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Showing papers on "Optical polarization published in 1999"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the 3D theory of laser cutting is presented and the cutting efficiency determined by its ultimate parameters at different types of polarization is estimated, and the physical reasons for limitations of ultimate cutting parameters at a plane P-polarized beam are displayed.
Abstract: The three-dimensional (3D) theory of laser cutting is presented. The cutting efficiency determined by its ultimate parameters at different types of polarization is estimated. The physical reasons for limitations of ultimate cutting parameters at a plane P-polarized beam are displayed. In the case of cutting metals with a large ratio of sheet thickness to width of the cut, the laser cutting efficiency for a radially polarized beam is 1.5 - 2 times larger than for plane P-polarized and circularly polarized beams. The possibility of generating the radially polarized beam is discussed.

583 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive and uniform analysis of 25 ASCA observations from 23 narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) is presented, where spectral analysis and correlations are presented.
Abstract: I present a comprehensive and uniform analysis of 25 ASCA observations from 23 narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s). The spectral analysis and correlations are presented in this paper; the reduction and time series analysis are presented in the companion paper. A maximum likelihood analysis confirms that the hard X-ray photon index is significantly steeper at more than 90% confidence in this sample of NLS1s compared with a random sample of Seyfert galaxies with broad optical lines. Soft excess emission was detected in 17 of the 19 objects that had no significant absorption, a result that demonstrates that soft excesses appear considerably more frequently in NLS1s than in Seyfert 1 galaxies with broad optical lines. The strength of the soft excess, parameterized using a flux ratio obtained from the blackbody plus power-law model, has a wide range of values in these objects (a factor of 50). The photon index was found to be correlated with the Hβ FWHM, despite the small range of the latter parameter; however, neither parameter is correlated with the strength of the soft excess or ROSAT slope. Therefore, assuming that an excess of soft photons causes the steep photon index and narrow Hβ FWHM, that excess may lie primarily in the unobservable EUV. The strength of the soft excess is correlated with the variability parameters, so that objects with strong soft excesses show higher amplitude variability; this potentially important result is not easily explained. While a range of 2 orders of magnitude in luminosity is represented, the temperature of the soft excess is approximately consistent throughout the sample, in contrast with expectations of simple accretion disk models. The presence of ionized absorption was sought using a two-edge model. It was found that this component appears to be typically less common in NLS1s and some evidence was found that the typical ionization state is lower compared with broad-line Seyfert galaxies. This fact, plus evidence for a correlation between the presence of the warm absorber and significant optical polarization, may imply that the inner warm absorber is missing or is too highly ionized to be detected, and only the outer, dusty, less ionized warm absorber is present in many cases. The iron line equivalent width appears to be similar among narrow and broad-line Seyfert galaxies. This could mean that reprocessing occurs with similar geometry in both classes of objects; however, the detection of ionized iron lines in a few objects, implying possibly altered fluorescence yields, and poor statistics, makes this conclusion tentative. Constraints on physical processes and models based on extreme values of orientation and accretion rate for NLS1s are examined in light of the observational results.

333 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An analysis of top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) polarized reflectance over specific sunphotometer sites where the atmospheric contribution is well characterized confirms the estimated accuracy of 10/sup -3/ in reflectance units.
Abstract: Two months of spaceborne POLDER polarization measurements have been used to generate empirical surface bidirectional polarization distribution functions (BPDFs). Eleven surface classes have been defined based on a surface classification and a vegetation index. Within each class, the surface polarized reflectance was found rather homogeneous. The surface polarized reflectance is highly anisotropic and varies between 0 close to the backscattering direction, and a few percent in the forward scattering direction. For a given observation geometry, the polarization is about twice as large over the pixels classified as "desert" than over vegetated surfaces. An empirical function with two parameters fits the estimated surface polarized reflectance with a residue on the order of 10/sup -3/ in reflectance units. An analysis of top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) polarized reflectance over specific sunphotometer sites where the atmospheric contribution is well characterized confirms the estimated accuracy of 10/sup -3/.

204 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the angular resolution of both of these observations is ∼ 0.2 ′′, which at the distance of M87 corresponds to 15 pc, and significant differences between the radio and optical polarized structures, particularly for bright knots in the inner jet, giving an important insight into the radial structure of the jet.
Abstract: We discuss optical (HST/WFPC2 F555W) and radio (15 GHz VLA) polarimetry observations of the M87 jet taken during 1994-1995. The angular resolution of both of these observations is ∼ 0.2 ′′ , which at the distance of M87 corresponds to 15 pc. Many knot regions are very highly polarized (∼ 40 −50%, approaching the theoretical maximum for optically thin synchrotron radiation), suggesting highly ordered magnetic fields. High degrees of polarization are also observed in interknot regions. The optical and radio polarization maps share many similarities, and in both, the magnetic field is largely parallel to the jet, except in the “shock-like” knot regions (parts of HST-1, A, and C), where it becomes perpendicular to the jet. We do observe significant differences between the radio and optical polarized structures, particularly for bright knots in the inner jet, giving us important insight into the radial structure of the jet. Unlike in the radio, the optical magnetic field position angle becomes perpendicular to the jet at the upstream ends of knots HST-1, D, E and F. Moreover, the optical polarization appears to decrease markedly at the position of the flux maxima in these knots. In contrast, the magnetic field position angle observed in the radio remains parallel to the jet in most of these regions, and the decreases in radio polarization are smaller. More minor differences are seen in other jet regions. Many of the differences between optical and radio polarimetry results can be explained in terms of a model whereby shocks occur in the jet interior, where higher-energy electrons are concentrated and dominate both polarized and unpolarized emissions in the optical, while the radio maps show strong contributions from lower-energy electrons in regions with B parallel, near the jet surface.

190 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In lower-dimensional semiconductors, electronic confinement leads to qualitative changes in population relaxation, including spontaneous emission and exciton-phonon scattering, as shown in extensive recent studies as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A resonant optical excitation creates an excited state population and also induces an optical polarization. Dynamics of this optical excitation is characterized by relaxation of the population as well as decay of the induced optical polarization. In lower dimensional semiconductors, electronic confinement leads to qualitative changes in population relaxation, including spontaneous emission and exciton-phonon scattering, as shown in extensive recent studies [1]. These population relaxation processes are expected to contribute to dephasing with a dephasing rate given by half the population decay rate. Pure dephasing processes that do not involve population or energy relaxation of excitons can also contribute to dephasing. Pure dephasing, which is a well-established concept for atomic systems, remains yet to be investigated in lower-dimensional semiconductors due to a lack of direct comparison between dephasing and population relaxation and between theory and experiment. Studies of pure dephasing processes in lower-dimensional semiconductors will renew and deepen our understanding of dephasing of collective excitations in solids, although several seminal studies were done on the exciton dephasing in quantum well (QW) structures [2–6].

158 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The various methods implemented in the in-flight calibration plan and the results obtained during the instrument calibration phase are presented: absolute calibration over molecular scattering, interband calibration over sunglint and clouds, multiangular calibration over deserts and Clouds, intercalibration with Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS), and water vapor channels calibration over singslint using meteorological analysis.
Abstract: POLDER is a CNES instrument on board NASDA's ADEOS polar orbiting satellite, which was successfully launched in August 1996. On October 30, 1996, POLDER entered its nominal acquisition phase and worked perfectly until ADEOS's early end of service on June 30, 1997. POLDER is a multispectral imaging radiometer/polarimeter designed to collect global and repetitive observations of the solar radiation reflected by the Earth/atmosphere system, with a wide field of view (2400 km) and a moderate geometric resolution (6 km). The instrument concept is based on telecentric optics, on a rotating wheel carrying 15 spectral filters and polarizers, and on a bidimensional charge coupled device (CCD) detector array. In addition to the classical measurement and mapping characteristics of a narrow-band imaging radiometer, POLDER has a unique ability to measure polarized reflectances using three polarizers (for three of its eight spectral bands, 443 to 910 nm) and to observe target reflectances from 13 different viewing directions during a single satellite pass. One of POLDER's original features is that its in-flight radiometric calibration does not rely on any on-board device. Many calibration methods using well-characterized calibration targets have been developed to achieve a very high calibration accuracy. This paper presents the various methods implemented in the in-flight calibration plan and the results obtained during the instrument calibration phase: absolute calibration over molecular scattering, interband calibration over sunglint and clouds, multiangular calibration over deserts and clouds, intercalibration with Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS), and water vapor channels calibration over sunglint using meteorological analysis. A brief description of the algorithm and of the performances of each method is given.

151 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented the combined results of optical polarization surveys of QSOs showing broad absorption lines (BALQSOs) conducted at the Steward and McDonald Observatories.
Abstract: We present the combined results of optical polarization surveys of QSOs showing broad absorption lines (BALQSOs) conducted at the Steward and McDonald Observatories. The merged list of 53 objects provides the first statistical justification for claims of the tendency of BALQSOs to show stronger than average polarization, with a typical BALQSO being polarized a factor 2.4 times greater than a QSO from an optical survey selected without regard for absorption lines. Spectropolarimetry of sufficient quality to distinguish the polarization of emission lines versus absorption troughs versus continuum is also presented for six objects from the survey. When taken together with published data on other sources, the results lead to several significant correlations that can be used to gain insight into the structure of a BALQSO. These include: (1) a reduced degree of polarization in the broad emission lines, (2) enhanced polarization in the absorption troughs, and (3) an increase in the degree of polarization toward shorter wavelengths. In addition, BALQSOs with more prominent absorption systems tend to be more strongly polarized, and there is evidence that the subclass of low-ionization absorbers is more strongly polarized than other BALQSOs. If the increased polarization of BALQSOs is due to attenuation of direct, as opposed to scattered, lines of sight to the nucleus, absorption-line objects are underrepresented in optical surveys, and their true incidence is 20%-30% that of all UV-bright QSOs. Nevertheless, BALQSOs on average are not as highly polarized as their more obscured radio-quiet cousins, the IRAS QSOs/hyperluminous IR galaxies. We are led to a consistent picture in which broad absorption is observed in BALQSOs because they are inclined at intermediate inclinations, where our line of sight passes through gas clouds located near the surface of a dusty torus.

132 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that compensation sharpens the probability distribution function of the pulse durations by a factor that decreases with increasing polarization dispersion, and that compensation can be achieved by using principal states of polarization.
Abstract: Polarization mode dispersion in standard telecommunication fibers can be compensated to first order by using the concept of principal states of polarization. At the receiver the pulse is decomposed into the two waveforms polarized along the two principal states for the optical link and their delay is removed. We show by Monte Carlo simulation that compensation sharpens the probability distribution function of the pulse durations by a factor that decreases with increasing polarization dispersion.

109 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied gray-tracking induced by a pulsed and polarized 532-nm laser beam in flux grown KTiOPO/sub 4/ (KTP) crystals.
Abstract: We have studied gray-tracking induced by a pulsed and polarized 532-nm laser beam in flux grown KTiOPO/sub 4/ (KTP) crystals. Transmission spectra measured under polarized light give different results: gray-tracking leads to an increase in the initial anisotropy of the linear optical properties of KTP, and the polar axis is the most sensitive to this process. The dynamics of relaxation of gray-tracking is anisotropic and depends on the wavelength under analysis. We show a possible induced modification of the crystal surface and also the existence of an intensity above which gray-tracking reaches the saturation point. We then measure the temperature above which gray-tracking no longer exists.

98 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the polarization dynamics of optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSELs) with a pump light of arbitrary polarization ellipticity were investigated.
Abstract: We consider the polarization dynamics of optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a pump light of arbitrary polarization ellipticity. We also consider the effect of an applied transverse magnetic field on the polarization properties of the output light. We first test our theoretical description by analyzing the polarization state of the photoluminescence light emitted by an optically pumped quantum well, and discuss a variety of phenomena known to originate from spin carrier dynamics in these materials. We discuss how these phenomena are modified when a VCSEL is operated above threshold, and we show that our model gives a good description of Larmor oscillations observed in VCSELs excited with short optical pulses. For VCSELs under continuous optical pump, we find a number of accessible experimental situations in which self-sustained polarization oscillations in the emitted light are possible. We identify and analyze three different mechanisms for these oscillations to occur. When no magnetic field is applied, we find polarization oscillations governed by birefringence and undamped polarization oscillations at the relaxation oscillation frequency. With an applied magnetic field, we find self-sustained oscillations governed by the Larmor frequency. In addition, our study of optically pumped VCSELs makes apparent the effects of spin carrier dynamics in the polarization properties of the emitted light.

95 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a waveguide polarization-independent optical circulator is proposed, which does not need a polarization-beam splitter and provides a 14.0-23.7dB isolation and a 3.3 dB insertion loss at /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m.
Abstract: We fabricated a new type of waveguide polarization-independent optical circulator which does not need a polarization-beam splitter. The circulator is based on a non-reciprocal Mach-Zehnder interferometer which consists of two waveguide Faraday rotators, two thin-film half-waveplates and two planar lightwave circuit-type 3-dB couplers. The fabricated circulator provides a 14.0-23.7-dB isolation and a 3.0-3.3 dB insertion loss at /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m. This circulator presents a new possibility for developing non-reciprocal devices in the field of integrated optics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the magnetic moment of a beryllium crystal lattice was measured by detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in the crystal's lattice, and the resonance signals were used as a stringent test for theoretical models describing the structure of the $1/{2}^{+}$ neutron halo state.
Abstract: The magnetic moment of ${}^{11}\mathrm{Be}$ ( ${T}_{1/2}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}13.8\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$) was measured by detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in a beryllium crystal lattice. The experimental technique applied to a ${}^{11}{\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ion beam from a laser ion source includes in-beam optical polarization, implantation into a metallic single crystal, and observation of rf resonances in the asymmetric angular distribution of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay ( $\ensuremath{\beta}$-NMR). The nuclear magnetic moment $\ensuremath{\mu}{(}^{11}\mathrm{Be})\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\ensuremath{-}1.6816(8)\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$ provides a stringent test for theoretical models describing the structure of the $1/{2}^{+}$ neutron halo state.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The determination of blood clotting time and haemolysis ratio showed that these polyurethane/liquid crystal composite membranes appear to be beneficial in improving the blood compatibility and reducing the thrombogenicity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Among-laboratory variations within one method can exceed among-method variations, and there is an urgent need to improve analytical imprecision and to decrease differences among methods.
Abstract: Background: Information on interlaboratory variation and especially on methodological differences for plasma total homocysteine is lacking. Methods: We studied 14 laboratories that used eight different method types: HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED); HPLC with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) further subdivided by type of reducing/derivatizing agent; gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS); enzyme immunoassay (EIA); and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Three of these laboratories used two methods. The laboratories participated in a 2-day analysis of 46 plasma samples, 4 additional plasma samples with added homocystine, and 3 plasma quality-control (QC) pools. Results were analyzed for imprecision, recovery, and methodological differences. Results: The mean among-laboratory and among-run within-laboratory imprecision (CV) was 9.3% and 5.6% for plasma samples, 8.8% and 4.9% for samples with added homocystine, and 7.6% and 4.2% for the QC pools, respectively. Difference plots showed values systematically higher than GC/MS for HPLC-ED, HPLC-FD using sodium borohydride/monobromobimane (however, for only one laboratory), and EIA, and lower values for HPLC-FD using trialkylphosphine/4-(aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. The two HPLC-FD methods using tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine/ammonium 7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F) or tributyl phosphine/SBD-F, and the FPIA method showed no detectable systematic difference from GC/MS. Conclusions: Among-laboratory variations within one method can exceed among-method variations. Some of the methods tested could be used interchangeably, but there is an urgent need to improve analytical imprecision and to decrease differences among methods.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the optical polarization modulation in optoelectronic generation and detection of a free-space terahertz (THz) radiation provides up to twofold increase of the dynamic range.
Abstract: Compared with the conventional laser amplitude modulation with a lock-in amplifier, the optical polarization modulation in optoelectronic generation and detection of a free-space terahertz (THz) radiation provides up to twofold increase of the dynamic range. The total laser power for the optoelectronic generation of THz beams can be fully utilized.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a relatively comprehensive analysis of polarization evolution in depolarized interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes is presented, together with signal fading and mean wavelength stability.
Abstract: Single-mode (SM) fiber which is used in the sensing coil of depolarized interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes (IFOG's) does not maintain the polarization state of light. As a consequence, the state of polarization evolves freely over the length of the sensing coil and over environment. The polarization evolution is induced by birefringence within the SM coil. Variations of this birefringence may lead to nonreciprocal errors whose treatment is presented in this paper together with signal fading and the mean wavelength stability. Thus, this treatment provides a relatively comprehensive analysis of polarization evolution in depolarized gyroscopes. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the depolarized gyro architecture with two depolarizers on the opposite sides of the gyro loop must be used to obtain low-drift behaviour.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
19 May 1999
TL;DR: clear discrimination in PS-OCT imags between regions of normal and demineralized enamel in bovine enamel blocks containing well-characterized artificial lesions is demonstrated.
Abstract: There is no diagnostic technology presently available utilizing non-ionizing radiation that can image the state of demineralization of dental enamel in vivo for the detection, characterization and monitoring of early, incipient caries lesions. In this study, a Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT) system was evaluated for its potential for the non-invasive diagnosis of early carious lesions. We demonstrated clear discrimination in PS-OCT imags between regions of normal and demineralized enamel in bovine enamel blocks containing well-characterized artificial lesions. Moreover, high-resolution, cross- sectional images were acquired that clearly discriminate between the normal and carious regions of extracted human teeth. Regions that appeared to be demineralized in the PS- OCT imags were verified using histological thin sections examined under polarized light. The PS-OCT system discriminates between normal and carious regions by measuring the state of polarization of the back-scattered 1310 nm light, which is affected by the state of demineralization of the enamel. The demineralized regions of enamel have a large scattering coefficient, thus depolarizing the incident light. This initial study shows that PS-OCT has great potential for the detection, characterization, and monitoring of incipient caries lesions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, photoinduced anisotropy and polarization holographic recording have been studied in an amorphous tripolymer containing azo-side groups and diverse mechanisms should be invoked to explain the experimental results.

Journal ArticleDOI
Abstract: The changes in the state of polarisation of laser radiation transformed by biofractal objects are examined. The orientational angular structure of the matrix elements of the operator representing the optical properties of biofractals with different morphological structures (mineralised collagen fibres and myosin bundles) is investigated. An optical model for the description of fractal laser fields under the conditions of single light scattering is proposed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors simulate numerically the conversion of the MeV radiation into a vertical e+- outflow above a disc-like source, where the outflowing plasma becomes optically thick to Thomson scattering if the compactness of the gamma-ray source exceeds 30.
Abstract: An electron-positron atmosphere is inevitably created around a black hole accretion disc, the spectrum of which extends to MeV energies. Pairs created in photon-photon collisions outside the disc are blown away by soft radiation (which dominates the bolometric luminosity of the disc) and form a semirelativistic outflow. We simulate numerically the conversion of the MeV radiation into a vertical e+- outflow above a disc-like source. The outflowing e+- plasma becomes optically thick to Thomson scattering if the compactness of the gamma-ray source exceeds 30. The scattering by e+- then collimates the bulk of soft radiation along the disc axis, and the apparent bolometric luminosity of the disc depends strongly on its inclination to the line of sight. The anisotropic central emission may account for the lack of Fe K-alpha lines in the X-ray spectra of bright radio-quiet quasars. The scattering in e+- outflows may also explain the orientation of optical polarization in non-blazar active galactic nuclei.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the feasibility of revealing the traveling waves of the states of optical polarization in holographic and interference arrangements in the framework of Jones vector formalism and proved the feasibility.
Abstract: Stationary and traveling waves of the states of optical polarization are considered in the framework of Jones vector formalism. The feasibility of revealing these waves in holographic and interference arrangements is substantiated and demonstrated.

