Showing papers in "Applied Physics B in 2010"

Engineering photonic density of states using metamaterials

Abstract: The photonic density of states (PDOS), like its electronic counterpart, is one of the key physical quantities governing a variety of phenomena and hence PDOS manipulation is the route to new photonic devices. The PDOS is conventionally altered by exploiting the resonance within a device such as a microcavity or a bandgap structure like a photonic crystal. Here we show that nanostructured metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion can dramatically enhance the photonic density of states paving the way for metamaterial-based PDOS engineering.

QEPAS spectrophones: design, optimization, and performance

Abstract: The impact of design parameters of a spectrophone for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy on its performance was investigated. The microresonator of spectrophone is optimized based on an experimental study. The results show that a 4.4 mm-long tube with 0.6 mm inner diameter yields the highest signal-to-noise ratio, which is ∼30 times higher than that of a bare QTF at gas pressures between 400 and 800 Torr. The optimized configuration demonstrates a normalized noise-equivalent absorption coefficient (1σ) of 3.3×10−9 cm−1W/Hz1/2 for C2H2 detection at atmospheric pressure. The effect of the changing carrier gas composition is studied. A side-by-side sensitivity comparison between QEPAS and conventional photoacoustic spectroscopy technique is reported.

Ultrafast solid-state laser oscillators: a success story for the last 20 years with no end in sight

Abstract: Ultrashort lasers provide an important tool to probe the dynamics of physical systems at very short time-scales, allowing for improved understanding of the performance of many devices and phenomena used in science, technology, and medicine. In addition ultrashort pulses also provide a high peak intensity and a broad optical spectrum, which opens even more applications such as material processing, nonlinear optics, attosecond science, and metrology. There has been a long-standing, ongoing effort in the field to reduce the pulse duration and increase the power of these lasers to continue to empower existing and new applications. After 1990, new techniques such as semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) and Kerr-lens mode locking (KLM) allowed for the generation of stable pulse trains from diode-pumped solid-state lasers for the first time, and enabled the performance of such lasers to improve by several orders of magnitude with regards to pulse duration, pulse energy and pulse repetition rates. This invited review article gives a broad overview and includes some personal accounts of the key events during the last 20 years, which made ultrafast solid-state lasers a success story. Ultrafast Ti:sapphire, diode-pumped solid-state, and novel semiconductor laser oscillators will be reviewed. The perspective for the near future indicates continued significant progress in the field.

Commissioning and early experiments of the PHELIX facility

Abstract: At the Helmholtz center GSI, PHELIX (Petawatt High Energy Laser for heavy Ion eXperiments) has been commissioned for operation in stand-alone mode and, in combination with ions accelerated up to an energy of 13 MeV/u by the heavy ion accelerator UNILAC The combination of PHELIX with the heavy-ion beams available at GSI enables a large variety of unique experiments Novel research opportunities are spanning from the study of ion–matter interaction, through challenging new experiments in atomic physics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics, into the field of relativistic plasma physics

Mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy with 2.4 μm Cr2+:ZnSe femtosecond lasers

Abstract: The mid-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum is the so-called molecular fingerprint region because gases have tell-tale absorption features associated with molecular rovibrations. This region can be for instance exploited to detect small traces of environmental and toxic vapors in atmospheric and industrial applications. Novel Fourier-transform spectroscopy without moving parts, based on time-domain interferences between two comb sources, can in particular benefit optical diagnostics and precision spectroscopy. To date, high-resolution and -sensitivity proof-of-principle experiments have only been reported in the near-infrared region where frequency-comb oscillators are conveniently available. However, as most of the molecular transitions in this region are due to weak overtone bands, this spectral domain is not ideal for sensitive and rapid detection. Here we present a proof-of-principle experiment of frequency-comb Fourier-transform spectroscopy with two Cr2+:ZnSe femtosecond oscillators directly emitting in the 2.4 μm mid-infrared region. The acetylene absorption spectrum in the region of the $ u_{1}+ u_{5}^{1}$ band, extending from 2370 to 2525 nm, could be recorded within a 10 μs acquisition time without averaging with 12 GHz resolution.

Self-referenced spectral interferometry

Abstract: A new femtosecond pulse characterization, named self-referenced spectral interferometry, is introduced. Based on linear spectral interferometry, the reference pulse is self created from the pulse being characterized. This self reference results from pulse shaping optimization and non-linear temporal filtering.

