@phdthesis{Kramer2017,
  author    = {Kramer, Christian},
  title     = {Investigation of Nanostructure-Induced Localized Light Phenomena Using Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-150681},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {In recent years, the interaction of light with subwavelength structures, i.e., structures that are smaller than the optical wavelength, became more and more interesting to scientific research, since it provides the opportunity to manipulate light-induced dynamics below the optical diffraction limit. Specifically designed nanomaterials can be utilized to tailor the temporal evolution of electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale. For the investigation of strongly localized processes, it is essential to resolve both their spatial and their temporal behavior. The aim of this thesis was to study and/or control the temporal evolution of three nanostructure-induced localized light phenomena by using ultrafast laser spectroscopy with high spatial resolution. In Chapter 4, the absorption of near-infrared light in thin-film a-Si:H solar cells was investigated. Using nanotextured instead of smooth interfaces for such devices leads to an increase of absorption from < 20\% to more than 50\% in the near-infrared regime. Time-resolved experiments with femtosecond laser pulses were performed to clarify the reason for this enhancement. The coherent backscattered radiation from nanotextured solar cell devices was measured as a function of the sample position and evaluated via spectral interferometry. Spatially varying resonance peaks in the recorded spectra indicated the formation of localized photonic modes within the nanotextured absorber layers. In order to identify the modes separately from each other, coherent two-dimensional (2D) nanoscopy was utilized, providing a high spatial resolution < 40 nm. In a nanoscopy measurement on a modified device with an exposed nanotextured a-Si:H absorber layer, hot-spot electron emission was observed and confirmed the presence of localized modes. Fitting the local 2D nanospectra at the hot-spot positions enabled the determination of the resonance frequencies and coherence lifetimes of the modes. The obtained lifetime values varied between 50 fs and 130 fs. Using a thermionic emission model allowed the calculation of the locally absorbed energy density and, with this, an estimation of the localization length of the photonic modes (≈1 μm). The localization could be classified by means of the estimated localization length and additional data evaluation of the backscattered spectra as strong localization ─ the so-called Anderson localization. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that the enhanced absorption of near-infrared light in thin-film silicon solar cells with nanotextured interfaces is caused by the formation of strongly localized photonic modes within the disordered absorber layers. The incoming near-infrared light is trapped in these long-living modes until absorption occurs. In Chapter 5, a novel hybridized plasmonic device was introduced and investigated in both theory and experiment. It consists of two widely separated whispering gallery mode (WGM) nanoantennas located in an elliptical plasmonic cavity. The goal was to realize a periodic long-range energy transfer between the nanoantennas. In finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, the device was first optimized with respect to strong coupling between the localized antenna modes and the spatially-extended cavity mode. The geometrical parameters of the antennas and the cavity were adjusted separately so that the m="0" antenna mode and the cavity mode were resonant at λ="800 nm" . A high spatial overlap of the modes was achieved by positioning the two antennas in the focal spots of the cavity, leading to a distance between the antenna centers of more than twice the resonant wavelength of the modes. The spectral response of the optimized device revealed an energy splitting of the antenna and the cavity mode into three separated hybridized eigenmodes within an energy range of about 90 meV due to strong coupling. It could be well reproduced by a simple model of three coupled Lorentzian oscillators. In the time domain, an oscillatory energy transfer between both antennas with a period of 86 fs and an energy transfer efficiency of about 7\% was observed for single-pulse excitation. For the experiments, devices with cavities and antennas of varying size were fabricated by means of focused-ion-beam (FIB) milling. Time-resolved correlation measurements were performed with high spatial and temporal resolution by using sequences of two femtosecond laser pulses for excitation and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) for detection. Local correlation traces at antennas in resonant devices, i.e., devices with enhanced electron emission at both antenna positions, were investigated and reconstructed by means of the coupled-oscillator model. The corresponding spectral response revealed separated peaks, confirming the formation of hybridized eigenmodes