Q-switching an all-fiber laser using acousto-optic null coupler

A new method for Q-switching an all-fiber laser is presented. It is based on induced acoustic long period grating operating on a null coupler, which acts as acoustically controlled tunable output coupler. Q-switching is achieved by switching on and off the acoustic wave in a burst mode, thereby generating laser pulses that are ~400 times shorter than the acoustically controlled coupler’s rise time. Output pulse energy of 22 μJ and temporal width of ~100 ns were measured at a wavelength of 1.54 μm.     

Spectral and temporal holograms with nonlinear optics

In this Letter we show how encoding techniques for computer-generated holograms may be used to arbitrarily shape a nonlinearly generated spectrum and consequently the temporal shape by modulating the quadratic nonlinear coefficient. We give examples of a modulation pattern and a simple setup that can generate high-order Hermite-Gauss and Airy functions through difference-frequency generation from a transform-limited Gaussian pulse, under practical fabrication considerations.     

On the degree of regularity of some equations

In this paper we investigate the behaviour of the solutions of equations Σ_I=1ⁿ a_ix_i = b, where Σ_i=1ⁿ, a_i = 0 and b ≠ 0, with respect to colorings of the set N of positive integers. It turns out that for any b ≠ 0 there exists an 8-coloring of N, admitting no monochromatic solution of x₃ − x₂ = x₂ − x₁ + b. For this equation, for b odd and 2-colorings, only an odd-even coloring prevents a monochromatic solution. For b even and 2-colorings, always monochromatic solutions can be found, and bounds for the corresponding Rado numbers are given. If one imposes the ordering x₁ < x₂ < x₃, then there exists already a 4-coloring of N, which prevents a monochromatic solution of x₃ − x₂ = x₂ − x₁ + b, where b ε N.     

Degenerate band edges in optical fiber with multiple grating: efficient coupling to slow light

Degenerate band edges (DBEs) of a photonic bandgap have the form (ω-ω(D)) ∝k(2m) for integers m>1, with ω(D) the frequency at the band edge. We show theoretically that DBEs lead to efficient coupling into slow-light modes without a transition region, and that the field strength in the slow mode can far exceed that in the incoming medium. A method is proposed to create a DBE of arbitrary order m by coupling m optical modes with multiple superimposed gratings. The enhanced coupling near a DBE occurs because of the presence of one or more evanescent modes, which are absent at conventional quadratic band edges. We furthermore show that the coupling can be increased or suppressed by varying the number of excited evanescent waves.     

Multiple coupling of surface plasmons in quasiperiodic gratings

Whereas periodic gratings enable us to couple light into a surface plasmon polariton only at a specific angle and wavelength, we show here that quasiperiodic gratings enable the coupling of light at multiple wavelengths and angles. The quasiperiodic grating can be designed in a systematic manner using the dual-grid method, thereby enabling us to control the coupling strength and grating dimensions. We verified the method experimentally by efficiently coupling light into a surface plasmon from several different illumination angles using a single quasiperiodic grating.     

Adiabatic frequency conversion of ultrafast pulses

A new method for efficient, broadband sum and difference frequency generation of ultrafast pulses is demonstrated. The principles of the method follow from an analogy between frequency conversion and coherent optical excitation of a two-level system. For conversion of ultrafast pulses, the concepts of adiabatic conversion are developed further in order to account for dispersion and group velocity mismatch. The scheme was implemented using aperiodically poled nonlinear crystals and a single step nonlinear mixing process, leading to conversion of near-IR (∼790 nm) ultrafast pulses into the blue (∼450 nm) and mid-IR (∼3.15 μm) spectral regions. Conversion bandwidths up to 15 THz FWHM and efficiencies up to 50% are reported.     

Effects of Refractive Index and Viscosity on Fluorescence and Anisotropy Decays of Enhanced Cyan and Yellow Fluorescent Proteins

The fluorescence lifetime strongly depends on the immediate environment of the fluorophore. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements of the enhanced forms of ECFP and EYFP in water–glycerol mixtures were performed to quantify the effects of the refractive index and viscosity on the fluorescence lifetimes of these proteins. The experimental data show for ECFP and EYFP two fluorescence lifetime components: one short lifetime of about 1 ns and a longer lifetime of about 3.7 ns of ECFP and for EYFP 3.4. The fluorescence of ECFP is very heterogeneous, which can be explained by the presence of two populations: a conformation (67% present) where the fluorophore is less quenched than in the other conformation (33% present). The fluorescence decay of EYFP is much more homogeneous and the amplitude of the short fluorescence lifetime is about 5%. The fluorescence anisotropy decays show that the rotational correlation time of both proteins scales with increasing viscosity of the solvent similarly as shown earlier for GFP. The rotational correlation times are identical for ECFP and EYFP, which can be expected since both proteins have the same shape and size. The only difference observed is the slightly lower initial anisotropy for ECFP as compared to the one of EYFP.     

Enhancement of a 24.77-nm line emitted by the plasma of a boron nitride capillary discharge irradiated by a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse

Investigations of plasma produced by a boron nitride capillary discharge irradiated with a guided 20-TW Ti: sapphire laser pulse at a peak intensity of 4 x 10(18) W/cm2 are presented. The guided laser radiation in the plasma channel generated He-like ions that, subject to suitable plasma temperature, recombined into Li-like nitrogen ions. Intense radiation at a wavelength of 24.77 nm was observed, indicating possible lasing at the 3d(5/2) - 2p(3/2) transition in Li-like nitrogen.     

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain at 7 T with echo-planar and turbo spin echo sequences: preliminary results

Ultra-high-field clinical MRI scanners (e.g., 7 T and above) are becoming increasingly prevalent and can potentially enhance diagnostic ability through higher contrast, resolution and/or sensitivity. Diffusion-weighted MRI is a highly valued component in today's radiological exam and may benefit from the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio provided by high field with the appropriate imaging strategy. The most common diffusion pulse sequence readout (echo-planar imaging (EPI)) has been widely employed for in vivo human 7 T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In this article, we present results of brain DTI at 7 T with two diffusion-weighted imaging pulse sequence readouts: echo-planar imaging (EPI-DTI) and turbo spin echo (TSE-DTI). Results indicate that analogous coverage, quality and resolution typical of lower field (2 mm) can be obtained by properly processed EPI-DTI at 7 T, and, with some reduction in efficiency and sharpness, TSE-DTI at 7 T. Furthermore, 7 T TSE-DTI shows promise in obtaining higher-resolution results in targeted acquisitions of specific brain areas.     

Multiple Čerenkov second-harmonic waves in a two-dimensional nonlinear photonic structure

We report simultaneous generation of multiple conical second-harmonic waves in a two-dimensional nonlinear photonic structure when illuminated by two overlapping noncollinear fundamental beams. We show that this phenomenon is caused by the nonlinear ?erenkov radiation emitted due to the interaction of photons from each constituent fundamental beam as well as the virtual one propagating along the bisector of the two beams. In addition, by studying the asymmetric geometry of the interaction, we uniquely verify the effects of reciprocal vectors on the ?erenkov-type second-harmonic generation in nonlinear photonic structures.