Optical millimeter-wave signal generation by frequency quadrupling using one dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator to overcome chromatic dispersion

We propose a novel approach to generate quadrupling-frequency optical millimeter-wave using a dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) in radio-over-fiber system. By properly adjusting the phase difference in the two modulation arms of MZM, the direct current (DC) bias, the modulation index and the gain of base-band signal, the quadrupling-frequency optical millimeter-wave with signal only carried by one second-order sideband is generated. As the signal is transmitted along the fiber, there is no time shift of the codes caused by chromatic dispersion. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the eye diagram keeps open and clear even when the quadrupling-frequency optical millimeter-wave are transmitted over 110 km and the power penalty is about 0.45 dB after fiber transmission distance of 60 km. Furthermore, due to another second-order sideband carrying no signals, 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 40 km standard single mode fiber with less than 0.6 dB power penalty in the simulation.     

Optimization of corona discharge process using Box–Behnken design of experiments

The corona discharge process was studied using Box–Behnken design of experiments in conjunction with response surface methodology of analysis. The single as well as interaction effects of process factors namely applied voltage, time of charging, and distance between electrodes on the surface potential of meltblown nonwoven electret media were examined. The response surface model predicting the surface potential of the electrets displayed a very good correspondence with the experimental results. The optimized corona discharge process run by keeping the predicted levels of process factors yielded surface potential of the electret media very close to that predicted from the model.     

Error scrutiny of measuring coefficients of refractive indices and Soret coefficients using Mach–Zehnder interferometer

No matter how vigilantly an experiment is performed, errors always there inside the experimental results. Since the results of laser based optical experiments are somewhat loftier in precision, commonly, sources of errors are mistreated. However, ample error scrutiny is vital in quantifying of physical parameters of liquids such as Soret and diffusion coefficients. There are two types of experimental errors, explicitly, systematic error and random error. Systematic error is associated to the apparatus and cannot be enhanced by recurrent experiments. Frequent systematic errors in Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) techniques originate from stability of laser wavelength, resolution of the electronics component etcetera. Random error is interrelated to the variation in the equivalent measurements of repeating experiment. Resolution of electronic components likewise constructs random errors by providing diverse values in the recurring experiment. Foremost, random error of MZI is caused by the environmental circumstances such as nonconformity of background light, air temperature, and air humidity. In this current amendment, a meticulous error analysis has been accomplished for evaluating thermodiffusion or Soret coefficients of hydrocarbon binary mixtures. Based on our knowledge, such a completed error scrutiny for measuring Soret coefficients using MZI does not yet exist in the literature. Study reveals that the utmost error of measuring Soret coefficient using MZI is less than 0.22%.     

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature using thinned fiber based Mach–Zehnder interferometer

A novel method for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on a small core and cladding diameters thinned fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) using singlemode-multimode-thinned-multimode-singlemode (SMTMS) fiber structure is proposed. Experiments indicate that the selected two interference orders have sensitivities of ?16.1936 nm/RIU and 0.0534 nm/°C, and ?23.0473 nm/RIU and 0.0575 nm/°C, respectively, among RI range from 1.3325–1.3720 and temperature range from 22 °C–82 °C. We can thus use the coefficient matrix of these two peaks to simultaneously determine the surrounding refractive index and temperature. The fabrication is easy, safe and cost effective, includes only the fusion splicing, making the device properly attractive for practical sensor applications.     

Optical properties of PMN–PT thin films prepared using pulsed laser deposition

(1 ? x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–xPbTiO₃ (PMN–PT) thin films have been deposited on quartz substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Crystalline microstructure of the deposited PMN–PT thin films has been investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD). Optical transmission spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize optical properties of the deposited PMN–PT thin films. The results show that the PMN–PT thin films of perovskite structure have been formed, and the crystalline and optical properties of the PMN–PT thin films can be improved as increasing the annealing temperature to 750 °C, but further increasing the annealing temperature to 950 °C may lead to a degradation of the crystallinity and the optical properties of the PMN–PT thin films. In addition, a weak second harmonic intensity (SHG) has been observed for the PMN–PT thin film formed at the optimum annealing temperature of 750 °C according to Maker fringe method. All these suggest that the annealing temperature has significant effect on the structural and optical properties of the PMN–PT thin films.     

Optical implementation of perfect shuffle using Billet lens

This paper presents an optical system to implement perfect shuffle network us-ing Billet lens.Optical perfect shuffle network of high density and large capacity can be real-ized in this system with higher optical efficiency.     

Specific features of measuring the optical power of artificial refractive and diffractive–refractive eye lenses

Methods for monitoring the optical power of artificial refractive eye lenses (intraocular lenses) based on measuring focal lengths in air and in medium are analyzed. The methods for determining the refraction of diffractive–refractive lenses (in particular, of MIOL-Akkord type), with allowance for the specific features of the diffractive structure, are considered. A computer simulation of the measurement of the focal length of MIOL-Akkord lenses is performed. The effective optical power of the diffractive component of these lenses is shown to depend on the diaphragm diameter. The optimal diaphragm diameter, at which spherical aberrations do not affect the position of foci, is found to be 3 mm. Possible errors in measuring the focal lengths are analyzed, and the necessary corrections that must be introduced into measurement results and calculations of refractions are determined.     

Optical implementation of butterfly interconnection and digital logic operation by grating

Optical butterfly interconnection and four primary optical perallel logic opera-tions are implemented by means of phase grating and liquid crystal light valve (LCLV),whichoffers a simple new scheme for implementing optical butterfly interconnections and digitalcomputations.     

First light of the 1.8-m solar telescope–CLST

正Large-aperture solar telescopes play an important role in solar observations and research, and require high temporal and spatial resolution [1]. To solve some fundamental problems such as the solar dynamo, coronal heating, and the triggering of major solar eruptions, the spatial resolution for solar-atmosphere observation should reach at least 0.1 arcsec[2].     

Measurement of Solid-gas Two-phase Flow using Optical Fiber Sensor

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Optical Properties of CdS–PVA Nanocomposites

Semiconductor–polymer nanocomposites, with good control over the nanoparticle size and their dispersion within the polymer matrix, can have applications in many optical and luminescent display devices. Cadmium sulphide (CdS) is the most popular semiconductor nanoparticle exhibiting size dependent properties due to its large exciton binding energy and its suitability for large scale production. The nanoparticles need to be passivated against aggregation with suitable capping agents, without sacrificing the desirable properties like transparency and flexibility of the polymer. Cadmium sulphide nanoparticles capped with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) are synthesized using cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO₃)₂) and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) as Cd²⁺ and S^2– sources, respectively. CdS particles with sizes in the range of 5–6 nm are prepared in methanol and the solvent is removed using a rotary evaporator. CdS powder is dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution with dimethyl formamide (DMF) as solvent to get (PVP–CdS)–PVA nanocomposite film of about 0.2 mm thickness. This has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorption studies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and photoluminescence (PL). Particle size does not change due to incorporation in the polymer matrix and the polymer retains its transparency and flexibility. The nanocomposite shows good photoluminescence property with stronger band edge emission than defect related emission. The latter could be quenched completely by optimizing the PVP content. Irradiation of the nanocomposite with 8 MeV electrons at a dose of 100 kGy could effectively quench the defect related emission.     

In vivo multispectral imaging of the absorption and scattering properties of exposed brain using a digital red–green–blue camera

Optical Review - To evaluate multi-spectral images of the absorption and scattering properties in the cerebral cortex of rat brain, we investigated spectral reflectance images estimated by the...     

Long term performance evaluation of the TACTIC imaging telescope using ∼400 h Crab Nebula observation during 2003–2010

The TeV atmospheric Cherenkov telescope with imaging camera (TACTIC) γ-ray telescope has been in operation at Mt. Abu, India since 2001 to study TeV γ-ray emission from celestial sources. During the last 10 years, apart from consistently detecting a steady signal from the Crab Nebula above ～1.2 TeV energy, at a sensitivity level of ～5.0 σ in ～25 h, the telescope has also detected flaring activity from Mrk 421 and Mrk 501 on several occasions. Although we used Crab Nebula data partially, in some of the reported results, primarily for testing the validity of the full data analysis chain, the main aim of this work is to study the long term performance of the TACTIC telescope by using consolidated data collected between 2003 and 2010. The total on-source data, comprising ～402 h, yields an excess of ～(3742±192) γ-ray events with a statistical significance of ～19.9 σ. The off-source data, comprising ～107 h of observation, is found to be consistent with a no-emission hypothesis, as expected. The resulting γ-ray rate for the on-source data is determined to be ～(9.31±0.48) h ^?1. A power law fit (dΦ/dE=f ₀ E ^?Γ ) with f ₀ ～ (2.66±0.29) × 10^?11 cm^?2 s^?1 TeV^?1 and Γ ～ 2.56±0.10 is found to provide reasonable fit to the inferred differential spectrum within statistical uncertainties. The spectrum matches reasonably well with that obtained by other groups. A brief summary of the improvements in the various subsystems of the telescope carried out recently, which has resulted in a substantial improvement in its detection sensitivity (viz., ～5 σ in an observation period of ～13 h as compared to ～25 h earlier) are also presented in this paper. Encouraged by the detection of strong γ-ray signals from Mrk 501 and Mrk 421 on several occasions, there is considerable scope for the TACTIC telescope to monitor similar TeV γ-ray emission activity from other active galactic nuclei on a long-term basis.     

