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It is well known that spin angular momentum of light, and therefore that of photons, is directly related to their circular polarization. Naturally, for totally unpolarized light, polarization is undefined and the spin vanishes. However, for nonparaxial light, the recently discovered transverse spin component, orthogonal to the main propagation direction, is largely independent of the polarization state of the wave. Here we demonstrate, both theoretically and experimentally, that this transverse spin survives even in nonparaxial fields (e.g., tightly focused or evanescent) generated from a totally unpolarized light source. This counterintuitive phenomenon is closely related to the fundamental difference between the degrees of polarization for 2D paraxial and 3D nonparaxial fields. Our results open an avenue for studies of spin-related phenomena and optical manipulation using unpolarized light., 11 pages, 3 figures

We compared autonomic regulation of the heart in Wistar rats with acute exogenous hypoxic and chronic normobaric hypoxia against the background of experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In animals subjected to normobaric hypoxia, dysfunction of the autonomic regulation of the heart developed; it manifested in a significant limitation of the effects of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems on the pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node. Disturbances in autonomic regulation of the heart in acute exogenous hypoxic normobaric hypoxia were characterized by "rigid" heart rhythm and bradycardia in the presence of systolic-diastolic arterial hypotension. Centralization of heart rhythm control did not provide compensation for hemodynamic disturbances. In case of chronic normobaric hypoxia, an increase in arterial hypoxemia was associated with protective "denervation" of the heart against the background of increased activity of the humoral regulation, which manifested in tachycardia, isolated systolic arterial hypertension, and overstrain of regulatory systems.

Objectives. To undertake a comparative analysis of the behavioral patterns of rats with experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute cerebral ischemia (ACI), and the combination of these pathologies. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 70 male Wistar laboratory rats weighing 250–300 g, divided into five groups. The results of comparative evaluation of the neurological and behavioral status of the rats is presented. Experimental COPD was modeled using combined inducers (purified papain and bacterial lipopolysaccharide) and ACI by simultaneous bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. Neurological status was evaluated using the NSS scale and behavioral status using a battery of tests: the open field test, the eight-arm radial maze, and the elevated O maze. Results and conclusions. Animals with combined pathologies showed the lowest level (20%) of survival and the greatest severity of neurological and behavioral disorders. These animals were characterized by sharp restriction to locomotor and exploratory activity, high anxiety, and increasing autonomic imbalance. Survival in rats with ACI only was 35%, while abnormalities in their neurological and behavioral status were of moderate severity. Rats with experimental COPD only had mild neurological deficit. Behavioral abnormalities consisted of moderate restriction to locomotor function and minor increases in anxiety on the background of retained exploratory activity and spatial memory. The results provide evidence of the relevance of the model of respiratory and cerebrovascular comorbidity for assessment of changes in physiological functions and their subsequent treatment.

Autonomic regulation of the heart was examined in 5 groups of rats: intact, sham-operated, experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute cerebral ischemia, and acute cerebral ischemia modeled against the background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The latter was provoked by combination of inhaled papain and intraperitoneal bacterial LPS, whereas acute cerebral ischemia was modeled by single-stage bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was verified by X-ray computed microtomography. The disturbances in autonomic control of the heart during comorbid pathologies were most prominent; they were manifested by overstrain and decompensation of the mechanisms implicated in the heart control and systolic-diastolic arterial hypotension. The correlations were established between blood oxygenation, respiration rate, and some parameters of autonomic cardiac regulation. The data attest to relevance and usefulness of the developed model of respiratory and cerebrovascular comorbidity in assessment of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying dysregulation of the heart and the development of personalized approaches for its pharmacological correction.

The second order nonlinear optical response of gold nanoprisms arrays is investigated by means of second harmonic generation (SHG) experiments and simulations. The polarization dependence of the nonlinear response exhibits a 6-fold symmetry, attributed to the local field enhancement through the excitation of the surface plasmon resonances in bow-tie nanoantennas forming the arrays. Experiments show that for polarization of the input light producing excitation of the plasmonic resonances in the bow-tie nanoantennas, the SHG signal is enhanced; this despite the fact that the linear absorption spectrum is not dependent on polarization. The results are confirmed by electrodynamic simulations which demonstrate that SHG is also determined by the local field distribution in the nanoarrays. Moreover, the maximum of SHG intensity is observed at slightly off-resonance excitation, as implemented in the experiments, showing a close relation between the polarization dependence and the structure of the material, additionally revealing the importance of the presence of non-normal electric field components as under focused beam and oblique illumination.

An experimental and theoretical study of the process of the uniaxial magnetic pulse compaction of nanopowders is conducted. The experimentation is carried out using aluminum oxide powders. The developed theoretical model includes the integrated description of the pulse magnetic field and of the dynamics of the mechanical system (of the moving pressing tooling and of the densified powder). The powder constitutive behavior is considered in the framework of the phenomenological theory of plastic porous bodies with hardening. The direct experimental data input enables the introduction of all the parameters necessary for the theoretical calculations. Based on the developed model, the influence of a broad range of pressing conditions and parameters (the densified powder mass, the mass of the accelerated press equipment parts, specimen diameter, etc.) on the final specimen density and on the effectiveness of the magnetic pulse compaction is studied. The process conditions, under which the optimal inertia properties of the pressing device lead to the fabrication of high-density components, are determined.

