Sub-THz continuous wave generation scheme using high-order harmonics modulated lightwave

We propose a sub-THz continuous wave (CW) generation scheme using a high-order harmonics modulated lightwave (HML) to reduce an electronic dependency of a conventional double sideband suppressed carrier (DSB-SC) scheme. The electronic dependency should be overcome to increase frequency tunability of the conventional DSB-SC scheme. This is because the frequency of a local oscillator (LO), f_LO, should be one-half frequency of the frequency of a desired sub-THz CW in the conventional DSB-SC scheme. The proposed scheme is formed by adding an optical feedback loop to the conventional DSB-SC scheme. In order to verify our proposed scheme, a 120 GHz CW is generated using the LO with f_LO = 20 GHz. Based on our experimental results, we have found that the frequency of the LO can be reduced by our proposed scheme up to one-sixth (20 GHz) of 120 GHz. The 120 GHz CW generated by the proposed scheme has 52 dB higher photomixed output power with narrow spectral linewidth than that of the 120 GHz CW generated by the conventional DSB-SC scheme using the LO with f_LO = 20 GHz. Consequently, our proposed scheme can be helpful to reduce the electronic dependency of the conventional DSB-SC scheme.     

Defects related emission and nanosecond optical power limiting in CuS quantum dots

We report optical and nonlinear optical properties of CuS quantum dots and nanoparticles prepared through a nontoxic, green, one-pot synthesis method. The presence of surface states and defects in the quantum dots are evident from the luminescent behavior and enhanced nonlinear optical properties measured using the open aperture Z-scan, employing 5 ns laser pulses at 532 nm. The quantum dots exhibit large effective third order nonlinear optical coefficients with a relatively lower optical limiting threshold of 2.3 J cm⁻², and the optical nonlinearity arises largely from absorption saturation and excited state absorption. Results suggest that these materials are potential candidates for designing efficient optical limiters with applications in laser safety devices.     

The effect of In/N ratio on the optical quality and lasing threshold in GaxIn1 − xAs1 − yNy/GaAs laser structures

We present a review of published work concerning the effect of In and N compositions on the operation wavelength, optical quality and lasing threshold in Ga_xIn_1 − xAs_1 − yN_y/GaAs QW and double heterostructure lasers. We show that the emission wavelength in the range between 1.0 and 1.4 μ m can be obtained for a wide range of In and/or N concentrations. However, in most Fabry–Perot lasers and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) reported in the literature, the threshold current density plotted as a function of the relative In/N composition (R =  (1  − x) / y) indicate a broad minima for 40  < R <  70, suggesting an optimum relative composition. We also present the results of our studies concerning the optical quality of Ga_xIn_1 − xAs_1 − yN_y/GaAs single quantum wells for R =  15. We show that the optical quality of GaInAsN can be improved while achieving a red shift in the PL spectra. This is unlike the results obtained by rapid thermal annealing or conventional annealing, which are widely employed as post-growth treatment techniques, where any increase in the PL intensity is almost always accompanied by an undesired blue shift.     

An optical continuous phase FSK modulation scheme with an arbitrary modulation index over long-haul transmission fiber link

This paper presents an optical continuous phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) modulation scheme with an arbitrary modulation index. The detailed principle on the optical CPFSK generation is derived and analyzed, which includes the special case of the minimum-shift keying (MSK) with a modulation index h = 1/2. The differential detection and the coherent detection of CPFSK are also depicted. The performances of the four kinds of the optical CPFSK modulated system with a 40 Gb/s modulation rate whose modulation index are h = 1/2, h = 2/3, h = 3/4 and h = 1 are simulated via the spectral efficiency and the receiver sensitivity over fiber link respectively. In addition, comparison with the differential phase shift keying (DPSK) is taken. Through the calculation of the spectral efficiency of each modulation formats, CPFSK has higher spectral efficiency than DPSK with the same optical devices. The transmission performances of our CPFSK over the fiber link change better as the modulation index increases under the condition of the first order dispersion of the fiber link is completely compensated. Through simulations, a 1200 km transmission distance can be achieved with a modulation index h = 1.     

