Properties of the pulse train generated by repetition-rate-doubling rational-harmonic actively mode-locked Er-doped fiber lasers

We demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge, experimentally and theoretically, that the pulse-to-pulse amplitude fluctuations that occur in pulse trains generated by actively mode-locked Er-doped fiber lasers in a repetition-rate-doubling rational-harmonic mode-locking regime are completely eliminated when the modulation frequency is properly tuned. Irregularity of the pulse position in the train was found to be the only drawback of this regime. One could reduce the irregularity to a value acceptable for applications by increasing the bandwidth of the optical filter installed in the laser cavity.     

Pion pair production in photon-photon collisions at spear

We report a measurement of the cross section for the process γγ→π⁺π^? at invariant masses 500 MeV/c² < m_ππ<2000 MeV/c². A value for the radiative width of the f(1270) tensor meson Γ_f→γγ = 3.6 ± 0.3 ± 0.5 KeV (helicity λ = 2) has been obtained from a fit to the observed ππ mass spectrum.     

Bifurcation to polarization self-modulation in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Experiments have yielded polarization self-modulation in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) subject to a pi/2 polarization-rotating optical feedback. The phenomenon has been simulated numerically, but its bifurcation has never been explained. We show that polarization self-modulation results from a Hopf bifurcation mechanism that can be analyzed in terms of the laser feedback parameters. Our analysis predicts other bifurcations for low values of the feedback rate, which explain why more-complex time-dependent outputs have been observed as alternatives to polarization self-modulation.     

The electron affinities of O, Si, and S revisited with the photodetachment microscope

Photodetachment microscopy has been performed on a beam of 32S- ions. Analysing the electron images obtained, we find that the electron affinity measurements performed with the photodetachment microscope contain a small bias, due to the difference between the actual and assumed values of the applied electric field. Having a measure of this bias, we can reanalyse older data recorded on the negative ions O- and Si- along similar lines. As a consequence, the values of the electron affinities of Oxygen, Silicon and Sulfur can be given with an improved accuracy. The recommended values (with expanded uncertainties) are now 11784.676(7)cm-1 for 16O, 11207.246(8)cm-1 for 28Si, and 16752.974(5)cm-1 for 32S, i.e. 1.461 113 5(12), 1.389 521 3(13) and 2.077 104 0(9) eV, respectively.     

Noise and thermal properties of a submillimeter mixer with the SINS tunnel junction

In this work we present for the first time a low-noise submillimeter receiver with a mixer using Superconductor-Insulator-Normal metal-Superconductor (SINS) junctions. Junctions containing a normal metal layer may be free of the Josephson current and of the related perturbations of mixer operation specific for the standard SIS mixers. This SINS mixer quality is important for the application in the multibeam submillimeter receiver. The SINS mixer stability of operation and independence on the magnetic field have been confirmed in our experiment. Minimum SINS receiver noise in the 290 – 330 GHz band is about 135 K when the junction R_NC is about 30. Noise, conversion gain and thermal properties of the SINS mixer have been studied and compared with the SIS mixers. The limit of SINS mixer operation improvement is discussed at the end of the work.     

A Multibeam SIS Mixer Module for a Focal Plane Array Receiver

The integration of many receiver units into a receiver array is a common method of improvement of imaging systems. This approach, well known in the mm band for Schottky mixer arrays, has not so far been developed for Superconductor - Insulator - Superconductor (SIS) junction mixers, which give the best sensitivity in the short mm wave range and in the submm range.We demonstrate for the first time a practical low noise multibeam receiver module using SIS mixer technology. The basis for the integration of several SIS mixers with a common local oscillator source is given by the saturation of the SIS receiver noise dependence upon local oscillator power. The module comprises three identical SIS mixers integrated with a common local oscillator, coupled through a three branch waveguide directional coupler. The multibeam module has been developed for a focal plane array receiver of the 30 meter radio telescope of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM).