Sample records for xuv frequency comb

  1. XUV frequency-comb metrology on the ground state of helium

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kandula, Dominik Z.; Gohle, Christoph; Pinkert, Tjeerd J.

    2011-12-15

    The operation of a frequency comb at extreme ultraviolet (xuv) wavelengths based on pairwise amplification and nonlinear upconversion to the 15th harmonic of pulses from a frequency-comb laser in the near-infrared range is reported. It is experimentally demonstrated that the resulting spectrum at 51 nm is fully phase coherent and can be applied to precision metrology. The pulses are used in a scheme of direct-frequency-comb excitation of helium atoms from the ground state to the 1s4p and 1s5p {sup 1} P{sub 1} states. Laser ionization by auxiliary 1064 nm pulses is used to detect the excited-state population, resulting in amore » cosine-like signal as a function of the repetition rate of the frequency comb with a modulation contrast of up to 55%. Analysis of the visibility of this comb structure, thereby using the helium atom as a precision phase ruler, yields an estimated timing jitter between the two upconverted-comb laser pulses of 50 attoseconds, which is equivalent to a phase jitter of 0.38 (6) cycles in the xuv at 51 nm. This sets a quantitative figure of merit for the operation of the xuv comb and indicates that extension to even shorter wavelengths should be feasible. The helium metrology investigation results in transition frequencies of 5 740 806 993 (10) and 5 814 248 672 (6) MHz for excitation of the 1s4p and 1s5p {sup 1} P{sub 1} states, respectively. This constitutes an important frequency measurement in the xuv, attaining high accuracy in this windowless part of the electromagnetic spectrum. From the measured transition frequencies an eight-fold-improved {sup 4}He ionization energy of 5 945 204 212 (6) MHz is derived. Also, a new value for the {sup 4}He ground-state Lamb shift is found of 41 247 (6) MHz. This experimental value is in agreement with recent theoretical calculations up to order m{alpha}{sup 6} and m{sup 2}/M{alpha}{sup 5}, but with a six-times-higher precision, therewith providing a stringent test of quantum electrodynamics in bound

  2. Frequency Comb Spectroscopy - From IR to XUV

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-06-09

    time resolution of 25 s. Publications: [1] A. Cingöz, Yost, D. C. , Allison, T. K. , Ruehl, A. , Fermann, M. E. , Hartl , I. , and Ye, J...J. , Eikema, K. S. E. , Fermann, M. E. , Hartl , I. , and Ye, J. , “Full phase stabilization of a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb via high...D. C. , Allison, T. K. , Ruehl, A. , Fermann, M. E. , Hartl , I. , and Ye, J. , “Direct frequency comb spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet”, Nature

  3. Scaling of Yb-Fiber Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ruehl, Axel; Marcinkevicius, Andrius; Fermann, Martin E.; Hartl, Ingmar

    2010-06-01

    Immediately after their introduction in 1999, femtosecond laser frequency combs revolutionized the field of precision optical frequency metrology and are key elements in many experiments. Frequency combs based on femtosecond Er-fiber lasers based were demonstrated in 2005, allowing additionally rugged, compact set-ups and reliable unattended long-term operation. The introduction of Yb-fiber technology led to an dramatic improvement in fiber-comb performance in various aspects. Low-noise Yb-fiber femtosecond oscillators enabled a reduction of relative comb tooth linewidth to the sub-Hz level as well as scaling of the fundamental comb spacings up to 1 GHz. This is beneficial for any frequency-domain comb application due to the higher power per comb-mode. Many spectroscopic applications require, however, frequency combs way beyond the wavelength range accessible with broad band laser materials, so nonlinear conversion and hence higher peak intensity is required. We demonstrated power scaling of Yb-fiber frequency combs up to 80 W average power in a strictly linear chirped-pulse amplification schemes compatible with low-noise phase control. These high-power Yb-fiber-frequency combs facilitated not only the extension to the mid-IR spectral region. When coupled to a passive enhancement cavity, the average power can be further scaled to the kW-level opening new capabilities for XUV frequency combs via high-harmonic generation. All these advances of fiber-based frequency combs will trigger many novel applications both in fundamental and applied sciences. Schibli et al., Nature Photonics 2 355 (2008). Hartl et al., MF9 in Advanced Solid-State Photonics. 2009, Optical Society of America. Ruehl et al., AWC7 in Advanced Solid-State Photonics. 2010, Optical Society of America. Adler et al., Optics Letters 34 1330 (2009). Yost et al., Nature Physics 5 815 (2009).

  4. Quasi-supercontinuum source in the extreme ultraviolet using multiple frequency combs from high-harmonic generation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wünsche, Martin; Fuchs, Silvio; Aull, Stefan

    A quasi-supercontinuum source in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) is demonstrated using a table-top femtosecond laser and a tunable optical parametric amplifier (OPA) as a driver for high-harmonic generation (HHG). The harmonic radiation, which is usually a comb of odd multiples of the fundamental frequency, is generated by near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses from the OPA. A quasi-continuous XUV spectrum in the range of 30 to 100 eV is realized by averaging over multiple harmonic comb spectra with slightly different fundamental frequencies and thus different spectral spacing between the individual harmonics. The driving laser wavelength is swept automatically during an averaging timemore » period. With a total photon flux of 4×10 9 photons/s in the range of 30 eV to 100 eV and 1×10 7 photons/s in the range of 100 eV to 200 eV, the resulting quasi-supercontinuum XUV source is suited for applications such as XUV coherence tomography (XCT) or near-edge absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS).« less

  5. Quasi-supercontinuum source in the extreme ultraviolet using multiple frequency combs from high-harmonic generation

    DOE PAGES

    Wünsche, Martin; Fuchs, Silvio; Aull, Stefan; ...

    2017-03-16

    A quasi-supercontinuum source in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) is demonstrated using a table-top femtosecond laser and a tunable optical parametric amplifier (OPA) as a driver for high-harmonic generation (HHG). The harmonic radiation, which is usually a comb of odd multiples of the fundamental frequency, is generated by near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses from the OPA. A quasi-continuous XUV spectrum in the range of 30 to 100 eV is realized by averaging over multiple harmonic comb spectra with slightly different fundamental frequencies and thus different spectral spacing between the individual harmonics. The driving laser wavelength is swept automatically during an averaging timemore » period. With a total photon flux of 4×10 9 photons/s in the range of 30 eV to 100 eV and 1×10 7 photons/s in the range of 100 eV to 200 eV, the resulting quasi-supercontinuum XUV source is suited for applications such as XUV coherence tomography (XCT) or near-edge absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS).« less

  6. Optomechanical frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miri, Mohammad-Ali; D’Aguanno, Giuseppe; Alù, Andrea

    2018-04-01

    We study the formation of frequency combs in a single-mode optomechanical cavity. The comb is composed of equidistant spectral lines centered at the pump laser frequency and located at different harmonics of the mechanical resonator. We investigate the classical nonlinear dynamics of such system and find analytically the onset of parametric instability resulting in the breakdown of a stationary continuous wave intracavity field into a periodic train of pulses, which in the Fourier domain gives rise to a broadband frequency comb. Different dynamical regimes, including a stationary state, frequency comb generation and chaos, and their dependence on the system parameters, are studied both analytically and numerically. Interestingly, the comb generation is found to be more robust in the poor cavity limit, where optical loss is equal or larger than the mechanical resonance frequency. Our results show that optomechanical resonators open exciting opportunities for microwave photonics as compact and robust sources of frequency combs with megahertz line spacing.

  7. On-chip dual-comb based on quantum cascade laser frequency combs

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Villares, G., E-mail: gustavo.villares@phys.ethz.ch; Wolf, J.; Kazakov, D.

    2015-12-21

    Dual-comb spectroscopy is emerging as an appealing application of mid-infrared frequency combs for high-resolution molecular spectroscopy, as it leverages on the unique coherence properties of frequency combs. Here, we present an on-chip dual-comb source based on mid-infrared quantum cascade laser frequency combs. Control of the combs repetition and offset frequencies is obtained by integrating micro-heaters next to each laser. We show that a full control of the dual-comb system is possible, by measuring a multi-heterodyne beating corresponding to an optical bandwidth of 32 cm{sup −1} centered at 1330 cm{sup −1} (7.52 μm), demonstrating that this device represents a critical step towards compact dual-combmore » systems.« less

  8. On Frequency Combs in Monolithic Resonators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savchenkov, A. A.; Matsko, A. B.; Maleki, L.

    2016-06-01

    Optical frequency combs have become indispensable in astronomical measurements, biological fingerprinting, optical metrology, and radio frequency photonic signal generation. Recently demonstrated microring resonator-based Kerr frequency combs point the way towards chip scale optical frequency comb generator retaining major properties of the lab scale devices. This technique is promising for integrated miniature radiofrequency and microwave sources, atomic clocks, optical references and femtosecond pulse generators. Here we present Kerr frequency comb development in a historical perspective emphasizing its similarities and differences with other physical phenomena. We elucidate fundamental principles and describe practical implementations of Kerr comb oscillators, highlighting associated solved and unsolved problems.

  9. Broadband midinfrared frequency comb with tooth scanning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Kevin F.; Masłowski, P.; Mills, A.; Mohr, C.; Jiang, Jie; Schunemann, Peter G.; Fermann, M. E.

    2015-03-01

    Frequency combs are a massively parallel source of extremely accurate optical frequencies. Frequency combs generally operate at the visible or near-infrared wavelengths, but fundamental molecular vibrations occur at midinfrared wavelengths. We demonstrate an optically-referenced, broadband midinfrared frequency comb based on a doublyresonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO). By tuning the wavelength of the reference laser, the comb line frequencies are tuned as well. By scanning the reference wavelength, any frequency can be accessed, not just the frequencies of the base comb. Combined with our comb-resolving Fourier transform spectrometer, we can measure 200 wavenumber wide broadband absorption spectra with 200 kHz linewidth comb teeth. Our OPO is pumped by an amplified Tm fiber frequency comb, with phase-locked carrier envelope offset frequency, and repetition rate fixed by phase-locking a frequency comb line to a narrow linewidth diode laser at a telecom channel. The frequency comb is referenced to GPS by long-term stabilization of the repetition rate to a selected value using the temperature of the reference laser as the control. The resulting pump comb is about 3W of 100 fs pulses at 418 MHz repetition rate at 1950 nm. Part of the comb is used for supercontinuum generation for frequency stabilization, and the rest pumps an orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OP-GaAs) crystal in a doubly-resonant optical parametric oscillator cavity, yielding collinear signal and idler beams from about 3 to 5.5 μm. We verify comb scanning by resolving the 200 MHz wide absorption lines of the entire fundamental CO vibrational manifold at 11 Torr pressure.

  10. Frequency comb swept lasers.

    PubMed

    Tsai, Tsung-Han; Zhou, Chao; Adler, Desmond C; Fujimoto, James G

    2009-11-09

    We demonstrate a frequency comb (FC) swept laser and a frequency comb Fourier domain mode locked (FC-FDML) laser for applications in optical coherence tomography (OCT). The fiber-based FC swept lasers operate at a sweep rate of 1kHz and 120kHz, respectively over a 135nm tuning range centered at 1310nm with average output powers of 50mW. A 25GHz free spectral range frequency comb filter in the swept lasers causes the lasers to generate a series of well defined frequency steps. The narrow bandwidth (0.015nm) of the frequency comb filter enables a approximately -1.2dB sensitivity roll off over approximately 3mm range, compared to conventional swept source and FDML lasers which have -10dB and -5dB roll offs, respectively. Measurements at very long ranges are possible with minimal sensitivity loss, however reflections from outside the principal measurement range of 0-3mm appear aliased back into the principal range. In addition, the frequency comb output from the lasers are equally spaced in frequency (linear in k-space). The filtered laser output can be used to self-clock the OCT interference signal sampling, enabling direct fast Fourier transformation of the fringe signals, without the need for fringe recalibration procedures. The design and operation principles of FC swept lasers are discussed and designs for short cavity lasers for OCT and interferometric measurement applications are proposed.

  11. Frequency comb swept lasers

    PubMed Central

    Tsai, Tsung-Han; Zhou, Chao; Adler, Desmond C.; Fujimoto, James G.

    2010-01-01

    We demonstrate a frequency comb (FC) swept laser and a frequency comb Fourier domain mode locked (FC-FDML) laser for applications in optical coherence tomography (OCT). The fiber-based FC swept lasers operate at a sweep rate of 1kHz and 120kHz, respectively over a 135nm tuning range centered at 1310nm with average output powers of 50mW. A 25GHz free spectral range frequency comb filter in the swept lasers causes the lasers to generate a series of well defined frequency steps. The narrow bandwidth (0.015nm) of the frequency comb filter enables a ~−1.2dB sensitivity roll off over ~3mm range, compared to conventional swept source and FDML lasers which have −10dB and −5dB roll offs, respectively. Measurements at very long ranges are possible with minimal sensitivity loss, however reflections from outside the principal measurement range of 0–3mm appear aliased back into the principal range. In addition, the frequency comb output from the lasers are equally spaced in frequency (linear in k-space). The filtered laser output can be used to self-clock the OCT interference signal sampling, enabling direct fast Fourier transformation of the fringe signals, without the need for fringe recalibration procedures. The design and operation principles of FC swept lasers are discussed and designs for short cavity lasers for OCT and interferometric measurement applications are proposed. PMID:19997365

  12. Dense electro-optic frequency comb generated by two-stage modulation for dual-comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shuai; Fan, Xinyu; Xu, Bingxin; He, Zuyuan

    2017-10-01

    An electro-optic frequency comb enables frequency-agile comb-based spectroscopy without using sophisticated phase-locking electronics. Nevertheless, dense electro-optic frequency combs over broad spans have yet to be developed. In this Letter, we propose a straightforward and efficient method for electro-optic frequency comb generation with a small line spacing and a large span. This method is based on two-stage modulation: generating an 18 GHz line-spacing comb at the first stage and a 250 MHz line-spacing comb at the second stage. After generating an electro-optic frequency comb covering 1500 lines, we set up an easily established mutually coherent hybrid dual-comb interferometer, which combines the generated electro-optic frequency comb and a free-running mode-locked laser. As a proof of concept, this hybrid dual-comb interferometer is used to measure the absorption and dispersion profiles of the molecular transition of H 13 CN with a spectral resolution of 250 MHz.

  13. Monolithically integrated absolute frequency comb laser system

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wanke, Michael C.

    2016-07-12

    Rather than down-convert optical frequencies, a QCL laser system directly generates a THz frequency comb in a compact monolithically integrated chip that can be locked to an absolute frequency without the need of a frequency-comb synthesizer. The monolithic, absolute frequency comb can provide a THz frequency reference and tool for high-resolution broad band spectroscopy.

  14. Frequency comb transferred by surface plasmon resonance

    PubMed Central

    Geng, Xiao Tao; Chun, Byung Jae; Seo, Ji Hoon; Seo, Kwanyong; Yoon, Hana; Kim, Dong-Eon; Kim, Young-Jin; Kim, Seungchul

    2016-01-01

    Frequency combs, millions of narrow-linewidth optical modes referenced to an atomic clock, have shown remarkable potential in time/frequency metrology, atomic/molecular spectroscopy and precision LIDARs. Applications have extended to coherent nonlinear Raman spectroscopy of molecules and quantum metrology for entangled atomic qubits. Frequency combs will create novel possibilities in nano-photonics and plasmonics; however, its interrelation with surface plasmons is unexplored despite the important role that plasmonics plays in nonlinear spectroscopy and quantum optics through the manipulation of light on a subwavelength scale. Here, we demonstrate that a frequency comb can be transformed to a plasmonic comb in plasmonic nanostructures and reverted to the original frequency comb without noticeable degradation of <6.51 × 10−19 in absolute position, 2.92 × 10−19 in stability and 1 Hz in linewidth. The results indicate that the superior performance of a well-defined frequency comb can be applied to nanoplasmonic spectroscopy, quantum metrology and subwavelength photonic circuits. PMID:26898307

  15. Mid-Infrared Frequency-Agile Dual-Comb Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Pei-Ling; Yan, Ming; Iwakuni, Kana; Millot, Guy; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Picqué, Nathalie

    2016-06-01

    We demonstrate a new approach to mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy. It opens up new opportunities for accurate real-time spectroscopic diagnostics and it significantly simplifies the technique of dual-comb spectroscopy. Two mid-infrared frequency combs of slightly different repetition frequencies and moderate, but rapidly tunable, spectral span are generated in the 2800-3200 cm-1 region. The generators rely on electro-optic modulators, nonlinear fibers for spectral broadening and difference frequency generation and do not involve mode-locked lasers. Flat-top frequency combs span up to 10 cm-1 with a comb line spacing of 100 MHz (3×10-3 cm-1). The performance of the spectrometer without any phase-lock electronics or correction scheme is illustrated with spectra showing resolved comb lines and Doppler-limited spectra of methane. High precision on the spectroscopic parameter (line positions and intensities) determination is demonstrated for spectra measured on a millisecond time scale and it is validated with comparison with literature data. G. Millot, S. Pitois, M. Yan, T. Hovannysyan, A. Bendahmane, T.W. Hänsch, N. Picqué, Frequency-agile dual-comb spectroscopy, Nature Photonics 10, 27-30 (2016).

  16. Frequency-noise measurements of optical frequency combs by multiple fringe-side discriminator

    PubMed Central

    Coluccelli, Nicola; Cassinerio, Marco; Gambetta, Alessio; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

    2015-01-01

    The frequency noise of an optical frequency comb is routinely measured through the hetherodyne beat of one comb tooth against a stable continuous-wave laser. After frequency-to-voltage conversion, the beatnote is sent to a spectrum analyzer to retrive the power spectral density of the frequency noise. Because narrow-linewidth continuous-wave lasers are available only at certain wavelengths, heterodyning the comb tooth can be challenging. We present a new technique for direct characterization of the frequency noise of an optical frequency comb, requiring no supplementary reference lasers and easily applicable in all spectral regions from the terahertz to the ultraviolet. The technique is based on the combination of a low finesse Fabry-Perot resonator and the so-called “fringe-side locking” method, usually adopted to characterize the spectral purity of single-frequency lasers, here generalized to optical frequency combs. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated with an Er-fiber comb source across the wavelength range from 1 to 2 μm. PMID:26548900

  17. Passively mode-locked interband cascade optical frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Bagheri, Mahmood; Frez, Clifford; Sterczewski, Lukasz A; Gruidin, Ivan; Fradet, Mathieu; Vurgaftman, Igor; Canedy, Chadwick L; Bewley, William W; Merritt, Charles D; Kim, Chul Soo; Kim, Mijin; Meyer, Jerry R

    2018-02-20

    Since their inception, optical frequency combs have transformed a broad range of technical and scientific disciplines, spanning time keeping to navigation. Recently, dual comb spectroscopy has emerged as an attractive alternative to traditional Fourier transform spectroscopy, since it offers higher measurement sensitivity in a fraction of the time. Midwave infrared (mid-IR) frequency combs are especially promising as an effective means for probing the strong fundamental absorption lines of numerous chemical and biological agents. Mid-IR combs have been realized via frequency down-conversion of a near-IR comb, by optical pumping of a micro-resonator, and beyond 7 μm by four-wave mixing in a quantum cascade laser. In this work, we demonstrate an electrically-driven frequency comb source that spans more than 1 THz of bandwidth centered near 3.6 μm. This is achieved by passively mode-locking an interband cascade laser (ICL) with gain and saturable absorber sections monolithically integrated on the same chip. The new source will significantly enhance the capabilities of mid-IR multi-heterodyne frequency comb spectroscopy systems.

  18. High-Resolution Dual-Comb Spectroscopy with Ultra-Low Noise Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hänsel, Wolfgang; Giunta, Michele; Beha, Katja; Perry, Adam J.; Holzwarth, R.

    2017-06-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopy is a powerful tool for fast broad-band spectroscopy due to the parallel interrogation of thousands of spectral lines. Here we report on the spectroscopic analysis of acetylene vapor in a pressurized gas cell using two ultra-low noise frequency combs with a repetition rate around 250 MHz. Optical referencing to a high-finesse cavity yields a sub-Hertz stability of all individual comb lines (including the virtual comb lines between 0 Hz and the carrier) and permits one to pick a small difference of repetition rate for the two frequency combs on the order of 300 Hz, thus representing an optical spectrum of 100 THz (˜3300 \\wn) within half the free spectral range (125 MHz). The transmission signal is derived straight from a photodetector and recorded with a high-resolution spectrum analyzer or digitized with a computer-controlled AD converter. The figure to the right shows a schematic of the experimental setup which is all fiber-coupled with polarization-maintaining fiber except for the spectroscopic cell. The graph on the lower right reveals a portion of the recorded radio-frequency spectrum which has been scaled to the optical domain. The location of the measured absorption coincides well with data taken from the HITRAN data base. Due to the intrinsic linewidth of all contributing comb lines, each sampling point in the transmission graph corresponds to the probing at an optical frequency with sub-Hertz resolution. This resolution is maintained in coherent wavelength conversion processes such as difference-frequency generation (DFG), sum-frequency generation (SFG) or non-linear broadening (self-phase modulation), and is therefore easily transferred to a wide spectral range from the mid infrared up to the visible spectrum.

  19. Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy of Alkali Atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pradhananga, Trinity; Palm, Christopher; Nguyen, Khoa; Guttikonda, Srikanth; Kimball, Derek Jackson

    2011-11-01

    We are using direct frequency comb spectroscopy to study transition frequencies and excited state hyperfine structure in potassium and rubidium using 2-photon transitions excited directly with the frequency-doubled output of a erbium fiber optical frequency comb. The frequency comb output is directed in two counterpropagating directions through a vapor cell containing the atomic vapor of interest. A pair of optical filters is used to select teeth of the comb in order to identify the transition wavelengths. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) measures fluorescence from a decay channel wavelength selected with another optical filter. Using different combinations of filters enables a wide range of transitions to be investigated. By scanning the repetition rate, a Doppler-free spectrum can be obtained enabling kHz-resolution spectral measurements. The thermal motion of the atoms in the vapor cell actually eliminates the need to fine-tune the offset frequency and repetition rate, alleviating a somewhat challenging requirement for spectroscopy of cold atoms. Our investigations are laying the groundwork for a long-term research program to use direct frequency comb spectroscopy to understand the complex spectra of rare-earth atoms.

  20. Dual frequency comb metrology with one fiber laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Xin; Takeshi, Yasui; Zheng, Zheng

    2016-11-01

    Optical metrology techniques based on dual optical frequency combs have emerged as a hotly studied area targeting a wide range of applications from optical spectroscopy to microwave and terahertz frequency measurement. Generating two sets of high-quality comb lines with slightly different comb-tooth spacings with high mutual coherence and stability is the key to most of the dual-comb schemes. The complexity and costs of such laser sources and the associated control systems to lock the two frequency combs hinder the wider adoption of such techniques. Here we demonstrate a very simple and rather different approach to tackle such a challenge. By employing novel laser cavity designs in a mode-locked fiber laser, a simple fiber laser setup could emit dual-comb pulse output with high stability and good coherence between the pulse trains. Based on such lasers, comb-tooth-resolved dual-comb optical spectroscopy is demonstrated. Picometer spectral resolving capability could be realized with a fiber-optic setup and a low-cost data acquisition system and standard algorithms. Besides, the frequency of microwave signals over a large range can be determined based on a simple setup. Our results show the capability of such single-fiber-laser-based dual-comb scheme to reduce the complexity and cost of dual-comb systems with excellent quality for different dual-comb applications.

  1. Coherent multi-heterodyne spectroscopy using acousto-optic frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Durán, Vicente; Schnébelin, Cȏme; Guillet de Chatellus, Hugues

    2018-05-28

    We propose and characterize experimentally a new source of optical frequency combs for performing multi-heterodyne spectrometry. This comb modality is based on a frequency-shifting loop seeded with a continuous-wave (CW) monochromatic laser. The comb lines are generated by successive passes of the CW laser through an acousto-optic frequency shifter. We report the generation of frequency combs with more than 1500 mutually coherent lines, without resorting to non-linear broadening phenomena or external electronic modulation. The comb line spacing is easily reconfigurable from tens of MHz down to the kHz region. We first use a single acousto-optic frequency comb to conduct self-heterodyne interferometry with a high frequency resolution (500 kHz). By increasing the line spacing to 80 MHz, we demonstrate molecular spectroscopy on the sub-millisecond time scale. In order to reduce the detection bandwidth, we subsequently implement an acousto-optic dual-comb spectrometer with the aid of two mutually coherent frequency shifting loops. In each architecture, the potentiality of acousto-optic frequency combs for spectroscopy is validated by spectral measurements of hydrogen cyanide in the near-infrared region.

  2. Coherent multi-heterodyne spectroscopy using acousto-optic frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Durán, Vicente; Schnébelin, Cȏme; Guillet de Chatellus, Hugues

    2018-05-01

    We propose and characterize experimentally a new source of optical frequency combs for performing multi-heterodyne spectrometry. This comb modality is based on a frequency shifting loop seeded with a CW monochromatic laser. The comb lines are generated by successive passes of the CW laser through an acousto-optic frequency shifter. We report the generation of frequency combs with more than 1500 mutually coherent lines, without resorting to non-linear broadening phenomena or external electronic modulation. The comb line spacing is easily reconfigurable from tens of MHz down to the kHz region. We first use a single acousto-optic frequency comb to conduct self-heterodyne interferometry with a high frequency resolution (500 kHz). By increasing the line spacing to 80 MHz, we demonstrate molecular spectroscopy on the sub-millisecond time scale. In order to reduce the detection bandwidth, we subsequently implement an acousto-optic dual-comb spectrometer with the aid of two mutually coherent frequency shifting loops. In each architecture, the potentiality of acousto-optic frequency combs for spectroscopy is validated by spectral measurements of hydrogen cyanide in the near-infrared region.

  3. The optical frequency comb fibre spectrometer

    PubMed Central

    Coluccelli, Nicola; Cassinerio, Marco; Redding, Brandon; Cao, Hui; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

    2016-01-01

    Optical frequency comb sources provide thousands of precise and accurate optical lines in a single device enabling the broadband and high-speed detection required in many applications. A main challenge is to parallelize the detection over the widest possible band while bringing the resolution to the single comb-line level. Here we propose a solution based on the combination of a frequency comb source and a fibre spectrometer, exploiting all-fibre technology. Our system allows for simultaneous measurement of 500 isolated comb lines over a span of 0.12 THz in a single acquisition; arbitrarily larger span are demonstrated (3,500 comb lines over 0.85 THz) by doing sequential acquisitions. The potential for precision measurements is proved by spectroscopy of acetylene at 1.53 μm. Being based on all-fibre technology, our system is inherently low-cost, lightweight and may lead to the development of a new class of broadband high-resolution spectrometers. PMID:27694981

  4. Frequency-agile dual-comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Millot, Guy; Pitois, Stéphane; Yan, Ming; Hovhannisyan, Tatevik; Bendahmane, Abdelkrim; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Picqué, Nathalie

    2016-01-01

    Spectroscopic gas sensing and its applications to, for example, trace detection or chemical kinetics, require ever more demanding measurement times, acquisition rates, sensitivities, precisions and broad tuning ranges. Here, we propose a new approach to near-infrared molecular spectroscopy, utilizing advanced concepts of optical telecommunications and supercontinuum photonics. We generate, without mode-locked lasers, two frequency combs of slightly different repetition frequencies and moderate, but rapidly tunable, spectral span. The output of a frequency-agile continuous-wave laser is split and sent into two electro-optic intensity modulators. Flat-top low-noise frequency combs are produced by wave-breaking in a nonlinear optical fibre of normal dispersion. With a dual-comb spectrometer, we record Doppler-limited spectra spanning 60 GHz within 13 μs and an 80 kHz refresh rate, at a tuning speed of 10 nm s-1. The sensitivity for weak absorption is enhanced by a long gas-filled hollow-core fibre. New opportunities for real-time diagnostics may be opened up, even outside the laboratory.

  5. Direct Absorption Spectroscopy with Electro-Optic Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fleisher, Adam J.; Long, David A.; Plusquellic, David F.; Hodges, Joseph T.

    2017-06-01

    The application of electro-optic frequency combs to direct absorption spectroscopy has increased research interest in high-agility, modulator-based comb generation. This talk will review common architectures for electro-optic frequency comb generators as well as describe common self-heterodyne and multi-heterodyne (i.e., dual-comb) detection approaches. In order to achieve a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio on the recorded interferogram while allowing for manageable data volumes, broadband electro-optic frequency combs require deep coherent averaging, preferably in real-time. Applications such as cavity-enhanced spectroscopy, precision atomic and molecular spectroscopy, as well as time-resolved spectroscopy will be introduced. D.A. Long et al., Opt. Lett. 39, 2688 (2014) A.J. Fleisher et al., Opt. Express 24, 10424 (2016)

  6. Frequency comb generation in a continuously pumped optical parametric oscillator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mosca, S.; Parisi, M.; Ricciardi, I.; Leo, F.; Hansson, T.; Erkintalo, M.; Maddaloni, P.; De Natale, P.; Wabnitz, S.; De Rosa, M.

    2018-02-01

    We demonstrate optical frequency comb generation in a continuously pumped optical parametric oscillator, in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency. We also model the dynamics of such quadratic combs using a single time-domain mean-field equation, and obtain simulation results that are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, we numerically investigate the coherence properties of simulated combs, showing the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our work could pave the way for a new class of frequency comb sources, which may enable straightforward access to new spectral regions and stimulate novel applications of frequency combs.

  7. Coherent radio-frequency detection for narrowband direct comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Anstie, James D; Perrella, Christopher; Light, Philip S; Luiten, Andre N

    2016-02-22

    We demonstrate a scheme for coherent narrowband direct optical frequency comb spectroscopy. An extended cavity diode laser is injection locked to a single mode of an optical frequency comb, frequency shifted, and used as a local oscillator to optically down-mix the interrogating comb on a fast photodetector. The high spectral coherence of the injection lock generates a microwave frequency comb at the output of the photodiode with very narrow features, enabling spectral information to be further down-mixed to RF frequencies, allowing optical transmittance and phase to be obtained using electronics commonly found in the lab. We demonstrate two methods for achieving this step: a serial mode-by-mode approach and a parallel dual-comb approach, with the Cs D1 transition at 894 nm as a test case.

  8. Nanomaterial-enhanced frequency combs (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Armani, Andrea M.; Castro-Beltran, Rigoberto; Diep, Vinh; Gungor, Eda; Shen, Xiaoqin; Soltani, Soheil

    2017-02-01

    Optical cavities are able to confine and store specific wavelengths of light, acting as optical amplifiers at those wavelengths. Because the amount of amplification is directly related to the cavity quality factor (Q) (or the cavity finesse), frequency comb research has focused on high-Q and ultra-high Q microcavities fabricated from a range of materials using a variety of methods. In all cases, the comb generation relies on a nonlinear process known as parametric frequency conversion which is based on a third order nonlinear interaction and which results in four wave mixing (FWM). Clearly, this approach requires significant optical power, which was the original motivation for using ultra-high-Q cavities. In fact, the majority of research to date has focused on pursuing increasingly high Q factors. However, another strategy is to improve the nonlinearity of the resonator through intelligently designing materials for this application. In the present work, a suite of nanomaterials (organic and inorganic) have been intelligently designed with the explicit purpose to enhance the nonlinearity of the resonator and reducing the threshold for frequency comb generation in the near-IR. The nanomaterials do not change the structure of the comb and only act to reduce the comb threshold. The silica microcavity is used as a testbed for initial demonstration and verification purposes. However, the fundamental strategy is translatable to other whispering gallery mode cavities.

  9. X-ray frequency combs from optically controlled resonance fluorescence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cavaletto, Stefano M.; Harman, Zoltán; Buth, Christian; Keitel, Christoph H.

    2013-12-01

    An x-ray pulse-shaping scheme is put forward for imprinting an optical frequency comb onto the radiation emitted on a driven x-ray transition, thus producing an x-ray frequency comb. A four-level system is used to describe the level structure of N ions driven by narrow-bandwidth x rays, an optical auxiliary laser, and an optical frequency comb. By including many-particle enhancement of the emitted resonance fluorescence, a spectrum is predicted consisting of equally spaced narrow lines which are centered on an x-ray transition energy and separated by the same tooth spacing as the driving optical frequency comb. Given an x-ray reference frequency, our comb could be employed to determine an unknown x-ray frequency. While relying on the quality of the light fields used to drive the ensemble of ions, the model has validity at energies from the 100 eV to the keV range.

  10. Linear and nonlinear frequency- and time-domain spectroscopy with multiple frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Bennett, Kochise; Rouxel, Jeremy R; Mukamel, Shaul

    2017-09-07

    Two techniques that employ equally spaced trains of optical pulses to map an optical high frequency into a low frequency modulation of the signal that can be detected in real time are compared. The development of phase-stable optical frequency combs has opened up new avenues to metrology and spectroscopy. The ability to generate a series of frequency spikes with precisely controlled separation permits a fast, highly accurate sampling of the material response. Recently, pairs of frequency combs with slightly different repetition rates have been utilized to down-convert material susceptibilities from the optical to microwave regime where they can be recorded in real time. We show how this one-dimensional dual comb technique can be extended to multiple dimensions by using several combs. We demonstrate how nonlinear susceptibilities can be quickly acquired using this technique. In a second class of techniques, sequences of ultrafast mode locked laser pulses are used to recover pathways of interactions contributing to nonlinear susceptibilities by using a photo-acoustic modulation varying along the sequences. We show that these techniques can be viewed as a time-domain analog of the multiple frequency comb scheme.

  11. Linear and Nonlinear Molecular Spectroscopy with Laser Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Picque, Nathalie

    2013-06-01

    The regular pulse train of a mode-locked femtosecond laser can give rise to a comb spectrum of millions of laser modes with a spacing precisely equal to the pulse repetition frequency. Laser frequency combs were conceived a decade ago as tools for the precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen. They are now becoming enabling tools for an increasing number of applications, including molecular spectroscopy. Recent experiments of multi-heterodyne frequency comb Fourier transform spectroscopy (also called dual-comb spectroscopy) have demonstrated that the precisely spaced spectral lines of a laser frequency comb can be harnessed for new techniques of linear absorption spectroscopy. The first proof-of-principle experiments have demonstrated a very exciting potential of dual-comb spectroscopy without moving parts for ultra-rapid and ultra-sensitive recording of complex broad spectral bandwidth molecular spectra. Compared to conventional Michelson-based Fourier transform spectroscopy, recording times could be shortened from seconds to microseconds, with intriguing prospects for spectroscopy of short lived transient species. The resolution improves proportionally to the measurement time. Therefore longer recordings allow high resolution spectroscopy of molecules with extreme precision, since the absolute frequency of each laser comb line can be known with the accuracy of an atomic clock. Moreover, since laser frequency combs involve intense ultrashort laser pulses, nonlinear interactions can be harnessed. Broad spectral bandwidth ultra-rapid nonlinear molecular spectroscopy and imaging with two laser frequency combs is demonstrated with coherent Raman effects and two-photon excitation. Real-time multiplex accessing of hyperspectral images may dramatically expand the range of applications of nonlinear microscopy. B. Bernhardt et al., Nature Photonics 4, 55-57 (2010); A. Schliesser et al. Nature Photonics 6, 440-449 (2012); T. Ideguchi et al. arXiv:1201.4177 (2012) T

  12. Kerr optical frequency combs: theory, applications and perspectives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chembo, Yanne K.

    2016-06-01

    The optical frequency comb technology is one of the most important breakthrough in photonics in recent years. This concept has revolutionized the science of ultra-stable lightwave and microwave signal generation. These combs were originally generated using ultrafast mode-locked lasers, but in the past decade, a simple and elegant alternativewas proposed,which consisted in pumping an ultra-high-Q optical resonator with Kerr nonlinearity using a continuous-wave laser. When optimal conditions are met, the intracavity pump photons are redistributed via four-wave mixing to the neighboring cavity modes, thereby creating the so-called Kerr optical frequency comb. Beyond being energy-efficient, conceptually simple, and structurally robust, Kerr comb generators are very compact devices (millimetric down to micrometric size) which can be integrated on a chip. They are, therefore, considered as very promising candidates to replace femtosecond mode-locked lasers for the generation of broadband and coherent optical frequency combs in the spectral domain, or equivalently, narrow optical pulses in the temporal domain. These combs are, moreover, expected to provide breakthroughs in many technological areas, such as integrated photonics, metrology, optical telecommunications, and aerospace engineering. The purpose of this review article is to present a comprehensive survey of the topic of Kerr optical frequency combs.We provide an overview of the main theoretical and experimental results that have been obtained so far. We also highlight the potential of Kerr combs for current or prospective applications, and discuss as well some of the open challenges that are to be met at the fundamental and applied level.

  13. High efficiency quantum cascade laser frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Lu, Quanyong; Wu, Donghai; Slivken, Steven; Razeghi, Manijeh

    2017-03-06

    An efficient mid-infrared frequency comb source is of great interest to high speed, high resolution spectroscopy and metrology. Here we demonstrate a mid-IR quantum cascade laser frequency comb with a high power output and narrow beatnote linewidth at room temperature. The active region was designed with a strong-coupling between the injector and the upper lasing level for high internal quantum efficiency and a broadband gain. The group velocity dispersion was engineered for efficient, broadband mode-locking via four wave mixing. The comb device exhibits a narrow intermode beatnote linewidth of 50.5 Hz and a maximum wall-plug efficiency of 6.5% covering a spectral coverage of 110 cm -1 at λ ~ 8 μm. The efficiency is improved by a factor of 6 compared with previous demonstrations. The high power efficiency and narrow beatnote linewidth will greatly expand the applications of quantum cascade laser frequency combs including high-precision remote sensing and spectroscopy.

  14. High efficiency quantum cascade laser frequency comb

    PubMed Central

    Lu, Quanyong; Wu, Donghai; Slivken, Steven; Razeghi, Manijeh

    2017-01-01

    An efficient mid-infrared frequency comb source is of great interest to high speed, high resolution spectroscopy and metrology. Here we demonstrate a mid-IR quantum cascade laser frequency comb with a high power output and narrow beatnote linewidth at room temperature. The active region was designed with a strong-coupling between the injector and the upper lasing level for high internal quantum efficiency and a broadband gain. The group velocity dispersion was engineered for efficient, broadband mode-locking via four wave mixing. The comb device exhibits a narrow intermode beatnote linewidth of 50.5 Hz and a maximum wall-plug efficiency of 6.5% covering a spectral coverage of 110 cm−1 at λ ~ 8 μm. The efficiency is improved by a factor of 6 compared with previous demonstrations. The high power efficiency and narrow beatnote linewidth will greatly expand the applications of quantum cascade laser frequency combs including high-precision remote sensing and spectroscopy. PMID:28262834

  15. Ultrafast dynamics and stabilization in chip-scale optical frequency combs (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Shu Wei

    2017-02-01

    Optical frequency comb technology has been the cornerstone for scientific breakthroughs such as precision frequency metrology, re-definition of time, extreme light-matter interaction, and attosecond sciences. Recently emerged Kerr-active microresonators are promising alternatives to the current benchmark femtosecond laser platform. These chip-scale frequency combs, or Kerr combs, are unique in their compact footprints and offer the potential for monolithic electronic and feedback integration, thereby expanding the already remarkable applications of optical frequency combs. In this talk, I will first report the generation and characterization of low-phase-noise Kerr frequency combs. Measurements of the Kerr comb ultrafast dynamics and phase noise will be presented and discussed. Then I will describe novel strategies to fully stabilize Kerr comb line frequencies towards chip-scale optical frequency synthesizers with a relative uncertainty better than 2.7×10-16. I will show that the unique generation physics of Kerr frequency comb can provide an intrinsic self-referenced access to the Kerr comb line frequencies. The strategy improves the optical frequency stability by more than two orders of magnitude, while preserving the Kerr comb's key advantage of low SWaP and potential for chip-scale electronic and photonic integration.

  16. Robust interferometric frequency lock between cw lasers and optical frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Benkler, Erik; Rohde, Felix; Telle, Harald R

    2013-02-15

    A transfer interferometer is presented which establishes a versatile and robust optical frequency locking link between a tunable single frequency laser and an optical frequency comb. It enables agile and continuous tuning of the frequency difference between both lasers while fluctuations and drift effects of the transfer interferometer itself are widely eliminated via common mode rejection. Experimental results will be presented for a tunable extended-cavity 1.5 μm laser diode locked to an Er-fiber based frequency comb.

  17. Fully stabilized mid-infrared frequency comb for high-precision molecular spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Vainio, Markku; Karhu, Juho

    2017-02-20

    A fully stabilized mid-infrared optical frequency comb spanning from 2.9 to 3.4 µm is described in this article. The comb is based on half-harmonic generation in a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator, which transfers the high phase coherence of a fully stabilized near-infrared Er-doped fiber laser comb to the mid-infrared region. The method is simple, as no phase-locked loops or reference lasers are needed. Precise locking of optical frequencies of the mid-infrared comb to the pump comb is experimentally verified at sub-20 mHz level, which corresponds to a fractional statistical uncertainty of 2 × 10-16 at the center frequency of the mid-infrared comb. The fully stabilized mid-infrared comb is an ideal tool for high-precision molecular spectroscopy, as well as for optical frequency metrology in the mid-infrared region, which is difficult to access with other stabilized frequency comb techniques.

  18. Versatile mid-infrared frequency-comb referenced sub-Doppler spectrometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gambetta, A.; Vicentini, E.; Coluccelli, N.; Wang, Y.; Fernandez, T. T.; Maddaloni, P.; De Natale, P.; Castrillo, A.; Gianfrani, L.; Laporta, P.; Galzerano, G.

    2018-04-01

    We present a mid-IR high-precision spectrometer capable of performing accurate Doppler-free measurements with absolute calibration of the optical axis and high signal-to-noise ratio. The system is based on a widely tunable mid-IR offset-free frequency comb and a Quantum-Cascade-Laser (QCL). The QCL emission frequency is offset locked to one of the comb teeth to provide absolute-frequency calibration, spectral-narrowing, and accurate fine frequency tuning. Both the comb repetition frequency and QCL-comb offset frequency can be modulated to provide, respectively, slow- and fast-frequency-calibrated scanning capabilities. The characterisation of the spectrometer is demonstrated by recording sub-Doppler saturated absorption features of the CHF3 molecule at around 8.6 μm with a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of ˜7 × 103 in 10 s integration time, frequency-resolution of 160 kHz, and accuracy of less than 10 kHz.

  19. Two-photon Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy of Alkali Atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, Khoa; Pradhananga, Trinity; Palm, Christopher; Stalnaker, Jason; Kimball, Derek Jackson

    2012-06-01

    We are using direct frequency comb spectroscopy to study transition frequencies and excited state hyperfine structure in potassium and rubidium using 2-photon transitions excited directly with the frequency-doubled output of a erbium fiber optical frequency comb. The frequency comb output is directed in two counterpropagating directions through a vapor cell containing the atomic vapor of interest. A pair of optical filters is used to select teeth of the comb in order to identify the transition wavelengths. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) measures fluorescence from a decay channel wavelength selected with another optical filter. Using different combinations of filters enables a wide range of transitions to be investigated. By scanning the repetition rate, a Doppler-free spectrum can be obtained enabling kHz-resolution spectral measurements. The thermal motion of the atoms in the vapor cell actually eliminates the need to fine-tune the offset frequency and repetition rate, alleviating a somewhat challenging requirement for spectroscopy of cold atoms. Our investigations are laying the groundwork for a long-term research program to use direct frequency comb spectroscopy to understand the complex spectra of rare-earth atoms.

  20. An Optical Frequency Comb Tied to GPS for Laser Frequency/Wavelength Calibration

    PubMed Central

    Stone, Jack A.; Egan, Patrick

    2010-01-01

    Optical frequency combs can be employed over a broad spectral range to calibrate laser frequency or vacuum wavelength. This article describes procedures and techniques utilized in the Precision Engineering Division of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) for comb-based calibration of laser wavelength, including a discussion of ancillary measurements such as determining the mode order. The underlying purpose of these calibrations is to provide traceable standards in support of length measurement. The relative uncertainty needed to fulfill this goal is typically 10−8 and never below 10−12, very modest requirements compared to the capabilities of comb-based frequency metrology. In this accuracy range the Global Positioning System (GPS) serves as an excellent frequency reference that can provide the traceable underpinning of the measurement. This article describes techniques that can be used to completely characterize measurement errors in a GPS-based comb system and thus achieve full confidence in measurement results. PMID:27134794

  1. Digital processing of RF signals from optical frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cizek, Martin; Smid, Radek; Buchta, Zdeněk.; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Cip, Ondřej

    2013-01-01

    The presented work is focused on digital processing of beat note signals from a femtosecond optical frequency comb. The levels of mixing products of single spectral components of the comb with CW laser sources are usually very low compared to products of mixing all the comb components together. RF counters are more likely to measure the frequency of the strongest spectral component rather than a weak beat note. Proposed experimental digital signal processing system solves this problem by analyzing the whole spectrum of the output RF signal and using software defined radio (SDR) algorithms. Our efforts concentrate in two main areas: Firstly, using digital servo-loop techniques for locking free running continuous laser sources on single components of the fs comb spectrum. Secondly, we are experimenting with digital signal processing of the RF beat note spectrum produced by f-2f 1 technique used for assessing the offset and repetition frequencies of the comb, resulting in digital servo-loop stabilization of the fs comb. Software capable of computing and analyzing the beat-note RF spectrums using FFT and peak detection was developed. A SDR algorithm performing phase demodulation on the f- 2f signal is used as a regulation error signal source for a digital phase-locked loop stabilizing the offset frequency of the fs comb.

  2. Long distance measurement with a femtosecond laser based frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharya, N.; Cui, M.; Zeitouny, M. G.; Urbach, H. P.; van den Berg, S. A.

    2017-11-01

    Recent advances in the field of ultra-short pulse lasers have led to the development of reliable sources of carrier envelope phase stabilized femtosecond pulses. The pulse train generated by such a source has a frequency spectrum that consists of discrete, regularly spaced lines known as a frequency comb. In this case both the frequency repetition and the carrier-envelope-offset frequency are referenced to a frequency standard, like an atomic clock. As a result the accuracy of the frequency standard is transferred to the optical domain, with the frequency comb as transfer oscillator. These unique properties allow the frequency comb to be applied as a versatile tool, not only for time and frequency metrology, but also in fundamental physics, high-precision spectroscopy, and laser noise characterization. The pulse-to-pulse phase relationship of the light emitted by the frequency comb has opened up new directions for long range highly accurate distance measurement.

  3. Two-photon direct frequency comb spectroscopy of alkali atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Palm, Christopher; Pradhananga, Trinity; Nguyen, Khoa; Montcrieffe, Caitlin; Kimball, Derek

    2012-11-01

    We have studied transition frequencies and excited state hyperfine structure in rubidium using 2-photon transitions excited directly with the frequency-doubled output of a erbium fiber optical frequency comb. The frequency comb output is directed in two counterpropagating directions through a vapor cell containing the rubidium vapor. A pair of optical filters is used to select teeth of the comb in order to identify the transition wavelengths. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) measures fluorescence from a decay channel wavelength selected with another optical filter. Using different combinations of filters enables a wide range of transitions to be investigated. By scanning the repetition rate, a Doppler-free spectrum can be obtained enabling kHz-resolution spectral measurements. An interesting dependence of the 2-photon spectrum on the energy of the intermediate state of the 2-photon transition is discussed. Our investigations are laying the groundwork for a long-term research program to use direct frequency comb spectroscopy to understand the complex spectra of rare-earth atoms.

  4. Mid-IR Microresonator-Based Optical Frequency Combs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-09-01

    theoretical treatment of Kerr comb amplitude and phase fluctuation dynamics. Determine which set of requirements must be met in order to obtain mode...Use this detection apparatus to measure the mid-IR Kerr comb coherence and study phase locking of the comb harmonics. Characterize the amplitude and...to all microresonator modes, j is the central frequency of the j th mode, h is Planck’s constant, F is the normalized pump laser amplitude , and

  5. Frequency comb-based multiple-access ultrastable frequency dissemination with 7 × 10(-17) instability.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Shuangyou; Zhao, Jianye

    2015-01-01

    In this letter, we demonstrate frequency-comb-based multiple-access ultrastable frequency dissemination over a 10-km single-mode fiber link. First, we synchronize optical pulse trains from an Er-fiber frequency comb to the remote site by using a simple and robust phase-conjugate stabilization method. The fractional frequency-transfer instability at the remote site is 2.6×10(-14) and 4.9×10(-17) for averaging times of 1 and 10,000 s, respectively. Then, we reproduce the harmonic of the repetition rate from the disseminated optical pulse trains at an arbitrary point along the fiber link to test comb-based multiple-access performance, and demonstrate frequency instability of 4×10(-14) and 7×10(-17) at 1 and 10,000 s averaging time, respectively. The proposed comb-based multiple-access frequency dissemination can easily achieve highly stable wideband microwave extraction along the whole link.

  6. Self-starting harmonic frequency comb generation in a quantum cascade laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kazakov, Dmitry; Piccardo, Marco; Wang, Yongrui; Chevalier, Paul; Mansuripur, Tobias S.; Xie, Feng; Zah, Chung-en; Lascola, Kevin; Belyanin, Alexey; Capasso, Federico

    2017-12-01

    Optical frequency combs1,2 establish a rigid phase-coherent link between microwave and optical domains and are emerging as high-precision tools in an increasing number of applications3. Frequency combs with large intermodal spacing are employed in the field of microwave photonics for radiofrequency arbitrary waveform synthesis4,5 and for the generation of terahertz tones of high spectral purity in future wireless communication networks6,7. Here, we demonstrate self-starting harmonic frequency comb generation with a terahertz repetition rate in a quantum cascade laser. The large intermodal spacing caused by the suppression of tens of adjacent cavity modes originates from a parametric contribution to the gain due to temporal modulations of population inversion in the laser8,9. Using multiheterodyne self-detection, the mode spacing of the harmonic comb is shown to be uniform to within 5 × 10-12 parts of the central frequency. This new harmonic comb state extends the range of applications of quantum cascade laser frequency combs10-13.

  7. Asymmetric micro-Doppler frequency comb generation via magnetoelectric coupling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Filonov, Dmitry; Steinberg, Ben Z.; Ginzburg, Pavel

    2017-06-01

    Electromagnetic scattering from moving bodies, being an inherently time-dependent phenomenon, gives rise to a generation of new frequencies, which can be used to characterize the motion. Whereas an ordinary motion along a linear path produces a constant Doppler shift, an accelerated scatterer can generate a micro-Doppler frequency comb. The spectra produced by rotating objects were studied and observed in a bistatic lock-in detection scheme. The internal geometry of a scatterer was shown to determine the spectrum, and the degree of structural asymmetry was suggested to be identified via signatures in the micro-Doppler comb. In particular, hybrid magnetoelectric particles, showing an ultimate degree of asymmetry in forward and backward scattering directions, were investigated. It was shown that the comb in the backward direction has signatures at the fundamental rotation frequency and its odd harmonics, whereas the comb of the forward scattered field has a prevailing peak at the doubled frequency and its multiples. Additional features of the comb were shown to be affected by the dimensions of the particle and by the strength of the magnetoelectric coupling. Experimental verification was performed with a printed circuit board antenna based on a wire and a split ring, while the structure was illuminated at a 2 GHz carrier frequency. Detailed analysis of micro-Doppler combs enables remote detection of asymmetric features of distant objects and could find use in a span of applications, including stellar radiometry and radio identification.

  8. Shortwave quantum cascade laser frequency comb for multi-heterodyne spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Q. Y.; Manna, S.; Wu, D. H.; Slivken, S.; Razeghi, M.

    2018-04-01

    Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are versatile light sources with tailorable emitting wavelengths covering the mid-infrared and terahertz spectral ranges. When the dispersion is minimized, frequency combs can be directly emitted from quantum cascade lasers via four-wave mixing. To date, most of the mid-infrared quantum cascade laser combs are operational in a narrow wavelength range wherein the QCL dispersion is minimal. In this work, we address the issue of very high dispersion for shortwave QCLs and demonstrate 1-W dispersion compensated shortwave QCL frequency combs at λ ˜ 5.0 μm, spanning a spectral range of 100 cm-1. The multi-heterodyne spectrum exhibits 95 equally spaced frequency comb lines, indicating that the shortwave QCL combs are ideal candidates for high-speed high-resolution spectroscopy.

  9. High density terahertz frequency comb produced by coherent synchrotron radiation

    PubMed Central

    Tammaro, S.; Pirali, O.; Roy, P.; Lampin, J.-F.; Ducournau, G.; Cuisset, A.; Hindle, F.; Mouret, G.

    2015-01-01

    Frequency combs have enabled significant progress in frequency metrology and high-resolution spectroscopy extending the achievable resolution while increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. In its coherent mode, synchrotron radiation is accepted to provide an intense terahertz continuum covering a wide spectral range from about 0.1 to 1 THz. Using a dedicated heterodyne receiver, we reveal the purely discrete nature of this emission. A phase relationship between the light pulses leads to a powerful frequency comb spanning over one decade in frequency. The comb has a mode spacing of 846 kHz, a linewidth of about 200 Hz, a fractional precision of about 2 × 10−10 and no frequency offset. The unprecedented potential of the comb for high-resolution spectroscopy is demonstrated by the accurate determination of pure rotation transitions of acetonitrile. PMID:26190043

  10. Methods and apparatus for broadband frequency comb stabilization

    DOEpatents

    Cox, Jonathan A; Kaertner, Franz X

    2015-03-17

    Feedback loops can be used to shift and stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a frequency comb from a mode-locked fibers laser or other optical source. Compared to other frequency shifting and stabilization techniques, feedback-based techniques provide a wideband closed-loop servo bandwidth without optical filtering, beam pointing errors, or group velocity dispersion. It also enables phase locking to a stable reference, such as a Ti:Sapphire laser, continuous-wave microwave or optical source, or self-referencing interferometer, e.g., to within 200 mrad rms from DC to 5 MHz. In addition, stabilized frequency combs can be coherently combined with other stable signals, including other stabilized frequency combs, to synthesize optical pulse trains with pulse durations of as little as a single optical cycle. Such a coherent combination can be achieved via orthogonal control, using balanced optical cross-correlation for timing stabilization and balanced homodyne detection for phase stabilization.

  11. Frequency comb generation in a silicon ring resonator modulator.

    PubMed

    Demirtzioglou, Iosif; Lacava, Cosimo; Bottrill, Kyle R H; Thomson, David J; Reed, Graham T; Richardson, David J; Petropoulos, Periklis

    2018-01-22

    We report on the generation of an optical comb of highly uniform in power frequency lines (variation less than 0.7 dB) using a silicon ring resonator modulator. A characterization involving the measurement of the complex transfer function of the ring is presented and five frequency tones with a 10-GHz spacing are produced using a dual-frequency electrical input at 10 and 20 GHz. A comb shape comparison is conducted for different modulator bias voltages, indicating optimum operation at a small forward-bias voltage. A time-domain measurement confirmed that the comb signal was highly coherent, forming 20.3-ps-long pulses.

  12. Active laser ranging with frequency transfer using frequency comb

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Hongyuan; Wei, Haoyun; Yang, Honglei

    2016-05-02

    A comb-based active laser ranging scheme is proposed for enhanced distance resolution and a common time standard for the entire system. Three frequency combs with different repetition rates are used as light sources at the two ends where the distance is measured. Pulse positions are determined through asynchronous optical sampling and type II second harmonic generation. Results show that the system achieves a maximum residual of 379.6 nm and a standard deviation of 92.9 nm with 2000 averages over 23.6 m. Moreover, as for the frequency transfer, an atom clock and an adjustable signal generator, synchronized to the atom clock, are used asmore » time standards for the two ends to appraise the frequency deviation introduced by the proposed system. The system achieves a residual fractional deviation of 1.3 × 10{sup −16} for 1 s, allowing precise frequency transfer between the two clocks at the two ends.« less

  13. Tunable dispersion compensation of quantum cascade laser frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Hillbrand, Johannes; Jouy, Pierre; Beck, Mattias; Faist, Jérôme

    2018-04-15

    Compensating for group velocity dispersion is an important challenge to achieve stable midinfrared quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs with large spectral coverage. We present a tunable dispersion compensation scheme consisting of a planar mirror placed behind the back facet of the QCL. Dispersion can be either enhanced or decreased depending on the position of the mirror. We demonstrate that the fraction of the comb regime in the dynamic range of the laser increases considerably when the dispersion induced by the Gires-Tournois interferometer compensates the intrinsic dispersion of the laser. Furthermore, it is possible to tune to the offset frequency of the comb with the Gires-Tournois interferometer while the repetition frequency is almost unaffected.

  14. Quantum correlations in microwave frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weissl, Thomas; Jolin, Shan W.; Haviland, David B.; Department of Applied Physics Team

    Non-linear superconducting resonators are used as parametric amplifiers in circuit quantum electrodynamics experiments. When a strong pump is applied to a non-linear microwave oscillator, it correlates vacuum fluctuations at signal and idler frequencies symmetrically located around the pump, resulting in two-mode squeezed vacuum. When the non-linear oscillator is pumped with a frequency comb, complex multipartite entangled states can be created as demonstrated with experiments in the optical domain. Such cluster states are considered to be a universal resource for one-way quantum computing. With our microwave measurement setup it is possible to pump and measure response at as many as 42 frequencies in parallel, with independent control over all pump amplitudes and phases. We show results of two-mode squeezing for of pairs of tones in a microwave frequency comb. The squeezing is created by four-wave mixing of a pump tone applied to a non-linear coplanar-waveguide resonator. We acknowledge financial support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation.

  15. Spontaneous generation of frequency combs in QD lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Columbo, Lorenzo Luigi; Bardella, Paolo; Gioannini, Mariangela

    2018-02-01

    We report a systematic analysis of the phenomenon of self-generation of optical frequency combs in single section Fabry-Perot Quantum Dot lasers using a Time Domain Travelling Wave model. We show that the carriers grating due to the standing wave pattern (spatial hole burning) peculiar of Quantum Dots laser and the Four Wave Mixing are the key ingredients to explain spontaneous Optical Frequency Combs in these devices. Our results well agree with recent experimental evidences reported in semiconductor lasers based on Quantum Dots and Quantum Dashes active material and pave the way to the development of a simulation tool for the design of these comb laser sources for innovative applications in the field of high-data rate optical communications.

  16. Fully digital programmable optical frequency comb generation and application.

    PubMed

    Yan, Xianglei; Zou, Xihua; Pan, Wei; Yan, Lianshan; Azaña, José

    2018-01-15

    We propose a fully digital programmable optical frequency comb (OFC) generation scheme based on binary phase-sampling modulation, wherein an optimized bit sequence is applied to phase modulate a narrow-linewidth light wave. Programming the bit sequence enables us to tune both the comb spacing and comb-line number (i.e., number of comb lines). The programmable OFCs are also characterized by ultra-flat spectral envelope, uniform temporal envelope, and stable bias-free setup. Target OFCs are digitally programmed to have 19, 39, 61, 81, 101, or 201 comb lines and to have a 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, or 1 MHz comb spacing. As a demonstration, a scanning-free temperature sensing system using a proposed OFC with 1001 comb lines was also implemented with a sensitivity of 0.89°C/MHz.

  17. Broadband monolithic extractors for terahertz quantum cascade laser based frequency combs (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rösch, Markus; Benea-Chelmus, Ileana-Cristina; Scalari, Giacomo; Bonzon, Christopher B.; Süess, Martin J.; Beck, Mattias; Faist, Jérôme

    2017-02-01

    Recent work has been showing the possibility of generating frequency combs at terahertz frequencies using terahertz quantum cascade lasers. The main efforts so far were on getting the laser to work in a stable comb operation over an as broad as possible spectral bandwidth. Another issue is the scattered farfield of such combs due to their subwavelength facets of the used metal-metal waveguide. In contrast to single mode lasers the monolithic approaches of distributed feedback lasers or photonic crystals cannot be used. We present here a monolithic broadband extractor compatible with frequency comb operation based on the concept of an end-fire antenna. The antenna can be fabricated using standard fabrication techniques. It has been designed to support a bandwidth of up to 600 GHz at a central frequency of 2.5 THz. The fabricated devices show single lobed farfields with only minor asymmetries, increased output power along an increased dynamical range of frequency comb operation. A side-absorber schematics using a thin film of Nickel has been used to suppress any higher-order lateral modes in the laser. The reported frequency combs with monolithic extractors are ideal candidates for spectroscopic applications at terahertz frequencies using a self-detected dual-comb spectroscopy setup due to the increased dynamical range along with the improved farfield leading to more output power of the frequency combs.

  18. Mode-resolved frequency comb interferometry for high-accuracy long distance measurement

    PubMed Central

    van den Berg, Steven. A.; van Eldik, Sjoerd; Bhattacharya, Nandini

    2015-01-01

    Optical frequency combs have developed into powerful tools for distance metrology. In this paper we demonstrate absolute long distance measurement using a single femtosecond frequency comb laser as a multi-wavelength source. By applying a high-resolution spectrometer based on a virtually imaged phased array, the frequency comb modes are resolved spectrally to the level of an individual mode. Having the frequency comb stabilized against an atomic clock, thousands of accurately known wavelengths are available for interferometry. From the spectrally resolved output of a Michelson interferometer a distance is derived. The presented measurement method combines spectral interferometry, white light interferometry and multi-wavelength interferometry in a single scheme. Comparison with a fringe counting laser interferometer shows an agreement within <10−8 for a distance of 50 m. PMID:26419282

  19. Frequency accurate coherent electro-optic dual-comb spectroscopy in real-time.

    PubMed

    Martín-Mateos, Pedro; Jerez, Borja; Largo-Izquierdo, Pedro; Acedo, Pablo

    2018-04-16

    Electro-optic dual-comb spectrometers have proved to be a promising technology for sensitive, high-resolution and rapid spectral measurements. Electro-optic combs possess very attractive features like simplicity, reliability, bright optical teeth, and typically moderate but quickly tunable optical spans. Furthermore, in a dual-comb arrangement, narrowband electro-optic combs are generated with a level of mutual coherence that is sufficiently high to enable optical multiheterodyning without inter-comb stabilization or signal processing systems. However, this valuable tool still presents several limitations; for instance, on most systems, absolute frequency accuracy and long-term stability cannot be guaranteed; likewise, interferometer-induced phase noise restricts coherence time and limits the attainable signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, we address these drawbacks and demonstrate a cost-efficient absolute electro-optic dual-comb instrument based on a frequency stabilization mechanism and a novel adaptive interferogram acquisition approach devised for electro-optic dual-combs capable of operating in real-time. The spectrometer, completely built from commercial components, provides sub-ppm frequency uncertainties and enables a signal-to-noise ratio of 10000 (intensity noise) in 30 seconds of integration time.

  20. Coherent frequency combs produced by self frequency modulation in quantum cascade lasers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Khurgin, J. B.; Dikmelik, Y.; Hugi, A.

    2014-02-24

    One salient characteristic of Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) is its very short τ ∼ 1 ps gain recovery time that so far thwarted the attempts to achieve self-mode locking of the device into a train of single pulses. We show theoretically that four wave mixing, combined with the short gain recovery time causes QCL to operate in the self-frequency-modulated regime characterized by a constant power in time domain and stable coherent comb in the frequency domain. Coherent frequency comb may enable many potential applications of QCL's in sensing and measurement.