Patent
22 Jan 1999
TL;DR: In this article, a video imaging device consisting of a light source, a detector, and an optical polarization system is used for video imaging of biological tissue layers, which relies on taking a set of measurements at different polarization orientations so as to render a new image that is independent of the light reflected from the surface (12) of a tissue sample (14) and the light scattered from deep tissue layers (32).
Abstract: A video imaging device includes a light source (2), a detector (36), and an optical polarization system (6, 38) for video imaging of superfical biological tissue layers (26, 32). The device relies on taking a set of measurements at different polarization orientations so as to render a new image that is independent of the light (22) reflected from the surface (12) of a tissue sample (14) and that is independent of the light (34) scattered from deep tissue layers (32).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the evolution of the degree of polarization of individual channels and their Stokes parameters in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system in which Kerr nonlinearity and chromatic dispersion are taken into account but in which polarization mode dispersion as well as polarization dependent loss and gain are neglected.
Abstract: This paper numerically investigated the evolution of the degree of polarization of individual channels and their Stokes parameters in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system in which Kerr nonlinearity and chromatic dispersion are taken into account but in which polarization mode dispersion as well as polarization-dependent loss and gain are neglected. We compared the results to a mean field model which assumes that the channels are strongly dispersion-managed so that each channel is only affected by the Stokes parameters of the others. This model predicts no change in the degree of polarization of each of the channels so that an initially polarization-scrambled channel does not repolarize. The full simulations showed that the repolarization of a polarization-scrambled signal is small for parameters corresponding to realistic communication systems, validating the use of the mean field model. However, we also found that the repolarization can become significant for low data rates and a small number of channels in a dispersion-managed system with a short length map, thus setting limits on the model's validity and indicating operating regimes that should be avoided in real communication systems.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a polarization stabilizer which employs liquid crystal (LC) rotatable waveplates was proposed for single-mode fiber (SMF) transmission systems, which is useful for optimizing the performance of polarization dependent systems or devices.
Abstract: In standard single-mode fiber (SMF) transmission systems, a polarization stabilizer is useful for optimizing the performance of polarization dependent systems or devices. We have proposed and developed a polarization stabilizer which employs liquid crystal (LC) rotatable waveplates. It has a simple configuration, no moving parts, and endless-control characteristic. High polarization stability was confirmed under various state of polarization (SOP) fluctuations. The maximum response speed of the polarization stabilizer is about 900/spl deg//s, but this can be increased by improving the controller. We applied the polarization stabilizer to a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) having polarization dependence, and achieved good gain stabilization.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preliminary comparisons between POLDER and ISCCP monthly mean products outline some differences resulting in part from the original characteristics of POLDER.
Abstract: The POLDER instrument is devoted to global observations of the solar radiation reflected by the Earth-atmosphere system. Algorithms of the "Earth Radiation Budget and Clouds" processing line implemented at the French Space Center are applied to ADEOS-POLDER data. First results on derived cloud properties are presented from POLDER level 2 data of 10 November 1996 and level 3 products of June 1997. A good correlation is observed between the POLDER cloud detection algorithm and the Dynamical Clustering Method applied to METEOSAT data. The multidirectional capability of POLDER appears useful to check schemes of cloud optical thickness retrieval. As expected, a water droplet model is suitable for liquid water clouds and inadequate for ice clouds. That indirectly validates the algorithm of cloud phase recognition. An apparent pressure is derived from O/sub 2/-absorption measurements and a Rayleigh cloud pressure from polarization observations. For overcast conditions, the apparent pressure is larger (by more than 100 hPa) than the Rayleigh pressure chiefly due to the photon penetration effect. For partly cloudy conditions, it can be larger or weaker depending on the surface reflectivity. Preliminary comparisons between POLDER and ISCCP monthly mean products outline some differences resulting in part from the original characteristics of POLDER.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a Dove prism inverts the transmitted image and, when rotated, rotates the image at twice the rotation frequency of the prism, although the image is rotated, for a wide range of design parameters the polarization state of the transmitted light is not rotated.
Abstract: A Dove prism inverts the transmitted image and, when rotated, rotates the image at twice the rotation frequency of the prism. However, although the image is rotated, for a wide range of design parameters the polarization state of the transmitted light is not rotated. This has important implications when using Dove prisms within laser cavities, interferometers and other optical experiments.

