Effect of refractive index-mismatch on laser microfabrication in silica glass

We studied the peculiarities of femtosecond laser microfabrication in silica glass with a refractive index that did not exactly match the value for which the focusing optics is designed. Spherical aberrations resulting from a small refractive index mismatch were found to increase the size and distort the shape of photodamaged regions, thus reducing the spatial resolution of the microfabrication. However, these undesirable effects can be minimized, providing that the focusing depth inside the glass is not too large, and the laser intensity is kept close to the light-induced damage threshold. Received: 3 December 2001 / Accepted: 11 April 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-88/656-7598, E-mail: misawa@eco.tokushima-u.ac.jp     

Optical switching of 2-(2<Superscript>′</Superscript>-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole in different solvents

All-optical switching and beam deflection of 2-(2^′-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole (HBO) in three species of solvent (cyclohexane, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) have been investigated by using third-harmonic generation (355 nm) of a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser as a pump beam and a continuous-wave He-Ne laser (632.8 nm) as a probe beam. The nonlinear refractive indices of HBO in different solvents are determined by using the Z-scan technique. The optical switching and beam-deflection effects are due to the change of the refractive index of HBO under the pump beam. Through the study of the absorption spectra and the fluorescence spectra of HBO in different solvents, we conclude that the principal reason for the change of the refractive index of HBO is not the thermal effect because of absorption of the pump beam, but the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) effect of HBO under the pump beam. As the ESIPT process is very fast, HBO might be an excellent material for high-speed optical switching. Received: 28 October 2002 / Revised version: 18 March 2003 / Published online: 2 June 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-22/2350-1242, E-mail: zhanggl@nankai.edu.cn     

Transmission electron microscopy studies of femtosecond laser induced modifications in quartz

Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy investigations of femtosecond laser induced sub-micrometer structural modifications inside crystalline quartz were carried out. Modifications from single laser shots and from lines built of overlapping shots were imaged. Both single laser shot modifications and line structures show an amorphous core surrounded by a disturbed crystalline structure. A strong strain field surrounding the central, irradiated, core is responsible for an increase of the refractive index. Finite element method calculations of the strain field show maxima on both sides of the irradiated core, which are in good agreement with optical measurements of the refractive-index change. Received: 29 September 2001 / Accepted: 9 July 2002 / Published online: 25 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-3641/947792, E-mail: tatiana.gorelik@rz.uni-jena.de     

Fine tuning of the higher-order dispersion of a prismatic pulse compressor

The wavelength-dependent thermal refractive index gives an extra degree of freedom for adjustment of higher-order dispersion of a prismatic pulse compressor. The effect allows of fine tuning of both intracavity and extracavity dispersion of ultra-fast oscillators. The calculations have been carried out using a new and rather handy formalism, which describes the operation of a prism pulse compressor as a linear function of the ratio of the total glass path in the prisms and the prism apex distance. The validity of theoretical calculations is supported by experimental evidence. Received: 16 April 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +36-62/544658, E-mail: osvay@physx.u-szeged.hu     

Optical properties of SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films by pulsed laser deposition

SrTiO₃ thin films were prepared on a fused-quartz substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Dense and homogeneous films with a thickness of 260 nm were prepared. Optical constants (refractive index n and extinction coefficient k) were determined from the transmittance spectra using the envelope method. The optical band gap energy of the films was found to be 3.58 eV, higher than the 3.22 eV for bulk SrTiO₃, attributable to the film stress exerted by the substrate. The dispersion relation of the refractive index vs. wavelength follows the single electronic oscillator model. The refractive index and the packing density for the PLD-prepared SrTiO₃ thin films are higher than those for the SrTiO₃ films prepared by physical vapor deposition, sol–gel and RF sputtering. Received: 18 March 2002 / Accepted: 7 October 2002 / Published online: 8 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-25/359-5535, E-mail: mszhang@nju.edu.cn     

The application of quasi-phase-matched parametric light sources to practical infrared chemical sensing systems

Quasi-phase-matched (QPM) materials allow the generation of spectroscopically useful infrared radiation in an efficient and broadly tunable format. Here, we describe several applications of QPM-based light sources to remote and local chemical sensing. The remote systems are gas imagers that employ a fiber-pumped continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator or a microlaser-pumped, diode-seeded optical parametric amplifier as the illumination source. Technology described for local sensing includes a cavity ring down spectrometer that employs a novel optical parametric generator–amplifier to achieve ≥350 cm^-1 of contiguous tuning and a long-wave infrared light source based on QPM GaAs. In each case the use of QPM materials in conjunction with effective pump sources instills simplicity and ruggedness into the sensing systems. Received: 15 April 2002 / Revised version: 6 June 2002 / Published online: 12 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +1-925/294-2595, E-mail: tjkulp@sandia.gov RID="**" ID="**"Present address: Corning Inc., Corning, NY 14831, USA RID="*" ID="*"Present address: Corning Inc., Corning, NY 14831, USA RID="**" ID="**"Present address: Blue Leaf Networks, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, USA RID="***" ID="***"Present address: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA     

