Showing papers by "ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences published in 2008"
TL;DR: In this article, the existence of surface waves in specific material examples is analyzed, discussing the challenge posed by their experimental observation, and the most important advances in this topic are briefly discussed in this review, pointing out aspects that have not been clearly covered by the literature.
Abstract: The interface of two semi-infinite media, where at least one of them is a birefringent crystal, supports a special type of surface wave that was predicted theoretically by D'yakonov in 1988. Since then, the properties of such waves, which exist in transparent media only under very special conditions, have been analyzed in different geometries and settings. Nevertheless, they are still awaiting experimental demonstration. The most important advances in this topic are briefly discussed in this review, pointing out aspects that have not been clearly covered by the literature. Finally, the existence of these surface waves in specific material examples is analyzed, discussing the challenge posed by their experimental observation.
152 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a diode-laser-pumped system for generation of quadrature squeezing and polarization squeezing is presented. But due to their excess phase noise, diode lasers are challenging to use in phase-sensitive quantum optics experiments such as quad rature squeezing.
Abstract: We demonstrate a diode-laser-pumped system for generation of quadrature squeezing and polarization squeezing. Due to their excess phase noise, diode lasers are challenging to use in phase-sensitive quantum optics experiments such as quadrature squeezing. The system we present overcomes the phase noise of the diode laser through a combination of active stabilization and appropriate delays in the local oscillator beam. The generated light is resonant to the rubidium $D1$ transition at $795\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ and thus can be readily used for quantum memory experiments.
32 citations
TL;DR: The propagation of light along a chain of 20-nm-spaced gold particles lying onto a silica substrate in which a metallic film can be incorporated shows how the introduction of a buried metallic film allows a substantial increase in the propagation lengths.
Abstract: We study the propagation of light along a chain of 20-nm-spaced gold particles lying onto a silica substrate in which a metallic film can be incorporated. We first discuss, for a pure dielectric substrate, the specificities of the chain modes as compared to larger separation distances where far-field coupling dominates. We then show how the introduction of a buried metallic film allows a substantial increase in the propagation lengths. Finally, we discuss the crosstalk between two adjacent chains, with and without the buried metallic layer, for applications to ultra-compact interconnects.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrated the indistinguishability of resonance fluorescence from two distant Ca+ions and reported on experiments where entangled photon pairs are generated whose frequency and bandwidth are matched to an absorption line of Ca+ion.
Abstract: Indistinguishability of resonance fluorescence from two distant Ca+ions is demonstrated. We also report on experiments where entangled photon pairs are generated whose frequency and bandwidth are matched to an absorption line of Ca+ions.
13 Jul 2008
TL;DR: In this article, two distant ion traps were used to trap simultaneously strings of Ca+ions and observe Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between their scattered photons, and they also worked towards heralded single photon-single ion interaction.
Abstract: In an experimental system of two distant ion traps we trap simultaneously strings of Ca+ions and observe Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between their scattered photons. We also work towards heralded single photon-single ion interaction.
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed laser intra tissue ablation of the crystalline lens from human donors using infrared femtosecond laser with high repetition rate (80 MHz at 860 nm wavelength) and used a custom build multimodal nonlinear microscopy platform modified to work as a nano-surgery scalpel.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION Presbyopia is an age related disease mainly consisting in the progressive loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens of the eye. This leads to a decrease on the ability of accommodation and a subsequent difficulty to focus on near objects. Among the common treatments one could find correcting lenses, contact lenses or new surgical procedures such as the implantation of intraocular lenses or refractive surgery on the cornea. However the results obtained are partially satisfactory, opening the opportunity for further development of new strategies. In that sense lentotomy techniques [1] has been proved to produce a softening of the crystalline lens after laser ablation. In those experiments NIR lasers at 1064 nm wavelength and 100 kHz repetition rate were used. METHODS The aim of the present study is to perform laser intra tissue ablation of the crystalline lens from human donors using infrared femtosecond laser with high repetition rate (80 MHz at 860 nm wavelength). We have used a custom build multimodal non-linear microscopy platform modified to work as a nano-surgery scalpel. RESULTS Using a single femtosecond laser system, complex patterns in 2D and 3D configuration have been imprinted inside human donor lenses (see figure 1). The produced results have been analyzed through transmitted infrared light and Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy. We have observed an increase of the TPEF signal on the targeted regions. In addition, we found that the caused damaged is highly confined without any apparent effect on the surrounding tissue.
07 Jul 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel type of surface wave that can be excited at the edge of annular guiding structures created by several concentric rings is introduced, which can rotate upon propagation and does not require any power thresholds for their existence.
Abstract: We introduce a novel type of surface waves that can be excited at the edge of annular guiding structures created by several concentric rings. We demonstrate that such surface waves can rotate upon propagation and for high enough rotation frequencies they do not require any power thresholds for their existence.