Using the x-ray lasers as amplifiers of ultrashort x-ray pulses has been investigated as a scheme for ultimate
light sources. For successful implementation, the characteristics of the scheme should be taken into account in
designing the amplifiers. In this paper, the basic physics and characteristics of the scheme were analyzed by
using the Maxwell-Bloch equations incorporating time-dependent gain, random spontaneous emission, atomic
level degeneracy, and radiation polarization. The variation of the pulse parameters such as energy, bandwidth,
pulsewidth, and polarization were explained based on a simple mechanism of pulse growth and also compared to
that in the conventional x-ray lasers. These results should be the basic information for a practical implementation
of the scheme.
The development in the field of X-ray laser and its applications at c-FAST is discussed in detail. First of all the recent progress in understanding of seeding X-ray laser with harmanics is presented. On the other hand, analysis of the kinetic processes by numerical simulations shows their dependence on the pump laser pulse structure. The latter cleary supports the thesis that multi-pulse pump schemes are more efficient that those based on two or
single laser pump pulse. Finally such applications as coherent diffraction imaging and photoelectron spectroscopy constitute basis for practical use of X-ray lasers.
High-harmonic-seeded x-ray laser became an important issue in x-ray laser development due to the possibility to obtain a
highly coherent and polarized soft x-ray source. We performed theoretical investigations into amplification of high
harmonic pulses in an x-ray lasing medium by using a model based on Maxwell-Bloch equations. From the theoretical
works, we analyze characteristics of energy extraction and temporal profile of output pulse. In addition, preliminary
experimental results and ongoing experiments related the harmonic-seeded x-ray lasers are reported.
Experimental proof-of-concept is presented for a quasi-holographic solution to polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS OCT). Due to decoupling between the reference and sample beams by polarization, the solution seems acceptable to acquisition and communication of optical data in the nonlaboratory environment. The nonlab environment implies uncontrollable disturbances, e.g., temperature changes and mechanical effects happening under shop testing in industry or routine examinations in common clinics and hospitals. For mapping the collagen-related depolarization ratio of light backscattered from the human dermis, a phenomenological model is evolved from the theory of light depolarization in crystalline polymers. The model yielded a simplified intensity-based estimation algorithm. The design concept and the model rely on a submillimeter tumor thickness as a proofed prognostic factor and an important criterion for complementary functional diagnostics of skin cancers in their early phase. Choice of the model is inspired by similarity of structural and optical properties between liquid-crystal collagen fibers in the dermis and birefringent crystalline lamellae in some polymer materials. The model gives a plausible interpretation of a peculiarity of cumulative birefringence in the abnormal skin dermis. Following a top-down approach to design, the authors attempt to contribute to bridging the gap between practitioners' concerns and academic studies.
We propose a dual-core photonic quasicrystal fiber with six-fold symmetry that may be useful in compensating
chromatic dispersion of a single-mode fiber. The geometry of the proposed photonic quasicrystal fiber is described and
then the behaviors of effective index and chromatic dispersion are calculated according to the structural parameters. The
dual-core fiber is composed of a pure silica inner core and an outer core that is formed by reducing the diameter of air
holes in the third cladding layer. We investigate the dependence of the effective indices of inner core and outer core, the
fundamental super mode, and the effect of chromatic dispersion on the structural parameters by using plane wave
expansion method.
The dual-core photonic quasicrystal fiber has a large negative chromatic dispersion value of approximately -2000 ps
nm-1 km-1 over optical communication band around 1.5μm. Introducing quasicrystal structures in the dual-core optical
fibers can improve the capability of dispersion compensation of the fibers significantly.
The characteristics of femtosecond laser ablation of AlN and Al2O3 for precision microfabrication are studied
experimentally. Specifically, the process characteristics during femtosecond laser drilling of microholes with sub-100
μm diameter are investigated for varying laser parameters and beam path designs for trepanning. The accumulation of
sub-micrometer size particles within the hole is prevented using a blower and vent system. Through process optimization
the microdrilling with good hole quality is achieved.
We report on the fabrication and performance of a lensed photonic crystal fiber (PCF) designed as a compact but effective side-viewing optical imaging probe. The lensed-PCF probe was implemented in a single body without using any other fibers or additional optics. The beam expansion region and a focusing ball lens, necessary as a focuser, were simultaneously formed along a small piece of PCF by using arc discharges. The side-viewing ability was endowed by polishing the ball lens with a femto-second laser to form a TIR (total internal reflection) surface. The working distance and the transverse resolution of the fabricated single-body lensed-PCF were experimentally measured to be ~570 μm and 6.8 μm, respectively. With the proposed lensed-PCF probe, OCT images of an in vitro biological sample were successfully obtained
Output characteristics of an X-ray laser based on the GRIP geometry are analysed by both the theoretical and experimental methods. Detailed analysis of the last experiments on GRIP X-ray lasers with a single profiled pulse is given as well as the consequences of this pump variant for the injector-amplifier scheme being developed. Especially dynamics of the gain coefficient and the spontanous emission flux are important for the injector-amplifier scheme. Discussion on medium dynamics and kinetics is supported by numerical simulations. Additionally, some preliminary results on seeding a
Ni-like soft X-ray with high harmonic from neon at 13.9 nm are presented.
A further insight into the prior concept of polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography system intended for non-laboratory
conditions is brought forward and an experimental proof-of-concept is presented. A phenomenological model
is adopted from the theory of light depolarization in crystalline polymers and modified to yield a simplified algorithm for
mapping depolarization ratio in dermis. The algorithm could distinguish between dermal layers with depleted collagen
content and normal dermis of normal perilesional skin. Dermis is simulated by bireringent lamellae of collagen arranged
chaotically in multiple layers parallel to the skin surface. Both the design concept and the model imply the sub-millimeter
tumor thickness as a proofed prognostic factor and an important criterion for complementary functional
diagnostics of skin cancers at their early phase of vertical growth. Choice of the model is inspired by similarity of
structural and optical properties between liquid-crystal collagen fibers in dermis and birefringent crystalline lamellae in
polymer materials. The numerical computation based on the model allowing for real characteristics of dermis gives
plausible interpreting of depolarization peculiarities caused by collagen depletion. Feasibility is discussed of exploiting
fiber optic analogs of achromatic retarders. Fabrication of the fiber retarders is shown to be realistic by making use of the
photonics technology possessed by the authors.
The wavefront aberrations in the 100 TW laser pulses are measured and corrected to improve the intensity distribution of
the focal spot. Before correcting wavefront aberration of the laser pulses, the laser pulses have higher-order aberrations
such as coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration as well as defocus and astigmatism. The wavefront aberrations in the laser
pulses are corrected by the deformable mirror. The dynamic and static corrections are tested with the deformable mirror.
When correcting wavefront aberrations with the deformable mirror, the focal spot having a 1.2 times spot size of the
diffraction-limited focal spot is observed.
A challenge is accepted to identify depth resolved optical birefringence of turbid media, particularly human skin using
polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography under external environmental perturbations, e.g. under application
conditions in clinics and hospitals. A novel concept is advanced and respective design is elaborated for a system which
comprises a source of low-coherence light, a tandem of a readout interferometer and a sensing interferometer with reference
and sample arms, and a handheld probe integrated into the sensing interferometer through polarization-maintaining fibers.
The system provides fast electro-optic switching over orthogonal polarization components of a measurand light beam at the
same output from the sensing interferometer. At said output either of the aforementioned components remains perpendicular
to the polarization plane of light in the reference arm. For either of the components the readout interferometer compensates
optical path length differences in the sensing interferometer within a given interval of depth in the sample, and evolves
spatial fringes which are read out by optoelectronic means without any mechanical scanning in depth. The fringes are devoid
of cross-correlation artifacts inasmuch as the readout interferometer recombines coherently the measurand beam and the
reference beam having mutually orthogonal polarizations only.
A novel wavelength swept broadband source based on an ultrashort pulse laser and an external tunable filter was
proposed for application of frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). The laser beam coupled into
the single mode fiber, which provided 0.5-nm instantaneous spectral linewidth with 1-mW average output power, was
tuned from 740 nm to 850 at a 1 kHz repetition rate. The system with an axial resolution of 5 &mgr;m performed OCT
imaging of air-gap between glass plates proving potential about the application of pulse laser source to FD-OCT
system. The proposed swept source scheme could be applied for the implementation of ultra-high resolution FD-OCT
system based on a supercontinuum source with an ultra-short pulse laser and a high nonlinear optical fiber.
We have demonstrated bandwidth control and reshaping of second harmonic (SH) curve in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3
(Ti:PPLN) waveguide ( period=16.6 um) by using a temperature-gradient-control technique and a local-temperature-control technique.
We have achieved more than 13 nm second harmonic phase-matching bandwidth and several useful shapes of SH curve such as almost ideal sinc function, and double peaks in a 74 mm long Ti:PPLN waveguide that has pre-chirped SH curve in room temperature.
We have demonstrated all-optical wavelength-selective single- and dual-channel dropping and wavelength conversion in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide which has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG). Less than -17 dB of channel dropping extinction ratio was observed with coupled pump power of 325 mW and the wavelength conversion efficiency was measured to be -7 dB with coupled pump power of 233 mW.
Ultrafast lasers have many applications mainly due to its two properties, the ultrashort pulse width and the ultrahigh intensity. Because the former is the main cause of the latter, it is very important to exactly measure the pulse width of the ultrafast laser. Currently, there are several different kinds of experimental methods to measure the ultrashort pulse width. Among those systems for this measurement, the autocorrelator using the second harmonic generation (SHG) is by far the most simple and basic method. This type of autocorrelators usually uses inorganic crystals, such as BBO, as the SHG medium. The thinner medium is necessary for analyzing the shorter laser pulses. However, the polishing process which is necessary for obtaining the optically good surfaces makes it difficult to reduce the thickness of medium as desired. We present an autocorrelator system which overcomes these shortcomings. Our system is based on the SHG using organic polymer. Polymers can be easily prepared in the form of thin film on the strong substrate through the process of spin casting. Thickness less than 1 m can be obtained without difficulties. Furthermore, due to its high nonlinearity, thin film of polymer can produce the bright second harmonic light. Polyurea was used as the second harmonic generation material of the autocorrelator because it has the pretty good transparency. An autocorrelator system based on the 397nm-thick poled polyurea thin film has been developed and used to measure the pulse width of a home-made Ti:sapphire laser oscillator. Then, the system was compared with that based on a 100 μm-thick BBO crystal, which is widely used. The pulse width of laser beam was measured to be 9.8 fs with the former. The value is believed to be more accurate than that of 7.2 fs measured with the latter.
The spatial distribution of laser beam itself and the alignment of the receiving-transmitting system are very important parameters in quantitative analysis of Lidar signal. This is important because the beam shape and the inclination angle between axes of the transmitter and receiver change the physical quality of detecting elements, for example, the aerosol scattering coefficient and the concentration of pollutants, etc. In practical alignment of Lidar system, the inclination angle is allowed to fluctuate within the receiver field of view. At a long distance where geometric overlap is complete, this fluctuation has no influence on the final results, but at a short distance this effect is serious. If we know the distribution of laser beam and inclination angle, this effect can be corrected by using geometrical overlap function. In this study, we have calculated the geometrical overlap function for Gaussian and uniform distributions, respectively. It is found that the ratio-function, which is defined as the ratio of two geometrical functions obtained from different angles between the axes of the transmitter and receiver, behaves in different way for Gaussian and uniform laser beams. The completely different behavior of these two ratio-functions for different beam types can be used more conveniently in identifying the laser beam shape and inclination angle than geometrical functions only. This fact can be used for characterizing the spatial distribution of laser beam and for testing of alignment between receiver and transmitter.
In practical applications of lidar sounding, it is often difficult for the devices which work on various physical measurements to estimate meteorological parameters of the atmosphere. One of the difficulties is to define the slow vertical speed of the aerosol motion. This study is based on statistical processes at a spatial frequency domain after long-term observation of aerosol motion with the help of Micro Pulse lidar or other lidar systems. Basic assumption of the aerosol model is that an inhomogeneous aerosol distribution of certain size has initially uniform spatial arrangement. Simultaneously, we also assume that there are two more different aerosol distributions whose size is two times smaller than the initial one. The resulting aerosol field is a superposition of inhomogeneous aerosol distribution of the different sizes. The randomness of the aerosol distribution is provided with the random-number generator which changes the size and the position of each inhomogeneous aerosol distribution in the given limits. In this work, we have presented a 2D aerosol field whose size is 25.6 km in a vertical direction and 256 km in horizontal direction. The number of the basic aerosol sizes to which random factor is added is equal to seven. The size of inhomogeneous aerosols in a horizontal direction has changed from maximal value and the vertical size of inhomogeneities is setup by the special parameters from which shape of the each inhomogeneity is determined.
Idea of this work is to use the spectral Fourier analysis of time series of lidar return fluctuations between two different heights. Formally, fluctuating signals from two heights can be considered as an input and output signal of a linear system. If the system is linear, the mutual phase spectrum is linear function of temporal frequency. We have used a simple and reliable method to estimate wind velocity, and the algorithm is to fix the frequency at which the phase spectrum reaches the value +/- (pi) or jump through zero of mutual phase spectrum function. The sign of phase angle means the direction of movement, i.e. upwards or downwards. The algorithm is applied to the real data of Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) system. The MPL data provide an array of aerosol scattering coefficients up to the heights of 20 approximately 30 km with the sampling frequency of approximately 20 cycles per hour. In order to determine the vertical speed, the average time interval about 3 hours is required. The statistical reliability at single height is obtained by averaging several heights with the resolution of 1 km interval. From a spatial-temporal map of vertical motion in cloudy conditions, we find that there are downward movements of the air under the cloudy layers. That is the typical characteristics of cloud because when it moves down, cloudy drops are evaporated and also air temperature is lower. This dynamics promotes further acceleration of this process.
We have developed a compact Far Infrared Free Electron Laser (FIR FEL) on the base of 8 MEV microtron, which can provide 6 microsecond(s) up to 70 mA macropulse beam current. Beam line consists of bending and steering magnets. Optical Transition Radiation screen and 3 doublets of quadruples to provide matching of microtron output electron beam parameters with optimized parameters for FEL operation. A 2 m length, 25 mm period and 5.7 mm gap undulator has extremely low field error of 0.05% for the magnet field peak amplitude in the range 5.5 - 6.5 kG. Inside the undulator the electron beam passes through 2 mm X 20 mm aperture 2779 mm length planar waveguide. On both sides of the waveguide are installed two cylindrical 3 m curvature mirrors. They form confocal type free space mode in horizontal plane and waveguide mode in vertical plane of the optical resonator. A hole in output mirror provides coupling ratio about 1 - 2%. During experiments we have observed the coherent effect in spontaneous emission with power enhancement approximately 1000 times. It was observed too the long wave radiation, which can be explained by vertical betatron oscillation of electrons in undulator. The experiments with FIR resonator and Ge-Ga liquid He cooled detector shown coherent generation and tunability of it power with tuning of the length of the resonator. The enhancement of outcoupled signal in 50 times was detected with changing of resonator length. This phenomenon can be explained as startup of the lasing process in FIR resonator.
In this paper, we describe a robot endeffector tracking system using sensory information from recently-announced structured pattern laser diodes, which can generate images with several different types of structured pattern. The neural network approach is employed to recognize the robot endeffector covering the situation of three types of motion: translation, scaling and rotation. Features for the neural network to detect the position of the endeffector are extracted from the preprocessed images. Artificial neural networks are used to store models and to match with unknown input features recognizing the position of the robot endeffector. Since a minimal number of samples are used for different directions of the robot endeffector in the system, an artificial neural network with the generalization capability can be utilized for unknown input features. A feedforward neural network with the generalization capability can be utilized for unknown input features. A feedforward neural network trained with the back propagation learning is used to detect the position of the robot endeffector. Another feedforward neural network module is used to estimate the motion from a sequence of images and to control movements of the robot endeffector. COmbining the tow neural networks for recognizing the robot endeffector and estimating the motion with the preprocessing stage, the whole system keeps tracking of the robot endeffector effectively.
A three-color, three-step, three-photon ionization scheme is chosen to examine the population dynamics and photoionization of isotopes in Yb media in the framework of the Maxwell-Bloch equation for the case where the laser frequencies are resonant on the transition lines of 168Yb. It is revealed that the scheme can be used for the effective photoionization of 168Yb, resulting in a selectivity of about 100%.
A Doppler-broadened 3-level atomic Yb medium is chosen for the study of efficient selective excitation in the framework of the Maxwell-Bloch equation. It is examined if laser pulse propagations can excited most 168Yb atoms to the third levels without significantly influencing other isotopes in the ground states.
Photoionization signals are obtained by using the Schroedinger equation for the case where a two-level atom interacts simultaneously with the linearly and the circularly polarized lasers. Both double-peak and double-dip structures due to the optical Autler-Townes effects are examined.
A single-color, two-step, three-photon ionization is examined in a point of view of the dynamic shift of two-photon resonance within the framework of the Bloch equation. It is suggested that a formula well-describes the dynamic shift even beyond usual quadratic behavior and it corresponds to the laser-frequency detuning causing a complete population transfer to the third-bound level.
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