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Related Concept Videos

Potential Due to a Polarized Object01:29

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
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Evanescent Field Based Photoacoustics: Optical Property Evaluation at Surfaces
10:21

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Published on: July 26, 2016

Partial spatial coherence and partial polarization in random evanescent fields on lossless interfaces.

Andreas Norrman1, Tero Setälä, Ari T Friberg

  • 1Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland. andreas.norrman@tkk.fi

Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, Image Science, and Vision
|March 9, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Evanescent optical fields exhibit shorter coherence lengths than light wavelengths, especially at high-index interfaces. These fields can be partially polarized near surfaces, offering new possibilities for near-field optics and nanophotonics.

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Area of Science:

  • Optics and Photonics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electromagnetism

Background:

  • Evanescent optical fields arise during total internal reflection at dielectric interfaces.
  • Understanding their coherence and polarization is crucial for near-field applications.
  • Previous studies often simplified these fields as two-dimensional.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate partial spatial coherence and polarization in purely evanescent optical fields.
  • To analyze the relationship between coherence length and vacuum wavelength.
  • To explore the three-dimensional nature of evanescent wave polarization.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing the electromagnetic degree of coherence.
  • Applying a recent three-dimensional formulation for polarization analysis.
  • Analyzing fields generated at the interface of two dielectric media.

Main Results:

  • Coherence length in evanescent fields can be significantly shorter than the vacuum wavelength, particularly at high-index-contrast interfaces.
  • Evanescent fields can be partially polarized at subwavelength distances from the surface.
  • The degree of polarization can reach values not observed in beamlike fields.

Conclusions:

  • Evanescent optical fields demonstrate complex coherence and polarization behaviors.
  • These fields are fundamentally three-dimensional, challenging prior assumptions.
  • The findings have potential applications in advanced nanophotonics and near-field optical technologies.