Directed branch growth in aligned nanowire arrays.

Branch growth is directed along two, three, or four in-plane directions in vertically aligned nanowire arrays using vapor-liquid-solid glancing angle deposition (VLS-GLAD) flux engineering. In this work, a dynamically controlled collimated vapor flux guides branch placement during the self-catalyzed epitaxial growth of branched indium tin oxide nanowire arrays. The flux is positioned to grow branches on select nanowire facets, enabling fabrication of aligned nanotree arrays with L-, T-, or X-branching.

Disassembling glancing angle deposited films for high-throughput, single-post growth scaling measurements.

With growing interest in nanostructured thin films produced by glancing angle deposition (GLAD), it becomes increasingly important to understand their overall growth mechanics and nanocolumn structure. We present a new method of isolating the individual nanocolumns of GLAD films, facilitating automated measurement of their broadening profiles. Data collected for α = 81° TiO2 vertical nanocolumns deposited across a range of substrate rotation rates demonstrates that these rates influence growth scaling parameters.

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer for the detection and noninvasive optical amplification of polarization rotation.

We present the theory and design of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with orthogonally polarized arms that passively, noninvasively, optically amplifies polarization rotation in one arm of the interferometer. Theoretical analysis of the electric fields in the two arms is used to compare the significance of device optimizations. Design of the beam alignment, beam recombination, noise isolation, and active stabilization to enable reliable measurements are thoroughly discussed.