Breaking a novel image fusion encryption algorithm based on DNA sequence operation and hyper-chaotic system

Recently, a novel image fusion encryption algorithm based on DNA sequence operation and hyper-chaotic system was proposed. It was reported that the scheme can be broken with 4mn/3 +1 chosen plain-images and the corresponding cipher-images, where mn is the size of the plain-image. This paper re-evaluates the security of the encryption scheme and finds that the encryption scheme can be broken with less than ⌈ log ₂(4mn)/2 ⌉ +1 chosen plain-images, even three in many cases. The effectiveness of the proposed chosen-plaintext attack is supported by theoretical analysis, and verified by experimental results.     

A novel optical picosecond-duration NRZ-to-RZ format converter with simultaneous wavelength multicasting using a single-stage Mach–Zehnder modulator

We propose a novel and simple scheme to achieve NRZ-to-RZ format conversion and simultaneous wavelength multicasting based on a single-stage dual-arm electro-optic Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) and a short single mode fiber (SMF). The format conversion and wavelength multicast process are achieved by chirp compensation under the condition of generation of optical flat frequency comb. 40 Gb/s NRZ-to-RZ conversion with one-to-five multiple-wavelength channel multicasting and transmission of the NRZ and the converted signals over 200 km dispersion-managed fiber-link are successfully demonstrated by numerical simulation. Research results show that 40 Gb/s 2 ps RZ signal with wavelength-preserving can be obtained after format conversion. The converted RZ signal presents good transmission performance and can easily be multiplexed to 160 Gb/s using optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) technology. All the multicast channels can be error free after 50 km transmission. Besides, the conversion operation can also greatly reduce the timing jitter of the degraded NRZ signal due to the retiming function of the proposed scheme.     

A novel OCS millimeter-wave generation scheme with data carried only by one sideband and wavelength reuse for uplink connection

We propose a novel optical carrier suppression (OCS) millimeter-wave generation scheme with data carried only by one sideband using a dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) in radio-over-fiber system, and the transmission performance is also investigated. As the signal is transmitted along the fiber, there is no time shifting of the codes caused by chromatic dispersion. Simulation results show that the eye diagram keeps open and clear even when the optical millimeter-waves are transmitted over 110 km and the power penalty is about 1.9 dB after fiber transmission distance of 60 km. Furthermore, due to the +1 order sideband carrying no data, a full duplex radio-over-fiber link based on wavelength reuse is also built to simplify the base station. The bidirectional 2.5 Gbit/s data is successfully transmitted over a 40 km standard single mode fiber with less than 0.8 dB power penalty in the simulation. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our scheme is feasible and we can obtain a simple cost-efficient configuration and good performance over long-distance transmission.     

Numerical approximation of the Euler–Maxwell model in the quasineutral limit

We derive and analyze an Asymptotic-Preserving scheme for the Euler–Maxwell system in the quasi-neutral limit. We prove that the linear stability condition on the time-step is independent of the scaled Debye length λ when λ → 0. Numerical validation performed on Riemann initial data and for a model plasma opening switch device show that the AP-scheme is convergent to the Euler–Maxwell solution when Δx/λ → 0 where Δx is the spatial discretization. But, when λ/Δx → 0, the AP-scheme is consistent with the quasi-neutral Euler–Maxwell system. The scheme is also perfectly consistent with the Gauss equation. The possibility of using large time and space steps leads to several orders of magnitude reductions in computer time and storage.     

High speed ultra short pulse fiber ring laser using photonic crystal fiber nonlinear optical loop mirror

A scheme to generate high speed optical pulse train with ultra short pulse width is proposed and experimentally studied. Two-step compression is used in the scheme: 20 GHz and 40 GHz pulse trains generated from a rational harmonic actively mode-locked fiber ring laser is compressed to a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of ~ 1.5 ps using adiabatic soliton compression with dispersion shifted fibers (DSF). The pulse trains then undergo a pedestal removal process by transmission through a cascaded two photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-nonlinear optical loop mirrors (NOLM) realized using a double-ring structure. The shortest output pulse width obtained was ~ 610 fs for 20 GHz pulse train and ~ 570 fs for 40 GHz pulse train. The signal to noise ratio of the RF spectrum of the output pulse train is larger than 30 dB. Theoretical simulation of the NOLM transmission is conducted using split-step Fourier method. The results show that two cascaded NOLMs can improve the compression result compared to that for a single NOLM transmission.     

