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Publications

Publications by Tiago David Ferreira

2020

Magnetostriction in Amorphous Co66Fe34 Microcantilevers Fabricated with Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

Authors
Silveira, B; Belo, J; Pinto, R; Silva, J; Ferreira, T; Pires, A; Chu, V; Conde, J; Frazão, O; Pereira, A;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
To study the magnetostriction of Co66Fe34 thin films, amorphous silicon microcantilevers were prepared by surface micromachining, and the 136 nm-thick magnetostrictive film was deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition and patterned on top of the microcantilever structure. The magnetostriction of the Co66Fe34 films was confirmed by measuring the deflection of the cantilevers under a varying magnetic field, reaching displacements up to 8 nm. The configuration was simulated using COMSOL software, yielding a similar deflection behavior as a function of the magnetic field, with a film with a magneto strictive coefficient of ? S ~ 55 p.p.m. The experimental configuration uses a laser and a position sensitive detector to measure the displacement, based on an optical lever configuration, and a piezoelectric stage to calibrate the system.

2021

Analogue Cosmology: Using techniques from nonlinear optics to study modified theories of gravity with non-minimal coupling between curvature and matter

Authors
Ferreira, TD; Novo, J; Bertolami, O; Silva, NA; Guerreiro, A;

Publication
NONLINEAR OPTICS AND APPLICATIONS XII

Abstract
The Theory of General Relativity is currently the most accepted model to describe gravity, and although many experiments and observations continue to validate it, recent astrophysical and cosmological observations require to include new forms of matter and energy (dark matter and dark energy), to be consistent. Modified theories of gravity with non-minimal coupling between curvature and matter are extensions of the Theory of General Relativity and have been proposed to address these shortcomings. Interestingly, matter at large scales behaves as a fluid and under certain approximations, the field equations can be approximated to a generalized Schrodinger-Newton system of equations. This model is largely found in the nonlinear optical systems, in particular to describe light propagating in nonlinear and nonlocal optical materials and also as a base model for the development of many optical analogues. Due to this, there are a wide variety of numerical methods developed to tackle this type of mathematical models, and that can be used to study these alternative gravity models. In this work, we explore the application of these numerical techniques based on GPGPU supercomputing, initially developed to study light propagating in nonlinear optical systems, to explore a particular non-minimal coupled gravity model. This model, in the nonrelativistic limit, modifies the hydrodynamic equations with the introduction of an attractive Yukawa potential and a repulsive one proportional to the matter density. We used the Schrodinger-Newton formalism to numerically study this model and, through the imaginary-time propagation method, we found stationary solutions that were sustained by the repulsive potential introduced by the non-minimal coupled model, even in the absence of a pressure term. We developed an analytical study in the Thomas-Fermi approximation and compared the predictions with numerical solutions. Finally, we explored how this gravity model may be emulated in the laboratory as an optical analogue.

2021

Superfluid effects in defocusing Nematic liquid Crystals

Authors
Ferreira, TD; Silva, NA; Guerreiro, A;

Publication
NONLINEAR OPTICS AND APPLICATIONS XII

Abstract
The last years saw the emergence of nonlinear optical materials, with local and nonlocal nonlinearities, as experimentally accessible systems to implement optical analogues of quantum fluids. In these systems, a light beam propagating in the nonlinear medium can be interpreted as a fluid, where the diffraction in the transverse plane to the propagation gives the effective mass of the fluid and the medium nonlinearity mediates the required interactions between the photons. This fluid interpretation and its application have been extensively studied, from the creation of superfluid-like flows and the study of phenomena associated with this effect to the implementation of gravity analogues. Furthermore, many optical materials have been considered, with a special interest in the ones that offer tunable mechanisms that allow to easily control the system properties to better explore and emulate the different phenomena. Recently, nematic liquid crystals have been proposed as an interesting tunable material capable of supporting superfluids of light. These systems have a nonlocal character and offer external mechanisms that can be used to tailor the nonlinearity to better emulate the desired analogue system. Indeed, through the application of an external electric field perpendicular to the direction of propagation, is it possible to control the nonlocal length of the nonlinearity. This mechanism offers interesting opportunities in the present context. In this work, through numerical methods based on GPGPU supercomputing, we explore the possibility of observing superfluid effects in defocusing nematic liquid crystals. In particular, we explore the possibility of observing the drag force cancellation and the emission of quantized vortices, which are two manifestations of a superfluid flow. Furthermore, we also discuss the possibility of using these systems for creating an analogue of quantum turbulence with these materials. These studies constitute a stepping-stone towards the implementation of gravity analogues with nematic liquid crystals.

2021

Reservoir computing with optical solitons

Authors
Silva, NAA; Ferreira, TD; Silva, DJ; Guerreiro, A;

Publication
NONLINEAR OPTICS AND APPLICATIONS XII

Abstract
The need for faster and energy-efficient computing technologies has recently pushed for major developments on alternative computing paradigms to the common von Neumann architecture. Amongst those, reservoir computing framework is an emerging concept that leverages a simple training process and eases transference to hardware implementations, allowing any given nonlinear physical system to act as a computing platform. In this work, we explore how we can make use of a discrete chain of solitons to create an effective reservoir computing framework, investigating not only the ability to learn data but also to predict models depending on the strength of the nonlinear interaction of the media. Probing the role of the nonlinear separation for tasks involving nonlinear separable data, these results open new possibilities for a multitude of physical implementations in the context of optical sciences, from optical fibers to nonlinear crystals.

2022

Nematic Liquid Crystals as a Tabletop Platform for Studying Turbulence

Authors
Ferreira, TD; Silva, NA; Guerreiro, A;

Publication
U.Porto Journal of Engineering

Abstract
Light propagating in nonlinear optical materials opens the possibility to emulate quantum fluids of light with accessible tabletop experiments by taking advantage of the hydrodynamical interpretation. In this context, various optical materials have been studied in recent years, with nematic liquid crystals appearing as one of the most promising ones due to their controllable properties. Indeed, the application of an external electric field can tune their nonlocal response, and this mechanism may be useful for producing fluids of light and developing optical analogues. In this work, we extend the applicability of nematic liquid crystal to support optical analogues and study the possibility of emulating turbulent phenomena by using two fluids of light. These fluids interact with each other through the nonlinearity of the medium and generate instabilities that will lead to turbulent regimes. We also explore the possibility of exciting turbulent regimes through the decay of dark soliton stripes. The preliminary results are presented. © 2022, Universidade do Porto - Faculdade de Engenharia. All rights reserved.

2021

(INVITED) Exploring quantum-like turbulence with a two-component paraxial fluid of light

Authors
Silva N.A.; Ferreira T.D.; Guerreiro A.;

Publication
Results in Optics

Abstract
Fluids of light is an emergent topic in optical sciences that exploits the fluid-like properties of light to establish controllable and experimentally accessible physical analogues of quantum fluids. In this work we explore this concept to generate and probe quantum turbulence phenomena by using the fluid behavior of light propagating in a defocusing nonlinear media. The proposal presented makes use of orthogonal polarizations and incoherent beam interaction to establish a theoretical framework of an analogue two-component quantum fluid, a physical system that features a modified Bogoliubov-like dispersion relation for the perturbative excitations featuring regions of instability. We demonstrate that these unstable regions can be tuned by manipulating the relative angle of incidence between the two components, allowing to define an effective range of energy injection capable of exciting turbulent phenomena. Our numerical investigations confirm the theory and show evidence of direct and inverse turbulent cascades expected from weak wave turbulence theories. The works end on a discussion concerning its possible experimental realization, allowing the access to quantum turbulence in regimes beyond those previously explored by making use of the controllable aspects of tabletop fluids of light experiments.

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