High-resolution microwave frequency dissemination on an 86-km urban optical link

Abstract: We report the first demonstration of a long-distance ultra-stable frequency dissemination in the microwave range. A 9.15-GHz signal is transferred through an 86-km urban optical link with a fractional frequency instability of 1.3×10−15 at 1-s integration time and below 10−18 at one day. The optical link phase noise compensation is performed with a round-trip method. To achieve such a result we implement light polarisation scrambling and dispersion compensation. This link outperforms all the previous radio-frequency links and compares well with recently demonstrated full optical links.

NO trace gas sensor based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy and external cavity quantum cascade laser

Abstract: A gas sensor based on quartz-enhanced photoa- coustic detection and an external cavity quantum cascade laser was realized and characterized for trace nitric ox- ide monitoring using the NO R(6.5) absorption doublet at 1900.075 cm −1 . Signal and noise dependence on gas pressure were studied to optimize sensor performance. The NO concentration resulting in a noise-equivalent signal was found to be 15 parts per billion by volume, with 100 mW optical excitation power and a data acquisition time of 5 s.

Dissipative solitons compounds in a fiber laser. Analogy with the states of the matter

Abstract: We investigate experimentally ordered and disordered pattern formation of solitons in a double-clad fiber laser. We point out an analogy between the different states of matter and the states of a set of dissipative solitons. In particular, we have identified a gas, a supersonic gas flow, a liquid, a polycrystal and a crystal of solitons. The different states are obtained only by adjustment of the intracavity phase plates.

Contaminant concentration in environmental samples using LIBS and CF-LIBS

Abstract: The present paper deals with the detection and quantification of toxic heavy metals like Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, Cr, etc. in environmental samples by using the technique of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS). A MATLABTM program has been developed based on the CF-LIBS algorithm given by earlier workers and concentrations of pollutants present in industrial area soil have been determined. LIBS spectra of a number of certified reference soil samples with varying concentrations of toxic elements (Cd, Zn) have been recorded to obtain calibration curves. The concentrations of Cd and Zn in soil samples from the Jajmau area, Kanpur (India) have been determined by using these calibration curves and also by the CF-LIBS approach. Our results clearly demonstrate that the combination of LIBS and CF-LIBS is very useful for the study of pollutants in the environment. Some of the results have also been found to be in good agreement with those of ICP-OES.

Nd:YAG waveguide laser with 1.3 W output power, fabricated by direct femtosecond laser writing

Abstract: Tracks of modified material were written with femtosecond-laser pulses in neodymium-doped YAG crystals. Due to a stress-induced change of the refractive index, waveguiding beside the tracks and between two adjacent tracks with a distance of approximately 25 μm was observed. Loss measurements resulted in guiding losses of about 1.6 dB/cm for the double track waveguide. Spectroscopic investigations of the 4F3/2→4F11/2 transmission lines of the neodymium ions, which are close to the modified region, revealed a small stress-induced red shift of the lines. Laser oscillation of single-track waveguides and double-track waveguides was demonstrated with Ti:Sapphire laser pumping at a wavelength of 808 nm. Best laser performance with about 1.3 W output power at 2.25 W launched pump power was achieved using a double-track waveguide with a separation of 27 μm at an outcoupling transmission of 95%.

QEPAS for chemical analysis of multi-component gas mixtures

Abstract: A gas sensor based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy and using near-infrared, fiber-coupled diode lasers as an excitation source was developed for chemical analysis of gas mixtures containing H2S, CO2, and CH4 at concentrations from 0 to 100%. Analysis of physical phenomena affecting the sensor operation is performed, the sensor performance is evaluated, and simple algorithms are developed to derive concentrations of the gases from detected electrical signals.

A three-level analytic model for alkali metal vapor lasers: part I. Narrowband optical pumping

Abstract: A three-level analytic model for optically pumped alkali metal vapor lasers is developed by considering the steady-state rate equations for the longitudinally averaged number densities of the ground 2S1/2 and first excited 2P3/2, and 2P1/2 states. The threshold pump intensity includes both the requirements to fully bleach the pump transition and exceed optical losses, typically about 200 W/cm2. Slope efficiency depends critically on the fraction of incident photons absorbed and the overlap of pump and resonator modes, approaching the quantum efficiency of 0.95–0.98, depending on the alkali atom. For marginal cavity transmission losses, peak performance is achieved for low output coupling mirror reflectivity. For efficient operation, the collisional relaxation between the two upper levels should be fast to prevent bottlenecking. By assuming a statistical distribution between the upper two levels, the limiting analytic solution for the quasi two-level system is achieved. For properly designed gain conditions, the quasi two-level solution is usually achievable and represents ideal performance.

