Femtosecond direct space-to-time pulse shaping in an integrated-optic configuration

We demonstrate femtosecond operation of an integrated-optic direct space-to-time pulse shaper for which there is a direct mapping (no Fourier transform) between the spatial position of the masking function and the temporal position in the output waveform. The apparatus is used to generate trains of more than 30 pulses as an ultrafast optical data packet over approximately an 80-ps temporal window.     

Simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth and concentration of a fluorescent inclusion in a turbid medium

A simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth and concentration of fluorescent inclusions in turbid media is described. We demonstrate direct depth estimation of a localized fluorescent object from the temporal position of the temporal point-spread function maximum. The depth estimation permits recovery of the fluorophore concentration, both of which are essential quantities for optical molecular imaging studies. Since the maximum is independent of the fluorophore concentration, excitation laser power, detector gain, and other system-dependent factors, this method ensures a robust and efficient approach.     

Generation of Gaussian-Shape Single Photons for High Efficiency Quantum Storage

We report the generation of heralded single photons with Gaussian-shape temporal waveforms through the spatial light modulation technique in an atomic ensemble. Both the full width at half maximum and the peak position of the Gaussian waveform can be controlled while the single photon nature holds well. We also analyze the bandwidth of the generated single photons in frequency domain and show how the sidebands of the frequency spectrum are modified by the shape of the temporal waveform. The generated single photons are especially suited for the realization of high efficiency quantum storage based on electromagnetically induced transparency.     

Estimating the depth and lifetime of a fluorescent inclusion in a turbid medium using a simple time-domain optical method

A simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth (d) and lifetime (tau) of fluorescent inclusions in a turbid medium is described. We demonstrate the method for depth and lifetime estimation of a fluorescent inclusion directly by fitting a monoexponential decay (tau(eff)) of the temporal position of the temporal point-spread function and the measurement of its maximum temporal position (t(max)). Since both of these measurements are intensity independent, this method provides a robust and efficient approach. This method is validated with experimental data.     

Self-referenced temporal phase reconstruction from intensity measurements using causality arguments in linear optical filters

We introduce and numerically demonstrate a simple and general concept for direct reconstruction of the temporal phase profile of an optical signal from temporal intensity measurements at the input and output of an arbitrary linear optical filter. The concept is based on exploiting the linearity and causality properties of any physical filter. Very few restrictions need to be imposed on the optical filter response to ensure an unambiguous phase reconstruction. The filter can be specifically designed to minimize the noise influence on the measurement process.     

Pump-noise transfer in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification

We report on direct observation of temporal contrast degradation of short pulses amplified by optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification. We show that, despite injection seeding, quantum-noise-induced fast modulations (< 50 ps) of the temporal profile of the pump pulse are imprinted on the spectrum of the amplified chirped pulse and give rise to a large picosecond pedestal in the time domain.     

Rotation in an asymmetric multidimensional periodic potential due to colored noise

We analyze the motion of an overdamped classical particle in a multidimensional periodic potential, driven by an external noise. We demonstrate that in the steady state the presence of temporal correlations in the noise and spatial asymmetry within a period of the potential could lead to particle rotation. The rotation is a direct consequence of a change in the sign of the noise-induced drift motion in each dimension. By choosing different potentials, we can generate a variety of flow patterns from laminar drifts to rotations.     

Manipulation of a temporal electron-spin splitter via a δ-potential in an embedded magnetic-electric-barrier microstructure

We theoretically explore the manipulation of a temporal electron-spin splitter by a δ-potential in an embedded magnetic-electric-barrier microstructure (EMEBM), which is constructed by patterning a ferromagnetic stripe and a Schottky-metal stripe on the top and bottom of an InAs/Al_xIn_1−xAs heterostructure, respectively. Spin polarization of the dwell time remains, even though a δ-potential is inserted by atomic-layer doping. Both the magnitude and sign of the spin-polarized dwell time can be manipulated by changing the weight or position of the δ-potential. Thus, a structurally controllable temporal electron-spin splitter can be obtained for spintronics device applications.     

A performance study of a logical gate using PPM optical pulse modulation for TDM systems

In this paper we propose the operation of an all-optical logical gate based in an acousto optical tunable filter (AOTF) operating with a pulse position modulation (PPM). The performance of an AOTF realizing two-input AND/OR logical functions, which can be applied in transmission and processing of signals in all-optical form in TDM systems, was examined. This novel integrated acousto optical logical gate operates with two ultrashort soliton light pulses (2 ps), which are modulated in agreement with the technique of pulse position modulation (PPM). Initially, we evaluated the effect resulting of an increment in the acousto optical interaction length, for the temporal position of the output pulse, considering the anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD), nonlinear self phase modulation (SPM) and without loss propagation regime of TE and TM input pulses not modulated. We have analyzed the four possible situations for the two-input logical gate, modulating the TE and TM input pulses through temporal displacement and allowing a variation in the coding parameter offset (ε). We can conclude that is possible to get AND/OR logical operations for the modes TM or TE, without to insert PPM error, since a phase control (Δ?) exists (applied on the TM input pulse) in agreement with each situation in the truth table. Finally we defined the truth table, considering the adequate phase difference and coding parameter offset for the operation of the AND/OR logical gate based in the AOTF.     