New experiment on the observation of the effect of accelerating matter in neutron optics

The results of a new experiment on the observation of the effect of accelerating matter in neutron optics are reported. It has been shown that the velocity of neutrons periodically varies when they pass through a harmonically moving refractive sample. The idea of the experiment is based on time focusing, i.e., on the fact that the periodic modulation of the velocity of neutrons leads to the oscillation of the flux density at the observation point. The magnitude of the effect is in reasonable agreement with the theoretical predictions. The experiment has been carried out with ultracold neutrons and a change of ±1 cm/s has been detected in the neutron velocity.     

In situ observation of dynamics of plasma self-channeling and bulk modification in silica glasses induced by a high-intensity femtosecond laser

The time-resolved dynamics of plasma self-channeling and refractive index bulk modification in silica glasses were first observed in situ using a high-intensity femtosecond (110 fs) Ti:sapphire laser (λ_p=790 nm). Plasma channeling is induced in silica glass at an irradiation higher than an input intensity of 1.5×10¹² W/cm² and photoinduces either the refractive-index modification or optical crack modification. In the domain of refractive-index modification, the lifetime of induced plasma self-channeling was 20 ps and the structural transition time for forming the refractive-index change was 10 ps. In the domain of optical cracks, however, the lifetime of induced plasma formation was 30 ps and the structural transition time for forming the optical cracks was 40 ps. According to electron spin resonance spectroscopic (ESP) measurement, it was found that the defect concentration of the SiE^′ center increased significantly in the refractive index modification region. A maximum value of the refractive-index change Δn was measured to be 1.6×10^-2. The intensity profile of the output beam transmitted through the refractive-index modification showed that the bulk modification produced a permanent optical waveguide. Received: 8 April 2002 / Accepted: 12 April 2002 / Published online: 22 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-48/462-4682, E-mail: shcho@riken.go.jp     

Photoinduced macroscopic chiral structures in a series of azobenzene copolyesters

A study of the propagation of elliptically polarized light and the resulting formation of macroscopic chiral structures in a series of azobenzene side-chain copolyesters, in which the morphology is varied from liquid crystalline to amorphous, is reported. Real-time measurements are presented, showing the dynamic behavior of the photoinduced rotation of the polarization ellipse in the different samples. The relationship between the ellipticity of the recording light and the linear birefringence induced is studied. A numerical solution that takes into account the influence of the photoinduced linear dichroism on the light propagation through the samples is presented. Received: 10 June 2002 / Revised version: 26 July 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +45-4677/4588, E-mail: lian.nedelchev@risoe.dk RID="**" ID="**"Permanent address: Department of Chemistry and Physics, The Nottingham Trent Unversity, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, England     

Ordered thin films of alkyloxy-substituted benzaldehydes on a graphite surface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The molecular assembly of three different trialkyloxy-substituted benzaldehydes on graphite has been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). It is found that these benzaldehydes, which do not have intermolecular hydrogen bonding, could form a lamella arrangement in which the headgroups are aligned side by side. The effect due to the alkyl chain length on the lamella structure is also presented. Received: 21 January 2002 / Accepted: 22 March 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-10/6255-7908     

Effect of accelerated matter in neutron optics

Results of experiments aimed at observing the change in the energy of a neutron traversing an accelerated refractive sample are reported. The experiments were performed with ultracold neutrons, the energy transfer in these experiments being ±(2?6) × 10^?10 eV. The results suggest the existence of the effect and agree with theoretical predictions to a precision higher than 10%. A similar effect was previously predicted for the change in the frequency of an electromagnetic wave traversing an accelerated dielectric slab. In all probability, the effect has a very general nature, but it is presently observed only in neutron optics.     

Interaction of two light beams with different polarizations in TGS

By ellipsometric measurements we have observed the polarization variations of the primary light beam, with wavelength λ₁=5145 ?, interacting with the secondary light beam of controlled variable polarization, transmitted through a TGS crystal layer. We present a theoretical explanation based on the second-order optical nonlinearity of TGS. Received: 4 December 2001 / Revised version: 28 May 2002 / Published online: 25 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +48-22/660-5447, E-mail: petyk@if.pw.edu.pl     

Theory of optical bistability in a non-linear quasi-waveguide

Optical bistable behavior in a quasi-waveguide containing non-linear film has been experimentally investigated in several publications in the past years; however, the physical mechanism for optical bistability has not been theoretically explained. In the present letter, we propose a theoretical model and successfully explain the observed optical bistability of both the reflected light and the scattered light (m-lines) in a non-linear quasi-waveguide. The optical bistability in the non-linear quasi-waveguide is due to the scattering-type wavevector mismatch mechanism. Received: 10 July 2002 / Revised version: 10 September 2002 / Published online: 20 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-25/359-5535, E-mail: htwang@nju.edu.cn     