Measurement of nonlinear refractive index of pure and doped KTP crystals by Z-scan technique using cw He–Ne Laser

Single crystals of pure, Mo and W doped KTP crystals were grown by flux technique. The grown crystals were subjected to various characterization studies such as EDX, powder XRD, FTIR and UV analysis. The SHG efficiencies of the pure and doped KTP crystals were measured by Kurtz–Perry technique and it was found that the doped KTP crystals exhibit higher values of SHG. Nonlinear refractive indexes were measured on different growth planes of pure and doped crystals by Z-scan method using a cw (continuous wave) He–Ne laser at 632.8 nm. The measured values of nonlinear refraction of different planes were in the order of 10⁻¹² cm²/W.     

Direct Measurement of the Correlation Function of Optical–Terahertz Biphotons

JETP Letters - The second-order correlation function which characterizes the quantum correlation between the optical and terahertz photons generated under spontaneous parametric down-conversion has...     

On the design of ultrafast all-optical NOT gate using quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier-based Mach–Zehnder interferometer

The feasibility of implementing an ultrafast NOT gate by means of a two-input Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) that employs quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-SOAs) is theoretically explored and shown. For this purpose a numerical treatment is conducted by modeling the propagation of strong pulses through a QD-SOA and the resultant change of the QD-SOA gain dynamics. This procedure allows to evaluate the impact of the critical parameters on the MZI complementary output port and find which is the most appropriate way to be selected and combined. The analysis of the simulation results reveals that with the non-data driven QD-SOA constantly held in the linear gain regime, the other QD-SOA, which is perturbed by the data to be logically inverted, must be operated in a nonlinear regime. This is defined by the drop of the specific QD-SOA gain by approximately 5.5 dB from its unsaturated value, which is caused by a data peak power being 4 dB higher than its saturation input power. Moreover, in order for the design to be complete, both QD-SOAs must be of medium length, provide a maximum modal gain such that their net gain exceeds by two orders of magnitude that at transparency, be biased at moderate current density and exhibit an electron relaxation time from the excited state to the ground state as fast as possible. Provided that these conditions are satisfied then a more than adequate extinction ratio can be obtained, which ensures that Boolean NOT logic is executed at 160 Gb/s both with logical correctness and high quality using QD-SOAs in a structurally simple, power efficient and operationally flexible version of the MZI.     

Correlation Properties of an Optical–Terahertz Biphoton Field

JETP Letters - The effect of the structure of angular modes of an optical–terahertz biphoton field appearing in strongly nondegenerate parametric down-conversion on the possibility of...     

Lensless Wiener–Khinchin telescope based on second-order spatial autocorrelation of thermal light

The resolution of a conventional imaging system based on first-order field correlation can be directly obtained from the optical transfer function. However, it is challenging to determine the resolution of an imaging system through random media, including imaging through scattering media and imaging through randomly inhomogeneous media, since the point-to-point correspondence between the object and the image plane in these systems cannot be established by the first-order field correlation anymore. In this Letter, from the perspective of ghost imaging, we demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that the point-to-point correspondence in these imaging systems can be quantitatively recovered from the second-order correlation of light fields, and the imaging capability, such as resolution, of such imaging schemes can thus be derived by analyzing second-order autocorrelation of the optical transfer function. Based on this theoretical analysis, we propose a lensless Wiener–Khinchin telescope based on second-order spatial autocorrelation of thermal light, which can acquire the image of an object by a snapshot via using a spatial random phase modulator. As an incoherent imaging approach illuminated by thermal light, the lensless Wiener–Khinchin telescope can be applied in many fields such as X-ray astronomical observations.