Nano-structured magnetic metamaterial with enhanced nonlinear properties.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Nano-structuring can significantly modify the properties of materials. We demonstrate that size-dependent modification of the spin-wave spectra in magnetic nano-particles can affect not only linear, but also nonlinear magnetic response. The discretization of the spectrum removes the frequency degeneracy between the main excitation mode of a nano-particle and the higher spin-wave modes, having the lowest magnetic damping, and reduces the strength of multi-magnon relaxation processes. This reduction of magnon-magnon relaxation for the main excitation mode leads to a dramatic increase of its lifetime and amplitude, resulting in the intensification of all the nonlinear processes involving this mode. We demonstrate this experimentally on a two-dimensional array of permalloy nano-dots for the example of parametric generation of a sub-harmonic of an external microwave signal. The characteristic lifetime of this sub-harmonic is increased by two orders of magnitude compared to the case of a continuous magnetic film, where magnon-magnon relaxation limits the lifetime.
Project description:Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) are nonlinear electronic circuits used for parametric amplification and pulse generation, and it is known that left-handed NLTLs support enhanced harmonic generation while suppressing shock wave formation. We show experimentally that in a left-handed NLTL analogue of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) lattice, harmonic generation is greatly increased by the presence of a topological edge state. Previous studies of nonlinear SSH circuits focused on solitonic behaviours at the fundamental harmonic. Here, we show that a topological edge mode at the first harmonic can produce strong propagating higher-harmonic signals, acting as a nonlocal cross-phase nonlinearity. We find maximum third-harmonic signal intensities five times that of a comparable conventional left-handed NLTL, and a 250-fold intensity contrast between topologically nontrivial and trivial configurations. This work advances the fundamental understanding of nonlinear topological states, and may have applications for compact electronic frequency generators.
Project description:Unlike the constant nature of elastic coefficients of isotropic bulk materials, the Young's (E) and shear (μ) moduli of nano-structured (NS) gyroid metamaterials change with relative density (ρ), but at different rates depending on the cell size of the structure. These elastic behaviors displayed by E and μ cause crossover/inversion of these two moduli, such that μ of the NS gyroid metamaterials is greater than E for the structures with ρ < 0.23. This peculiar elastic behavior causes NS gyroid metamaterials to display high μ/E values (~1.0), which are more than 250% larger than the typical values of the bulk material (~0.38), indicating that the NS gyroid metamaterial, even if it is light, is resistant to shear deformation. Here, we report the results of molecular dynamics simulations performed to elucidate the reason for unusually high μ/E values in NS gyroid metamaterials.
Project description:Large-amplitude magnetization dynamics is substantially more complex compared to the low-amplitude linear regime, due to the inevitable emergence of nonlinearities. One of the fundamental nonlinear phenomena is the nonlinear damping enhancement, which imposes strict limitations on the operation and efficiency of magnetic nanodevices. In particular, nonlinear damping prevents excitation of coherent magnetization auto-oscillations driven by the injection of spin current into spatially extended magnetic regions. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate that nonlinear damping can be controlled by the ellipticity of magnetization precession. By balancing different contributions to anisotropy, we minimize the ellipticity and achieve coherent magnetization oscillations driven by spatially extended spin current injection into a microscopic magnetic disk. Our results provide a route for the implementation of efficient active spintronic and magnonic devices driven by spin current.
Project description:Coherent superposition of light from subwavelength sources is an attractive prospect for the manipulation of the direction, shape and polarization of optical beams. This phenomenon constitutes the basis of phased arrays, commonly used at microwave and radio frequencies. Here we propose a new concept for phased-array sources at infrared frequencies based on metamaterial nanocavities coupled to a highly nonlinear semiconductor heterostructure. Optical pumping of the nanocavity induces a localized, phase-locked, nonlinear resonant polarization that acts as a source feed for a higher-order resonance of the nanocavity. Varying the nanocavity design enables the production of beams with arbitrary shape and polarization. As an example, we demonstrate two second harmonic phased-array sources that perform two optical functions at the second harmonic wavelength (∼5 μm): a beam splitter and a polarizing beam splitter. Proper design of the nanocavity and nonlinear heterostructure will enable such phased arrays to span most of the infrared spectrum.
Project description:Three-dimensional (3D) ferroelectric materials are electromechanical building blocks for achieving human-machine interfacing, energy sustainability, and enhanced therapeutics. However, current natural or synthetic materials cannot offer both a high piezoelectric response and desired mechanical toughness at the same time to meet the practicality. Here, a lamellar ferroelectric metamaterial was created with a ceramic-like piezoelectric property and a bone-like fracture toughness through a low-voltage-assisted 3D printing technology. The one-step printed bulk structure, consisting of periodically intercalated soft ferroelectric and hard electrode layers, exhibited a significantly enhanced longitudinal piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33) of over 150 pC N-1, as well as a superior fracture resistance of ∼5.5 MPa·m1/2, more than three times higher than conventional piezo-ceramics. The excellent printability together with the combination of both high piezoelectric and mechanical behaviors allowed us to create a bone-like structure with tunable anisotropic piezoelectricity and bone-comparable mechanical properties, showing a potential of manufacturing practical, high-performance, and smart biological systems.
