Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
07:17
Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
13.3K
Parametric Amplification of a Superconducting Plasma Wave.
S Rajasekaran1, E Casandruc1, Y Laplace1
1Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany; Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Nature Physics
|November 12, 2016
Summary
Researchers demonstrate parametric amplification of terahertz Josephson plasma waves in cuprate superconductors. This breakthrough enables enhanced control over light-matter interactions for advanced photonics applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Superconductivity
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- All-optical manipulation of plasma waves is crucial for photonics but challenging in metallic plasmas due to low optical nonlinearities.
- Layered superconductors support Josephson plasma waves (JPWs), which are highly nonlinear and exhibit unique phenomena.
- JPWs involve oscillatory superfluid tunneling between capacitively coupled planes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the parametric amplification of terahertz JPWs.
- To explore the potential of cubic tunneling nonlinearity in cuprate superconductors for JPW amplification.
- To optimize JPW amplification for applications in phase squeezing and single-photon devices.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the cubic tunneling nonlinearity in a cuprate superconductor.
- Applying parametric amplification techniques to terahertz JPWs.
- Investigating the sensitivity of amplification to the relative phase of pump and seed waves.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated parametric amplification of terahertz JPWs in cuprate superconductors.
- Showcased the role of cubic tunneling nonlinearity in this amplification process.
- Identified optimization strategies for amplification based on phase sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Parametric amplification of terahertz JPWs is achievable in cuprate superconductors.
- This method offers a pathway for all-optical control of plasma waves.
- Potential applications include squeezing of order parameter phase fluctuations and single terahertz-photon devices.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
2.1K
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is the most widely used plasma source in atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), also known as Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The ICP source, or torch, consists of three concentric quartz tubes with argon gas flowing through them. A spark from a Tesla coil initiates the ionization of argon, generating a high-temperature plasma.
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
2.1K
01:28Standing Waves in a Cavity
1.6K
A household microwave and lasers are examples of standing electromagnetic waves in a cavity. When two conducting metal plates are placed parallel at the nodal planes, it creates a cavity where standing waves are formed. The cavity between the two planes is analogous to a stretched string held at the points x = 0 and x = L. Here, the distance 'L' between the two planes must be an integer multiple of half of the wavelength. The wavelengths that satisfy this condition are given by:
1.6K
01:30Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves
4.9K
Electromagnetic waves are consistent with Ampere's law. Assuming there is no conduction current Ampere's law is given as:
4.9K
01:30Electromagnetic Waves in Matter
4.1K
Electromagnetic waves can travel in the vacuum as well as in matter. For example light, which is an electromagnetic wave, can travel through air, water, or glass.
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore,...
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore,...
4.1K
01:10Generating Electromagnetic Radiations
8.0K
The German physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857–1894) was the first to generate and detect certain types of electromagnetic waves in the laboratory. Starting in 1887, he performed a series of experiments that confirmed the existence of electromagnetic waves and verified that they travel at the speed of light. Hertz used an alternating-current RLC (resistor-inductor-capacitor) circuit that resonated at a known frequency and connected it to a loop of wire. High voltages induced across the gap in...
8.0K
01:17Ampere-Maxwell's Law: Problem-Solving
1.3K
A parallel-plate capacitor with capacitance C, whose plates have area A and separation distance d, is connected to a resistor R and a battery of voltage V. The current starts to flow at t = 0. What is the displacement current between the capacitor plates at time t? From the properties of the capacitor, what is the corresponding real current?
To solve the problem, we can use the equations from the analysis of an RC circuit and Maxwell's version of Ampère's law.
For the first part of the...
To solve the problem, we can use the equations from the analysis of an RC circuit and Maxwell's version of Ampère's law.
For the first part of the...
1.3K