Theoretical and experimental study of discrete behavior of Shilnikov chaos in a CO 2 laser

The discrete distribution of homoclinic orbits has been investigated numerically and experimentally in a CO₂ laser with feedback. The narrow chaotic ranges appear consequently when a laser parameter (bias voltage or feedback gain) changes exponentially. Up to six consecutive chaotic windows have been observed in the numerical simulation as well as in the experiments. Every subsequent increase in the number of loops in the upward spiral around the saddle focus is accompanied by the appearance of the corresponding chaotic window. The discrete character of homoclinic chaos is also demonstrated through bifurcation diagrams, eigenvalues of the fixed point, return maps, and return times of the return maps. Received 28 September 2000 and 27 October 2000     

Chaos dynamics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers with polarization-selected optical feedback

We study experimentally and numerically the dynamic states of chaotic oscillations in vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers (VCSELs) with polarization-selected optical feedback. We identify the regimes of fully-developed chaotic states, low-frequency fluctuations (LFFs), and coexistent states of LFFs and stable oscillation for the variations of the bias injection current and the optical feedback ratio. In particular, coexistent states of LFFs and stable oscillations are observed at higher optical feedback ratio and lower bias injection current. We draw maps of dynamic states in the space of the bias injection current and the optical feedback ratio. The qualitative agreement between the theory and the experiment is found.     

Ionization waves: from stability to chaos and turbulence

The spatio-temporal dynamics of self-excited ionization waves in a neon glow discharge is experimentally investigated. Various mechanisms leading to ionization waves chaos and turbulence are identified: subharmonics cascade, Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse scenario, and spatio-temporal intermittency. The dynamical states involved in the transition scenarios from stability to chaotic regimes are characterized through both temporal and spatio-temporal analysis by means of the Biorthogonal Decomposition (BD). Received 25 October 2001     

Dynamics of helical-wave emission in a fiber-coupled diode end-pumped solid-state laser

We have generated TEM_0,l ^* modes in an end-pumped microchip laser using a standard fiber-coupled diode. A rich set of dynamic behaviors, such as periodic and quasi-periodic self-modulation, chaotic pulsing and frequency locking was observed in the generated TEM_0,l ^* modes. Experimental results confirm the theoretical predictions that the locking occurs as a subcritical bifurcation and that a region of coexisting locked and unlocked states exists. Received: 14 November 2000 / Revised version: 22 January 2001 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Populations of coupled electrochemical oscillators

Experiments were carried out on arrays of chaotic electrochemical oscillators to which global coupling, periodic forcing, and feedback were applied. The global coupling converts a very weakly coupled set of chaotic oscillators to a synchronized state with sufficiently large values of coupling strength; at intermediate values both intermittent and stable chaotic cluster states occur. Cluster formation and synchronization were also obtained by applying feedback and forcing to a moderately coupled base state. The three cases differ, however, in other details. The feedback and forcing also produce periodic cluster states and more than two clusters. Configurations of two (chaotic) clusters and two, three, or four (periodic) clusters were observed. (c) 2002 American Institute of Physics.     

Onset of instabilities in self-pulsing semiconductor lasers with delayed feedback

We consider the deterministic dynamics of a semiconductor laser with saturable absorber that is subject to delayed optical feedback. Alone, both the saturable absorber and delayed feedback cause the CW output to become unstable to periodic output via Hopf bifurcations. We examine the combined effects of these two destabilizing mechanisms to determine new conditions for the Hopf bifurcations. We also describe the transient as the unstable CW output evolves to the oscillatory state. A main result is that the presence of a saturable absorber can increase the sensitivity of the laser to delayed feedback. Received 1st August 2001 and Received in final form 28 November 2001     

Isomeric state of 80Y and its role in the astrophysical rp-process

A careful investigation of the isomeric transition of the long-lived state at 228.5 keV excitation energy in ⁸⁰Y has been done. The HIGISOL facility at the Jyv?skyl? isochronous cyclotron has been used. We used the electron magnetic transporter to prepare an appropriate source and to measure the electron spectra in clean background conditions. The measured internal conversion coefficient α_K = 0.50±0.07 allows unambiguous 1^- identification for the 228.5 keV first excited isomeric state in ⁸⁰Y. With a “bare" half-life of 6.8±0.5 s found in this work, this state is strongly populated in the rp-process during X-ray bursts and has therefore to be taken into account in X-ray burst model calculations. However, because of the similarity of the β-decay half-lives of isomeric and ground states, we find a maximum reduction in the effective β-decay lifetime of ⁸⁰Y of only 17±2%. Our results pave the way for a future investigation of the impact of the isomeric state on the “effective" ⁸⁰Y proton capture rate. Received: 14 March 2001 / Accepted: 10 July 2001     

Luminescence characteristics of ultraviolet upconversion from Er 3 + :YAG crystal by Ar + laser (488 nm) excitation