Patent
Chuan Pu1, Yu-Hwa Lo1
04 May 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, an integrated polarization sensing apparatus and method uses a self-homodyne detection scheme to provide required sensitivity for numerous applications, such as glucose concentration monitoring, without the need for expensive, bulky components.
Abstract: An integrated polarization sensing apparatus and method uses a self-homodyne detection scheme to provide required sensitivity for numerous applications, such as glucose concentration monitoring, without the need for expensive, bulky components. The detection scheme is implemented by splitting a polarized laser beam with a polarization beam splitter into a P wave component and an S wave component, phase modulating the P wave component and recombining the two components. The polarization of the combined optical beam is then rotated slightly by the variable to be monitored, such as by passing the beam through a glucose solution. Finally, the beam is passed onto a photodetector that generates a signal that is proportional to the polarization rotation angle. This device has the advantage of employing optical components, including polarizing beam splitters, phase modulators and lenses, that can all be fabricated on a single silicon chip using MEMS technology so that the device can be made compact and inexpensive.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an electrically tunable optical filter has been developed that uses a polymer containing fine droplets of nematic liquid crystal as the active cavity in a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI).
Abstract: An electrically tunable optical filter has been developed that uses a polymer containing fine droplets of nematic liquid crystal as the active cavity in a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). This FPI filter, whose finesse was 62, had a free spectral range of 37 nm in the 1.55-/spl mu/m range with a full-width at half maximum of 0.6 nm and a transmission loss of 2.4 dB. The polarization dependent loss was smaller than 0.17 dB. The transmitted peak wavelength decreased with an electric field. This resulted in a tuning range of 10 nm at 300 V. The switching time was about 370 /spl mu/s.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the Stokes parameters of light and the phase difference of two modes that describe the quantum polarization states of optical field are investigated. And the problem of determining the phase differences in two modes of optical fields for the quantum polarized states of light is discussed.
Abstract: In our paper we consider the non-classical behaviour of both the Hermitian (observable) Stokes parameters of light and the phase difference of two modes that describe the quantum polarization states of optical field. To characterize the degree of polarization of light we introduce a new quantity taking into account the quantum properties of different quantum states of two orthogonally polarized modes. The problem of determination of the phase difference in two modes of optical field for the quantum polarization states of light is discussed. To describe in general such a quantum field we introduce two pairs of the phase operators: the phase angles for the Stokes parameters of light in a three-dimensional picture of the Poincare sphere. We also consider a special type of the eight-port polarization interferometer (polarimeter) for simultaneous homodyne detection of both the Stokes parameters of light and the polarization phase operators and their fluctuations as well. Using an anisotropic (spatiope...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated injection locking characteristics of a fiber distributed feedback (DFB) laser operating in dual polarizations, and found that it could operate in a single polarization by injection locking.
Abstract: This paper investigated injection locking characteristics of a fiber distributed feedback (DFB) laser operating in dual polarizations, and found that it could operate in a single polarization by injection locking. The locking bandwidth was less than 10 MHz, much narrower than DFB laser diodes as a consequence of longer cavity length and resulting longer photon lifetime. As a more practical method to realize single-polarization operation of the fiber DFB laser, we proposed self-injection locking with a polarization-selective optical feedback composed of a mirror and a polarizer, and demonstrated a stable single-polarization operation.