Passive Q-switching of a diode-side-pumped Nd-doped mixed gadolinium yttrium vanadate bounce laser

High power passive Q-switching was achieved with a pulse width of 18–32 ns by using a diode-side-pumped Nd:Gd_0.6Y_0.4VO₄ bounce amplifier. An average output power of > 8 W was obtained at a pump power of 39 W. The peak power of the Q-switched output was adjusted within 1.9–5.2 kW by changing the Nd concentration. The mixed vanadates showed significantly higher Q-switching performances in comparison with pure Nd:GdVO₄. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Gd; 42.60.Da     

On the origin of the ultrafast internal conversion of electronically excited pyrimidine bases

The ultrafast radiationless decay of photoexcited uracil and cytosine has been investigated by ab initio quantum chemical methods based on CIS and CR-EOM-CCSD(T) electronic energy calculations at optimized CIS geometries. The calculated potential energy profiles indicate that the S(1) --> S(0) internal conversion of the pyrimidine bases occurs through a barrierless state switch from the initially excited (1)pipi state to the out-of-plane deformed excited state of biradical character, which intersects the ground state at a lower energy. This three-state nonradiative decay mechanism predicts that replacement of the C5 hydrogen by fluorine introduces an energy barrier for the initial state switch, whereas replacement of the C6 hydrogen by fluorine does not. These predictions are borne out by the very different fluorescence yields of 5-fluorinated bases relative to the corresponding 6-fluorinated bases. It is concluded from these results that the origin of the ultrafast radiationless decay is the same for the two pyrimidine bases.     

Tunable, visible phase conjugator with a saturable-amplifier polymer laser dye

We present the first report to the best of our knowledge of highly efficient phase conjugation in a laser-pumped polymer-dye saturable amplifier. Phase-conjugate reflectivity of as much as 210% at 560 nm has been obtained. Moreover, efficient reflectivity has been obtained in the broad wavelength region from 556 to 567 nm.     

Modal Power Analysis for Two-Mode Fibers Illuminated by an Offset Beam Based on Near Field Pattern Measurement

A novel method for determining mode power distribution in a two-mode fiber illuminated by an offset beam by measuring the near field pattern on the test fiber endface is developed. This method utilizes the different field symmetries of the fundamental and the second order modes. Coupling efficiencies from a quasi Gaussian beam to the fundamental and the second order modes in a two mode fiber were measured by the new technique for various offset launching conditions, and were in good agreement with the theoretical ones.     

Photophysics of aromatic molecules with low-lying pi sigma* states: excitation-energy dependence of fluorescence in jet-cooled aromatic nitriles

Excitation-energy dependence of fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime has been measured for 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN), 4-aminobenzonitrile (ABN), 4-diisopropylaminobenzonitrile (DIABN), and 1-naphthonitrile (NN) in a supersonic free jet. In all cases, the fluorescence yield decreases rather dramatically, whereas the fluorescence lifetime decreases only moderately for S1 (pi pi*, L(b)) excess vibrational energy exceeding about 1000 cm(-1). This is confirmed by comparison of the normalized fluorescence excitation spectrum with the absorption spectrum of the compound in the vapor phase. The result indicates that the strong decrease in the relative fluorescence yield at higher energies is due mostly to a decrease in the radiative decay rate of the emitting state. Comparison of the experimental results with the TDDFT potential energy curves for excited states strongly suggests that the decrease in the radiative decay rate of the aminobenzonitriles at higher energies is due to the crossing of the pi pi* singlet state by the lower-lying pi sigma*(C[triple bond]N) singlet state of very small radiative decay rate. The threshold energy for the fluorescence "break-off" is in good agreement with the computed energy barrier for the pi pi*/pi sigma* crossing. For NN, on the other hand, the observed decrease is in fluorescence yield at higher excitation energies can best be attributed to the crossing of the pi pi* singlet state by the pi sigma* triplet state.     

Frequency-doubling of an optical vortex output from a stressed Yb-doped fiber amplifier

The frequency-doubling of a picosecond vortex fiber laser, formed of a 1-μm picosecond master laser and a large-mode-area fiber amplifier by using a nonlinear LiB₃O₅, crystal, was performed. A maximum second-harmonic power of 7.7 W was achieved, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 31 %. The second harmonic had an annular spatial form owing to a phase singularity with a doubled topological charge, and its wavefront helicity was selectively controlled by tuning the stress applied to the fiber amplifier.     

New chroman derivatives from the Japanese liverworts Metacalypogeia cordifolia and Cephalozia otaruensis.

The diethyl ether extract of the Japanese liverwort Metacalypogeia cordifolia yielded five new chroman type derivatives in addition to known sesquiterpenoids. One of the new chroman derivatives was also isolated from the ether extract of another liverwort, Cephalozia otaruensis. Their structures were established by extensive two dimensional (2D) NMR techniques and chemical evidence. They were shown to be 2,2-dimethyl-7-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-chroman derivatives. This was the first example of the isolation of the chroman-type compounds, although various types of aromatic compounds have been isolated from liverworts.     

1.3-µm passive Q-switching of a Nd-doped mixed vanadate bounce laser in combination with a V:YAG saturable absorber

6.5-W, 1.3-µm passively Q-switched output was demonstrated from a side-pumped Nd-doped Gd_0.6Y_0.4VO₄ bounce laser in combination with a V:YAG saturable-absorber crystal. Experimental output powers of 6.5 W and 6 W were measured at a maximum pump level in multi- and TEM₀₀-mode operations, corresponding to optical-to-optical efficiencies of 17.5% and 16.2%, respectively.     

Spatial Resolution Enhancement in BOTDR by Spectrum Separation Method

BOTDR (Brillouin optical-fiber time domain reflectometry) is a promising technique for measuring the strain distribution along an optical fiber which can be used for diagnosing civil structures. However, there is a trade-off between the spatial and the frequency resolutions, and its practical spatial resolution is limited to about 1 m; to date the application scope has been restricted. In order to enhance the spatial resolution without decreasing the measurement accuracy, we intentionally introduce two kinds of strain within the spatial resolution length determined by the optical pulse width, which results in Brillouin gain spectrum separation. In this paper, we describe the theoretical analysis of the spectrum separation method together with experimental verification, where a spatial resolution of 0.5 m is demonstrated. We further propose a new parabolic data fitting method especially effective in the spectrum separation method.