from the correlation functions of the tracking signals, as well as comparing experiments with a full electromagnetic theory of optical trapping. The understanding of optical trapping of two-dimensional nanostructures gained through our Brownian motion analysis paves the way to light-controlled manipulation and all-optical sorting of biological membranes and anisotropic macromolecules.

Nanopolaritons: vacuum Rabi splitting with a single quantum dot in the center of a dimer nanoantenna.

We demonstrate with accurate scattering calculations that a system constituted by a single quantum emitter (a semiconductor quantum dot) placed in the gap between two metallic nanoparticles can display the vacuum Rabi splitting. The largest dimension of the investigated system is only 36 nm. This nonperturbative regime is highly desirable for many possible applications in quantum information processing or schemes for controlling individual photons. Along this road, it will be possible to implement scalable photonic quantum computation without renouncing to the nanometric size of the classical logic gates of the present most compact electronic technology.

Rotational dynamics of optically trapped nanofibers.

We report on the experimental evidence of tilted polymer nanofiber rotation, using a highly focused linear polarized Gaussian beam. Torque is controlled by varying trapping power or fiber tilt angle. This suggests an alternative strategy to previously reported approaches for the rotation of nano-objects, to test fundamental theoretical aspects. We compare experimental rotation frequencies to calculations based on T-Matrix formalism, which accurately reproduces measured data, thus providing a comprehensive description of trapping and rotation dynamics of the linear nanostructures.

Optical trapping calculations for metal nanoparticles. Comparison with experimental data for Au and Ag spheres.

We calculate the optical forces on Au and Ag nanospheres through a procedure based on the Maxwell stress tensor. We compare the theoretical and experimental force constants obtained for gold and silver nanospheres finding good agreement for all particles with r < 80 nm. The trapping of the larger particles recently demonstrated in experiments is not foreseen by our purely electromagnetic theory based on fixed dielectric properties. Since the laser power produces a heating that may be large for the largest spheres, we propose a model in which the latter particles are surrounded by a steam bubble. This model foresees the trapping of these particles and the results turn out to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.

Radiation torque on nonspherical particles in the transition matrix formalism: erratum.

An erratum is presented to correct the errors in two equations in Sect. 3 of [Opt. Express 14, 9508--9521 (2006)].

Radiation torque on nonspherical particles in the transition matrix formalism: erratum.

An erratum is presented to correct the errors in two equations in Sect. 3 of [Opt. Express 14, 9508--9521 (2006)].

On the rotational stability of nonspherical particles driven by the radiation torque.

We calculate the radiation torque exerted by a monochromatic plane wave, either unpolarized or linearly polarized, on aggregates of spheres and investigate the stability of the resulting rotational motion. In fact, neglecting any braking momenta we calculate the component of the electromagnetic torque orthogonal to the principal axis of maximum moment of inertia through the center of mass (transverse torque), as a function of the direction of propagation of the incident field. The aggregates we study are composed of homogeneous spheres, possibly of different materials. The electromagnetic torque is calculated through the transition matrix approach along the lines of the theory reported in our recent paper [F. Borghese, P. Denti, R. Saija and M. A. Iati, Opt. Express 14, 9508 (2006)]. When the transverse component of the electromagnetic torque is small or vanishes the rotational motion driven by the component along the principal axis of inertia may be nearly stable.

Optical trapping of nonspherical particles in the T-matrix formalism.

The theory of the trapping of nonspherical particles in the focal region of a high-numerical-aperture optical system is formulated in the framework of the transition matrix approach. Both the case of an unaberrated lens and the case of an aberrated one are considered. The theory is applied to single latex spheres of various sizes and, when the results are compared with the available experimental data, a fair agreement is attained. The theory is also applied to binary clusters of spheres of latex with a diameter of 220nm in various orientations. Although, in this case we have no experimental data to which our results can be compared, we get useful indications for the trapping of nonspherical particles. In particular, we find substantial agreement with recent results on the trapping of prolate spheroids in aberrated gaussian fields [S. H. Simpson and S. Hanna, J. Opt.Soc. Am. A 24, 430 (2007)].

Optical trapping of nonspherical particles in the T-matrix formalism: erratum.

An erratum is presented to correct the errors in two equations in Sect. 2 of [Opt. Express 15, 11984-11998 (2007)].

Optical scattering by biological aerosols: experimental and computational results on spore simulants.

We present both a computational and an experimental approach to the problem of biological aerosol characterization, joining the expertises reached in the field of theoretical optical scattering by complex, arbitrary shaped particles (multipole expansion of the electromagnetic fields and Transition Matrix), and a novel experimental technique based on two-dimensional angular optical scattering (TAOS). The good agreement between experimental and computational results, together with the possibility for a laboratory single-particle angle-resolved investigation, opens a new scenario in biological particle modelling, and might have major implications for a rapid discrimination of airborne particles.