  1. Phase-locked, erbium-fiber-laser-based frequency comb in the near infrared.

    PubMed

    Washburn, Brian R; Diddams, Scott A; Newbury, Nathan R; Nicholson, Jeffrey W; Yan, Man F; Jørgensen, Carsten G

    2004-02-01

    A phase-locked frequency comb in the near infrared is demonstrated with a mode-locked, erbium-doped, fiber laser whose output is amplified and spectrally broadened in dispersion-flattened, highly nonlinear optical fiber to span from 1100 to >2200 nm. The supercontinuum output comprises a frequency comb with a spacing set by the laser repetition rate and an offset by the carrier-envelope offset frequency, which is detected with the standard f-to-2f heterodyne technique. The comb spacing and offset frequency are phase locked to a stable rf signal with a fiber stretcher in the laser cavity and by control of the pump laser power, respectively. This infrared comb permits frequency metrology experiments in the near infrared in a compact, fiber-laser-based system.

  2. Quantum-Fluctuation-Initiated Coherence in Multioctave Raman Optical Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Y. Y.; Wu, Chunbai; Couny, F.; Raymer, M. G.; Benabid, F.

    2010-09-01

    We show experimentally and theoretically that the spectral components of a multioctave frequency comb spontaneously created by stimulated Raman scattering in a hydrogen-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber exhibit strong self-coherence and mutual coherence within each 12 ns driving laser pulse. This coherence arises in spite of the field’s initiation being from quantum zero-point fluctuations, which causes each spectral component to show large phase and energy fluctuations. This points to the possibility of an optical frequency comb with nonclassical correlations between all comb lines.

  3. Spectral and temporal characterization of a fused-quartz-microresonator optical frequency comb

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Papp, Scott B.; Diddams, Scott A.

    2011-11-15

    We report on the fabrication of high-Q, fused-quartz microresonators and the parametric generation of a frequency comb with 36-GHz line spacing using them. We have characterized the intrinsic stability of the comb in both the time and frequency domains to assess its suitability for future precision metrology applications. Intensity autocorrelation measurements and line-by-line comb control reveal near-transform-limited picosecond pulse trains that are associated with good relative phase and amplitude stability of the comb lines. The comb's 36-GHz line spacing can be readily photodetected, which enables measurements of its intrinsic and absolute phase fluctuations.

  4. Frequency Combs in a Lumped-Element Josephson-Junction Circuit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khan, Saeed; Türeci, Hakan E.

    2018-04-01

    We investigate the dynamics of a microwave-driven Josephson junction capacitively coupled to a lumped-element L C oscillator. In the regime of driving where the Josephson junction can be approximated as a Kerr oscillator, this minimal nonlinear system has been previously shown to exhibit a bistability in phase and amplitude. In the present study, we characterize the full phase diagram and show that besides a parameter regime exhibiting bistability, there is also a regime of self-oscillations characterized by a frequency comb in its spectrum. We discuss the mechanism of comb generation which appears to be different from those studied in microcavity frequency combs and mode-locked lasers. We then address the fate of the comblike spectrum in the regime of strong quantum fluctuations, reached when nonlinearity becomes the dominant scale with respect to dissipation. We find that the nonlinearity responsible for the emergence of the frequency combs also leads to its dephasing, leading to broadening and ultimate disappearance of sharp spectral peaks. Our study explores the fundamental question of the impact of quantum fluctuations for quantum systems which do not possess a stable fixed point in the classical limit.

  5. Generation of Mid-Infrared Frequency Combs for Spectroscopic Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maser, Daniel L.

    Mid-infrared laser sources prove to be a valuable tool in exploring a vast array of phenomena, finding their way into applications ranging from trace gas detection to X-ray generation and carbon dating. Mid-infrared frequency combs, in particular, are well-suited for many of these applications, owing to their inherent low-noise and broadband nature. Frequency comb technology is well-developed in the near-infrared as a result of immense technological development by the telecommunication industry in silica fiber and the existence of readily-available glass dopants such as ytterbium and erbium that enable oscillators at 1 and 1.5 ?m. However, options become substantially more limited at longer wavelengths, as silica is no longer transparent and the components required in a mid-infrared frequency comb system (oscillators, fibers, and both fiber and free-space components) are far less technologically mature. This thesis explores several different approaches to generating frequency comb sources in the mid-infrared region, and the development of sources used in the nonlinear processes implemented to reach these wavelengths. An optical parametric oscillator, two approaches to difference frequency generation, and nonlinear spectral broadening in chip-scale waveguides are developed, characterized, and spectroscopic potential for these techniques is demonstrated. The source used for these nonlinear processes, the erbium-doped fiber amplifier, is also studied and discussed throughout the design and optimization process. The nonlinear optical processes critical to this work are numerically modeled and used to confirm and predict experimental behavior.

  6. Frequency divide-and-conquer approach to producing octave-wide frequency combs and few-cycle pulses in the mid-IR

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vodopyanov, Konstantin

    2014-05-01

    I will present a new technique for extending frequency combs to the highly desirable yet difficult-to-achieve mid-IR spectral range. The technique is based on subharmonic optical parametric oscillation (OPO) that can be considered as a reverse of the second harmonic generation process. The frequency comb of a pump laser is transposed to half of its central frequency and simultaneously spectrally augmented, thanks to an enormous gain bandwidth of the OPO near degeneracy, as well as due to massive cross-coupling between the laser and the OPO frequency comb components. Using ultrafast erbium (1.56 microns) or thulium (2 microns)-based fiber lasers as a pump and using thin, sub-mm-long, quasi phase-matched lithium niobate or gallium arsenide crystals, we produce frequency combs centered correspondingly at 3.1 or 4 micron subharmonic of the pump frequency. With the properly managed OPO cavity group velocity dispersion, octave-wide frequency combs spanning 2.5 - 6 micron range were achieved. Due to the doubly-resonant operation, the threshold of such a system is low (typically 10 mW) and by several experiments including measuring frequency beats between the OPO comb teeth and a narrow-linewidth CW laser and by interfering the outputs of two identical but distinct OPOs pumped by the same laser, we established that the frequency comb from a subharmonic OPO is phase-locked to that of the pump laser. Pulse duration measurements show that for the optimal intracavity dispersion conditions, we generate sub 5-cycle pulses at the subharmonic of the pump. I will also talk about applications of our mid-IR frequency combs to trace gas detection, where part-per-billion sensitivity of molecular detection is achieved as well as about Fourier spectroscopy using a dual-comb system consisting of two phase-locked lasers. I thank NASA, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Agilent Technologies, Sanofi- Aventis, Stanford University Bio-X, Stanford Medical School

  7. Dispersion compensated mid-infrared quantum cascade laser frequency comb with high power output

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Q. Y.; Manna, S.; Slivken, S.; Wu, D. H.; Razeghi, M.

    2017-04-01

    Chromatic dispersion control plays an underlying role in optoelectronics and spectroscopy owing to its enhancement to nonlinear interactions by reducing the phase mismatching. This is particularly important to optical frequency combs based on quantum cascade lasers which require negligible dispersions for efficient mode locking of the dispersed modes into equally spaced comb modes. Here, we demonstrated a dispersion compensated mid-IR quantum cascade laser frequency comb with high power output at room temperature. A low-loss dispersive mirror has been engineered to compensate the device's dispersion residue for frequency comb generation. Narrow intermode beating linewidths of 40 Hz in the comb-working currents were identified with a high power output of 460 mW and a broad spectral coverage of 80 cm-1. This dispersion compensation technique will enable fast spectroscopy and high-resolution metrology based on QCL combs with controlled dispersion and suppressed noise.

  8. A stable frequency comb directly referenced to rubidium electromagnetically induced transparency and two-photon transitions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hou, Dong; Wu, Jiutao; Zhang, Shuangyou

    2014-03-17

    We demonstrate an approach to create a stable erbium-fiber-based frequency comb at communication band by directly locking the combs to two rubidium atomic transitions resonances (electromagnetically induced transparency absorption and two-photon absorption), respectively. This approach directly transfers the precision and stability of the atomic transitions to the comb. With its distinguishing feature of compactness by removing the conventional octave-spanning spectrum and f-to-2f beating facilities and the ability to directly control the comb's frequency at the atomic transition frequency, this stable optical comb can be widely used in optical communication, frequency standard, and optical spectroscopy and microscopy.

  9. Terahertz multiheterodyne spectroscopy using laser frequency combs

    DOE PAGES

    Yang, Yang; Burghoff, David; Hayton, Darren J.; ...

    2014-07-01

    The terahertz region is of great importance for spectroscopy since many molecules have absorption fingerprints there. Frequency combs based on terahertz quantum cascade lasers feature broadband coverage and high output powers in a compact package, making them an attractive option for broadband spectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate the first multiheterodyne spectroscopy using two terahertz quantum cascade laser combs. Over a spectral range of 250 GHz, we achieve average signal-to-noise ratios of 34 dB using cryogenic detectors and 24 dB using room-temperature detectors, all in just 100 μs. As a proof of principle, we use these combs to measure the broadband transmissionmore » spectrum of etalon samples and show that, with proper signal processing, it is possible to extend the multiheterodyne spectroscopy to quantum cascade laser combs operating in pulsed mode. Here, this greatly expands the range of quantum cascade lasers that could be suitable for these techniques and allows for the creation of completely solid-state terahertz laser spectrometers.« less

  10. Pseudorandom dynamics of frequency combs in free-running quantum cascade lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Henry, Nathan; Burghoff, David; Yang, Yang; Hu, Qing; Khurgin, Jacob B.

    2018-01-01

    Recent research has shown that free-running quantum cascade lasers are capable of producing frequency combs in midinfrared and THz regions of the spectrum. Unlike familiar frequency combs originating from mode-locked lasers, these do not require any additional optical elements inside the cavity and have temporal characteristics that are dramatically different from the periodic pulse train of conventional combs. Frequency combs from quantum cascade lasers are characterized by the absence of sharp pulses and strong frequency modulation, periodic with the cavity round trip time but lacking any periodicity within that period. To explicate for this seemingly perplexing behavior, we develop a model of the gain medium using optical Bloch equations that account for hole burning in spectral, spatial, and temporal domains. With this model, we confirm that the most efficient mode of operation of a free-running quantum cascade laser is indeed a pseudorandom frequency-modulated field with nearly constant intensity. We show that the optimum modulation period is commensurate with the gain recovery time of the laser medium and the optimum modulation amplitude is comparable to the gain bandwidth, behavior that has been observed in the experiments.

  11. Dynamics of mode-coupling-induced microresonator frequency combs in normal dispersion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jang, Jae K.; Okawachi, Yoshitomo; Yu, Mengjie; Luke, Kevin; Ji, Xingchen; Lipson, Michal; Gaeta, Alexander L.

    2016-12-01

    We experimentally and theoretically investigate the dynamics of microresonator-based frequency comb generation assisted by mode coupling in the normal group-velocity dispersion (GVD) regime. We show that mode coupling can initiate intracavity modulation instability (MI) by directly perturbing the pump-resonance mode. We also observe the formation of a low-noise comb as the pump frequency is tuned further into resonance from the MI point. We determine the phase-matching conditions that accurately predict all the essential features of the MI and comb spectra, and extend the existing analogy between mode coupling and high-order dispersion to the normal GVD regime. We discuss the applicability of our analysis to the possibility of broadband comb generation in the normal GVD regime.

  12. Routes to spatiotemporal chaos in Kerr optical frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Coillet, Aurélien; Chembo, Yanne K

    2014-03-01

    We investigate the various routes to spatiotemporal chaos in Kerr optical frequency combs, obtained through pumping an ultra-high Q-factor whispering-gallery mode resonator with a continuous-wave laser. The Lugiato-Lefever model is used to build bifurcation diagrams with regards to the parameters that are externally controllable, namely, the frequency and the power of the pumping laser. We show that the spatiotemporal chaos emerging from Turing patterns and solitons display distinctive dynamical features. Experimental spectra of chaotic Kerr combs are also presented for both cases, in excellent agreement with theoretical spectra.

  13. Monolithic device for modelocking and stabilization of frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Lee, C-C; Hayashi, Y; Silverman, K L; Feldman, A; Harvey, T; Mirin, R P; Schibli, T R

    2015-12-28

    We demonstrate a device that integrates a III-V semiconductor saturable absorber mirror with a graphene electro-optic modulator, which provides a monolithic solution to modelocking and noise suppression in a frequency comb. The device offers a pure loss modulation bandwidth exceeding 5 MHz and only requires a low voltage driver. This hybrid device provides not only compactness and simplicity in laser cavity design, but also small insertion loss, compared to the previous metallic-mirror-based modulators. We believe this work paves the way to portable and fieldable phase-coherent frequency combs.

  14. Ultrafast optical ranging using microresonator soliton frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trocha, P.; Karpov, M.; Ganin, D.; Pfeiffer, M. H. P.; Kordts, A.; Wolf, S.; Krockenberger, J.; Marin-Palomo, P.; Weimann, C.; Randel, S.; Freude, W.; Kippenberg, T. J.; Koos, C.

    2018-02-01

    Light detection and ranging is widely used in science and industry. Over the past decade, optical frequency combs were shown to offer advantages in optical ranging, enabling fast distance acquisition with high accuracy. Driven by emerging high-volume applications such as industrial sensing, drone navigation, or autonomous driving, there is now a growing demand for compact ranging systems. Here, we show that soliton Kerr comb generation in integrated silicon nitride microresonators provides a route to high-performance chip-scale ranging systems. We demonstrate dual-comb distance measurements with Allan deviations down to 12 nanometers at averaging times of 13 microseconds along with ultrafast ranging at acquisition rates of 100 megahertz, allowing for in-flight sampling of gun projectiles moving at 150 meters per second. Combining integrated soliton-comb ranging systems with chip-scale nanophotonic phased arrays could enable compact ultrafast ranging systems for emerging mass applications.

  15. Spectral linewidth preservation in parametric frequency combs seeded by dual pumps.

    PubMed

    Tong, Zhi; Wiberg, Andreas O J; Myslivets, Evgeny; Kuo, Bill P P; Alic, Nikola; Radic, Stojan

    2012-07-30

    We demonstrate new technique for generation of programmable-pitch, wideband frequency combs with low phase noise. The comb generation was achieved using cavity-less, multistage mixer driven by two tunable continuous-wave pump seeds. The approach relies on phase-correlated continuous-wave pumps in order to cancel spectral linewidth broadening inherent to parametric comb generation. Parametric combs with over 200-nm bandwidth were obtained and characterized with respect to phase noise scaling to demonstrate linewidth preservation over 100 generated tones.

  16. Light beam frequency comb generator

    DOEpatents

    Priatko, G.J.; Kaskey, J.A.

    1992-11-24

    A light beam frequency comb generator uses an acousto-optic modulator to generate a plurality of light beams with frequencies which are uniformly separated and possess common noise and drift characteristics. A well collimated monochromatic input light beam is passed through this modulator to produce a set of both frequency shifted and unshifted optical beams. An optical system directs one or more frequency shifted beams along a path which is parallel to the path of the input light beam such that the frequency shifted beams are made incident on the modulator proximate to but separated from the point of incidence of the input light beam. After the beam is thus returned to and passed through the modulator repeatedly, a plurality of mutually parallel beams are generated which are frequency-shifted different numbers of times and possess common noise and drift characteristics. 2 figs.

  17. Light beam frequency comb generator

    DOEpatents

    Priatko, Gordon J.; Kaskey, Jeffrey A.

    1992-01-01

    A light beam frequency comb generator uses an acousto-optic modulator to generate a plurality of light beams with frequencies which are uniformly separated and possess common noise and drift characteristics. A well collimated monochromatic input light beam is passed through this modulator to produce a set of both frequency shifted and unshifted optical beams. An optical system directs one or more frequency shifted beams along a path which is parallel to the path of the input light beam such that the frequency shifted beams are made incident on the modulator proximate to but separated from the point of incidence of the input light beam. After the beam is thus returned to and passed through the modulator repeatedly, a plurality of mutually parallel beams are generated which are frequency-shifted different numbers of times and possess common noise and drift characteristics.

  18. Applications of Cavity-Enhanced Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cossel, Kevin C.; Adler, Florian; Maslowski, Piotr; Ye, Jun

    2010-06-01

    Cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy (CE-DFCS) is a unique technique that provides broad bandwidth, high resolution, and ultra-high detection sensitivities. This is accomplished by combining a femtosecond laser based optical frequency comb with an enhancement cavity and a broadband, multichannel imaging system. These systems are capable of simultaneously recording many terahertz of spectral bandwidth with sub-gigahertz resolution and absorption sensitivities of 1×10-7 cm-1 Hz-1/2. In addition, the ultrashort pulses enable efficient nonlinear processes, which makes it possible to reach spectral regions that are difficult to access with conventional laser sources. We will present an application of CE-DFCS for trace impurity detection in the semiconductor processing gas arsine near 1.8 μm and the development of a high-power, mid-infrared frequency comb for breath analysis in the 2.8-4.8 μm region. M. J. Thorpe, K. D. Moll, R. J. Jones, B. Safdi, and J. Ye. Science 311, 1595-1599 (2006) F. Adler, M. J. Thorpe, K. C. Cossel, and J. Ye. Annu. Rev. Anal. Chem. 3, 175-205 (2010) F. Adler, K. C. Cossel, M. J. Thorpe, I. Hartl, M. E. Fermann, and J. Ye. Opt. Lett. 34, 1330-1332 (2009)

  19. Comb-Resolved Dual-Comb Spectroscopy Stabilized by Free-Running Continuous-Wave Lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuse, Naoya; Ozawa, Akira; Kobayashi, Yohei

    2012-11-01

    We demonstrate dual-comb spectroscopy with relatively phase-locked two frequency combs, instead of frequency combs firmly fixed to the absolute frequency references. By stabilizing two beat frequencies between two mode-locked lasers at different wavelengths observed via free-running continuous-wave (CW) lasers, two combs are tightly phase locked to each other. The frequency noise of the CW lasers barely affects the performance of dual-comb spectroscopy because of the extremely fast common-mode noise rejection. Transform-limited comb-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy with a 6 Hz radio frequency linewidth is demonstrated by the use of Yb-fiber oscillators.

  20. Chromium:forsterite laser frequency comb stabilization and development of portable frequency references inside a hollow optical fiber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thapa, Rajesh

    We have made significant accomplishments in the development of portable frequency standard inside hollow optical fibers. Such standards will improve portable optical frequency references available to the telecommunications industry. Our approach relies on the development of a stabilized Cr:forsterite laser to generate the frequency comb in the near-IR region. This laser is self referenced and locked to a CW laser which in turn is stabilized to a sub-Doppler feature of a molecular transition. The molecular transition is realized using a hollow core fiber filled with acetylene gas. We finally measured the absolute frequency of these molecular transitions to characterize the references. In this thesis, the major ideas, techniques and experimental results for the development and absolute frequency measurement of the portable frequency references are presented. A prism-based Cr:forsterite frequency comb is stabilized. We have effectively used the prism modulation along with power modulation inside the cavity in order to actively stabilize the frequency comb. We have also studied the carrier-envelope-offset frequency (f0) dynamics of the laser and its effect on laser stabilization. A reduction of f0 linewidth from ˜2 MHz to ˜20 kHz has also been observed. Both our in-loop and out-of-loop measurements of the comb stability showed that the comb is stable within a part in 1011 at 1-s gate time and is currently limited by our reference signal. In order to develop this portable frequency standard, saturated absorption spectroscopy is performed on the acetylene v1 + v3 band near 1532 nm inside different kinds of hollow optical fibers. The observed linewidths are a factor 2 narrower in the 20 mum fiber as compared to 10 mum fiber, and vary from 20-40 MHz depending on pressure and power. The 70 mum kagome fiber shows a further reduction in linewidth to less than 10 MHz. In order to seal the gas inside the hollow optical fiber, we have also developed a technique of splicing the

  1. Digital approach to stabilizing optical frequency combs and beat notes of CW lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Čížek, Martin; Číp, Ondřej; Å míd, Radek; Hrabina, Jan; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef

    2013-10-01

    In cases when it is necessary to lock optical frequencies generated by an optical frequency comb to a precise radio frequency (RF) standard (GPS-disciplined oscillator, H-maser, etc.) the usual practice is to implement phase and frequency-locked loops. Such system takes the signal generated by the RF standard (usually 10 MHz or 100 MHz) as a reference and stabilizes the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb contained in the RF output of the f-2f interferometer. These control loops are usually built around analog electronic circuits processing the output signals from photo detectors. This results in transferring the stability of the standard from RF to optical frequency domain. The presented work describes a different approach based on digital signal processing and software-defined radio algorithms used for processing the f-2f and beat-note signals. Several applications of digital phase and frequency locks to a RF standard are demonstrated: the repetition (frep) and offset frequency (fceo) of the comb, and the frequency of the beat note between a CW laser source and a single component of the optical frequency comb spectrum.

  2. Low Noise Frequency Comb Sources Based on Synchronously Pumped Doubly Resonant Optical Parametric Oscillators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wan, Chenchen

    Optical frequency combs are coherent light sources consist of thousands of equally spaced frequency lines. Frequency combs have achieved success in applications of metrology, spectroscopy and precise pulse manipulation and control. The most common way to generate frequency combs is based on mode-locked lasers which has the output spectrum of comb structures. To generate stable frequency combs, the output from mode-locked lasers need to be phase stabilized. The whole comb lines will be stabilized if the pulse train repetition rate corresponding to comb spacing and the pulse carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency are both stabilized. The output from a laser always has fluctuations in parameters known as noise. In laser applications, noise is an important factor to limit the performance and often need to be well controlled. For example in precision measurement such as frequency metrology and precise spectroscopy, low laser intensity and phase noise is required. In mode-locked lasers there are different types of noise like intensity noise, pulse temporal position noise also known as timing jitter, optical phase noise. In term for frequency combs, these noise dynamics is more complex and often related. Understanding the noise behavior is not only of great interest in practical applications but also help understand fundamental laser physics. In this dissertation, the noise of frequency combs and mode-locked lasers will be studied in two projects. First, the CEO frequency phase noise of a synchronously pumped doubly resonant optical parametric oscillators (OPO) will be explored. This is very important for applications of the OPO as a coherent frequency comb source. Another project will focus on the intensity noise coupling in a soliton fiber oscillator, the finding of different noise coupling in soliton pulses and the dispersive waves generated from soliton perturbation can provide very practical guidance for low noise soliton laser design. OPOs are used to generate

  3. Mid-infrared frequency comb via coherent dispersive wave generation in silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Hairun; Herkommer, Clemens; Billat, Adrien; Grassani, Davide; Zhang, Chuankun; Pfeiffer, Martin H. P.; Weng, Wenle; Brès, Camille-Sophie; Kippenberg, Tobias J.

    2018-06-01

    Mid-infrared optical frequency combs are of significant interest for molecular spectroscopy due to the large absorption of molecular vibrational modes on the one hand, and the ability to implement superior comb-based spectroscopic modalities with increased speed, sensitivity and precision on the other hand. Here, we demonstrate a simple, yet effective, method for the direct generation of mid-infrared optical frequency combs in the region from 2.5 to 4.0 μm (that is, 2,500-4,000 cm-1), covering a large fraction of the functional group region, from a conventional and compact erbium-fibre-based femtosecond laser in the telecommunication band (that is, 1.55 μm). The wavelength conversion is based on dispersive wave generation within the supercontinuum process in an unprecedented large-cross-section silicon nitride (Si3N4) waveguide with the dispersion lithographically engineered. The long-wavelength dispersive wave can perform as a mid-infrared frequency comb, whose coherence is demonstrated via optical heterodyne measurements. Such an approach can be considered as an alternative option to mid-infrared frequency comb generation. Moreover, it has the potential to realize compact dual-comb spectrometers. The generated combs also have a fine teeth-spacing, making them suitable for gas-phase analysis.

  4. Frequency comb SFG: a new approach to multiplex detection.

    PubMed

    Kearns, Patrick M; Sohrabpour, Zahra; Massari, Aaron M

    2016-08-22

    Determination of molecular orientation at interfaces by vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy (VSFG) requires measurements using at least two different polarization combinations of the incoming visible, IR, and generated SFG beams. We present a new method for the simultaneous collection of different VSFG polarization outputs by use of a modified 4f pulseshaper to create a simple frequency comb. Via the frequency comb, two visible pulses are separated spectrally but aligned in space and time to interact at the sample with mixed polarization IR light. This produces two different VSFG outputs that are separated by their frequencies at the monochromator rather than their polarizations. Spectra were collected from organic thin films with different polarization combinations to show the reliability of the method. The results show that the optical arrangement is immune to fluctuations in laser power, beam pointing, and IR spectral shape.

  5. Highly precise stabilization of intracavity prism-based Er:fiber frequency comb using optical-microwave phase detector.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Shuangyou; Wu, Jiutao; Leng, Jianxiao; Lai, Shunnan; Zhao, Jianye

    2014-11-15

    In this Letter, we demonstrate a fully stabilized Er:fiber frequency comb by using a fiber-based, high-precision optical-microwave phase detector. To achieve high-precision and long-term phase locking of the repetition rate to a microwave reference, frequency control techniques (tuning pump power and cavity length) are combined together as its feedback. Since the pump power has been used for stabilization of the repetition rate, we introduce a pair of intracavity prisms as a regulator for carrier-envelope offset frequency, thereby phase locking one mode of the comb to the rubidium saturated absorption transition line. The stabilized comb performs the same high stability as the reference for the repetition rate and provides a residual frequency instability of 3.6×10(-13) for each comb mode. The demonstrated stabilization scheme could provide a high-precision comb for optical communication, direct frequency comb spectroscopy.

  6. Reference-free, high-resolution measurement method of timing jitter spectra of optical frequency combs

    PubMed Central

    Kwon, Dohyeon; Jeon, Chan-Gi; Shin, Junho; Heo, Myoung-Sun; Park, Sang Eon; Song, Youjian; Kim, Jungwon

    2017-01-01

    Timing jitter is one of the most important properties of femtosecond mode-locked lasers and optical frequency combs. Accurate measurement of timing jitter power spectral density (PSD) is a critical prerequisite for optimizing overall noise performance and further advancing comb applications both in the time and frequency domains. Commonly used jitter measurement methods require a reference mode-locked laser with timing jitter similar to or lower than that of the laser-under-test, which is a demanding requirement for many laser laboratories, and/or have limited measurement resolution. Here we show a high-resolution and reference-source-free measurement method of timing jitter spectra of optical frequency combs using an optical fibre delay line and optical carrier interference. The demonstrated method works well for both mode-locked oscillators and supercontinua, with 2 × 10−9 fs2/Hz (equivalent to −174 dBc/Hz at 10-GHz carrier frequency) measurement noise floor. The demonstrated method can serve as a simple and powerful characterization tool for timing jitter PSDs of various comb sources including mode-locked oscillators, supercontinua and recently emerging Kerr-frequency combs; the jitter measurement results enabled by our method will provide new insights for understanding and optimizing timing noise in such comb sources. PMID:28102352

  7. Dissemination of optical-comb-based ultra-broadband frequency reference through a fiber network.

    PubMed

    Nagano, Shigeo; Kumagai, Motohiro; Li, Ying; Ido, Tetsuya; Ishii, Shoken; Mizutani, Kohei; Aoki, Makoto; Otsuka, Ryohei; Hanado, Yuko

    2016-08-22

    We disseminated an ultra-broadband optical frequency reference based on a femtosecond (fs)-laser optical comb through a kilometer-scale fiber link. Its spectrum ranged from 1160 nm to 2180 nm without additional fs-laser combs at the end of the link. By employing a fiber-induced phase noise cancellation technique, the linewidth and fractional frequency instability attained for all disseminated comb modes were of order 1 Hz and 10-18 in a 5000 s averaging time. The ultra-broad optical frequency reference, for which absolute frequency is traceable to Japan Standard Time, was applied in the frequency stabilization of an injection-seeded Q-switched 2051 nm pulse laser for a coherent light detection and ranging LIDAR system.

  8. Physics of frequency-modulated comb generation in quantum-well diode lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, Mark; Cundiff, Steven T.; Winful, Herbert G.

    2018-05-01

    We investigate the physical origin of frequency-modulated combs generated from single-section semiconductor diode lasers based on quantum wells, isolating the essential physics necessary for comb generation. We find that the two effects necessary for comb generation—spatial hole burning (leading to multimode operation) and four-wave mixing (leading to phase locking)—are indeed present in some quantum-well systems. The physics of comb generation in quantum wells is similar to that in quantum dot and quantum cascade lasers. We discuss the nature of the spectral phase and some important material parameters of these diode lasers.

  9. Pulse shaping of on-chip microresonator frequency combs: investigation of temporal coherence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferdous, F.; Miao, H.; Leaird, D. E.; Srinivasan, K.; Chen, L.; Aksyuk, V.; Weiner, A. M.

    2013-03-01

    We use pulse shaping to investigate the temporal coherence of frequency combs generated in microresonators pumped by a strong CW laser. We observe that different groups of comb lines have different mutual coherence.

  10. Practical system for the generation of pulsed quantum frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Roztocki, Piotr; Kues, Michael; Reimer, Christian; Wetzel, Benjamin; Sciara, Stefania; Zhang, Yanbing; Cino, Alfonso; Little, Brent E; Chu, Sai T; Moss, David J; Morandotti, Roberto

    2017-08-07

    The on-chip generation of large and complex optical quantum states will enable low-cost and accessible advances for quantum technologies, such as secure communications and quantum computation. Integrated frequency combs are on-chip light sources with a broad spectrum of evenly-spaced frequency modes, commonly generated by four-wave mixing in optically-excited nonlinear micro-cavities, whose recent use for quantum state generation has provided a solution for scalable and multi-mode quantum light sources. Pulsed quantum frequency combs are of particular interest, since they allow the generation of single-frequency-mode photons, required for scaling state complexity towards, e.g., multi-photon states, and for quantum information applications. However, generation schemes for such pulsed combs have, to date, relied on micro-cavity excitation via lasers external to the sources, being neither versatile nor power-efficient, and impractical for scalable realizations of quantum technologies. Here, we introduce an actively-modulated, nested-cavity configuration that exploits the resonance pass-band characteristic of the micro-cavity to enable a mode-locked and energy-efficient excitation. We demonstrate that the scheme allows the generation of high-purity photons at large coincidence-to-accidental ratios (CAR). Furthermore, by increasing the repetition rate of the excitation field via harmonic mode-locking (i.e. driving the cavity modulation at harmonics of the fundamental repetition rate), we managed to increase the pair production rates (i.e. source efficiency), while maintaining a high CAR and photon purity. Our approach represents a significant step towards the realization of fully on-chip, stable, and versatile sources of pulsed quantum frequency combs, crucial for the development of accessible quantum technologies.

  11. Intensity autocorrelation measurements of frequency combs in the terahertz range

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benea-Chelmus, Ileana-Cristina; Rösch, Markus; Scalari, Giacomo; Beck, Mattias; Faist, Jérôme

    2017-09-01

    We report on direct measurements of the emission character of quantum cascade laser based frequency combs, using intensity autocorrelation. Our implementation is based on fast electro-optic sampling, with a detection spectral bandwidth matching the emission bandwidth of the comb laser, around 2.5 THz. We find the output of these frequency combs to be continuous even in the locked regime, but accompanied by a strong intensity modulation. Moreover, with our record temporal resolution of only few hundreds of femtoseconds, we can resolve correlated intensity modulation occurring on time scales as short as the gain recovery time, about 4 ps. By direct comparison with pulsed terahertz light originating from a photoconductive emitter, we demonstrate the peculiar emission pattern of these lasers. The measurement technique is self-referenced and ultrafast, and requires no reconstruction. It will be of significant importance in future measurements of ultrashort pulses from quantum cascade lasers.

  12. Probing coherence in microcavity frequency combs via optical pulse shaping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferdous, Fahmida; Miao, Houxun; Wang, Pei-Hsun; Leaird, Daniel E.; Srinivasan, Kartik; Chen, Lei; Aksyuk, Vladimir; Weiner, Andrew M.

    2012-09-01

    Recent investigations of microcavity frequency combs based on cascaded four-wave mixing have revealed a link between the evolution of the optical spectrum and the observed temporal coherence. Here we study a silicon nitride microresonator for which the initial four-wave mixing sidebands are spaced by multiple free spectral ranges (FSRs) from the pump, then fill in to yield a comb with single FSR spacing, resulting in partial coherence. By using a pulse shaper to select and manipulate the phase of various subsets of spectral lines, we are able to probe the structure of the coherence within the partially coherent comb. Our data demonstrate strong variation in the degree of mutual coherence between different groups of lines and provide support for a simple model of partially coherent comb formation.

  13. Call for papers for special issue of Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy focusing on "Frequency-comb spectroscopy"

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Foltynowicz, Aleksandra; Picqué, Nathalie; Ye, Jun

    2018-05-01

    Frequency combs are becoming enabling tools for many applications in science and technology, beyond the original purpose of frequency metrology of simple atoms. The precisely evenly spaced narrow lines of a laser frequency comb inspire intriguing approaches to molecular spectroscopy, designed and implemented by a growing community of scientists. Frequency-comb spectroscopy advances the frontiers of molecular physics across the entire electro-magnetic spectrum. Used as frequency rulers, frequency combs enable absolute frequency measurements and precise line shape studies of molecular transitions, for e.g. tests of fundamental physics and improved determination of fundamental constants. As light sources interrogating the molecular samples, they dramatically improve the resolution, precision, sensitivity and acquisition time of broad spectral-bandwidth spectroscopy and open up new opportunities and applications at the leading edge of molecular spectroscopy and sensing.

  14. Evaluating the coherence and time-domain profile of quantum cascade laser frequency combs

    DOE PAGES

    Burghoff, David; Yang, Yang; Hayton, Darren J.; ...

    2015-01-01

    Recently, much attention has been focused on the generation of optical frequency combs from quantum cascade lasers. We discuss how fast detectors can be used to demonstrate the mutual coherence of such combs, and present an inequality that can be used to quantitatively evaluate their performance. We discuss several technical issues related to shifted wave interference Fourier Transform spectroscopy (SWIFTS), and show how such measurements can be used to elucidate the time-domain properties of such combs, showing that they can possess signatures of both frequency-modulation and amplitude-modulation.

  15. Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs.

    PubMed

    MacLellan, Benjamin; Roztocki, Piotr; Kues, Michael; Reimer, Christian; Romero Cortés, Luis; Zhang, Yanbing; Sciara, Stefania; Wetzel, Benjamin; Cino, Alfonso; Chu, Sai T; Little, Brent E; Moss, David J; Caspani, Lucia; Azaña, José; Morandotti, Roberto

    2018-06-08

    We present a method for the generation and coherent manipulation of pulsed quantum frequency combs. Until now, methods of preparing high-dimensional states on-chip in a practical way have remained elusive due to the increasing complexity of the quantum circuitry needed to prepare and process such states. Here, we outline how high-dimensional, frequency-bin entangled, two-photon states can be generated at a stable, high generation rate by using a nested-cavity, actively mode-locked excitation of a nonlinear micro-cavity. This technique is used to produce pulsed quantum frequency combs. Moreover, we present how the quantum states can be coherently manipulated using standard telecommunications components such as programmable filters and electro-optic modulators. In particular, we show in detail how to accomplish state characterization measurements such as density matrix reconstruction, coincidence detection, and single photon spectrum determination. The presented methods form an accessible, reconfigurable, and scalable foundation for complex high-dimensional state preparation and manipulation protocols in the frequency domain.

  16. High-power ultra-broadband frequency comb from ultraviolet to infrared by high-power fiber amplifiers.

    PubMed

    Yang, Kangwen; Li, Wenxue; Yan, Ming; Shen, Xuling; Zhao, Jian; Zeng, Heping

    2012-06-04

    A high-power ultra-broadband frequency comb covering the spectral range from ultraviolet to infrared was generated directly by nonlinear frequency conversion of a multi-stage high-power fiber comb amplifier. The 1030-nm infrared spectral fraction of a broadband Ti:sapphire femtosecond frequency comb was power-scaled up to 100 W average power by using a large-mode-area fiber chirped-pulse amplifier. We obtained a frequency-doubled green comb at 515 nm and frequency-quadrupled ultraviolet pulses at 258 nm with the average power of 12.8 and 1.62 W under the input infrared power of 42.2 W, respectively. The carrier envelope phase stabilization was accomplished with an ultra-narrow line-width of 1.86 mHz and a quite low accumulated phase jitter of 0.41 rad, corresponding to a timing jitter of 143 as.

  17. Noncollinear wave mixing of attosecond XUV and few-cycle optical laser pulses in gas-phase atoms: Toward multidimensional spectroscopy involving XUV excitations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Wei; Warrick, Erika R.; Fidler, Ashley; Neumark, Daniel M.; Leone, Stephen R.

    2016-11-01

    Ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy, which records transient wave-mixing signals in a medium, is a powerful tool to access microscopic information using light sources in the radio-frequency and optical regimes. The extension of this technique towards the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) or even x-ray regimes holds the promise to uncover rich structural or dynamical information with even higher spatial or temporal resolution. Here, we demonstrate noncollinear wave mixing between weak XUV attosecond pulses and a strong near-infrared (NIR) few-cycle laser pulse in gas phase atoms (one photon of XUV and two photons of NIR). In the noncollinear geometry the attosecond and either one or two NIR pulses interact with argon atoms. Nonlinear XUV signals are generated in a spatially resolved fashion as required by phase matching. Different transition pathways can be identified from these background-free nonlinear signals according to the specific phase-matching conditions. Time-resolved measurements of the spatially gated XUV signals reveal electronic coherences of Rydberg wave packets prepared by a single XUV photon or XUV-NIR two-photon excitation, depending on the applied pulse sequences. These measurements open possible applications of tabletop multidimensional spectroscopy to the study of dynamics associated with valence or core excitation with XUV photons.

  18. Noise-Immune Cavity-Enhanced Optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rutkowski, Lucile; Khodabakhsh, Amir; Johanssson, Alexandra C.; Foltynowicz, Aleksandra

    2015-06-01

    We present noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy (NICE-OFCS), a recently developed technique for sensitive, broadband, and high resolution spectroscopy. In NICE-OFCS an optical frequency comb (OFC) is locked to a high finesse cavity and phase-modulated at a frequency precisely equal to (a multiple of) the cavity free spectral range. Since each comb line and sideband is transmitted through a separate cavity mode in exactly the same way, any residual frequency noise on the OFC relative to the cavity affects each component in an identical manner. The transmitted intensity contains a beat signal at the modulation frequency that is immune to frequency-to-amplitude noise conversion by the cavity, in a way similar to continuous wave noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical heterodyne molecular spectroscopy (NICE-OHMS). The light transmitted through the cavity is detected with a fast-scanning Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) and the NICE-OFCS signal is obtained by fast Fourier transform of the synchronously demodulated interferogram. Our NICE-OFCS system is based on an Er:fiber femtosecond laser locked to a cavity with a finesse of ˜9000 and a fast-scanning FTS equipped with a high-bandwidth commercial detector. We measured NICE-OFCS signals from the 3νb{1}+νb{3} overtone band of CO_2 around 1.57 μm and achieved absorption sensitivity 6.4×10-11cm-1 Hz-1/2 per spectral element, corresponding to a minimum detectable CO_2 concentration of 25 ppb after 330 s integration time. We will describe the principles of the technique and its technical implementation, and discuss the spectral lineshapes of the NICE-OFCS signals. A. Khodabakhsh, C. Abd Alrahman, and A. Foltynowicz, Opt. Lett. 39, 5034-5037 (2014). J. Ye, L. S. Ma, and J. L. Hall, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 15, 6-15 (1998). A. Khodabakhsh, A. C. Johansson, and A. Foltynowicz, Appl. Phys. B (2015) doi:10.1007/s00340-015-6010-7.

  19. A stabilized optical frequency comb based on an Er-doped fiber femtosecond laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xia, Chuanqing; Wu, Tengfei; Zhao, Chunbo; Xing, Shuai

    2018-03-01

    An optical frequency comb based on a 250 MHz home-made Er-doped fiber femtosecond laser is presented in this paper. The Er-doped fiber laser has a ring cavity and operates mode-locked in femtosecond regime with the technique of nonlinear polarization rotation. The pulse duration is 118 fs and the spectral width is 30 nm. A part of the femtosecond laser is amplified in Er-doped fiber amplifier before propagating through a piece of highly nonlinear fiber for expanding the spectrum. The carrier-envelope offset frequency of the comb which has a signal-to-noise ratio more than 35 dB is extracted by means of f-2f beating. It demonstrates that both carrier-envelope offset frequency and repetition frequency keep phase locked to a Rubidium atomic clock simultaneously for 2 hours. The frequency stabilized fiber combs will be increasingly applied in optical metrology, attosecond pulse generation, and absolute distance measurement.

  20. Repetition rate multiplication of frequency comb using all-pass fiber resonator

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yang, Lijun; Yang, Honglei; Zhang, Hongyuan

    2016-09-15

    We propose a stable method for repetition rate multiplication of a 250-MHz Er-fiber frequency comb by a phase-locked all-pass fiber ring resonator, whose phase-locking configuration is simple. The optical path length of the fiber ring resonator is automatically controlled to be accurately an odd multiple of half of the original cavity length using an electronical phase-locking unit with an optical delay line. As for shorter cavity length of the comb, high-order odd multiple is preferable. Because the power loss depends only on the net-attenuation of the fiber ring resonator, the energetic efficiency of the proposed method is high. The inputmore » and output optical spectrums show that the spectral width of the frequency comb is clearly preserved. Besides, experimental results show less pulse intensity fluctuation and 35 dB suppression ratio of side-modes while providing a good long-term and short-term frequency stability. Higher-order repetition rate multiplication to several GHz can be obtained by using several fiber ring resonators in cascade configuration.« less

  1. Gigahertz frequency comb from a diode-pumped solid-state laser.

    PubMed

    Klenner, Alexander; Schilt, Stéphane; Südmeyer, Thomas; Keller, Ursula

    2014-12-15

    We present the first stabilization of the frequency comb offset from a diode-pumped gigahertz solid-state laser oscillator. No additional external amplification and/or compression of the output pulses is required. The laser is reliably modelocked using a SESAM and is based on a diode-pumped Yb:CALGO gain crystal. It generates 1.7-W average output power and pulse durations as short as 64 fs at a pulse repetition rate of 1 GHz. We generate an octave-spanning supercontinuum in a highly nonlinear fiber and use the standard f-to-2f carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency fCEO detection method. As a pump source, we use a reliable and cost-efficient commercial diode laser. Its multi-spatial-mode beam profile leads to a relatively broad frequency comb offset beat signal, which nevertheless can be phase-locked by feedback to its current. Using improved electronics, we reached a feedback-loop-bandwidth of up to 300 kHz. A combination of digital and analog electronics is used to achieve a tight phase-lock of fCEO to an external microwave reference with a low in-loop residual integrated phase-noise of 744 mrad in an integration bandwidth of [1 Hz, 5 MHz]. An analysis of the laser noise and response functions is presented which gives detailed insights into the CEO stabilization of this frequency comb.

  2. Terabit optical OFDM superchannel transmission via coherent carriers of a hybrid chip-scale soliton frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Geng, Yong; Huang, Xiatao; Cui, Wenwen; Ling, Yun; Xu, Bo; Zhang, Jin; Yi, Xingwen; Wu, Baojian; Huang, Shu-Wei; Qiu, Kun; Wong, Chee Wei; Zhou, Heng

    2018-05-01

    We demonstrate seamless channel multiplexing and high bitrate superchannel transmission of coherent optical orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (CO-OFDM) data signals utilizing a dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) frequency comb generated in an on-chip microcavity. Aided by comb line multiplication through Nyquist pulse modulation, the high stability and mutual coherence among mode-locked Kerr comb lines are exploited for the first time to eliminate the guard intervals between communication channels and achieve full spectral density bandwidth utilization. Spectral efficiency as high as 2.625 bit/Hz/s is obtained for 180 CO-OFDM bands encoded with 12.75 Gbaud 8-QAM data, adding up to total bitrate of 6.885 Tb/s within 2.295 THz frequency comb bandwidth. Our study confirms that high coherence is the key superiority of Kerr soliton frequency combs over independent laser diodes, as a multi-spectral coherent laser source for high-bandwidth high-spectral-density transmission networks.

  3. Probing Buffer-Gas Cooled Molecules with Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy in the Mid-Infrrared

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spaun, Ben; Changala, Bryan; Bjork, Bryce J.; Heckl, Oliver H.; Patterson, David; Doyle, John M.; Ye, Jun

    2015-06-01

    We present the first demonstration of cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy on buffer-gas cooled molecules.By coupling a mid-infrared frequency comb to a high-finesse cavity surrounding a helium buffer-gas chamber, we can gather rotationally resolved absorption spectra with high sensitivity over a broad wavelength region. The measured ˜10 K rotational and translational temperatures of buffer-gas cooled molecules drastically simplify the observed spectra, compared to those of room temperature molecules, and allow for high spectral resolution limited only by Doppler broadening (10-100 MHz). Our system allows for the extension of high-resolution spectroscopy to larger molecules, enabling detailed analysis of molecular structure and dynamics, while taking full advantage of the powerful optical properties of frequency combs. A. Foltynowicz et al. Cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared application to trace detection of hydrogen peroxide. Applied Physics B, vol. 110, pp. 163-175, 2013. {D. Patterson and J. M. Doyle. Cooling molecules in a cell for FTMW spectroscopy. Molecular Physics 110, 1757-1766, 2012

  4. Direct frequency comb optical frequency standard based on two-photon transitions of thermal atoms

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, S. Y.; Wu, J. T.; Zhang, Y. L.; Leng, J. X.; Yang, W. P.; Zhang, Z. G.; Zhao, J. Y.

    2015-01-01

    Optical clocks have been the focus of science and technology research areas due to their capability to provide highest frequency accuracy and stability to date. Their superior frequency performance promises significant advances in the fields of fundamental research as well as practical applications including satellite-based navigation and ranging. In traditional optical clocks, ultrastable optical cavities, laser cooling and particle (atoms or a single ion) trapping techniques are employed to guarantee high stability and accuracy. However, on the other hand, they make optical clocks an entire optical tableful of equipment, and cannot work continuously for a long time; as a result, they restrict optical clocks used as very convenient and compact time-keeping clocks. In this article, we proposed, and experimentally demonstrated, a novel scheme of optical frequency standard based on comb-directly-excited atomic two-photon transitions. By taking advantage of the natural properties of the comb and two-photon transitions, this frequency standard achieves a simplified structure, high robustness as well as decent frequency stability, which promise widespread applications in various scenarios. PMID:26459877

  5. Phase noise characterization of a QD-based diode laser frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Vedala, Govind; Al-Qadi, Mustafa; O'Sullivan, Maurice; Cartledge, John; Hui, Rongqing

    2017-07-10

    We measure, simultaneously, the phases of a large set of comb lines from a passively mode locked, InAs/InP, quantum dot laser frequency comb (QDLFC) by comparing the lines to a stable comb reference using multi-heterodyne coherent detection. Simultaneity permits the separation of differential and common mode phase noise and a straightforward determination of the wavelength corresponding to the minimum width of the comb line. We find that the common mode and differential phases are uncorrelated, and measure for the first time for a QDLFC that the intrinsic differential-mode phase (IDMP) between adjacent subcarriers is substantially the same for all subcarrier pairs. The latter observation supports an interpretation of 4.4ps as the standard deviation of IDMP on a 200µs time interval for this laser.

  6. Frequency comb based on a narrowband Yb-fiber oscillator: pre-chirp management for self-referenced carrier envelope offset frequency stabilization.

    PubMed

    Lim, Jinkang; Chen, Hung-Wen; Chang, Guoqing; Kärtner, Franz X

    2013-02-25

    Laser frequency combs are normally based on mode-locked oscillators emitting ultrashort pulses of ~100-fs or shorter. In this paper, we present a self-referenced frequency comb based on a narrowband (5-nm bandwidth corresponding to 415-fs transform-limited pulses) Yb-fiber oscillator with a repetition rate of 280 MHz. We employ a nonlinear Yb-fiber amplifier to both amplify the narrowband pulses and broaden their optical spectrum. To optimize the carrier envelope offset frequency (fCEO), we optimize the nonlinear pulse amplification by pre-chirping the pulses at the amplifier input. An optimum negative pre-chirp exists, which produces a signal-to-noise ratio of 35 dB (100 kHz resolution bandwidth) for the detected fCEO. We phase stabilize the fCEO using a feed-forward method, resulting in 0.64-rad (integrated from 1 Hz to 10 MHz) phase noise for the in-loop error signal. This work demonstrates the feasibility of implementing frequency combs from a narrowband oscillator, which is of particular importance for realizing large line-spacing frequency combs based on multi-GHz oscillators usually emitting long (>200 fs) pulses.

  7. Frequency characterization of a swept- and fixed-wavelength external-cavity quantum cascade laser by use of a frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Knabe, Kevin; Williams, Paul A; Giorgetta, Fabrizio R; Armacost, Chris M; Crivello, Sam; Radunsky, Michael B; Newbury, Nathan R

    2012-05-21

    The instantaneous optical frequency of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL) is characterized by comparison to a near-infrared frequency comb. Fluctuations in the instantaneous optical frequency are analyzed to determine the frequency-noise power spectral density for the external-cavity QCL both during fixed-wavelength and swept-wavelength operation. The noise performance of a near-infrared external-cavity diode laser is measured for comparison. In addition to providing basic frequency metrology of external-cavity QCLs, this comb-calibrated swept QCL system can be applied to rapid, precise broadband spectroscopy in the mid-infrared spectral region.

  8. Generation and control of optical frequency combs using cavity electromagnetically induced transparency

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Jiahua; Qu, Ye; Yu, Rong; Wu, Ying

    2018-02-01

    We explore theoretically the generation and all-optical control of optical frequency combs (OFCs) in photon transmission based on a combination of single-atom-cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED) and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Here an external control field is used to form the cavity dark mode of the CQED system. When the strengths of the applied EIT control field are appropriately tuned, enhanced comb generation can be achieved. We discuss the properties of the dark mode and clearly show that the formation of the dark mode enables the efficient generation of OFCs. In our approach, the comb spacing is determined by the beating frequency between the driving pump and seed lasers. Our demonstrated theory may pave the way towards all-optical coherent control of OFCs using a CQED architecture.

  9. Wideband optical vector network analyzer based on optical single-sideband modulation and optical frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Xue, Min; Pan, Shilong; He, Chao; Guo, Ronghui; Zhao, Yongjiu

    2013-11-15

    A novel approach to increase the measurement range of the optical vector network analyzer (OVNA) based on optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. In the proposed system, each comb line in an optical frequency comb (OFC) is selected by an optical filter and used as the optical carrier for the OSSB-based OVNA. The frequency responses of an optical device-under-test (ODUT) are thus measured channel by channel. Because the comb lines in the OFC have fixed frequency spacing, by fitting the responses measured in all channels together, the magnitude and phase responses of the ODUT can be accurately achieved in a large range. A proof-of-concept experiment is performed. A measurement range of 105 GHz and a resolution of 1 MHz is achieved when a five-comb-line OFC with a frequency spacing of 20 GHz is applied to measure the magnitude and phase responses of a fiber Bragg grating.

  10. Photonic Generation of High Power, Ultrastable Microwave Signals by Vernier Effect in a Femtosecond Laser Frequency Comb.

    PubMed

    Saleh, Khaldoun; Millo, Jacques; Marechal, Baptiste; Dubois, Benoît; Bakir, Ahmed; Didier, Alexandre; Lacroûte, Clément; Kersalé, Yann

    2018-01-31

    Optical frequency division of an ultrastable laser to the microwave frequency range by an optical frequency comb has allowed the generation of microwave signals with unprecedently high spectral purity and stability. However, the generated microwave signal will suffer from a very low power level if no external optical frequency comb repetition rate multiplication device is used. This paper reports theoretical and experimental studies on the beneficial use of the Vernier effect together with the spectral selective filtering in a double directional coupler add-drop optical fibre ring resonator to increase the comb repetition rate and generate high power microwaves. The studies are focused on two selective filtering aspects: the high rejection of undesirable optical modes of the frequency comb and the transmission of the desirable modes with the lowest possible loss. Moreover, the conservation of the frequency comb stability and linewidth at the resonator output is particularly considered. Accordingly, a fibre ring resonator is designed, fabricated, and characterized, and a technique to stabilize the resonator's resonance comb is proposed. A significant power gain is achieved for the photonically generated beat note at 10 GHz. Routes to highly improve the performances of such proof-of-concept device are also discussed.

  11. High spectral purity Kerr frequency comb radio frequency photonic oscillator

    PubMed Central

    Liang, W.; Eliyahu, D.; Ilchenko, V. S.; Savchenkov, A. A.; Matsko, A. B.; Seidel, D.; Maleki, L.

    2015-01-01

    Femtosecond laser-based generation of radio frequency signals has produced astonishing improvements in achievable spectral purity, one of the basic features characterizing the performance of an radio frequency oscillator. Kerr frequency combs hold promise for transforming these lab-scale oscillators to chip-scale level. In this work we demonstrate a miniature 10 GHz radio frequency photonic oscillator characterized with phase noise better than −60 dBc Hz−1 at 10 Hz, −90 dBc Hz−1 at 100 Hz and −170 dBc Hz−1 at 10 MHz. The frequency stability of this device, as represented by Allan deviation measurements, is at the level of 10−10 at 1–100 s integration time—orders of magnitude better than existing radio frequency photonic devices of similar size, weight and power consumption. PMID:26260955

  12. Two-Wavelength Multi-Gigahertz Frequency Comb-Based Interferometry for Full-Field Profilometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choi, Samuel; Kashiwagi, Ken; Kojima, Shuto; Kasuya, Yosuke; Kurokawa, Takashi

    2013-10-01

    The multi-gigahertz frequency comb-based interferometer exhibits only the interference amplitude peak without the phase fringes, which can produce a rapid axial scan for full-field profilometry and tomography. Despite huge technical advantages, there remain problems that the interference intensity undulations occurred depending on the interference phase. To avoid such problems, we propose a compensation technique of the interference signals using two frequency combs with slightly varied center wavelengths. The compensated full-field surface profile measurements of cover glass and onion skin were demonstrated experimentally to verify the advantages of the proposed method.

  13. Qcl Spectroscopy at 9 μM Calibrated with a High-Power Thulium-Based Frequency Comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mills, Andrew A.; Jiang, Jie; Hartl, Ingmar; Fermann, Martin; Gatti, Davide; Marangoni, Marco

    2012-06-01

    Optical frequency comb synthesizers (OFCS) comprised of mode-locked femtosecond lasers can be stabilized with Hertz-level accuracy and used in combination with cw lasers for high resolution spectroscopy. As currently established OFCS technologies are confined to the near-IR, mid-IR spectroscopy requires either down-conversion of near-IR combs or up-conversion of the probing laser. Due to the near-IR absorption edge of the nonlinear crystals with extended mid-IR transparency, the conversion efficiency of nonlinear processes increases with the wavelength of the interacting fields. A more straightforward and efficient link between comb and probing laser is thus expected to be obtained by increasing the wavelength of the comb synthesizer. In this work, the use of a novel, powerful Thulium-based OFCS with emission wavelengths near 2 μm is shown to be an excellent candidate to obtain absolute frequency calibration of quantum cascade lasers (QCL) operating at wavelengths as long as 9 μm. Specifically, by combining the frequencies of a 9 μm QCL with the high power 2 μm comb in a AgGaSe_2 crystal, SFG light is created near 1.6 μm. A portion of the 2 μm comb is non-linearly shifted to 1.6 μm. As the carrier envelope offset frequency (fceo) is the same for the SFG radiation and the shifted comb at 1.6 μm, heterodyning the two signals produces a beat signal independent of fceo, eliminating the need for an octave spanning comb and f-2f interferometer. We report on the development of this instrument, and the absolute line transitions of NH_3 at 9 μm, enabled by rapid scanning of the repetition rate of the comb enabled to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. J. Jiang, C. Mohr, J. Bethge, M. Fermann, and I. Hartl, in CLEO/Europe and EQEC 2011 Conference Digest, OSA Technical Digest (CD) PDB_1, 2001 D. Gatti, A. Gambetta, A. Castrillo, G. Galzerano, P. Laporta, L. Gainfrani and M. Marangoni Op. Exp. 19, 17520 2011

  14. Measurement of the 4 S1 /2→6 S1 /2 transition frequency in atomic potassium via direct frequency-comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stalnaker, J. E.; Ayer, H. M. G.; Baron, J. H.; Nuñez, A.; Rowan, M. E.

    2017-07-01

    We present an experimental determination of the 4 S1 /2→6 S1 /2 transition frequency in atomic potassium 39K, using direct frequency-comb spectroscopy. The output of a stabilized optical frequency comb was used to excite a thermal atomic vapor. The repetition rate of the frequency comb was scanned and the transitions were excited using stepwise two-photon excitation. The center-of-gravity frequency for the transition was found to be νcog=822 951 698.09 (13 ) MHz and the measured hyperfine A coefficient of the 6 S1 /2 state was 21.93 (11 ) MHz. The measurements are in agreement with previous values and represent an improvement by a factor of 700 in the uncertainty of the center-of-gravity measurement.

  15. Demonstration of a near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser frequency comb for precision radial velocity measurements in astronomy.

    PubMed

    Yi, X; Vahala, K; Li, J; Diddams, S; Ycas, G; Plavchan, P; Leifer, S; Sandhu, J; Vasisht, G; Chen, P; Gao, P; Gagne, J; Furlan, E; Bottom, M; Martin, E C; Fitzgerald, M P; Doppmann, G; Beichman, C

    2016-01-27

    An important technique for discovering and characterizing planets beyond our solar system relies upon measurement of weak Doppler shifts in the spectra of host stars induced by the influence of orbiting planets. A recent advance has been the introduction of optical frequency combs as frequency references. Frequency combs produce a series of equally spaced reference frequencies and they offer extreme accuracy and spectral grasp that can potentially revolutionize exoplanet detection. Here we demonstrate a laser frequency comb using an alternate comb generation method based on electro-optical modulation, with the comb centre wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. In contrast to mode-locked combs, the line spacing is readily resolvable using typical astronomical grating spectrographs. Built using commercial off-the-shelf components, the instrument is relatively simple and reliable. Proof of concept experiments operated at near-infrared wavelengths were carried out at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope.

  16. Demonstration of a near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser frequency comb for precision radial velocity measurements in astronomy

    PubMed Central

    Yi, X.; Vahala, K.; Li, J.; Diddams, S.; Ycas, G.; Plavchan, P.; Leifer, S.; Sandhu, J.; Vasisht, G.; Chen, P.; Gao, P.; Gagne, J.; Furlan, E.; Bottom, M.; Martin, E. C.; Fitzgerald, M. P.; Doppmann, G.; Beichman, C.

    2016-01-01

    An important technique for discovering and characterizing planets beyond our solar system relies upon measurement of weak Doppler shifts in the spectra of host stars induced by the influence of orbiting planets. A recent advance has been the introduction of optical frequency combs as frequency references. Frequency combs produce a series of equally spaced reference frequencies and they offer extreme accuracy and spectral grasp that can potentially revolutionize exoplanet detection. Here we demonstrate a laser frequency comb using an alternate comb generation method based on electro-optical modulation, with the comb centre wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. In contrast to mode-locked combs, the line spacing is readily resolvable using typical astronomical grating spectrographs. Built using commercial off-the-shelf components, the instrument is relatively simple and reliable. Proof of concept experiments operated at near-infrared wavelengths were carried out at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope. PMID:26813804

  17. An octave-spanning mid-infrared frequency comb generated in a silicon nanophotonic wire waveguide

    PubMed Central

    Kuyken, Bart; Ideguchi, Takuro; Holzner, Simon; Yan, Ming; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Van Campenhout, Joris; Verheyen, Peter; Coen, Stéphane; Leo, Francois; Baets, Roel; Roelkens, Gunther; Picqué, Nathalie

    2015-01-01

    Laser frequency combs, sources with a spectrum consisting of hundred thousands evenly spaced narrow lines, have an exhilarating potential for new approaches to molecular spectroscopy and sensing in the mid-infrared region. The generation of such broadband coherent sources is presently under active exploration. Technical challenges have slowed down such developments. Identifying a versatile highly nonlinear medium for significantly broadening a mid-infrared comb spectrum remains challenging. Here we take a different approach to spectral broadening of mid-infrared frequency combs and investigate CMOS-compatible highly nonlinear dispersion-engineered silicon nanophotonic waveguides on a silicon-on-insulator chip. We record octave-spanning (1,500–3,300 nm) spectra with a coupled input pulse energy as low as 16 pJ. We demonstrate phase-coherent comb spectra broadened on a room-temperature-operating CMOS-compatible chip. PMID:25697764

  18. Generation of tunable, high repetition rate optical frequency combs using on-chip silicon modulators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nagarjun, K. P.; Jeyaselvan, Vadivukarassi; Selvaraja, Shankar Kumar; Supradeepa, V. R.

    2018-04-01

    We experimentally demonstrate tunable, highly-stable frequency combs with high repetition-rates using a single, charge injection based silicon PN modulator. In this work, we demonstrate combs in the C-band with over 8 lines in a 20-dB bandwidth. We demonstrate continuous tuning of the center frequency in the C-band and tuning of the repetition-rate from 7.5GHz to 12.5GHz. We also demonstrate through simulations the potential for bandwidth scaling using an optimized silicon PIN modulator. We find that, the time varying free carrier absorption due to carrier injection, an undesirable effect in data modulators, assists here in enhancing flatness in the generated combs.

  19. Quantum coherence in photo-ionisation with tailored XUV pulses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carlström, Stefanos; Mauritsson, Johan; Schafer, Kenneth J.; L'Huillier, Anne; Gisselbrecht, Mathieu

    2018-01-01

    Ionisation with ultrashort pulses in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) regime can be used to prepare an ion in a superposition of spin-orbit substates. In this work, we study the coherence properties of such a superposition, created by ionising xenon atoms using two phase-locked XUV pulses at different frequencies. In general, if the duration of the driving pulse exceeds the quantum beat period, dephasing will occur. If however, the frequency difference of the two pulses matches the spin-orbit splitting, the coherence can be efficiently increased and dephasing does not occur.

  20. Mid-infrared frequency comb generation via cascaded quadratic nonlinearities in quasi-phase-matched waveguides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kowligy, Abijith S.; Lind, Alex; Hickstein, Daniel D.; Carlson, David R.; Timmers, Henry; Nader, Nima; Cruz, Flavio C.; Ycas, Gabriel; Papp, Scott B.; Diddams, Scott A.

    2018-04-01

    We experimentally demonstrate a simple configuration for mid-infrared (MIR) frequency comb generation in quasi-phase-matched lithium niobate waveguides using the cascaded-$\\chi^{(2)}$ nonlinearity. With nanojoule-scale pulses from an Er:fiber laser, we observe octave-spanning supercontinuum in the near-infrared with dispersive-wave generation in the 2.5--3 $\\text{\\mu}$m region and intra-pulse difference-frequency generation in the 4--5 $\\text{\\mu}$m region. By engineering the quasi-phase-matched grating profiles, tunable, narrow-band MIR and broadband MIR spectra are both observed in this geometry. Finally, we perform numerical modeling using a nonlinear envelope equation, which shows good quantitative agreement with the experiment---and can be used to inform waveguide designs to tailor the MIR frequency combs. Our results identify a path to a simple single-branch approach to mid-infrared frequency comb generation in a compact platform using commercial Er:fiber technology.

  1. Mid-infrared frequency comb generation via cascaded quadratic nonlinearities in quasi-phase-matched waveguides.

    PubMed

    Kowligy, Abijith S; Lind, Alex; Hickstein, Daniel D; Carlson, David R; Timmers, Henry; Nader, Nima; Cruz, Flavio C; Ycas, Gabriel; Papp, Scott B; Diddams, Scott A

    2018-04-15

    We experimentally demonstrate a simple configuration for mid-infrared (MIR) frequency comb generation in quasi-phase-matched lithium niobate waveguides using the cascaded-χ (2) nonlinearity. With nanojoule-scale pulses from an Er:fiber laser, we observe octave-spanning supercontinuum in the near-infrared with dispersive wave generation in the 2.5-3 μm region and intrapulse difference frequency generation in the 4-5 μm region. By engineering the quasi-phase-matched grating profiles, tunable, narrowband MIR and broadband MIR spectra are both observed in this geometry. Finally, we perform numerical modeling using a nonlinear envelope equation, which shows good quantitative agreement with the experiment-and can be used to inform waveguide designs to tailor the MIR frequency combs. Our results identify a path to a simple single-branch approach to mid-infrared frequency comb generation in a compact platform using commercial Er:fiber technology.

  2. Stabilization of a self-referenced, prism-based, Cr:forsterite laser frequency comb using an intracavity prism

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tillman, Karl A.; Thapa, Rajesh; Knabe, Kevin

    2009-12-20

    The frequency comb from a prism-based Cr:forsterite laser has been frequency stabilized using intracavity prism insertion and pump power modulation. Absolute frequency measurements of a CW fiber laser stabilized to the P(13) transition of acetylene demonstrate a fractional instability of {approx}2x10{sup -11} at a 1 s gate time, limited by a commercial Global Positioning System (GPS)-disciplined rubidium oscillator. Additionally, absolute frequency measurements made simultaneously using a second frequency comb indicate relative instabilities of 3x10{sup -12} for both combs for a 1 s gate time. Estimations of the carrier-envelope offset frequency linewidth based on relative intensity noise and the response dynamicsmore » of the carrier-envelope offset to pump power changes confirm the observed linewidths.« less

  3. Stably accessing octave-spanning microresonator frequency combs in the soliton regime.

    PubMed

    Li, Qing; Briles, Travis C; Westly, Daron A; Drake, Tara E; Stone, Jordan R; Ilic, B Robert; Diddams, Scott A; Papp, Scott B; Srinivasan, Kartik

    2017-02-01

    Microresonator frequency combs can be an enabling technology for optical frequency synthesis and timekeeping in low size, weight, and power architectures. Such systems require comb operation in low-noise, phase-coherent states such as solitons, with broad spectral bandwidths (e.g., octave-spanning) for self-referencing to detect the carrier-envelope offset frequency. However, accessing such states is complicated by thermo-optic dispersion. For example, in the Si 3 N 4 platform, precisely dispersion-engineered structures can support broadband operation, but microsecond thermal time constants often require fast pump power or frequency control to stabilize the solitons. In contrast, here we consider how broadband soliton states can be accessed with simple pump laser frequency tuning, at a rate much slower than the thermal dynamics. We demonstrate octave-spanning soliton frequency combs in Si 3 N 4 microresonators, including the generation of a multi-soliton state with a pump power near 40 mW and a single-soliton state with a pump power near 120 mW. We also develop a simplified two-step analysis to explain how these states are accessed without fast control of the pump laser, and outline the required thermal properties for such operation. Our model agrees with experimental results as well as numerical simulations based on a Lugiato-Lefever equation that incorporates thermo-optic dispersion. Moreover, it also explains an experimental observation that a member of an adjacent mode family on the red-detuned side of the pump mode can mitigate the thermal requirements for accessing soliton states.

  4. Stably accessing octave-spanning microresonator frequency combs in the soliton regime

    PubMed Central

    Li, Qing; Briles, Travis C.; Westly, Daron A.; Drake, Tara E.; Stone, Jordan R.; Ilic, B. Robert; Diddams, Scott A.; Papp, Scott B.; Srinivasan, Kartik

    2017-01-01

    Microresonator frequency combs can be an enabling technology for optical frequency synthesis and timekeeping in low size, weight, and power architectures. Such systems require comb operation in low-noise, phase-coherent states such as solitons, with broad spectral bandwidths (e.g., octave-spanning) for self-referencing to detect the carrier-envelope offset frequency. However, accessing such states is complicated by thermo-optic dispersion. For example, in the Si3N4 platform, precisely dispersion-engineered structures can support broadband operation, but microsecond thermal time constants often require fast pump power or frequency control to stabilize the solitons. In contrast, here we consider how broadband soliton states can be accessed with simple pump laser frequency tuning, at a rate much slower than the thermal dynamics. We demonstrate octave-spanning soliton frequency combs in Si3N4 microresonators, including the generation of a multi-soliton state with a pump power near 40 mW and a single-soliton state with a pump power near 120 mW. We also develop a simplified two-step analysis to explain how these states are accessed without fast control of the pump laser, and outline the required thermal properties for such operation. Our model agrees with experimental results as well as numerical simulations based on a Lugiato-Lefever equation that incorporates thermo-optic dispersion. Moreover, it also explains an experimental observation that a member of an adjacent mode family on the red-detuned side of the pump mode can mitigate the thermal requirements for accessing soliton states. PMID:28603754

  5. A new method for determining the plasma electron density using optical frequency comb interferometer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Arakawa, Hiroyuki, E-mail: arakawa@fmt.teikyo-u.ac.jp; Tojo, Hiroshi; Sasao, Hajime

    2014-04-15

    A new method of plasma electron density measurement using interferometric phases (fractional fringes) of an optical frequency comb interferometer is proposed. Using the characteristics of the optical frequency comb laser, high density measurement can be achieved without fringe counting errors. Simulations show that the short wavelength and wide wavelength range of the laser source and low noise in interferometric phases measurements are effective to reduce ambiguity of measured density.

  6. Mid-infrared optical frequency combs at 2.5 μm based on crystalline microresonators

    PubMed Central

    Wang, C. Y.; Herr, T.; Del’Haye, P.; Schliesser, A.; Hofer, J.; Holzwarth, R.; Hänsch, T. W.; Picqué, N.; Kippenberg, T. J.

    2013-01-01

    The mid-infrared spectral range (λ~2–20 μm) is of particular importance as many molecules exhibit strong vibrational fingerprints in this region. Optical frequency combs—broadband optical sources consisting of equally spaced and mutually coherent sharp lines—are creating new opportunities for advanced spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate a novel approach to create mid-infrared optical frequency combs via four-wave mixing in a continuous-wave pumped ultra-high Q crystalline microresonator made of magnesium fluoride. Careful choice of the resonator material and design made it possible to generate a broadband, low-phase noise Kerr comb at λ=2.5 μm spanning 200 nm (≈10 THz) with a line spacing of 100 GHz. With its distinguishing features of compactness, efficient conversion, large mode spacing and high power per comb line, this novel frequency comb source holds promise for new approaches to molecular spectroscopy and is suitable to be extended further into the mid-infrared. PMID:23299895

  7. Numerical investigation into the injection-locking phenomena of gain switched lasers for optical frequency comb generation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ó Dúill, Sean P., E-mail: sean.oduill@dcu.ie; Anandarajah, Prince M.; Zhou, Rui

    2015-05-25

    We present detailed numerical simulations of the laser dynamics that describe optical frequency comb formation by injection-locking a gain-switched laser. The typical rate equations for semiconductor lasers including stochastic carrier recombination and spontaneous emission suffice to show the injection-locking behavior of gain switched lasers, and we show how the optical frequency comb evolves starting from the free-running state, right through the final injection-locked state. Unlike the locking of continuous wave lasers, we show that the locking range for gain switched lasers is considerably greater because injection locking can be achieved by injecting at frequencies close to one of the combmore » lines. The quality of the comb lines is formally assessed by calculating the frequency modulation (FM)-noise spectral density and we show that under injection-locking conditions the FM-noise spectral density of the comb lines tend to that of the maser laser.« less

  8. Measurement of the carrier envelope offset frequency of a femtosecond frequency comb using a Fabry-Perot interferometer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Basnak, D V; Bikmukhametov, K A; Dmitrieva, N I

    2010-10-15

    A method for measuring the carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency of the femtosecond frequency comb with a bandwidth of less than one octave by using a Fabry-Perot interferometer is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. (laser components)

  9. A 12.5 GHz-spaced optical frequency comb spanning >400 nm for near-infrared astronomical spectrograph calibration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Quinlan, F.; Diddams, S. A.; Ycas, G.

    2010-06-15

    A 12.5 GHz-spaced optical frequency comb locked to a global positioning system disciplined oscillator for near-infrared (IR) spectrograph calibration is presented. The comb is generated via filtering a 250 MHz-spaced comb. Subsequent nonlinear broadening of the 12.5 GHz comb extends the wavelength range to cover 1380-1820 nm, providing complete coverage over the H-band transmission window of earth's atmosphere. Finite suppression of spurious sidemodes, optical linewidth, and instability of the comb has been examined to estimate potential wavelength biases in spectrograph calibration. Sidemode suppression varies between 20 and 45 dB, and the optical linewidth is {approx}350 kHz at 1550 nm. Themore » comb frequency uncertainty is bounded by {+-}30 kHz (corresponding to a radial velocity of {+-}5 cm/s), limited by the global positioning system disciplined oscillator reference. These results indicate that this comb can readily support radial velocity measurements below 1 m/s in the near IR.« less

  10. First light of a laser frequency comb at SALT

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Depagne, Éric; McCracken, Richard A.; Reid, Derryck T.; Kuhn, Rudi B.; Erasmus, Nicolas; Crause, Lisa A.

    2016-08-01

    We present preliminary results of the commissioning and testing of SALT-CRISP (SALT-Calibration Ruler for Increased Spectrograph Precision), a Laser Frequency Comb (LFC) built by Heriot-Watt University and temporarily installed at the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). The comb feeds the High Stability mode of SALT's High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS) and fully covers the wavelength range of the red channel of the HRS: 555-890 nm. The LFC provides significantly improved wavelength calibration compared to a standard Thorium-Argon (ThAr) lamp and hence offers unprecedented opportunities to characterise the resolution, stability and radial velocity precision of the HRS. Results from this field trial will be incorporated into subsequent LFC designs.

  11. Research on spectrum broadening covering visible light of a fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb for absolute frequency measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xing, Shuai; Wu, Tengfei; Li, Shuyi; Xia, Chuanqing; Han, Jibo; Zhang, Lei; Zhao, Chunbo

    2018-03-01

    As a bridge connecting microwave frequency and optical frequency, femtosecond laser has important significance in optical frequency measurement. Compared with the traditional Ti-sapphire femtosecond optical frequency comb, with the advantages of compact structure, strong anti-interference ability and low cost, the fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb has a wider application prospect. An experiment of spectrum broadening in a highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber pumped by an Er-fiber mode-locked femtosecond laser is studied in this paper. Based on optical amplification and frequency doubling, the central wavelength of the output spectrum is 780nm and the average power is 232mW. With the femtosecond pulses coupled into two different photonic crystal fibers, the coverage of visible spectrum is up to 500nm-960nm. The spectral shape and width can be optimized by changing the polarization state for satisfying the requirments of different optical frequencies measurement.

  12. A multi-branch, fiber-based frequency comb with millihertz-level relative linewidths using an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator.

    PubMed

    Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Inaba, Hajime; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Minoshima, Kaoru; Onae, Atsushi; Yasuda, Masami; Kohno, Takuya; Kawato, Sakae; Kobayashi, Takao; Katsuyama, Toshio; Hong, Feng-Lei

    2010-01-18

    We demonstrate that fiber-based frequency combs with multi-branch configurations can transfer both linewidth and frequency stability to another wavelength at the millihertz level. An intra-cavity electro-optic modulator is employed to obtain a broad servo bandwidth for repetition rate control. We investigate the relative linewidths between two combs using a stable continuous-wave laser as a common reference to stabilize the repetition rate frequencies in both combs. The achieved energy concentration to the carrier of the out-of-loop beat between the two combs was 99% and 30% at a bandwidth of 1 kHz and 7.6 mHz, respectively. The frequency instability of the comb was 3.7x10(-16) for a 1 s averaging time, improving to 5-8x10(-19) for 10000 s. We show that the frequency noise in the out-of-loop beat originates mainly from phase noise in branched optical fibers.

  13. Spectrally interleaved, comb-mode-resolved spectroscopy using swept dual terahertz combs

    PubMed Central

    Hsieh, Yi-Da; Iyonaga, Yuki; Sakaguchi, Yoshiyuki; Yokoyama, Shuko; Inaba, Hajime; Minoshima, Kaoru; Hindle, Francis; Araki, Tsutomu; Yasui, Takeshi

    2014-01-01

    Optical frequency combs are innovative tools for broadband spectroscopy because a series of comb modes can serve as frequency markers that are traceable to a microwave frequency standard. However, a mode distribution that is too discrete limits the spectral sampling interval to the mode frequency spacing even though individual mode linewidth is sufficiently narrow. Here, using a combination of a spectral interleaving and dual-comb spectroscopy in the terahertz (THz) region, we achieved a spectral sampling interval equal to the mode linewidth rather than the mode spacing. The spectrally interleaved THz comb was realized by sweeping the laser repetition frequency and interleaving additional frequency marks. In low-pressure gas spectroscopy, we achieved an improved spectral sampling density of 2.5 MHz and enhanced spectral accuracy of 8.39 × 10−7 in the THz region. The proposed method is a powerful tool for simultaneously achieving high resolution, high accuracy, and broad spectral coverage in THz spectroscopy. PMID:24448604

  14. 1-GHz repetition rate femtosecond OPO with stabilized offset between signal and idler frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Gebs, R; Dekorsy, T; Diddams, S A; Bartels, A

    2008-04-14

    We report an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) that is synchronously pumped by a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser at 1 GHz repetition rate. The signal output has a center wavelength of 1558 nm and its spectral bandwidth amounts to 40 nm. The OPO operates in a regime where the signal- and idler frequency combs exhibit a partial overlap around 1600 nm. In this near-degeneracy region, a beat at the offset between the signal and idler frequency combs is detected. Phase-locking this beat to an external reference stabilizes the spectral envelopes of the signal- and idler output. At the same time, the underlying frequency combs are stabilized relative to each other with an instability of 1.5x10(-17) at 1 s gate time.

  15. Direct link of a mid-infrared QCL to a frequency comb by optical injection.

    PubMed

    Borri, S; Galli, I; Cappelli, F; Bismuto, A; Bartalini, S; Cancio, P; Giusfredi, G; Mazzotti, D; Faist, J; De Natale, P

    2012-03-15

    A narrow-linewidth comb-linked nonlinear source is used as master radiation to injection lock a room-temperature mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL). This process leads to a direct lock of the QCL to the optical frequency comb, providing the unique features of narrow linewidth, absolute frequency, higher output power, and wide mode-hop-free tunability. The QCL reproduces the injected radiation within more than 94%, with a reduction of the frequency-noise spectral density by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude up to about 100 kHz, and a linewidth narrowing from a few MHz to 20 kHz.

  16. 50-GHz-spaced comb of high-dimensional frequency-bin entangled photons from an on-chip silicon nitride microresonator

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Imany, Poolad; Jaramillo-Villegas, Jose A.; Odele, Ogaga D.

    Quantum frequency combs from chip-scale integrated sources are promising candidates for scalable and robust quantum information processing (QIP). However, to use these quantum combs for frequency domain QIP, demonstration of entanglement in the frequency basis, showing that the entangled photons are in a coherent superposition of multiple frequency bins, is required. We present a verification of qubit and qutrit frequency-bin entanglement using an on-chip quantum frequency comb with 40 mode pairs, through a two-photon interference measurement that is based on electro-optic phase modulation. Our demonstrations provide an important contribution in establishing integrated optical microresonators as a source for high-dimensional frequency-binmore » encoded quantum computing, as well as dense quantum key distribution.« less

  17. 50-GHz-spaced comb of high-dimensional frequency-bin entangled photons from an on-chip silicon nitride microresonator

    DOE PAGES

    Imany, Poolad; Jaramillo-Villegas, Jose A.; Odele, Ogaga D.; ...

    2018-01-18

    Quantum frequency combs from chip-scale integrated sources are promising candidates for scalable and robust quantum information processing (QIP). However, to use these quantum combs for frequency domain QIP, demonstration of entanglement in the frequency basis, showing that the entangled photons are in a coherent superposition of multiple frequency bins, is required. We present a verification of qubit and qutrit frequency-bin entanglement using an on-chip quantum frequency comb with 40 mode pairs, through a two-photon interference measurement that is based on electro-optic phase modulation. Our demonstrations provide an important contribution in establishing integrated optical microresonators as a source for high-dimensional frequency-binmore » encoded quantum computing, as well as dense quantum key distribution.« less

  18. Harnessing high-dimensional hyperentanglement through a biphoton frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Zhenda; Zhong, Tian; Shrestha, Sajan; Xu, Xinan; Liang, Junlin; Gong, Yan-Xiao; Bienfang, Joshua C.; Restelli, Alessandro; Shapiro, Jeffrey H.; Wong, Franco N. C.; Wei Wong, Chee

    2015-08-01

    Quantum entanglement is a fundamental resource for secure information processing and communications, and hyperentanglement or high-dimensional entanglement has been separately proposed for its high data capacity and error resilience. The continuous-variable nature of the energy-time entanglement makes it an ideal candidate for efficient high-dimensional coding with minimal limitations. Here, we demonstrate the first simultaneous high-dimensional hyperentanglement using a biphoton frequency comb to harness the full potential in both the energy and time domain. Long-postulated Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum revival is exhibited, with up to 19 time-bins and 96.5% visibilities. We further witness the high-dimensional energy-time entanglement through Franson revivals, observed periodically at integer time-bins, with 97.8% visibility. This qudit state is observed to simultaneously violate the generalized Bell inequality by up to 10.95 standard deviations while observing recurrent Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt S-parameters up to 2.76. Our biphoton frequency comb provides a platform for photon-efficient quantum communications towards the ultimate channel capacity through energy-time-polarization high-dimensional encoding.

  19. Femtosecond frequency comb based distance measurement in air.

    PubMed

    Balling, Petr; Kren, Petr; Masika, Pavel; van den Berg, S A

    2009-05-25

    Interferometric measurement of distance using a femtosecond frequency comb is demonstrated and compared with a counting interferometer displacement measurement. A numerical model of pulse propagation in air is developed and the results are compared with experimental data for short distances. The relative agreement for distance measurement in known laboratory conditions is better than 10(-7). According to the model, similar precision seems feasible even for long-distance measurement in air if conditions are sufficiently known. It is demonstrated that the relative width of the interferogram envelope even decreases with the measured length, and a fringe contrast higher than 90% could be obtained for kilometer distances in air, if optimal spectral width for that length and wavelength is used. The possibility of comb radiation delivery to the interferometer by an optical fiber is shown by model and experiment, which is important from a practical point of view.

  20. Broadband optical frequency comb generator based on driving N-cascaded modulators by Gaussian-shaped waveform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hmood, Jassim K.; Harun, Sulaiman W.

    2018-05-01

    A new approach for realizing a wideband optical frequency comb (OFC) generator based on driving cascaded modulators by a Gaussian-shaped waveform, is proposed and numerically demonstrated. The setup includes N-cascaded MZMs, a single Gaussian-shaped waveform generator, and N-1 electrical time delayer. The first MZM is driven directly by a Gaussian-shaped waveform, while delayed replicas of the Gaussian-shaped waveform drive the other MZMs. An analytical model that describes the proposed OFC generator is provided to study the effect of number and chirp factor of cascaded MZM as well as pulse width on output spectrum. Optical frequency combs at frequency spacing of 1 GHz are generated by applying Gaussian-shaped waveform at pulse widths ranging from 200 to 400 ps. Our results reveal that, the number of comb lines is inversely proportional to the pulse width and directly proportional to both number and chirp factor of cascaded MZMs. At pulse width of 200 ps and chirp factor of 4, 67 frequency lines can be measured at output spectrum of two-cascaded MZMs setup. Whereas, increasing the number of cascaded stages to 3, 4, and 5, the optical spectra counts 89, 109 and 123 frequency lines; respectively. When the delay time is optimized, 61 comb lines can be achieved with power fluctuations of less than 1 dB for five-cascaded MZMs setup.

  1. Multi-service small-cell cloud wired/wireless access network based on tunable optical frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiang, Yu; Zhou, Kun; Yang, Liu; Pan, Lei; Liao, Zhen-wan; Zhang, Qiang

    2015-11-01

    In this paper, we demonstrate a novel multi-service wired/wireless integrated access architecture of cloud radio access network (C-RAN) based on radio-over-fiber passive optical network (RoF-PON) system, which utilizes scalable multiple- frequency millimeter-wave (MF-MMW) generation based on tunable optical frequency comb (TOFC). In the baseband unit (BBU) pool, the generated optical comb lines are modulated into wired, RoF and WiFi/WiMAX signals, respectively. The multi-frequency RoF signals are generated by beating the optical comb line pairs in the small cell. The WiFi/WiMAX signals are demodulated after passing through the band pass filter (BPF) and band stop filter (BSF), respectively, whereas the wired signal can be received directly. The feasibility and scalability of the proposed multi-service wired/wireless integrated C-RAN are confirmed by the simulations.

  2. Microwave Frequency Comb from a Semiconductor in a Scanning Tunneling Microscope.

    PubMed

    Hagmann, Mark J; Yarotski, Dmitry A; Mousa, Marwan S

    2017-04-01

    Quasi-periodic excitation of the tunneling junction in a scanning tunneling microscope, by a mode-locked ultrafast laser, superimposes a regular sequence of 15 fs pulses on the DC tunneling current. In the frequency domain, this is a frequency comb with harmonics at integer multiples of the laser pulse repetition frequency. With a gold sample the 200th harmonic at 14.85 GHz has a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 dB, and the power at each harmonic varies inversely with the square of the frequency. Now we report the first measurements with a semiconductor where the laser photon energy must be less than the bandgap energy of the semiconductor; the microwave frequency comb must be measured within 200 μm of the tunneling junction; and the microwave power is 25 dB below that with a metal sample and falls off more rapidly at the higher harmonics. Our results suggest that the measured attenuation of the microwave harmonics is sensitive to the semiconductor spreading resistance within 1 nm of the tunneling junction. This approach may enable sub-nanometer carrier profiling of semiconductors without requiring the diamond nanoprobes in scanning spreading resistance microscopy.

  3. Plasma wake field XUV radiation source

    DOEpatents

    Prono, Daniel S.; Jones, Michael E.

    1997-01-01

    A XUV radiation source uses an interaction of electron beam pulses with a gas to create a plasma radiator. A flowing gas system (10) defines a circulation loop (12) with a device (14), such as a high pressure pump or the like, for circulating the gas. A nozzle or jet (16) produces a sonic atmospheric pressure flow and increases the density of the gas for interacting with an electron beam. An electron beam is formed by a conventional radio frequency (rf) accelerator (26) and electron pulses are conventionally formed by a beam buncher (28). The rf energy is thus converted to electron beam energy, the beam energy is used to create and then thermalize an atmospheric density flowing gas to a fully ionized plasma by interaction of beam pulses with the plasma wake field, and the energetic plasma then loses energy by line radiation at XUV wavelengths Collection and focusing optics (18) are used to collect XUV radiation emitted as line radiation when the high energy density plasma loses energy that was transferred from the electron beam pulses to the plasma.

  4. Quantum Theory of Conditional Phonon States in a Dual-Pumped Raman Optical Frequency Comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mondloch, Erin

    In this work, we theoretically and numerically investigate nonclassical phonon states created in the collective vibration of a Raman medium by the generation of a dual-pumped Raman optical frequency comb in an optical cavity. This frequency comb is generated by cascaded Raman scattering driven by two phase-locked pump lasers that are separated in frequency by three times the Raman phonon frequency. We characterize the variety of conditioned phonon states that are created when the number of photons in all optical frequency modes except the pump modes are measured. Almost all of these conditioned phonon states are extremely well approximated as three-phonon-squeezed states or Schrodinger-cat states, depending on the outcomes of the photon number measurements. We show how the combinations of first-, second-, and third-order Raman scattering that correspond to each set of measured photon numbers determine the fidelity of the conditioned phonon state with model three-phonon-squeezed states and Schrodinger-cat states. All of the conditioned phonon states demonstrate preferential growth of the phonon mode along three directions in phase space. That is, there are three preferred phase values that the phonon state takes on as a result of Raman scattering. We show that the combination of Raman processes that produces a given set of measured photon numbers always produces phonons in multiples of three. In the quantum number-state representation, these multiples of three are responsible for the threefold phase-space symmetry seen in the conditioned phonon states. With a semiclassical model, we show how this three-phase preference can also be understood in light of phase correlations that are known to spontaneously arise in single-pumped Raman frequency combs. Additionally, our semiclassical model predicts that the optical modes also grow preferentially along three phases, suggesting that the dual-pumped Raman optical frequency comb is partially phase-stabilized.

  5. Optical frequency comb generation based on the dual-mode square microlaser and a nonlinear fiber loop

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weng, Hai-Zhong; Han, Jun-Yuan; Li, Qing; Yang, Yue-De; Xiao, Jin-Long; Qin, Guan-Shi; Huang, Yong-Zhen

    2018-05-01

    A novel approach using a dual-mode square microlaser as the pump source is demonstrated to produce wideband optical frequency comb (OFC). The enhanced nonlinear frequency conversion processes are accomplished in a nonlinear fiber loop, which can reduce the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold and then generate a dual-mode Brillouin laser with improved optical signal-to-noise ratio. An OFC with 130 nm bandwidth and 76 GHz repetition rate is successfully generated under the four-wave mixing, and the number of the comb lines is enhanced by 26 times compared with the system without fiber loop. In addition, the repetition rate of the comb can be adjusted by changing the injection current of the microlaser. The pulse width of the comb spectrum is also compressed from 3 to 1 ps with an extra amplification-nonlinear process.

  6. Dual THz comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yasui, Takeshi

    2017-08-01

    Optical frequency combs are innovative tools for broadband spectroscopy because a series of comb modes can serve as frequency markers that are traceable to a microwave frequency standard. However, a mode distribution that is too discrete limits the spectral sampling interval to the mode frequency spacing even though individual mode linewidth is sufficiently narrow. Here, using a combination of a spectral interleaving and dual-comb spectroscopy in the terahertz (THz) region, we achieved a spectral sampling interval equal to the mode linewidth rather than the mode spacing. The spectrally interleaved THz comb was realized by sweeping the laser repetition frequency and interleaving additional frequency marks. In low-pressure gas spectroscopy, we achieved an improved spectral sampling density of 2.5 MHz and enhanced spectral accuracy of 8.39 × 10-7 in the THz region. The proposed method is a powerful tool for simultaneously achieving high resolution, high accuracy, and broad spectral coverage in THz spectroscopy.

  7. Ultraflat and broadband optical frequency comb generator based on cascaded two dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qu, Kun; Zhao, Shanghong; Li, Xuan; Tan, Qinggui; Zhu, Zihang

    2018-04-01

    A novel scheme for the generation of ultraflat and broadband optical frequency comb (OFC) is proposed based on cascaded two dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulators (DE-MZM). The first DE-MZM can generate a four-comb-line OFC, then the OFC is injected into the second DE-MZM as a carrier, which can increase the number of comb lines. Our modified scheme finally can generate a broadband OFC with high flatness by simply modifying the electrical power and the bias voltage of the DE-MZM. Theoretical analysis and simulation results reveal that a 16-comb-line OFC with a frequency spacing that two times the frequency of the RF signal can be obtained. The power fluctuation of the OFC lines is 0.48 dB and the unwanted-mode suppression ratio (UMSR) can reach 16.5 dB. Additionally, whether the bias drift of the DE-MZMs has little influence on the power fluctuation is also analyzed. These results demonstrate the robustness of our scheme and verify its good accuracy and high stability with perfect flatness.

  8. Generation of multiphoton entangled quantum states by means of integrated frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Reimer, Christian; Kues, Michael; Roztocki, Piotr; Wetzel, Benjamin; Grazioso, Fabio; Little, Brent E; Chu, Sai T; Johnston, Tudor; Bromberg, Yaron; Caspani, Lucia; Moss, David J; Morandotti, Roberto

    2016-03-11

    Complex optical photon states with entanglement shared among several modes are critical to improving our fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics and have applications for quantum information processing, imaging, and microscopy. We demonstrate that optical integrated Kerr frequency combs can be used to generate several bi- and multiphoton entangled qubits, with direct applications for quantum communication and computation. Our method is compatible with contemporary fiber and quantum memory infrastructures and with chip-scale semiconductor technology, enabling compact, low-cost, and scalable implementations. The exploitation of integrated Kerr frequency combs, with their ability to generate multiple, customizable, and complex quantum states, can provide a scalable, practical, and compact platform for quantum technologies. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

  9. Towards attosecond synchronization of remote mode-locked lasers using stabilized transmission of optical comb frequencies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wilcox, R. B.; Byrd, J. M.; Doolittle, L. R.; Holzwarth, R.; Huang, G.

    2011-09-01

    We propose a method of synchronizing mode-locked lasers separated by hundreds of meters with the possibility of achieving sub-fs performance by locking the phases of corresponding lines in the optical comb spectrum. The optical phase from one comb line is transmitted to the remote laser over an interferometrically stabilized link by locking a single frequency laser to a comb line with high phase stability. We describe how these elements are integrated into a complete system and estimate the potential performance.

  10. Entanglement of atomic qubits using an optical frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Hayes, D; Matsukevich, D N; Maunz, P; Hucul, D; Quraishi, Q; Olmschenk, S; Campbell, W; Mizrahi, J; Senko, C; Monroe, C

    2010-04-09

    We demonstrate the use of an optical frequency comb to coherently control and entangle atomic qubits. A train of off-resonant ultrafast laser pulses is used to efficiently and coherently transfer population between electronic and vibrational states of trapped atomic ions and implement an entangling quantum logic gate with high fidelity. This technique can be extended to the high field regime where operations can be performed faster than the trap frequency. This general approach can be applied to more complex quantum systems, such as large collections of interacting atoms or molecules.

  11. Dual-pump Kerr Micro-cavity Optical Frequency Comb with varying FSR spacing

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Weiqiang; Chu, Sai T.; Little, Brent E.; Pasquazi, Alessia; Wang, Yishan; Wang, Leiran; Zhang, Wenfu; Wang, Lei; Hu, Xiaohong; Wang, Guoxi; Hu, Hui; Su, Yulong; Li, Feitao; Liu, Yuanshan; Zhao, Wei

    2016-01-01

    In this paper, we demonstrate a novel dual-pump approach to generate robust optical frequency comb with varying free spectral range (FSR) spacing in a CMOS-compatible high-Q micro-ring resonator (MRR). The frequency spacing of the comb can be tuned by an integer number FSR of the MRR freely in our dual-pump scheme. The dual pumps are self-oscillated in the laser cavity loop and their wavelengths can be tuned flexibly by programming the tunable filter embedded in the cavity. By tuning the pump wavelength, broadband OFC with the bandwidth of >180 nm and the frequency-spacing varying from 6 to 46-fold FSRs is realized at a low pump power. This approach could find potential and practical applications in many areas, such as optical metrology, optical communication, and signal processing systems, for its excellent flexibility and robustness. PMID:27338250

  12. Stable optical frequency comb generation and applications in arbitrary waveform generation, signal processing and optical data mining

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ozharar, Sarper

    This thesis focuses on the generation and applications of stable optical frequency combs. Optical frequency combs are defined as equally spaced optical frequencies with a fixed phase relation among themselves. The conventional source of optical frequency combs is the optical spectrum of the modelocked lasers. In this work, we investigated alternative methods for optical comb generation, such as dual sine wave phase modulation, which is more practical and cost effective compared to modelocked lasers stabilized to a reference. Incorporating these comblines, we have generated tunable RF tones using the serrodyne technique. The tuning range was +/-1 MHz, limited by the electronic waveform generator, and the RF carrier frequency is limited by the bandwidth of the photodetector. Similarly, using parabolic phase modulation together with time division multiplexing, RF chirp extension has been realized. Another application of the optical frequency combs studied in this thesis is real time data mining in a bit stream. A novel optoelectronic logic gate has been developed for this application and used to detect an 8 bit long target pattern. Also another approach based on orthogonal Hadamard codes have been proposed and explained in detail. Also novel intracavity modulation schemes have been investigated and applied for various applications such as (a) improving rational harmonic modelocking for repetition rate multiplication and pulse to pulse amplitude equalization, (b) frequency skewed pulse generation for ranging and (c) intracavity active phase modulation in amplitude modulated modelocked lasers for supermode noise spur suppression and integrated jitter reduction. The thesis concludes with comments on the future work and next steps to improve some of the results presented in this work.

  13. Offset-Free Gigahertz Midinfrared Frequency Comb Based on Optical Parametric Amplification in a Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mayer, A. S.; Phillips, C. R.; Langrock, C.; Klenner, A.; Johnson, A. R.; Luke, K.; Okawachi, Y.; Lipson, M.; Gaeta, A. L.; Fejer, M. M.; Keller, U.

    2016-11-01

    We report the generation of an optical-frequency comb in the midinfrared region with 1-GHz comb-line spacing and no offset with respect to absolute-zero frequency. This comb is tunable from 2.5 to 4.2 μ m and covers a critical spectral region for important environmental and industrial applications, such as molecular spectroscopy of trace gases. We obtain such a comb using a highly efficient frequency conversion of a near-infrared frequency comb. The latter is based on a compact diode-pumped semiconductor saturable absorber mirror-mode-locked ytterbium-doped calcium-aluminum gadolynate (Yb:CALGO) laser operating at 1 μ m . The frequency-conversion process is based on optical parametric amplification (OPA) in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) chip containing buried waveguides fabricated by reverse proton exchange. The laser with a repetition rate of 1 GHz is the only active element of the system. It provides the pump pulses for the OPA process as well as seed photons in the range of 1.4 - 1.8 μ m via supercontinuum generation in a silicon-nitride (Si3 N4 ) waveguide. Both the PPLN and Si3 N4 waveguides represent particularly suitable platforms for low-energy nonlinear interactions; they allow for mid-IR comb powers per comb line at the microwatt level and signal amplification levels up to 35 dB, with 2 orders of magnitude less pulse energy than reported in OPA systems using bulk devices. Based on numerical simulations, we explain how high amplification can be achieved at low energy using the interplay between mode confinement and a favorable group-velocity mismatch configuration where the mid-IR pulse moves at the same velocity as the pump.

  14. Low noise erbium fiber fs frequency comb based on a tapered-fiber carbon nanotube design.

    PubMed

    Wu, Tsung-Han; Kieu, K; Peyghambarian, N; Jones, R J

    2011-03-14

    We report on a low noise all-fiber erbium fs frequency comb based on a simple and robust tapered-fiber carbon nanotube (tf-CNT) design. We mitigate dominant noise sources to show that the free-running linewidth of the carrier-envelope offset frequency (fceo) can be comparable to the best reported performance to date for fiber-based frequency combs. A free-running fceo linewidth of ~20 kHz is demonstrated, corresponding to an improvement of ~30 times over previous work based on a CNT mode-locked fiber laser [Opt. Express 18, 1667 (2010)]. We also demonstrate the use of an acousto-optic modulator external to the laser cavity to stabilize fceo, enabling a 300 kHz feedback control bandwidth. The offset frequency is phase-locked with an in-loop integrated phase noise of ~0.8 rad from 10Hz to 400kHz. We show a resolution-limited linewidth of ~1 Hz, demonstrating over 90% of the carrier power within the coherent fceo signal. The results demonstrate that the relatively simple tf-CNT fiber laser design can provide a compact, robust and high-performance fs frequency comb.

  15. Optical frequency comb Faraday rotation spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johansson, Alexandra C.; Westberg, Jonas; Wysocki, Gerard; Foltynowicz, Aleksandra

    2018-05-01

    We demonstrate optical frequency comb Faraday rotation spectroscopy (OFC-FRS) for broadband interference-free detection of paramagnetic species. The system is based on a femtosecond doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator and a fast-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The sample is placed in a DC magnetic field parallel to the light propagation. Efficient background suppression is implemented via switching the direction of the field on consecutive FTS scans and subtracting the consecutive spectra, which enables long-term averaging. In this first demonstration, we measure the entire Q- and R-branches of the fundamental band of nitric oxide in the 5.2-5.4 µm range and achieve good agreement with a theoretical model.

  16. Microresonator-Based Optical Frequency Combs: A Time Domain Perspective

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-04-19

    optics; ultrafast optics 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a...generation at frequency spacings down to 25 GHz, in the range where convenient electronic detection is possible. (c) Our best Purdue microrings had...time domain measurements of the generated combs, leading to observation of novel, ultrafast dark pulse waveforms, have introduced new structures such

  17. Optical Frequency Metrology of an Iodine-Stabilized He-Ne Laser Using the Frequency Comb of a Quantum-Interference-Stabilized Mode-Locked Laser

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Ryan P.; Roos, Peter A.; Wahlstrand, Jared K.; Pipis, Jessica A.; Rivas, Maria Belmonte; Cundiff, Steven T.

    2007-01-01

    We perform optical frequency metrology of an iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser using a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser frequency comb that is stabilized using quantum interference of photocurrents in a semiconductor. Using this technique, we demonstrate carrier-envelope offset frequency fluctuations of less than 5 mHz using a 1 s gate time. With the resulting stable frequency comb, we measure the optical frequency of the iodine transition [127I2 R(127) 11-5 i component] to be 473 612 214 712.96 ± 0.66 kHz, well within the uncertainty of the CIPM recommended value. The stability of the quantum interference technique is high enough such that it does not limit the measurements. PMID:27110472

  18. Two-stage system based on a software-defined radio for stabilizing of optical frequency combs in long-term experiments.

    PubMed

    Cížek, Martin; Hucl, Václav; Hrabina, Jan; Smíd, Radek; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Cíp, Ondřej

    2014-01-20

    A passive optical resonator is a special sensor used for measurement of lengths on the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. A stabilized optical frequency comb can provide an ultimate reference for measuring the wavelength of a tunable laser locked to the optical resonator. If we lock the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb to a high-grade radiofrequency (RF) oscillator its relative frequency stability is transferred from the RF to the optical frequency domain. Experiments in the field of precise length metrology of low-expansion materials are usually of long-term nature so it is required that the optical frequency comb stay in operation for an extended period of time. The optoelectronic closed-loop systems used for stabilization of combs are usually based on traditional analog electronic circuits processing signals from photodetectors. From an experimental point of view, these setups are very complicated and sensitive to ambient conditions, especially in the optical part, therefore maintaining long-time operation is not easy. The research presented in this paper deals with a novel approach based on digital signal processing and a software-defined radio. We describe digital signal processing algorithms intended for keeping the femtosecond optical comb in a long-time stable operation. This need arose during specialized experiments involving measurements of optical frequencies of tunable continuous-wave lasers. The resulting system is capable of keeping the comb in lock for an extensive period of time (8 days or more) with the relative stability better than 1.6 × 10(-11).

  19. Two-Stage System Based on a Software-Defined Radio for Stabilizing of Optical Frequency Combs in Long-Term Experiments

    PubMed Central

    Čížek, Martin; Hucl, Václav; Hrabina, Jan; Šmíd, Radek; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Číp, Ondřej

    2014-01-01

    A passive optical resonator is a special sensor used for measurement of lengths on the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Astabilized optical frequency comb can provide an ultimate reference for measuring the wavelength of a tunable laser locked to the optical resonator. If we lock the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb to a high-grade radiofrequency (RF) oscillator its relative frequency stability is transferred from the RF to the optical frequency domain. Experiments in the field of precise length metrology of low-expansion materials are usually of long-term nature so it is required that the optical frequency comb stay in operation for an extended period of time. The optoelectronic closed-loop systems used for stabilization of combs are usually based on traditional analog electronic circuits processing signals from photodetectors. From an experimental point of view, these setups are very complicated and sensitive to ambient conditions, especially in the optical part, therefore maintaining long-time operation is not easy. The research presented in this paper deals with a novel approach based on digital signal processing and a software-defined radio. We describe digital signal processing algorithms intended for keeping the femtosecond optical comb in a long-time stable operation. This need arose during specialized experiments involving measurements of optical frequencies of tunable continuous-wave lasers. The resulting system is capable of keeping the comb in lock for an extensive period of time (8 days or more) with the relative stability better than 1.6 × 10−11. PMID:24448169

  20. Multi-delay, phase coherent pulse pair generation for precision Ramsey-frequency comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Morgenweg, J; Eikema, K S E

    2013-03-11

    We demonstrate the generation of phase-stable mJ-pulse pairs at programmable inter-pulse delays up to hundreds of nanoseconds. A detailed investigation of potential sources for phase shifts during the parametric amplification of the selected pulses from a Ti:Sapphire frequency comb is presented, both numerically and experimentally. It is shown that within the statistical error of the phase measurement of 10 mrad, there is no dependence of the differential phase shift over the investigated inter-pulse delay range of more than 300 ns. In combination with nonlinear upconversion of the amplified pulses, the presented system will potentially enable short wavelength (<100 nm), multi-transition Ramsey-frequency comb spectroscopy at the kHz-level.

  1. Generation of a frequency comb and applications thereof

    DOEpatents

    Hagmann, Mark J; Yarotski, Dmitry A

    2013-12-03

    Apparatus for generating a microwave frequency comb (MFC) in the DC tunneling current of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by fast optical rectification, cause by nonlinearity of the DC current vs. voltage curve for the tunneling junction, of regularly-spaced, short pulses of optical radiation from a focused mode-locked, ultrafast laser, directed onto the tunneling junction, is described. Application of the MFC to high resolution dopant profiling in semiconductors is simulated. Application of the MFC to other measurements is described.

  2. Fiber-laser frequency combs for the generation of tunable single-frequency laser lines, mm- and THz-waves and sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schneider, Thomas

    2015-03-01

    High-quality frequency comb sources like femtosecond-lasers have revolutionized the metrology of fundamental physical constants. The generated comb consists of frequency lines with an equidistant separation over a bandwidth of several THz. This bandwidth can be broadened further to a super-continuum of more than an octave through propagation in nonlinear media. The frequency separation between the lines is defined by the repetition rate and the width of each comb line can be below 1 Hz, even without external stabilization. By extracting just one of these lines, an ultra-narrow linewidth, tunable laser line for applications in communications and spectroscopy can be generated. If two lines are extracted, the superposition of these lines in an appropriate photo-mixer produces high-quality millimeter- and THz-waves. The extraction of several lines can be used for the creation of almost-ideally sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses, which enable optical communications with the maximum-possible baud rate. Especially combs generated by low-cost, small-footprint fs-fiber lasers are very promising. However due to the resonator length, the comb frequencies have a typical separation of 80 - 100 MHz, far too narrow for the selection of single tones with standard optical filters. Here the extraction of single lines of an fs-fiber laser by polarization pulling assisted stimulated Brillouin scattering is presented. The application of these extracted lines as ultra-narrow, stable and tunable laser lines, for the generation of very high-quality mm and THz-waves with an ultra-narrow linewidth and phase noise and for the generation of sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses with arbitrary bandwidth and repetition rate is discussed.

  3. Enhanced optical nonlinearity and fiber-optical frequency comb controlled by a single atom in a whispering-gallery-mode microtoroid resonator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Jiahua; Zhang, Suzhen; Yu, Rong; Zhang, Duo; Wu, Ying

    2014-11-01

    Based on a single atom coupled to a fiber-coupled, chip-based microresonator [B. Dayan et al., Science 319, 1062 (2008), 10.1126/science.1152261], we put forward a scheme to generate optical frequency combs at driving laser powers as low as a few nanowatts. Using state-of-the-art experimental parameters, we investigate in detail the influences of different atomic positions and taper-resonator coupling regimes on optical-frequency-comb generation. In addition to numerical simulations demonstrating this effect, a physical explanation of the underlying mechanism is presented. We find that the combination of the atom and the resonator can induce a large third-order nonlinearity which is significantly stronger than Kerr nonlinearity in Kerr frequency combs. Such enhanced nonlinearity can be used to generate optical frequency combs if driven with two continuous-wave control and probe lasers and significantly reduce the threshold of nonlinear optical processes. The comb spacing can be well tuned by changing the frequency beating between the driving control and probe lasers. The proposed method is versatile and can be adopted to different types of resonators, such as microdisks, microspheres, microtoroids or microrings.

  4. A decade of astrocombs: recent advances in frequency combs for astronomy.

    PubMed

    McCracken, Richard A; Charsley, Jake M; Reid, Derryck T

    2017-06-26

    A new regime of precision radial-velocity measurements in the search for Earth-like exoplanets is being facilitated by high-resolution spectrographs calibrated by laser frequency combs. Here we review recent advances in the development of astrocomb technology, and discuss the state of the field going forward.

  5. Steering optical comb frequencies by rotating the polarization state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yanyan; Zhang, Xiaofei; Yan, Lulu; Zhang, Pan; Rao, Bingjie; Han, Wei; Guo, Wenge; Zhang, Shougang; Jiang, Haifeng

    2017-12-01

    Optical frequency combs, with precise control of repetition rate and carrier-envelope-offset frequency, have revolutionized many fields, such as fine optical spectroscopy, optical frequency standards, ultra-fast science research, ultra-stable microwave generation and precise ranging measurement. However, existing high bandwidth frequency control methods have small dynamic range, requiring complex hybrid control techniques. To overcome this limitation, we develop a new approach, where a home-made intra-cavity electro-optic modulator tunes polarization state of laser signal rather than only optical length of the cavity, to steer frequencies of a nonlinear-polarization-rotation mode-locked laser. By taking advantage of birefringence of the whole cavity, this approach results in not only broadband but also relative large-dynamic frequency control. Experimental results show that frequency control dynamic range increase at least one order in comparison with the traditional intra-cavity electro-optic modulator technique. In additional, this technique exhibits less side-effect than traditional frequency control methods.

  6. XUV pulse effect on signal modulations of harmonic spectra from H2+ and T2+

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Liqiang; Liu, Hang; Kapteyn, Henry J.; Feng, April Y.

    2018-05-01

    The effects of signal modulations on the molecular high-order harmonic generations in H2^{+ } and T2+ have been theoretically investigated. It is found that with the introduction of the XUV pulse, due to the absorption of the extra XUV photons in the recombination process, multiplateaus on the harmonic spectra, separated by the XUV photon energy can be found. Moreover, this multiplateau structure is insensitive to the wavelength of the XUV pulse. In shorter pulse duration, the intensities of the multiplateaus from H2+ are higher than those from T2+; while in longer pulse duration, the opposite results can be found. Finally, by changing the delay time of the XUV pulse, the signal modulations (including the amplitude and the frequency modulations) of the multiplateaus can be controlled.

  7. Photonic integrated circuit implementation of a sub-GHz-selectivity frequency comb filter for optical clock multiplication.

    PubMed

    Geng, Zihan; Xie, Yiwei; Zhuang, Leimeng; Burla, Maurizio; Hoekman, Marcel; Roeloffzen, Chris G H; Lowery, Arthur J

    2017-10-30

    We report a photonic integrated circuit implementation of an optical clock multiplier, or equivalently an optical frequency comb filter. The circuit comprises a novel topology of a ring-resonator-assisted asymmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometer in a Sagnac loop, providing a reconfigurable comb filter with sub-GHz selectivity and low complexity. A proof-of-concept device is fabricated in a high-index-contrast stoichiometric silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 /SiO 2 ) waveguide, featuring low loss, small size, and large bandwidth. In the experiment, we show a very narrow passband for filters of this kind, i.e. a -3-dB bandwidth of 0.6 GHz and a -20-dB passband of 1.2 GHz at a frequency interval of 12.5 GHz. As an application example, this particular filter shape enables successful demonstrations of five-fold repetition rate multiplication of optical clock signals, i.e. from 2.5 Gpulses/s to 12.5 Gpulses/s and from 10 Gpulses/s to 50 Gpulses/s. This work addresses comb spectrum processing on an integrated platform, pointing towards a device-compact solution for optical clock multipliers (frequency comb filters) which have diverse applications ranging from photonic-based RF spectrum scanners and photonic radars to GHz-granularity WDM switches and LIDARs.

  8. Optical frequency comb Fourier transform spectroscopy with sub-nominal resolution and precision beyond the Voigt profile

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rutkowski, Lucile; Masłowski, Piotr; Johansson, Alexandra C.; Khodabakhsh, Amir; Foltynowicz, Aleksandra

    2018-01-01

    Broadband precision spectroscopy is indispensable for providing high fidelity molecular parameters for spectroscopic databases. We have recently shown that mechanical Fourier transform spectrometers based on optical frequency combs can measure broadband high-resolution molecular spectra undistorted by the instrumental line shape (ILS) and with a highly precise frequency scale provided by the comb. The accurate measurement of the power of the comb modes interacting with the molecular sample was achieved by acquiring single-burst interferograms with nominal resolution matched to the comb mode spacing. Here we describe in detail the experimental and numerical steps needed to achieve sub-nominal resolution and retrieve ILS-free molecular spectra, i.e. with ILS-induced distortion below the noise level. We investigate the accuracy of the transition line centers retrieved by fitting to the absorption lines measured using this method. We verify the performance by measuring an ILS-free cavity-enhanced low-pressure spectrum of the 3ν1 + ν3 band of CO2 around 1575 nm with line widths narrower than the nominal resolution. We observe and quantify collisional narrowing of absorption line shape, for the first time with a comb-based spectroscopic technique. Thus retrieval of line shape parameters with accuracy not limited by the Voigt profile is now possible for entire absorption bands acquired simultaneously.

  9. Four-wave mixing parametric oscillation and frequency comb generation at visible wavelengths in a silica microbubble resonator.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yong; Jiang, Xuefeng; Kasumie, Sho; Zhao, Guangming; Xu, Linhua; Ward, Jonathan M; Yang, Lan; Chormaic, Síle Nic

    2016-11-15

    Frequency comb generation in microresonators at visible wavelengths has found applications in a variety of areas such as metrology, sensing, and imaging. To achieve Kerr combs based on four-wave mixing in a microresonator, dispersion must be in the anomalous regime. In this Letter, we demonstrate dispersion engineering in a microbubble resonator (MBR) fabricated by a two-CO2 laser beam technique. By decreasing the wall thickness of the MBR to 1.4 μm, the zero dispersion wavelength shifts to values shorter than 764 nm, making phase matching possible around 765 nm. With the optical Q-factor of the MBR modes being greater than 107, four-wave mixing is observed at 765 nm for a pump power of 3 mW. By increasing the pump power, parametric oscillation is achieved, and a frequency comb with 14 comb lines is generated at visible wavelengths.

  10. Microwave Comb Generator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sigman, E. H.

    1989-01-01

    Stable reference tones aid testing and calibration of microwave receivers. Signal generator puts out stable tones in frequency range of 2 to 10 GHz at all multiples of reference input frequency, at any frequency up to 1 MHz. Called "comb generator" because spectral plot resembles comb. DC reverse-bias current switched on and off at 1 MHz to generate sharp pulses in step-recovery diode. Microwave components mounted on back of special connector containing built-in attenuator. Used in testing microwave and spread-spectrum wide-band receivers.

  11. Sensitivity and resolution in frequency comb spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled polyatomic molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Changala, P. Bryan; Spaun, Ben; Patterson, David; Doyle, John M.; Ye, Jun

    2016-12-01

    We discuss the use of cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region with buffer gas cooling of polyatomic molecules for high-precision rovibrational absorption spectroscopy. A frequency comb coupled to an optical enhancement cavity allows us to collect high-resolution, broad-bandwidth infrared spectra of translationally and rotationally cold (10-20 K) gas-phase molecules with high absorption sensitivity and fast acquisition times. The design and performance of the combined apparatus are discussed in detail. Recorded rovibrational spectra in the CH stretching region of several organic molecules, including vinyl bromide (CH_2CHBr), adamantane (C_{10}H_{16}), and diamantane (C_{14}H_{20}) demonstrate the resolution and sensitivity of this technique, as well as the intrinsic challenges faced in extending the frontier of high-resolution spectroscopy to large complex molecules.

  12. a New Broadband Cavity Enhanced Frequency Comb Spectroscopy Technique Using GHz Vernier Filtering.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morville, Jérôme; Rutkowski, Lucile; Dobrev, Georgi; Crozet, Patrick

    2015-06-01

    We present a new approach to Cavity Enhanced - Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy where the full emission bandwidth of a Titanium:Sapphire laser is exploited at GHz resolution. The technique is based on a low-resolution Vernier filtering obtained with an appreciable -actively stabilized- mismatch between the cavity Free Spectral Range and the laser repetition rate, using a diffraction grating and a split-photodiode. This particular approach provides an immunity to frequency-amplitude noise conversion, reaching an absorption baseline noise in the 10-9 cm-1 range with a cavity finesse of only 3000. Spectra covering 1800 cm-1 (˜ 55 THz) are acquired in recording times of about 1 second, providing an absorption figure of merit of a few 10-11 cm-1/√{Hz}. Initially tested with ambient air, we report progress in using the Vernier frequency comb method with a discharge source of small radicals. Rutkowski et al, Opt. Lett., 39(23)2014

  13. Broad-band frequency references in the near-infrared: Accurate dual comb spectroscopy of methane and acetylene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zolot, A. M.; Giorgetta, F. R.; Baumann, E.; Swann, W. C.; Coddington, I.; Newbury, N. R.

    2013-03-01

    The Doppler-limited spectra of methane between 176 THz and 184 THz (5870-6130 cm-1) and acetylene between 193 THz and 199 THz (6430-6630 cm-1) are acquired via comb-tooth resolved dual comb spectroscopy with frequency accuracy traceable to atomic standards. A least squares analysis of the measured absorbance and phase line shapes provides line center frequencies with absolute accuracy of 0.2 MHz, or less than one thousandth of the room temperature Doppler width. This accuracy is verified through comparison with previous saturated absorption spectroscopy of 37 strong isolated lines of acetylene. For the methane spectrum, the center frequencies of 46 well-isolated strong lines are determined with similar high accuracy, along with the center frequencies for 1107 non-isolated lines at lower accuracy. The measured methane line-center frequencies have an uncertainty comparable to the few available laser heterodyne measurements in this region but span a much larger optical bandwidth, marking the first broad-band measurements of the methane 2ν3 region directly referenced to atomic frequency standards. This study demonstrates the promise of dual comb spectroscopy to obtain high resolution broadband spectra that are comparable to state-of-the-art Fourier-transform spectrometer measurements but with much improved frequency accuracy.Work of the US government, not subject to US copyright.

  14. Adaptive real-time dual-comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Ideguchi, Takuro; Poisson, Antonin; Guelachvili, Guy; Picqué, Nathalie; Hänsch, Theodor W

    2014-02-27

    The spectrum of a laser frequency comb consists of several hundred thousand equally spaced lines over a broad spectral bandwidth. Such frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and they now hold much promise for significant advances in a growing number of applications including molecular spectroscopy. Despite an intriguing potential for the measurement of molecular spectra spanning tens of nanometres within tens of microseconds at Doppler-limited resolution, the development of dual-comb spectroscopy is hindered by the demanding stability requirements of the laser combs. Here we overcome this difficulty and experimentally demonstrate a concept of real-time dual-comb spectroscopy, which compensates for laser instabilities by electronic signal processing. It only uses free-running mode-locked lasers without any phase-lock electronics. We record spectra spanning the full bandwidth of near-infrared fibre lasers with Doppler-limited line profiles highly suitable for measurements of concentrations or line intensities. Our new technique of adaptive dual-comb spectroscopy offers a powerful transdisciplinary instrument for analytical sciences.

  15. Adaptive real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ideguchi, Takuro; Poisson, Antonin; Guelachvili, Guy; Picqué, Nathalie; Hänsch, Theodor W.

    2014-02-01

    The spectrum of a laser frequency comb consists of several hundred thousand equally spaced lines over a broad spectral bandwidth. Such frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and they now hold much promise for significant advances in a growing number of applications including molecular spectroscopy. Despite an intriguing potential for the measurement of molecular spectra spanning tens of nanometres within tens of microseconds at Doppler-limited resolution, the development of dual-comb spectroscopy is hindered by the demanding stability requirements of the laser combs. Here we overcome this difficulty and experimentally demonstrate a concept of real-time dual-comb spectroscopy, which compensates for laser instabilities by electronic signal processing. It only uses free-running mode-locked lasers without any phase-lock electronics. We record spectra spanning the full bandwidth of near-infrared fibre lasers with Doppler-limited line profiles highly suitable for measurements of concentrations or line intensities. Our new technique of adaptive dual-comb spectroscopy offers a powerful transdisciplinary instrument for analytical sciences.

  16. Adaptive real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Ideguchi, Takuro; Poisson, Antonin; Guelachvili, Guy; Picqué, Nathalie; Hänsch, Theodor W.

    2014-01-01

    The spectrum of a laser frequency comb consists of several hundred thousand equally spaced lines over a broad spectral bandwidth. Such frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and they now hold much promise for significant advances in a growing number of applications including molecular spectroscopy. Despite an intriguing potential for the measurement of molecular spectra spanning tens of nanometres within tens of microseconds at Doppler-limited resolution, the development of dual-comb spectroscopy is hindered by the demanding stability requirements of the laser combs. Here we overcome this difficulty and experimentally demonstrate a concept of real-time dual-comb spectroscopy, which compensates for laser instabilities by electronic signal processing. It only uses free-running mode-locked lasers without any phase-lock electronics. We record spectra spanning the full bandwidth of near-infrared fibre lasers with Doppler-limited line profiles highly suitable for measurements of concentrations or line intensities. Our new technique of adaptive dual-comb spectroscopy offers a powerful transdisciplinary instrument for analytical sciences. PMID:24572636

  17. Spectroscopy of 171Yb in an optical lattice based on laser linewidth transfer using a narrow linewidth frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Inaba, Hajime; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Yasuda, Masami; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Iwakuni, Kana; Akamatsu, Daisuke; Okubo, Sho; Kohno, Takuya; Onae, Atsushi; Hong, Feng-Lei

    2013-04-08

    We propose a novel, high-performance, and practical laser source system for optical clocks. The laser linewidth of a fiber-based frequency comb is reduced by phase locking a comb mode to an ultrastable master laser at 1064 nm with a broad servo bandwidth. A slave laser at 578 nm is successively phase locked to a comb mode at 578 nm with a broad servo bandwidth without any pre-stabilization. Laser frequency characteristics such as spectral linewidth and frequency stability are transferred to the 578-nm slave laser from the 1064-nm master laser. Using the slave laser, we have succeeded in observing the clock transition of (171)Yb atoms confined in an optical lattice with a 20-Hz spectral linewidth.

  18. Photonic generation of phase-stable and wideband chirped microwave signals based on phase-locked dual optical frequency combs.

    PubMed

    Tong, Yitian; Zhou, Qian; Han, Daming; Li, Baiyu; Xie, Weilin; Liu, Zhangweiyi; Qin, Jie; Wang, Xiaocheng; Dong, Yi; Hu, Weisheng

    2016-08-15

    A photonics-based scheme is presented for generating wideband and phase-stable chirped microwave signals based on two phase-locked combs with fixed and agile repetition rates. By tuning the difference of the two combs' repetition rates and extracting different order comb tones, a wideband linearly frequency-chirped microwave signal with flexible carrier frequency and chirped range is obtained. Owing to the scheme of dual-heterodyne phase transfer and phase-locked loop, extrinsic phase drift and noise induced by the separated optical paths is detected and suppressed efficiently. Linearly frequency-chirped microwave signals from 5 to 15 GHz and 237 to 247 GHz with 30 ms duration are achieved, respectively, contributing to the time-bandwidth product of 3×108. And less than 1.3×10-5 linearity errors (RMS) are also obtained.

  19. Frequency combs with weakly lasing exciton-polariton condensates.

    PubMed

    Rayanov, K; Altshuler, B L; Rubo, Y G; Flach, S

    2015-05-15

    We predict the spontaneous modulated emission from a pair of exciton-polariton condensates due to coherent (Josephson) and dissipative coupling. We show that strong polariton-polariton interaction generates complex dynamics in the weak-lasing domain way beyond Hopf bifurcations. As a result, the exciton-polariton condensates exhibit self-induced oscillations and emit an equidistant frequency comb light spectrum. A plethora of possible emission spectra with asymmetric peak distributions appears due to spontaneously broken time-reversal symmetry. The lasing dynamics is affected by the shot noise arising from the influx of polaritons. That results in a complex inhomogeneous line broadening.

  20. Inter-comb synchronization by mode-to-mode locking

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chun, Byung Jae; Kim, Young-Jin; Kim, Seung-Woo

    2016-08-01

    Two combs of fiber femtosecond lasers are synchronized through the optical frequency reference created by injection-locking of a diode laser to a single comb mode. Maintaining a mHz-level narrow linewidth, the optical frequency reference permits two combs to be stabilized by mode-to-mode locking with a relative stability of 1.52  ×  10-16 at 10 s with a frequency slip of 2.46 mHz. This inter-comb synchronization can be utilized for applications such as dual-comb spectroscopy or ultra-short pulse synthesis without extra narrow-linewidth lasers.

  1. Fiber optics frequency comb enabled linear optical sampling with operation wavelength range extension.

    PubMed

    Liao, Ruolin; Wu, Zhichao; Fu, Songnian; Zhu, Shengnan; Yu, Zhe; Tang, Ming; Liu, Deming

    2018-02-01

    Although the linear optical sampling (LOS) technique is powerful enough to characterize various advanced modulation formats with high symbol rates, the central wavelength of a pulsed local oscillator (LO) needs to be carefully set according to that of the signal under test, due to the coherent mixing operation. Here, we experimentally demonstrate wideband LOS enabled by a fiber optics frequency comb (FOFC). Meanwhile, when the broadband FOFC acts as the pulsed LO, we propose a scheme to mitigate the enhanced sampling error arising in the non-ideal response of a balanced photodetector. Finally, precise characterizations of arbitrary 128 Gbps PDM-QPSK wavelength channels from 1550 to 1570 nm are successfully achieved, when a 101.3 MHz frequency spaced comb with a 3 dB spectral power ripple of 20 nm is used.