Optical forces allow manipulation of small particles and control of nanophotonic structures with light beams. While some techniques rely on structured light to move particles using field intensity gradients, acting locally, other optical forces can 'push' particles on a wide area of illumination but only in the direction of light propagation. Here we show that spin-orbit coupling, when the spin of the incident circularly polarized light is converted into lateral electromagnetic momentum, leads to a lateral optical force acting on particles placed above a substrate, associated with a recoil mechanical force. This counterintuitive force acts in a direction in which the illumination has neither a field gradient nor propagation. The force direction is switchable with the polarization of uniform, plane wave illumination, and its magnitude is comparable to other optical forces.

Nonlinear optical materials comprise the foundation of modern photonics, offering functionalities ranging from ultrafast lasers to optical switching, harmonic and soliton generation. Optical nonlinearities are typically strong near the electronic resonances of a material and thus provide limited tuneability for practical use. Here we show that in plasmonic nanorod metamaterials, the Kerr-type nonlinearity is not limited by the nonlinear properties of the constituents. Compared with gold's nonlinearity, the measured nonlinear absorption and refraction demonstrate more than two orders of magnitude enhancement over a broad spectral range that can be engineered via geometrical parameters. Depending on the metamaterial's effective plasma frequency, either a focusing or defocusing nonlinearity is observed. The ability to obtain strong and fast optical nonlinearities in a given spectral range makes these metamaterials a flexible platform for the development of low-intensity nonlinear applications., Nonlinear optical properties of conventional materials have limited spectral tuneability as they are defined by the material properties themselves. Here, the authors demonstrate that strong nonlinearity can be achieved in metamaterials where negligible nonlinearity of the constituent materials exists.

Several new plasmonic materials have recently been introduced in order to achieve better temperature stability than conventional plasmonic metals and control field localization with a choice of plasma frequencies in a wide spectral range. Here, epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films with low surface roughness fabricated by pulsed laser deposition are studied. The influence of the oxygen deposition pressure (20–300 mTorr) on the charge carrier dynamics and optical constants of the thin films in the near-infrared spectral range is elucidated. It is demonstrated that SrRuO3 thin films exhibit plasmonic behavior of the thin films in the near-infrared spectral range with the plasma frequency in 3.16–3.86 eV range and epsilon-near-zero wavelength in 1.11–1.47 μm range that could be controlled by the deposition conditions. The possible applications of these films range from the heat-generating nanostructures in the near-infrared spectral range, to metamaterial-based ideal absorbers and epsilon-near-zero components, where the interplay between real and imaginary parts of the permittivity in a given spectral range is needed for optimizing the spectral performance.

The effect of the composition and density of ceramics on the electroconductivity of solid electrolytes Ce1 − xGdxO2 − δ(x = 0.09–0.31) with a submicron (0.1–0.3 µm) grain size, which are prepared from nanosized powders, is investigated. The powders are synthesized by two methods, specifically, by evaporation of a target with the aid of the radiation of a pulsed carbon dioxide laser and by a chemical method of burning. The samples of ceramics are prepared by magnetopulsed or quasi-isostatic (200–500 MPa) pressing and subsequent caking in air at a temperature of 1100–1300°C. It is established that the electroconductivity of the obtained solid electrolytes is higher and the effective activation energy for conduction is considerably lower as compared with analogous electrolytes with a micron grain size.

Plasmonic crystals provide many passive and active optical functionalities, including enhanced sensing, optical nonlinearities, light extraction from LEDs and coupling to and from subwavelength waveguides. Here we study, both experimentally and numerically, the coherent control of SPP beam excitation in finite size plasmonic crystals under focussed illumination. The correct combination of the illuminating spot size, its position relative to the plasmonic crystal, wavelength and polarisation enables the efficient shaping and directionality of SPP beam launching. We show that under strongly focussed illumination, the illuminated part of the crystal acts as an antenna, launching surface plasmon waves which are subsequently filtered by the surrounding periodic lattice. Changing the illumination conditions provides rich opportunities to engineer the SPP emission pattern. This offers an alternative technique to actively modulate and control plasmonic signals, either via micro- and nano-electromechanical switches or with electro- and all-optical beam steering which have direct implications for the development of new integrated nanophotonic devices, such as plasmonic couplers and switches and on-chip signal demultiplexing. This approach can be generalised to all kinds of surface waves, either for the coupling and discrimination of light in planar dielectric waveguides or the generation and control of non-diffractive SPP beams.

Nature Photonics 9, 796–808 (2015); published online 27 November 2015; corrected after print 16 December 2016. In the version of this Review Article originally published, the DOI in the header of the PDF was incorrect; it should have read 'DOI: 10.1038/NPHOTON.2015.201'. This has now been corrected in the online PDF; the HTML version was unaffected.

This paper is the second part of [12]. Using the comparison theorems which were proved in the first part, the asymptotic normality of the estimator — in a model of a series of several samples — of the correlation function of a stationary Gaussian random process in spaces of continuous functions with weights is established. A method for constructing functional confidence intervals for an unknown correlation function in these spaces is described.

A bound is constructed for the correlation function of a uniform Gaussian random field in the scheme of series with respect to the many samples. Exact properties are established for the bound. It is proved that it is strongly consistent and asymptotically normal in the Hilbert space of functions which are square integrable on Rm with same weight function.

Combining nanostructured magnetic media with nanoplasmonic antennas has propelled commercially viable data-storage densities beyond one terabit per square inch.