Optimal strategy for trapping single fluorescent molecules in solution using the ABEL trap.

Abstract: Trapping of 10-nm-sized single fluorescent bio-molecules in solution has been achieved using high-speed position sensing and electrokinetic feedback forces in the Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap. The high diffusion coefficient of small objects in solution requires very fast, real-time sensing of position, and this has been previously achieved using a simple rotating beam, but improved strategies are needed for the smallest objects, such as single nanometer-sized fluorescent molecules. At the same time, single molecules are limited in photon emission rate and total number of photons, so each emitted photon must be used as efficiently as possible. We describe a new controller design for the ABEL trap which features fast, knight’s tour scanning of an excitation beam on a 2D square lattice and a Kalman filter-based estimator for optimal position sensing. This strategy leads directly to a maximum-likelihood-based method to extract the diffusion coefficient of the object held in the trap. The effectiveness of the algorithms are demonstrated and compared to the simple rotating beam design through Monte Carlo simulations. Our new approach yields tighter trapping and a much improved ability to extract diffusion coefficients.

Multiwavelength fiber laser based on a photonic crystal fiber loop mirror with cooperative Rayleigh scattering

Abstract: In this work, a multiwavelength fiber Raman laser based on a highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber loop mirror is presented. A laser resonator is formed when the Raman amplification with cooperative Rayleigh scattering in a dispersion-compensating fiber is used as a distributed mirror and combined with a photonic crystal fiber loop mirror filtering structure. Stable multiwavelength lasing at room temperature is achieved due to the low temperature sensitivity of the highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber.

Near infrared diode laser spectroscopy of C2H2, H2O, CO2 and their isotopologues and the application to TDLAS, a tunable diode laser spectrometer for the martian PHOBOS-GRUNT space mission

Abstract: A near-infrared tunable diode laser spectrometer called TDLAS has been developed that combines telecommunication-type as well as new-generation antimonide laser diodes to measure C2H2, H2O, CO2 and their isotopologues in the near infrared. This sensor is devoted to the in situ analysis of the soil of the Martian satellite PHOBOS, within the framework of the Russian space mission PHOBOS-GRUNT. In the first part of the paper, we report accurate spectroscopic measurements of C2H2 and 13C12CH2 near 1.533 μm, of H2O and CO2 at 2.682 μm and of the isotopologues 13C16O2 and 16O12C18O near 2.041 μm and H2 17O, H2 18O and HDO near 2.642 μm. The achieved line strengths are thoroughly compared to data from molecular databases or from former experimental determinations. In the second part of the paper, we describe the TDLAS spectrometer for the PHOBOS-GRUNT mission.

Relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of Gaussian laser beam in plasma

Abstract: In the present paper, we have studied the self-focusing of a laser beam in a relativistic plasma. We have set up the non-linear differential equation for the beam width parameter of the main beam by using the moment theory approach and solved it numerically by the Runge–Kutta method. The results obtained are in agreement with the findings of the simulation (3D PIC). A new stable form of self-channeling propagation has also been observed.

Mobile source of high-energy single-cycle terahertz pulses

Abstract: The Teramobile laser facility was used to realize the first mobile source of high-power THz pulses. The source is based on a tilted-pulse-front pumping THz generation scheme optimized for application of terawatt laser pulses. Generation of 50-μJ single-cycle electromagnetic pulses centered at 0.19 THz with a repetition rate of 10 Hz was obtained for incoming 700-fs 120-mJ near-infrared laser pulses. The corresponding laser-to-THz photon conversion efficiency is approximately 100%.

Compact fibre-laser-pumped Ho:YLF oscillator-amplifier system

Abstract: We developed a compact Ho:YLF oscillator–amplifier system in a novel setup to utilise the unpolarised pump power from a fibre laser efficiently, and produced 21.3 mJ at 1 kHz, with an M 2 better than 1.1. The amplified energies agreed well with the predicted values from a two dimensional rotational symmetric amplifier model that we developed. The model considers upconversion losses and ground-state depletion, as well as the spatial distribution of the pump beam.