  2. On chip frequency comb: Characterization and optical arbitrary waveform generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferdous, Fahmida

    Recently, on-chip comb generation methods based on nonlinear optical modulation in ultrahigh quality factor monolithic micro-resonators have been demonstrated. In these methods, two pump photons are transformed into sideband photons in a four wave mixing process mediated by the Kerr nonlinearity. The essential advantages of these methods are simplicity, small size, very high repetition rates and sometimes CMOS compatibility. We investigate line-by-line pulse shaping of such combs generated in silicon nitride ring resonators. We demonstrate a simple example of optical arbitrary waveform generation (OAWG) from Kerr comb. We observe two distinct paths to comb formation which exhibit strikingly different time domain behaviors. For combs formed as a cascade of sidebands spaced by a single free spectral range (FSR) that spread from the pump, we are able to compress to nearly bandwidth limited pulses. This indicates high coherence across the spectra and provides new data on the high passive stability of the spectral phase. For combs where the initial sidebands are spaced by multiple FSRs which then fill in to give combs with single FSR spacing, the time domain data reveal partially coherent behavior. We also investigate the behaviors of a few sub-families of the partially coherent combs selected by a pulse shaper. We observe different coherence properties for different groups of comb lines. Furthermore we will discuss an ultrafast characterization techniques called dual comb electric eld cross correlation. This linear technique will provide both low optical power and broader bandwidth capability for full time domain characterization of OAWG from Kerr comb.

  3. Performance of a laser frequency comb calibration system with a high-resolution solar echelle spectrograph

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doerr, H.-P.; Kentischer, T. J.; Steinmetz, T.; Probst, R. A.; Franz, M.; Holzwarth, R.; Udem, Th.; Hänsch, T. W.; Schmidt, W.

    2012-09-01

    Laser frequency combs (LFC) provide a direct link between the radio frequency (RF) and the optical frequency regime. The comb-like spectrum of an LFC is formed by exact equidistant laser modes, whose absolute optical frequencies are controlled by RF-references such as atomic clocks or GPS receivers. While nowadays LFCs are routinely used in metrological and spectroscopic fields, their application in astronomy was delayed until recently when systems became available with a mode spacing and wavelength coverage suitable for calibration of astronomical spectrographs. We developed a LFC based calibration system for the high-resolution echelle spectrograph at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), located at the Teide observatory, Tenerife, Canary Islands. To characterize the calibration performance of the instrument, we use an all-fiber setup where sunlight and calibration light are fed to the spectrograph by the same single-mode fiber, eliminating systematic effects related to variable grating illumination.

  4. Frequency-comb-assisted precision laser spectroscopy of CHF{sub 3} around 8.6 μm

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gambetta, Alessio; Coluccelli, Nicola; Cassinerio, Marco

    2015-12-21

    We report a high-precision spectroscopic study of room-temperature trifluoromethane around 8.6 μm, using a CW quantum cascade laser phase-locked to a mid-infrared optical frequency comb. This latter is generated by a nonlinear down-conversion process starting from a dual-branch Er:fiber laser and is stabilized against a GPS-disciplined rubidium clock. By tuning the comb repetition frequency, several transitions falling in the υ{sub 5} vibrational band are recorded with a frequency resolution of 20 kHz. Due to the very dense spectra, a special multiple-line fitting code, involving a Voigt profile, is developed for data analysis. The combination of the adopted experimental approach andmore » survey procedure leads to fractional accuracy levels in the determination of line center frequencies, down to 2 × 10{sup −10}. Line intensity factors, pressure broadening, and shifting parameters are also provided.« less

  5. Noise properties of an optical frequency comb from a SESAM-mode-locked 1.5-μm solid-state laser stabilized to the 10-13 level

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schilt, S.; Dolgovskiy, V.; Bucalovic, N.; Schori, C.; Stumpf, M. C.; Di Domenico, G.; Pekarek, S.; Oehler, A. E. H.; Südmeyer, T.; Keller, U.; Thomann, P.

    2012-11-01

    We present a detailed investigation of the noise properties of an optical frequency comb generated from a femtosecond diode-pumped solid-state laser operating in the 1.5-μm spectral region. The stabilization of the passively mode-locked Er:Yb:glass laser oscillator, referred to as ERGO, is achieved using pump power modulation for the control of the carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency and by adjusting the laser cavity length for the control of the repetition rate. The stability and the noise of the ERGO comb are characterized in free-running and in phase-locked operation by measuring the noise properties of the CEO, of the repetition rate, and of a comb line at 1558 nm. The comb line is analyzed from the heterodyne beat signal with a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow-linewidth laser using a frequency discriminator. Two different schemes to stabilize the comb to a radio-frequency (RF) reference are compared. The comb properties (phase noise, frequency stability) are limited in both cases by the RF oscillator used to stabilize the repetition rate, while the contribution of the CEO is negligible at all Fourier frequencies, as a consequence of the low-noise characteristics of the CEO-beat. A linewidth of ≈150 kHz and a fractional frequency instability of 4.2×10-13 at 1 s are obtained for an optical comb line at 1558 nm. Improved performance is obtained by stabilizing the comb to an optical reference, which is a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow linewidth laser at 1558 nm. The fractional frequency stability of 8×10-14 at 1 s, measured in preliminary experiments, is limited by the reference oscillator used in the frequency comparison.

  6. On-chip, self-detected terahertz dual-comb source

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rösch, Markus, E-mail: mroesch@phys.ethz.ch; Scalari, Giacomo, E-mail: scalari@phys.ethz.ch; Villares, Gustavo

    2016-04-25

    We present a directly generated on-chip dual-comb source at terahertz (THz) frequencies. The multi-heterodyne beating signal of two free-running THz quantum cascade laser frequency combs is measured electrically using one of the combs as a detector, fully exploiting the unique characteristics of quantum cascade active regions. Up to 30 modes can be detected corresponding to a spectral bandwidth of 630 GHz, being the available bandwidth of the dual comb configuration. The multi-heterodyne signal is used to investigate the equidistance of the comb modes showing an accuracy of 10{sup −12} at the carrier frequency of 2.5 THz.

  7. Drop-port study of microresonator frequency combs: power transfer, spectra and time-domain characterization.

    PubMed

    Wang, Pei-Hsun; Xuan, Yi; Fan, Li; Varghese, Leo Tom; Wang, Jian; Liu, Yang; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Leaird, Daniel E; Qi, Minghao; Weiner, Andrew M

    2013-09-23

    We use a drop-port geometry to characterize frequency combs generated from silicon nitride on-chip microresonators in the normal group velocity regime. In sharp contrast with the traditional transmission geometry, we observe smooth output spectra with comparable powers in the pump and adjacent comb lines. The power transfer into the comb may be explained to a large extent by the coupling parameters characterizing the linear operation of the resonances studied. Furthermore, comparison of thru- and drop-port spectra shows that much of the ASE noise is filtered out by transmission to the drop-port. Autocorrelation measurements are performed on the drop-port output, without the need to filter out or suppress the strong pump line as is necessary in thru-port experiments. Passively mode-locked pulses with low background are observed in a normal dispersion microcavity.

  8. Tunable optical frequency comb enabled scalable and cost-effective multiuser orthogonal frequency-division multiple access passive optical network with source-free optical network units.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chen; Zhang, Chongfu; Liu, Deming; Qiu, Kun; Liu, Shuang

    2012-10-01

    We propose and experimentally demonstrate a multiuser orthogonal frequency-division multiple access passive optical network (OFDMA-PON) with source-free optical network units (ONUs), enabled by tunable optical frequency comb generation technology. By cascading a phase modulator (PM) and an intensity modulator and dynamically controlling the peak-to-peak voltage of a PM driven signal, a tunable optical frequency comb source can be generated. It is utilized to assist the configuration of a multiple source-free ONUs enhanced OFDMA-PON where simultaneous and interference-free multiuser upstream transmission over a single wavelength can be efficiently supported. The proposed multiuser OFDMA-PON is scalable and cost effective, and its feasibility is successfully verified by experiment.

  9. 18-THz-wide optical frequency comb emitted from monolithic passively mode-locked semiconductor quantum-well laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lo, Mu-Chieh; Guzmán, Robinson; Ali, Muhsin; Santos, Rui; Augustin, Luc; Carpintero, Guillermo

    2017-10-01

    We report on an optical frequency comb with 14nm (~1.8 THz) spectral bandwidth at -3 dB level that is generated using a passively mode-locked quantum-well (QW) laser in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) fabricated through an InP generic photonic integration technology platform. This 21.5-GHz colliding-pulse mode-locked laser cavity is defined by on-chip reflectors incorporating intracavity phase modulators followed by an extra-cavity SOA as booster amplifier. A 1.8-THz-wide optical comb spectrum is presented with ultrafast pulse that is 0.35-ps-wide. The radio frequency beat note has a 3-dB linewidth of 450 kHz and 35-dB SNR.

  10. Frequency comb generation by a continuous-wave-pumped optical parametric oscillator based on cascading quadratic nonlinearities.

    PubMed

    Ulvila, Ville; Phillips, C R; Halonen, Lauri; Vainio, Markku

    2013-11-01

    We report optical frequency comb generation by a continuous-wave pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) without any active modulation. The OPO is configured as singly resonant with an additional nonlinear crystal (periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3) placed inside the OPO for phase mismatched second harmonic generation (SHG) of the resonating signal beam. The phase mismatched SHG causes cascading χ(2) nonlinearities, which can substantially increase the effective χ(3) nonlinearity in MgO:LiNbO3, leading to spectral broadening of the OPO signal beam via self-phase modulation. The OPO generates a stable 4 THz wide (-30 dB) frequency comb centered at 1.56 μm.

  11. Frequency comb calibrated frequency-sweeping interferometry for absolute group refractive index measurement of air.

    PubMed

    Yang, Lijun; Wu, Xuejian; Wei, Haoyun; Li, Yan

    2017-04-10

    The absolute group refractive index of air at 194061.02 GHz is measured in real time using frequency-sweeping interferometry calibrated by an optical frequency comb. The group refractive index of air is calculated from the calibration peaks of the laser frequency variation and the interference signal of the two beams passing through the inner and outer regions of a vacuum cell when the frequency of a tunable external cavity diode laser is scanned. We continuously measure the refractive index of air for 2 h, which shows that the difference between measured results and Ciddor's equation is less than 9.6×10-8, and the standard deviation of that difference is 5.9×10-8. The relative uncertainty of the measured refractive index of air is estimated to be 8.6×10-8. The data update rate is 0.2 Hz, making it applicable under conditions in which air refractive index fluctuates fast.

  12. Dual-etalon cavity ring-down frequency-comb spectroscopy with broad band light source

    DOEpatents

    Chandler, David W; Strecker, Kevin E

    2014-04-01

    In an embodiment, a dual-etalon cavity-ring-down frequency-comb spectrometer system is described. A broad band light source is split into two beams. One beam travels through a first etalon and a sample under test, while the other beam travels through a second etalon, and the two beams are recombined onto a single detector. If the free spectral ranges ("FSR") of the two etalons are not identical, the interference pattern at the detector will consist of a series of beat frequencies. By monitoring these beat frequencies, optical frequencies where light is absorbed may be determined.

  13. Integrated Photonic Comb Generation: Applications in Coherent Communication and Sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parker, John S.

    Integrated photonics combines many optical components including lasers, modulators, waveguides, and detectors in close proximity via homogeneous (monolithic) or heterogeneous (using multiple materials) integration. This improves stability for interferometers and lasers, reduces the occurrence of unwanted reflections, and it avoids coupling losses between different components as they are on the same chip. Thus, less power is needed to compensate for these added losses, and less heat needs to be removed due to these power savings. In addition, integration allows the many components that comprise a system to be fabricated together, thereby reducing the cost per system and allowing rapid scaling in production throughput. Integrated optical combs have many applications including: metrology, THz frequency generation, arbitrary waveform generation, optical clocks, photonic analog-to-digital converters, sensing (imaging), spectroscopy, and data communication. A comb is a set of optical sources evenly spaced in frequency. Several methods of comb generation including mode-locking and optical parametric oscillation produce phase-matched optical outputs with a fixed phase relationship between the frequency lines. When the absolute frequency of a single comb line is stabilized along with the frequency spacing between comb lines, absolute phase and frequency precision can be achieved over the entire comb bandwidth. This functionality provides tremendous benefits to many applications such as coherent communication and optical sensing. The goals for this work were achieving a broad comb bandwidth and noise reduction, i.e., frequency and phase stability. Integrated mode-locked lasers on the InGaAsP/InP material platform were chosen, as they could be monolithically integrated with the wide range of highly functional and versatile photonic integrated circuits (PICs) previously demonstrated on this platform at UCSB. Gain flattening filters were implemented to increase the comb

  14. High-power ultrafast Yb:fiber laser frequency combs using commercially available components and basic fiber tools

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xinlong; Reber, Melanie A. R.; Corder, Christopher; Chen, Yuning; Zhao, Peng; Allison, Thomas K.

    2016-09-01

    We present a detailed description of the design, construction, and performance of high-power ultrafast Yb:fiber laser frequency combs in operation in our laboratory. We discuss two such laser systems: an 87 MHz, 9 W, 85 fs laser operating at 1060 nm and an 87 MHz, 80 W, 155 fs laser operating at 1035 nm. Both are constructed using low-cost, commercially available components, and can be assembled using only basic tools for cleaving and splicing single-mode fibers. We describe practical methods for achieving and characterizing low-noise single-pulse operation and long-term stability from Yb:fiber oscillators based on nonlinear polarization evolution. Stabilization of the combs using a variety of transducers, including a new method for tuning the carrier-envelope offset frequency, is discussed. High average power is achieved through chirped-pulse amplification in simple fiber amplifiers based on double-clad photonic crystal fibers. We describe the use of these combs in several applications, including ultrasensitive femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and cavity-enhanced high-order harmonic generation.

  15. Fast Interrogation of Fiber Bragg Gratings with Electro-Optical Dual Optical Frequency Combs

    PubMed Central

    Posada-Roman, Julio E.; Garcia-Souto, Jose A.; Poiana, Dragos A.; Acedo, Pablo

    2016-01-01

    Optical frequency combs (OFC) generated by electro-optic modulation of continuous-wave lasers provide broadband coherent sources with high power per line and independent control of line spacing and the number of lines. In addition to their application in spectroscopy, they offer flexible and optimized sources for the interrogation of other sensors based on wavelength change or wavelength filtering, such as fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. In this paper, a dual-OFC FBG interrogation system based on a single laser and two optical-phase modulators is presented. This architecture allows for the configuration of multimode optical source parameters such as the number of modes and their position within the reflected spectrum of the FBG. A direct read-out is obtained by mapping the optical spectrum onto the radio-frequency spectrum output of the dual-comb. This interrogation scheme is proposed for measuring fast phenomena such as vibrations and ultrasounds. Results are presented for dual-comb operation under optimized control. The optical modes are mapped onto detectable tones that are multiples of 0.5 MHz around a center radiofrequency tone (40 MHz). Measurements of ultrasounds (40 kHz and 120 kHz) are demonstrated with this sensing system. Ultrasounds induce dynamic strain onto the fiber, which generates changes in the reflected Bragg wavelength and, hence, modulates the amplitude of the OFC modes within the reflected spectrum. The amplitude modulation of two counterphase tones is detected to obtain a differential measurement proportional to the ultrasound signal. PMID:27898043

  16. Fast Interrogation of Fiber Bragg Gratings with Electro-Optical Dual Optical Frequency Combs.

    PubMed

    Posada-Roman, Julio E; Garcia-Souto, Jose A; Poiana, Dragos A; Acedo, Pablo

    2016-11-26

    Optical frequency combs (OFC) generated by electro-optic modulation of continuous-wave lasers provide broadband coherent sources with high power per line and independent control of line spacing and the number of lines. In addition to their application in spectroscopy, they offer flexible and optimized sources for the interrogation of other sensors based on wavelength change or wavelength filtering, such as fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. In this paper, a dual-OFC FBG interrogation system based on a single laser and two optical-phase modulators is presented. This architecture allows for the configuration of multimode optical source parameters such as the number of modes and their position within the reflected spectrum of the FBG. A direct read-out is obtained by mapping the optical spectrum onto the radio-frequency spectrum output of the dual-comb. This interrogation scheme is proposed for measuring fast phenomena such as vibrations and ultrasounds. Results are presented for dual-comb operation under optimized control. The optical modes are mapped onto detectable tones that are multiples of 0.5 MHz around a center radiofrequency tone (40 MHz). Measurements of ultrasounds (40 kHz and 120 kHz) are demonstrated with this sensing system. Ultrasounds induce dynamic strain onto the fiber, which generates changes in the reflected Bragg wavelength and, hence, modulates the amplitude of the OFC modes within the reflected spectrum. The amplitude modulation of two counterphase tones is detected to obtain a differential measurement proportional to the ultrasound signal.

  17. A laser frequency comb that enables radial velocity measurements with a precision of 1 cm s(-1).

    PubMed

    Li, Chih-Hao; Benedick, Andrew J; Fendel, Peter; Glenday, Alexander G; Kärtner, Franz X; Phillips, David F; Sasselov, Dimitar; Szentgyorgyi, Andrew; Walsworth, Ronald L

    2008-04-03

    Searches for extrasolar planets using the periodic Doppler shift of stellar spectral lines have recently achieved a precision of 60 cm s(-1) (ref. 1), which is sufficient to find a 5-Earth-mass planet in a Mercury-like orbit around a Sun-like star. To find a 1-Earth-mass planet in an Earth-like orbit, a precision of approximately 5 cm s(-1) is necessary. The combination of a laser frequency comb with a Fabry-Pérot filtering cavity has been suggested as a promising approach to achieve such Doppler shift resolution via improved spectrograph wavelength calibration, with recent encouraging results. Here we report the fabrication of such a filtered laser comb with up to 40-GHz (approximately 1-A) line spacing, generated from a 1-GHz repetition-rate source, without compromising long-term stability, reproducibility or spectral resolution. This wide-line-spacing comb, or 'astro-comb', is well matched to the resolving power of high-resolution astrophysical spectrographs. The astro-comb should allow a precision as high as 1 cm s(-1) in astronomical radial velocity measurements.

  18. Developing Stabilized Lasers, Measuring their Frequencies, demoting the Metre, inventing the Comb, and further consequences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hall, John L.

    2010-02-01

    Michelson's 1907 proposal to define the SI Metre in terms of an optical wavelength was realized only in 1960, based on a ^86Krypton discharge lamp. The same year saw the cw HeNe laser arrive and a future redefinition based on laser technology assured. Separation in the late 60's of the laser's gain and spectral-reference-gas functions led to unprecedented levels of laser frequency stability and reproducibility. In addition to HeNe:CH4 system at 3392 nm and HeNe:I2 at 633 nm, systems at 514 nm and 10600 nm were studied. Absolute frequency measurement became the holy grail and some NBS team experiences will be shared. We measured both frequency and wavelength in 1972, and so obtained a speed of light value, improved 100-fold in accuracy. During the next decade, the NBS value of c was confirmed by other national labs, and frequency metrology was extended to the 473 THz (633 nm) Iodine-based wavelength standard. This frequency to ˜10 digit accuracy was obtained in 1983, thus setting the stage for redefining the SI Metre. By consensus choice the value 299 792 458 m/s was adopted for the speed of light, effectively reducing the Metre to a derived SI quantity. Knowledge of the frequency of the particular laser being utilized was controlled by International intercomparisons, but the need for a fast and accurate means to make these laser frequency measurements was obvious. Creative proposals by H"ansch and by Chebotayev were to use ultra-fast repetitive pulses to create an ``Optical Comb,'' but it was years before any technical basis existed to implement their Fourier dreams. Finally, in 1999 the last needed capability was demonstrated -- continuum production at 100 MHz rates and non-destructive power levels. By May 2000 phase-locked combs were operational in both Garching and Boulder, substantially accelerated by their collaborative interactions. Within 18 months all the known proposed ``optical frequency standards'' had been accurately measured via Comb techniques. )

  19. Direct measurement of the pulse duration and frequency chirp of seeded XUV free electron laser pulses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Azima, Armin; Bödewadt, Jörn; Becker, Oliver; Düsterer, Stefan; Ekanayake, Nagitha; Ivanov, Rosen; Kazemi, Mehdi M.; Lamberto Lazzarino, Leslie; Lechner, Christoph; Maltezopoulos, Theophilos; Manschwetus, Bastian; Miltchev, Velizar; Müller, Jost; Plath, Tim; Przystawik, Andreas; Wieland, Marek; Assmann, Ralph; Hartl, Ingmar; Laarmann, Tim; Rossbach, Jörg; Wurth, Wilfried; Drescher, Markus

    2018-01-01

    We report on a direct time-domain measurement of the temporal properties of a seeded free-electron laser pulse in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. Utilizing the oscillating electromagnetic field of terahertz radiation, a single-shot THz streak-camera was applied for measuring the duration as well as spectral phase of the generated intense XUV pulses. The experiment was conducted at FLASH, the free electron laser user facility at DESY in Hamburg, Germany. In contrast to indirect methods, this approach directly resolves and visualizes the frequency chirp of a seeded free-electron laser (FEL) pulse. The reported diagnostic capability is a prerequisite to tailor amplitude, phase and frequency distributions of FEL beams on demand. In particular, it opens up a new window of opportunities for advanced coherent spectroscopic studies making use of the high degree of temporal coherence expected from a seeded FEL pulse.

  20. Optical frequency comb based multi-band microwave frequency conversion for satellite applications.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xinwu; Xu, Kun; Yin, Jie; Dai, Yitang; Yin, Feifei; Li, Jianqiang; Lu, Hua; Liu, Tao; Ji, Yuefeng

    2014-01-13

    Based on optical frequency combs (OFC), we propose an efficient and flexible multi-band frequency conversion scheme for satellite repeater applications. The underlying principle is to mix dual coherent OFCs with one of which carrying the input signal. By optically channelizing the mixed OFCs, the converted signal in different bands can be obtained in different channels. Alternatively, the scheme can be configured to generate multi-band local oscillators (LO) for widely distribution. Moreover, the scheme realizes simultaneous inter- and intra-band frequency conversion just in a single structure and needs only three frequency-fixed microwave sources. We carry out a proof of concept experiment in which multiple LOs with 2 GHz, 10 GHz, 18 GHz, and 26 GHz are generated. A C-band signal of 6.1 GHz input to the proposed scheme is successfully converted to 4.1 GHz (C band), 3.9 GHz (C band) and 11.9 GHz (X band), etc. Compared with the back-to-back (B2B) case measured at 0 dBm input power, the proposed scheme shows a 9.3% error vector magnitude (EVM) degradation at each output channel. Furthermore, all channels satisfy the EVM limit in a very wide input power range.

  1. Fast, precise, and widely tunable frequency control of an optical parametric oscillator referenced to a frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Prehn, Alexander; Glöckner, Rosa; Rempe, Gerhard; Zeppenfeld, Martin

    2017-03-01

    Optical frequency combs (OFCs) provide a convenient reference for the frequency stabilization of continuous-wave lasers. We demonstrate a frequency control method relying on tracking over a wide range and stabilizing the beat note between the laser and the OFC. The approach combines fast frequency ramps on a millisecond timescale in the entire mode-hop free tuning range of the laser and precise stabilization to single frequencies. We apply it to a commercially available optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and demonstrate tuning over more than 60 GHz with a ramping speed up to 3 GHz/ms. Frequency ramps spanning 15 GHz are performed in less than 10 ms, with the OPO instantly relocked to the OFC after the ramp at any desired frequency. The developed control hardware and software are able to stabilize the OPO to sub-MHz precision and to perform sequences of fast frequency ramps automatically.

  2. Massively parallel sensing of trace molecules and their isotopologues with broadband subharmonic mid-infrared frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muraviev, A. V.; Smolski, V. O.; Loparo, Z. E.; Vodopyanov, K. L.

    2018-04-01

    Mid-infrared spectroscopy offers supreme sensitivity for the detection of trace gases, solids and liquids based on tell-tale vibrational bands specific to this spectral region. Here, we present a new platform for mid-infrared dual-comb Fourier-transform spectroscopy based on a pair of ultra-broadband subharmonic optical parametric oscillators pumped by two phase-locked thulium-fibre combs. Our system provides fast (7 ms for a single interferogram), moving-parts-free, simultaneous acquisition of 350,000 spectral data points, spaced by a 115 MHz intermodal interval over the 3.1-5.5 µm spectral range. Parallel detection of 22 trace molecular species in a gas mixture, including isotopologues containing isotopes such as 13C, 18O, 17O, 15N, 34S, 33S and deuterium, with part-per-billion sensitivity and sub-Doppler resolution is demonstrated. The technique also features absolute optical frequency referencing to an atomic clock, a high degree of mutual coherence between the two mid-infrared combs with a relative comb-tooth linewidth of 25 mHz, coherent averaging and feasibility for kilohertz-scale spectral resolution.

  3. Theoretical study of collinear optical frequency comb generation under multi-wave, transient stimulated Raman scattering in crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smetanin, S. N.

    2014-11-01

    Using mathematical modelling we have studied the conditions of low-threshold collinear optical frequency comb generation under transient (picosecond) stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and parametric four-wave coupling of SRS components in crystals. It is shown that Raman-parametric generation of an octave-spanning optical frequency comb occurs most effectively under intermediate, transient SRS at a pump pulse duration exceeding the dephasing time by five-to-twenty times. We have found the optimal values of not only the laser pump pulse duration, but also of the Raman crystal lengths corresponding to highly efficient generation of an optical frequency comb from the second anti-Stokes to the fourth Stokes Raman components. For the KGd(WO4)2 (high dispersion) and Ba(NO3)2 (low dispersion) crystals pumped at a wavelength of 1.064 μm and a pulse duration five or more times greater than the dephasing time, the optimum length of the crystal was 0.3 and 0.6 cm, respectively, which is consistent with the condition of the most effective Stokes - anti-Stokes coupling ΔkL ≈ 15, where Δk is the wave detuning from phase matching of Stokes - anti-Stokes coupling, determined by the refractive index dispersion of the SRS medium.

  4. Closed-form solutions and scaling laws for Kerr frequency combs

    PubMed Central

    Renninger, William H.; Rakich, Peter T.

    2016-01-01

    A single closed-form analytical solution of the driven nonlinear Schrödinger equation is developed, reproducing a large class of the behaviors in Kerr-comb systems, including bright-solitons, dark-solitons, and a large class of periodic wavetrains. From this analytical framework, a Kerr-comb area theorem and a pump-detuning relation are developed, providing new insights into soliton- and wavetrain-based combs along with concrete design guidelines for both. This new area theorem reveals significant deviation from the conventional soliton area theorem, which is crucial to understanding cavity solitons in certain limits. Moreover, these closed-form solutions represent the first step towards an analytical framework for wavetrain formation, and reveal new parameter regimes for enhanced Kerr-comb performance. PMID:27108810

  5. Large-scale frequency- and time-domain quantum entanglement over the optical frequency comb (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pfister, Olivier

    2017-05-01

    When it comes to practical quantum computing, the two main challenges are circumventing decoherence (devastating quantum errors due to interactions with the environmental bath) and achieving scalability (as many qubits as needed for a real-life, game-changing computation). We show that using, in lieu of qubits, the "qumodes" represented by the resonant fields of the quantum optical frequency comb of an optical parametric oscillator allows one to create bona fide, large scale quantum computing processors, pre-entangled in a cluster state. We detail our recent demonstration of 60-qumode entanglement (out of an estimated 3000) and present an extension to combining this frequency-tagged with time-tagged entanglement, in order to generate an arbitrarily large, universal quantum computing processor.

  6. Digital processing of signals from femtosecond combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Čížek, Martin; Šmíd, Radek; Buchta, Zdeněk.; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Číp, Ondrej

    2012-01-01

    The presented work is focused on digital processing of beat note signals from a femtosecond optical frequency comb. The levels of mixing products of single spectral components of the comb with CW laser sources are usually very low compared to products of mixing all the comb components together. RF counters are more likely to measure the frequency of the strongest spectral component rather than a weak beat note. Proposed experimental digital signal processing system solves this problem by analyzing the whole spectrum of the output RF signal and using software defined radio (SDR) algorithms. Our efforts concentrate in two main areas: Firstly, we are experimenting with digital signal processing of the RF beat note spectrum produced by f-2f 1 technique and with fully digital servo-loop stabilization of the fs comb. Secondly, we are using digital servo-loop techniques for locking free running continuous laser sources on single components of the fs comb spectrum. Software capable of computing and analyzing the beat-note RF spectrums using FFT and peak detection was developed. A SDR algorithm performing phase demodulation on the f- 2f signal is used as a regulation error signal source for a digital phase-locked loop stabilizing the offset and repetition frequencies of the fs comb.

  7. Real-Time and Meter-Scale Absolute Distance Measurement by Frequency-Comb-Referenced Multi-Wavelength Interferometry.

    PubMed

    Wang, Guochao; Tan, Lilong; Yan, Shuhua

    2018-02-07

    We report on a frequency-comb-referenced absolute interferometer which instantly measures long distance by integrating multi-wavelength interferometry with direct synthetic wavelength interferometry. The reported interferometer utilizes four different wavelengths, simultaneously calibrated to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to implement subwavelength distance measurement, while direct synthetic wavelength interferometry is elaborately introduced by launching a fifth wavelength to extend a non-ambiguous range for meter-scale measurement. A linearity test performed comparatively with a He-Ne laser interferometer shows a residual error of less than 70.8 nm in peak-to-valley over a 3 m distance, and a 10 h distance comparison is demonstrated to gain fractional deviations of ~3 × 10 -8 versus 3 m distance. Test results reveal that the presented absolute interferometer enables precise, stable, and long-term distance measurements and facilitates absolute positioning applications such as large-scale manufacturing and space missions.

  8. Optically stabilized Erbium fiber frequency comb with hybrid mode-locking and a broad tunable range of repetition rate.

    PubMed

    Yang, Honglei; Wu, Xuejian; Zhang, Hongyuan; Zhao, Shijie; Yang, Lijun; Wei, Haoyun; Li, Yan

    2016-12-01

    We present an optically stabilized Erbium fiber frequency comb with a broad repetition rate tuning range based on a hybrid mode-locked oscillator. We lock two comb modes to narrow-linewidth reference lasers in turn to investigate the best performance of control loops. The control bandwidth of fast and slow piezoelectric transducers reaches 70 kHz, while that of pump current modulation with phase-lead compensation is extended to 32 kHz, exceeding laser intrinsic response. Eventually, simultaneous lock of both loops is realized to totally phase-stabilize the comb, which will facilitate precision dual-comb spectroscopy, laser ranging, and timing distribution. In addition, a 1.8-MHz span of the repetition rate is achieved by an automatic optical delay line that is helpful in manufacturing a secondary comb with a similar repetition rate. The oscillator is housed in a homemade temperature-controlled box with an accuracy of ±0.02  K, which not only keeps high signal-to-noise ratio of the beat notes with reference lasers, but also guarantees self-starting at the same mode-locking every time.

  9. Full stabilization and characterization of an optical frequency comb from a diode-pumped solid-state laser with GHz repetition rate.

    PubMed

    Hakobyan, Sargis; Wittwer, Valentin J; Brochard, Pierre; Gürel, Kutan; Schilt, Stéphane; Mayer, Aline S; Keller, Ursula; Südmeyer, Thomas

    2017-08-21

    We demonstrate the first self-referenced full stabilization of a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) frequency comb with a GHz repetition rate. The Yb:CALGO DPSSL delivers an average output power of up to 2.1 W with a typical pulse duration of 96 fs and a center wavelength of 1055 nm. A carrier-envelope offset (CEO) beat with a signal-to-noise ratio of 40 dB (in 10-kHz resolution bandwidth) is detected after supercontinuum generation and f-to-2f interferometry directly from the output of the oscillator, without any external amplification or pulse compression. The repetition rate is stabilized to a reference synthesizer with a residual integrated timing jitter of 249 fs [10 Hz - 1 MHz] and a relative frequency stability of 10 -12 /s. The CEO frequency is phase-locked to an external reference via pump current feedback using home-built modulation electronics. It achieves a loop bandwidth of ~150 kHz, which results in a tight CEO lock with a residual integrated phase noise of 680 mrad [1 Hz - 1 MHz]. We present a detailed characterization of the GHz frequency comb that combines a noise analysis of the repetition rate f rep , of the CEO frequency f CEO , and of an optical comb line at 1030 nm obtained from a virtual beat with a narrow-linewidth laser at 1557 nm using a transfer oscillator. An optical comb linewidth of about 800 kHz is assessed at 1-s observation time, for which the dominant noise sources of f rep and f CEO are identified.

  10. Precise control of molecular dynamics with a femtosecond frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Pe'er, Avi; Shapiro, Evgeny A; Stowe, Matthew C; Shapiro, Moshe; Ye, Jun

    2007-03-16

    We present a general and highly efficient scheme for performing narrow-band Raman transitions between molecular vibrational levels using a coherent train of weak pump-dump pairs of shaped ultrashort pulses. The use of weak pulses permits an analytic description within the framework of coherent control in the perturbative regime, while coherent accumulation of many pulse pairs enables near unity transfer efficiency with a high spectral selectivity, thus forming a powerful combination of pump-dump control schemes and the precision of the frequency comb. Simulations verify the feasibility and robustness of this concept, with the aim to form deeply bound, ultracold molecules.

  11. Toward Imaging of Small Objects with XUV Radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sayrac, Muhammed; Kolomenski, Alexandre A.; Boran, Yakup; Schuessler, Hans

    The coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) technique has the potential to capture high resolution images of nano- or micron-sized structures when using XUV radiation obtained by high harmonic radiation (HHG) process. When a small object is exposed to XUV radiation, a diffraction pattern of the object is created. The advances in the coherent HHG enable obtaining photon flux sufficient for XUV imaging. The diffractive imaging technique from coherent table top XUV beams have made possible nanometer-scale resolution imaging by replacing the imaging optics with a computer reconstruction algorithm. In this study, we present our initial work on diffractive imaging using a tabletop XUV source. The initial investigation of imaging of a micron-sized mesh with an optimized HHG source is demonstrated. This work was supported in part by the Robert A. Welch Foundation Grant No. A1546 and the Qatar Foundation under the grant NPRP 8-735-1-154. M. Sayrac acknowledges support from the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey.

  12. Extremely high-accuracy correction of air refractive index using two-colour optical frequency combs

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Guanhao; Takahashi, Mayumi; Arai, Kaoru; Inaba, Hajime; Minoshima, Kaoru

    2013-01-01

    Optical frequency combs have become an essential tool for distance metrology, showing great advantages compared with traditional laser interferometry. However, there is not yet an appropriate method for air refractive index correction to ensure the high performance of such techniques when they are applied in air. In this study, we developed a novel heterodyne interferometry technique based on two-colour frequency combs for air refractive index correction. In continuous 500-second tests, a stability of 1.0 × 10−11 was achieved in the measurement of the difference in the optical distance between two wavelengths. Furthermore, the measurement results and the calculations are in nearly perfect agreement, with a standard deviation of 3.8 × 10−11 throughout the 10-hour period. The final two-colour correction of the refractive index of air over a path length of 61 m was demonstrated to exhibit an uncertainty better than 1.4 × 10−8, which is the best result ever reported without precise knowledge of environmental parameters. PMID:23719387

  13. Real-Time and Meter-Scale Absolute Distance Measurement by Frequency-Comb-Referenced Multi-Wavelength Interferometry

    PubMed Central

    Tan, Lilong; Yan, Shuhua

    2018-01-01

    We report on a frequency-comb-referenced absolute interferometer which instantly measures long distance by integrating multi-wavelength interferometry with direct synthetic wavelength interferometry. The reported interferometer utilizes four different wavelengths, simultaneously calibrated to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to implement subwavelength distance measurement, while direct synthetic wavelength interferometry is elaborately introduced by launching a fifth wavelength to extend a non-ambiguous range for meter-scale measurement. A linearity test performed comparatively with a He–Ne laser interferometer shows a residual error of less than 70.8 nm in peak-to-valley over a 3 m distance, and a 10 h distance comparison is demonstrated to gain fractional deviations of ~3 × 10−8 versus 3 m distance. Test results reveal that the presented absolute interferometer enables precise, stable, and long-term distance measurements and facilitates absolute positioning applications such as large-scale manufacturing and space missions. PMID:29414897

  14. Offset frequency dynamics and phase noise properties of a self-referenced 10 GHz Ti:sapphire frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Heinecke, Dirk C; Bartels, Albrecht; Diddams, Scott A

    2011-09-12

    This paper shows the experimental details of the stabilization scheme that allows full control of the repetition rate and the carrier-envelope offset frequency of a 10 GHz frequency comb based on a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. Octave-spanning spectra are produced in nonlinear microstructured optical fiber, in spite of the reduced peak power associated with the 10 GHz repetition rate. Improved stability of the broadened spectrum is obtained by temperature-stabilization of the nonlinear optical fiber. The carrier-envelope offset frequency and the repetition rate are simultaneously frequency stabilized, and their short- and long-term stabilities are characterized. We also measure the transfer of amplitude noise of the pump source to phase noise on the offset frequency and verify an increased sensitivity of the offset frequency to pump power modulation compared to systems with lower repetition rate. Finally, we discuss merits of this 10 GHz system for the generation of low-phase-noise microwaves from the photodetected pulse train.

  15. Theoretical study of collinear optical frequency comb generation under multi-wave, transient stimulated Raman scattering in crystals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Smetanin, S N

    2014-11-30

    Using mathematical modelling we have studied the conditions of low-threshold collinear optical frequency comb generation under transient (picosecond) stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and parametric four-wave coupling of SRS components in crystals. It is shown that Raman-parametric generation of an octave-spanning optical frequency comb occurs most effectively under intermediate, transient SRS at a pump pulse duration exceeding the dephasing time by five-to-twenty times. We have found the optimal values of not only the laser pump pulse duration, but also of the Raman crystal lengths corresponding to highly efficient generation of an optical frequency comb from the second anti-Stokes to the fourthmore » Stokes Raman components. For the KGd(WO{sub 4}){sub 2} (high dispersion) and Ba(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} (low dispersion) crystals pumped at a wavelength of 1.064 μm and a pulse duration five or more times greater than the dephasing time, the optimum length of the crystal was 0.3 and 0.6 cm, respectively, which is consistent with the condition of the most effective Stokes – anti-Stokes coupling ΔkL ≈ 15, where Δk is the wave detuning from phase matching of Stokes – anti-Stokes coupling, determined by the refractive index dispersion of the SRS medium. (nonlinear optical phenomena)« less

  16. Thermally controlled comb generation and soliton modelocking in microresonators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Joshi, Chaitanya; Jang, Jae K.; Luke, Kevin; Ji, Xingchen; Miller, Steven A.; Klenner, Alexander; Okawachi, Yoshitomo; Lipson, Michal; Gaeta, Alexander L.

    2016-06-01

    We report the first demonstration of thermally controlled soliton modelocked frequency comb generation in microresonators. By controlling the electric current through heaters integrated with silicon nitride microresonators, we demonstrate a systematic and repeatable pathway to single- and multi-soliton modelocked states without adjusting the pump laser wavelength. Such an approach could greatly simplify the generation of modelocked frequency combs and facilitate applications such as chip-based dual-comb spectroscopy.

  17. XUV ionization of aligned molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kelkensberg, F.; Rouzée, A.; Siu, W.; Gademann, G.; Johnsson, P.; Lucchini, M.; Lucchese, R. R.; Vrakking, M. J. J.

    2011-11-01

    New extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) light sources such as high-order-harmonic generation (HHG) and free-electron lasers (FELs), combined with laser-induced alignment techniques, enable novel methods for making molecular movies based on measuring molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions. Experiments are presented where CO2 molecules were impulsively aligned using a near-infrared laser and ionized using femtosecond XUV pulses obtained by HHG. Measured electron angular distributions reveal contributions from four orbitals and the onset of the influence of the molecular structure.

  18. XUV ionization of aligned molecules

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kelkensberg, F.; Siu, W.; Gademann, G.

    2011-11-15

    New extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) light sources such as high-order-harmonic generation (HHG) and free-electron lasers (FELs), combined with laser-induced alignment techniques, enable novel methods for making molecular movies based on measuring molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions. Experiments are presented where CO{sub 2} molecules were impulsively aligned using a near-infrared laser and ionized using femtosecond XUV pulses obtained by HHG. Measured electron angular distributions reveal contributions from four orbitals and the onset of the influence of the molecular structure.

  19. Spectral line-by-line pulse shaping of on-chip microresonator frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferdous, Fahmida; Miao, Houxun; Leaird, Daniel E.; Srinivasan, Kartik; Wang, Jian; Chen, Lei; Varghese, Leo Tom; Weiner, Andrew M.

    2011-12-01

    Recently, on-chip comb generation methods based on nonlinear optical modulation in ultrahigh-quality-factor monolithic microresonators have been demonstrated, where two pump photons are transformed into sideband photons in a four-wave-mixing process mediated by Kerr nonlinearity. Here, we investigate line-by-line pulse shaping of such combs generated in silicon nitride ring resonators. We observe two distinct paths to comb formation that exhibit strikingly different time-domain behaviours. For combs formed as a cascade of sidebands spaced by a single free spectral range that spread from the pump, we are able to compress stably to nearly bandwidth-limited pulses. This indicates high coherence across the spectra and provides new data on the high passive stability of the spectral phase. For combs where the initial sidebands are spaced by multiple free spectral ranges that then fill in to give combs with single free-spectral-range spacing, the time-domain data reveal partially coherent behaviour.

  20. Thermally controlled comb generation and soliton modelocking in microresonators.

    PubMed

    Joshi, Chaitanya; Jang, Jae K; Luke, Kevin; Ji, Xingchen; Miller, Steven A; Klenner, Alexander; Okawachi, Yoshitomo; Lipson, Michal; Gaeta, Alexander L

    2016-06-01

    We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of thermally controlled soliton mode-locked frequency comb generation in microresonators. By controlling the electric current through heaters integrated with silicon nitride microresonators, we demonstrate a systematic and repeatable pathway to single- and multi-soliton mode-locked states without adjusting the pump laser wavelength. Such an approach could greatly simplify the generation of mode-locked frequency combs and facilitate applications such as chip-based dual-comb spectroscopy.

  1. Sub-Doppler two-photon absorption induced by the combination of a single-mode laser and a frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moreno, Marco P.; Nogueira, Giovana T.; Felinto, Daniel; Vianna, Sandra S.

    2017-08-01

    The two-photon transition 5 S -5 P -5 D in rubidium vapor is investigated by detecting the fluorescence from the 6 P3 /2 state when the atomic system is excited by the combined action of a cw diode laser and a frequency comb. The cw laser plays a role as a velocity-selective filter and allows for sub-Doppler spectroscopy over a large spectral range including the 5 D3 /2 and 5 D5 /2 states. For a counterpropagating beam configuration, the response of each atomic velocity group is well characterized within the Doppler profile and the excited hyperfine levels are clearly resolved. The contribution of the optical pumping to the direct two-photon process is also revealed. The results are well described in a frequency domain picture by considering the interaction of each velocity group with the cw laser and the modes of the frequency comb.

  2. Injection locked coupled opto-electronic oscillator for optical frequency comb generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williams, Charles; Mandridis, Dimitrios; Davila-Rodriguez, Josue; Delfyett, Peter J.

    2011-06-01

    A CW injection locked Coupled Opto-Electronic Oscillator (COEO) is presented with a 10.24 GHz spaced optical frequency comb output as well as a low noise RF output. A modified Pound-Drever-Hall scheme is employed to ensure long-term stability of the injection lock, feeding back into the cavity length to compensate for cavity resonance drifts relative to the injection seed frequency. Error signal comparison to an actively mode-locked injection locked laser is presented. High optical signal-to-noise ratio of ~35 dB is demonstrated with >20 comblines of useable bandwidth. The optical linewidth, in agreement with injection locking theory, reduces to that of the injection seed frequency, <5 kHz. Low amplitude and absolute phase noise are presented from the optical output of the laser system. The integrated pulse-to-pulse energy fluctuation was found to be reduced by up to a factor of two due to optical injection. Additional decreases were shown for varying injection powers.

  3. Optical frequency comb generation with high tone-to-noise ratio for large-capacity wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ullah, Rahat; Liu, Bo; Zhang, Qi; Tian, Qinghua; Tian, Feng; Qu, Zhaowei; Yan, Cheng; Khan, Muhammad Saad; Ahmad, Ibrar; Xin, Xiangjun

    2015-11-01

    We propose a technique for the generation of optical frequency comb from a single source, which reduces the costs of optical access networks. Two Mach-Zehnder modulators are cascaded with one phase modulator driven by radiofrequency signals. With 10-GHz frequency spacing, the generated 40 optical multicarriers have good tone-to-noise ratio with least excursions in their comb lines. The laser array at the optical line terminal of the conventional wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) system has been replaced with optical frequency comb generator (OFCG), which may result in cost-effective optical line terminal (OLT) supporting a large-capacity WDM-PON system. Of 40 carriers generated, each carrier carries 10 Gbps data based on differential phase-shift keying. Four hundred Gbps multiplexed data from all channels are successfully transmitted through a fiber span of 25 km with negligible power penalties. Part of the downlink signal is used in uplink transmission at optical network unit where intensity-modulated on-off keying is deployed for remodulation. Theoretical analysis of the proposed WDM-PON system based on OFCG are in good agreement with simulation results. The metrics considered for the analysis of the proposed OFCG in a WDM-PON system are power penalties of the full-duplex transmission, eye diagrams, and bit error rate.

  4. High-accuracy deep-UV Ramsey-comb spectroscopy in krypton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galtier, Sandrine; Altmann, Robert K.; Dreissen, Laura S.; Eikema, Kjeld S. E.

    2017-01-01

    In this paper, we present a detailed account of the first precision Ramsey-comb spectroscopy in the deep UV. We excite krypton in an atomic beam using pairs of frequency-comb laser pulses that have been amplified to the millijoule level and upconverted through frequency doubling in BBO crystals. The resulting phase-coherent deep-UV pulses at 212.55 nm are used in the Ramsey-comb method to excite the two-photon 4p^6 → 4p^5 5p [1/2 ]_0 transition. For the {}^{84}Kr isotope, we find a transition frequency of 2829833101679(103) kHz. The fractional accuracy of 3.7 × 10^{-11} is 34 times better than previous measurements, and also the isotope shifts are measured with improved accuracy. This demonstration shows the potential of Ramsey-comb excitation for precision spectroscopy at short wavelengths.

  5. Radiation comb generation with extended Josephson junctions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Solinas, P., E-mail: paolo.solinas@spin.cnr.it; Bosisio, R., E-mail: riccardo.bosisio@nano.cnr.it; NEST, Instituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, I-56127 Pisa

    2015-09-21

    We propose the implementation of a Josephson radiation comb generator based on an extended Josephson junction subject to a time dependent magnetic field. The junction critical current shows known diffraction patterns and determines the position of the critical nodes when it vanishes. When the magnetic flux passes through one of such critical nodes, the superconducting phase must undergo a π-jump to minimize the Josephson energy. Correspondingly, a voltage pulse is generated at the extremes of the junction. Under periodic driving, this allows us to produce a comb-like voltage pulses sequence. In the frequency domain, it is possible to generate upmore » to hundreds of harmonics of the fundamental driving frequency, thus mimicking the frequency comb used in optics and metrology. We discuss several implementations through a rectangular, cylindrical, and annular junction geometries, allowing us to generate different radiation spectra and to produce an output power up to 10 pW at 50 GHz for a driving frequency of 100 MHz.« less

  6. Pulsed laser-based optical frequency comb generator for high capacity wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network supporting 1.2 Tbps

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ullah, Rahat; Liu, Bo; Zhang, Qi; Saad Khan, Muhammad; Ahmad, Ibrar; Ali, Amjad; Khan, Razaullah; Tian, Qinghua; Yan, Cheng; Xin, Xiangjun

    2016-09-01

    An architecture for flattened and broad spectrum multicarriers is presented by generating 60 comb lines from pulsed laser driven by user-defined bit stream in cascade with three modulators. The proposed scheme is a cost-effective architecture for optical line terminal (OLT) in wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) system. The optical frequency comb generator consists of a pulsed laser in cascade with a phase modulator and two Mach-Zehnder modulators driven by an RF source incorporating no phase shifter, filter, or electrical amplifier. Optical frequency comb generation is deployed in the simulation environment at OLT in WDM-PON system supports 1.2-Tbps data rate. With 10-GHz frequency spacing, each frequency tone carries data signal of 20 Gbps-based differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) in downlink transmission. We adopt DQPSK-based modulation technique in the downlink transmission because it supports 2 bits per symbol, which increases the data rate in WDM-PON system. Furthermore, DQPSK format is tolerant to different types of dispersions and has a high spectral efficiency with less complex configurations. Part of the downlink power is utilized in the uplink transmission; the uplink transmission is based on intensity modulated on-off keying. Minimum power penalties have been observed with excellent eye diagrams and other transmission performances at specified bit error rates.

  7. On-chip dual-comb source for spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Dutt, Avik; Joshi, Chaitanya; Ji, Xingchen; Cardenas, Jaime; Okawachi, Yoshitomo; Luke, Kevin; Gaeta, Alexander L; Lipson, Michal

    2018-03-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopy is a powerful technique for real-time, broadband optical sampling of molecular spectra, which requires no moving components. Recent developments with microresonator-based platforms have enabled frequency combs at the chip scale. However, the need to precisely match the resonance wavelengths of distinct high quality-factor microcavities has hindered the development of on-chip dual combs. We report the simultaneous generation of two microresonator combs on the same chip from a single laser, drastically reducing experimental complexity. We demonstrate broadband optical spectra spanning 51 THz and low-noise operation of both combs by deterministically tuning into soliton mode-locked states using integrated microheaters, resulting in narrow (<10 kHz) microwave beat notes. We further use one comb as a reference to probe the formation dynamics of the other comb, thus introducing a technique to investigate comb evolution without auxiliary lasers or microwave oscillators. We demonstrate high signal-to-noise ratio absorption spectroscopy spanning 170 nm using the dual-comb source over a 20-μs acquisition time. Our device paves the way for compact and robust spectrometers at nanosecond time scales enabled by large beat-note spacings (>1 GHz).

  8. On-chip dual-comb source for spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Dutt, Avik; Joshi, Chaitanya; Ji, Xingchen; Cardenas, Jaime; Okawachi, Yoshitomo; Luke, Kevin; Gaeta, Alexander L.; Lipson, Michal

    2018-01-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopy is a powerful technique for real-time, broadband optical sampling of molecular spectra, which requires no moving components. Recent developments with microresonator-based platforms have enabled frequency combs at the chip scale. However, the need to precisely match the resonance wavelengths of distinct high quality-factor microcavities has hindered the development of on-chip dual combs. We report the simultaneous generation of two microresonator combs on the same chip from a single laser, drastically reducing experimental complexity. We demonstrate broadband optical spectra spanning 51 THz and low-noise operation of both combs by deterministically tuning into soliton mode-locked states using integrated microheaters, resulting in narrow (<10 kHz) microwave beat notes. We further use one comb as a reference to probe the formation dynamics of the other comb, thus introducing a technique to investigate comb evolution without auxiliary lasers or microwave oscillators. We demonstrate high signal-to-noise ratio absorption spectroscopy spanning 170 nm using the dual-comb source over a 20-μs acquisition time. Our device paves the way for compact and robust spectrometers at nanosecond time scales enabled by large beat-note spacings (>1 GHz). PMID:29511733

  9. Continuous probing of cold complex molecules with infrared frequency comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spaun, Ben; Changala, P. Bryan; Patterson, David; Bjork, Bryce J.; Heckl, Oliver H.; Doyle, John M.; Ye, Jun

    2016-05-01

    For more than half a century, high-resolution infrared spectroscopy has played a crucial role in probing molecular structure and dynamics. Such studies have so far been largely restricted to relatively small and simple systems, because at room temperature even molecules of modest size already occupy many millions of rotational/vibrational states, yielding highly congested spectra that are difficult to assign. Targeting more complex molecules requires methods that can record broadband infrared spectra (that is, spanning multiple vibrational bands) with both high resolution and high sensitivity. However, infrared spectroscopic techniques have hitherto been limited either by narrow bandwidth and long acquisition time, or by low sensitivity and resolution. Cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy (CE-DFCS) combines the inherent broad bandwidth and high resolution of an optical frequency comb with the high detection sensitivity provided by a high-finesse enhancement cavity, but it still suffers from spectral congestion. Here we show that this problem can be overcome by using buffer gas cooling to produce continuous, cold samples of molecules that are then subjected to CE-DFCS. This integration allows us to acquire a rotationally resolved direct absorption spectrum in the C-H stretching region of nitromethane, a model system that challenges our understanding of large-amplitude vibrational motion. We have also used this technique on several large organic molecules that are of fundamental spectroscopic and astrochemical relevance, including naphthalene, adamantane and hexamethylenetetramine. These findings establish the value of our approach for studying much larger and more complex molecules than have been probed so far, enabling complex molecules and their kinetics to be studied with orders-of-magnitude improvements in efficiency, spectral resolution and specificity.

  10. Multi-object investigation using two-wavelength phase-shift interferometry guided by an optical frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibrahim, Dahi Ghareab Abdelsalam; Yasui, Takeshi

    2018-04-01

    Two-wavelength phase-shift interferometry guided by optical frequency combs is presented. We demonstrate the operation of the setup with a large step sample simultaneously with a resolution test target with a negative pattern. The technique can investigate multi-objects simultaneously with high precision. Using this technique, several important applications in metrology that require high speed and precision are demonstrated.

  11. Frequency comb-based time transfer over a 159 km long installed fiber network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lessing, M.; Margolis, H. S.; Brown, C. T. A.; Marra, G.

    2017-05-01

    We demonstrate a frequency comb-based time transfer technique on a 159 km long installed fiber link. Timing information is superimposed onto the optical pulse train of an ITU-channel-filtered mode-locked laser using an intensity modulation scheme. The environmentally induced optical path length fluctuations are compensated using a round-trip phase noise cancellation technique. When the fiber link is stabilized, a time deviation of 300 fs at 5 s and an accuracy at the 100 ps level are achieved.

  12. Highly coherent tunable mid-infrared frequency comb pumped by supercontinuum at 1 µm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jin, Lei; Yamanaka, Masahito; Sonnenschein, Volker; Tomita, Hideki; Iguchi, Tetsuo; Sato, Atsushi; Oh-hara, Toshinari; Nishizawa, Norihiko

    2017-01-01

    We report a tunable mid-infrared frequency comb working at 184 MHz, which is based on difference frequency generation in a periodically poled Mg-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPMgSLT) crystal pumped by high-power supercontinuum pulses. Supercontinuum pulses from two fibers with different dispersion properties were examined. With a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) having normal dispersion properties, a tunable wavelength range of 2.9-4.7 µm was achieved. With another PCF having zero dispersion at 1040 nm, a maximum power of 1.34 mW was observed at 3.9 µm. The high coherence of the pulses generated with this scheme was verified experimentally, and a fringe visibility of 0.90 was observed.

  13. Photonic harmonic up-converter based on a self-oscillating optical frequency comb using a DP-DPMZM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Xuedi; Li, Shangyuan; Xie, Zhengyang; Peng, Shaowen; Wu, Dexin; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Zheng, Xiaoping; Zhou, Bingkun

    2018-04-01

    A photonic harmonic up-converter based on a self-oscillating optical frequency comb (OFC) utilizing an integrated dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder Modulator (DP-DPMZM) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. One DPMZM is used to generate the optoelectronic oscillator (OEO)-based OFC, and the rest one is used to generate the optical-modulated intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Beating these two signals, the up-converted signals at different bands would be obtained. As the OFC is generated based on the OEO loop, phase noise can be very low, ensuring good phase noise properties of the up-converted signals. Moreover, frequency spacing between the combs is dependent on oscillating frequency of the OEO, which can be as large as tens of gigahertz. Thus IF signals with large bandwidth can be up-converted to RF bands without aliasing. Experimentally, the 2.5 GHz IF signal is simultaneously up-converted to 13.3, 24.1, and 34.9 GHz by a self-oscillating 7-line OFC spacing at 10.8 GHz. Owing to good phase noise property of the OEO, the up-converted signals at 13.3 and 24.1 GHz maintain the phase noise of the IF signal from 1 KHz to 100 KHz offset. The results show that the converter is promising for multi-band radar and satellite navigation applications.

  14. Noncritical generation of nonclassical frequency combs via spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Navarrete-Benlloch, Carlos; Patera, Giuseppe; de Valcárcel, Germán J.

    2017-10-01

    Synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (SPOPOs) are optical cavities driven by mode-locked lasers, and containing a nonlinear crystal capable of down-converting a frequency comb to lower frequencies. SPOPOs have received a lot of attention lately because their intrinsic multimode nature makes them compact sources of quantum correlated light with promising applications in modern quantum information technologies. In this work we show that SPOPOs are also capable of accessing the challenging and interesting regime where spontaneous symmetry breaking confers strong nonclassical properties to the emitted light, which has eluded experimental observation so far. Apart from opening the possibility of studying experimentally this elusive regime of dissipative phase transitions, our predictions will have a practical impact, since we show that spontaneous symmetry breaking provides a specific spatiotemporal mode with large quadrature squeezing for any value of the system parameters, turning SPOPOs into robust sources of highly nonclassical light above threshold.

  15. Noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy: a sensitive technique for high-resolution broadband molecular detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khodabakhsh, Amir; Johansson, Alexandra C.; Foltynowicz, Aleksandra

    2015-04-01

    Noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy (NICE-OFCS) is a recently developed technique that utilizes phase modulation to obtain immunity to frequency-to-amplitude noise conversion by the cavity modes and yields high absorption sensitivity over a broad spectral range. We describe the principles of the technique and discuss possible comb-cavity matching solutions. We present a theoretical description of NICE-OFCS signals detected with a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) and validate the model by comparing it to experimental CO2 spectra around 1,575 nm. Our system is based on an Er:fiber femtosecond laser locked to a cavity and phase-modulated at a frequency equal to a multiple of the cavity free spectral range (FSR). The NICE-OFCS signal is detected by a fast-scanning FTS equipped with a high-bandwidth commercial detector. We demonstrate a simple method of passive locking of the modulation frequency to the cavity FSR that significantly improves the long-term stability of the system, allowing averaging times on the order of minutes. Using a cavity with a finesse of ~9,000, we obtain absorption sensitivity of 6.4 × 10-11 cm-1 Hz-1/2 per spectral element and concentration detection limit for CO2 of 450 ppb Hz-1/2, determined by multiline fitting.

  16. High-resolution broadband terahertz spectroscopy via electronic heterodyne detection of photonically generated terahertz frequency comb.

    PubMed

    Pavelyev, D G; Skryl, A S; Bakunov, M I

    2014-10-01

    We report an alternative approach to the terahertz frequency-comb spectroscopy (TFCS) based on nonlinear mixing of a photonically generated terahertz pulse train with a continuous wave signal from an electronic synthesizer. A superlattice is used as a nonlinear mixer. Unlike the standard TFCS technique, this approach does not require a complex double-laser system but retains the advantages of TFCS-high spectral resolution and wide bandwidth.

  17. Quantum cascade laser combs: effects of modulation and dispersion.

    PubMed

    Villares, Gustavo; Faist, Jérôme

    2015-01-26

    Frequency comb formation in quantum cascade lasers is studied theoretically using a Maxwell-Bloch formalism based on a modal decomposition, where dispersion is considered. In the mid-infrared, comb formation persists in the presence of weak cavity dispersion (500 fs2 mm-1) but disappears when much larger values are used (30'000 fs2 mm-1). Active modulation at the round-trip frequency is found to induce mode-locking in THz devices, where the upper state lifetime is in the tens of picoseconds. Our results show that mode-locking based on four-wave mixing in broadband gain, low dispersion cavities is the most promising way of achieving broadband quantum cascade laser frequency combs.

  18. Orthogonal control of the frequency comb dynamics of a mode-locked laser diode.

    PubMed

    Holman, Kevin W; Jones, David J; Ye, Jun; Ippen, Erich P

    2003-12-01

    We have performed detailed studies on the dynamics of a frequency comb produced by a mode-locked laser diode (MLLD). Orthogonal control of the pulse repetition rate and the pulse-to-pulse carrier-envelope phase slippage is achieved by appropriate combinations of the respective error signals to actuate the diode injection current and the saturable absorber bias voltage. Phase coherence is established between the MLLD at 1550 nm and a 775-nm mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser working as part of an optical atomic clock.

  19. High power frequency comb based on mid-infrared quantum cascade laser at λ ∼ 9 μm

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lu, Q. Y.; Razeghi, M., E-mail: razeghi@eecs.northwestern.edu; Slivken, S.

    2015-02-02

    We investigate a frequency comb source based on a mid-infrared quantum cascade laser at λ ∼ 9 μm with high power output. A broad flat-top gain with near-zero group velocity dispersion has been engineered using a dual-core active region structure. This favors the locking of the dispersed Fabry-Pérot modes into equally spaced frequency lines via four wave mixing. A current range with a narrow intermode beating linewidth of 3 kHz is identified with a fast detector and spectrum analyzer. This range corresponds to a broad spectral coverage of 65 cm{sup −1} and a high power output of 180 mW for ∼176 comb modes.

  20. Multiplexed direct-frequency-comb Vernier spectroscopy of carbon dioxide 2ν1 + ν3 ro-vibrational combination band

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Siciliani de Cumis, M.; Eramo, R.; Coluccelli, N.; Galzerano, G.; Laporta, P.; Cancio Pastor, P.

    2018-03-01

    We investigated a set of nineteen 12C16O2 transitions of the 2ν1 + ν3 ro-vibrational band in the spectral region from 5064 to 5126 cm-1 at different pressures, using frequency-comb Vernier spectroscopy. Our spectrometer enabled the systematic acquisition of molecular absorption profiles with high precision. Spectroscopic parameters, namely, transition frequency, linestrength, and self-pressure broadening coefficient, have been accurately determined by using a global fit procedure. These data are in agreement with theoretical values contained in HITRAN2016 database [I. E. Gordon et al., J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 203, 3-69 (2017)] at the same precision level. A moderate improvement of the line intensity determinations, by a factor 1.5 in the best case [P(10) transition at 5091.6 cm-1], should be noticed, projecting direct-comb-Vernier-spectroscopy as an adequate tool for spectral intensity calibration.

  1. Coherent storage of temporally multimode light using a spin-wave atomic frequency comb memory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gündoǧan, M.; Mazzera, M.; Ledingham, P. M.; Cristiani, M.; de Riedmatten, H.

    2013-04-01

    We report on the coherent and multi-temporal mode storage of light using the full atomic frequency comb memory scheme. The scheme involves the transfer of optical atomic excitations in Pr3+:Y2SiO5 to spin waves in hyperfine levels using strong single-frequency transfer pulses. Using this scheme, a total of five temporal modes are stored and recalled on-demand from the memory. The coherence of the storage and retrieval is characterized using a time-bin interference measurement resulting in visibilities higher than 80%, independent of the storage time. This coherent and multimode spin-wave memory is promising as a quantum memory for light.

  2. A Josephson radiation comb generator.

    PubMed

    Solinas, P; Gasparinetti, S; Golubev, D; Giazotto, F

    2015-07-20

    We propose the implementation of a Josephson Radiation Comb Generator (JRCG) based on a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) driven by an external magnetic field. When the magnetic flux crosses a diffraction node of the critical current interference pattern, the superconducting phase undergoes a jump of π and a voltage pulse is generated at the extremes of the SQUID. Under periodic drive this allows one to generate a sequence of sharp, evenly spaced voltage pulses. In the frequency domain, this corresponds to a comb-like structure similar to the one exploited in optics and metrology. With this device it is possible to generate up to several hundreds of harmonics of the driving frequency. For example, a chain of 50 identical high-critical-temperature SQUIDs driven at 1 GHz can deliver up to a 0.5 nW at 200 GHz. The availability of a fully solid-state radiation comb generator such as the JRCG, easily integrable on chip, may pave the way to a number of technological applications, from metrology to sub-millimeter wave generation.

  3. Quantum dynamics of Kerr optical frequency combs below and above threshold: Spontaneous four-wave mixing, entanglement, and squeezed states of light

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chembo, Yanne K.

    2016-03-01

    The dynamical behavior of Kerr optical frequency combs is very well understood today from the perspective of the semiclassical approximation. These combs are obtained by pumping an ultrahigh-Q whispering-gallery mode resonator with a continuous-wave laser. The long-lifetime photons are trapped within the toruslike eigenmodes of the resonator, where they interact nonlinearly via the Kerr effect. In this article, we use quantum Langevin equations to provide a theoretical understanding of the nonclassical behavior of these combs when pumped below and above threshold. In the configuration where the system is under threshold, the pump field is the unique oscillating mode inside the resonator, and it triggers the phenomenon of spontaneous four-wave mixing, where two photons from the pump are symmetrically up- and down-converted in the Fourier domain. This phenomenon, also referred to as parametric fluorescence, can only be understood and analyzed from a fully quantum perspective as a consequence of the coupling between the field of the central (pumped) mode and the vacuum fluctuations of the various side modes. We analytically calculate the power spectra of the spontaneous emission noise, and we show that these spectra can be either single- or double-peaked depending on the value of the laser frequency, chromatic dispersion, pump power, and spectral distance between the central mode and the side mode of interest. We also calculate as well the overall spontaneous noise power per side mode and propose simplified analytical expressions for some particular cases. In the configuration where the system is pumped above threshold, we investigate the phenomena of quantum correlations and multimode squeezed states of light that can occur in the Kerr frequency combs originating from stimulated four-wave mixing. We show that for all stationary spatiotemporal patterns, the side modes that are symmetrical relative to the pumped mode in the frequency domain display quantum correlations

  4. Efficient On-chip Optical Microresonator for Optical Comb Generation: Design and Fabrication

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Kyunghun

    An optical frequency comb is a series of equally spaced frequency components. It has gained much attention since Nobel physics prize was awarded John L. Hall and Theodor W. Hansch for their contribution to the optical frequency comb technique in 2005. The optical frequency comb has been extensively studied because of its precision as a tool for spectroscopy, and is now widely used in bio- and chemical sensors, optical clocks, mode-locked dark pulse generation, soliton generation, and optical communication. Recently, thanks to the developments in nanotechnology, the optical frequency comb generation is made possible at a chip-scale level with microresonators. However, because the threshold power of the optical frequency comb generation is beyond the capability of the on-chip laser source, efficient microresonator is required. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-compact and highly efficient strip-slot direct mode coupler, aiming to achieve slotted silicon microresonator cladded with nonlinear polymer Poly-DDMEBT in SOI platform. As an application of the strip-slot direct mode coupling, a double slot fiber-to-chip edge coupler is demonstrated showing 2 dB insertion loss reduction compared to the conventional single tip edge coupler. For silicon nitride platform, we investigated evanescent wave coupling of microresonator, focusing on bus waveguide geometry optimization. The optimized waveguide width offers an efficient excitation of a fundamental mode in the resonator waveguide. This investigation can benefit low threshold comb generation by enhancing the extinction ratio. We experimentally demonstrated the high Q-factor micro-ring resonator with intrinsic Q of 12.6 million as well as the single FSR comb generation with 63 mW.

  5. Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy of Rubidium with a Dual-Comb Tequnique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nishiyama, Akiko; Yoshida, Satoru; Hariki, Takuya; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Minoshima, Kaoru

    2017-06-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopies have great potential for high-resolution molecular and atomic spectroscopies, thanks to the broadband comb spectrum consisting of dense narrow modes. In this study, we apply the dual-comb system to Doppler-free two-photon absorption spectroscopy. The outputs of two frequency combs excite several two-photon transitions of rubidium, and we obtained broadband Doppler-free spectra from dual-comb fluorescence signals. The fluorescence detection scheme circumvents the sensitivity limit which is effectively determined by the dynamic range of photodetectors in absorption-based dual-comb spectroscopies. Our system realized high-sensitive, Doppler-free high-resolution and broadband atomic spectroscopy. A part of observed spectra of 5S_{1/2} - 5D_{5/2} transition is shown in the figure. The hyperfine structures of the F" = 1 - F' = 3,2,1 transitions are fully-resolved and the spectral widths are approximately 5 MHz. The absolute frequency axis is precisely calibrated from comb mode frequencies which were stabilized to a GPS-disciplined clock. This work was supported by JST through the ERATO MINOSHIMA Intelligent Optical Synthesizer Project and Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows (16J02345). A. Nishiyama, S. Yoshida, Y. Nakajima, H. Sasada, K. Nakagawa, A. Onae, K. and Minoshima, Opt. Express 24, 25894 (2016). A. Hipke, S. A. Meek, T. Ideguchi, T.W. Hänsch, and N. Picqué, Phys. Rev. A 90, 011805(R) (2014).

  6. Time-diagnostics for improved dynamics experiments at XUV FELs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drescher, Markus; Frühling, Ulrike; Krikunova, Maria; Maltezopoulos, Theophilos; Wieland, Marek

    2010-10-01

    Significantly structured and fluctuating temporal profiles of pulses from self-amplified spontaneous emission free electron lasers as well as their unstable timing require time diagnostics on a single-shot basis. The duration and structure of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from the Free Electron Laser (FEL) in Hamburg (FLASH) are becoming accessible using a variation of the streak camera principle, where photoemitted electrons are energetically streaked in the electric field component of a terahertz electromagnetic wave. The timing with respect to an independently generated laser pulse can be measured in an XUV/laser cross-correlator, based on a non-collinear superposition of both pulses on a solid state surface and detection of XUV-induced modulations of its reflectivity for visible light. Sorting of data according to the measured timing dramatically improves the temporal resolution of an experiment sampling the relaxation of transient electronic states in xenon after linear- as well as nonlinear excitation with intense XUV pulses from FLASH.

  7. Smooth and flat phase-locked Kerr frequency comb generation by higher order mode suppression

    PubMed Central

    Huang, S.-W.; Liu, H.; Yang, J.; Yu, M.; Kwong, D.-L.; Wong, C. W.

    2016-01-01

    High-Q microresonator is perceived as a promising platform for optical frequency comb generation, via dissipative soliton formation. In order to achieve a higher quality factor and obtain the necessary anomalous dispersion, multi-mode waveguides were previously implemented in Si3N4 microresonators. However, coupling between different transverse mode families in multi-mode waveguides results in periodic disruption of dispersion and quality factor, and consequently causes perturbation to dissipative soliton formation and amplitude modulation to the corresponding spectrum. Careful choice of pump wavelength to avoid the mode crossing region is thus critical in conventional Si3N4 microresonators. Here, we report a novel design of Si3N4 microresonator in which single-mode operation, high quality factor, and anomalous dispersion are attained simultaneously. The novel microresonator is consisted of uniform single-mode waveguides in the semi-circle region, to eliminate bending induced mode coupling, and adiabatically tapered waveguides in the straight region, to avoid excitation of higher order modes. The intrinsic quality factor of the microresonator reaches 1.36 × 106 while the group velocity dispersion remains to be anomalous at −50 fs2/mm. With this novel microresonator, we demonstrate that broadband phase-locked Kerr frequency combs with flat and smooth spectra can be generated by pumping at any resonances in the optical C-band. PMID:27181420

  8. On the dispersion management of fluorite whispering-gallery mode resonators for Kerr optical frequency comb generation in the telecom and mid-infrared range.

    PubMed

    Lin, Guoping; Chembo, Yanne K

    2015-01-26

    Optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators have been very attracting platforms for versatile Kerr frequency comb generations. We report a systematic study on the material dispersion of various optical materials that are capable of supporting quality factors above 109. Using an analytical approximation of WGM resonant frequencies in disk resonators, we investigate the effect of the geometry and transverse mode order on the total group-velocity dispersion (GVD). We demonstrate that the major radii and the radial mode indices play an important role in tailoring the GVD of WGM resonators. In particular, our study shows that in WGM disk-resonators, the polar families of modes have very similar GVD, while the radial families of modes feature dispersion values that can differ by up to several orders of magnitude. The effect of these giant dispersion shifts are experimentally evidenced in Kerr comb generation with magnesium fluoride. From a more general perspective, this critical feature enables to push the zero-dispersion wavelength of fluorite crystals towards the mid-infrared (mid-IR) range, thereby allowing for efficient Kerr comb generation in that spectral range. We show that barium fluoride is the most interesting crystal in this regard, due to its zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) at 1.93 μm and an optimal dispersion profile in the mid-IR regime. We expect our results to facilitate the design of different platforms for Kerr frequency comb generations in both telecommunication and mid-IR spectral ranges.

  9. Multi-dynamic range compressional wave detection using optical-frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Minamikawa, Takeo; Masuoka, Takashi; Oe, Ryo; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Yamaoka, Yoshihisa; Minoshima, Kaoru; Yasui, Takeshi

    2018-02-01

    Compressional wave detection is useful means for health monitoring of building, detection of abnormal vibration of moving objects, defect evaluation, and biomedical imaging such as echography and photoacoustic imaging. The frequency of the compressional wave is varied from quasi-static to a few tens of megahertz depending on applications. Since the dynamic range of general compressional wave detectors is limited, we need to choose a proper compressional wave detector depending on applications. For the compressional wave detection with wide dynamic range, two or more detectors with different detection ranges is required. However, these detectors with different detection ranges generally has different accuracy and precision, disabling the seamless detection over these detection ranges. In this study, we proposed a compressional wave detector employing optical frequency comb (OFC). The compressional wave was sensed with a part of an OFC cavity, being encoded into OFC. The spectrally encoded OFC was converted to radio-frequency by the frequency link nature of OFC. The compressional wave-encoded radio-frequency can therefore be directly measured with a high-speed photodetector. To enhance the dynamic range of the compressional wave detection, we developed a cavityfeedback-based system and a phase-sensitive detection system, both of which the accuracy and precision are coherently linked to these of the OFC. We provided a proof-of-principle demonstration of the detection of compressional wave from quasi-static to ultrasound wave by using the OFC-based compressional wave sensor. Our proposed approach will serve as a unique and powerful tool for detecting compressional wave versatile applications in the future.

  10. Frequency Comb Assisted IR Measurements of H_3^+, H_2D^+ and D_2H^+ Transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jusko, Pavol; Asvany, Oskar; Schlemmer, Stephan

    2016-06-01

    We present recent measurements of the fundamental transitions of H_3^+, H_2D^+ and D_2H^+ in a 4 K 22-pole trap by action spectroscopic techniques. Either Laser Induced Inhibition of Cluster Growth (He attachment at T≈4 K), endothermic reaction of H_3^+ with O_2, or deuterium exchange has been used as measurement scheme. We used a 3 μm optical parametric oscillator coupled to a frequency comb in order to achieve accuracy generally below 1 MHz. Five transitions of H_3^+, eleven of H_2D^+ and ten of D_2H^+ were recorder in our spectral range. We compare our H_3^+ results with two previous frequency comb assisted works. Moreover, accurate determination of the frequency allows us to predict pure rotational transitions for H_2D^+ and D_2H^+ in the THz range. P. Jusko, C. Konietzko, S. Schlemmer, O. Asvany, J. Mol. Spec. 319 (2016) 55 O. Asvany, S. Brünken, L. Kluge, S. Schlemmer, Appl. Phys. B 114 (2014) 203 O. Asvany, J. Krieg, S. Schlemmer, Rev. Sci. Instr. 83 (2012) 093110 J.N. Hodges, A.J. Perry, P.A. Jenkins, B.M. Siller, B.J. McCall, J. Chem. Phys. 139 (2013) 164201 H.-C. Chen, C.-Y. Hsiao, J.-L. Peng, T. Amano, J.-T. Shy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 (2012) 263002

  11. Highly coherent free-running dual-comb chip platform.

    PubMed

    Hébert, Nicolas Bourbeau; Lancaster, David G; Michaud-Belleau, Vincent; Chen, George Y; Genest, Jérôme

    2018-04-15

    We characterize the frequency noise performance of a free-running dual-comb source based on an erbium-doped glass chip running two adjacent mode-locked waveguide lasers. This compact laser platform, contained only in a 1.2 L volume, rejects common-mode environmental noise by 20 dB thanks to the proximity of the two laser cavities. Furthermore, it displays a remarkably low mutual frequency noise floor around 10  Hz 2 /Hz, which is enabled by its large-mode-area waveguides and low Kerr nonlinearity. As a result, it reaches a free-running mutual coherence time of 1 s since mode-resolved dual-comb spectra are generated even on this time scale. This design greatly simplifies dual-comb interferometers by enabling mode-resolved measurements without any phase lock.

  12. Generation of a widely spaced optical frequency comb using an amplitude modulator pair

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gunning, Fatima C. G.; Ellis, Andrew D.

    2005-06-01

    Multi-wavelength sources are required for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems, and typically a bank of DFB lasers is used. However, large costs are involved to provide wavelength selected sources and high precision wavelength lockers. Optical comb generation is attractive solution, minimizing the component count and improving wavelength stability. In addition, comb generation offers the potential for new WDM architectures, such as coherent WDM, as it preserves the phase relation between the generated channels. Complex comb generation systems have been introduced in the past, using fibre ring lasers [1] or non-linear effects within long fibres [2]. More recently, simpler set-ups were proposed, including hybrid amplitude-phase modulation schemes [3-5]. However, the narrow line spacing of these systems, typically 17 GHz, restricts their use to bit rates up to 10 Gbit/s. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a simple method of comb generation that is suitable for bit rates up to 42.667 Gbit/s. The comb generator was composed of two Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM) in series, each being driven with a sinusoidal wave at 42.667 GHz with a well-defined phase relationship. As a result, 7 comb lines separated by 42.667 GHz were generated from a single source, when amplitude up to 2.2 Vp was applied to the modulators, giving flatness better than 1 dB. By passively multiplexing 8 source lasers with the comb generator and minimising inter-modulator dispersion, it was possible to achieve a multi-wavelength transmitter with 56 channels, with flatness better than 1.2 dB across 20 nm (2.4 THz).

  13. Phase-locking to a free-space terahertz comb for metrological-grade terahertz lasers.

    PubMed

    Consolino, L; Taschin, A; Bartolini, P; Bartalini, S; Cancio, P; Tredicucci, A; Beere, H E; Ritchie, D A; Torre, R; Vitiello, M S; De Natale, P

    2012-01-01

    Optical frequency comb synthesizers have represented a revolutionary approach to frequency metrology, providing a grid of frequency references for any laser emitting within their spectral coverage. Extending the metrological features of optical frequency comb synthesizers to the terahertz domain would be a major breakthrough, due to the widespread range of accessible strategic applications and the availability of stable, high-power and widely tunable sources such as quantum cascade lasers. Here we demonstrate phase-locking of a 2.5 THz quantum cascade laser to a free-space comb, generated in a LiNbO(3) waveguide and covering the 0.1-6 THz frequency range. We show that even a small fraction (<100 nW) of the radiation emitted from the quantum cascade laser is sufficient to generate a beat note suitable for phase-locking to the comb, paving the way to novel metrological-grade terahertz applications, including high-resolution spectroscopy, manipulation of cold molecules, astronomy and telecommunications.

  14. XUV Frequency Comb Development for Precision Spectroscopy and Ultrafast Science

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-07-28

    first time and provide insight to the underlying 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19a...TERMS. Key words or phrases identifying major concepts in the report. 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION. Enter security classification in accordance with... security classification regulations, e.g. U, C, S, etc. If this form contains classified information, stamp classification level on the top and bottom

  15. Phase-locking of a 2.5 THz quantum cascade laser to a frequency comb using a GaAs photomixer.

    PubMed

    Ravaro, M; Manquest, C; Sirtori, C; Barbieri, S; Santarelli, G; Blary, K; Lampin, J-F; Khanna, S P; Linfield, E H

    2011-10-15

    We report the heterodyne detection and phase locking of a 2.5 THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) using a terahertz frequency comb generated in a GaAs photomixer using a femtosecond fiber laser. With 10 mW emitted by the QCL, the phase-locked signal at the intermediate frequency yields 80 dB of signal-to-noise ratio in a bandwidth of 1 Hz.

  16. Attosecond XUV absorption spectroscopy of doubly excited states in helium atoms dressed by a time-delayed femtosecond infrared laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Z. Q.; Ye, D. F.; Ding, Thomas; Pfeifer, Thomas; Fu, L. B.

    2015-01-01

    In the present paper, we investigate the time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy of doubly excited states of helium atoms by solving the time-dependent two-electron Schrödinger equation numerically based on a one-dimensional model. The helium atoms are subjected to an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulse and a time-delayed infrared (IR) few-cycle laser pulse. A superposition of doubly excited states populated by the XUV pulse is identified, which interferes with the direct ionization pathway leading to Fano resonance profiles in the photoabsorption spectrum. In the presence of an IR laser, however, the Fano line profiles are strongly modified: A shifting, splitting, and broadening of the original absorption lines is observed when the XUV attosecond pulse and infrared few-cycle laser pulse overlap in time, which is in good agreement with recent experimental results. At certain time delays, we observe symmetric Lorentz, inverted Fano profiles, and even negative absorption cross sections indicating that the XUV light can be amplified during the interaction with atoms. We further prove that the above pictures are general for different doubly excited states by suitably varying the frequency of the IR field to coherently couple the corresponding states.

  17. Novel Concept of Frequency-Combs Interferometric Spectroscopy in the Mid-IR for Significantly Enhanced Detection of Explosives

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-01

    frequency combs. Ultrasensitive detection of methane, isotopic carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, acetylene, and ethylene was performed in...rmaldehyde, acetylene, and ethylene was perfo rmed in the spectral range 2.5- 5 11111 using intracav ity spectroscopy in broadband optical parametric osc...trace point detection of methane, carbon dioxide, isotopic (13C02) carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethylene , acetylene, and formaldehyde and

  18. High-resolution quantization based on soliton self-frequency shift and spectral compression in a bi-directional comb-fiber architecture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xuyan; Zhang, Zhiyao; Wang, Shubing; Liang, Dong; Li, Heping; Liu, Yong

    2018-03-01

    We propose and demonstrate an approach that can achieve high-resolution quantization by employing soliton self-frequency shift and spectral compression. Our approach is based on a bi-directional comb-fiber architecture which is composed of a Sagnac-loop-based mirror and a comb-like combination of N sections of interleaved single-mode fibers and high nonlinear fibers. The Sagnac-loop-based mirror placed at the terminal of a bus line reflects the optical pulses back to the bus line to achieve additional N-stage spectral compression, thus single-stage soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) and (2 N - 1)-stage spectral compression are realized in the bi-directional scheme. The fiber length in the architecture is numerically optimized, and the proposed quantization scheme is evaluated by both simulation and experiment in the case of N = 2. In the experiment, a quantization resolution of 6.2 bits is obtained, which is 1.2-bit higher than that of its uni-directional counterpart.

  19. Achieving comb formation over the entire lasing range of quantum cascade lasers.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yang; Burghoff, David; Reno, John; Hu, Qing

    2017-10-01

    Frequency combs based on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are finding promising applications in high-speed broadband spectroscopy in the terahertz regime, where many molecules have their "fingerprints." To form stable combs in QCLs, an effective control of group velocity dispersion plays a critical role. The dispersion of the QCL cavity has two main parts: a static part from the material and a dynamic part from the intersubband transitions. Unlike the gain, which is clamped to a fixed value above the lasing threshold, dispersion associated with the intersubband transitions changes with bias, even above the threshold, and this reduces the dynamic range of comb formation. Here, by incorporating tunability into the dispersion compensator, we demonstrate a QCL device exhibiting comb operation from I th to I max , which greatly expands the operation range of the frequency combs.

  20. Achieving comb formation over the entire lasing range of quantum cascade lasers

    DOE PAGES

    Yang, Yang; Burghoff, David; Reno, John; ...

    2017-01-01

    Frequency combs based on quantum cascade laser (QCL) are finding promising applications in highspeed broadband spectroscopy in the terahertz regime, where many molecules have their "fingerprints". To form stable combs in QCLs, an effective control of group velocity dispersion plays a critical role. The dispersion of the QCL cavity has two main parts: a static part from the material and a dynamic part from the intersubband transitions. Unlike the gain, which is clamped to a fixed value above the lasing threshold, dispersion associated with the intersubband transitions changes with bias even above the threshold, and this reduces the dynamic rangemore » of comb formation. Here, by incorporating tunability into the dispersion compensator, we demonstrate a QCL device exhibiting comb operation from I th to I max, which greatly expands the operation range of the frequency combs.« less

  1. Self-corrected chip-based dual-comb spectrometer.

    PubMed

    Hébert, Nicolas Bourbeau; Genest, Jérôme; Deschênes, Jean-Daniel; Bergeron, Hugo; Chen, George Y; Khurmi, Champak; Lancaster, David G

    2017-04-03

    We present a dual-comb spectrometer based on two passively mode-locked waveguide lasers integrated in a single Er-doped ZBLAN chip. This original design yields two free-running frequency combs having a high level of mutual stability. We developed in parallel a self-correction algorithm that compensates residual relative fluctuations and yields mode-resolved spectra without the help of any reference laser or control system. Fluctuations are extracted directly from the interferograms using the concept of ambiguity function, which leads to a significant simplification of the instrument that will greatly ease its widespread adoption and commercial deployment. Comparison with a correction algorithm relying on a single-frequency laser indicates discrepancies of only 50 attoseconds on optical timings. The capacities of this instrument are finally demonstrated with the acquisition of a high-resolution molecular spectrum covering 20 nm. This new chip-based multi-laser platform is ideal for the development of high-repetition-rate, compact and fieldable comb spectrometers in the near- and mid-infrared.

  2. Picometer-resolution dual-comb spectroscopy with a free-running fiber laser.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Xin; Hu, Guoqing; Zhao, Bofeng; Li, Cui; Pan, Yingling; Liu, Ya; Yasui, Takeshi; Zheng, Zheng

    2016-09-19

    Dual-comb spectroscopy holds the promise as real-time, high-resolution spectroscopy tools. However, in its conventional schemes, the stringent requirement on the coherence between two lasers requires sophisticated control systems. By replacing control electronics with an all-optical dual-comb lasing scheme, a simplified dual-comb spectroscopy scheme is demonstrated using one dual-wavelength, passively mode-locked fiber laser. Pulses with a intracavity-dispersion-determined repetition-frequency difference are shown to have good mutual coherence and stability. Capability to resolve the comb teeth and a picometer-wide optical spectral resolution are demonstrated using a simple data acquisition system. Energy-efficient, free-running fiber lasers with a small comb-tooth-spacing could enable low-cost dual-comb systems.

  3. Robust, frequency-stable and accurate mid-IR laser spectrometer based on frequency comb metrology of quantum cascade lasers up-converted in orientation-patterned GaAs.

    PubMed

    Hansen, Michael G; Ernsting, Ingo; Vasilyev, Sergey V; Grisard, Arnaud; Lallier, Eric; Gérard, Bruno; Schiller, Stephan

    2013-11-04

    We demonstrate a robust and simple method for measurement, stabilization and tuning of the frequency of cw mid-infrared (MIR) lasers, in particular of quantum cascade lasers. The proof of principle is performed with a quantum cascade laser at 5.4 µm, which is upconverted to 1.2 µm by sum-frequency generation in orientation-patterned GaAs with the output of a standard high-power cw 1.5 µm fiber laser. Both the 1.2 µm and the 1.5 µm waves are measured by a standard Er:fiber frequency comb. Frequency measurement at the 100 kHz-level, stabilization to sub-10 kHz level, controlled frequency tuning and long-term stability are demonstrated.

  4. Generation of ultra-wide and flat optical frequency comb based on electro absorption modulator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ujjwal; Thangaraj, Jaisingh

    2018-05-01

    A novel technique is proposed for the generation of ultra-wide and flat optical frequency comb (OFC) based on serially cascading three stages of electro absorption modulators (EAMs) through sinusoidal radio frequency (RF) signals by setting frequencies at f GHz, f/2 GHz and f/4 GHz. Here, the first stage acts as subcarrier generator, the second stage acts as subcarrier doubler, and the third stage acts as subcarrier quadrupler. In addition, a higher number of subcarriers can easily be generated by adjusting the driving sinusoidal RF signal. In this paper, cascading three stages of EAMs driven by 50 GHz, 25 GHz and 12.5 GHz clock sources, we obtain 272 subcarriers with spacing of 2.5 GHz and power deviation within 1 dB. Theoretical analysis of serially cascaded EAMs for subcarrier generation is also investigated. Principal analysis and simulation of this technique are demonstrated.

  5. CEO stabilized frequency comb from a 1-μm Kerr-lens mode-locked bulk Yb:CYA laser.

    PubMed

    Yu, Zijiao; Han, Hainian; Xie, Yang; Peng, Yingnan; Xu, Xiaodong; Wei, Zhiyi

    2016-02-08

    We report the first Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) bulk frequency comb in the 1-μm spectral regime. The fundamental KLM Yb:CYA laser is pumped by a low-noise, high-bright 976-nm fiber laser and typically provides 250-mW output power and 57-fs pulse duration. Only 58-mW output pulses were launched into a 1.3-m photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for one octave-spanning supercontinuum generation. Using a simplified collinear f-2f interferometer, the free-running carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency was measured to be 42-dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a 100-kHz resolution and 9.6-kHz full width at half maximum (FWHM) under a 100-Hz resolution. A long-term CEO control at 23 MHz was ultimately realized by feeding the phase error signal to the pump power of the oscillator. The integrated phase noise (IPN) of the locked CEO was measured to be 316 mrad with an integrated range from 1 Hz to 10 MHz. The standard deviation and Allan deviation for more than 4-hour recording are 1.6 mHz and 5.6 × 10(-18) (for 1-s gate time), respectively. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the best stability achieved among the 1-μm solid-state frequency combs.

  6. The Building History of XUV disks of M83& NGC2403 with TRGB Archaeology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koda, Jin

    2015-06-01

    We propose deep HSC g & i-band imaging of two extended ultraviolet (XUV) disks of M83 and NGC2403. These galaxies have the prototype XUV disks with the largest size ( 1 deg and 30 arcmin). The Subaru HSC permits unprecedentedly deep imaging over these gigantic XUV disks, including sufficient surrounding areas which are used for sky subtraction and statistical estimation of background contamination. This project probes the building history of the XUV disks using archeological stellar populations, especially the tip of red giant branch (TRGB) stars (age 2-14 Gyr). Their presence and distribution over the XUV disks will reveal any star formation (SF) occurring over the past 2 Gyr, 4-6 Gyr, and beyond - i.e., the epochs preceding the recent (UV-traced) state of SF. Their color depends strongly on metallicity, thus providing an additional measure of star-gas recycling during the evolution of the XUV disks. In addition, we will detect young & massive main sequence stars (<100 Myr) and He-burning stars (100-500 Myr). Comparing various generations of stars, in terms of number densities and spatial distributions, will reveal the much-unexplored SF history in the XUV disks.

  7. Scanning micro-resonator direct-comb absolute spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Gambetta, Alessio; Cassinerio, Marco; Gatti, Davide; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

    2016-01-01

    Direct optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy (DFCS) is proving to be a fundamental tool in many areas of science and technology thanks to its unique performance in terms of ultra-broadband, high-speed detection and frequency accuracy, allowing for high-fidelity mapping of atomic and molecular energy structure. Here we present a novel DFCS approach based on a scanning Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity resonator (SMART) providing a simple, compact and accurate method to resolve the mode structure of an optical frequency comb. The SMART approach, while drastically reducing system complexity, allows for a straightforward absolute calibration of the optical-frequency axis with an ultimate resolution limited by the micro-resonator resonance linewidth and can be used in any spectral region from UV to THz. We present an application to high-precision spectroscopy of acetylene at 1.54 μm, demonstrating performances comparable or even better than current state-of-the-art DFCS systems in terms of sensitivity, optical bandwidth and frequency-resolution. PMID:27752132

  8. Static FBG strain sensor with high resolution and large dynamic range by dual-comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Kuse, Naoya; Ozawa, Akira; Kobayashi, Yohei

    2013-05-06

    We demonstrate a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor with optical frequency combs. To precisely characterize the optical response of the FBG when strain is applied, dual-comb spectroscopy is used. Highly sensitive dual-comb spectroscopy of the FBG enabled strain measurements with a resolution of 34 nε. The optical spectral bandwidth of the measurement exceeds 1 THz. Compared with conventional FBG strain sensor using a continuous-wave laser that requires rather slow frequency scanning with a limited range, the dynamic range and multiplexing capability are significantly improved by using broadband dual-comb spectroscopy.

  9. High-order harmonic generation enhanced by XUV light

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Buth, Christian; Kohler, Markus C.; Ullrich, Joachim

    2012-03-19

    The combination of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with resonant XUV excitation of a core electron into the transient valence vacancy that is created in the course of the HHG process is investigated theoretically. In this setup, the first electron performs a HHG three-step process, whereas the second electron Rabi flops between the core and the valence vacancy. The modified HHG spectrum due to recombination with the valence and the core is determined and analyzed for krypton on the 3d {yields} 4p resonance in the ion. We assume an 800 nm laser with an intensity of about 10{sup 14} Wcm{sup 2}more » and XUV radiation from the Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) with an intensity in the range 10{sup 13}-10{sup 16} Wcm{sup 2}. Our prediction opens perspectives for nonlinear XUV physics, attosecond x rays, and HHG-based spectroscopy involving core orbitals.« less

  10. Observation of correlation between route to formation, coherence, noise, and communication performance of Kerr combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Pei-Hsun; Ferdous, Fahmida; Miao, Houxun; Wang, Jian; Leaird, Daniel E.; Srinivasan, Kartik; Chen, Lei; Aksyuk, Vladimir; Weiner, Andrew M.

    2012-12-01

    Microresonator optical frequency combs based on cascaded four-wave mixing are potentially attractive as a multi-wavelength source for on-chip optical communications. In this paper we compare time domain coherence, radio-frequency (RF) intensity noise, and individual line optical communications performance for combs generated from two different silicon nitride microresonators. The comb generated by one microresonator forms directly with lines spaced by a single free spectral range (FSR) and exhibits high coherence, low noise, and excellent 10 Gbit/s optical communications results. The comb generated by the second microresonator forms initially with multiple FSR line spacing, with additional lines later filling to reach single FSR spacing. This comb exhibits degraded coherence, increased intensity noise, and severely degraded communications performance. This study is to our knowledge the first to simultaneously investigate and observe a correlation between the route to comb formation, the coherence, noise, and optical communications performance of a Kerr comb.

  11. Low-loss VIS/IR-XUV beam splitter for high-power applications.

    PubMed

    Pupeza, Ioachim; Fill, Ernst E; Krausz, Ferenc

    2011-06-20

    We present a low-loss VIS/IR-XUV beam splitter, suitable for high-power operation. The spatial separation of the VIS/IR and XUV components of a beam is achieved by the wedged top layer of a dielectric multilayer structure, onto which the beam is impinging under Brewster's angle (for VIS/IR). With a fused silica wedge with an angle of 0.5° we achieve a separation angle of 2.2° and an IR reflectivity of 0.9995. Typical XUV reflectivities amount to 0.1-0.2. The novel element is mechanically robust, exhibiting two major advantages over free-standing Brewster plates: (i) a significant improvement of heat conduction and (ii) easier handling, in particular for high-optical-quality fabrication. The beam splitter could be used as an output coupler for intracavity-generated XUV radiation, promising a boost of the power regime of current MHz-HHG experiments. It is also suited for single-pass experiments and as a beam combiner for pump-probe experiments.

  12. Towards a robust green astro-comb for Earth-like exoplanet searches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ravi, Aakash; Martin, Leopoldo; Phillips, David; Langellier, Nicholas; Milbourne, Timothy; Dolliff, Christian; Walsworth, Ronald

    2017-04-01

    The detection of exoplanets using the radial velocity (RV) method has become a very exciting and active area of research. Detecting Earth-like planets, however, is still very challenging as it requires extremely precise calibration of the spectrographs used in such measurements. To address this challenge, we employ a visible wavelength frequency comb - referenced to the global positioning system - as a calibration source. Our comb calibrator is realized by spectrally broadening and shifting the output of a 1 GHz repetition rate modelocked Ti:sapphire laser using a photonic crystal fiber and then filtering the comb lines to create a 16 GHz-spacing comb. This system has been implemented at the TNG telescope on La Palma to calibrate the HARPS-N spectrograph. However, the complexity of the system has thus far prevented its routine use as it requires frequency comb specialists to be on site during measurements. Here, we propose some automation strategies and present preliminary results from our efforts. We also discuss ongoing comb-calibrated astrophysical observations, including measurements of the Sun. The solar measurements are part of an effort to understand stellar noise sources in the RV data and demonstrate the sensitivity of the instrument to detect terrestrial exoplanets.

  13. Phenotypic characteristics of upright and pendulous comb among chicken breeds and association with growth rate and egg production.

    PubMed

    Wan, Yi; Wang, Zhicheng; Guo, Xing; Ma, Chendong; Fang, Qi; Geng, Zhaoyu; Chen, Xingyong; Jiang, Runshen

    2018-01-01

    Upright and pendulous combs commonly exist in most single-comb chicken breeds. Here, the phenotypic characteristics of upright and pendulous combs in chickens and association with growth rate and egg production were analyzed. Phenotypic frequencies of upright and pendulous comb were investigated in five chicken breeds; the phenotypic frequencies of complete pendulous comb (CPC) and partial pendulous comb (PPC) ranged from 10.1% to 29.0% and 21.8% to 65.3%, respectively. CPC hens produced more eggs than PPC hens (P < 0.05) in Nongda-3, Huainan and Wenchang breeds. In Huainan breed, CPC males were heavier than PPC males at 12 and 16 weeks of age, while CPC females were heavier at 24 weeks of age. PPC and CPC chickens have greater (P < 0.05) comb length, comb height and comb index than upright comb (UC) chickens. There was no significant difference in comb phenotypic frequency distribution between the offspring from UC(♂) × CPC(♀) and CPC(♂) × UC(♀); however, it differed (χ² = 45.12, P < 0.01) between offspring from UC(♂) × UC(♀) and CPC(♂) × CPC(♀). These results suggested that the comb phenotype does not appear to be Z-linked; the effective loci influencing the trait could be estimated in a further study. © 2017 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

  14. Adaptive sampling dual terahertz comb spectroscopy using dual free-running femtosecond lasers.

    PubMed

    Yasui, Takeshi; Ichikawa, Ryuji; Hsieh, Yi-Da; Hayashi, Kenta; Cahyadi, Harsono; Hindle, Francis; Sakaguchi, Yoshiyuki; Iwata, Tetsuo; Mizutani, Yasuhiro; Yamamoto, Hirotsugu; Minoshima, Kaoru; Inaba, Hajime

    2015-06-02

    Terahertz (THz) dual comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a promising method for high-accuracy, high-resolution, broadband THz spectroscopy because the mode-resolved THz comb spectrum includes both broadband THz radiation and narrow-line CW-THz radiation characteristics. In addition, all frequency modes of a THz comb can be phase-locked to a microwave frequency standard, providing excellent traceability. However, the need for stabilization of dual femtosecond lasers has often hindered its wide use. To overcome this limitation, here we have demonstrated adaptive-sampling THz-DCS, allowing the use of free-running femtosecond lasers. To correct the fluctuation of the time and frequency scales caused by the laser timing jitter, an adaptive sampling clock is generated by dual THz-comb-referenced spectrum analysers and is used for a timing clock signal in a data acquisition board. The results not only indicated the successful implementation of THz-DCS with free-running lasers but also showed that this configuration outperforms standard THz-DCS with stabilized lasers due to the slight jitter remained in the stabilized lasers.

  15. Adaptive sampling dual terahertz comb spectroscopy using dual free-running femtosecond lasers

    PubMed Central

    Yasui, Takeshi; Ichikawa, Ryuji; Hsieh, Yi-Da; Hayashi, Kenta; Cahyadi, Harsono; Hindle, Francis; Sakaguchi, Yoshiyuki; Iwata, Tetsuo; Mizutani, Yasuhiro; Yamamoto, Hirotsugu; Minoshima, Kaoru; Inaba, Hajime

    2015-01-01

    Terahertz (THz) dual comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a promising method for high-accuracy, high-resolution, broadband THz spectroscopy because the mode-resolved THz comb spectrum includes both broadband THz radiation and narrow-line CW-THz radiation characteristics. In addition, all frequency modes of a THz comb can be phase-locked to a microwave frequency standard, providing excellent traceability. However, the need for stabilization of dual femtosecond lasers has often hindered its wide use. To overcome this limitation, here we have demonstrated adaptive-sampling THz-DCS, allowing the use of free-running femtosecond lasers. To correct the fluctuation of the time and frequency scales caused by the laser timing jitter, an adaptive sampling clock is generated by dual THz-comb-referenced spectrum analysers and is used for a timing clock signal in a data acquisition board. The results not only indicated the successful implementation of THz-DCS with free-running lasers but also showed that this configuration outperforms standard THz-DCS with stabilized lasers due to the slight jitter remained in the stabilized lasers. PMID:26035687

  16. XUV and x-ray elastic scattering of attosecond electromagnetic pulses on atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rosmej, F. B.; Astapenko, V. A.; Lisitsa, V. S.

    2017-12-01

    Elastic scattering of electromagnetic pulses on atoms in XUV and soft x-ray ranges is considered for ultra-short pulses. The inclusion of the retardation term, non-dipole interaction and an efficient scattering tensor approximation allowed studying the scattering probability in dependence of the pulse duration for different carrier frequencies. Numerical calculations carried out for Mg, Al and Fe atoms demonstrate that the scattering probability is a highly nonlinear function of the pulse duration and has extrema for pulse carrier frequencies in the vicinity of the resonance-like features of the polarization charge spectrum. Closed expressions for the non-dipole correction and the angular dependence of the scattered radiation are obtained.

  17. Dual-comb spectroscopy of water vapor with a free-running semiconductor disk laser.

    PubMed

    Link, S M; Maas, D J H C; Waldburger, D; Keller, U

    2017-06-16

    Dual-comb spectroscopy offers the potential for high accuracy combined with fast data acquisition. Applications are often limited, however, by the complexity of optical comb systems. Here we present dual-comb spectroscopy of water vapor using a substantially simplified single-laser system. Very good spectroscopy measurements with fast sampling rates are achieved with a free-running dual-comb mode-locked semiconductor disk laser. The absolute stability of the optical comb modes is characterized both for free-running operation and with simple microwave stabilization. This approach drastically reduces the complexity for dual-comb spectroscopy. Band-gap engineering to tune the center wavelength from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared could optimize frequency combs for specific gas targets, further enabling dual-comb spectroscopy for a wider range of industrial applications. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

  18. Femtosecond optical parametric oscillators toward real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jin, Yuwei; Cristescu, Simona M.; Harren, Frans J. M.; Mandon, Julien

    2015-04-01

    We demonstrate mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) toward real-time field measurement. A singly resonant OPO based on a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal is demonstrated. Chirped mirrors are used to compensate the dispersion caused by the optical cavity and the crystal. A low threshold of 17 mW has been achieved. The OPO source generates a tunable idler frequency comb between 2.7 and 4.7 μm. Dual-comb spectroscopy is achieved by coupling two identical Yb-fiber mode-locked lasers to this OPO with slightly different repetition frequencies. A measured absorption spectrum of methane is presented with a spectral bandwidth of , giving an instrumental resolution of . In addition, a second OPO containing two MgO-doped PPLN crystals in a singly resonant ring cavity is demonstrated. As such, this OPO generates two idler combs (average power up to 220 mW), covering a wavelength range between 2.7 and 4.2 μm, from which a mid-infrared dual-comb Fourier transform spectrometer is constructed. By detecting the heterodyned signal between the two idler combs, broadband spectra of molecular gases can be observed over a spectral bandwidth of more than . This special cavity design allows the spectral resolution to be improved to without locking the OPO cavity, indicating that this OPO represents an ideal high-power broadband mid-infrared source for real-time gas sensing.

  19. High Harmonic Generation XUV Spectroscopy for Studying Ultrafast Photophysics of Coordination Complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ryland, Elizabeth S.; Lin, Ming-Fu; Benke, Kristin; Verkamp, Max A.; Zhang, Kaili; Vura-Weis, Josh

    2017-06-01

    Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectroscopy is an inner shell technique that probes the M_{2,3}-edge excitation of atoms. Absorption of the XUV photon causes a 3p→3d transition, the energy and shape of which is directly related to the element and ligand environment. This technique is thus element-, oxidation state-, spin state-, and ligand field specific. A process called high-harmonic generation (HHG) enables the production of ultrashort (˜20fs) pulses of collimated XUV photons in a tabletop instrument. This allows transient XUV spectroscopy to be conducted as an in-lab experiment, where it was previously only possible at accelerator-based light sources. Additionally, ultrashort pulses provide the capability for unprecedented time resolution (˜50fs IRF). This technique has the capacity to serve a pivotal role in the study of electron and energy transfer processes in materials and chemical biology. I will present the XUV transient absorption instrument we have built, along with ultrafast transient M_{2,3}-edge absorption data of a series of small inorganic molecules in order to demonstrate the high specificity and time resolution of this tabletop technique as well as how our group is applying it to the study of ultrafast electronic dynamics of coordination complexes.

  20. Highly Stable Wideband Microwave Extraction by Synchronizing Widely Tunable Optoelectronic Oscillator with Optical Frequency Comb

    PubMed Central

    Hou, D.; Xie, X. P.; Zhang, Y. L.; Wu, J. T.; Chen, Z. Y.; Zhao, J. Y.

    2013-01-01

    Optical frequency combs (OFCs), based on mode-locked lasers (MLLs), have attracted considerable attention in many fields over recent years. Among the applications of OFCs, one of the most challenging works is the extraction of a highly stable microwave with low phase noise. Many synchronisation schemes have been exploited to synchronise an electronic oscillator with the pulse train from a MLL, helping to extract an ultra-stable microwave. Here, we demonstrate novel wideband microwave extraction from a stable OFC by synchronising a single widely tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with an OFC at different harmonic frequencies, using an optical phase detection technique. The tunable range of the proposed microwave extraction extends from 2 GHz to 4 GHz, and in a long-term synchronisation experiment over 12 hours, the proposed synchronisation scheme provided a rms timing drift of 18 fs and frequency instabilities at 1.2 × 10−15/1 s and 2.2 × 10−18/10000 s. PMID:24336459

  1. Highly Stable Wideband Microwave Extraction by Synchronizing Widely Tunable Optoelectronic Oscillator with Optical Frequency Comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, D.; Xie, X. P.; Zhang, Y. L.; Wu, J. T.; Chen, Z. Y.; Zhao, J. Y.

    2013-12-01

    Optical frequency combs (OFCs), based on mode-locked lasers (MLLs), have attracted considerable attention in many fields over recent years. Among the applications of OFCs, one of the most challenging works is the extraction of a highly stable microwave with low phase noise. Many synchronisation schemes have been exploited to synchronise an electronic oscillator with the pulse train from a MLL, helping to extract an ultra-stable microwave. Here, we demonstrate novel wideband microwave extraction from a stable OFC by synchronising a single widely tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with an OFC at different harmonic frequencies, using an optical phase detection technique. The tunable range of the proposed microwave extraction extends from 2 GHz to 4 GHz, and in a long-term synchronisation experiment over 12 hours, the proposed synchronisation scheme provided a rms timing drift of 18 fs and frequency instabilities at 1.2 × 10-15/1 s and 2.2 × 10-18/10000 s.

  2. Broadly tunable, low timing jitter, high repetition rate optoelectronic comb generator

    PubMed Central

    Metcalf, A. J.; Quinlan, F.; Fortier, T. M.; Diddams, S. A.; Weiner, A. M.

    2016-01-01

    We investigate the low timing jitter properties of a tunable single-pass optoelectronic frequency comb generator. The scheme is flexible in that both the repetition rate and center frequency can be continuously tuned. When operated with 10 GHz comb spacing, the integrated residual pulse-to-pulse timing jitter is 11.35 fs (1 Hz to 10 MHz) with no feedback stabilization. The corresponding phase noise at 1 Hz offset from the photodetected 10 GHz carrier is −100 dBc/Hz. PMID:26865734

  3. Spectral comb mitigation to improve continuous-wave search sensitivity in Advanced LIGO

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neunzert, Ansel; LIGO Scientific Collaboration; Virgo Collaboration

    2017-01-01

    Searches for continuous gravitational waves, such as those emitted by rapidly spinning non-axisymmetric neutron stars, are degraded by the presence of narrow noise ``lines'' in detector data. These lines either reduce the spectral band available for analysis (if identified as noise and removed) or cause spurious outliers (if unidentified). Many belong to larger structures known as combs: series of evenly-spaced lines which appear across wide frequency ranges. This talk will focus on the challenges of comb identification and mitigation. I will discuss tools and methods for comb analysis, and case studies of comb mitigation at the LIGO Hanford detector site.

  4. Comb-based radiofrequency photonic filters with rapid tunability and high selectivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Supradeepa, V. R.; Long, Christopher M.; Wu, Rui; Ferdous, Fahmida; Hamidi, Ehsan; Leaird, Daniel E.; Weiner, Andrew M.

    2012-03-01

    Photonic technologies have received considerable attention regarding the enhancement of radiofrequency electrical systems, including high-frequency analogue signal transmission, control of phased arrays, analog-to-digital conversion and signal processing. Although the potential of radiofrequency photonics for the implementation of tunable electrical filters over broad radiofrequency bandwidths has been much discussed, the realization of programmable filters with highly selective filter lineshapes and rapid reconfigurability has faced significant challenges. A new approach for radiofrequency photonic filters based on frequency combs offers a potential route to simultaneous high stopband attenuation, fast tunability and bandwidth reconfiguration. In one configuration, tuning of the radiofrequency passband frequency is demonstrated with unprecedented (~40 ns) speed by controlling the optical delay between combs. In a second, fixed filter configuration, cascaded four-wave mixing simultaneously broadens and smoothes the comb spectra, resulting in Gaussian radiofrequency filter lineshapes exhibiting an extremely high (>60 dB) main lobe to sidelobe suppression ratio and (>70 dB) stopband attenuation.

  5. Real-time dual-comb spectroscopy with a free-running bidirectionally mode-locked fiber laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mehravar, S.; Norwood, R. A.; Peyghambarian, N.; Kieu, K.

    2016-06-01

    Dual-comb technique has enabled exciting applications in high resolution spectroscopy, precision distance measurements, and 3D imaging. Major advantages over traditional methods can be achieved with dual-comb technique. For example, dual-comb spectroscopy provides orders of magnitude improvement in acquisition speed over standard Fourier-transform spectroscopy while still preserving the high resolution capability. Wider adoption of the technique has, however, been hindered by the need for complex and expensive ultrafast laser systems. Here, we present a simple and robust dual-comb system that employs a free-running bidirectionally mode-locked fiber laser operating at telecommunication wavelength. Two femtosecond frequency combs (with a small difference in repetition rates) are generated from a single laser cavity to ensure mutual coherent properties and common noise cancellation. As the result, we have achieved real-time absorption spectroscopy measurements without the need for complex servo locking with accurate frequency referencing, and relatively high signal-to-noise ratio.

  6. Compact electrostatic comb actuator

    DOEpatents

    Rodgers, M. Steven; Burg, Michael S.; Jensen, Brian D.; Miller, Samuel L.; Barnes, Stephen M.

    2000-01-01

    A compact electrostatic comb actuator is disclosed for microelectromechanical (MEM) applications. The actuator is based upon a plurality of meshed electrostatic combs, some of which are stationary and others of which are moveable. One or more restoring springs are fabricated within an outline of the electrostatic combs (i.e. superposed with the moveable electrostatic combs) to considerably reduce the space required for the actuator. Additionally, a truss structure is provided to support the moveable electrostatic combs and prevent bending or distortion of these combs due to unbalanced electrostatic forces or external loading. The truss structure formed about the moveable electrostatic combs allows the spacing between the interdigitated fingers of the combs to be reduced to about one micron or less, thereby substantially increasing the number of active fingers which can be provided in a given area. Finally, electrostatic shields can be used in the actuator to substantially reduce unwanted electrostatic fields to further improve performance of the device. As a result, the compact electrostatic comb actuator of the present invention occupies only a fraction of the space required for conventional electrostatic comb actuators, while providing a substantial increase in the available drive force (up to one-hundred times).

  7. Optical frequency comb profilometry using a single-pixel camera composed of digital micromirror devices.

    PubMed

    Pham, Quang Duc; Hayasaki, Yoshio

    2015-01-01

    We demonstrate an optical frequency comb profilometer with a single-pixel camera to measure the position and profile of an object's surface that exceeds far beyond light wavelength without 2π phase ambiguity. The present configuration of the single-pixel camera can perform the profilometry with an axial resolution of 3.4 μm at 1 GHz operation corresponding to a wavelength of 30 cm. Therefore, the axial dynamic range was increased to 0.87×105. It was found from the experiments and computer simulations that the improvement was derived from higher modulation contrast of digital micromirror devices. The frame rate was also increased to 20 Hz.

  8. High Frequency SSVEP-BCI With Hardware Stimuli Control and Phase-Synchronized Comb Filter.

    PubMed

    Chabuda, Anna; Durka, Piotr; Zygierewicz, Jaroslaw

    2018-02-01

    We present an efficient implementation of brain-computer interface (BCI) based on high-frequency steady state visually evoked potentials (SSVEP). Individual shape of the SSVEP response is extracted by means of a feedforward comb filter, which adds delayed versions of the signal to itself. Rendering of the stimuli is controlled by specialized hardware (BCI Appliance). Out of 15 participants of the study, nine were able to produce stable response in at least eight out of ten frequencies from the 30-39 Hz range. They achieved on average 96±4% accuracy and 47±5 bit/min information transfer rate (ITR) for an optimized simple seven-letter speller, while generic full-alphabet speller allowed in this group for 89±9% accuracy and 36±9 bit/min ITR. These values exceed the performances of high-frequency SSVEP-BCI systems reported to date. Classical approach to SSVEP parameterization by relative spectral power in the frequencies of stimulation, implemented on the same data, resulted in significantly lower performance. This suggests that specific shape of the response is an important feature in classification. Finally, we discuss the differences in SSVEP responses of the participants who were able or unable to use the interface, as well as the statistically significant influence of the layout of the speller on the speed of BCI operation.

  9. Broadband Doppler-limited two-photon and stepwise excitation spectroscopy with laser frequency combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hipke, Arthur; Meek, Samuel A.; Ideguchi, Takuro; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Picqué, Nathalie

    2014-07-01

    Multiplex two-photon excitation spectroscopy is demonstrated at Doppler-limited resolution. We describe first Fourier-transform two-photon spectroscopy of an atomic sample with two mode-locked laser oscillators in a dual-comb technique. Each transition is uniquely identified by the modulation imparted by the interfering comb excitations. The temporal modulation of the spontaneous two-photon fluorescence is monitored with a single photodetector, and the spectrum of all excited transitions is revealed by a Fourier transform.

  10. Advanced RF and microwave functions based on an integrated optical frequency comb source.

    PubMed

    Xu, Xingyuan; Wu, Jiayang; Nguyen, Thach G; Shoeiby, Mehrdad; Chu, Sai T; Little, Brent E; Morandotti, Roberto; Mitchell, Arnan; Moss, David J

    2018-02-05

    We demonstrate advanced transversal radio frequency (RF) and microwave functions based on a Kerr optical comb source generated by an integrated micro-ring resonator. We achieve extremely high performance for an optical true time delay aimed at tunable phased array antenna applications, as well as reconfigurable microwave photonic filters. Our results agree well with theory. We show that our true time delay would yield a phased array antenna with features that include high angular resolution and a wide range of beam steering angles, while the microwave photonic filters feature high Q factors, wideband tunability, and highly reconfigurable filtering shapes. These results show that our approach is a competitive solution to implementing reconfigurable, high performance and potentially low cost RF and microwave signal processing functions for applications including radar and communication systems.

  11. Multifrequency sources of quantum correlated photon pairs on-chip: a path toward integrated Quantum Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caspani, Lucia; Reimer, Christian; Kues, Michael; Roztocki, Piotr; Clerici, Matteo; Wetzel, Benjamin; Jestin, Yoann; Ferrera, Marcello; Peccianti, Marco; Pasquazi, Alessia; Razzari, Luca; Little, Brent E.; Chu, Sai T.; Moss, David J.; Morandotti, Roberto

    2016-06-01

    Recent developments in quantum photonics have initiated the process of bringing photonic-quantumbased systems out-of-the-lab and into real-world applications. As an example, devices to enable the exchange of a cryptographic key secured by the laws of quantum mechanics are already commercially available. In order to further boost this process, the next step is to transfer the results achieved by means of bulky and expensive setups into miniaturized and affordable devices. Integrated quantum photonics is exactly addressing this issue. In this paper, we briefly review the most recent advancements in the generation of quantum states of light on-chip. In particular, we focus on optical microcavities, as they can offer a solution to the problem of low efficiency that is characteristic of the materials typically used in integrated platforms. In addition, we show that specifically designed microcavities can also offer further advantages, such as compatibility with telecom standards (for exploiting existing fibre networks) and quantum memories (necessary to extend the communication distance), as well as giving a longitudinal multimode character for larger information transfer and processing. This last property (i.e., the increased dimensionality of the photon quantum state) is achieved through the ability to generate multiple photon pairs on a frequency comb, corresponding to the microcavity resonances. Further achievements include the possibility of fully exploiting the polarization degree of freedom, even for integrated devices. These results pave the way for the generation of integrated quantum frequency combs that, in turn, may find important applications toward the realization of a compact quantum-computing platform.

  12. Wide band continuous all-fiber comb generator at 1.5 micron

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lemaître, François; Mondin, Linda; Orlik, X.

    2017-11-01

    We present an all-fiber continuous optical frequency comb-generator (OFCG) able to generate over 6 nm (750 GHz) at 1560 nm using a combination of electro-optic and acousto-optic modulations. As opposed to numerous experimental setups that use the longitudinal modes of an optical cavity to generate continuous optical frequency combs, our setup doesn't need any active stabilization of the cavity length since we use the intrinsically high stability of radiofrequency sources to generate the multiple lines of the comb laser. Moreover, compared to the work of ref [1], the hybrid optical modulation we use allows to suppress the problem of instability due interferences between the generated lines. We notice that these lines benefit from the spectral quality of the seed laser because the spectral width of the synthesized hyperfrequency and radiofrequency signals are generally narrower than laser sources.

  13. Ultralow-phase-noise millimetre-wave signal generator assisted with an electro-optics-modulator-based optical frequency comb

    PubMed Central

    Ishizawa, A.; Nishikawa, T.; Goto, T.; Hitachi, K.; Sogawa, T.; Gotoh, H.

    2016-01-01

    Low-noise millimetre-wave signals are valuable for digital sampling systems, arbitrary waveform generation for ultra-wideband communications, and coherent radar systems. However, the phase noise of widely used conventional signal generators (SGs) will increase as the millimetre-wave frequency increases. Our goal has been to improve commercially available SGs so that they provide a low-phase-noise millimetre-wave signal with assistance from an electro-optics-modulator-based optical frequency comb (EOM-OFC). Here, we show that the phase noise can be greatly reduced by bridging the vast frequency difference between the gigahertz and terahertz ranges with an EOM-OFC. The EOM-OFC serves as a liaison that magnifies the phase noise of the SG. With the EOM-OFC used as a phase noise “booster” for a millimetre-wave signal, the phase noise of widely used SGs can be reduced at an arbitrary frequency f (6 ≦ f ≦ 72 GHz). PMID:27185040

  14. Direct phase-locking of a 8.6-μm quantum cascade laser to a mid-IR optical frequency comb: application to precision spectroscopy of N2O.

    PubMed

    Gambetta, Alessio; Cassinerio, Marco; Coluccelli, Nicola; Fasci, Eugenio; Castrillo, Antonio; Gianfrani, Livio; Gatti, Davide; Marangoni, Marco; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

    2015-02-01

    We developed a high-precision spectroscopic system at 8.6 μm based on direct heterodyne detection and phase-locking of a room-temperature quantum-cascade-laser against an harmonic, 250-MHz mid-IR frequency comb obtained by difference-frequency generation. The ∼30  dB signal-to-noise ratio of the detected beat-note together with the achieved closed-loop locking bandwidth of ∼500  kHz allows for a residual integrated phase noise of 0.78 rad (1 Hz-5 MHz), for an ultimate resolution of ∼21  kHz, limited by the measured linewidth of the mid-IR comb. The system was used to perform absolute measurement of line-center frequencies for the rotational components of the ν2 vibrational band of N2O, with a relative precision of 3×10(-10).

  15. 12.5 Gb/s multi-channel broadcasting transmission for free-space optical communication based on the optical frequency comb module.

    PubMed

    Tan, Jun; Zhao, Zeping; Wang, Yuehui; Zhang, Zhike; Liu, Jianguo; Zhu, Ninghua

    2018-01-22

    A wide-spectrum, ultra-stable optical frequency comb (OFC) module with 100 GHz frequency intervals based on a quantum dot mode locked (QDML) laser is fabricated by our lab, and a scheme with 12.5 Gb/s multi-channel broadcasting transmission for free-space optical (FSO) communication is proposed based on the OFC module. The output power of the OFC is very stable, with the specially designed circuit and the flatness of the frequency comb over the span of 6 nm, which can be limited to 1.5 dB. Four channel wavelengths are chosen to demonstrate one-to-many channels for FSO communication, like optical wireless broadcast. The outdoor experiment is established to test the bit error rate (BER) and eye diagrams with 12.5 Gb/s on-off keying (OOK). The indoor experiment is used to test the highest traffic rate, which is up to 21 Gb/s for one-hop FSO communication. To the best of our knowledge, this scheme is the first to propose the realization of one-to-many broadcasting transmission for FSO communication based on the OFC module. The advantages of integration, miniaturization, channelization, low power consumption, and unlimited bandwidth of one-to-many broadcasting communication scheme, shows promising results on constructing the future space-air-ground-ocean (SAGO) FSO communication networks.

  16. First international comparison of femtosecond laser combs at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

    PubMed

    Ma, Long-Sheng; Robertsson, Lennart; Picard, Susanne; Zucco, Massimo; Bi, Zhiyi; Wu, Shenghai; Windeler, Robert S

    2004-03-15

    The first international comparison of femtosecond laser combs has been carried out at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). Three comb systems were involved: BIPM-C1 and BIPM-C2 from the BIPM and ECNU-C1 from the East China Normal University (ECNU). The agreement among the three combs was found to be on the subhertz level in the vicinity of 563 THz. A frequency difference measurement scheme was demonstrated that is suitable for general comb comparisons.

  17. Spectral distortion of dual-comb spectrometry due to repetition rate fluctuation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hong-Lei, Yang; Hao-Yun, Wei; Yan, Li

    2016-04-01

    Dual-comb spectrometry suffers the fluctuations of parameters in combs. We demonstrate that the repetition rate is more important than any other parameter, since the fluctuation of the repetition rate leads to a change of difference in the repetition rate between both combs, consequently causing the conversion factor variation and spectral frequency misalignment. The measured frequency noise power spectral density of the repetition rate exhibits an integrated residual frequency modulation of 1.4 Hz from 1 Hz to 100 kHz in our system. This value corresponds to the absorption peak fluctuation within a root mean square value of 0.19 cm-1 that is verified by both simulation and experimental result. Further, we can also simulate spectrum degradation as the fluctuation varies. After modifying misaligned spectra and averaging, the measured result agrees well with the simulated spectrum based on the GEISA database. Project supported by the State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology & Instruments of Tsinghua University and the Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61205147).

  18. Semi-automatic, octave-spanning optical frequency counter.

    PubMed

    Liu, Tze-An; Shu, Ren-Huei; Peng, Jin-Long

    2008-07-07

    This work presents and demonstrates a semi-automatic optical frequency counter with octave-spanning counting capability using two fiber laser combs operated at different repetition rates. Monochromators are utilized to provide an approximate frequency of the laser under measurement to determine the mode number difference between the two laser combs. The exact mode number of the beating comb line is obtained from the mode number difference and the measured beat frequencies. The entire measurement process, except the frequency stabilization of the laser combs and the optimization of the beat signal-to-noise ratio, is controlled by a computer running a semi-automatic optical frequency counter.

  19. Terahertz Frequency-Domain Spectroscopy of Low-Pressure Acetonitrile Gas by a Photomixing Terahertz Synthesizer Referenced to Dual Optical Frequency Combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsieh, Yi-Da; Kimura, Hiroto; Hayashi, Kenta; Minamikawa, Takeo; Mizutani, Yasuhiro; Yamamoto, Hirotsugu; Iwata, Tetsuo; Inaba, Hajime; Minoshima, Kaoru; Hindle, Francis; Yasui, Takeshi

    2016-09-01

    A terahertz (THz) frequency synthesizer based on photomixing of two near-infrared lasers with a sub-THz to THz frequency offset is a powerful tool for spectroscopy of polar gas molecules due to its broad spectral coverage; however, its frequency accuracy and resolution are relatively low. To tune the output frequency continuously and widely while maintaining its traceability to a frequency standard, we developed a photomixing THz synthesizer phase-locked to dual optical frequency combs (OFCs). While the phase-locking to dual OFCs ensured continuous tuning within a spectral range of 120 GHz, in addition to the traceability to the frequency standard, use of a broadband uni-traveling carrier photodiode for photomixing enabled the generation of CW-THz radiation within a frequency range from 0.2 to 1.5 THz. We demonstrated THz frequency-domain spectroscopy of gas-phase acetonitrile CH3CN and its isotope CH3 13CN in the frequency range of 0.600-0.720 THz using this THz synthesizer. Their rotational transitions were assigned with a frequency accuracy of 8.42 × 10-8 and a frequency resolution of 520 kHz. Furthermore, the concentration of the CH3CN gas at 20 Pa was determined to be (5.41 ± 0.05) × 1014 molecules/cm3 by curve fitting analysis of the measured absorbance spectrum, and the mixture ratio of the mixed CH3CN/CH3 13CN gas was determined to be 1:2.26 with a gas concentration of 1014-1015 molecules/cm3. The developed THz synthesizer is highly promising for high-precision THz-FDS of low-pressure molecular gases and will enable the qualitative and quantitative analyses of multiple gases.

