Optical second harmonic spectroscopy of semiconductor surfaces: advances in microscopic understanding

Design of nickel donor–acceptor dithiolenes for 2nd order nonlinear optics: an experimental and computational study

This study, concerning the influence on the NLO properties of a remote functionality in the donor of D–Ni–A dithiolenes 1–4, allows to point out the relationship between NLO properties and the donor capability in modulating the low-energy absorption.

A nonlinear optical active polymer film based on Pd(ii) dithione/dithiolate second-order NLO chromophores

A film of [Pd(Dod₂pipdt)(dmit)] incorporated into a polymethylmethacrylate matrix, showing a good second-harmonic generation, has been prepared for the first time in the class of dithione–dithiolate 2^ndorder NLO-chromophores.

Evidence of the adsorption of hydroxide ion at hexadecane/water interface from second harmonic generation study

The effect of hydroxide ion, impurities and oleic acid on molecular structure at hexadecane/water interface was studied with second harmonic generation.

Probing surface and interface structure using optics

Optical techniques for probing surface and interface structure are introduced and recent developments in the field are discussed. These techniques offer significant advantages over conventional surface probes: all pressure ranges of gas-condensed matter interfaces are accessible and liquid-liquid, liquid-solid and solid-solid interfaces can be probed, due to the large penetration depth of the optical radiation. Sensitivity and discrimination from the bulk are the two challenges facing optical techniques in probing surface and interface structure. Where instrumental improvements have resulted in enhanced sensitivity, conventional optical techniques can be used to characterize heterogeneous adsorbed layers on a substrate, often with sub-monolayer resolution. Nanoscale lateral resolution is possible using scanning near-field optics. A separate class of techniques, which includes reflection anisotropy spectroscopy, and nonlinear optical probes such as second-harmonic and sum-frequency generation, uses the difference in symmetry between the bulk and the surface or interface to suppress the bulk contribution. A perspective is presented of likely future developments in this rapidly expanding field.

Ultrafast Hot-Carrier Dynamics at Chemically Modified Ge Interfaces Probed by SHG

Time-resolved second-harmonic generation (SHG) was used to study the hot-carrier dynamics and nonlinear optical properties of S-terminated and Cl-terminated Ge(111) interfaces on the femtosecond time scale. The hot-carrier second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities were determined to be 720 +/- 50 times greater than the valence-band second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities for the Ge(111)-S system and 880 +/- 100 times greater in the Ge(111)-Cl system. Furthermore, the ground- and excited-state second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities are suggested to be out of phase for Ge(111)-S and Ge(111)-Cl systems, leading to a pump-induced decrease in the SHG signal as opposed to the increase in the SHG signal observed in the Ge(111)-GeO2 system. Although the SHG response reaches a steady state in 415 +/- 90 fs in the Ge(111)-GeO2 system, a faster response is observed in the Ge(111)-S system, 220 +/- 85 fs, and in the Ge(111)-Cl system, 172 +/- 50 fs. This suggests significantly faster carrier cooling at the Ge(111)-Cl and Ge(111)-S interfaces, with significant implications for hot-carrier mediated device degradation, and migration to high-K dielectrics.