Optical and Raman spectroscopy studies on Fe-based superconductors

A brief review of optical and Raman studies on the Fe-based superconductors is given, with special emphasis on the competing phenomenon in this system. Optical investigations on ReFeAsO (Re = rare-earth element) and AFe₂As₂ (A = alkaline-earth metal) families provide clear evidence for the gap formation in the broken symmetry states, including the partial gaps in the spin-density wave states of parent compounds, and the pairing gaps in the superconducting states for doped compounds. Especially, the superconducting gap has an s-wave pairing lineshape in hole-doped BaFe₂As₂. Optical phonons at zone center detected by Raman and infrared techniques are classified for several Fe-based compounds. Related issues, such as the electron–phonon coupling and the effect of spin-density wave and superconducting transitions on phonons, are also discussed. Meanwhile, open questions including the T-dependent mid-infrared peak at 0.6–0.7 eV, electronic correlation, and the similarities/differences between high-T_c cuprates and Fe-based superconductors are also briefly discussed. Important results from other experimental probes are compared with optical data to better understand the spin-density wave properties, the superconductivity, and the multi-band character in Fe-based compounds.     

Effect of oxygen partial pressure on the structure and properties of Cu–Al–O thin films

We have studied the electrical and optical properties of Cu–Al–O films deposited on silicon and quartz substrates by using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method under varied oxygen partial pressure P_O. The results indicate that P_O plays a critical role in the final phase constitution and microstructure of the films, and thus affects the electrical resistivity and optical transmittance significantly. The electrical resistivity increases with the increase of P_O from 2.4 × 10^?4 mbar to 7.5 × 10^?4 mbar and afterwards it decreases with further increasing P_O up to 1.7 × 10^?3 mbar. The optical transmittance in visible region increases with the increase of P_O and obtains the maximum of 65% when P_O is 1.7 × 10^?3 mbar. The corresponding direct band gap is 3.45 eV.     

All-optical switches based on 3 × 3 generalized multimode interference structure

Multimode interference in optical waveguide is attractive for optical signal processing in recent years. In this paper, we propose and design a 3 × 3 all-optical switch using 3 × 3 General Interference Multimode Interference (GI-MMI) structures. Nonlinear directional couplers based on the Kerr effect in two arms of the structure are used as phase shifters. We use chalcogenide glass on silica platform for designing the device structure. The switching states of the device can be controlled by adjusting the optical control signals at the phase shifters in the two arms. The transfer matrix method (TMM) and beam propagation method (BPM) are used for designing and optimizing the device structure.     

Conductance of quantum interference transistors in parallel and in series

We theoretically study the electronic conductance G and the current–voltage characteristics of two quantum interference transistors in parallel and in series. We use two different definitions of conductance,G ∼ T and G ∼ T / R. Neither can reproduce the classical additivity law in the case of coherent transport due to quantum interference for the elements in series and quasibound states when elements are in parallel. In the case of two transistors in series, we find that the quantityT / R only qualitatively better represents the additivity law, which is probably expected because this model avoids counting the contact resistance twice. However, for the parallel configuration of transistors, the conductance is almost additive for the majority of energies when G ∼ T, except for the single-mode regime. Possible use of these configurations in digital electronics for basic logic functions is discussed.     

Novel 60 GHz RoF system with optical single sideband mm-wave signal generation and wavelength reuse for uplink connection

In order to improve RF frequency to achieve higher bandwidth and larger capacity, we propose a novel scheme to generate optical single sideband (SSB) millimeter-wave, in which frequency doubling of local radio frequency (RF) is obtained by using one integrated Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM), and we theoretically investigate the generating principle of SSB. The optical SSB modulation scheme is employed to generate 60 GHz optical mm-wave and the 2.5 Gb/s baseband signal is simultaneously up-converted at the central station (CS) for downlink transmission, and the optical carrier is reused for uplink connection at the base station (BS). The full-duplex 2.5 Gb/s data are successfully transmitted over 40 km standard single-mode fiber (SMF-28) for both uplink connection and downlink connection with less than 2-dB power penalty. Results show the novel 60 GHz RoF system with optical SSB mm-wave signal generation using optical frequency doubling is feasible and we can obtain simple cost-efficient configuration and good performance over long-distance transmission.     