  20. Extending Tabletop XUV Spectroscopy to the Liquid Phase to Examine Transition Metal Catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benke, Kristin; Ryland, Elizabeth S.; Vura-Weis, Josh

    2017-06-01

    M-edge spectroscopy of first row transition metals (3p to 3d excitation) is the low energy analogue of more well-known K- and L-edge spectroscopy, but can be implemented without the use of a synchrotron. Instead, M-edge spectroscopy can be performed as a tabletop method, relying on high harmonic generation (HHG) to produce ultrashort (˜ 20 fs) pulses of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light in the range of 10-100s of eV. We have shown tabletop M-edge spectroscopy to be a valuable tool in determining the electronic structure of metal-centered coordination complexes and have demonstrated its capacity to yield element-specific information about a compound's oxidation state, spin state, and ligand field. The power of this technique to distinguish these features makes it a promising addition to the arsenal of methods used to study metal-centered catalysts. A catalytic reaction can be initiated photochemically and the XUV probe can be used to track oxidative and structural changes to identify the key intermediates. Until recently tabletop XUV spectroscopy has been performed on thin film samples, but in order to examine homogeneous catalysis, the technique must be adapted to look at samples in the liquid phase. The challenges of adapting tabletop XUV spectroscopy to the liquid phase lie in the lower attenuation length of XUV light compared to soft and hard x-rays and the lower flux compared to synchrotron methods. As a result, the sample must be limited to a sub-micron thickness as well as isolated from the vacuum environment required for x-ray spectroscopy. I am developing a liquid flow cell that relies on confining the sample between two x-ray transmissive SiN membranes, as has been demonstrated for use at synchrotrons, but adapted to the unique difficulties encountered in tabletop XUV spectroscopy.

  1. Evaluation of ultra-low expansion spacer in the Fabry-Perot cavity with optical frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Šmíd, Radek; Čížek, Martin; Buchta, Zdeněk.; Lazar, Josef; Číp, Ondřej

    2012-01-01

    The work presents measurements of the length stability of Zerodur glass ceramic with temperature change. Measurement of this thermal characteristic is necessary for determination of the optimal temperature at which the Zerodur glass ceramic has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to zero. The principle of the measurement is to monitor the length changes using an optical resonator with a cavity mirror spacer made from the Zerodur material to be studied. The resonator is placed inside a vacuum chamber with a temperature control. A tunable laser diode is locked to a certain optical mode of the resonator to monitor the optical frequency of this mode. A beat-note signal from optical mixing between the laser and a stabilized femtosecond frequency comb is detected and processed. The temperature dependence of the glass ceramics was determined and analyzed. The resolution of the length measurement of the experimental set-up is on the order of 0.1 nm.

  2. Generation of Kerr combs centered at 4.5 μm in crystalline microresonators pumped with quantum-cascade lasers.

    PubMed

    Savchenkov, Anatoliy A; Ilchenko, Vladimir S; Di Teodoro, Fabio; Belden, Paul M; Lotshaw, William T; Matsko, Andrey B; Maleki, Lute

    2015-08-01

    We report on the generation of mid-infrared Kerr frequency combs in high-finesse CaF2 and MgF2 whispering-gallery-mode resonators pumped with continuous-wave room-temperature quantum cascade lasers. The combs were centered at 4.5 μm, the longest wavelength to date. A frequency comb wider than one half of an octave was demonstrated when approximately 20 mW of pump power was coupled to an MgF2 resonator characterized with quality factor exceeding 10(8).

  3. Evaporation of planetary atmospheres due to XUV illumination by quasars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Forbes, John C.; Loeb, Abraham

    2018-06-01

    Planetary atmospheres are subject to mass loss through a variety of mechanisms including irradiation by XUV photons from their host star. Here we explore the consequences of XUV irradiation by supermassive black holes as they grow by the accretion of gas in galactic nuclei. Based on the mass distribution of stars in galactic bulges and disks and the luminosity history of individual black holes, we estimate the probability distribution function of XUV fluences as a function of galaxy halo mass, redshift, and stellar component. We find that about 50% of all planets in the universe may lose a mass of hydrogen of ˜2.5 × 1019 g (the total mass of the Martian atmosphere), 10% may lose ˜5.1 × 1021 g (the total mass of Earth's atmosphere), and 0.2% may lose ˜1.4 × 1024 g (the total mass of Earth's oceans). The fractions are appreciably higher in the spheroidal components of galaxies, and depend strongly on galaxy mass, but only weakly on redshift.

  4. Carrier-Specific Femtosecond XUV Transient Absorption of PbI 2 Reveals Ultrafast Nonradiative Recombination

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lin, Ming-Fu; Verkamp, Max A.; Leveillee, Joshua

    Femtosecond carrier recombination in PbI 2 is measured using tabletop high-harmonic extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption spectroscopy and ultrafast electron diffraction. XUV absorption from 45 eV to 62 eV measures transitions from the iodine 4d core level to the conduction band density of states. Photoexcitation at 400 nm creates separate and distinct transient absorption signals for holes and electrons, separated in energy by the 2.4 eV band gap of the semiconductor. The shape of the conduction band and therefore the XUV absorption spectrum is temperature dependent, and nonradiative recombination converts the initial electronic excitation to thermal excitation within picoseconds. Ultrafastmore » electron diffraction (UED) is used to measure the lattice temperature and confirm the recombination mechanism. Lastly, the XUV and UED results support a 2nd-order recombination model with a rate constant of 2.5x10 -9 cm 3/s.« less

  5. Carrier-Specific Femtosecond XUV Transient Absorption of PbI 2 Reveals Ultrafast Nonradiative Recombination

    DOE PAGES

    Lin, Ming-Fu; Verkamp, Max A.; Leveillee, Joshua; ...

    2017-11-30

    Femtosecond carrier recombination in PbI 2 is measured using tabletop high-harmonic extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption spectroscopy and ultrafast electron diffraction. XUV absorption from 45 eV to 62 eV measures transitions from the iodine 4d core level to the conduction band density of states. Photoexcitation at 400 nm creates separate and distinct transient absorption signals for holes and electrons, separated in energy by the 2.4 eV band gap of the semiconductor. The shape of the conduction band and therefore the XUV absorption spectrum is temperature dependent, and nonradiative recombination converts the initial electronic excitation to thermal excitation within picoseconds. Ultrafastmore » electron diffraction (UED) is used to measure the lattice temperature and confirm the recombination mechanism. Lastly, the XUV and UED results support a 2nd-order recombination model with a rate constant of 2.5x10 -9 cm 3/s.« less

  6. Random walks on combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Durhuus, Bergfinnur; Jonsson, Thordur; Wheater, John F.

    2006-02-01

    We develop techniques to obtain rigorous bounds on the behaviour of random walks on combs. Using these bounds, we calculate exactly the spectral dimension of random combs with infinite teeth at random positions or teeth with random but finite length. We also calculate exactly the spectral dimension of some fixed non-translationally invariant combs. We relate the spectral dimension to the critical exponent of the mass of the two-point function for random walks on random combs, and compute mean displacements as a function of walk duration. We prove that the mean first passage time is generally infinite for combs with anomalous spectral dimension.

  7. High-coherence mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy spanning 2.6 to 5.2 μm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ycas, Gabriel; Giorgetta, Fabrizio R.; Baumann, Esther; Coddington, Ian; Herman, Daniel; Diddams, Scott A.; Newbury, Nathan R.

    2018-04-01

    Mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy has the potential to supplant conventional Fourier-transform spectroscopy in applications requiring high resolution, accuracy, signal-to-noise ratio and speed. Until now, mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy has been limited to narrow optical bandwidths or low signal-to-noise ratios. Using digital signal processing and broadband frequency conversion in waveguides, we demonstrate a mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer covering 2.6 to 5.2 µm with comb-tooth resolution, sub-MHz frequency precision and accuracy, and a spectral signal-to-noise ratio as high as 6,500. As a demonstration, we measure the highly structured, broadband cross-section of propane from 2,840 to 3,040 cm-1, the complex phase/amplitude spectra of carbonyl sulfide from 2,000 to 2,100 cm-1, and of a methane, acetylene and ethane mixture from 2,860 to 3,400 cm-1. The combination of broad bandwidth, comb-mode resolution and high brightness will enable accurate mid-infrared spectroscopy in precision laboratory experiments and non-laboratory applications including open-path atmospheric gas sensing, process monitoring and combustion.

  8. All-polarization-maintaining, single-port Er:fiber comb for high-stability comparison of optical lattice clocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ohmae, Noriaki; Kuse, Naoya; Fermann, Martin E.; Katori, Hidetoshi

    2017-06-01

    All-polarization-maintaining, single-port Er:fiber combs offer long-term robust operation as well as high stability. We have built two such combs and evaluated the transfer noise for linking optical clocks. A uniformly broadened spectrum over 135-285 THz with a high signal-to-noise ratio enables the optical frequency measurement of the subharmonics of strontium, ytterbium, and mercury optical lattice clocks with the fractional frequency-noise power spectral density of (1-2) × 10-17 Hz-1/2 at 1 Hz. By applying a synchronous clock comparison, the comb enables clock ratio measurements with 10-17 instability at 1 s, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the best instability of the frequency ratio of optical lattice clocks.

  9. Mach-zehnder based optical marker/comb generator for streak camera calibration

    DOEpatents

    Miller, Edward Kirk

    2015-03-03

    This disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for generating marker and comb indicia in an optical environment using a Mach-Zehnder (M-Z) modulator. High speed recording devices are configured to record image or other data defining a high speed event. To calibrate and establish time reference, the markers or combs are indicia which serve as timing pulses (markers) or a constant-frequency train of optical pulses (comb) to be imaged on a streak camera for accurate time based calibration and time reference. The system includes a camera, an optic signal generator which provides an optic signal to an M-Z modulator and biasing and modulation signal generators configured to provide input to the M-Z modulator. An optical reference signal is provided to the M-Z modulator. The M-Z modulator modulates the reference signal to a higher frequency optical signal which is output through a fiber coupled link to the streak camera.

  10. A comb-sampling method for enhanced mass analysis in linear electrostatic ion traps.

    PubMed

    Greenwood, J B; Kelly, O; Calvert, C R; Duffy, M J; King, R B; Belshaw, L; Graham, L; Alexander, J D; Williams, I D; Bryan, W A; Turcu, I C E; Cacho, C M; Springate, E

    2011-04-01

    In this paper an algorithm for extracting spectral information from signals containing a series of narrow periodic impulses is presented. Such signals can typically be acquired by pickup detectors from the image-charge of ion bunches oscillating in a linear electrostatic ion trap, where frequency analysis provides a scheme for high-resolution mass spectrometry. To provide an improved technique for such frequency analysis, we introduce the CHIMERA algorithm (Comb-sampling for High-resolution IMpulse-train frequency ExtRAaction). This algorithm utilizes a comb function to generate frequency coefficients, rather than using sinusoids via a Fourier transform, since the comb provides a superior match to the data. This new technique is developed theoretically, applied to synthetic data, and then used to perform high resolution mass spectrometry on real data from an ion trap. If the ions are generated at a localized point in time and space, and the data is simultaneously acquired with multiple pickup rings, the method is shown to be a significant improvement on Fourier analysis. The mass spectra generated typically have an order of magnitude higher resolution compared with that obtained from fundamental Fourier frequencies, and are absent of large contributions from harmonic frequency components. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

  11. Gigahertz dual-comb modelocked diode-pumped semiconductor and solid-state lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Link, S. M.; Mangold, M.; Golling, M.; Klenner, A.; Keller, U.

    2016-03-01

    We present a simple approach to generate simultaneously two gigahertz mode-locked pulse trains from a single gain element. A bi-refringent crystal in the laser cavity splits the one cavity beam into two cross-polarized and spatially separated beams. This polarization-duplexing is successfully demonstrated for both a semiconductor disk laser (i.e. MIXSEL) and a diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YAG laser. The beat between the two beams results in a microwave frequency comb, which represents a direct link between the terahertz optical frequencies and the electronically accessible microwave regime. This dual-output technique enables compact and cost-efficient dual-comb lasers for spectroscopy applications.

  12. An XUV/VUV free-electron laser oscillator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goldstein, J. C.; Newnam, B. E.; Cooper, R. K.; Comly, J. C., Jr.

    Problems regarding the extension of free-electron laser technology from the visible and near infrared region, where such devices are currently operating, to the ultraviolet have recently been extensively discussed. It was found that significant technical problems must be overcome before free-electron lasers (FELs) can be operated in the VUV (100-200 nm) and the XUV (50-100). However, the present lack of other intense and tunable sources of coherent radiation at these wavelengths together with the intrinsic properties of FELs make the development of such devices potentially very rewarding. The properties of FELs include continuous tunability in wavelength and output in the form of a train of picosecond pulses. An investigation is conducted regarding the feasibility of an operation of a FEL in the XUV/VUV regions, taking into account a theoretical model. It is found that modest improvements in electron beam and optical mirror technologies will make the design of a FEL for operation in the 50-200-nm range of optical wavelength possible.

  13. Brownian excursions on combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dean, David S.; Jansons, Kalvis M.

    1993-03-01

    In this paper we use techniques from Ito excursion theory to analyze Brownian motion on generalized combs. Ito excursion theory is a little-known area of probability theory and we therefore present a brief introduction for the uninitiated. A general method for analyzing transport along the backbone of the comb is demonstrated and the specific case of a comb whose teeth are scaling branching trees is examined. We then present a recursive method for evaluating the distribution of the first passage times on hierarchical combs.

  14. REVIEW ARTICLE: Harmonically mode-locked semiconductor-based lasers as high repetition rate ultralow noise pulse train and optical frequency comb sources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quinlan, F.; Ozharar, S.; Gee, S.; Delfyett, P. J.

    2009-10-01

    Recent experimental work on semiconductor-based harmonically mode-locked lasers geared toward low noise applications is reviewed. Active, harmonic mode-locking of semiconductor-based lasers has proven to be an excellent way to generate 10 GHz repetition rate pulse trains with pulse-to-pulse timing jitter of only a few femtoseconds without requiring active feedback stabilization. This level of timing jitter is achieved in long fiberized ring cavities and relies upon such factors as low noise rf sources as mode-lockers, high optical power, intracavity dispersion management and intracavity phase modulation. When a high finesse etalon is placed within the optical cavity, semiconductor-based harmonically mode-locked lasers can be used as optical frequency comb sources with 10 GHz mode spacing. When active mode-locking is replaced with regenerative mode-locking, a completely self-contained comb source is created, referenced to the intracavity etalon.

  15. A Fine-Tooth Comb to Measure the Accelerating Universe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    2008-09-01

    Astronomical instruments needed to answer crucial questions, such as the search for Earth-like planets or the way the Universe expands, have come a step closer with the first demonstration at the telescope of a new calibration system for precise spectrographs. The method uses a Nobel Prize-winning technology called a 'laser frequency comb', and is published in this week's issue of Science. Uncovering the disc ESO PR Photo 26a/08 A Laser Comb for Astronomy "It looks as if we are on the way to fulfil one of astronomers' dreams," says team member Theodor Hänsch, director at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (MPQ) in Germany. Hänsch, together with John Hall, was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics for work including the frequency comb technique. Astronomers use instruments called spectrographs to spread the light from celestial objects into its component colours, or frequencies, in the same way water droplets create a rainbow from sunlight. They can then measure the velocities of stars, galaxies and quasars, search for planets around other stars, or study the expansion of the Universe. A spectrograph must be accurately calibrated so that the frequencies of light can be correctly measured. This is similar to how we need accurate rulers to measure lengths correctly. In the present case, a laser provides a sort of ruler, for measuring colours rather than distances, with an extremely accurate and fine grid. New, extremely precise spectrographs will be needed in experiments planned for the future European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), which is being designed by ESO, the European Southern Observatory. These new spectrographs will need to be calibrated with even more accurate 'rulers'. In fact, they must be accurate to about one part in 30 billions - a feat equivalent to measuring the circumference of the Earth to about a millimetre! "We'll need something beyond what current technology can offer, and that's where the laser frequency comb comes in. It is

  16. Optical Frequency Comb Fourier Transform Spectroscopy with Resolution Exceeding the Limit Set by the Optical Path Difference

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Foltynowicz, Aleksandra; Rutkowski, Lucile; Johanssson, Alexandra C.; Khodabakhsh, Amir; Maslowski, Piotr; Kowzan, Grzegorz; Lee, Kevin; Fermann, Martin

    2015-06-01

    Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS) based on optical frequency combs (OFC) allow detection of broadband molecular spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios within acquisition times orders of magnitude shorter than traditional FTIRs based on thermal sources. Due to the pulsed nature of OFCs the interferogram consists of a series of bursts rather than a single burst at zero optical path difference (OPD). The comb mode structure can be resolved by acquiring multiple bursts, in both mechanical FTS systems and dual-comb spectroscopy. However, in all existing demonstrations the resolution was ultimately limited either by the maximum available OPD between the interferometer arms or by the total acquisition time enabled by the storage memory. We present a method that provides spectral resolution exceeding the limit set by the maximum OPD using an interferogram containing only a single burst. The method allows measurements of absorption lines narrower than the OPD-limited resolution without any influence of the instrumental lineshape function. We demonstrate this by measuring undistorted CO2 and CO absorption lines with linewidth narrower than the OPD-limited resolution using OFC-based mechanical FTS in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength ranges. The near-infrared system is based on an Er:fiber femtosecond laser locked to a high finesse cavity, while the mid-infrared system is based on a Tm:fiber-laser-pumped optical parametric oscillator coupled to a multi-pass cell. We show that the method allows acquisition of high-resolution molecular spectra with interferometer length orders of magnitude shorter than traditional FTIR. Mandon, J., G. Guelachvili, and N. Picque, Nat. Phot., 2009. 3(2): p. 99-102. Zeitouny, M., et al., Ann. Phys., 2013. 525(6): p. 437-442. Zolot, A.M., et al., Opt. Lett., 2012. 37(4): p. 638-640.

  17. Excitation of XUV radiation in solar flares

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Emslie, A. Gordon

    1992-01-01

    The goal of the proposed research was to understand the means by which XUV radiation in solar flares is excited, and to use this radiation as diagnostics of the energy release and transport processes occurring in the flare. Significant progress in both of these areas, as described, was made.

  18. Controlling electronic couplings with tunable long wavelength pulses: Study of Autler-Townes splitting and XUV emission spectra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harkema, Nathan; Liao, Chen-Ting; Sandhu, Arvinder

    2017-04-01

    Attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (ATAS) enables the study of excited electron dynamics with unprecedented temporal and energy resolution. Many ATAS experiments use an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pump pulse and a near-infrared (NIR) probe fixed at the fundamental laser frequency ( 800 nm) to study the light induced effects on electronic structure of atoms and molecules. We extend the technique by using an optical parametric amplifier in one arm of our setup, which allows us to independently tune the frequency of the probe pulse from 1200 to 1800 nm. These long-wavelength pulses allow us to explore a new regime, where we can control the couplings between nearby electronic states to alter the transient absorption lineshapes in atoms. We use this technique to investigate the 4p-3s detuning dependent Autler-Townes splitting of the 4p state in Helium. Light induced Floquet structures extending into the continuum are observed in our study. We demonstrate new tunable XUV emission channels from four-wave mixing processes, and the efficiency of these emissions can be strongly enhanced through resonant couplings. The tunable IR induced electronic couplings are also used to influence the autoionization dynamics in Argon. This work is supported by NSF Grant No. PHY-1505556 and ARO Grant No. W911NF-14-1-0383.

  19. Single shot damage mechanism of Mo/Si multilayer optics under intense pulsed XUV-exposure.

    PubMed

    Khorsand, A R; Sobierajski, R; Louis, E; Bruijn, S; van Hattum, E D; van de Kruijs, R W E; Jurek, M; Klinger, D; Pelka, J B; Juha, L; Burian, T; Chalupsky, J; Cihelka, J; Hajkova, V; Vysin, L; Jastrow, U; Stojanovic, N; Toleikis, S; Wabnitz, H; Tiedtke, K; Sokolowski-Tinten, K; Shymanovich, U; Krzywinski, J; Hau-Riege, S; London, R; Gleeson, A; Gullikson, E M; Bijkerk, F

    2010-01-18

    We investigated single shot damage of Mo/Si multilayer coatings exposed to the intense fs XUV radiation at the Free-electron LASer facility in Hamburg - FLASH. The interaction process was studied in situ by XUV reflectometry, time resolved optical microscopy, and "post-mortem" by interference-polarizing optical microscopy (with Nomarski contrast), atomic force microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microcopy. An ultrafast molybdenum silicide formation due to enhanced atomic diffusion in melted silicon has been determined to be the key process in the damage mechanism. The influence of the energy diffusion on the damage process was estimated. The results are of significance for the design of multilayer optics for a new generation of pulsed (from atto- to nanosecond) XUV sources.

  20. Excited-state vibronic wave-packet dynamics in H2 probed by XUV transient four-wave mixing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Wei; Warrick, Erika R.; Fidler, Ashley; Leone, Stephen R.; Neumark, Daniel M.

    2018-02-01

    The complex behavior of a molecular wave packet initiated by an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse is investigated with noncollinear wave mixing spectroscopy. A broadband XUV pulse spanning 12-16 eV launches a wave packet in H2 comprising a coherent superposition of multiple electronic and vibrational levels. The molecular wave packet evolves freely until a delayed few-cycle optical laser pulse arrives to induce nonlinear signals in the XUV via four-wave mixing (FWM). The angularly resolved FWM signals encode rich energy exchange processes between the optical laser field and the XUV-excited molecule. The noncollinear geometry enables spatial separation of ladder and V- or Λ-type transitions induced by the optical field. Ladder transitions, in which the energy exchange with the optical field is around 3 eV, appear off axis from the incident XUV beam. Each vibrationally revolved FWM line probes a different part of the wave packet in energy, serving as a promising tool for energetic tomography of molecular wave packets. V- or Λ-type transitions, in which the energy exchange is well under 1 eV, result in on-axis nonlinear signals. The first-order versus third-order interference of the on-axis signal serves as a mapping tool of the energy flow pathways. Intra- and interelectronic potential energy curve transitions are decisively identified. The current study opens possibilities for accessing complete dynamic information in XUV-excited complex systems.

  1. Dynamics of comb-of-comb-network polymers in random layered flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Katyal, Divya; Kant, Rama

    2016-12-01

    We analyze the dynamics of comb-of-comb-network polymers in the presence of external random flows. The dynamics of such structures is evaluated through relevant physical quantities, viz., average square displacement (ASD) and the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF). We focus on comparing the dynamics of the comb-of-comb network with the linear polymer. The present work displays an anomalous diffusive behavior of this flexible network in the random layered flows. The effect of the polymer topology on the dynamics is analyzed by varying the number of generations and branch lengths in these networks. In addition, we investigate the influence of external flow on the dynamics by varying flow parameters, like the flow exponent α and flow strength Wα. Our analysis highlights two anomalous power-law regimes, viz., subdiffusive (intermediate-time polymer stretching and flow-induced diffusion) and superdiffusive (long-time flow-induced diffusion). The anomalous long-time dynamics is governed by the temporal exponent ν of ASD, viz., ν =2 -α /2 . Compared to a linear polymer, the comb-of-comb network shows a shorter crossover time (from the subdiffusive to superdiffusive regime) but a reduced magnitude of ASD. Our theory displays an anomalous VACF in the random layered flows that scales as t-α /2. We show that the network with greater total mass moves faster.

  2. Integrated Kerr comb-based reconfigurable transversal differentiator for microwave photonic signal processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Xingyuan; Wu, Jiayang; Shoeiby, Mehrdad; Nguyen, Thach G.; Chu, Sai T.; Little, Brent E.; Morandotti, Roberto; Mitchell, Arnan; Moss, David J.

    2018-01-01

    An arbitrary-order intensity differentiator for high-order microwave signal differentiation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated on a versatile transversal microwave photonic signal processing platform based on integrated Kerr combs. With a CMOS-compatible nonlinear micro-ring resonator, high quality Kerr combs with broad bandwidth and large frequency spacings are generated, enabling a larger number of taps and an increased Nyquist zone. By programming and shaping individual comb lines' power, calculated tap weights are realized, thus achieving a versatile microwave photonic signal processing platform. Arbitrary-order intensity differentiation is demonstrated on the platform. The RF responses are experimentally characterized, and systems demonstrations for Gaussian input signals are also performed.

  3. Chip-Scale Architectures for Precise Optical Frequency Synthesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Jinghui

    Scientists and engineers have investigated various types of stable and accurate optical synthesizers, where mode-locked laser based optical frequency comb synthesizers have been widely investigated. These frequency combs bridge the frequencies from optical domain to microwave domain with orders of magnitude difference, providing a metrological tool for various platforms. The demand for highly robust, scalable, compact and cost-effective femtosecond-laser synthesizers, however, are of great importance for applications in air- or space-borne platforms, where low cost and rugged packaging are particularly required. This has been afforded in the past several years due to breakthroughs in chip-scale nanofabrication, bringing advances in optical frequency combs down to semiconductor chips. These platforms, with significantly enhanced light-matter interaction, provide a fertile sandbox for research rich in nonlinear dynamics, and offer a reliable route towards low-phase noise photonic oscillators, broadband optical frequency synthesizers, miniaturized optical clockwork, and coherent terabit communications. The dissertation explores various types of optical frequency comb synthesizers based on nonlinear microresonators. Firstly, the fundamental mechanism of mode-locking in a high-quality factor microresonator is examined, supported by ultrafast optical characterizations, analytical closed-form solutions and numerical modeling. In the evolution of these frequency microcombs, the key nonlinear dynamical effect governing the comb state coherence is rigorously analyzed. Secondly, a prototype of chip-scale optical frequency synthesizer is demonstrated, with the laser frequency comb stabilized down to instrument-limited 50-mHz RF frequency inaccuracies and 10-16 fractional frequency inaccuracies, near the fundamental limits. Thirdly, a globally stable Turing pattern is achieved and characterized in these nonlinear resonators with high-efficiency conversion, subsequently

  4. Dual-comb spectroscopy of molecular electronic transitions in condensed phases

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cho, Byungmoon; Yoon, Tai Hyun; Cho, Minhaeng

    2018-03-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) utilizes two phase-locked optical frequency combs to allow scanless acquisition of spectra using only a single point detector. Although recent DCS measurements demonstrate rapid acquisition of absolutely calibrated spectral lines with unprecedented precision and accuracy, complex phase-locking schemes and multiple coherent averaging present significant challenges for widespread adoption of DCS. Here, we demonstrate Global Positioning System (GPS) disciplined DCS of a molecular electronic transition in solution at around 800 nm, where the absorption spectrum is recovered by using a single time-domain interferogram. We anticipate that this simplified dual-comb technique with absolute time interval measurement and ultrabroad bandwidth will allow adoption of DCS to tackle molecular dynamics investigation through its implementation in time-resolved nonlinear spectroscopic studies and coherent multidimensional spectroscopy of coupled chromophore systems.

  5. Measurements of CO2, CH4, H2O, and HDO over a 2-km Outdoor Path with Dual-Comb Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rieker, G. B.; Giorgetta, F. R.; Coddington, I.; Swann, W. C.; Sinclair, L. C.; Cromer, C.; Baumann, E.; Newbury, N. R.; Kofler, J.; Petron, G.; Sweeney, C.; Tans, P. P.

    2013-12-01

    We demonstrate simultaneous sensing of CO2, CH4, H2O, and HDO over a 2-km outdoor open air path using dual-frequency-comb absorption spectroscopy (DCS). Our implementation of the DCS technique simultaneously offers broad spectral coverage (>8 THz, 267 cm-1) and fine spectral point spacing (100 MHz, 0.0033 cm-1) with a coherent eye-safe beam. The spectrometer, which is adapted from [Zolot et al., 2012], consists of two mutually coherent Erbium-doped fiber frequency-comb lasers which create a broad spectrum of perfectly spaced narrow linewidth frequency elements (';comb teeth') near 1.6 μm. The comb light is transmitted by a telescope and active steering mirrors from the roof of the NIST Boulder laboratory to a 50-cm flat mirror located 1 km away. The return light is received by a second telescope and carried via multimode fiber to a detector. The greenhouse gas absorption attenuates the teeth from the two combs that are coincident with the relevant molecular resonant frequencies. We purposefully offset the frequencies between the two frequency combs in a Vernier-like fashion so that each pair of comb teeth from the two combs results in a unique rf heterodyne beat frequency on the photodiode. The spectral spacing between subsequent comb teeth pairs is 100 MHz, far lower than the ~4 GHz linewidths of small molecule absorption features in the atmosphere. Because of the narrow comb linewidth, there is an essentially negligible instrument lineshape. The measured absorption spectrum can thus resolve neighboring absorption features of different species, and can be compared directly with HITRAN and recent greenhouse gas absorption models developed for satellite- and ground-based carbon observatories to determine the path-integrated concentrations of the absorbing species. Measurements covering the complete 30013←00001 absorption band of CO2 and absorption features of CH4, H2O and HDO between 1.6-1.67 μm were performed under a variety of atmospheric conditions. During

  6. Evanescent-wave comb spectroscopy of liquids with strongly dispersive optical fiber cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Avino, S.; Giorgini, A.; Salza, M.; Fabian, M.; Gagliardi, G.; De Natale, P.

    2013-05-01

    We demonstrate evanescent-wave fiber cavity-enhanced spectroscopy in the liquid phase using a near-infrared frequency comb. Exploiting strong fiber-dispersion effects, we show that liquid absorption spectra can be recorded without any external dispersive element. The fiber cavity is used both as sensor and spectrometer. The resonance modes are frequency locked to the comb teeth while the cavity photon lifetime is measured over 155 nm, from 1515 nm to 1670 nm, where absorption bands of liquid polyamines are detected as a proof of concept. Our fiber spectrometer lends itself to in situ, real-time chemical analysis in environmental monitoring, biomedical assays, and micro-opto-fluidic systems.

  7. Atomic Processes for XUV Lasers: Alkali Atoms and Ions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dimiduk, David Paul

    The development of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) lasers is dependent upon knowledge of processes in highly excited atoms. Described here are spectroscopy experiments which have identified and characterized certain autoionizing energy levels in core-excited alkali atoms and ions. Such levels, termed quasi-metastable, have desirable characteristics as upper levels for efficient, powerful XUV lasers. Quasi -metastable levels are among the most intense emission lines in the XUV spectra of core-excited alkalis. Laser experiments utilizing these levels have proved to be useful in characterizing other core-excited levels. Three experiments to study quasi-metastable levels are reported. The first experiment is vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectroscopy on the Cs 109 nm transitions using high-resolution laser techniques. This experiment confirms the identification of transitions to a quasi-metastable level, estimates transition oscillator strengths, and estimates the hyperfine splitting of the quasi-metastable level. The second experiment, XUV emission spectroscopy of Ca II and Sr II in a microwave-heated plasma, identifies transitions from quasi-metastable levels in these ions, and provides confirming evidence of their radiative, rather than autoionizing, character. In the third experiment, core-excited Ca II ions are produced by inner-shell photoionization of Ca with soft x-rays from a laser-produced plasma. This preliminary experiment demonstrated a method of creating large numbers of these highly-excited ions for future spectroscopic experiments. Experimental and theoretical evidence suggests the CA II 3{ rm p}^5 3d4s ^4 {rm F}^circ_{3/2 } quasi-metastable level may be directly pumped via a dipole ionization process from the Ca I ground state. The direct process is permitted by J conservation, and occurs due to configuration mixing in the final state and possibly the initial state as well. The experiments identifying and characterizing quasi-metastable levels are

  8. A New Type of Frequency Chain and Its Application to Fundamental Frequency Metrology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Udem, Thomas; Reichert, Joerg; Holzwarth, Ronald; Diddams, Scott; Jones, David; Ye, Jun; Cundiff, Steven; Haensch, Theodor; Hall, John

    A suitable femtosecond (fs) laser system can provide a broad band comb of stable optical frequencies and thus can serve as an rf/optical coherent link. In this way we have performed a direct comparison of the 1S-2S transition in atomic hydrogen at 121 nm with a cesium fountain clock, built at the LPTF/Paris, to reach an accuracy of 1.9times 10^{-14}. The same comb-line counting technique was exploited to determine and recalibrate several important optical frequency standards. In particular, the improved measurement of the Cesium D1 line is necessary for a more precise determination of the fine structure constant. In addition, several of the best-known optical frequency standards have been recalibrated via the fs method. By creating an octave-spanning frequency comb a single-laser frequency chain has been realized and tested.

  9. Creation of ultracold molecules within the lifetime scale by direct implementation of an optical frequency comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Gengyuan; Malinovskaya, S. A.

    2018-06-01

    A method is proposed to create molecules in the ultracold state from the Feshbach molecules by stepwise adiabatic passage using an optical frequency comb without losses due to decoherence. An emphasis is made on the impact of the vibrational state manifold on controllability of the coherent dynamics by including five excited states into the model. The results are compared with recently reported results on a three-level ? system. Sinusoidal modulation across an individual pulse in the pulse train is applied, leading to the creation of a quasi-dark state, which minimizes population of the transitional, vibrational state manifold, and efficiently mitigates decoherence in the system. The parity of the temporal chirp is shown to be an important factor in designing population dynamics in the system.

  10. High Intensity Femtosecond XUV Pulse Interactions with Atomic Clusters: Final Report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ditmire, Todd

    We propose to expand our recent studies on the interactions of intense extreme ultraviolet (XUV) femtosecond pulses with atomic and molecular clusters. The work described follows directly from work performed under BES support for the past grant period. During this period we upgraded the THOR laser at UT Austin by replacing the regenerative amplifier with optical parametric amplification (OPA) using BBO crystals. This increased the contrast of the laser, the total laser energy to ~1.2 J , and decreased the pulse width to below 30 fs. We built a new all reflective XUV harmonic beam line into expanded lab space. This enabled an increase influence by a factor ofmore » 25 and an increase in the intensity by a factor of 50. The goal of the program proposed in this renewal is to extend this class of experiments to available higher XUV intensity and a greater range of wavelengths. In particular we plan to perform experiments to confirm our hypothesis about the origin of the high charge states in these exploding clusters, an effect which we ascribe to plasma continuum lowering (ionization potential depression) in a cluster nano-­plasma. To do this we will perform experiments in which XUV pulses of carefully chosen wavelength irradiate clusters composed of only low-Z atoms and clusters with a mixture of this low-­Z atom with higher Z atoms. The latter clusters will exhibit higher electron densities and will serve to lower the ionization potential further than in the clusters composed only of low Z atoms. This should have a significant effect on the charge states produced in the exploding cluster. We will also explore the transition of explosions in these XUV irradiated clusters from hydrodynamic expansion to Coulomb explosion. The work proposed here will explore clusters of a wider range of constituents, including clusters from solids. Experiments on clusters from solids will be enabled by development we performed during the past grant period in which we

  11. Number-Density Measurements of CO2 in Real Time with an Optical Frequency Comb for High Accuracy and Precision

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scholten, Sarah K.; Perrella, Christopher; Anstie, James D.; White, Richard T.; Al-Ashwal, Waddah; Hébert, Nicolas Bourbeau; Genest, Jérôme; Luiten, Andre N.

    2018-05-01

    Real-time and accurate measurements of gas properties are highly desirable for numerous real-world applications. Here, we use an optical-frequency comb to demonstrate absolute number-density and temperature measurements of a sample gas with state-of-the-art precision and accuracy. The technique is demonstrated by measuring the number density of 12C16O2 with an accuracy of better than 1% and a precision of 0.04% in a measurement and analysis cycle of less than 1 s. This technique is transferable to numerous molecular species, thus offering an avenue for near-universal gas concentration measurements.

  12. Tapered photonic crystal fiber for simplified Yb:fiber laser frequency comb with low pulse energy and robust f ceo singals.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Tongxiao; Wang, Aimin; Wang, Guizhong; Zhang, Wei; Niu, Fuzeng; Li, Chen; Zhang, Zhigang

    2014-01-27

    A tapered silica photonic crystal fiber was designed and fabricated to generate more than one octave spanning supercontinuum (from 550 nm to 1400 nm at -30 dB level), by an input pulse of 40 fs 200 pJ directly from an Yb:fiber ring laser. The low pulse energy spectrum broadening are favorable to generate the high contrast f ceo signals with low noise. The f ceo signal with 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio was detected, which helps to build a compact real-world frequency comb.

  13. Enhanced post wash retention of combed DNA molecules by varying multiple combing parameters.

    PubMed

    Yadav, Hemendra; Sharma, Pulkit

    2017-11-01

    Recent advances in genomics have created a need for efficient techniques for deciphering information hidden in various genomes. Single molecule analysis is one such technique to understand molecular processes at single molecule level. Fiber- FISH performed with the help of DNA combing can help us in understanding genetic rearrangements and changes in genome at single DNA molecule level. For performing Fiber-FISH we need high retention of combed DNA molecules post wash as Fiber-FISH requires profuse washing. We optimized combing process involving combing solution, method of DNA mounting on glass slides and coating of glass slides to enhance post-wash retention of DNA molecules. It was found that average number of DNA molecules observed post-wash per field of view was maximum with our optimized combing solution. APTES coated glass slides showed lesser retention than PEI surface but fluorescent intensity was higher in case of APTES coated surface. Capillary method used to mount DNA on glass slides also showed lesser retention but straight DNA molecules were observed as compared to force flow method. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Probing the Initial Mass Function in Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) Disks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koda, Jin

    2012-01-01

    "The GALEX UV satellite discovered tantalizing evidence of star formation (SF) far beyond the optical edge of galactic disks (i.e. extended UV disk, or XUV disk). This discovery provides a new opportunity for studying SF in the exceedingly low-density environment (˜1/10 of typical SF density), spurring intense debate on the universality of the initial mass function (IMF) in such exceptional environments. Our pilot S-Cam study of M83’s XUV disk led to support for the universal IMF at least in M83 (Koda et al. 2012). We propose an expansion of the pilot study, observing 6 XUV disks in NA656(Hα), B, I, and R-band with S-Cam. In conjunction with GALEX UV bands, these images will reveal the presence of O stars (Hα; NA656-R) and O&B stars (UV) in stellar clusters -thus, constraining the high-mass end of the IMF. The multi-broadband images will enable us to determine the masses of the clusters with much improved accuracy (previously, relied only on R). The proposed observations will not only increase the statistical significance of our previous result, but also enable us to analyze the stochastic effect of IMF sampling in very low-mass clusters (10^{2+3} M_sun) - the regime about which there is much ongoing debate."

  15. Probing the Initial Mass Function in Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) Disks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koda, Jin

    2014-01-01

    The GALEX UV satellite discovered tantalizing evidence of star formation (SF) far beyond the optical edge of galactic disks (i.e. XUV disk). This discovery provides a new opportunity for studying SF in the exceedingly low-density environment (~1/10 of typical SF density), spurring intense debate on the universality of the initial mass function (IMF) in such exceptional environments. Our pilot study led to support for the universal IMF at least in M83’s XUV disk (Koda et al. 2012). We propose an expansion of the pilot study by about an order of magnitude, by observing total ~ 10 XUV disks (6 disks in S14A) in NA656(Halpha), B, I, and R-band with S-Cam. In conjunction with GALEX UV bands, these images will reveal the presence of O stars (Halpha) and O&B stars (UV) in stellar clusters -thus, constraining the high-mass end of the IMF. These multi-broadband images will enable us to determine the masses of the clusters with much improved accuracy (previously, relied only on R). This project will not only increase the statistical significance of our previous result, but also enable us to analyze the stochastic effect of IMF sampling in very low-mass clusters (102-3 Msun) - the regime of ongoing debate. This proposal will complete this on-going project with S-Cam.

  16. Improving the accuracy of a dual-comb interferometer by suppressing the relative linewidth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Zebin; Xu, Guangyao; Ni, Kai; Zhou, Qian; Wu, Guanhao

    2018-04-01

    We present a compact system of synchronization for two fiber-based optical frequency comb lasers. We use a free-running continuous wave laser as an intermediary to obtain the relative noise of two combs and employ an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator (EOM) to achieve active phase feedback for fast synchronization. The EOM bandwidth is 150 kHz and the relative linewidth is suppressed markedly from 300 kHz to sub-hertz values. The relative effective timing jitter of the two pulse trains is also decreased from 680 fs to 25 fs. The proposed method shows promise for developing a high-performance, low-cost, fiber-based dual-comb interferometer for ranging or spectroscopy.

  17. Laboratory duplication of comb layering in the Rhum pluton. [igneous rocks with comb layered texture

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Donaldson, C. H.

    1977-01-01

    A description is provided of the texture of harrisite comb layers, taking into account the results of crystallization experiments at controlled cooling rates, which have reproduced the textural change from 'cumulate' to comb-layered harrisite. Melted samples of harrisite were used in the dynamic crystallization experiments considered. The differentiation of a cooling rate run with respect to olivine grain size and shape is shown and three possible origins of hopper olivine in differentiated crystallization runs are considered. It is found that olivine nucleation occurred throughout cooling, except for the incubation period during early cooling. The elongate combed olivines in harrisite apparently grew as the magma locally supercooled to at least 30 C. It is suggested that the branching crystals in most comb layers, including comb-layered harrisite, probably grew along thermal gradients.

  18. Feed-forward coherent link from a comb to a diode laser: Application to widely tunable cavity ring-down spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gotti, Riccardo; Prevedelli, Marco; Kassi, Samir; Marangoni, Marco; Romanini, Daniele

    2018-02-01

    We apply a feed-forward frequency control scheme to establish a phase-coherent link from an optical frequency comb to a distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser: This allows us to exploit the full laser tuning range (up to 1 THz) with the linewidth and frequency accuracy of the comb modes. The approach relies on the combination of an RF single-sideband modulator (SSM) and of an electro-optical SSM, providing a correction bandwidth in excess of 10 MHz and a comb-referenced RF-driven agile tuning over several GHz. As a demonstration, we obtain a 0.3 THz cavity ring-down scan of the low-pressure methane absorption spectrum. The spectral resolution is 100 kHz, limited by the self-referenced comb, starting from a DFB diode linewidth of 3 MHz. To illustrate the spectral resolution, we obtain saturation dips for the 2ν3 R(6) methane multiplet at μbar pressure. Repeated measurements of the Lamb-dip positions provide a statistical uncertainty in the kHz range.

  19. Damage mechanisms of MoN/SiN multilayer optics for next-generation pulsed XUV light sources.

    PubMed

    Sobierajski, R; Bruijn, S; Khorsand, A R; Louis, E; van de Kruijs, R W E; Burian, T; Chalupsky, J; Cihelka, J; Gleeson, A; Grzonka, J; Gullikson, E M; Hajkova, V; Hau-Riege, S; Juha, L; Jurek, M; Klinger, D; Krzywinski, J; London, R; Pelka, J B; Płociński, T; Rasiński, M; Tiedtke, K; Toleikis, S; Vysin, L; Wabnitz, H; Bijkerk, F

    2011-01-03

    We investigated the damage mechanism of MoN/SiN multilayer XUV optics under two extreme conditions: thermal annealing and irradiation with single shot intense XUV pulses from the free-electron laser facility in Hamburg - FLASH. The damage was studied "post-mortem" by means of X-ray diffraction, interference-polarizing optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Although the timescale of the damage processes and the damage threshold temperatures were different (in the case of annealing it was the dissociation temperature of Mo2N and in the case of XUV irradiation it was the melting temperature of MoN) the main damage mechanism is very similar: molecular dissociation and the formation of N2, leading to bubbles inside the multilayer structure.

  20. Treatment of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation: is regular combing alone with a special detection comb effective at all levels?

    PubMed

    Kurt, Özgür; Balcıoğlu, I Cüneyt; Limoncu, M Emin; Girginkardeşler, Nogay; Arserim, Süha K; Görgün, Serhan; Oyur, Tuba; Karakuş, Mehmet; Düzyol, Didem; Gökmen, Aysegül Aksoy; Kitapçıoğlu, Gül; Özbel, Yusuf

    2015-04-01

    Head lice infestation (HLI) caused by Pediculus humanus capitis has been a public health problem worldwide. Specially designed combs are used to identify head lice, while anti-lice products are applied on the scalp for treatment. In the present study, we aimed to test whether combing only by precision detection comb (PDC) or metal pin comb (MPC) could be effective alternatives to the use of anti-lice products in children. A total of 560 children from two rural schools in Turkey were screened. In the PDC trial, children were combed every second day for 14 days, while in the MPC trial, combing was performed once in every four days for 15 days. Children were divided into two groups (dry combing and wet combing) for both trials and results were compared. The results showed no significant differences between dry and wet combing strategies for both combs for the removal of head lice (p > 0.05). The number of adult head lice declined significantly on each subsequent combing day in both approaches, except on day 15 in the MPC trial. In the end, no louse was found in 54.1 and 48.9% of children in the PDC and MPC trials, respectively. Since family members of infested children were not available, they were not checked for HLI. Four times combing within 2 weeks with MPC combs was found effective for both treatment of low HLI and prevention of heavy HLI. In conclusion, regular combing by special combs decreases HLI level in children and is safely applicable as long-term treatment.

  1. Drifting cavity solitons and dissipative rogue waves induced by time-delayed feedback in Kerr optical frequency comb and in all fiber cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tlidi, Mustapha; Panajotov, Krassimir; Ferré, Michel; Clerc, Marcel G.

    2017-11-01

    Time-delayed feedback plays an important role in the dynamics of spatially extended systems. In this contribution, we consider the generic Lugiato-Lefever model with delay feedback that describes Kerr optical frequency comb in all fiber cavities. We show that the delay feedback strongly impacts the spatiotemporal dynamical behavior resulting from modulational instability by (i) reducing the threshold associated with modulational instability and by (ii) decreasing the critical frequency at the onset of this instability. We show that for moderate input intensities it is possible to generate drifting cavity solitons with an asymmetric radiation emitted from the soliton tails. Finally, we characterize the formation of rogue waves induced by the delay feedback.

  2. Molecular frame photoemission by a comb of elliptical high-order harmonics: a sensitive probe of both photodynamics and harmonic complete polarization state.

    PubMed

    Veyrinas, K; Gruson, V; Weber, S J; Barreau, L; Ruchon, T; Hergott, J-F; Houver, J-C; Lucchese, R R; Salières, P; Dowek, D

    2016-12-16

    Due to the intimate anisotropic interaction between an XUV light field and a molecule resulting in photoionization (PI), molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPADs) are most sensitive probes of both electronic/nuclear dynamics and the polarization state of the ionizing light field. Consequently, they encode the complex dipole matrix elements describing the dynamics of the PI transition, as well as the three normalized Stokes parameters s 1 , s 2 , s 3 characterizing the complete polarization state of the light, operating as molecular polarimetry. The remarkable development of advanced light sources delivering attosecond XUV pulses opens the perspective to visualize the primary steps of photochemical dynamics in time-resolved studies, at the natural attosecond to few femtosecond time-scales of electron dynamics and fast nuclear motion. It is thus timely to investigate the feasibility of measurement of MFPADs when PI is induced e.g., by an attosecond pulse train (APT) corresponding to a comb of discrete high-order harmonics. In the work presented here, we report MFPAD studies based on coincident electron-ion 3D momentum imaging in the context of ultrafast molecular dynamics investigated at the PLFA facility (CEA-SLIC), with two perspectives: (i) using APTs generated in atoms/molecules as a source for MFPAD-resolved PI studies, and (ii) taking advantage of molecular polarimetry to perform a complete polarization analysis of the harmonic emission of molecules, a major challenge of high harmonic spectroscopy. Recent results illustrating both aspects are reported for APTs generated in unaligned SF 6 molecules by an elliptically polarized infrared driving field. The observed fingerprints of the elliptically polarized harmonics include the first direct determination of the complete s 1 , s 2 , s 3 Stokes vector, equivalent to (ψ, ε, P), the orientation and the signed ellipticity of the polarization ellipse, and the degree of polarization P. They are

  3. Probing the Initial Mass Function in Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) Disks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koda, Jin

    2013-01-01

    "The GALEX UV satellite discovered tantalizing evidence of star formation (SF) far beyond the optical edge of galactic disks (i.e. extended UV disk, or XUV disk). This discovery provides a new opportunity for studying SF in the exceedingly low-density environment (˜1/10 of typical SF density), spurring intense debate on the universality of the initial mass function (IMF) in such exceptional environments. Our pilot S-Cam study of M83’s XUV disk led to support for the universal IMF at least in M83 (Koda et al. 2012). We propose an expansion of the pilot study by an order of magnitude, by observing additional 6 XUV disks in NA656(Hα), B, I, and R-band with S-Cam in S13A. In conjunction with GALEX UV bands, these images will reveal the presence of O stars (Hα; NA656-R) and O&B stars (UV) in stellar clusters -thus, constraining the high-mass end of the IMF. These multi-broadband images will enable us to determine the masses of the clusters with much improved accuracy (previously, relied only on R). The proposed observations will not only increase the statistical significance of our previous result, but also enable us to analyze the stochastic effect of IMF sampling in very low-mass - clusters (10^(2+3) M_sun) - the regime about which there is much ongoing debate."

  4. Probing the Initial Mass Function in Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) Disks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koda, Jin

    2013-01-01

    "The GALEX UV satellite discovered tantalizing evidence of star formation (SF) far beyond the optical edge of galactic disks (i.e. extended UV disk, or XUV disk). This discovery provides a new opportunity for studying SF in the exceedingly low-density environment (˜1/10 of typical SF density), spurring intense debate on the universality of the initial mass function (IMF) in such exceptional environments. Our pilot S-Cam study of M83’s XUV disk led to support for the universal IMF at least in M83 (Koda et al. 2012). We propose an expansion of the pilot study by about an order of magnitude, by observing 6 XUV disks in NA656(Hα), B, I, and R-band with S-Cam in S13B. In conjunction with GALEX UV bands, these images will reveal the presence of O stars (Hα) and O&B stars (UV) in stellar clusters -thus, constraining the high-mass end of the IMF. These multi-broadband images will enable us to determine the masses of the clusters with much improved accuracy (previously, relied only on R). The proposed observations will not only increase the statistical significance of our previous result, but also enable us to analyze the stochastic effect of IMF sampling in very low-mass - clusters (10^{2+3} M_sun) - the regime of ongoing debate. Previously allocated 1+2 nights were cancelled (telescope failures)."

  5. Dual comb generation from a mode-locked fiber laser with orthogonally polarized interlaced pulses.

    PubMed

    Akosman, Ahmet E; Sander, Michelle Y

    2017-08-07

    Ultra-high precision dual-comb spectroscopy traditionally requires two mode-locked, fully stabilized lasers with complex feedback electronics. We present a novel mode-locked operation regime in a thulium-holmium co-doped fiber laser, a frequency-halved state with orthogonally polarized interlaced pulses, for dual comb generation from a single source. In a linear fiber laser cavity, an ultrafast pulse train composed of co-generated, equal intensity and orthogonally polarized consecutive pulses at half of the fundamental repetition rate is demonstrated based on vector solitons. Upon optical interference of the orthogonally polarized pulse trains, two stable microwave RF beat combs are formed, effectively down-converting the optical properties into the microwave regime. These co-generated, dual polarization interlaced pulse trains, from one all-fiber laser configuration with common mode suppression, thus provide an attractive compact source for dual-comb spectroscopy, optical metrology and polarization entanglement measurements.

  6. All solid state mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy platform based on QCL technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hugi, Andreas; Geiser, Markus; Villares, Gustavo; Cappelli, Francesco; Blaser, Stephane; Faist, Jérôme

    2015-01-01

    We develop a spectroscopy platform for industrial applications based on semiconductor quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs. The platform's key features will be an unmatched combination of bandwidth of 100 cm-1, resolution of 100 kHz, speed of ten to hundreds of μs as well as size and robustness, opening doors to beforehand unreachable markets. The sensor can be built extremely compact and robust since the laser source is an all-electrically pumped semiconductor optical frequency comb and no mechanical elements are required. However, the parallel acquisition of dual-comb spectrometers comes at the price of enormous data-rates. For system scalability, robustness and optical simplicity we use free-running QCL combs. Therefore no complicated optical locking mechanisms are required. To reach high signal-to-noise ratios, we develop an algorithm, which is based on combination of coherent and non-coherent averaging. This algorithm is specifically optimized for free-running and small footprint, therefore high-repetition rate, comb sources. As a consequence, our system generates data-rates of up to 3.2 GB/sec. These data-rates need to be reduced by several orders of magnitude in real-time in order to be useful for spectral fitting algorithms. We present the development of a data-treatment solution, which reaches a single-channel throughput of 22% using a standard laptop-computer. Using a state-of-the art desktop computer, the throughput is increased to 43%. This is combined with a data-acquisition board to a stand-alone data processing unit, allowing real-time industrial process observation and continuous averaging to achieve highest signal fidelity.

  7. Stellar and laboratory XUV/EUV line ratios in Fe XVIII and Fe XIX

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Traebert, E.; Beiersdorfer, P.; Clementson, J.

    2012-05-25

    A so-called XUV excess has been suspected with the relative fluxes of Fe XVIII and Fe XIX lines observed in the XUV and EUV ranges of the spectrum of the star Capella as observed by the Chandra spacecraft, even after correction for interstellar absorption. This excess becomes apparent in the comparison of the observations with simulations of stellar spectra obtained using collisional-radiative models that employ, for example, the Atomic Plasma Emission Code (APEC) or the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC). We have addressed this problem by laboratory studies using the Livermore electron beam ion trap (EBIT).

  8. A broadband chip-scale optical frequency synthesizer at 2.7 × 10−16 relative uncertainty

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Shu-Wei; Yang, Jinghui; Yu, Mingbin; McGuyer, Bart H.; Kwong, Dim-Lee; Zelevinsky, Tanya; Wong, Chee Wei

    2016-01-01

    Optical frequency combs—coherent light sources that connect optical frequencies with microwave oscillations—have become the enabling tool for precision spectroscopy, optical clockwork, and attosecond physics over the past decades. Current benchmark systems are self-referenced femtosecond mode-locked lasers, but Kerr nonlinear dynamics in high-Q solid-state microresonators has recently demonstrated promising features as alternative platforms. The advance not only fosters studies of chip-scale frequency metrology but also extends the realm of optical frequency combs. We report the full stabilization of chip-scale optical frequency combs. The microcomb’s two degrees of freedom, one of the comb lines and the native 18-GHz comb spacing, are simultaneously phase-locked to known optical and microwave references. Active comb spacing stabilization improves long-term stability by six orders of magnitude, reaching a record instrument-limited residual instability of 3.6mHz/τ. Comparing 46 nitride frequency comb lines with a fiber laser frequency comb, we demonstrate the unprecedented microcomb tooth-to-tooth relative frequency uncertainty down to 50 mHz and 2.7 × 10−16, heralding novel solid-state applications in precision spectroscopy, coherent communications, and astronomical spectrography. PMID:27152341

  9. Microresonator Frequency Comb Optical Clock

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-07-22

    lithic construction with small size and power consumption. Microcomb development has included frequency control of their spectra [8–11...frequency f eo and amplified to a maximum of 140 mW. The first-order sideband powers are approximately 3 dB lower than the pump, and the piece of highly...resonator offers sufficient peak power for our experiments and is stable and repeatable even for different settings of pump frequency and power

  10. Generation of Optical Combs in a WGM Resonator from a Bichromatic Pump

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Strekalov, Dmitry V.; Yu, Nan; Matsko, Andrey B.

    2010-01-01

    Optical combs generated by a monolithic resonator with Kerrmedium can be used in a number of applications, including orbital clocks and frequency standards of extremely high accuracy, such as astronomy, molecular spectroscopy, and the like. The main difficulty of this approach is the relatively high pump power that has to be used in such devices, causing undesired thermorefractive effects, as well as stimulated Raman scattering, and limiting the optical comb quality and utility. In order to overcome this problem, this innovation uses a different approach to excitation of the nonlinear oscillations in a Kerr-nonlinear whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator and generation of the optical comb. By coupling to the resonator two optical pump frequencies instead of just one, the efficiency of the comb source can be increased considerably. It therefore can operate in a lowerpower regime where the undesirable effects are not present. This process does not have a power threshold; therefore, the new optical component can easily be made strong enough to generate further components, making the optical comb spread in a cascade fashion. Additionally, the comb spacing can be made in an arbitrary number of the resonator free spectral ranges (FSR). The experimental setup for this innovation used a fluorite resonator with OMEGA= 13.56 GHz. This material has very low dispersion at the wavelength of 1.5 microns, so the resonator spectrum around this wavelength is highly equidistant. Light was coupled in and out of the resonator using two optical fibers polished at the optimal coupling angle. The gap between the resonator and the fibers, affecting the light coupling and the resonator loading, was controlled by piezo positioners. The light from the input fiber that did not go into the resonator reflected off of its rim, and was collected by a photodetector. This enabled observation and measurement of the (absorption) spectrum of the resonator. The input fiber combined light from two

  11. TIMED solar EUV experiment: preflight calibration results for the XUV photometer system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Woods, Thomas N.; Rodgers, Erica M.; Bailey, Scott M.; Eparvier, Francis G.; Ucker, Gregory J.

    1999-10-01

    The Solar EUV Experiment (SEE) on the NASA Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) mission will measure the solar vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectral irradiance from 0.1 to 200 nm. To cover this wide spectral range two different types of instruments are used: a grating spectrograph for spectra between 25 and 200 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.4 nm and a set of silicon soft x-ray (XUV) photodiodes with thin film filters as broadband photometers between 0.1 and 35 nm with individual bandpasses of about 5 nm. The grating spectrograph is called the EUV Grating Spectrograph (EGS), and it consists of a normal- incidence, concave diffraction grating used in a Rowland spectrograph configuration with a 64 X 1024 array CODACON detector. The primary calibrations for the EGS are done using the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF-III) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In addition, detector sensitivity and image quality, the grating scattered light, the grating higher order contributions, and the sun sensor field of view are characterized in the LASP calibration laboratory. The XUV photodiodes are called the XUV Photometer System (XPS), and the XPS includes 12 photodiodes with thin film filters deposited directly on the silicon photodiodes' top surface. The sensitivities of the XUV photodiodes are calibrated at both the NIST SURF-III and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) electron storage ring called BESSY. The other XPS calibrations, namely the electronics linearity and field of view maps, are performed in the LASP calibration laboratory. The XPS and solar sensor pre-flight calibration results are primarily discussed as the EGS calibrations at SURF-III have not yet been performed.

  12. Time resolved 3D momentum imaging of ultrafast dynamics by coherent VUV-XUV radiation

    DOE PAGES

    Sturm, F. P.; Wright, T. W.; Ray, D.; ...

    2016-06-14

    Have we present a new experimental setup for measuring ultrafast nuclear and electron dynamics of molecules after photo-excitation and ionization. We combine a high flux femtosecond vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) source with an internally cold molecular beam and a 3D momentum imaging particle spectrometer to measure electrons and ions in coincidence. We describe a variety of tools developed to perform pump-probe studies in the VUV-XUV spectrum and to modify and characterize the photon beam. First benchmark experiments are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the system.

  13. Dual-comb spectroscopy of laser-induced plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bergevin, Jenna; Wu, Tsung-Han; Yeak, Jeremy

    Dual-comb spectroscopy has become a powerful spectroscopic technique in applications that rely on its broad spectral coverage combined with high frequency resolution capabilities. Experiments to date have primarily focused on detection and analysis of multiple gas species under semi-static conditions, with applications ranging from environmental monitoring of greenhouse gases to high resolution molecular spectroscopy. Here, we utilize dual-comb spectroscopy to demonstrate broadband, high-resolution, and time-resolved measurements in a laser induced plasma for the first time. As a first demonstration, we simultaneously detect trace amounts of Rb and K in solid samples with a single laser ablation shot, with transitions separatedmore » by over 6 THz (13 nm) and spectral resolution sufficient to resolve isotopic and ground state hyperfine splittings of the Rb D2 line. This new spectroscopic approach offers the broad spectral coverage found in the powerful techniques of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) while providing the high-resolution and accuracy of cw laser-based spectroscopies.« less

  14. Rare-gas-cluster explosions under irradiation by intense short XUV pulses

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hoffmann, K.; Murphy, B.; Kandadai, N.

    High-intensity, extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) femtosecond interactions with large rare-gas clusters of xenon and argon have been studied at a wavelength of 38 nm. Pulses of XUV radiation with nJ energy are produced by high-order harmonic conversion from a 35-fs, near-infrared, terawatt laser. Mass resolved ion spectra show charge states up to Xe{sup 8+} and Ar{sup 4+}. Kinetic-energy measurements of ions and electrons indicate that a nanoplasma is formed and a hydrodynamic cluster explosion ensues after heating by the short wavelength pulse. It appears that the observed charge states and electron temperatures are consistent with sequential, single-photon ionization and collisional ionization ofmore » ions that have had their ionization potential depressed by plasma continuum lowering in the cluster nanoplasma.« less

  15. Simulation of Electrostatic Actuation in Interdigitated Comb Drive MEMS Resonator for Energy Harvester Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sathya, S.; Pavithra, M.; Muruganand, S.

    2016-09-01

    This paper presents an actuation mechanism based on the interdigitated comb drive MEMS resonator. The important role of that device is to establish MEMS resonators for the second order systems. Comb drive model is one of the basic model which uses the principle of electrostatic and force can be generated for the capacitive sensors. This work is done by overlapping movable and fixed comb fingers which produces an energy. The specific range of the polyimide material properties of young's modulus of 3.1GPa and density of 1300 Kg/m3. Results are shown in the structural domain performance of a lateral motion which corresponds to the applying voltage between the interdigitated comb fingers. It has laterally driven about 40pm with driving voltage. Also the resonance frequency 24Hz and 15Hz with high quality factors are depending on the spring length 260pm and 360pm and structure thickness of 2μm and 5 μm. Here Finite element method (FEM) is used to simulate the various physics scenario and it is designed as two dimensional structure multiphysics domain. The prototype of comb drive MEMS resonator has been suitable for energy harvesting system applications.

  16. Development of XUV projection lithography at 60 to 80 nm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Newnam, B. E.; Viswanathan, V. K.

    The rationale, design, component properties, properties, and potential capabilities of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) projection lithography systems using 60-80 nm illumination and single-surface reflectors are described. These systems are evaluated for potential application to high-volume production of future generations of gigabit chips.

  17. Frequency-Comb Based Double-Quantum Two-Dimensional Spectrum Identifies Collective Hyperfine Resonances in Atomic Vapor Induced by Dipole-Dipole Interactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lomsadze, Bachana; Cundiff, Steven T.

    2018-06-01

    Frequency-comb based multidimensional coherent spectroscopy is a novel optical method that enables high-resolution measurement in a short acquisition time. The method's resolution makes multidimensional coherent spectroscopy relevant for atomic systems that have narrow resonances. We use double-quantum multidimensional coherent spectroscopy to reveal collective hyperfine resonances in rubidium vapor at 100 °C induced by dipole-dipole interactions. We observe tilted and elongated line shapes in the double-quantum 2D spectra, which have never been reported for Doppler-broadened systems. The elongated line shapes suggest that the signal is predominately from the interacting atoms that have a near zero relative velocity.

  18. Video-signal improvement using comb filtering techniques.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Arndt, G. D.; Stuber, F. M.; Panneton, R. J.

    1973-01-01

    Significant improvement in the signal-to-noise performance of television signals has been obtained through the application of comb filtering techniques. This improvement is achieved by removing the inherent redundancy in the television signal through linear prediction and by utilizing the unique noise-rejection characteristics of the receiver comb filter. Theoretical and experimental results describe the signal-to-noise ratio and picture-quality improvement obtained through the use of baseband comb filters and the implementation of a comb network as the loop filter in a phase-lock-loop demodulator. Attention is given to the fact that noise becomes correlated when processed by the receiver comb filter.