Low-loss ridge waveguides on lithium niobate fabricated by local diffusion doping with titanium

Abstract: The development of a novel self-aligned photolithographic process is reported enabling selective Ti-deposition on the surface of wet etched ridges on lithium niobate. Thus local diffusion doping of the ridges becomes possible to fabricate optical waveguides. They have surprisingly low propagation losses down to 0.05 dB/cm for TE-polarization (at ∼1.55 μm wavelength). The fabrication procedure of locally doped ridge guides in LN and their optical properties are presented in detail.

Fast manipulation of laser localized structures in a monolithic vertical cavity with saturable absorber

Abstract: We show the spontaneous and controlled formation of bistable and localized laser spots in the transverse section of a monolithic vertical cavity laser with a saturable absorber Successive incoherent writing and erasure is obtained up to 80 MHz repetition rate with a 60 ps localized excitation We also show the formation of clusters of laser localized states All these observations are in good qualitative agreement with existing models

Thermo-optical tuning of whispering gallery modes in Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass microspheres

Abstract: We demonstrate an all-optical, thermally assisted technique for broad-range tuning of whispering gallery modes in microsphere resonators fabricated from an Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass (IOG-2). The microspheres are pumped at 978 nm and the heat generated by absorption of the pump expands the cavity, thereby altering the cavity size and refractive index. We demonstrate a significant nonlinear tuning range of greater than 700 GHz of both C- and L-band cavity emissions via pumping through a tapered optical fibre. Finally, we show that large linear tuning up to ∼488 GHz is achievable if the microsphere is alternatively heated by coupling laser light into its support stem.

Luminescence properties of NaGd(PO3)4:Eu3+ and energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+

Abstract: The luminescence properties of polyphosphates NaEu x Gd(1−x)(PO3)4 (x = 0–1.00) and the energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+ were studied. In undoped NaGd(PO3)4 sample, the photon cascade emission of Gd3+ was observed under 8S7/2 → 6GJ excitation (201 nm) in which the emission of a red photon due to 6GJ → 6PJ transition is followed by an ultraviolet photon emission due to 6PJ → 8S7/2 transition. When part of Gd3+ ions in the host NaGd(PO3)4 were substituted by Eu3+ ions, the NaGd(PO3)4:Eu3+ sample showed intensive red emission under 172-nm vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) excitation which is suitable for mercury-free fluorescent lamps and plasma display panel applications. Based on the VUV–visible spectroscopic characteristics and the luminescence decay properties of NaGd(PO3)4:Eu3+, it was found that the quantum cutting by a two-step energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+ can improve the red emission of Eu3+ ions under VUV excitation but only a part of the excitation energy in the excited 6PJ states within Gd3+ ions can be transferred to Eu3+ ions for its red emission, and the nonradiative energy transfer efficiencies from the excited 6PJ states within Gd3+ to Eu3+ were calculated.

Self-referencable frequency comb from a 170-fs, 1.5-μm solid-state laser oscillator

Abstract: We report measurement of the first carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency signal from a spectrally broadened ultrafast solid-state laser oscillator operating in the 1.5 μm spectral region. The f-to-2f CEO frequency beat signal is 49 dB above the noise floor (100-kHz resolution bandwidth) and the free-running linewidth of 3.6 kHz is significantly better than typically obtained by ultrafast fiber laser systems. We used a SESAM mode-locked Er:Yb:glass laser generating 170-fs pulses at a 75 MHz pulse repetition rate with 110-mW average power. It is pumped by one standard telecom-grade 980-nm diode consuming less than 1.5 W of electrical power. Without any further pulse compression and amplification, a coherent octave-spanning frequency comb is generated in a polarization-maintaining highly-nonlinear fiber (PM-HNLF). The fiber length was optimized to yield a strong CEO frequency beat signal between the outer Raman soliton and the spectral peak of the dispersive wave within the supercontinuum. The polarization-maintaining property of the supercontinuum fiber was crucial; comparable octave-spanning supercontinua from two non-PM fibers showed higher intensity noise and poor coherence. A stable CEO-beat was observed even with pulse durations above 200 fs. Achieving a strong CEO frequency signal from relatively long pulses with moderate power levels substantially relaxes the demands on the driving laser, which is particularly important for novel gigahertz diode-pumped solid-state and semiconductor lasers.