Ultraviolet and violet upconversion signals at 271 nm, 317 nm, 381 nm and 407 nm were observed when an erbium-doped YAG crystal was pumped by an Ar⁺ laser (488 nm). The dependence of intensity of luminescence emitting from the ⁴S _3/2 state and the ²P _3/2 state on pump power (I) was experimentally investigated. Changes from I¹ down to I ^1/2 for the ⁴S _3/2 state and from I² down to I¹ for the ²P _3/2 state were observed. The upconversion mechanism was discussed by means of the rate equations. It appears that energy-transfer upconversion (ETU) is a dominant process for the Er³⁺:YAG crystal used in our experiment. Received 20 March 2001 and Received in final form 11 July 2001     

Magnetic interface polarization of the La-5d states in Fe/LaHx multilayers

For rare-earth (RE)-hydrides (REHx), a metal-to-insulator transition is observed if the hydrogen concentration is increased from the dihydride (x=2) towards the trihydride (x=3). This transition provides an object for studies of the magnetic interface polarization in layered ferromagnet/insulator structures. For different samples with a fixed Fe and varied LaH_x sublayer thickness t_LaHx ([15 ? Fe/t? LaH_x]xn), the H concentration x in the LaH_x sublayer is gradually increased in the experiment. Starting from the as prepared dihydride REH_2-δ, the modification of the magnetic polarization of the La-5d states at the Fe/La_x interface is studied across the transition by magnetic circular dichroism measurements at the La-L₂ and L₃ edges. The experiments reveal an induced magnetic polarization of the La-5d hole states on a length scale of 9 ? that is independent of the altered electronic structure of the La-5d states. Received: 23 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 July 2001 / Published online: 5 October 2001     

Complexity and synchronization in chaotic fiber-optic systems

In this work we investigate experimentally the complexity of chaotic attractors generated by a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback and associate their dimensionality with the synchronization efficiency of the corresponding chaotic transmitter-receiver configuration. The complexity is characterized by calculating the correlation dimension D₂ of experimental chaotic time series for different values of the optical feedback η. We present the effect of D₂ on the synchronization efficiency and determine the optimal operating condition that leads to the most complex chaotic carrier and, simultaneously, to the most successful synchronization. Lastly, we associate and explain our experimental results with theoretical predictions in the research literature.     

Filter for strangeness in J^{PC} exotic four-quark states

Symmetrization selection rules for the decay of four–quark states to two J=0 mesons are analysed in a non – field theoretic context with isospin symmetry. The OZI allowed decay of an isoscalar exotic state to or is only allowed for four–quark components of the state containing one pair, providing a filter for strangeness content in these states. Decays of four–quark states are narrower than otherwise expected. If the experimentally observed enhancement in is resonant, it is qualitatively in agreement with being a four–quark state. Received: 10 May 2001 / Revised version: 15 August 2001 / Published online: 21 September 2001     

Vortex matter in lead nanowires

Theoretical and experimental magnetizations of lead nanowire arrays well below the superconducting transition temperature T_c are described. The magnetic response of the array was investigated with a SQUID magnetometer. Hysteretic behaviour and phase transitions have been observed in sweeping up and down the external magnetic field at different temperatures. The Meissner and Abrikosov states were also experimentally observed in this apparently type-I superconductor. This fact brings to the fore the non-trivial behaviour of the critical boundary κ _c ( = 1/ in bulk materials) between type-I and type-II phase transitions at mesoscopic scales. The time-independent Ginzburg-Landau equations particularized to cylindrically symmetric configurations enable one to explain and reproduce the experimental magnetization curves within 10% of error. Received 16 January 2003 / Received in final form 27 March 2003 Published online 23 May 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: stenuit@fynu.ucl.ac.be     

Syntheses of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 and their optical properties

Stoichiometric and titanium-excess nanocrystalline barium titanates were synthesized using a hydrothermal process at various hydrothermal temperatures and with further heat treatment at 500 °C and 900 °C. Owing to the different process conditions, the excess titanium exists in different states and configurations within the nanocrystalline BaTiO₃ matrix; this was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and photoluminescence. In these nanocrystalline BaTiO₃, the 590, 571, 543 and 694 nm light emission bands were observed; mechanisms leading to such emissions were also discussed. Received: 23 February 2001 / Accepted: 10 May 2001 / Published online: 27 June 2001     

Coupling induced topological transition in a ring of chaotic oscillators

A ring of diffusively coupled R?ssler oscillators, which can develop the conventional rotating wave from high-dimensional chaos by increasing the coupling ɛ continuously is studied. The chaotic generator for the rotating wave emerges around ɛ = ɛ, where the topological transition induced by the coupling not only changes the topological structure of all the oscillators, which share a common strange attractor, but also changes them into being different from each other. Starting from this transition, infinitely long range temporal correlation and spatial order in the style of antiphase state are established gradually, which gives rise to the chaotic generator of the rotating wave. Received 15 March 2001     

Confinement and processing effects on glass transition temperature and physical aging in ultrathin polymer films: Novel fluorescence measurements

Fluorescence intensity measurements of chromophore-doped or -labeled polymers have been used for the first time to determine the effects of decreasing film thickness on glass transition temperature, T _g, the relative strength of the glass transition, and the relative rate of physical aging below T _g in supported, ultrathin polymer films. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity measured in the glassy state of thin and ultrathin films of pyrene-doped polystyrene (PS), poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) differs from that in the rubbery state with a transition at T _g. Positive deviations from bulk T _g are observed in ultrathin PiBMA and P2VP films on silica substrates while substantial negative deviations from bulk T _g are observed in ultrathin PS films on silica substrates. The relative difference in the temperature dependences of fluorescence intensity in the rubbery and glassy states is usually reduced with decreasing film thickness, indicating that the strength of the glass transition is reduced in thinner films. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity also provides useful information on effects of processing history as well as on the degree of polymer-substrate interaction. In addition, when used as a polymer label, a mobility-sensitive rotor chromophore is demonstrated to be useful in measuring relative rates of physical aging in films as thin as 10 nm. Received 21 August 2001     

Production of a bose einstein condensate of metastable helium atoms

We recently observed a Bose-Einstein condensate in a dilute gas of ⁴He in the 2³S₁ metastable state. In this article, we describe the successive experimental steps which led to the Bose-Einstein transition at 4.7 μK: loading of a large number of atoms in a MOT, efficient transfer into a magnetic Ioffé-Pritchard trap, and optimization of the evaporative cooling ramp. Quantitative measurements are also given for the rates of elastic and inelastic collisions, both above and below the transition. Received 15 October 2001     

Production of laser-heated plasma in high- pressure Ar gas and emission characteristics of vacuum ultraviolet radiation from Ar2 excimers

A new pump scheme for the realization of a practical Ar₂ excimer laser operating at 126 nm has been proposed and investigated experimentally. In this scheme, pre-ionized high-pressure Ar gas was excited by an intense transversely-excited atmospheric (TEA) CO₂ laser irradiation. A 100-mm-long line plasma was successfully produced at an argon gas pressure of 2 MPa. The vacuum ultraviolet emission at 126 nm from the Ar₂ excimers was observed and its emission characteristics were investigated under various experimental conditions. Received: 10 December 2001 / Published online: 14 March 2002     

High-spin spectroscopy of 63 31Ga32 and 65 31Ga34

High-spin states in the nuclei ⁶³Ga and ⁶⁵Ga were studied following the reaction ³²S + ⁴⁰Ca at a reaction energy of 125 MeV and using the GASP γ-ray spectrometer in combination with the ISIS charged-particle detector system. In addition to low-lying negative-parity states with single-particle character, rotational-like cascades built on the 9/2⁺ and 19/2^- states have been observed in both nuclei. Sidebands with negative parity in ⁶³Ga and positive parity in ⁶⁵Ga could be established. The experimental results are compared with Total Routhian Surface calculations which describe the nuclei as moderately deformed (β₂≈ 0.25) and γ soft at low rotational frequencies. The highest experimentally observed positive-parity state in ⁶⁵Ga (41/2⁺) is in good agreement with the calculated crossing of the collective band with a non-collective one terminating at this spin. Received: 20 December 2000 / Accepted: 2 May 2001     

Magnetic relaxation in spinel Mo-ferrite and Ti substituted Mo-ferrite

A compensation temperature of 138 K was observed in the temperature-dependent magnetization curves of MoFe₂O₄. Relatively slow magnetization relaxation characterized the transitions between different spin states (compensated and uncompensated). Large magnetic after effect was found in time-dependent magnetization curves after heating or cooling from different characteristic temperatures for different spin states. The magnetic relaxation was nearly independent on magnetic field, supporting the presence of spin states and no involvement of domain structure. For the Ti substituted Mo_0.6Ti_0.4Fe₂O₄ sample, there were a compensation at ∼ 100 K and a maximum of magnetization at ∼ 175 K. Similar results of anomalous magnetic relaxation was observed in Ti substituted Mo-ferrite (Mo_0.6Ti_0.4Fe₂O₄). If the Mo_0.6Ti_0.4Fe₂O₄ sample was heated from 100 K to 235 K, the time-dependent magnetization curve could be considered as a combination of two magnetic relaxation processes. However, if the sample was heated from 100 K to 295 K, the time- dependent magnetization curve became complex. Received 30 October 2001 and Received in final form 21 January 2002     

Collectivity in the optical response. of small metal clusters

The question of whether the linear absorption spectra of metal clusters can be interpreted as density oscillations (collective “plasmons”) or can only be understood as transitions between distinct molecular states is still a matter of debate for clusters with only a few electrons. We calculate the photo-absorption spectra of Na₂ and Na₅ ⁺ comparing two different methods: quantum fluid dynamics and time-dependent density functional theory. The changes in the electronic structure associated with particular excitations are visualized in “snapshots” via transition densities. Our analysis shows that even for the smallest clusters, the observed excitations can be interpreted as intuitively understandable density oscillations. For Na₅ ⁺, the importance of self-interaction corrections to the adiabatic local density approximation is demonstrated. Received: 1 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001