  19. High Resolution Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy of Vinyl Bromide (C_2H_3Br) and Nitromethane (CH_3NO_2) in the CH Stretch Region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Changala, Bryan; Spaun, Ben; Patterson, David; Ye, Jun

    2016-06-01

    We present high resolution rovibrational spectra of buffer gas cooled vinyl bromide (C_2H_3Br) and nitromethane (CH_3NO_2) in the 3 μm CH stretch region, acquired via cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb absorption spectroscopy. The ˜10 K translational and rotational temperatures of the molecular gas, as well as the narrow linewidth of the frequency comb, yield well resolved rotational structure, isotope shifts, and nuclear hyperfine splittings. Given the wide bandwidth of the light source and the long path length of the enhancement cavity, we measure entire vibrational bands in a single shot with high signal-to-noise ratios. We discuss spectra of the entire fundamental CH stretch manifolds of both C_2H_3Br and CH_3NO_2, which provide contrasting examples of rovibrational structure of rigid and non-rigid systems. C_2H_3Br is a relatively normal asymmetric top, exhibiting local perturbations to its rotational structure. Conversely, CH_3NO_2 contains an essentially unhindered methyl rotor. Of particular interest are its quasi-degenerate asymmetric CH stretch modes. Here, one must consider multiple couplings between torsional, rotational, and vibrational angular momentum, leading to qualitatively new level patterns and structure.

  20. Narrow linewidth comb realized with a mode-locked fiber laser using an intra-cavity waveguide electro-optic modulator for high-speed control.

    PubMed

    Iwakuni, Kana; Inaba, Hajime; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Kobayashi, Takumi; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Onae, Atsushi; Hong, Feng-Lei

    2012-06-18

    We have developed an optical frequency comb using a mode-locked fiber ring laser with an intra-cavity waveguide electro-optic modulator controlling the optical length in the laser cavity. The mode-locking is achieved with a simple ring configuration and a nonlinear polarization rotation mechanism. The beat note between the laser and a reference laser and the carrier envelope offset frequency of the comb were simultaneously phase locked with servo bandwidths of 1.3 MHz and 900 kHz, respectively. We observed an out-of-loop beat between two identical combs, and obtained a coherent δ-function peak with a signal to noise ratio of 70 dB/Hz.

  1. Evaluation of Pinholes in Unbacked Metal Film Filters to be Used in Rocket- and Satellite-Borne XUV Spectroheliographs.

    PubMed

    Hunter, W R; Purcell, J D; Steele, G N

    1973-08-01

    Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectroheliographs require thin metal film filters that transmit the XUV radiation and eliminate scattered visible and near-uv radiation that would fog the photographic film on which the XUV images are recorded. Pinholes in the filters cause local fogging of the film during exposures in flight. It will be shown that the best way for preflight evaluation of pinhole effects is by using the filter in the flight instrument and photographing the sun from the earth's surface. An alternative method that appears to be as good, and is more convenient. is to test the filters in a simulated flight instrument. The results of evaluations using both the flight instrument and a simulated flight instrument will be shown.

  2. Coherent cavity-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Fleisher, Adam J; Long, David A; Reed, Zachary D; Hodges, Joseph T; Plusquellic, David F

    2016-05-16

    Dual-comb spectroscopy allows for the rapid, multiplexed acquisition of high-resolution spectra without the need for moving parts or low-resolution dispersive optics. This method of broadband spectroscopy is most often accomplished via tight phase locking of two mode-locked lasers or via sophisticated signal processing algorithms, and therefore, long integration times of phase coherent signals are difficult to achieve. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach to dual-comb spectroscopy using two phase modulator combs originating from a single continuous-wave laser capable of > 2 hours of coherent real-time averaging. The dual combs were generated by driving the phase modulators with step-recovery diodes where each comb consisted of > 250 teeth with 203 MHz spacing and spanned > 50 GHz region in the near-infrared. The step-recovery diodes are passive devices that provide low-phase-noise harmonics for efficient coupling into an enhancement cavity at picowatt optical powers. With this approach, we demonstrate the sensitivity to simultaneously monitor ambient levels of CO2, CO, HDO, and H2O in a single spectral region at a maximum acquisition rate of 150 kHz. Robust, compact, low-cost and widely tunable dual-comb systems could enable a network of distributed multiplexed optical sensors.

  3. Coherent cavity-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Fleisher, Adam J.; Long, David A.; Reed, Zachary D.; Hodges, Joseph T.; Plusquellic, David F.

    2016-01-01

    Dual-comb spectroscopy allows for the rapid, multiplexed acquisition of high-resolution spectra without the need for moving parts or low-resolution dispersive optics. This method of broadband spectroscopy is most often accomplished via tight phase locking of two mode-locked lasers or via sophisticated signal processing algorithms, and therefore, long integration times of phase coherent signals are difficult to achieve. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach to dual-comb spectroscopy using two phase modulator combs originating from a single continuous-wave laser capable of > 2 hours of coherent real-time averaging. The dual combs were generated by driving the phase modulators with step-recovery diodes where each comb consisted of > 250 teeth with 203 MHz spacing and spanned > 50 GHz region in the near-infrared. The step-recovery diodes are passive devices that provide low-phase-noise harmonics for efficient coupling into an enhancement cavity at picowatt optical powers. With this approach, we demonstrate the sensitivity to simultaneously monitor ambient levels of CO2, CO, HDO, and H2O in a single spectral region at a maximum acquisition rate of 150 kHz. Robust, compact, low-cost and widely tunable dual-comb systems could enable a network of distributed multiplexed optical sensors. PMID:27409866

  4. Intense XUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) Radiation Sources.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-07-31

    Light Sources for High ................ .29 . Resolution XUV and VUV Spectroscopy; Appendix F:’High Resolution Spectra of Laser Pl -asma Light...34."" ."."".". "," .. .". .’ Laser (1.06juMm) iol 3 Target Intensit vrV Pls htN Ta disk 3 - I O WlCnr 4. K 2.2 ns 80100209 > 1~ C 1010 109 0 40 80 120 160 200 240...acknowledges support from SERC (UK). 1. Carroll, P.K., Kennedy, E.T. and O’Sullivan, G., 1980, App. Opt. 19, 1454. 2. Nagel, D.J., Brown, C.M., Peckerar

  5. Non-contact XUV metrology of Ru/B4C multilayer optics by means of Hartmann wavefront analysis.

    PubMed

    Ruiz-Lopez, Mabel; Dacasa, Hugo; Mahieu, Benoit; Lozano, Magali; Li, Lu; Zeitoun, Philippe; Bleiner, Davide

    2018-02-20

    Short-wavelength imaging, spectroscopy, and lithography scale down the characteristic length-scale to nanometers. This poses tight constraints on the optics finishing tolerances, which is often difficult to characterize. Indeed, even a tiny surface defect degrades the reflectivity and spatial projection of such optics. In this study, we demonstrate experimentally that a Hartmann wavefront sensor for extreme ultraviolet (XUV) wavelengths is an effective non-contact analytical method for inspecting the surface of multilayer optics. The experiment was carried out in a tabletop laboratory using a high-order harmonic generation as an XUV source. The wavefront sensor was used to measure the wavefront errors after the reflection of the XUV beam on a spherical Ru/B 4 C multilayer mirror, scanning a large surface of approximately 40 mm in diameter. The results showed that the technique detects the aberrations in the nanometer range.

  6. A new XUV optical end-station to characterize compact and flexible photonic devices using synchrotron radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marcelli, A.; Mazuritskiy, M. I.; Dabagov, S. B.; Hampai, D.; Lerer, A. M.; Izotova, E. A.; D'Elia, A.; Turchini, S.; Zema, N.; Zuccaro, F.; de Simone, M.; Javad Rezvani, S.; Coreno, M.

    2018-03-01

    In this contribution we present the new experimental end-station to characterize XUV diffractive optics, such as Micro Channel Plates (MCPs) and other polycapillary optics, presently under commission at the Elettra synchrotron radiation laboratory (Trieste, Italy). To show the opportunities offered by these new optical devices for 3rd and 4th generation radiation sources, in this work we present also some patterns collected at different energies of the primary XUV radiation transmitted by MCP optical devices working in the normal incidence geometry.

  7. Development of XUV projection lithography at 60-80 nm (Poster Paper)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Newnam, Brian E.; Viswanathan, Vriddhachalam K.

    1992-07-01

    The rationale, design, component properties, and potential capabilities of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) projection lithography systems using 60 - 80 nm illumination and single-surface reflectors are described. These systems are evaluated for potential application to high-volume production of future generations of gigabit chips.

  8. Probing ultrafast changes of spin and charge density profiles with resonant XUV magnetic reflectivity at the free-electron laser FERMI.

    PubMed

    Gutt, C; Sant, T; Ksenzov, D; Capotondi, F; Pedersoli, E; Raimondi, L; Nikolov, I P; Kiskinova, M; Jaiswal, S; Jakob, G; Kläui, M; Zabel, H; Pietsch, U

    2017-09-01

    We report the results of resonant magnetic XUV reflectivity experiments performed at the XUV free-electron laser FERMI. Circularly polarized XUV light with the photon energy tuned to the Fe M 2,3 edge is used to measure resonant magnetic reflectivities and the corresponding Q -resolved asymmetry of a Permalloy/Ta/Permalloy trilayer film. The asymmetry exhibits ultrafast changes on 240 fs time scales upon pumping with ultrashort IR laser pulses. Depending on the value of the wavevector transfer Q z , we observe both decreasing and increasing values of the asymmetry parameter, which is attributed to ultrafast changes in the vertical spin and charge density profiles of the trilayer film.

  9. Taxonomic evaluation of the genus Enterobacter based on multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA): proposal to reclassify E. nimipressuralis and E. amnigenus into Lelliottia gen. nov. as Lelliottia nimipressuralis comb. nov. and Lelliottia amnigena comb. nov., respectively, E. gergoviae and E. pyrinus into Pluralibacter gen. nov. as Pluralibacter gergoviae comb. nov. and Pluralibacter pyrinus comb. nov., respectively, E. cowanii, E. radicincitans, E. oryzae and E. arachidis into Kosakonia gen. nov. as Kosakonia cowanii comb. nov., Kosakonia radicincitans comb. nov., Kosakonia oryzae comb. nov. and Kosakonia arachidis comb. nov., respectively, and E. turicensis, E. helveticus and E. pulveris into Cronobacter as Cronobacter zurichensis nom. nov., Cronobacter helveticus comb. nov. and Cronobacter pulveris comb. nov., respectively, and emended description of the genera Enterobacter and Cronobacter.

    PubMed

    Brady, Carrie; Cleenwerck, Ilse; Venter, Stephanus; Coutinho, Teresa; De Vos, Paul

    2013-07-01

    The taxonomy of Enterobacter has a complicated history, with several species transferred to and from this genus. Classification of strains is difficult owing to its polyphyletic nature, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. It has been previously acknowledged that Enterobacter contains species which should be transferred to other genera. In an attempt to resolve the taxonomy of Enterobacter, MLSA based on partial sequencing of protein-encoding genes (gyrB, rpoB, infB and atpD) was performed on the type strains and reference strains of Enterobacter, Cronobacter and Serratia species, as well as members of the closely related genera Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Leclercia, Mangrovibacter, Raoultella and Yokenella. Phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated nucleotide sequences revealed that Enterobacter can be divided into five strongly supported MLSA groups, suggesting that the species should be reclassified into five different genera. Further support for this was provided by a concatenated amino acid tree, phenotypic characteristics and fatty acid profiles, enabling differentiation of the MLSA groups. Three novel genera are proposed: Lelliottia gen. nov., Pluralibacter gen. nov. and Kosakonia gen. nov. and the following new combinations: Lelliottia nimipressuralis comb. nov., Lelliottia amnigena comb. nov., Pluralibacter gergoviae comb. nov., Pluralibacter pyrinus comb. nov., Kosakonia cowanii comb. nov., Kosakonia radicincitans comb. nov., Kosakonia oryzae comb. nov., Kosakonia arachidis comb. nov., Cronobacter helveticus comb. nov. and Cronobacter pulveris comb. nov. Additionally, the novel epithet Cronobacter zurichensis nom. nov. is proposed for the reclassification of Enterobacter turicensis into the genus Cronobacter, as Cronobacter turicensis (Iversen et al., 2008) is already in use. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  10. Pulsed ultrasonic comb filtering effect and its applications in the measurement of sound velocity and thickness of thin plates.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jingfei; Declercq, Nico F

    2017-03-01

    An analytical and experimental study of the pulsed ultrasonic comb filtering effect is presented in this work intending to provide a fundamental tool for data analysis and phenomenon understanding in pulsed ultrasonics. The basic types of comb filter, feedforward and feedback filters, are numerically simulated and demonstrated. The characteristic features of comb filters, which include the formula for determining the locations of the spectral peaks or notches and the relationship between its temporal characteristics (relative time delay between constituent pulses) and its spectral characteristics (frequency interval between peaks or notches), are theoretically derived. To demonstrate the applicability of the comb filtering effect, it is applied to measuring the sound velocities and thickness of a thin plate sample. It is proven that the comb filtering effect based method not only is capable of accurate measurements, but also has advantages over the conventional time-of-flight based method in thin plate measurements. Furthermore, the principles developed in this study have potential applications in any pulsed ultrasonic cases where the output signal shows comb filter features. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Galactoseismology: From The Milky Way To XUV Disks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chakrabarti, Sukanya

    The variety of discrepancies between observations and simulations on galactic scales, from the anisotropic distribution of dwarf galaxies to the "too big to fail" problem (where massive satellites in simulations are too dense relative to observations), suggests that we may not yet fully understand galaxy formation. If these satellites exist, they would leave traces of their passage in extended HI disks. Extended HI disks of galaxies reach to several times the optical radius, presenting the largest possible cross-section for interaction with sub-halos at large distances (where theoretical models expect them to be). We will provide definitive constraints on the distribution of dark matter in spiral galaxies by building on our ongoing work in characterizing galactic satellites from analysis of disturbances in extended HI disks with respect to hydrodynamical simulations. Spiral galaxies in the Local Volume (from the Milky Way to the XUV disks discovered by GALEX) exhibit a wealth of unexplained morphology, but these morphological signatures have not yet been used to place constraints on the evolution of HI disks and the dark matter distribution. We are now poised to make significant progress in Galactoseismology, i.e. connect morphological disturbances with the mass distribution. By using the FIRE model for explicit star formation and feedback, we will also develop a better understanding for the star formation history of our Galaxy and XUV Disks. Our Milky Way models will be informed by the HST proper motions, and will match the observed planar disturbances, the warp, and vertical waves recently discovered by the RAVE and LAMOST surveys. We are also carrying high resolution simulations with the Gizmo code that incorporates the FIRE model to develop a comprehensive understanding of the star formation history and star formation rate (that matches Spitzer observations) of the Milky Way. These models will provide a much needed interpretative framework for JWST and WFIRST

  12. Unidirectional, dual-comb lasing under multiple pulse formation mechanisms in a passively mode-locked fiber ring laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Ya; Zhao, Xin; Hu, Guoqing; Li, Cui; Zhao, Bofeng; Zheng, Zheng

    2016-09-01

    Dual-comb lasers from which asynchronous ultrashort pulses can be simultaneously generated have recently become an interesting research subject. They could be an intriguing alternative to the current dual-laser optical-frequency-comb source with highly sophisticated electronic control systems. If generated through a common light path traveled by all pulses, the common-mode noises between the spectral lines of different pulse trains could be significantly reduced. Therefore, coherent dual-comb generation from a completely common-path, unidirectional lasing cavity would be an interesting territory to explore. In this paper, we demonstrate such a dual-comb lasing scheme based on a nanomaterial saturable absorber with additional pulse narrowing and broadening mechanisms concurrently introduced into a mode-locked fiber laser. The interactions between multiple soliton formation mechanisms result in unusual bifurcation into two-pulse states with quite different characteristics. Simultaneous oscillation of pulses with four-fold difference in pulsewidths and tens of Hz repetition rate difference is observed. The coherence between these spectral-overlapped, picosecond and femtosecond pulses is further verified by the corresponding asynchronous cross-sampling and dual-comb spectroscopy measurements.

  13. Single-order laser high harmonics in XUV for ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy of molecular wavepacket dynamics.

    PubMed

    Fushitani, Mizuho; Hishikawa, Akiyoshi

    2016-11-01

    We present applications of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) single-order laser harmonics to gas-phase ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy. Ultrashort XUV pulses at 80 nm are obtained as the 5th order harmonics of the fundamental laser at 400 nm by using Xe or Kr as the nonlinear medium and separated from other harmonic orders by using an indium foil. The single-order laser harmonics is applied for real-time probing of vibrational wavepacket dynamics of I 2 molecules in the bound and dissociating low-lying electronic states and electronic-vibrational wavepacket dynamics of highly excited Rydberg N 2 molecules.

  14. Ar 3p photoelectron sideband spectra in two-color XUV + NIR laser fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Minemoto, Shinichirou; Shimada, Hiroyuki; Komatsu, Kazma; Komatsubara, Wataru; Majima, Takuya; Mizuno, Tomoya; Owada, Shigeki; Sakai, Hirofumi; Togashi, Tadashi; Yoshida, Shintaro; Yabashi, Makina; Yagishita, Akira

    2018-04-01

    We performed photoelectron spectroscopy using femtosecond XUV pulses from a free-electron laser and femtosecond near-infrared pulses from a synchronized laser, and succeeded in measuring Ar 3p photoelectron sideband spectra due to the two-color above-threshold ionization. In our calculations of the first-order time-dependent perturbation theoretical model based on the strong field approximation, the photoelectron sideband spectra and their angular distributions are well reproduced by considering the timing jitter between the XUV and the NIR pulses, showing that the timing jitter in our experiments was distributed over the width of {1.0}+0.4-0.2 ps. The present approach can be used as a method to evaluate the timing jitter inevitable in FEL experiments.

  15. Hair breakage during combing. III. The effects of bleaching and conditioning on short and long segment breakage by wet and dry combing of tresses.

    PubMed

    Robbins, Clarence; Kamath, Yash

    2007-01-01

    A recent publication (1), provided evidence for two types of hair breakage during combing, short segment breakage (approximately less than 1.27 cm) and longer segment breakage. We have confirmed these results and refined the separation distance between short and long segment breakage at about 2.54 cm. Furthermore, chemical bleaching increased both short and long segment breakage while a commercial hair conditioner decreased both types of breakage. Whether the hair is chemically bleached or conditioned, for dry combing, short segment breakage increases with increasing comb strokes, that is, short segment breakage increases as combing damages the ends of the hair, however, long segment breakage does not increase with increasing comb strokes. Wet combing provided a decrease in short segment breakage and an increase in long segment breaks, but no increase in breakage with increasing comb strokes. Mechanical combing of tresses shows similar results qualitatively, however the variance was too large and adjustments need to be made to provide for a larger number of broken hairs to bring the mechanical and hand combing results in line. For dry combing, as the comb descends through the hair, hairs above it are made parallel and those beneath are either made parallel or knot by, hairs looping around other hairs or hairs looping around comb teeth and other hairs several cm between the comb and the hair tips. As the comb advances through the looped/knotted hairs long breaks occur or as the comb descends near the tips wrapped ends can result. End wrapping by inertia & possibly static charge produces short segment breaks which are more severe if the hair is cut at 90 degrees versus a tapered cut. For wet combing, clumping of hairs by a capillary action produces fewer short segment breaks, by reducing end wrapping: however, crossed hair interactions occur & because of higher friction more severe snags arise higher up in the tress, and lower hair breaking load due to plasticization

  16. Generation of an optical frequency comb with a Gaussian spectrum using a linear time-to-space mapping system.

    PubMed

    Hisatake, Shintaro; Tada, Keiji; Nagatsuma, Tadao

    2010-03-01

    We demonstrate the generation of an optical frequency comb (OFC) with a Gaussian spectrum using a continuous-wave (CW) laser, based on spatial convolution of a slit and a periodically moving optical beam spot in a linear time-to-space mapping system. A CW optical beam is linearly mapped to a spatial signal using two sinusoidal electro-optic (EO) deflections and an OFC is extracted by inserting a narrow spatial slit in the Fourier-transform plane of a second EO deflector (EOD). The spectral shape of the OFC corresponds to the spatial beam profile in the near-field region of the second EOD, which can be manipulated by a spatial filter without spectral dispersers. In a proof-of-concept experiment, a 16.25-GHz-spaced, 240-GHz-wide Gaussian-envelope OFC (corresponding to 1.8 ps Gaussian pulse generation) was demonstrated.

  17. Low-threshold collinear parametric Raman comb generation in calcite under 532 and 1064 nm picosecond laser pumping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smetanin, S. N.; Jelínek, M., Jr.; Kubeček, V.; Jelínková, H.

    2015-09-01

    Optimal conditions of low-threshold collinear parametric Raman comb generation in calcite (CaCO3) are experimentally investigated under 20 ps laser pulse excitation, in agreement with the theoretical study. The collinear parametric Raman generation of the highest number of Raman components in the short calcite crystals corresponding to the optimal condition of Stokes-anti-Stokes coupling was achieved. At the excitation wavelength of 1064 nm, using the optimum-length crystal resulted in the effective multi-octave frequency Raman comb generation containing up to five anti-Stokes and more than four Stokes components (from 674 nm to 1978 nm). The 532 nm pumping resulted in the frequency Raman comb generation from the 477 nm 2nd anti-Stokes up to the 692 nm 4th Stokes component. Using the crystal with a non-optimal length leads to the Stokes components generation only with higher thresholds because of the cascade-like stimulated Raman scattering with suppressed parametric coupling.

  18. Feasibility of an XUV FEL Oscillator Driven by a SCRF Linear Accelerator

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lumpkin, A. H.; Freund, H. P.; Reinsch, M.

    The Advanced Superconducting Test Accelerator (ASTA) facility is currently under construction at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Using a1-ms-long macropulse composed of up to 3000 micropulses, and with beam energies projected from 45 to 800 MeV, the possibility for an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser oscillator (FELO) with the higher energy is evaluated. We have used both GINGER with an oscillator module and the MEDUSA/OPC code to assess FELO saturation prospects at 120 nm, 40 nm, and 13.4 nm. The results support saturation at all of these wavelengths which are also shorter than the demonstrated shortest wavelength record of 176 nmmore » from a storage-ring-based FELO. This indicates linac-driven FELOs can be extended into this XUV wavelength regime previously only reached with single-pass FEL configurations.« less

  19. Deuterated silicon nitride photonic devices for broadband optical frequency comb generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chiles, Jeff; Nader, Nima; Hickstein, Daniel D.; Yu, Su Peng; Briles, Travis Crain; Carlson, David; Jung, Hojoong; Shainline, Jeffrey M.; Diddams, Scott; Papp, Scott B.; Nam, Sae Woo; Mirin, Richard P.

    2018-04-01

    We report and characterize low-temperature, plasma-deposited deuterated silicon nitride thin films for nonlinear integrated photonics. With a peak processing temperature less than 300$^\\circ$C, it is back-end compatible with pre-processed CMOS substrates. We achieve microresonators with a quality factor of up to $1.6\\times 10^6 $ at 1552 nm, and $>1.2\\times 10^6$ throughout $\\lambda$ = 1510 -- 1600 nm, without annealing or stress management. We then demonstrate the immediate utility of this platform in nonlinear photonics by generating a 1 THz free spectral range, 900-nm-bandwidth modulation-instability microresonator Kerr comb and octave-spanning, supercontinuum-broadened spectra.

  20. Study of beam aberrations in a germanium XXIII XUV laser amplifier

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, C. G.; Key, M. H.; Cairns, G.; Dwivedi, L.; Krishnan, J.; Lewis, C. L. S.; MacPhee, A. G.; Neely, D.; Ramsden, S. A.; Tallents, G.

    1996-02-01

    A beam of amplified spontaneous emission at {23.2}/{23.6}nm from a GeXXIII XUV laser has been injected into a separate amplifier plasma and the astigmatic aberrations introduced by plasma density gradients in the amplifier have been estimated from analysis of images of the amplified beam.

  1. Continuous Variable Cluster State Generation over the Optical Spatial Mode Comb

    DOE PAGES

    Pooser, Raphael C.; Jing, Jietai

    2014-10-20

    One way quantum computing uses single qubit projective measurements performed on a cluster state (a highly entangled state of multiple qubits) in order to enact quantum gates. The model is promising due to its potential scalability; the cluster state may be produced at the beginning of the computation and operated on over time. Continuous variables (CV) offer another potential benefit in the form of deterministic entanglement generation. This determinism can lead to robust cluster states and scalable quantum computation. Recent demonstrations of CV cluster states have made great strides on the path to scalability utilizing either time or frequency multiplexingmore » in optical parametric oscillators (OPO) both above and below threshold. The techniques relied on a combination of entangling operators and beam splitter transformations. Here we show that an analogous transformation exists for amplifiers with Gaussian inputs states operating on multiple spatial modes. By judicious selection of local oscillators (LOs), the spatial mode distribution is analogous to the optical frequency comb consisting of axial modes in an OPO cavity. We outline an experimental system that generates cluster states across the spatial frequency comb which can also scale the amount of quantum noise reduction to potentially larger than in other systems.« less

  2. Microresonator soliton dual-comb spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suh, Myoung-Gyun; Yang, Qi-Fan; Yang, Ki Youl; Yi, Xu; Vahala, Kerry J.

    2016-11-01

    Measurement of optical and vibrational spectra with high resolution provides a way to identify chemical species in cluttered environments and is of general importance in many fields. Dual-comb spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful approach for acquiring nearly instantaneous Raman and optical spectra with unprecedented resolution. Spectra are generated directly in the electrical domain, without the need for bulky mechanical spectrometers. We demonstrate a miniature soliton-based dual-comb system that can potentially transfer the approach to a chip platform. These devices achieve high-coherence pulsed mode locking. They also feature broad, reproducible spectral envelopes, an essential feature for dual-comb spectroscopy. Our work shows the potential for integrated spectroscopy with high signal-to-noise ratios and fast acquisition rates.

  3. Line-scan spectrum-encoded imaging by dual-comb interferometry.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chao; Deng, Zejiang; Gu, Chenglin; Liu, Yang; Luo, Daping; Zhu, Zhiwei; Li, Wenxue; Zeng, Heping

    2018-04-01

    Herein, the method of spectrum-encoded dual-comb interferometry is introduced to measure a three-dimensional (3-D) profile with absolute distance information. By combining spectral encoding for wavelength-to-space mapping, dual-comb interferometry for decoding and optical reference for calibration, this system can obtain a 3-D profile of an object at a stand-off distance of 114 mm with a depth precision of 12 μm. With the help of the reference arm, the absolute distance, reflectivity distribution, and depth information are simultaneously measured at a 5 kHz line-scan rate with free-running carrier-envelope offset frequencies. To verify the concept, experiments are conducted with multiple objects, including a resolution test chart, a three-stair structure, and a designed "ECNU" letter chain. The results show a horizontal resolution of ∼22  μm and a measurement range of 1.93 mm.

  4. Enhancement of the Comb Filtering Selectivity Using Iterative Moving Average for Periodic Waveform and Harmonic Elimination

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Yan; Aarts, Ronald M.

    2018-01-01

    A recurring problem regarding the use of conventional comb filter approaches for elimination of periodic waveforms is the degree of selectivity achieved by the filtering process. Some applications, such as the gradient artefact correction in EEG recordings during coregistered EEG-fMRI, require a highly selective comb filtering that provides effective attenuation in the stopbands and gain close to unity in the pass-bands. In this paper, we present a novel comb filtering implementation whereby the iterative filtering application of FIR moving average-based approaches is exploited in order to enhance the comb filtering selectivity. Our results indicate that the proposed approach can be used to effectively approximate the FIR moving average filter characteristics to those of an ideal filter. A cascaded implementation using the proposed approach shows to further increase the attenuation in the filter stopbands. Moreover, broadening of the bandwidth of the comb filtering stopbands around −3 dB according to the fundamental frequency of the stopband can be achieved by the novel method, which constitutes an important characteristic to account for broadening of the harmonic gradient artefact spectral lines. In parallel, the proposed filtering implementation can also be used to design a novel notch filtering approach with enhanced selectivity as well. PMID:29599955

  5. A table-top monochromator for tunable femtosecond XUV pulses generated in a semi-infinite gas cell: Experiment and simulations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Conta, A. von; Huppert, M.; Wörner, H. J.

    2016-07-15

    We present a new design of a time-preserving extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) monochromator using a semi-infinite gas cell as a source. The performance of this beamline in the photon-energy range of 20 eV–42 eV has been characterized. We have measured the order-dependent XUV pulse durations as well as the flux and the spectral contrast. XUV pulse durations of ≤40 fs using 32 fs, 800 nm driving pulses were measured on the target. The spectral contrast was better than 100 over the entire energy range. A simple model based on the strong-field approximation is presented to estimate different contributions to the measured XUVmore » pulse duration. On-axis phase-matching calculations are used to rationalize the variation of the photon flux with pressure and intensity.« less

  6. Comb-referenced ultra-high sensitivity spectroscopic molecular detection by compact non-linear sources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cancio, P.; Gagliardi, G.; Galli, I.; Giusfredi, G.; Maddaloni, P.; Malara, P.; Mazzotti, D.; De Natale, P.

    2017-11-01

    We present a new generation of compact and rugged mid-infrared (MIR) difference-frequency coherent radiation sources referenced to fiber-based optical frequency comb synthesizers (OFCSs). By coupling the MIR radiation to high-finesse optical cavities, high-resolution and high-sensitivity spectroscopy is demonstrated for CH4 and CO2 around 3.3 and 4.5 μm respectively. Finally, the most effective detection schemes for space-craft trace-gas monitoring applications are singled out.

  7. Selection and amplification of a single optical frequency comb mode for laser cooling of the strontium atoms in an optical clock

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu, Hui; School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; Yin, Mojuan

    2015-10-12

    In this paper, we report on the active filtering and amplification of a single mode from an optical femtosecond laser comb with mode spacing of 250 MHz by optical injection of two external-cavity diode lasers operating in cascade to build a narrow linewidth laser for laser cooling of the strontium atoms in an optical lattice clock. Despite the low injection of individual comb mode of approximately 50 nW, a single comb line at 689 nm could be filtered and amplified to reach as high as 10 mW with 37 dB side mode suppression and a linewidth of 240 Hz. This method could be appliedmore » over a broad spectral band to build narrow linewidth lasers for various applications.« less

  8. Arthur Wright Combs: A Humanistic Pioneer

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Magnuson, Sandy

    2012-01-01

    Arthur Wright Combs (1912-1999) championed humanistic counseling and education. He proposed a theory that incorporated humanistic values and cognitive factors. This article features a review of his contributions, an overview of his theory, a synthesis of stories about Combs that were acquired during research interviews, and my commentary on his…

  9. Correlated electronic decay in expanding clusters triggered by intense XUV pulses from a Free-Electron-Laser

    PubMed Central

    Oelze, Tim; Schütte, Bernd; Müller, Maria; Müller, Jan P.; Wieland, Marek; Frühling, Ulrike; Drescher, Markus; Al-Shemmary, Alaa; Golz, Torsten; Stojanovic, Nikola; Krikunova, Maria

    2017-01-01

    Irradiation of nanoscale clusters and large molecules with intense laser pulses transforms them into highly-excited non- equilibrium states. The dynamics of intense laser-cluster interaction is encoded in electron kinetic energy spectra, which contain signatures of direct photoelectron emission as well as emission of thermalized nanoplasma electrons. In this work we report on a so far not observed spectrally narrow bound state signature in the electron kinetic energy spectra from mixed Xe core - Ar shell clusters ionized by intense extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from a free-electron-laser. This signature is attributed to the correlated electronic decay (CED) process, in which an excited atom relaxes and the excess energy is used to ionize the same or another excited atom or a nanoplasma electron. By applying the terahertz field streaking principle we demonstrate that CED-electrons are emitted at least a few picoseconds after the ionizing XUV pulse has ended. Following the recent finding of CED in clusters ionized by intense near-infrared laser pulses, our observation of CED in the XUV range suggests that this process is of general relevance for the relaxation dynamics in laser produced nanoplasmas. PMID:28098175

  10. Wet combing for the eradication of head lice.

    PubMed

    2013-03-01

    Manual removal (using conditioner and comb or a wet comb) can be used in the treatment of head lice. Head lice infestation (Pediculosis humanus capitis) is a common problem. It is diagnosed by visualising the lice. As half of people infested with head lice will not scratch, all people in contact with a person affected with head lice should be manually checked for infestations. Wet combing is easily and safely performed at home, but persistence is needed. This article describes the process of head lice removal using a wet comb. It has NHMRC Level 2 evidence of efficacy and no serious adverse effects have been reported.

  11. Frequency-comb referenced spectroscopy of v₄₋ and v₅₋excited hot bands in the 1.5 and μm spectrum of C₂H₂

    DOE PAGES

    Twagirayezu, Sylvestre; Cich, Matthew J.; Sears, Trevor J.; ...

    2015-07-14

    Doppler-free transition frequencies for v₄₋ and v₅₋excited hot bands have been measured in the v₁ + v₃ band region of the spectrum of acetylene using saturation dip spectroscopy with an extended cavity diode laser referenced to a frequency comb. The frequency accuracy of the measured transitions, as judged from line shape model fits and comparison to known frequencies in the v₁ + v₃ band itself, is between 3 and 22 kHz. This is some three orders of magnitude improvement on the accuracy and precision of previous line position estimates that were derived from the analysis of high-resolution Fourier transform infraredmore » absorption spectra. Comparison to transition frequencies computed from constants derived from published Fourier transform infrared spectra shows that some upper rotational energy levels suffer specific perturbations causing energy level shifts of up to several hundred MHz. These perturbations are due to energy levels of the same rotational quantum number derived from nearby vibrational levels that become degenerate at specific energies. Future identification of the perturbing levels will provide accurate relative energies of excited vibrational levels of acetylene in the 7100–7600 cm⁻¹ energy region.« less

  12. Design considerations for optically pumped, UV and XUV lasers in the Be isoelectronic sequence

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Krishnan, M.; Trebes, J.

    1984-09-01

    Intense line radiation from plasmas of MnVI, PIX, AlV, AlVIII, AlIX, and AlXI may be used to selectively pump population inversions in plasmas of Be-like CIII, NIV, FVI, NeVII, NaVIII, and MgIX. Quasi-cw lasing is possible on 4p-3d and 4f-3d transitions at wavelengths from 2177 A to 230 A. At the XUV wavelengths, 1 J, 10 ns laser output pulses at 10/sup 8/ W power levels are shown possible with existing discharge technology. Since all six laser ions are in the Be isoelectronic sequence, detailed studies of the optical pumping process at UV wavelengths in CIII would provide scaling parametersmore » for the less accessible XUV wavelengths.« less

  13. United time-frequency spectroscopy for dynamics and global structure.

    PubMed

    Marian, Adela; Stowe, Matthew C; Lawall, John R; Felinto, Daniel; Ye, Jun

    2004-12-17

    Ultrashort laser pulses have thus far been used in two distinct modes. In the time domain, the pulses have allowed probing and manipulation of dynamics on a subpicosecond time scale. More recently, phase stabilization has produced optical frequency combs with absolute frequency reference across a broad bandwidth. Here we combine these two applications in a spectroscopic study of rubidium atoms. A wide-bandwidth, phase-stabilized femtosecond laser is used to monitor the real-time dynamic evolution of population transfer. Coherent pulse accumulation and quantum interference effects are observed and well modeled by theory. At the same time, the narrow linewidth of individual comb lines permits a precise and efficient determination of the global energy-level structure, providing a direct connection among the optical, terahertz, and radio-frequency domains. The mechanical action of the optical frequency comb on the atomic sample is explored and controlled, leading to precision spectroscopy with an appreciable reduction in systematic errors.

  14. Self-generation of optical frequency comb in single section quantum dot Fabry-Perot lasers: a theoretical study.

    PubMed

    Bardella, Paolo; Columbo, Lorenzo Luigi; Gioannini, Mariangela

    2017-10-16

    Optical Frequency Comb (OFC) generated by semiconductor lasers are currently widely used in the extremely timely field of high capacity optical interconnects and high precision spectroscopy. In the last decade, several experimental evidences of spontaneous OFC generation have been reported in single section Quantum Dot (QD) lasers. Here we provide a physical understanding of these self-organization phenomena by simulating the multi-mode dynamics of a single section Fabry-Perot (FP) QD laser using a Time-Domain Traveling-Wave (TDTW) model that properly accounts for coherent radiation-matter interaction in the semiconductor active medium and includes the carrier grating generated by the optical standing wave pattern in the laser cavity. We show that the latter is the fundamental physical effect at the origin of the multi-mode spectrum appearing just above threshold. A self-mode-locking regime associated with the emission of OFC is achieved for higher bias currents and ascribed to nonlinear phase sensitive effects as Four Wave Mixing (FWM). Our results explain in detail the behaviour observed experimentally by different research groups and in different QD and Quantum Dash (QDash) devices.

  15. Silicon-Chip-Based Optical Frequency Combs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-10-26

    waveform generation, frequency metrology, and astronomical spectrograph calibration [2,3,4]. Traditionally, modelocked solid-state and fiber lasers have...different external-cavity diode lasers covering a total tuning range between 1450 nm and 1640 nm. Lensed fibers are used to couple into and out of the...cavity resonance of a Si3N4 microring resonator with a single-frequency tunable diode laser amplified by a ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier. We use a

  16. Dynamic chirp control of all-optical format-converted pulsed data from a multi-wavelength inverse-optical-comb injected semiconductor optical amplifier.

    PubMed

    Lin, Gong-Ru; Pan, Ci-Ling; Yu, Kun-Chieh

    2007-10-01

    By spectrally and temporally reshaping the gain-window of a traveling-wave semiconductor optical amplifier (TWSOA) with a backward injected multi- or single-wavelength inverse-optical-comb, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the dynamic frequency chirp of the all-optical 10GBit/s Return-to-Zero (RZ) data-stream format-converted from the TWSOA under strong cross-gain depletion scheme. The multi-wavelength inverse-optical-comb injection effectively depletes the TWSOA gain spectrally and temporally, remaining a narrow gain-window and a reduced spectral linewidth and provide a converted RZ data with a smaller peak-to-peak frequency chirp of 6.7 GHz. Even at high inverse-optical-comb injection power and highly biased current condition for improving the operational bit-rate, the chirp of the multi-wavelength-injection converted RZ pulse is still 2.1-GHz smaller than that obtained by using single-wavelength injection at a cost of slight pulse-width broadening by 1 ps.

  17. Strong Field-Induced Frequency Conversion of Laser Radiation in Plasma Plumes: Recent Achievements

    PubMed Central

    Ganeev, R. A.

    2013-01-01

    New findings in plasma harmonics studies using strong laser fields are reviewed. We discuss recent achievements in the growth of the efficiency of coherent extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation sources based on frequency conversion of the ultrashort pulses in the laser-produced plasmas, which allowed for the spectral and structural studies of matter through the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectroscopy. These studies showed that plasma HHG can open new opportunities in many unexpected areas of laser-matter interaction. Besides being considered as an alternative method for generation of coherent XUV radiation, it can be used as a powerful tool for various spectroscopic and analytical applications. PMID:23864818

  18. In situ focus characterization by ablation technique to enable optics alignment at an XUV FEL source

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gerasimova, N.; Dziarzhytski, S.; Weigelt, H.

    2013-06-15

    In situ focus characterization is demonstrated by working at an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser source using ablation technique. Design of the instrument reported here allows reaching a few micrometres resolution along with keeping the ultrahigh vacuum conditions and ensures high-contrast visibility of ablative imprints on optically transparent samples, e.g., PMMA. This enables on-line monitoring of the beam profile changes and thus makes possible in situ alignment of the XUV focusing optics. A good agreement between focal characterizations retrieved from in situ inspection of ablative imprints contours and from well-established accurate ex situ analysis with Nomarski microscope has been observedmore » for a typical micro-focus experiment.« less

  19. The XUV environments of exoplanets from Jupiter-size to super-Earth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    King, George W.; Wheatley, Peter J.; Salz, Michael; Bourrier, Vincent; Czesla, Stefan; Ehrenreich, David; Kirk, James; Lecavelier des Etangs, Alain; Louden, Tom; Schmitt, Jürgen; Schneider, P. Christian

    2018-07-01

    Planets that reside close-in to their host star are subject to intense high-energy irradiation. Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray radiation (together, XUV) is thought to drive mass-loss from planets with volatile envelopes. We present XMM-Newton observations of six nearby stars hosting transiting planets in tight orbits (with orbital period, Porb < 10 d), wherein we characterize the XUV emission from the stars and subsequent irradiation levels at the planets. In order to reconstruct the unobservable EUV emission, we derive a new set of relations from Solar TIMED/SEE data that are applicable to the standard bands of the current generation of X-ray instruments. From our sample, WASP-80b and HD 149026b experience the highest irradiation level, but HAT-P-11b is probably the best candidate for Ly α evaporation investigations because of the system's proximity to the Solar system. The four smallest planets have likely lost a greater percentage of their mass over their lives than their larger counterparts. We also detect the transit of WASP-80b in the near-ultraviolet with the optical monitor on XMM-Newton.

  20. The XUV environments of exoplanets from Jupiter-size to super-Earth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    King, George W.; Wheatley, Peter J.; Salz, Michael; Bourrier, Vincent; Czesla, Stefan; Ehrenreich, David; Kirk, James; Lecavelier des Etangs, Alain; Louden, Tom; Schmitt, Jürgen; Schneider, P. Christian

    2018-05-01

    Planets that reside close-in to their host star are subject to intense high-energy irradiation. Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray radiation (together, XUV) is thought to drive mass loss from planets with volatile envelopes. We present XMM-Newton observations of six nearby stars hosting transiting planets in tight orbits (with orbital period, Porb < 10 d), wherein we characterise the XUV emission from the stars and subsequent irradiation levels at the planets. In order to reconstruct the unobservable EUV emission, we derive a new set of relations from Solar TIMED/SEE data that are applicable to the standard bands of the current generation of X-ray instruments. From our sample, WASP-80b and HD 149026b experience the highest irradiation level, but HAT-P-11b is probably the best candidate for Ly α evaporation investigations because of the system's proximity to the Solar System. The four smallest planets have likely lost a greater percentage of their mass over their lives than their larger counterparts. We also detect the transit of WASP-80b in the near ultraviolet with the Optical Monitor on XMM-Newton

  1. Comparing the flight activities of workers from two stocks of honey bees (Apis mellifera) raised in gamma-irradiated combs using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Gamma irradiation has been shown to inactivate pathogens (virus, American foulbrood and Nosema) that are harmful to honey bees. Preliminary data suggest that queens raised in mating nucleus colonies having gamma-irradiated combs outperformed queens from nucleus colonies not having irradiated combs. ...

  2. Towards a Table-Top Laser Driven XUV/X-Ray Source

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-08-27

    irradiated with intense ultra-short laser pulses. Bright monochromatic x- rays and broadband XUV emissions...as   evidenced  in  nature  by  the  sun,  stars,  and   gamma   ray  bursters.  In  laboratory  conditions,   bright...N.   Nerush,   I.   Yu.   Kostyukov,   B.   F.   Shen,   and   K.   U.   Akli;   "Energy partition,   gamma   ray

  3. Characteristics of soft x-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) emission from laser-produced highly charged rhodium ions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barte, Ellie Floyd; Hara, Hiroyuki; Tamura, Toshiki; Gisuji, Takuya; Chen, When-Bo; Lokasani, Ragava; Hatano, Tadashi; Ejima, Takeo; Jiang, Weihua; Suzuki, Chihiro; Li, Bowen; Dunne, Padraig; O'Sullivan, Gerry; Sasaki, Akira; Higashiguchi, Takeshi; Limpouch, Jiří

    2018-05-01

    We have characterized the soft x-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) emission of rhodium (Rh) plasmas produced using dual pulse irradiation by 150-ps or 6-ns pre-pulses, followed by a 150-ps main pulse. We have studied the emission enhancement dependence on the inter-pulse time separation and found it to be very significant for time separations less than 10 ns between the two laser pulses when using 6-ns pre-pulses. The behavior using a 150-ps pre-pulse was consistent with such plasmas displaying only weak self-absorption effects in the expanding plasma. The results demonstrate the advantage of using dual pulse irradiation to produce the brighter plasmas required for XUV applications.

  4. Phase separation of comb polymer nanocomposite melts.

    PubMed

    Xu, Qinzhi; Feng, Yancong; Chen, Lan

    2016-02-07

    In this work, the spinodal phase demixing of branched comb polymer nanocomposite (PNC) melts is systematically investigated using the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) theory. To verify the reliability of the present method in characterizing the phase behavior of comb PNCs, the intermolecular correlation functions of the system for nonzero particle volume fractions are compared with our molecular dynamics simulation data. After verifying the model and discussing the structure of the comb PNCs in the dilute nanoparticle limit, the interference among the side chain number, side chain length, nanoparticle-monomer size ratio and attractive interactions between the comb polymer and nanoparticles in spinodal demixing curves is analyzed and discussed in detail. The results predict two kinds of distinct phase separation behaviors. One is called classic fluid phase boundary, which is mediated by the entropic depletion attraction and contact aggregation of nanoparticles at relatively low nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength. The second demixing transition occurs at relatively high attraction strength and involves the formation of an equilibrium physical network phase with local bridging of nanoparticles. The phase boundaries are found to be sensitive to the side chain number, side chain length, nanoparticle-monomer size ratio and attractive interactions. As the side chain length is fixed, the side chain number has a large effect on the phase behavior of comb PNCs; with increasing side chain number, the miscibility window first widens and then shrinks. When the side chain number is lower than a threshold value, the phase boundaries undergo a process from enlarging the miscibility window to narrowing as side chain length increases. Once the side chain number overtakes this threshold value, the phase boundary shifts towards less miscibility. With increasing nanoparticle-monomer size ratio, a crossover of particle size occurs, above which the phase separation

  5. Brood comb as a humidity buffer in honeybee nests

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ellis, Michael B.; Nicolson, Sue W.; Crewe, Robin M.; Dietemann, Vincent

    2010-04-01

    Adverse environmental conditions can be evaded, tolerated or modified in order for an organism to survive. During their development, some insect larvae spin cocoons which, in addition to protecting their occupants against predators, modify microclimatic conditions, thus facilitating thermoregulation or reducing evaporative water loss. Silk cocoons are spun by honeybee ( Apis mellifera) larvae and subsequently incorporated into the cell walls of the wax combs in which they develop. The accumulation of this hygroscopic silk in the thousands of cells used for brood rearing may significantly affect nest homeostasis by buffering humidity fluctuations. This study investigates the extent to which the comb may influence homeostasis by quantifying the hygroscopic capacity of the cocoons spun by honeybee larvae. When comb containing cocoons was placed at high humidity, it absorbed 11% of its own mass in water within 4 days. Newly drawn comb composed of hydrophobic wax and devoid of cocoons absorbed only 3% of its own mass. Therefore, the accumulation of cocoons in the comb may increase brood survivorship by maintaining a high and stable humidity in the cells.

  6. Proposal of Sphingomonas suberifaciens (van Bruggen, Jochimsen and Brown 1990) comb. nov., sphingomonas natatoria (Sly 1985) comb. nov., Sphingomonas ursincola (Yurkov et al. 1997) comb. nov., and emendation of the genus Sphingomonas.

    PubMed

    Yabuuchi, E; Kosako, Y; Naka, T; Suzuki, S; Yano, I

    1999-01-01

    Based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and the presence of sphingoglycolipid in cellular lipids of the type strains, transfer of "Rhizomonas" suberifaciens, Blastomonas natatoria and Erythromonas ursincola to the genus Sphingomonas as Sphingomonas suberifaciens (van Bruggen et al 1990) comb. nov., Sphingomonas natatoria (Sly 1985) comb. nov., and Sphingomonas ursincola (Yurkov et al 1997) comb. nov. are herein proposed together with the emendation of genus Sphingomonas. The type strain of S. suberifaciens is van Bruggen Cal=ATCC 49382=NCPPB 3629=IFO 15211=JCM 8521, that of S. natatoria is ATCC 35951 =DSM 3183=NCIMB 12085=JCM10396, and that of S. ursincola is DSM 9006= KR-99.

  7. Phrenology, heredity and progress in George Combe's Constitution of Man.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Bill

    2015-09-01

    The Constitution of Man by George Combe (1828) was probably the most influential phrenological work of the nineteenth century. It not only offered an exposition of the phrenological theory of the mind, but also presented Combe's vision of universal human progress through the inheritance of acquired mental attributes. In the decades before the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species, the Constitution was probably the single most important vehicle for the dissemination of naturalistic progressivism in the English-speaking world. Although there is a significant literature on the social and cultural context of phrenology, the role of heredity in Combe's thought has been less thoroughly explored, although both John van Wyhe and Victor L. Hilts have linked Combe's views on heredity with the transformist theories of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. In this paper I examine the origin, nature and significance of his ideas and argue that Combe's hereditarianism was not directly related to Lamarckian transformism but formed part of a wider discourse on heredity in the early nineteenth century.

  8. Structure and effective interactions of comb polymer nanocomposite melts.

    PubMed

    Xu, Qinzhi; Xu, Mengjin; Feng, Yancong; Chen, Lan

    2014-11-28

    In this work, the structure and effective interactions of branched comb polymer nanocomposite (PNC) melts are investigated by using the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) integral equation theory. It is observed that the nanoparticle contact (bridging) aggregation is formed when the nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength is relatively weak (large) in comb PNCs. The organization states of aggregation for the moderate nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength can be well suppressed by the comb polymer architecture, while the bridging structure for relatively large attraction is obviously promoted. With the increase of the particle volume fraction, the organization states of bridging-type structure become stronger and tighter; however, this effect is weaker than that of the nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength. When the particle volume fraction and moderate nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength are fixed, the effects of degree of polymerization, side chain number, side chain length, and nanoparticle-monomer size ratio on the organization states of PNC melts are not prominent and the nanoparticles can well disperse in comb polymer. All the observations indicate that the present PRISM theory can give a detailed description of the comb PNC melts and assist in future design control of new nanomaterials.

  9. Comparative efficacy of commercial combs in removing head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae).

    PubMed

    Gallardo, Anabella; Toloza, Ariel; Vassena, Claudia; Picollo, María Inés; Mougabure-Cueto, Gastón

    2013-03-01

    The use of a fine comb for removing lice from the head of the human host is a relevant tool both in the diagnosis of infestations and as part of an integrated control strategy of head lice. The effectiveness of a fine comb depends, in part, on the design and material they are built. The aim of this study was to compare in vivo the efficacy of metal and plastic combs that are currently used in the removal of head lice and eggs worldwide. The space between comb teeth and the length was 0.23 and 13 mm in KSL® plastic, 0.3 and 10.7 mm in NOPUCID® plastic, 0.15 and 31 mm in KSL® metal and 0.09 and 37 mm in ASSY® metal. The assays were performed comparing the combs in pairs: (a) KSL® vs. NOPUCID® plastic combs, (b) KSL® vs. ASSY® metal combs and (c) KSL® plastic comb vs. ASSY® metal comb. The most effective plastic comb was KSL®, removing a higher number of individuals of all stages. The most effective metal comb was ASSY®, removing more insects of all stages (except adults). The comparative test between KSL® plastic and ASSY® metal showed that ASSY® was the most effective in removing head lice and their eggs.

  10. Photoelectric array detectors for use at XUV wavelengths. [for Spacelab solar-physics facilities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Timothy, J. G.

    1981-01-01

    The characteristics of photoelectric detector systems for use at visible-light, ultraviolet, and X-ray wavelengths are briefly reviewed in the context of the needs of the Spacelab solar-physics facilities. Photoelectric array detectors for use at XUV wavelengths between 90 and 1500 A are described, and their use in the ESA Grazing-Incidence Solar Telescope (GRIST) facility is discussed.

  11. Modeling methodology for a CMOS-MEMS electrostatic comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iyer, Sitaraman V.; Lakdawala, Hasnain; Mukherjee, Tamal; Fedder, Gary K.

    2002-04-01

    A methodology for combined modeling of capacitance and force 9in a multi-layer electrostatic comb is demonstrated in this paper. Conformal mapping-based analytical methods are limited to 2D symmetric cross-sections and cannot account for charge concentration effects at corners. Vertex capacitance can be more than 30% of the total capacitance in a single-layer 2 micrometers thick comb with 10 micrometers overlap. Furthermore, analytical equations are strictly valid only for perfectly symmetrical finger positions. Fringing and corner effects are likely to be more significant in a multi- layered CMOS-MEMS comb because of the presence of more edges and vertices. Vertical curling of CMOS-MEMS comb fingers may also lead to reduced capacitance and vertical forces. Gyroscopes are particularly sensitive to such undesirable forces, which therefore, need to be well-quantified. In order to address the above issues, a hybrid approach of superposing linear regression models over a set of core analytical models is implemented. Design of experiments is used to obtain data for capacitance and force using a commercial 3D boundary-element solver. Since accurate force values require significantly higher mesh refinement than accurate capacitance, we use numerical derivatives of capacitance values to compute the forces. The model is formulated such that the capacitance and force models use the same regression coefficients. The comb model thus obtained, fits the numerical capacitance data to within +/- 3% and force to within +/- 10%. The model is experimentally verified by measuring capacitance change in a specially designed test structure. The capacitance model matches measurements to within 10%. The comb model is implemented in an Analog Hardware Description Language (ADHL) for use in behavioral simulation of manufacturing variations in a CMOS-MEMS gyroscope.

  12. 1.2-ps mode-locked semiconductor optical amplifier fiber laser pulses generated by 60-ps backward dark-optical comb injection and soliton compression.

    PubMed

    Lin, Gong-Ru; Chiu, I-Hsiang; Wu, Ming-Chung

    2005-02-07

    Optically harmonic mode-locking of a semiconductor optical amplifier fiber laser (SOAFL) induced by backward injecting a dark-optical comb is demonstrated for the first time. The dark-optical comb with 60-ps pulsewidth is generated from a Mach-Zehnder modulator, which is driven by an electrical comb at a DC offset of 0.3Vn. Theoretical simulation indicates that the backward injection of dark-optical comb results in a narrow gain window of 60 ps within one modulating period, providing a cross-gainmodulation induced mode-locking in the SOAFL with a shortest pulsewidth of 15 ps at repetition frequency of 1 GHz. The mode-locked SOAFL pulsewidth can be slightly shortened to 10.8 ps with a 200m-long dispersion compensating fiber. After nonlinearly soliton compression in a 5km-long single mode fiber, the pulsewidth, linewidth and time-bandwidth product become 1.2 ps, 2.06 nm and 0.31, respectively.

  13. Channel electron multipliers - Detection efficiencies with opaque MgF2 photocathodes at XUV wavelengths

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lapson, L. B.; Timothy, J. G.

    1976-01-01

    Detection efficiencies of channel electron multipliers (CEM) with opaque MgF2 photocathodes obtained in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV), 44 A to 990 A, are reported. A stable highly efficient response is reported for that interval, with no adverse effects on CEM performance. Efficiencies twice those of uncoated CEMs are obtained for 50 A to 350 A. The Mullard B419BL and Galileo 4510WL single-stage cone-cathode CEMs were used in the experiments. A rare-gas double ionization chamber was employed as absolute standard detector for 406 A to 990 A, and a flow Geiger counter filled with 96% argon and 4% isobutane for 44 A to 256 A. Absolute detection efficiencies are 10% higher from 67 A to 990 A when photocathodes are illuminated at an angle of incidence 45 deg. The photocathodes suffered no loss of response in storage (in vacuum or air) after an initial aging period. Effects of scattered UV radiation are greatly reduced when MgF2-coated CEMs are used in the XUV.

  14. Intelligent Systems for Stabilizing Mode-Locked Lasers and Frequency Combs: Machine Learning and Equation-Free Control Paradigms for Self-Tuning Optics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kutz, J. Nathan; Brunton, Steven L.

    2015-12-01

    We demonstrate that a software architecture using innovations in machine learning and adaptive control provides an ideal integration platform for self-tuning optics. For mode-locked lasers, commercially available optical telecom components can be integrated with servocontrollers to enact a training and execution software module capable of self-tuning the laser cavity even in the presence of mechanical and/or environmental perturbations, thus potentially stabilizing a frequency comb. The algorithm training stage uses an exhaustive search of parameter space to discover best regions of performance for one or more objective functions of interest. The execution stage first uses a sparse sensing procedure to recognize the parameter space before quickly moving to the near optimal solution and maintaining it using the extremum seeking control protocol. The method is robust and equationfree, thus requiring no detailed or quantitatively accurate model of the physics. It can also be executed on a broad range of problems provided only that suitable objective functions can be found and experimentally measured.

  15. Reconfigurable and tunable compact comb filter and (de)interleaver on silicon platform.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Nan; Zheng, Shuang; Long, Yun; Ruan, Zhengsen; Shen, Li; Wang, Jian

    2018-02-19

    We propose and demonstrate a reconfigurable and tunable chip-scale comb filter and (de)interleaver on a silicon platform. The silicon-based photonic integrated device is formed by Sagnac loop mirrors (SLMs) with directional couplers replaced by multi-mode interference (MMI) assisted tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) couplers. The device can be regarded as a large SLM incorporating two small SLMs which form a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. By appropriately adjusting the micro-heaters in tunable MZI couplers and cavity, switchable operation between comb filter and (de)interleaver and extinction ratio and wavelength tunable operations of comb filter and (de)interleaver are achievable by thermo-optic tuning. Reconfigurable comb filter and (de)interleaver is demonstrated in the experiment. The central wavelength shifts of comb filter and (de)interleaver are demonstrated with wavelength tuning efficiencies of ~0.0224 nm/mW and ~0.0193 nm/mW, respectively. The 3-dB bandwidth of the comb filter is ~0.032 nm. The 3-dB and 20-dB bandwidths of the (de)interleaver passband are ~0.225 nm and ~0.326 nm. The obtained results indicate that the designed and fabricated device provides switchable comb filtering and interleaving functions together with extinction ratio and wavelength tunabilities. Reconfigurable and tunable silicon-based comb filter and (de)interleaver may find potential applications in robust wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical communication systems.

  16. Orbicules and Comb Layers: Igneous Layering in Shallow Plutons as a Result of Mineral Growth in Subvolcanic Conduits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McCarthy, A. J.; Müntener, O.

    2017-12-01

    Different processes have been proposed to explain the variety of igneous layering in plutonic rocks. Vertical layering in particular has been described as resulting from various processes such as Ostwald ripening, oscillatory crystallization or reactive mush infiltration in cooling plutons. Comb layers and orbicules are formed by the growth of elongated, feather-like minerals growing ±perpendicular to the layering and nucleating either on dyke walls (comb layers) or on xenoliths (orbicules) at the contact between homogenous plutons. Through a detailed study of the mineralogy, bulk chemistry and the size-frequency distribution of representative comb layers and orbicules of the 110Ma Fisher Lake Pluton (Sierra Nevada, USA), we show that comb layers and orbicules show no evidence of forming through a self-organizing, oscillatory crystallization process, but represent crystallization fronts resulting from in-situ crystallization and extraction of evolved melt fractions during decompression-driven crystallization of superheated melts in subvolcanic conduits. The microstructures are dominated by the formation of a plagioclase-dominated cres-cumulate at the mm- to m-scale. We propose that the crystal content of the melt and the dynamics of the magmatic system control the mechanisms responsible for vertical igneous layering in shallow reservoirs. Moreover, the mineralogical and compositional variation of orbicules rims and comb layers can be ascribed to variations in pressure, temperature and cooling rates within the subvolcanic conduit, with estimated growth timescales of mm- to m-thick orbicules and comb layers ranging from weeks to years. Moreover, though plagioclase-glomerocrysts found in erupted volcanic products are generally interpreted as remobilized crystal-mush, we propose that some glomerocrysts might represent "failed" orbicules forming within vertical conduits upon eruption. Such glomerocrysts, as well as orbicules found in erupted volcanic products, might

  17. Spectrum Control through Discrete Frequency Diffraction in the Presence of Photonic Gauge Potentials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Chengzhi; Zhou, Feng; Peng, Yugui; Sounas, Dimitrios; Zhu, Xuefeng; Wang, Bing; Dong, Jianji; Zhang, Xinliang; Alù; , Andrea; Lu, Peixiang

    2018-03-01

    By using optical phase modulators in a fiber-optical circuit, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate large control over the spectrum of an impinging signal, which may evolve analogously to discrete diffraction in spatial waveguide arrays. The modulation phase acts as a photonic gauge potential in the frequency dimension, realizing efficient control of the central frequency and bandwidth of frequency combs. We experimentally achieve a 50 GHz frequency shift and threefold bandwidth expansion of an impinging comb, as well as the frequency analogue of various refraction phenomena, including negative refraction and perfect focusing in the frequency domain, both for discrete and continuous incident spectra. Our study paves a promising way towards versatile frequency management for optical communications and signal processing using time modulation schemes.

  18. Solar XUV grazing incidence spectrograph on Skylab.

    PubMed

    Garrett, D L; Tousey, R

    1977-04-01

    The objective of Skylab corollary experiment S020 was to obtain through the availability of long exposure times more complete information than was then available on the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and soft x-ray spectrum of the sun in the 10-200-A range. The instrument was a small grazing incidence spectrograph with photographic recording. Use was made of a novel split-ruled grating that combined 1200- and 2400-1/mm rulings to double the spectral coverage of the instrument and to aid in the measurement of wavelengths and order sorting. As it happened, there were many difficulties resulting from the major problems encountered by the Apollo and Skylab missions. Useful spectra were obtained, but the sensitivity of the instrument was greatly reduced, probably because of contamination resulting from leakage of the fluid used in the spacecraft cooling system.

  19. Developmental constraints and convergent evolution in Drosophila sex comb formation.

    PubMed

    Atallah, Joel; Liu, Nana Hou; Dennis, Peter; Hon, Andy; Larsen, Ellen W

    2009-01-01

    The most complex and diverse secondary sexual character in Drosophila is the sex comb (SC), an arrangement of modified bristles on the forelegs of a subclade of male fruit flies. We examined SC formation in six representative nonmodel fruit fly species, in an effort to understand how the variation in comb patterning arises. We first compared SC development in two species with relatively small combs, Drosophila takahashii, where the SCs remain approximately transverse, and Drosophila biarmipes, where two rows of SC teeth rotate and move in an anterior direction relative to other bristle landmarks. We then analyzed comb ontogeny in species with prominent extended SCs parallel to the proximodistal axis, including Drosophila ficusphila and species of the montium subgroup. Our study allowed us to identify two general methods of generating longitudinal combs on the tarsus, and we showed that a montium subgroup species (Drosophila nikananu) with a comb convergently similar in size, orientation and position to the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, forms its SC through a different developmental mechanism. We also found that the protein product of the leg patterning gene, dachshund (dac), is strongly reduced in the SC in all species, but not in other bristles. Our results suggest that an apparent constraint on SC position in the adult may be attributable to at least two different lineage-specific developmental processes, although external forces could also play a role.