Simulation-based comparison of noise effects in wavelength modulation spectroscopy and direct absorption TDLAS

Abstract: A simulative investigation of noise effects in wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) and direct absorption diode laser absorption spectroscopy is presented. Special attention is paid to the impact of quantization noise of the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the photodetector signal in the two detection schemes with the goal of estimating the necessary ADC resolution for each technique. With laser relative intensity noise (RIN), photodetector shot noise and thermal amplifier noise included, the strategies used for noise reduction in direct and wavelength modulation spectroscopy are compared by simulating two respective systems. Results show that because of the combined effects of dithering by RIN and signal averaging, the resolutions required for the direct absorption setup are only slightly higher than for the WMS setup. Only for small contributions of RIN an increase in resolution will significantly improve signal quality in the direct scheme.

QEPAS detector for rapid spectral measurements

Abstract: A quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor designed for fast response was used in combina- tion with a pulsed external cavity quantum cascade laser to rapidly acquire gas absorption data over the 1196- 1281 cm −1 spectral range. The system was used to measure concentrations of water vapor, pentafluoroethane (freon- 125), acetone, and ethanol both individually and in com- bined mixtures. The precision achieved for freon-125 con- centration in a single 1.1 s long spectral scan is 13 ppbv.

Tomographic reconstruction of the OH*-chemiluminescence distribution in premixed and diffusion flames

Abstract: A fast tomographic reconstruction device has been developed to detect the two-dimensional distribution of the chemiluminescence of OH* in the reaction zones of flames. In the set-up, special emphasis was placed on the applicability of the technique to turbulent flames. A spatial resolution of the system, <1–2 mm, and an exposure time of 100–200 μs are required to resolve the chemiluminescence signal of OH* originating from the folded flame front of a turbulent flame.

Concentration quenched luminescence and energy transfer analysis of Nd 3+ ion doped Ba-Al-metaphosphate laser glasses

Abstract: This paper reports the dopant ion (Nd3+) concentration effects on its luminescence properties in a new glass system based on barium-alumino-metaphosphates. Amongst the studied concentrations range of 0.276–13.31×1020 ions/cm3, the glass with 2.879×1020 ions/cm3 (1 mol%) Nd3+ concentration shows intense NIR emission from 4F3/2 excited state, followed by a decrease in emission intensity for further increase in Nd3+ ion concentration. The observed luminescence quenching is ascribed to Nd3+ self-quenching through the donor-donor migration assisted cross-relaxation mechanism. The microscopic energy transfer parameters for donor-acceptor energy transfer, C DA, and donor-donor energy migration, C DD, have been obtained from the theoretical fittings to experimental decay curves and the spectral overlap model respectively. The C DD parameters (×10−39 cm6/sec) are found to be about three orders greater than that of C DA (×10−42 cm6/sec) for Nd3+ self-quenching in this host, demonstrating that the excitation energy migration among donors is due to the hopping mechanism. The energy transfer micoparameters obtained in the present study are comparable to the values reported for commercially available laser glasses LHG-8 and Q-98.

Efficient UV–visible up-conversion emission in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped La2O3 nano-crystalline phosphor

Abstract: A nano-crystalline La2O3: Er3+/Yb3+ phosphor sample has been synthesized through the solution combustion route using urea as a reducing agent. Thermal, structural and optical characterizations have been carried out to explore several of its properties. By thermal analysis one concludes to the presence of moisture and hydroxide phases [La(OH)3 and LaOOH] of lanthanum in the as-synthesized sample, which further changes to La2O3 phase above 600°C temperature. Up-conversion (UC) study shows the intense emission bands in the UV, blue, green and red regions. This paper also reports the first observation of UC emission bands extending up to the UV (240 nm) region on excitation with 976 nm wavelength. Heat treatment of the samples shows a change in the crystallite phase along with crystallite growth and relative UC luminescence intensities. The input pump power dependence shows the involvement of up to four photons.

Inertial and gravitational mass in quantum mechanics

Abstract: We show that in complete agreement with classical mechanics, the dynamics of any quantum mechanical wave packet in a linear gravitational potential involves the gravitational and the inertial mass only as their ratio. In contrast, the spatial modulation of the corresponding energy wave function is determined by the third root of the product of the two masses. Moreover, the discrete energy spectrum of a particle constrained in its motion by a linear gravitational potential and an infinitely steep wall depends on the inertial as well as the gravitational mass with different fractional powers. This feature might open a new avenue in quantum tests of the universality of free fall.