First demonstration of a temporal coherence analysis through a parametric interferometer

We analyze the temporal coherence of an optical infrared radiation in the visible domain by using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a wavelength conversion stage in each arm. We exploit a sum frequency generation process in bulk PPLN crystal to convert the infrared radiation at 1.55 μm into 0.63 μm before the interferometric mixing. The applicability of the Wiener-Kintchine theorem through up-conversion processes is here demonstrated by direct comparisons among visible and infrared measurements.     

Cooperative Spontaneous Emission from a Single-quantum Excited Three-atom System

The total radiation rate of the cooperative spontaneous emission from an initially single-quantum excited three-atom system is calculated using Lehmberg's master equation and taking into account dipole-dipole near field interaction. We find a strong influence of the precise configuration of the atomic dipoles and of the position of the initially excited atom on the temporal behaviour of the total radiation rate, especially if the atoms are separated by distances much smaller than the resonance wavelength.     

Generation and dynamics of ghost pulses in strongly dispersion-managed fiber-optic communication systems

We investigate the nonlinear generation and dynamics of ghost pulses in high-speed strongly dispersion-managed fiber-optic communication systems. Particular consideration is given to the importance of system parameters for the properties of the emerging ghost pulses. Conclusions are drawn about the growth rate and the temporal position of the ghost pulses in different systems.     

Spectral analysis of high-order harmonics generated by 30-fs and sub-10-fs laser pulses

The spectral properties of harmonic radiation generated in neon by laser pulses with duration from 30 fs down to 5 fs have been investigated. In the 30-fs temporal regime we have achieved continuously tunable sub-20-nm radiation by changing the gas jet position relative to the laser beam waist. We show that the results of a one-dimensional propagation code partially including three-dimensional focusing effects are in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, we have performed a spectral characterization of harmonic radiation in the sub-10-fs temporal regime.     

Stochastic motion of the propagating front in bistable media

We investigate the problem of front propagation in bistable media with fluctuating properties. The explicit formulas for the induced variations of the propagating speed and the dispersion of the front position are derived under the assumption that fluctuations in the properties of the medium are weak but can have arbitrary spatial and temporal correlation ranges.     

Nanoscale depth-resolved coherent femtosecond motion in laser-excited bismuth

We employ grazing-incidence femtosecond x-ray diffraction to characterize the coherent, femtosecond laser-induced lattice motion of a bismuth crystal as a function of depth from the surface with a temporal resolution of 193+/-8 fs. The data show direct consequences on the lattice motion from carrier diffusion and electron-hole interaction, allowing us to estimate an effective diffusion rate of D=2.3+/-0.3 cm(2)/s for the highly excited carriers and an electron-hole interaction time of 260+/-20 fs.     

静电聚焦同心球系统验证电子光学成像系统的时间像差理论

关于动态电子光学成像系统的时间像差理论,计算时间像差系数有两种方法——τ变分法和直接积分法.它们的差别在于：τ变分法计算二级几何时间像差系数必须求解微分方程,而直接积分法仅需进行积分运算.采用静电同心球系统的理想模型对这两种方法的正确 性进行了检验.结果表明：这两种方法求解电子光学成像系统的时间像差系数的结果完全一致,所求得的时间色差系数与理想模型的解析解完全相同,从而证明两种方法是等价并且正确的.通过验证表明,直接积分法的计算更为简便,适于实际系统的计算与设计. 关键词： 阴极透镜 电子光学成像系统 动态电子光学 时间像差理论     

Reduction of the coherence time of an intense laser pulse propagating through a plasma

We present direct measurements of the coherence time of a laser beam after propagation through an underdense plasma. At an intensity of 10(14) W/cm(2), a large decrease of the coherence time is observed, from 300 ps to a few picoseconds. This decrease is larger as the plasma density is increased or as the light is scattered at larger angles. The amount of temporal decorrelation as well as the effect of the plasma density, laser intensity, and scattering angle all coincide with trends observed in recent numerical simulations.     

A Novel Technique to Measure the Spatial–Temporal Intensity of an Ultrashort Pulse

Based on a modified cross-correlation technique, we experimentally demonstrate a technique for measuring the spatial–temporal intensity of laser pulses. Pulse widths at different spatial positions of the ultrashort pulse are measured by changing the scan position of the probe beam. Due to the existence of residual chirp in the transverse position, pulse widths at the center of the beam are less than that at the edge. By measuring the temporal evolution in the fastest growth area of spatial intensity during small-scale self-focusing, we find that its pulse width decreases as power increases because of the spatial–temporal coupling effect. The results show that this method not only can be used to accurately measure the pulse width at any one spatial position of the beam, but can also be useful for real-time monitoring of the spatial–temporal evolution.     

部分空间和部分光谱相干高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间中的光谱和时间特性

 对部分空间和部分光谱相干２维高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间传输的光谱和时间特性做了详细的数值研究。结果表明,部分空间和部分光谱相干高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间传输中发生了光谱移动,光谱移动与场点位置、空间相关长度和时间相干长度有关。在轴上,光谱出现蓝移,相对光谱移动随传输距离的增加而增大,随空间相关长度和时间相干长度的增加而减小,并逐渐趋于一定值。在轴外,光谱出现蓝移和红移,并与空间相关长度和时间相干长度有关。脉冲时间波形不变,对所得主要结果做了物理解释。