due to strong coupling. In a subsequent simulation for single-pulse excitation, one back-and-forth energy transfer between both antennas with an energy transfer efficiency of about 10\% was observed. Based on the theoretical and experimental results, it was demonstrated that in the presented plasmonic device a periodic long-range energy transfer between the two nanoantennas is possible. Furthermore, the coupled-oscillator model enables one to study in depth how specific device properties impact the temporal electric-field dynamics within the device. This can be exploited to further optimize energy transfer efficiency of the device. Future applications are envisioned in ultrafast plasmonic nanocircuitry. Moreover, the presented device can be employed to realize efficient SPP-mediated strong coupling between widely separated quantum emitters. In Chapter 6, it was investigated in theory how the local optical chirality enhancement in the near field of plasmonic nanostructures can be optimized by tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light. An analytic expression was derived that enables the calculation of the optimal far-field polarizations, i.e., the two far-field polarizations which lead to the highest positive and negative local optical chirality, for any given nanostructure geometry. The two optimal far-field polarizations depend on the local optical response of the respective nanostructure and thus are functions of both the frequency ω and the position r. Their ellipticities differ only in their sign, i.e., in their direction of rotation in the time domain, and the angle between their orientations, i.e., the angle between the principal axes of their ellipses, is ±π/"2" . The handedness of optimal local optical chirality can be switched by switching between the optimal far-field polarizations. In numerical simulations, it was exemplarily shown for two specific nanostructure assemblies that the optimal local optical chirality can significantly exceed the optical chirality values of circularly polarized light in free space ─ the highest possible values in free space. The corresponding optimal far-field polarizations were different from linear and circular and varied with frequency. Using femtosecond polarization pulse shaping provides the opportunity to coherently control local optical chirality over a continuous frequency range. Furthermore, symmetry properties of nanostructures can be exploited to determine which far-field polarization is optimal. The theoretical findings can have impact on future experimental studies about local optical chirality enhancement. Tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light offers a promising tool to enhance chirally specific interactions of local electromagnetic fields with molecular and other quantum systems in the vicinity of plasmonic nanostructures. The presented approach can be utilized for applications in chiral sensing of adsorbed molecules, time-resolved chirality-sensitive spectroscopy, and chiral quantum control. In conclusion, each of the localized light phenomena that were investigated in this thesis ─ the enhanced local absorption of near-infrared light due to the formation of localized photonic modes, the periodic long-range energy transfer between two nanoantennas within an elliptical plasmonic cavity, and the optimization of local optical chirality enhancement by tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light ─ can open up new perspectives for a variety of future applications. .},
  subject      = {Ultrakurzzeitspektroskopie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hader2017,
  author    = {Hader, Kilian},
  title     = {Lokalisierungsdynamik unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung von Molek{\"u}l-Feld-Wechselwirkung, Kern-Elektron-Kopplung und Exziton-Exziton-Annihilierung},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146735},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit verschiedenen Aspekten der Dynamik von Kernen, Elektronen und gekoppelten Kern-Elektron-Systemen, wobei je nach System unterschiedliche Herangehensweisen gew{\"a}hlt wurden. Zentrale Punkte sind bei allen drei Kapiteln einerseits die Lokalisierung von Teilchen und Energie und andererseits eine hohe Sensitivit{\"a}t in Bezug auf die Wahl der Anfangsbedingungen. Im ersten Teil wurden von der Carrier-Envelope-Phase (CEP) abh{\"a}ngende, laser-induzierte Lokalisierungen betrachtet. Das zentrale Element ist dabei das entwickelte Doppelpulsschema, mit welchem eine CEP-Abh{\"a}ngigkeit in beobachtbaren Gr{\"o}ßen erzeugt wird. Als Beispielsysteme wurden die Fragmentation im D₂⁺-Modellsystem und eine Isomerisierung im Doppelminimumpotential (DMP) untersucht. Als Observable wird die Asymmetrie betrachtet Im DMP kann die Asymmetrie mit dem Entantiomeren/Isomeren{\"u}berschuss gleich gesetzt werden kann und im D₂⁺-Modellsystem mit der Lokalisierung des Elektrons auf einem der beiden dissoziierenden Kerne. Eine Phasenabh{\"a}ngigkeit der Asymmetrien besteht nur f{\"u}r die CEP des zweiten Pulses φ₂, f{\"u}r welchen keine Begrenzungen f{\"u}r