Hall anomaly in CNT-doped Y-123 high temperature superconductor

In order to study the Hall effect in pure and CNT-doped Y-123 polycrystalline samples, we have measured the longitudinal and transverse voltages at different magnetic field (0 ? 9 T) in the normal and vortex states. In the normal state, the Hall coefficient is positive and decreases with increasing temperature, and can be approximately fitted to R_H = a + bT^?1. We have found a sign reversal in the pure sample for the magnetic field of about 3 T, and double sign reversal of the Hall coefficient in the 0.7 wt% CNT-doped sample at about 3 and 5 T. The Hall resistivity in our samples depends on the pinning.     

Simultaneous demodulation and dispersion compensation of WDM DPSK channels using optical ring resonator

We have introduced and comprehensively analyzed a novel scheme of simultaneous demodulation and dispersion compensation of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) non-return-to zero (NRZ) differential phase shift keying (DPSK) optical link using an optical ring resonator (ORR) based filter. Using extensive numerical simulation we have demonstrated the transmission of 10.7 Gb/s WDM DPSK channels having 50 GHz and 100 GHz spacing over 400 km of unrepeatered reach at 20 dB optical-signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) to achieve a bit error rate (BER) of 10^? 3.     

Large photonic band gap and strong attenuation of multiconnected Peano network

In this paper, by means of the network equation and generalized eigenfunction method we investigate the optical transmission spectra and attenuation behavior of electromagnetic (EM) waves in multiconnected Peano networks composed of one-dimensional (1D) waveguides. It is found that for some two-segment-connected networks a very large photonic band gap (PBG) can be created in the middle of a frequency period and the width of the large PBG can be controlled by adjusting the matching ratio of waveguide length, d₂ : d₁. When d₂ : d₁ = 2 : 1, the width of the large PBG is bigger than half of frequency period. The influence of generation on the width and attenuation of the large PBG are also studied and the numerical results demonstrate that the first-generation Peano network with d₂ : d₁ = 2 : 1 is a good selectable structure for the designing of optical devices with large PBG and strong attenuation.     

High-spatial-resolution monitoring of strong magnetic field using Rb vapor nanometric-thin cell

We have implemented the so-called λ-Zeeman technique (LZT) to investigate individual hyperfine transitions between Zeeman sublevels of the Rb atoms in a strong external magnetic field B in the range of 2500 ? 5000 G (recently it was established that LZT is very convenient for the range of 10 ? 2500 G). Atoms are confined in a nanometric thin cell (NTC) with the thickness L = λ, where λ is the resonant wavelength 794 nm for Rb D₁ line. Narrow velocity selective optical pumping (VSOP) resonances in the transmission spectrum of the NTC are split into several components in a magnetic field with the frequency positions and transition probabilities depending on the B-field. Possible applications are described, such as magnetometers with nanometric local spatial resolution and tunable atomic frequency references.     

Current-carrying states in superconductor/insulator and superconductor/semiconductor superlattices in the mesoscopic regime

We discuss some of the basic theoretical aspects of current-carrying states in superconducting superlattices with tunnel barriers in the mesoscopic regime, when p₀ ^− 1 ⪡ a ⪡ ξ₀(a is the superconducting layer thickness, p₀is the Fermi momentum, ξ₀is the BCS coherence length and ℏ =  1). We establish the necessary conditions for the observation of the classical Josephson effect (with sinusoidal current–phase dependence) and derive self-consistent analytical expressions for the critical Josephson current. These expressions are proportional to the small factor a / ξ₀and have unusual temperature dependence as compared with the single-junction case. For certain parameter values, the superconducting gap exhibits an exponential decrease due to pair-breaking effect of the supercurrent. The supercurrent can completely destroy the superconductivity of the system above a certain characteristic temperature T ^* . In this paper, we also study the effect of intrabarrier exchange interactions. We show that this effect is strongly enhanced compared with the single-junction case and can manifest itself in an exponential decrease of the critical temperature.