Project description:Optical nonlinearities are intimately related to the spatial symmetry of the nonlinear media. For example, the second order susceptibility vanishes for centrosymmetric materials under the dipole approximation. The latter concept has been naturally extended to the metamaterials' realm, sometimes leading to the (erroneous) hypothesis that second harmonic (SH) generation is negligible in highly symmetric meta-atoms. In this work we aim to show that such symmetric meta-atoms can radiate SH light efficiently. In particular, we investigate in-plane centrosymmetric meta-atom designs where the approximation for meta-atoms breaks down. In a periodic array this building block allows us to control the directionality of the SH radiation. We conclude by showing that the use of symmetry considerations alone allows for the manipulation of the nonlinear multipolar response of a meta-atom, resulting in e.g. dipolar, quadrupolar, or multipolar emission on demand. This is because the size of the meta-atom is comparable with the free-space wavelength, thus invalidating the dipolar approximation for meta-atoms.
Project description:Viscoelastic properties of thermo-set composites using an epoxy matrix reinforced with pristine CNT and silane-modified MWCNT at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 2% and 4%) were studied to observe the enhanced thermal and mechanical properties supplemented by the increased interfacial interaction due to CNT modification. The composite with pristine CNT was labeled as EPB-CNT, whereas that with silane-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was referred to as ECB-CNT. The silanes used were glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) was completely cured by Jeffamine D-400 to prepare EJ-0. The amine groups of the 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) partially cured the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) in EAJ-0 by a sequential polymerization process, while the methoxy groups subsequently produced a silica network through the sol-gel method. Subsequently, Jeffamine D-400 was used as a curing agent at elevated temperatures for cross-linking and complete curing. EJ-0 and EAJ-0 were considered as neat films of EPB-CNT and ECB-CNT composites, respectively. Tensile and storage modulus tests, thermal property analysis using TGA, and microstructure characterization using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and TEM were all part of the study. Comparing composites with varying percentages and with neat films, the chemically bonded epoxy-silanized MWCNTs (ECB-CNTs) showed improved performance. ECB-CNT 4% had the highest tensile and storage modulus as well as improved thermal stability. Improved filler material distribution and fewer voids were found through microstructure analysis, strengthening the link between the reinforcement and matrix. The results underscore the potential applications of the CNT-enhanced nanocomposites in the engineering fields of automotive, aerospace, radar-absorbing materials and others. This marks a significant development in the field of composite technology to produce durable and effective materials.
Project description:Nonlinear optics is an increasingly important field for scientific and technological applications, owing to its relevance and potential for optical and optoelectronic technologies. Currently, there is an active search for suitable nonlinear material systems with efficient conversion and a small material footprint. Ideally, the material system should allow for chip integration and room-temperature operation. Two-dimensional materials are highly interesting in this regard. Particularly promising is graphene, which has demonstrated an exceptionally large nonlinearity in the terahertz regime. Yet, the light-matter interaction length in two-dimensional materials is inherently minimal, thus limiting the overall nonlinear optical conversion efficiency. Here, we overcome this challenge using a metamaterial platform that combines graphene with a photonic grating structure providing field enhancement. We measure terahertz third-harmonic generation in this metamaterial and obtain an effective third-order nonlinear susceptibility with a magnitude as large as 3 × 10-8 m2/V2, or 21 esu, for a fundamental frequency of 0.7 THz. This nonlinearity is 50 times larger than what we obtain for graphene without grating. Such an enhancement corresponds to a third-harmonic signal with an intensity that is 3 orders of magnitude larger due to the grating. Moreover, we demonstrate a field conversion efficiency for the third harmonic of up to ∼1% using a moderate field strength of ∼30 kV/cm. Finally, we show that harmonics beyond the third are enhanced even more strongly, allowing us to observe signatures of up to the ninth harmonic. Grating-graphene metamaterials thus constitute an outstanding platform for commercially viable, CMOS-compatible, room-temperature, chip-integrated, THz nonlinear conversion applications.
Project description:Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) fabricated by chemical vapor deposition contain magnetic nanoparticles. While increasing frequency of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure (up to <10 kHz) of MWCNTs resulted in slight induced magnetization decrease due to skin effect of the conducting carbon, we discovered that higher frequencies (>10 kHz) contained an exponential magnetization increase. We show that puzzling magnetization increase with decreasing magnetic field amplitude (less than 0.5 A/m for 512 kHz) is due to matching the field amplitudes of the magnetic nanoparticles inside nanotubes. This observation reveals a possibility of magnetic tunneling in MWCNTs (change of magnetic state of blocked magnetic moments). This interpretation is supported by observation of unblocking larger magnetic remanence (MR) portion from MWCNTs with progressively smaller amplitude of oscillating magnetic field.
Project description:Solid-solid phase transformations can affect energy transduction and change material properties (e.g., superelasticity in shape memory alloys and soft elasticity in liquid crystal elastomers). Traditionally, phase-transforming materials are based on atomic- or molecular-level thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms. Here, we develop elasto-magnetic metamaterials that display phase transformation behaviors due to nonlinear interactions between internal elastic structures and embedded, macroscale magnetic domains. These phase transitions, similar to those in shape memory alloys and liquid crystal elastomers, have beneficial changes in strain state and mechanical properties that can drive actuations and manage overall energy transduction. The constitutive response of the elasto-magnetic metamaterial changes as the phase transitions occur, resulting in a nonmonotonic stress-strain relation that can be harnessed to enhance or mitigate energy storage and release under high-strain-rate events, such as impulsive recoil and impact. Using a Landau free energy-based predictive model, we develop a quantitative phase map that relates the geometry and magnetic interactions to the phase transformation. Our work demonstrates how controllable phase transitions in metamaterials offer performance capabilities in energy management and programmable material properties for high-rate applications.