die Anzahl an Laserzyklen auftreten. Im DMP wurde die CEP-Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Asymmetrien auch bei unterschiedlichen Startkonfigurationen untersucht. F{\"u}r alle untersuchten Startkonfigurationen konnte ein Laserparametersatz gefunden werden, der f{\"u}r zumindest eine der beiden Asymmetrien eine CEP-Abh{\"a}ngigkeit liefert. Aufgrund der aufgehobenen energetischen Entartung der Paare gerader und ungerader Symmetrie ist die resultierende Lokalisierung zeitabh{\"a}ngig. Zur Messung der vorhergesagten Dynamiken ist z.B. die Aufnahme eines Photoelektronen-Spektrums denkbar. In n{\"a}chsten Kapitel wurden unterschiedliche Dynamiken innerhalb eines 4d Kern-Elektron-Modells in der N{\"a}he einer konischen Durchschneidung (CI) zweier Potentiale betrachtet. Hierbei ist hervorzuheben, dass eine solche gleichzeitige Untersuchung von Kern- und Elektron-Dynamik in Systemen mit CIs in der Literatur, nach Wissen des Autors, bisher nicht ver{\"o}ffentlicht ist. Das 4d-Potential wurde mit Hilfe des sogenannten Potfit-Algorithmus gefittet. Dieser Fit wurde anschließend verwendet, um die Dynamik des gekoppelten Systems mit Hilfe der "Multi-Configuration Time-Dependent Hartree"(MCTDH)-Methode zu berechnen. Aus der Analyse der gekoppelten Kern-Elektron-Wellenfunktion ergaben sich zwei grundlegend unterschiedliche Klassen von Dynamiken: • Diabatisch: Kern- und Elektrondynamik sind nahezu entkoppelt. Der Kern bewegt sich und das Elektron bleibt statisch. • Adiabatisch: Kern- und Elektrondynamik sind stark gekoppelt. Die Kerndynamik findet auf Kreisbahnen statt. Mit der Rotation der Kerndichte um den Winkel φ geht eine Rotation der Elektron-Dichte einher. Die diabatische Bewegung entspricht der Dynamik durch die konische Durchschneidung und die adiabatische Bewegung der Dynamik auf der unteren Potentialfl{\"a}che. Welche der beiden Dynamiken stattfindet, wird durch die Wahl der Anfangsbedingung bestimmt. Der wesentliche Unterschied zwischen den beiden Startzust{\"a}nden ist dabei die Lage des Knotens im elektronischen Anteil der Wellenfunktion. In den diabatischen Bewegungen bleibt z.B. der pₓ -artige Charakter der elektronischen Wellenfunktion konstant, wohingegen sich bei der adiabatischen Dynamik der Charakter mit der Kernbewegung {\"a}ndert. Die Zeitersparnis durch die Verwendung des MCTDH-Ansatzes im Vergleich zur Split-Operator-Methode liegt etwa bei einem Faktor 5. Das letzte Kapitel widmet sich der mikroskopischen Beschreibung von Exziton-Exziton- Annihilierung (EEA). Dabei werden numerische L{\"o}sungen der aus einem mikro- skopischen Modell hergeleiteten Ratengleichungen mit Messungen ( transienter Absorption) verglichen. Es wurden zwei Systeme untersucht: ein Squarain-basiertes Heteropolymer (SQA-SQB)ₙ und ein [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenvinylen]-Polymer, auch bekannt als MEH-PPV. In beiden F{\"a}llen gelang die systematische Parameterbestimmung mit Hilfe einer Aufteilung in lokalisierte Subsysteme. Diese Subsysteme werden einzeln gewichtet und anschließend aufsummiert, wobei die Gewichte optimiert werden k{\"o}nnen. Aus den so erhaltenen Parametern ergibt sich f{\"u}r beide Systeme ein {\"a}hnliches Bild: • Durch ultraschnelle Lokalisierung der Anregung im fs-Bereich auf kleinere Aggregateinheiten bilden sich voneinander getrennte Subsysteme. • Die in den Subsystemen lokalisierten Exzitonen k{\"o}nnen sich nur innerhalb dieser Bereiche frei bewegen. Es ist ausreichend, direkt benachbarte Mono-, Bi-, Tri- und Tetra-Exzitonen in bis zu zwei Dimensionen zu ber{\"u}cksichtigen. • Auf einer fs-Zeitskala annihilieren direkt benachbarte Exzitonen. • Im MEH-PPV ergibt sich der Signalzerfall im fs-Bereich als Mittelwert aus einer schnellen (zwischen Ketten) und einer langsamen (innerhalb von Ketten) Annihilierung. • Im ps- bis ns-Bereich wird sowohl durch Diffusion vermittelte Annihilierung, also auch der Zerfall der ersten angeregten Zust{\"a}nde bedeutsam.},
  subject      = {Quantenmechanik},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Brueckner2017,
  author    = {Br{\"u}ckner, Charlotte},
  title     = {The Electronic Structure and Optoelectronic Processes at the Interfaces in Organic Solar Cells Composed of Small Organic Molecules - A Computational Analysis of Molecular, Intermolecular, and Aggregate Aspects},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-141652},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Describing the light-to-energy conversion in OSCs requires a multiscale understanding of the involved optoelectronic processes, i.e., an understanding from the molecular, intermolecular, and aggregate perspective. This thesis presents such a multiscale description to provide insight into the processes in the vicinity of the organic::organic interface, which are crucial for the overall performance of OSCs. Light absorption, exciton diffusion, photoinduced charge transfer at the donor-acceptor interface, and charge separation are included. In order to establish structure-property relationships, a variety of different molecular p-type semiconductors are combined at the organic donor-acceptor heterojunction with fullerene C60, one of the most common acceptors in OSCs. Starting with a comprehensive analysis of the accuracy of diverse ab initio, DFT, and semiempiric methods for the properties of the individual molecules, the intermolecular, and aggregate/device stage are subsequently addressed. At all stages, both methodological concepts and physical aspects in OSCs are discussed to extend the microscopic understanding of the charge generation processes.},