Spectral broadening of 40-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses in photonic-molecule modes of a cobweb-microstructure fiber

Photonic-molecule modes of a cobweb-microstructure fiber allow efficient nonlinear optical spectral broadening of nanojoule femtosecond light pulses. Spectral widths of approximately 200 nm are achieved at the output of a 6-cm sample of such a fiber for 40-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses with an energy of a few nanojoules coupled into photonic-molecule modes. Higher values of the group index and a lower group-velocity dispersion, attainable with higher-order photonic-molecule modes, allow the efficiency of spectral broadening of femtosecond laser pulses to be increased relative to the efficiency of spectral broadening in the fundamental photonic-molecule mode. Received: 9 June 2002 / Revised version: 29 June 2002 / Published online: 22 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +7-095/939-3959, E-mail: zheltikov@top.phys.msu.su     

Numerical ray tracing through a modified cladding fiber optic segment sensors

By using 3-D geometric optics, the effect of a modified cladding on the transmission of light through optical fiber is investigated. Analysis of the light transmission of the optical fiber as function of the modified cladding refraction index and length are presented for various input illumination focused and compared with 3-D ray theory. Applications to chemical sensors are also discussed.The intensity of light signal transmitted through an optical fiber, which its cladding over a finite length is removed, is used as a sensor of refractive of liquids, in which the fiber is immersed. The transmitted light intensity is measured as a function of liquid refractive index for different lengths of the unclad section of the fiber and at each unclad length its sensitivity to change in refractive index of liquid is presented.     

Characterization and control of phase fluctuations in elongated Bose–Einstein condensates

Quasi-one-dimensional Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) in elongated traps exhibit significant phase fluctuations even at very low temperatures. We present recent experimental results on the dynamic transformation of phase fluctuations into density modulations during time of flight and show the excellent quantitative agreement with the theoretical prediction. In addition we confirm that, under our experimental conditions, in the magnetic trap density modulations are strongly suppressed even when the phase fluctuates. We also discuss our theoretical results on control of the condensate phase by employing a time-dependent perturbation. Our results set important limitations on future applications of BECs in precision atom interferometry and atom optics, but at the same time suggest pathways to overcome these limitations. Received: 17 August 2002 / Published online: 15 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-511/762-3023, E-mail: Helge.Kreutzmann@ITP.uni-hannover.de     

Soliton-like pulse-shaping mechanism in passively mode-locked surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

We discuss a mechanism that allows the formation of nearly transform-limited soliton-like pulses in passively mode-locked optically pumped external-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers. It involves the interplay of positive dispersion and the nonlinear index changes in gain medium and saturable absorber, while ordinary solitons are based on dispersion and the Kerr effect. The obtained quasi-soliton pulses share some of the properties of ordinary solitons (in particular, their stability and near bandwidth-limited nature), while other properties are different. In particular, the pulse duration scales with the square root of the cavity dispersion, and an excessive drift of the laser wavelength must be avoided by proper design. Received: 23 April 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +41-1/633-1059, E-mail: Paschotta@iqe.phys.ethz.ch     

Observation of light filaments induced in air by visible picosecond laser pulses

We report the observation of light filaments produced by a picosecond laser pulse in the visible. The pulse trapped in the filamentary mode experiences large-scale self-phase modulation, with almost 100-fold spectral broadening along with apparent shortening of the leading edge. Spatial-temporal properties of the light filament reveal rather complex propagation dynamics. Received: 7 August 2002 / Revised version: 12 September 2002 / Published online: 11 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +370-2/3660-06, E-mail: audrius.dubietis@ff.vu.lt     

Fabrication and characterization of photonic crystals with well-controlled thickness and stop-band attenuation

Photonic crystals with stop bands located in the visible region have been fabricated by crystallizing monodispersed spherical colloids (made of polystyrene or silica) into cubic-close-packed lattices within specially designed packing cells. These crystals were oriented with their (111) planes parallel to their solid supports, and the number of these planes could be conveniently controlled from 13 to 127 layers by varying the thickness of packing cells. In accordance, the stop-band attenuation of these crystals monotonically increased from 1 to 21 dB. Our transmission spectral measurements indicated that there exists a non-linear dependence between the stop-band attenuation and the total number of (111) planes, and this dependence could be quantitatively simulated using the dynamic light scattering model or the photonic analogy to KKR method. The colloidal crystals presented here should find use as components in fabricating optical devices that include sensors, mirrors, filters, switches and waveguides. Received: 17 May 2002 / Accepted: 25 July 2002 / Published online: 4 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +1-206/685-8665, E-mail: xia@chem.washington.edu