A new class of insulating solids was recently discovered. Whenirradiated by a few visible photons, these solids give rise to amacroscopic excited domain that has new structural and electronicorders quite different from the starting ground state. This occurrenceis called photoinduced phase transition, and this multi-authoredbook reviews recent theoretical and experimental studies of this newphenomenon.
Message from The Taniguchi Foundation Dr. Kanamori, Distinguished Guests and Friends: The Taniguchi Foundation wishes to welcome the participants of the nine teenth International Symposium on the Theory of Condensed Matter, who have come from within this country and from different parts of the world. The concept of the symposium is unique in that participants, both Japanese and from abroad, are limited in number to small discussion groups, and live together, although for a short period, as a close-knit community. We feel that this kind of environment will assist towards the strengthening of understanding and the fostering of friendship among the attendees. It is easy to talk about, but difficult to realize, the ideal of international friendship and understanding in a world which is steadily growing smaller. So far, the Foundation has invited a total of 149 participants in this division from 24 foreign countries and 299 participants from Japan. And we are all friends. We hope and trust that even after they have reached the heights of academic fame during the coming decades, the participants will continue to join forces and help to forge closer bonds of friendship and cooperation that will make major contributions not only to academia, but also towards world peace and the welfare of mankind. We hope that all the participants will return home with warm memories of both this symposium and the pleasant times that we have shared. Thank you.
At Yamada Conference LIII, papers on many novel materials and on novel phenomena in condensed matter physics were presented ? for instance, the achievement of simultaneous creation of excitons and free-electron-hole pairs in rare gas solids, and a low frequency fluctuation of the spectral shift of indirect excitons in GaAs coupled quantum wells. Single molecule spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying molecules including biological systems; the study of delocalization of excitons in the photosynthetic light harvesting antenna system was also reported. The proceedings thus contain many excellent papers dealing with current research topics on the excitonic processes in bulk, quantum wells, quantum dots and other confined systems. This book will serve as an excellent source of recent references and reviews for a wide range of researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering and biological sciences.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: ? Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)
At Yamada Conference LIII, papers on many novel materials and on novel phenomena in condensed matter physics were presented — for instance, the achievement of simultaneous creation of excitons and free-electron-hole pairs in rare gas solids, and a low frequency fluctuation of the spectral shift of indirect excitons in GaAs coupled quantum wells. Single molecule spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying molecules including biological systems; the study of delocalization of excitons in the photosynthetic light harvesting antenna system was also reported. The proceedings thus contain many excellent papers dealing with current research topics on the excitonic processes in bulk, quantum wells, quantum dots and other confined systems. This book will serve as an excellent source of recent references and reviews for a wide range of researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering and biological sciences.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in:• Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)
This book advances understanding of light-induced phase transitions and nonequilibrium orders that occur in a broken-symmetry system. Upon excitation with an intense laser pulse, materials can undergo a nonthermal transition through pathways different from those in equilibrium. The mechanism underlying these photoinduced phase transitions has long been researched, but many details in this ultrafast, non-adiabatic regime still remain to be clarified. The work in this book reveals new insights into this phenomena via investigation of photoinduced melting and recovery of charge density waves (CDWs). Using several time-resolved diffraction and spectroscopic techniques, the author shows that the light-induced melting of a CDW is characterized by dynamical slowing-down, while the restoration of the symmetry-breaking order features two distinct timescales: A fast recovery of the CDW amplitude is followed by a slower re-establishment of phase coherence, the latter of which is dictated by the presence of topological defects in the CDW. Furthermore, after the suppression of the original CDW by photoexcitation, a different, competing CDW transiently emerges, illustrating how a hidden order in equilibrium can be unleashed by a laser pulse. These insights into CDW systems may be carried over to other broken-symmetry states, such as superconductivity and magnetic ordering, bringing us one step closer towards manipulating phases of matter using a laser pulse.
Ultrafast Phenomena XVI presents the latest advances in ultrafast science, including both ultrafast optical technology and the study of ultrafast phenomena. It covers picosecond, femtosecond and attosecond processes relevant to applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Ultrafast technology has a profound impact in a wide range of applications, amongst them biomedical imaging, chemical dynamics, frequency standards, material processing, and ultrahigh speed communications. This book summarizes the results presented at the 16th International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena and provides an up-to-date view of this important and rapidly advancing field.
The Encyclopedia of Modern Optics, Second Edition, Five Volume Set provides a wide-ranging overview of the field, comprising authoritative reference articles for undergraduate and postgraduate students and those researching outside their area of expertise. Topics covered include classical and quantum optics, lasers, optical fibers and optical fiber systems, optical materials and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Articles cover all subfields of optical physics and engineering, such as electro-optical design of modulators and detectors. This update contains contributions from international experts who discuss topics such as nano-photonics and plasmonics, optical interconnects, photonic crystals and 2D materials, such as graphene or holy fibers. Other topics of note include solar energy, high efficiency LED’s and their use in illumination, orbital angular momentum, quantum optics and information, metamaterials and transformation optics, high power fiber and UV fiber lasers, random lasers and bio-imaging. Addresses recent developments in the field and integrates concepts from fundamental physics with applications for manufacturing and engineering/design Provides a broad and interdisciplinary coverage of specialist areas Ensures that the material is appropriate for new researchers and those working in a new sub-field, as well as those in industry Thematically arranged and alphabetically indexed, with cross-references added to facilitate ease-of-use
This work focuses on complementary crystallographic and spectroscopic areas of dynamic structural science, from papers presented at the 46th NATO sponsored course in Erice, Sicily 2013. These papers cover a range of material from background concepts to more advanced material and represent a fully inter-disciplinary collection of the latest ideas and results within the field. They will appeal to practising or novice crystallographers, both chemical and biological, who wish to learn more about modern spectroscopic methods and convergent advances and hence vice versa for experimental and computational spectroscopists. The chapters refer to the latest techniques, software and results and each chapter is fully referenced. The volume provides an excellent starting point for new comers in the emerging, multi-disciplinary area of time resolved science.
The work focuses on recent developments of the rapidly evolving field of Non-conventional Liquid Crystals. After a concise introduction it discusses the most promising research such as biosensing, elastomers, polymer films , photoresponsive properties and energy harvesting. Besides future applications it discusses as well potential frontiers in LC science and technology.
The chemistry, physics, and applications of liquid crystals beyond LCDs Liquid Crystals (LCs) combine order and mobility on a molecular and supramolecular level. But while these remarkable states of matter are most commonly associated with visual display technologies, they have important applications for a variety of other fields as well. Liquid Crystals Beyond Displays: Chemistry, Physics, and Applications considers these, bringing together cutting-edge research from some of the most promising areas of LC science. Featuring contributions from respected researchers from around the globe, this edited volume emphasizes the chemistry, physics, and applications of LCs in areas such as photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, filed-effect transistors, lasers, molecular motors, nanophotonics and biosensors. Specific chapters look at magnetic LCs, lyotropic chromonic LCs, LC-based chemical sensors, LCs in metamaterials, and much more. Introducing readers to the fundamentals of LC science through the use of illustrative examples, Liquid Crystals Beyond Displays covers not only the most recent research in the myriad areas in which LCs are being utilized, but also looks ahead, addressing potential future developments. Designed for physicists, chemists, engineers, and biologists working in academia or industry, as well as graduate students specializing in LC technology, this is the first book to consider LC applications across a wide range of fields.