  subject      = {Benchmark},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AhmedOjhaHirschetal.2017,
  author    = {Ahmed, Bilal and Ojha, Animesh K. and Hirsch, Florian and Fischer, Ingo and Patrice, Donfack and Materny, Arnulf},
  title     = {Tailoring of enhanced interfacial polarization in WO\(_3\) nanorods grown over reduced graphene oxide synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method},
  series = {RSC Advances},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {RSC Advances},
  number    = {23},
  doi       = {10.1039/c7ra00730b},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181829},
  pages     = {13985-13996},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {In the present report, well-defined WO3 nanorods (NRs) and a rGO-WO\(_3\) composite were successfully synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The crystal phase, structural morphology, shape, and size of the as-synthesized samples were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The optical properties of the synthesized samples were investigated by Raman, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy and TEM results validate the formation of WO\(_3\) (NRs) on the rGO sheet. The value of the dielectric constant (ε′) of WO3 NRs and rGO-WO\(_3\) composite is decreased with an increase in frequency. At low frequency (2.5 to 3.5 Hz), the value of ε′ for the rGO-WO3 composite is greater than that of pure WO\(_3\) NRs. This could be due to the fact that the induced charges follow the ac signal. However, at higher frequency (3.4 to 6.0), the value of ε′ for the rGO-WO\(_3\) composite is less compared to that of the pure WO3 NRs. The overall decrease in the value of ε′ could be due to the occurrence of a polarization process at the interface of the rGO sheet and WO3 NRs. Enhanced interfacial polarization in the rGO-WO\(_3\) composite is observed, which may be attributed to the presence of polar functional groups on the rGO sheet. These functional groups trap charge carriers at the interface, resulting in an enhancement of the interfacial polarization. The value of the dielectric modulus is also calculated to further confirm this enhancement. The values of the ac conductivity of the WO\(_3\) NRs and rGO-WO\(_3\) composite were calculated as a function of the frequency. The greater value of the ac conductivity in the rGO-WO\(_3\) composite compared to that of the WO\(_3\) NRs confirms the restoration of the sp:\(^{++}\) network during the in situ synthesis of the rGO-WO\(_3\) composite, which is well supported by the results obtained by Raman spectroscopy.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AeschlimannBrixnerCinchettietal.2017,
  author    = {Aeschlimann, Martin and Brixner, Tobias and Cinchetti, Mirko and Frisch, Benjamin and Hecht, Bert and Hensen, Matthias and Huber, Bernhard and Kramer, Christian and Krauss, Enno and Loeber, Thomas H. and Pfeiffer, Walter and Piecuch, Martin and Thielen, Philip},
  title     = {Cavity-assisted ultrafast long-range periodic energy transfer between plasmonic nanoantennas},
  series = {Light: Science \& Applications},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Light: Science \& Applications},
  doi       = {10.1038/lsa.2017.111},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-173265},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Radiationless energy transfer is at the core of diverse phenomena, such as light harvesting in photosynthesis\(^1\), energy-transfer-based microspectroscopies\(^2\), nanoscale quantum entanglement\(^3\) and photonic-mode hybridization\(^4\). Typically, the transfer is efficient only for separations that are much shorter than the diffraction limit. This hampers its application in optical communication and quantum information processing, which require spatially selective addressing. Here, we demonstrate highly efficient radiationless coherent energy transfer over a distance of twice the excitation wavelength by combining localized and delocalized\(^5\) plasmonic modes. Analogous to the Tavis-Cummings model, two whispering-gallery-mode antennas\(^6\) placed in the foci of an elliptical plasmonic cavity\(^7\) fabricated from single-crystal gold plates act as a pair of oscillators coupled to a common cavity mode. Time-resolved two-photon photoemission electron microscopy (TR 2P-PEEM) reveals an ultrafast long-range periodic energy transfer in accordance with the simulations. Our observations open perspectives for the optimization and tailoring of mesoscopic energy transfer and long-range quantum emitter coupling.},
  language  = {en}
}