  20. From Comb-like Polymers to Bottle-Brushes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Heyi; Cao, Zhen; Dobrynin, Andrey; Sheiko, Sergei

    We use a combination of the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations and scaling analysis to study conformations of bottle-brushes and comb-like polymers in a melt. Our analysis show that bottle-brushes and comb-like polymers can be in four different conformation regimes depending on the number of monomers between grafted side chains and side chain degree of polymerization. In loosely-grafted comb regime (LC) the degree of polymerization between side chains is longer than side chain degree of polymerization, such that the side chains belonging to the same macromolecule do not overlap. Crossover to a new densely-grafted comb regime (DC) takes place when side chains begin to overlap reducing interpenetration of side chains belonging to different macromolecules. In these two regimes both side-chains and backbone behave as unperturbed linear chains with the effective Kuhn length of the backbone being close to that of linear chain. Further decrease spacer degree of polymerization results in crossover to loosely-grafted bottle-brush regime (LB). In this regime, the bottle-brush backbone is stretched while the side-chains still maintain ideal chain conformation. Finally, for even shorter spacer between grafted side chains, which corresponds to densely-grafted bottle-brush regime (DB), the backbone adopts a fully extended chain conformation, and side-chains begin to stretch to maintain a constant monomer density. NSF DMR-1409710, DMR-1407645, DMR-1624569, DMR-1436201.

  1. Discerning comb and Fourier mean frequency from an fs laser based on the principle of non-interaction of waves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roychoudhuri, Chandrasekhar; Prasad, Narasimha

    2012-02-01

    time finite model of a photon. QM only predicts that EM energy emission (spontaneous and stimulated) takes place only in a discrete amount at a time from atoms and molecules. It does not give us recipe about how to visualize a propagating photon as it expands diffractively. However, Huygens-Fresnel's classical diffraction integral gives us a rigorous model, which is the cornerstone of modeling evolution of laser cavity modes, CW or pulsed. In this paper, we highlight the contradictions that arise out of the prevailing mode-lock theory and resolve them by using causal models, already underscored above. For example, there are now a wide range of very successful technological applications of the frequency comb extracted out of fs lasers. If the Fourier summation were the correct physical process, then all the cavity modes would have been summed (converted) into a single mean frequency around the gain line center for perfectly mode-locked systems. Further, sending such fs pulses through an optical spectrometer would have always displayed a transform limited fringe, centering on the mean Fourier frequency, rather than generating the comb frequencies, albeit instrumentally broadened. Output pulse train from a phase locked laser is functionally produced due to the oscillatory time-gating behavior of the intra-cavity phase-locking devices. So, we need to pay more attention to the fast temporal behavior of the materials we use for achieving very fast time-gating, since this material imposes phase locking on the cavity modes to enhance its own high-contrast time-gating behavior.

  2. Drosophila sex combs as a model of evolutionary innovations.

    PubMed

    Kopp, Artyom

    2011-01-01

    The diversity of animal and plant forms is shaped by nested evolutionary innovations. Understanding the genetic and molecular changes responsible for these innovations is therefore one of the key goals of evolutionary biology. From the genetic point of view, the origin of novel traits implies the origin of new regulatory pathways to control their development. To understand how these new pathways are assembled in the course of evolution, we need model systems that combine relatively recent innovations with a powerful set of genetic and molecular tools. One such model is provided by the Drosophila sex comb-a male-specific morphological structure that evolved in a relatively small lineage related to the model species D. melanogaster. Our extensive knowledge of sex comb development in D. melanogaster provides the basis for investigating the genetic changes responsible for sex comb origin and diversification. At the same time, sex combs can change on microevolutionary timescales and differ spectacularly among closely related species, providing opportunities for direct genetic analysis and for integrating developmental and population-genetic approaches. Sex comb evolution is associated with the origin of novel interactions between Hox and sex determination genes. Activity of the sex determination pathway was brought under the control of the Hox code to become segment-specific, while Hox gene expression became sexually dimorphic. At the same time, both Hox and sex determination genes were integrated into the intrasegmental spatial patterning network, and acquired new joint downstream targets. Phylogenetic analysis shows that similar sex comb morphologies evolved independently in different lineages. Convergent evolution at the phenotypic level reflects convergent changes in the expression of Hox and sex determination genes, involving both independent gains and losses of regulatory interactions. However, the downstream cell-differentiation programs have diverged between

  3. Drosophila Sex Combs as a Model of Evolutionary Innovations

    PubMed Central

    Kopp, Artyom

    2011-01-01

    The diversity of animal and plant forms is shaped by nested evolutionary innovations. Understanding the genetic and molecular changes responsible for these innovations is therefore one of the key goals of evolutionary biology. From the genetic point of view, the origin of novel traits implies the origin of new regulatory pathways to control their development. To understand how these new pathways are assembled in the course of evolution, we need model systems that combine relatively recent innovations with a powerful set of genetic and molecular tools. One such model is provided by the Drosophila sex comb – a male-specific morphological structure that evolved in a relatively small lineage related to the model species D. melanogaster. Our extensive knowledge of sex comb development in D. melanogaster provides the basis for investigating the genetic changes responsible for sex comb origin and diversification. At the same time, sex combs can change on microevolutionary timescales and differ spectacularly among closely related species, providing opportunities for direct genetic analysis and for integrating developmental and population-genetic approaches. Sex comb evolution is associated with the origin of novel interactions between HOX and sex determination genes. Activity of the sex determination pathway was brought under the control of the HOX code to become segment-specific, while HOX gene expression became sexually dimorphic. At the same time, both HOX and sex determination genes were integrated into the intrasegmental spatial patterning network, and acquired new joint downstream targets. Phylogenetic analysis shows that similar sex comb morphologies evolved independently in different lineages. Convergent evolution at the phenotypic level reflects convergent changes in the expression of HOX and sex determination genes, involving both independent gains and losses of regulatory interactions. However, the downstream cell differentiation programs have diverged between

  4. Closer insight into the structure of moderate to densely branched comb polymers by combining modelling and linear rheological measurements.

    PubMed

    Ahmadi, Mostafa; Pioge, Sandie; Fustin, Charles-Andre; Gohy, Jean-Francois; van Ruymbeke, Evelyne

    2017-02-07

    Synthesis of combs with well-entangled backbones and long branches with high densities has always been a challenge. Steric hindrance frequently leads to coupling of chains and structural imperfections that cannot be easily distinguished by traditional characterization methods. Research studies have therefore tried to use a combination of different methods to obtain more information on the actual microstructures. In this work, a grafting-from approach is used to synthesize poly(n-butyl acrylate) combs using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in three steps including the synthesis of a backbone, cleavage of protecting groups and growth of side branches. We have compared the linear viscoelastic properties theoretically predicted by a time marching algorithm (TMA) tube based model with the measured rheological behaviour to provide a better insight into the actual microstructure formed during synthesis. For combs with branches smaller than an entanglement, no discernible hierarchical relaxation can be distinguished, while for those with longer branches, a high frequency plateau made by entangled branches can be separated from backbone's relaxation. Dilution of the backbone, after relaxation of side branches, may accelerate the final relaxation, while extra friction can delay it especially for longer branches. Such a comparison provides a better assessment of the microstructure formed in combs.

  5. Optimal Sharpening of Compensated Comb Decimation Filters: Analysis and Design

    PubMed Central

    Troncoso Romero, David Ernesto

    2014-01-01

    Comb filters are a class of low-complexity filters especially useful for multistage decimation processes. However, the magnitude response of comb filters presents a droop in the passband region and low stopband attenuation, which is undesirable in many applications. In this work, it is shown that, for stringent magnitude specifications, sharpening compensated comb filters requires a lower-degree sharpening polynomial compared to sharpening comb filters without compensation, resulting in a solution with lower computational complexity. Using a simple three-addition compensator and an optimization-based derivation of sharpening polynomials, we introduce an effective low-complexity filtering scheme. Design examples are presented in order to show the performance improvement in terms of passband distortion and selectivity compared to other methods based on the traditional Kaiser-Hamming sharpening and the Chebyshev sharpening techniques recently introduced in the literature. PMID:24578674

  6. Optimal sharpening of compensated comb decimation filters: analysis and design.

    PubMed

    Troncoso Romero, David Ernesto; Laddomada, Massimiliano; Jovanovic Dolecek, Gordana

    2014-01-01

    Comb filters are a class of low-complexity filters especially useful for multistage decimation processes. However, the magnitude response of comb filters presents a droop in the passband region and low stopband attenuation, which is undesirable in many applications. In this work, it is shown that, for stringent magnitude specifications, sharpening compensated comb filters requires a lower-degree sharpening polynomial compared to sharpening comb filters without compensation, resulting in a solution with lower computational complexity. Using a simple three-addition compensator and an optimization-based derivation of sharpening polynomials, we introduce an effective low-complexity filtering scheme. Design examples are presented in order to show the performance improvement in terms of passband distortion and selectivity compared to other methods based on the traditional Kaiser-Hamming sharpening and the Chebyshev sharpening techniques recently introduced in the literature.

  7. Surficial geology of the lower Comb Wash, San Juan County, Utah

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Longpré, Claire I.

    2001-01-01

    The surficial geologic map of lower Comb Wash was produced as part of a master’s thesis for Northern Arizona University Quaternary Sciences program. The map area includes the portion of the Comb Wash alluvial valley between Highway 163 and Highway 95 on the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. The late Quaternary geology of this part of the Colorado Plateau had not previously been mapped in adequate detail. The geologic information in this report will be useful for biological studies, land management and range management for federal, state and private industries. Comb Wash is a south flowing ephemeral tributary of the San Juan River, flanked to the east by Comb Ridge and to the west by Cedar Mesa (Figure 1). The nearest settlement is Bluff, about 7 km to the east of the area. Elevations range from 1951 m where Highway 95 crosses Comb Wash to 1291 m at the confluence with the San Juan River. Primary vehicle access to lower Comb Wash is provided by a well-maintained dirt road that parallels the active channel of Comb Wash between Highway 163 and Highway 95. For much of the year this road can be traversed without the aid of four-wheel drive. However, during inclement weather such as rain or snow the road becomes treacherous even with four-wheel drive. The Comb Wash watershed is public land managed by the Bureau of Land management (BLM) office in Monticello, Utah. The semi-arid climate of Comb Wash and the surrounding area is typical of the Great Basin Desert. Temperature in Bluff, Utah ranges from a minimum of –8° C in January to a maximum of 35° C in July with a mean annual temperature of 9.8° C (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999). The difference between day and nighttime temperatures is as great as 20° C. Between 1928 and 1998, annual rainfall in Bluff averaged 178 mm per year (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999). Annual rainfall in Comb Wash averaged 240 mm per year from 1991 to 1999 while Bluff received an average of 193 mm for the same 8 year period

  8. Silicon photonic integrated circuit for fast and precise dual-comb distance metrology.

    PubMed

    Weimann, C; Lauermann, M; Hoeller, F; Freude, W; Koos, C

    2017-11-27

    We demonstrate an optical distance sensor integrated on a silicon photonic chip with a footprint of well below 1 mm 2 . The integrated system comprises a heterodyne receiver structure with tunable power splitting ratio and on-chip photodetectors. The functionality of the device is demonstrated in a synthetic-wavelength interferometry experiment using frequency combs as optical sources. We obtain accurate and fast distance measurements with an unambiguity range of 3.75 mm, a root-mean-square error of 3.4 µm and acquisition times of 14 µs.

  9. Combining laser frequency combs and iodine cell calibration techniques for Doppler detection of exoplanets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cahoy, Kerri; Fischer, Debra; Spronck, Julien; DeMille, David

    2010-07-01

    Exoplanets can be detected from a time series of stellar spectra by looking for small, periodic shifts in the absorption features that are consistent with Doppler shifts caused by the presence of an exoplanet, or multiple exoplanets, in the system. While hundreds of large exoplanets have already been discovered with the Doppler technique (also called radial velocity), our goal is to improve the measurement precision so that many Earth-like planets can be detected. The smaller mass and longer period of true Earth analogues require the ability to detect a reflex velocity of ~10 cm/s over long time periods. Currently, typical astronomical spectrographs calibrate using either Iodine absorptive cells or Thorium Argon lamps and achieve ~10 m/s precision, with the most stable spectrographs pushing down to ~2 m/s. High velocity precision is currently achieved at HARPS by controlling the thermal and pressure environment of the spectrograph. These environmental controls increase the cost of the spectrograph, and it is not feasible to simply retrofit existing spectrometers. We propose a fiber-fed high precision spectrograph design that combines the existing ~5000-6000 A Iodine calibration system with a high-precision Laser Frequency Comb (LFC) system from ~6000-7000 A that just meets the redward side of the Iodine lines. The scientific motivation for such a system includes: a 1000 A span in the red is currently achievable with LFC systems, combining the two calibration methods increases the wavelength range by a factor of two, and moving redward decreases the "noise" from starspots. The proposed LFC system design employs a fiber laser, tunable serial Fabry-Perot cavity filters to match the resolution of the LFC system to that of standard astronomical spectrographs, and terminal ultrasonic vibration of the multimode fiber for a stable point spread function.

  10. Transition dipole-moment of the ν1 +ν3 band of acetylene measured with dual-comb Fourier-transform spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Okubo, Sho; Iwakuni, Kana; Yamada, Koichi M. T.; Inaba, Hajime; Onae, Atsushi; Hong, Feng-Lei; Sasada, Hiroyuki

    2017-11-01

    The ν1 +ν3 vibration band of acetylene (C2H2) in the near infrared region was recorded with a dual-comb Fourier-transform spectrometer. We observed 56 transitions from P (26) to R (29) at six different column densities. The integral line intensity was determined for each recorded absorption line by fitting the line profile to Lambert-Beer's law with a Voigt function. Thanks to the outstanding capability of dual-comb spectroscopy to cover a broad spectrum in a relatively short time with high resolution and high frequency precision, we determined the reliable line strength for each ro-vibrational transition as well as the transition dipole moment for this band.

  11. C14 Assays and Autoradiographic Studies on the Rooster Comb

    PubMed Central

    Balazs, Endre A.; Szirmai, John A.; Bergendahl, Gudrun

    1959-01-01

    The distribution of C14 was studied in various parts of the rooster comb following treatment with testosterone. The value of gas-phase assay of C14 in tissue has been demonstrated and the results compared with those of autoradiographic studies on the same tissue. The results of these experiments showed that androgen treatment significantly increases the rate of incorporation of C14 in various parts of the comb. The specific activity of carbon in the comb, cornea, and liver differed, depending on which precursor, viz. glucose-6-C14, glucose-1-C14, and glucuronolactone-U-C14, was administered. The highest values were obtained after the administration of glucose-6-C14; glucuronolactone-U-C14 gave the lowest specific activity. The specific activity of carbon in different parts of the comb showed considerable variation. Carbon assay of serial sections of the comb cut at various planes showed that the specific activity of carbon was highest in the mucoid layer. Both C14 assays and autoradiograms indicate that C14 is also present in other parts of the comb. As seen in autoradiography, the concentration of C14 was highest in the epithelium, in the blood vessel walls, and in the avascular collagenous tissue. These results, and indications from previous studies, suggest that the high specific activity of carbon in the mucoid layer is due mainly to the presence of C14-labelled hyaluronic acid. Autoradiograms and PAS staining suggest that a significant amount of C14 is also incorporated into the glycoproteins associated with the collagen fibers. PMID:13654453

  12. Optical Frequency Synthesizer for Precision Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holzwarth, R.; Udem, Th.; Hänsch, T. W.; Knight, J. C.; Wadsworth, W. J.; Russell, P. St. J.

    2000-09-01

    We have used the frequency comb generated by a femtosecond mode-locked laser and broadened to more than an optical octave in a photonic crystal fiber to realize a frequency chain that links a 10 MHz radio frequency reference phase-coherently in one step to the optical region. By comparison with a similar frequency chain we set an upper limit for the uncertainty of this new approach to 5.1×10-16. This opens the door for measurement and synthesis of virtually any optical frequency and is ready to revolutionize frequency metrology.

  13. Target micro-displacement measurement by a "comb" structure of intensity distribution in laser plasma propulsion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Z. Y.; Zhang, S. Q.; Gao, L.; Gao, H.

    2015-05-01

    A "comb" structure of beam intensity distribution is designed and achieved to measure a target displacement of micrometer level in laser plasma propulsion. Base on the "comb" structure, the target displacement generated by nanosecond laser ablation solid target is measured and discussed. It is found that the "comb" structure is more suitable for a thin film target with a velocity lower than tens of millimeters per second. Combing with a light-electric monitor, the `comb' structure can be used to measure a large range velocity.

  14. Laser pulses for coherent xuv Raman excitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greenman, Loren; Koch, Christiane P.; Whaley, K. Birgitta

    2015-07-01

    We combine multichannel electronic structure theory with quantum optimal control to derive femtosecond-time-scale Raman pulse sequences that coherently populate a valence excited state. For a neon atom, Raman target populations of up to 13% are obtained. Superpositions of the ground and valence Raman states with a controllable relative phase are found to be reachable with up to 4.5% population and arbitrary phase control facilitated by the pump pulse carrier-envelope phase. Analysis of the optimized pulse structure reveals a sequential mechanism in which the valence excitation is reached via a fast (femtosecond) population transfer through an intermediate resonance state in the continuum rather than avoiding intermediate-state population with simultaneous or counterintuitive (stimulated Raman adiabatic passage) pulse sequences. Our results open a route to coupling valence excitations and core-hole excitations in molecules and aggregates that locally address specific atoms and represent an initial step towards realization of multidimensional spectroscopy in the xuv and x-ray regimes.

  15. Development of reflective optical systems for XUV projection lithography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Viswanathan, V. K.; Newnam, B. E.

    We describe two full-field reflective reduction systems (1 and 6.25 sq cm image area) and one scanning system (25 mm x scan length image size) that meet the performance requirements for 0.1-micron resolution projection lithography using extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) wavelengths from 10 to 15 nm. These systems consist of two centered, symmetric, annular aspheric mirrors with 35 to 40 percent central obscuration, providing a reduction ratio of 3.3 x. Outstanding features include the remarkably low distortion (less than or = 10 nm) over the entire image field and the comparatively liberal tolerances on the mirror radii and alignment. While optimized annular illumination can improve the performance, the required performance can be met with full illumination, thereby allowing a simpler system design.

  16. Practical tolerancing and performance implications for XUV projection lithography reduction systems (Poster Paper)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Viswanathan, Vriddhachalam K.

    1992-07-01

    Practical considerations that will strongly affect the imaging capabilities of reflecting systems for extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) projection lithography include manufacturing tolerances and thermal distortion of the mirror surfaces due to absorption of a fraction of the incident radiation beam. We have analyzed the potential magnitudes of these effects for two types of reflective projection optical designs. We find that concentric, symmetric two-mirror systems are less sensitive to manufacturing errors and thermal distortion than off-axis, four-mirror systems.

  17. Occurrence of fungi in combs of fungus-growing termites (Isoptera: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae).

    PubMed

    Guedegbe, Herbert J; Miambi, Edouard; Pando, Anne; Roman, Jocelyne; Houngnandan, Pascal; Rouland-Lefevre, Corinne

    2009-10-01

    Fungus-growing termites cultivate their mutualistic basidiomycete Termitomyces species on a substrate called a fungal comb. Here, the Suicide Polymerase Endonuclease Restriction (SuPER) method was adapted for the first time to a fungal study to determine the entire fungal community of fungal combs and to test whether fungi other than the symbiotic cultivar interact with termite hosts. Our molecular analyses show that although active combs are dominated by Termitomyces fungi isolated with direct Polymerase Endonuclease Restriction - Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), they can also harbor some filamentous fungi and yeasts only revealed by SuPER PCR-DGGE. This is the first molecular evidence of the presence of non-Termitomyces species in active combs. However, because there is no evidence for a species-specific relationship between these fungi and termites, they are mere transient guests with no specialization in the symbiosis. It is however surprising to notice that termite-associated Xylaria strains were not isolated from active combs even though they are frequently retrieved when nests are abandoned by termites. This finding highlights the implication of fungus-growing termites in the regulation of fungi occurring within the combs and also suggests that they might not have any particular evolutionary-based association with Xylaria species.

  18. Micro-combs: A novel generation of optical sources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pasquazi, Alessia; Peccianti, Marco; Razzari, Luca; Moss, David J.; Coen, Stéphane; Erkintalo, Miro; Chembo, Yanne K.; Hansson, Tobias; Wabnitz, Stefan; Del'Haye, Pascal; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Weiner, Andrew M.; Morandotti, Roberto

    2018-01-01

    The quest towards the integration of ultra-fast, high-precision optical clocks is reflected in the large number of high-impact papers on the topic published in the last few years. This interest has been catalysed by the impact that high-precision optical frequency combs (OFCs) have had on metrology and spectroscopy in the last decade [1-5]. OFCs are often referred to as optical rulers: their spectra consist of a precise sequence of discrete and equally-spaced spectral lines that represent precise marks in frequency. Their importance was recognised worldwide with the 2005 Nobel Prize being awarded to T.W. Hänsch and J. Hall for their breakthrough in OFC science [5]. They demonstrated that a coherent OFC source with a large spectrum - covering at least one octave - can be stabilised with a self-referenced approach, where the frequency and the phase do not vary and are completely determined by the source physical parameters. These fully stabilised OFCs solved the challenge of directly measuring optical frequencies and are now exploited as the most accurate time references available, ready to replace the current standard for time. Very recent advancements in the fabrication technology of optical micro-cavities [6] are contributing to the development of OFC sources. These efforts may open up the way to realise ultra-fast and stable optical clocks and pulsed sources with extremely high repetition-rates, in the form of compact and integrated devices. Indeed, the fabrication of high-quality factor (high-Q) micro-resonators, capable of dramatically amplifying the optical field, can be considered a photonics breakthrough that has boosted not only the scientific investigation of OFC sources [7-13] but also of optical sensors and compact light modulators [6,14]. In this framework, the demonstration of planar high-Q resonators, compatible with silicon technology [10-14], has opened up a unique opportunity for these devices to provide entirely new capabilities for photonic

  19. Single mask, simple structure micro rotational motor driven by electrostatic comb-drive actuators

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pham, Phuc Hong; Viet Dao, Dzung; Dang, Lam Bao; Sugiyama, Susumu

    2012-01-01

    We report a design and fabrication of a new micro rotational motor (MRM) using silicon micromachining technology with the overall diameter of 2.4 mm. This motor utilizes four silicon electrostatic comb-drive actuators to drive the outer ring (or rotor) through ratchet teeth. The novel design of the anti-reverse structure helps us to overcome the gap problem after deep reactive ion etching of silicon. The MRM was fabricated by using silicon on insulator wafer with the thickness of the device layer being 30 µm and one mask only. The motor was successfully tested for performance. It was driven by periodic voltage with different frequencies ranging from 1 to 50 Hz. The angular velocity of the outer ratchet ring was proportional to the frequency. Moreover, when the driving frequency is lower than 30 Hz, the experiment results perfectly match the theoretical calculation.

  20. Speed-dependent Voigt lineshape parameter database from dual frequency comb measurements up to 1305 K. Part I: Pure H2O absorption, 6801-7188 cm-1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schroeder, Paul J.; Cich, Matthew J.; Yang, Jinyu; Giorgetta, Fabrizio R.; Swann, William C.; Coddington, Ian; Newbury, Nathan R.; Drouin, Brian J.; Rieker, Gregory B.

    2018-05-01

    We measure speed-dependent Voigt lineshape parameters with temperature-dependence exponents for several hundred spectroscopic features of pure water spanning 6801-7188 cm-1. The parameters are extracted from broad bandwidth, high-resolution dual frequency comb absorption spectra with multispectrum fitting techniques. The data encompass 25 spectra ranging from 296 K to 1305 K and 1 to 17 Torr of pure water vapor. We present the extracted parameters, compare them to published data, and present speed-dependence, self-shift, and self-broadening temperature-dependent parameters for the first time. Lineshape data is extracted using a quadratic speed-dependent Voigt profile and a single self-broadening power law temperature-dependence exponent over the entire temperature range. The results represent an important step toward a new high-temperature database using advanced lineshape profiles.

  1. Compact mode-locked diode laser system for high precision frequency comparisons in microgravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Christopher, H.; Kovalchuk, E. V.; Wicht, A.; Erbert, G.; Tränkle, G.; Peters, A.

    2017-11-01

    Nowadays cold atom-based quantum sensors such as atom interferometers start leaving optical labs to put e.g. fundamental physics under test in space. One of such intriguing applications is the test of the Weak Equivalence Principle, the Universality of Free Fall (UFF), using different quantum objects such as rubidium (Rb) and potassium (K) ultra-cold quantum gases. The corresponding atom interferometers are implemented with light pulses from narrow linewidth lasers emitting near 767 nm (K) and 780 nm (Rb). To determine any relative acceleration of the K and Rb quantum ensembles during free fall, the frequency difference between the K and Rb lasers has to be measured very accurately by means of an optical frequency comb. Micro-gravity applications not only require good electro-optical characteristics but are also stringent in their demand for compactness, robustness and efficiency. For frequency comparison experiments the rather complex fiber laser-based frequency comb system may be replaced by one semiconductor laser chip and some passive components. Here we present an important step towards this direction, i.e. we report on the development of a compact mode-locked diode laser system designed to generate a highly stable frequency comb in the wavelength range of 780 nm.

  2. XUV-induced reactions in benzene on sub-10 fs timescale: nonadiabatic relaxation and proton migration.

    PubMed

    Galbraith, M C E; Smeenk, C T L; Reitsma, G; Marciniak, A; Despré, V; Mikosch, J; Zhavoronkov, N; Vrakking, M J J; Kornilov, O; Lépine, F

    2017-08-02

    Unraveling ultrafast dynamical processes in highly excited molecular species has an impact on our understanding of chemical processes such as combustion or the chemical composition of molecular clouds in the universe. In this article we use short (<7 fs) XUV pulses to produce excited cationic states of benzene molecules and probe their dynamics using few-cycle VIS/NIR laser pulses. The excited states produced by the XUV pulses lie in an especially complex spectral region where multi-electronic effects play a dominant role. We show that very fast τ ≈ 20 fs nonadiabatic processes dominate the relaxation of these states, in agreement with the timescale expected for most excited cationic states in benzene. In the CH 3 + fragmentation channel of the doubly ionized benzene cation we identify pathways that involve structural rearrangement and proton migration to a specific carbon atom. Further, we observe non-trivial transient behavior in this fragment channel, which can be interpreted either in terms of propagation of the nuclear wavepacket in the initially excited electronic state of the cation or as a two-step electronic relaxation via an intermediate state.

  3. An improved divergent synthesis of comb-type branched oligodeoxyribonucleotides (bDNA) containing multiple secondary sequences.

    PubMed

    Horn, T; Chang, C A; Urdea, M S

    1997-12-01

    The divergent synthesis of branched DNA (bDNA) comb structures is described. This new type of bDNA contains one unique oligonucleotide, the primary sequence, covalently attached through a comb-like branch network to many identical copies of a different oligonucleotide, the secondary sequence. The bDNA comb structures were assembled on a solid support and several synthesis parameters were investigated and optimized. The bDNA comb molecules were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic methods and by controlled cleavage at periodate-cleavable moieties incorporated during synthesis. The developed chemistry allows synthesis of bDNA comb molecules containing multiple secondary sequences. In the accompanying article we describe the synthesis and characterization of large bDNA combs containing all four deoxynucleotides for use as signal amplifiers in nucleic acid quantification assays.

  4. An improved divergent synthesis of comb-type branched oligodeoxyribonucleotides (bDNA) containing multiple secondary sequences.

    PubMed Central

    Horn, T; Chang, C A; Urdea, M S

    1997-01-01

    The divergent synthesis of branched DNA (bDNA) comb structures is described. This new type of bDNA contains one unique oligonucleotide, the primary sequence, covalently attached through a comb-like branch network to many identical copies of a different oligonucleotide, the secondary sequence. The bDNA comb structures were assembled on a solid support and several synthesis parameters were investigated and optimized. The bDNA comb molecules were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic methods and by controlled cleavage at periodate-cleavable moieties incorporated during synthesis. The developed chemistry allows synthesis of bDNA comb molecules containing multiple secondary sequences. In the accompanying article we describe the synthesis and characterization of large bDNA combs containing all four deoxynucleotides for use as signal amplifiers in nucleic acid quantification assays. PMID:9365265

  5. Sub-lethal effects of pesticide residues in brood comb on worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) development and longevity.

    PubMed

    Wu, Judy Y; Anelli, Carol M; Sheppard, Walter S

    2011-02-23

    Numerous surveys reveal high levels of pesticide residue contamination in honey bee comb. We conducted studies to examine possible direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure from contaminated brood comb on developing worker bees and adult worker lifespan. Worker bees were reared in brood comb containing high levels of known pesticide residues (treatment) or in relatively uncontaminated brood comb (control). Delayed development was observed in bees reared in treatment combs containing high levels of pesticides particularly in the early stages (day 4 and 8) of worker bee development. Adult longevity was reduced by 4 days in bees exposed to pesticide residues in contaminated brood comb during development. Pesticide residue migration from comb containing high pesticide residues caused contamination of control comb after multiple brood cycles and provided insight on how quickly residues move through wax. Higher brood mortality and delayed adult emergence occurred after multiple brood cycles in contaminated control combs. In contrast, survivability increased in bees reared in treatment comb after multiple brood cycles when pesticide residues had been reduced in treatment combs due to residue migration into uncontaminated control combs, supporting comb replacement efforts. Chemical analysis after the experiment confirmed the migration of pesticide residues from treatment combs into previously uncontaminated control comb. This study is the first to demonstrate sub-lethal effects on worker honey bees from pesticide residue exposure from contaminated brood comb. Sub-lethal effects, including delayed larval development and adult emergence or shortened adult longevity, can have indirect effects on the colony such as premature shifts in hive roles and foraging activity. In addition, longer development time for bees may provide a reproductive advantage for parasitic Varroa destructor mites. The impact of delayed development in bees on Varroa mite fecundity should be

  6. Sub-Lethal Effects of Pesticide Residues in Brood Comb on Worker Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Development and Longevity

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Judy Y.; Anelli, Carol M.; Sheppard, Walter S.

    2011-01-01

    Background Numerous surveys reveal high levels of pesticide residue contamination in honey bee comb. We conducted studies to examine possible direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure from contaminated brood comb on developing worker bees and adult worker lifespan. Methodology/Principal Findings Worker bees were reared in brood comb containing high levels of known pesticide residues (treatment) or in relatively uncontaminated brood comb (control). Delayed development was observed in bees reared in treatment combs containing high levels of pesticides particularly in the early stages (day 4 and 8) of worker bee development. Adult longevity was reduced by 4 days in bees exposed to pesticide residues in contaminated brood comb during development. Pesticide residue migration from comb containing high pesticide residues caused contamination of control comb after multiple brood cycles and provided insight on how quickly residues move through wax. Higher brood mortality and delayed adult emergence occurred after multiple brood cycles in contaminated control combs. In contrast, survivability increased in bees reared in treatment comb after multiple brood cycles when pesticide residues had been reduced in treatment combs due to residue migration into uncontaminated control combs, supporting comb replacement efforts. Chemical analysis after the experiment confirmed the migration of pesticide residues from treatment combs into previously uncontaminated control comb. Conclusions/Significance This study is the first to demonstrate sub-lethal effects on worker honey bees from pesticide residue exposure from contaminated brood comb. Sub-lethal effects, including delayed larval development and adult emergence or shortened adult longevity, can have indirect effects on the colony such as premature shifts in hive roles and foraging activity. In addition, longer development time for bees may provide a reproductive advantage for parasitic Varroa destructor mites. The impact of

  7. Spontaneous Raman scattering as a high resolution XUV radiation source

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rothenberg, J. E.; Young, J. F.; Harris, S. E.

    1983-01-01

    A type of high resolution XUV radiation source is described which is based upon spontaneous anti-Stokes scattering of tunable incident laser radiation from atoms excited to metastable levels. The theory of the source is summarized and two sets of experiments using He (1s2s)(1)S atoms, produced in a cw hollow cathode and in a pulsed high power microwave discharge, are discussed. The radiation source is used to examine transitions originating from the 3p(6) shell of potassium. The observed features include four previously unreported absorption lines and several sharp interferences of closely spaced autoionizing lines. A source linewidth of about 1.9 cm(-1) at 185,000 cm(-1) is demonstrated.

  8. Line identification and lifetime measurements in the XUV and soft X-ray regions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sellin, I. A.

    1979-01-01

    A summary of the data acquired concerning line identification and lifetime measurements in the xuv and soft X-ray regions for a variety of both resonance transitions and forbidden transitions in ions of astrophysical interest is provided. Particular attention is called to a few papers which appeared in the Astrophysical Journal. These are of special relevance to specific astrophysical data needs. The many experiments completed in areas related to but somewhat outside the confines of the project title are mentioned.

  9. Phase-matching of attosecond XUV supercontinuum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilbertson, Steve; Mashiko, Hiroki; Li, Chengquan; Khan, Sabih; Shakya, Mahendra; Moon, Eric; Chang, Zenghu

    2008-05-01

    Adding a weak second harmonic field to an ellipticity dependent polarization gating field allowed for the production of XUV supercontinua from longer (˜10 fs) input pulses in argon. The spectra support 200 as single isolated pulses. This technique, dubbed double optical gating (DOG), demonstrated a large enhancement of the harmonic yield as compared with polarization gating. These results can be attributed to the reduced depletion of the ground state of the target from the leading edge of the pulse and the increased intensity inside the polarization gate width. Through optimization of the harmonic generation process under the phase matching conditions, we were able to further increase the harmonic flux. The parameters included the target gas pressure, laser focus position, input pulse duration, and polarization gate width. By varying the CE phase of the pulse, we were able to verify that the results were indeed from DOG due to its unique 2 pi dependence on the harmonic spectrum. We were able to extend our results to neon. Its higher ionization potential allowed an extension of the harmonic cutoff for the production of even shorter pulses.

  10. The ability of White Leghorn hens with trimmed comb and wattles to thermoregulate.

    PubMed

    Al-Ramamneh, D S; Makagon, M M; Hester, P Y

    2016-08-01

    It is estimated that each year over 19 million pullets in the United States have their combs partially trimmed at a young age to improve egg production and feed efficiency. A possible disadvantage of trimming is that the comb and wattles may be essential for thermoregulation during hot weather allowing for conductive cooling of the blood through vasodilation of superficial vessels in these integumentary tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of partial comb and wattle removal, performed at 21 d of age, on the ability of White Leghorns to thermoregulate before, during, and after an imposed heating episode that averaged 34.6°C for 50.5 h. An increase in mortality at 20 h and body temperature at 48 h post initiation of the heating episode demonstrated that hens with trimmed comb and wattles were not able to cope with heat stress as effectively as controls. The increase in wattle temperature in controls as compared to trimmed hens during the heating episode and following heat stress provides supportive evidence that blood pools to the peripheral surface for conductive heat loss. During high temperatures typical of summer, trimmed hens attempted to compensate for their lack of ability to transfer heat from their comb and wattles to the environment through increased proportion of panting and wing spreading. Under less extreme conditions with lowered ambient temperatures, the trimming of the comb and wattles did not impair the ability of hens to thermoregulate, as body temperatures and behavior were similar to controls with no mortality. Egg weight was the only production parameter adversely affected by the trimming of the comb and wattles as compared to controls. The implication is that hens need their combs and wattles to thermoregulate effectively during periods of high environmental temperature. Pullets should not be subjected to a comb and wattle trim if they are housed in laying facilities that are not appropriately cooled during the

  11. Femtosecond-level timing fluctuation suppression in atmospheric frequency transfer with passive phase conjunction correction.

    PubMed

    Sun, Fuyu; Hou, Dong; Zhang, Danian; Tian, Jie; Hu, Jianguo; Huang, Xianhe; Chen, Shijun

    2017-09-04

    We demonstrate femtosecond-level timing fluctuation suppression in indoor atmospheric comb-based frequency transfer with a passive phase conjunction correction technique. Timing fluctuations and Allan deviations are both measured to characterize the excess frequency instability incurred during the frequency transfer process. By transferring a 2 GHz microwave over a 52-m long free-space link in 5000 s, the total root-mean-square (RMS) timing fluctuation was measured to be about 280 fs with a fractional frequency instability on the order of 3 × 10 -13 at 1 s and 6 × 10 -17 at 1000 s. This atmospheric comb-based frequency transfer with passive phase conjunction correction can be used to build an atomic clock-based free-space frequency transmission link because its instability is less than that of a commercial Cs or H-master clock.

  12. Reclassification of Rhodospirillum photometricum Molisch 1907, Rhodospirillum sulfurexigens Anil Kumar et al. 2008 and Rhodospirillum oryzae Lakshmi et al. 2013 in a new genus, Pararhodospirillum gen. nov., as Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov., Pararhodospirillum sulfurexigens comb. nov. and Pararhodospirillum oryzae comb. nov., respectively, and emended description of the genus Rhodospirillum.

    PubMed

    Lakshmi, K V N S; Divyasree, B; Ramprasad, E V V; Sasikala, Ch; Ramana, Ch V

    2014-04-01

    The genus Rhodospirillum is represented by four species, with three of them showing phylogenetic divergence compared to the type species, Rhodospirillum rubrum. Differences in the major diagnostic properties such as internal photosynthetic membranes, quinones, fatty acids, carotenoid composition and a few other phenotypic properties warrant the reclassification of members of this genus. Resultantly, a new genus, Pararhodospirillum gen. nov., is proposed based on the analysis of nine strains to accommodate Rhodospirillum photometricum, Rhodospirillum sulfurexigens and Rhodospirillum oryzae as Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov., Pararhodospirillum sulfurexigens comb. nov. and Pararhodospirillum oryzae comb. nov., respectively. The type species of the genus is Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov. An emended description of the genus Rhodospirillum is also proposed.

  13. Nano-optomechanical characterization of surface-plasmon-based tunable filter integrated with comb-drive actuator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Honma, H.; Mitsudome, M.; Ishida, M.; Sawada, K.; Takahashi, K.

    2017-03-01

    We report a tunable plasmonic color filter consisting of a metamaterial periodic grating and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator. An aluminum subwavelength grating is integrated with electrostatic comb-drive actuators to expand the metal subwavelength period, which allows continuous control of the excitation wavelength of surface plasmons (SPs). We develop a batch fabrication process by employing a liftoff technique using an electron beam resist altered by the electron dose depending on different aspect ratios (length/width) for various components such as the subwavelength grating, nanohinge flexural suspensions, and comb fingers. We successfully demonstrate a continuous shift in the excitation wavelength over the 514-635 nm range by nanopitch expansion. The design margin of the grating period for SP excitation is evaluated by comparing the experimental pitch variation and theoretically calculated values. The resonance frequency of the tunable filter is optically measured to be approximately 10 kHz. The optically and mechanically obtained values agree well with the theory of electrostatic actuation and finite-difference time-domain simulation.

  14. Ultra-low noise combs in the palm of your hand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schibli, Thomas R.

    Mode-locked lasers are attractive tools for precision measurements and for photonic microwave generation. The technology around these lasers has rapidly evolved, and with the invention of optical frequency combs, fs-technology has become a ubiquitous tool science and engineering. At first, most of these combs were generated by bulky and delicate Kerr-Lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire systems, but have now been mostly replaced by the much more robust and compact fiber lasers. However, the move from table-top solid-state lasers to the fully self-contained fiber systems came with a price: the optical phase noise performance degraded due to design constraints. While this is of no concern for most spectroscopic applications, it poses a challenge for applications that require excellent short-term phase noise performance, such as, for example, required for photonic microwave generation. While much of this has been improved by ingenious laser designs, it remains a challenge to obtain ultra-low phase-noise combs from high-repetition-rate fiber lasers. Here we present a new approach consisting of a monolithic cavity design, in which the laser light is fully confined inside an optical material. Thanks to this monolithic design, these solid-state lasers are inherently robust against environmental perturbations, such as acoustics, vibrations, air pressure and humidity. Opposed to the omnipresent mode-locked fiber lasers, these monolithic lasers exhibit very low round-trip loss, dispersion and nonlinearities. As a result, they produce highly stable pulse trains, with free-running relative line-widths of the order of a few Hz in the optical domain, despite their moderately high fundamental repetition rates of 1 GHz. The compact design further simplifies integration into complex systems, and eliminates the need for an optics bench or a vibration isolated platform. These lasers produce less than 0.2 W of heat, and are fully turn-key. This work was supported by the DARPA PULSE program

  15. Reclassification of Enterobacter oryziphilus and Enterobacter oryzendophyticus as Kosakonia oryziphila comb. nov. and Kosakonia oryzendophytica comb. nov.

    PubMed

    Li, Chun Yan; Zhou, Yuan Liang; Ji, Jing; Gu, Chun Tao

    2016-08-01

    The taxonomic positions of Enterobacter oryziphilus and Enterobacter oryzendophyticus were re-examined on the basis of concatenated partial rpoB, atpD, gyrB and infB gene sequence analysis. The reconstructed phylogenetic tree based upon concatenated partial rpoB, atpD, gyrB and infB gene sequences clearly showed that E. oryziphilus and E. oryzendophyticus and all defined species of the genus Kosakonia form a clade separate from other genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and, therefore, these species of the genus Enterobacter should be transferred to the genus Kosakonia. E. oryziphilus and E. oryzendophyticus are reclassified as K. oryziphila comb. nov. (type strain REICA_142T=LMG 26429T=NCCB 100393T) and K. oryzendophytica comb. nov. (type strain REICA_082T=LMG 26432T=NCCB 100390T), respectively.

  16. Measurement of absolute frequency of continuous-wave terahertz radiation in real time using a free-running, dual-wavelength mode-locked, erbium-doped fibre laser

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Guoqing; Mizuguchi, Tatsuya; Zhao, Xin; Minamikawa, Takeo; Mizuno, Takahiko; Yang, Yuli; Li, Cui; Bai, Ming; Zheng, Zheng; Yasui, Takeshi

    2017-01-01

    A single, free-running, dual-wavelength mode-locked, erbium-doped fibre laser was exploited to measure the absolute frequency of continuous-wave terahertz (CW-THz) radiation in real time using dual THz combs of photo-carriers (dual PC-THz combs). Two independent mode-locked laser beams with different wavelengths and different repetition frequencies were generated from this laser and were used to generate dual PC-THz combs having different frequency spacings in photoconductive antennae. Based on the dual PC-THz combs, the absolute frequency of CW-THz radiation was determined with a relative precision of 1.2 × 10−9 and a relative accuracy of 1.4 × 10−9 at a sampling rate of 100 Hz. Real-time determination of the absolute frequency of CW-THz radiation varying over a few tens of GHz was also demonstrated. Use of a single dual-wavelength mode-locked fibre laser, in place of dual mode-locked lasers, greatly reduced the size, complexity, and cost of the measurement system while maintaining the real-time capability and high measurement precision. PMID:28186148

  17. High-power Yb-fiber comb based on pre-chirped-management self-similar amplification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Daping; Liu, Yang; Gu, Chenglin; Wang, Chao; Zhu, Zhiwei; Zhang, Wenchao; Deng, Zejiang; Zhou, Lian; Li, Wenxue; Zeng, Heping

    2018-02-01

    We report a fiber self-similar-amplification (SSA) comb system that delivers a 250-MHz, 109-W, 42-fs pulse train with a 10-dB spectral width of 85 nm at 1056 nm. A pair of grisms is employed to compensate the group velocity dispersion and third-order dispersion of pre-amplified pulses for facilitating a self-similar evolution and a self-phase modulation (SPM). Moreover, we analyze the stabilities and noise characteristics of both the locked carrier envelope phase and the repetition rate, verifying the stability of the generated high-power comb. The demonstration of the SSA comb at such high power proves the feasibility of the SPM-based low-noise ultrashort comb.

  18. Ornamental comb colour predicts T-cell-mediated immunity in male red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mougeot, Francois

    2008-02-01

    Sexual ornaments might reliably indicate the ability to cope with parasites and diseases, and a better ability to mount a primary inflammatory response to a novel challenge. Carotenoid-based ornaments are amongst the commonest sexual signals of birds and often influence mate choice. Because carotenoids are immuno-stimulants, signallers may trade-off allocating these to ornamental colouration or using them for immune responses, so carotenoid-based ornaments might be particularly useful as honest indicators of immuno-compentence. Tetraonid birds, such as the red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, exhibit supra-orbital yellow red combs, a conspicuous ornament which functions in intra- and inter-sexual selection. The colour of combs is due to epidermal pigmentation by carotenoids, while their size is testosterone-dependent. In this study, I investigated whether comb characteristics, and in particular, comb colour, indicated immuno-competence in free-living male red grouse. I assessed T-cell-mediated immunity using a standardised challenge with phytohaemagglutinin. Red grouse combs reflect in the red and in the ultraviolet spectrum of light, which is not visible to humans but that grouse most likely see, so I measured comb colour across the whole bird visible spectrum (300 700 nm) using a reflectance spectrometer. I found that males with bigger and redder combs, but with less ultraviolet reflectance, had greater T-cell-mediated immune response. Comb colour predicted T-cell-mediated immune response better than comb size, indicating that the carotenoid-based colouration of this ornament might reliably signal this aspect of male quality.

  19. VUV and XUV reflectance of optically coated mirrors for selection of high harmonics

    DOE PAGES

    Larsen, K. A.; Cryan, J. P.; Shivaram, N.; ...

    2016-08-08

    We report the reflectance, ~1° from normal incidence, of six different mirrors as a function of photon energy, using monochromatic vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation with energies between 7.5 eV and 24.5 eV. The mirrors examined included both single and multilayer optical coatings, as well as an uncoated substrate. Furthermore, we discuss the performance of each mirror, paying particular attention to the potential application of suppression and selection of high-order harmonics of a Ti:sapphire laser.

  20. Dispersing Zwitterions into Comb Polymers for Nonviral Transfection: Experiments and Molecular Simulation.

    PubMed

    Ghobadi, Ahmadreza F; Letteri, Rachel; Parelkar, Sangram S; Zhao, Yue; Chan-Seng, Delphine; Emrick, Todd; Jayaraman, Arthi

    2016-02-08

    Polymer-based gene delivery vehicles benefit from the presence of hydrophilic groups that mitigate the inherent toxicity of polycations and that provide tunable polymer-DNA binding strength and stable complexes (polyplexes). However, hydrophilic groups screen charge, and as such can reduce cell uptake and transfection efficiency. We report the effect of embedding zwitterionic sulfobetaine (SB) groups in cationic comb polymers, using a combination of experiments and molecular simulations. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) produced comb polymers with tetralysine (K4) and SB pendent groups. Dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, and fluorescence-based experiments, together with coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, described the effect of SB groups on the size, shape, surface charge, composition, and DNA binding strength of polyplexes formed using these comb polymers. Experiments and simulations showed that increasing SB composition in the comb polymers decreased polymer-DNA binding strength, while simulations indicated that the SB groups distributed throughout the polyplex. This allows polyplexes to maintain a positive surface charge and provide high levels of gene expression in live cells. Notably, comb polymers with nearly 50 mol % SB form polyplexes that exhibit positive surface charge similarly as polyplexes formed from purely cationic comb polymers, indicating the ability to introduce an appreciable amount of SB functionality without screening surface charge. This integrated simulation-experimental study demonstrates the effectiveness of incorporating zwitterions in polyplexes, while guiding the design of new and effective gene delivery vectors.

  1. Mesoscopic description of random walks on combs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Méndez, Vicenç; Iomin, Alexander; Campos, Daniel; Horsthemke, Werner

    2015-12-01

    Combs are a simple caricature of various types of natural branched structures, which belong to the category of loopless graphs and consist of a backbone and branches. We study continuous time random walks on combs and present a generic method to obtain their transport properties. The random walk along the branches may be biased, and we account for the effect of the branches by renormalizing the waiting time probability distribution function for the motion along the backbone. We analyze the overall diffusion properties along the backbone and find normal diffusion, anomalous diffusion, and stochastic localization (diffusion failure), respectively, depending on the characteristics of the continuous time random walk along the branches, and compare our analytical results with stochastic simulations.

  2. Stabilizing Microwave Frequency of a Photonic Oscillator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Maleki, Lute; Yu, Nan; Tu, Meirong

    2006-01-01

    A scheme for stabilizing the frequency of a microwave signal is proposed that exploits the operational characteristics of a coupled optoelectronic oscillator (COEO) and related optoelectronic equipment. An essential element in the scheme is a fiber mode-locked laser (MLL), the optical frequency of which is locked to an atomic transition. In this scheme, the optical frequency stability of the mode-locked laser is transferred to that of the microwave in the same device. Relative to prior schemes for using wideband optical frequency comb to stabilize microwave signals, this scheme is simpler and lends itself more readily to implementation in relatively compact, rugged equipment. The anticipated development of small, low-power, lightweight, highly stable microwave oscillators based on this scheme would afford great benefits in communication, navigation, metrology, and fundamental sciences. COEOs of various designs, at various stages of development, in some cases called by different names, have been described in a number of prior NASA Tech Briefs articles. A COEO is an optoelectronic apparatus that generates both short (picosecond) optical pulses and a steady microwave signal having an ultrahigh degree of spectral purity. The term "coupled optoelectronic" in the full name of such an apparatus signifies that its optical and electronic oscillations are coupled to each other in a single device. The present frequency-stabilization scheme is best described indirectly by describing the laboratory apparatus used to demonstrate it. The apparatus (see figure) includes a COEO that generates a comb-like optical spectrum, the various frequency components of which interfere, producing short optical pulses. This spectrum is centered at a nominal wavelength of 1,560 nm. The spectrum separation of this comb is about 10 GHz, as determined primarily by the length of an optical loop and the bandpass filter in the microwave feedback loop. The optical loop serves as microwave resonator

  3. Comparative Flight Activities and Pathogen Load of Two Stocks of Honey Bees Reared in Gamma-Irradiated Combs

    PubMed Central

    de Guzman, Lilia I.; Frake, Amanda M.

    2017-01-01

    Gamma irradiation is known to inactivate various pathogens that negatively affect honey bee health. Bee pathogens, such as Deformed wing virus (DWV) and Nosema spp., have a deleterious impact on foraging activities and bee survival, and have been detected in combs. In this study, we assessed the effects of gamma irradiation on the flight activities, pathogen load, and survival of two honey bee stocks that were reared in irradiated and non-irradiated combs. Overall, bee genotype influenced the average number of daily flights, the total number of foraging flights, and total flight duration, in which the Russian honey bees outperformed the Italian honey bees. Exposing combs to gamma irradiation only affected the age at first flight, with worker bees that were reared in non-irradiated combs foraging prematurely compared to those reared in irradiated combs. Precocious foraging may be associated with the higher levels of DWV in bees reared in non-irradiated combs and also with the lower amount of pollen stores in colonies that used non-irradiated combs. These data suggest that gamma irradiation of combs can help minimize the negative impact of DWV in honey bees. Since colonies with irradiated combs stored more pollen than those with non-irradiated combs, crop pollination efficiency may be further improved when mite-resistant stocks are used, since they performed more flights and had longer flight durations. PMID:29186033

  4. Evolution of Drosophila sex comb length illustrates the inextricable interplay between selection and variation.

    PubMed

    Malagón, Juan N; Ahuja, Abha; Sivapatham, Gabilan; Hung, Julian; Lee, Jiwon; Muñoz-Gómez, Sergio A; Atallah, Joel; Singh, Rama S; Larsen, Ellen

    2014-09-30

    In spite of the diversity of possible biological forms observed in nature, a limited range of morphospace is frequently occupied for a given trait. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this bias in the distribution of phenotypes including selection, drift, and developmental constraints. Despite extensive work on phenotypic bias, the underlying developmental mechanisms explaining why particular regions of morphological space remain unoccupied are poorly understood. To address this issue, we studied the sex comb, a group of modified bristles used in courtship that shows marked morphological diversity among Drosophila species. In many Drosophila species including Drosophila melanogaster, the sex comb rotates 90° to a vertical position during development. Here we analyze the effect of changing D. melanogaster sex comb length on the process of rotation. We find that artificial selection changes the number of bristles per comb without a proportional change in the space available for rotation. As a result, when increasing sex comb length, rather than displaying a similar straight vertical shape observed in other Drosophila species, long sex combs bend because rotation is blocked by a neighboring row of bristles. Our results show ways in which morphologies that would be favored by natural selection are apparently impossible to achieve developmentally. These findings highlight the potential role of development in modifying selectable variation in the evolution of Drosophila sex comb length.

  5. Evolution of Drosophila sex comb length illustrates the inextricable interplay between selection and variation

    PubMed Central

    Malagón, Juan N.; Ahuja, Abha; Sivapatham, Gabilan; Hung, Julian; Lee, Jiwon; Muñoz-Gómez, Sergio A.; Atallah, Joel; Singh, Rama S.; Larsen, Ellen

    2014-01-01

    In spite of the diversity of possible biological forms observed in nature, a limited range of morphospace is frequently occupied for a given trait. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this bias in the distribution of phenotypes including selection, drift, and developmental constraints. Despite extensive work on phenotypic bias, the underlying developmental mechanisms explaining why particular regions of morphological space remain unoccupied are poorly understood. To address this issue, we studied the sex comb, a group of modified bristles used in courtship that shows marked morphological diversity among Drosophila species. In many Drosophila species including Drosophila melanogaster, the sex comb rotates 90° to a vertical position during development. Here we analyze the effect of changing D. melanogaster sex comb length on the process of rotation. We find that artificial selection changes the number of bristles per comb without a proportional change in the space available for rotation. As a result, when increasing sex comb length, rather than displaying a similar straight vertical shape observed in other Drosophila species, long sex combs bend because rotation is blocked by a neighboring row of bristles. Our results show ways in which morphologies that would be favored by natural selection are apparently impossible to achieve developmentally. These findings highlight the potential role of development in modifying selectable variation in the evolution of Drosophila sex comb length. PMID:25197080

  6. Long reach DWDM-PON with 12.5 GHz channel spacing based on comb source seeding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Zhao; Nie, Hai-tao; Wang, Yao-jun

    2016-07-01

    A long reach dense wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (DWDM-PON) with 12.5 GHz channel spacing is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. An optical frequency comb source is used to provide the multiwavelength seeding light, while reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers (RSOAs) are installed in both optical line terminal (OLT) and optical network units (ONUs) as colorless transmitter. The experimental results show that the bidirectional transmission for 1.2 Gbit/s data rate is achieved over 80 km single mode fiber (SMF).

  7. Absolute spectroscopy near 7.8 μm with a comb-locked extended-cavity quantum-cascade-laser.

    PubMed

    Lamperti, Marco; AlSaif, Bidoor; Gatti, Davide; Fermann, Martin; Laporta, Paolo; Farooq, Aamir; Marangoni, Marco

    2018-01-22

    We report for the first time the frequency locking of an extended-cavity quantum-cascade-laser (EC-QCL) to a near-infrared frequency comb. The locked laser source is exploited to carry out molecular spectroscopy around 7.8 μm with a line-centre frequency combined uncertainty of ~63 kHz. The strength of the approach, in view of an accurate retrieval of line centre frequencies over a spectral range as large as 100 cm -1 , is demonstrated on the P(40), P(18) and R(31) lines of the fundamental rovibrational band of N 2 O covering the centre and edges of the P and R branches. The spectrometer has the potential to be straightforwardly extended to other spectral ranges, till 12 μm, which is the current wavelength limit for commercial cw EC-QCLs.

  8. Aerodynamics of a translating comb-like plate inspired by a fairyfly wing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Seung Hun; Kim, Daegyoum

    2017-08-01

    Unlike the smooth wings of common insects or birds, micro-scale insects such as the fairyfly have a distinctive wing geometry, comprising a frame with several bristles. Motivated by this peculiar wing geometry, we experimentally investigated the flow structure of a translating comb-like wing for a wide range of gap size, angle of attack, and Reynolds number, Re = O(10) - O(103), and the correlation of these parameters with aerodynamic performance. The flow structures of a smooth plate without a gap and a comb-like plate are significantly different at high Reynolds number, while little difference was observed at the low Reynolds number of O(10). At low Reynolds number, shear layers that were generated at the edges of the tooth of the comb-like plate strongly diffuse and eventually block a gap. This gap blockage increases the effective surface area of the plate and alters the formation of leading-edge and trailing-edge vortices. As a result, the comb-like plate generates larger aerodynamic force per unit area than the smooth plate. In addition to a quasi-steady phase after the comb-like plate travels several chords, we also studied a starting phase of the shear layer development when the comb-like plate begins to translate from rest. While a plate with small gap size can generate aerodynamic force at the starting phase as effectively as at the quasi-steady phase, the aerodynamic force drops noticeably for a plate with a large gap because the diffusion of the developing shear layers is not enough to block the gap.

  9. Transfer of 13 species of the genus Burkholderia to the genus Caballeronia and reclassification of Burkholderia jirisanensis as Paraburkholderia jirisanensis comb. nov.

    PubMed

    Dobritsa, Anatoly P; Linardopoulou, Elena V; Samadpour, Mansour

    2017-10-01

    A recent study of a group of Burkholderia glathei-like bacteria resulted in the description of 13 novel species of the genus Burkholderia. However, our analysis of phylogenetic positions of these species and their molecular signatures (conserved protein sequence indels) showed that they belong to the genus Caballeronia, and we propose to transfer them to this genus. The reclassified species names are proposed as Caballeroniaarationis comb. nov., Caballeroniaarvi comb. nov., Caballeroniacalidae comb. nov., Caballeroniacatudaia comb. nov., Caballeroniaconcitans comb. nov., Caballeroniafortuita comb. nov., Caballeroniaglebae comb. nov., Caballeroniahypogeia comb. nov., Caballeroniapedi comb. nov., Caballeroniaperedens comb. nov., Caballeroniaptereochthonis comb. nov., Caballeroniatemeraria comb. nov. and Caballeronia turbans comb. nov. It is also proposed to reclassify Burkholderia jirisanensis as Paraburkholderiajirisanensis comb. nov. Based on the results of the polyphasic study, B. jirisanensis had been described as a member of the A-group of the genus Burkholderiaand the most closely related to Burkholderia rhizosphaerae, Burkholderia humisilvae and Burkholderia solisilvae currently classified as belonging to the genus Paraburkholderia.

  10. Development of injector/amplifier XUV lasers and initial studies of ultrashort pulse UV multiphoton ionization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Key, Michael H.; Blyth, W. J.; Cairns, Gerald F.; Damerell, A. R.; Dangor, A. E.; Danson, Colin N.; Evans, J. M.; Hirst, Graeme J.; Holden, M.; Hooker, Chris J.; Houliston, J. R.; Krishnan, J.; Lewis, Ciaran L. S.; Lister, J. M. D.; MacPhee, Andrew G.; Najmudin, Z.; Neely, David; Norreys, Peter A.; Offenberger, Allen A.; Osvay, Karoly; Pert, Geoffrey J.; Preston, S. G.; Ramsden, Stuart A.; Ross, Ian N.; Sibbett, Wilson; Tallents, Gregory J.; Smith, C.; Wark, Justin S.; Zhang, Jie

    1994-02-01

    An injector-amplifier architecture for XUV lasers has been developed and demonstrated using the Ge XXIII collisional laser. Results are described for injection into single and double plasma amplifiers. Prismatic lens-like and higher order aberrations in the amplifier are considered. Limitations on ultimate brightness are discussed and also scaling to operation at shorter wavelengths. A preliminary study has been made of UV multiphoton ionization using 300 fs pulses at high intensity.

  11. A Silicon-Chip Source of Bright Photon-Pair Comb

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-10-16

    A silicon -chip source of bright photon-pair comb Wei C. Jiang,1, ∗ Xiyuan Lu,2, ∗ Jidong Zhang,3 Oskar Painter,4 and Qiang Lin1, 3, † 1Institute of...efficient monolithic photon-pair source for on-chip application. Here we report a device on the silicon -on-insulator platform that utilizes dramatic cavity...enhanced four-wave mixing in a high-Q silicon microdisk resonator. The device is able to produce high-purity photon pairs in a comb fashion, with an

  12. Time sequence photography of Roosters Comb

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The importance of understanding natural landscape changes is key in properly determining rangeland ecology. Time sequence photography allows a landscape snapshot to be documented and enables the ability to compare natural changes overtime. Photographs of Roosters Comb were taken from the same vantag...

  13. Obtaining high resolution XUV coronal images

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Golub, L.; Spiller, E.

    1992-01-01

    Photographs obtained during three flights of an 11 inch diameter normal incident soft X-ray (wavelength 63.5 A) telescope are analyzed and the data are compared to the results expected from tests of the mirror surfaces. Multilayer coated X ray telescopes have the potential for 0.01 arcsec resolution, and there is optimism that such high quality mirrors can be built. Some of the factors which enter into the performance actually achieved in practice are as follows: quality of the mirror substrate, quality of the multilayer coating, and number of photons collected. Measurements of multilayer mirrors show that the actual performance achieved in the solar X-ray images demonstrates a reduction in the scattering compared to that calculated from the topography of the top surface of the multilayer. In the brief duration of a rocket flight, the resolution is also limited by counting statistics from the number of photons collected. At X-ray Ultraviolet (XUV) wavelengths from 171 to 335 A the photon flux should be greater than 10(exp 10) ph/sec, so that a resolution better than 0.1 arcsec might be achieved, if mirror quality does not provide a limit first. In a satellite, a large collecting area will be needed for the highest resolution.

  14. Highly Stable, Anion Conductive, Comb-Shaped Copolymers for Alkaline Fuel Cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, NW; Leng, YJ; Hickner, MA

    2013-07-10

    To produce an anion-conductive and durable polymer electrolyte for alkaline fuel cell applications, a series of quaternized poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide)s containing long alkyl side chains pendant to the nitrogen-centered cation were synthesized using a Menshutkin reaction to form comb-shaped structures. The pendant alkyl chains were responsible for the development of highly conductive ionic domains, as confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The comb-shaped polymers having one alkyl side chain showed higher hydroxide conductivities than those with benzyltrimethyl ammonium moieties or structures with more than one alkyl side chain per cationic site. The highest conductivity was observed for comb-shaped polymers withmore » benzyldimethylhexadecyl ammonium cations. The chemical stabilities of the comb-shaped membranes were evaluated under severe, accelerated-aging conditions, and degradation was observed by measuring IEC and ion conductivity changes during aging. The comb-shaped membranes retained their high ion conductivity in 1 M NaOH at 80 degrees C for 2000 h. These cationic polymers were employed as ionomers in catalyst layers for alkaline fuel cells. The results indicated that the C-16 alkyl side chain ionomer had a slightly better initial performance, despite its low IEC value, but very poor durability in the fuel cell. In contrast, 90% of the initial performance was retained for the alkaline fuel cell with electrodes containing the C-6 side chain after 60 h of fuel cell operation.« less

  15. Scheme for efficient extraction of low-frequency signal beyond the quantum limit by frequency-shift detection.

    PubMed

    Yang, R G; Zhang, J; Zhai, Z H; Zhai, S Q; Liu, K; Gao, J R

    2015-08-10

    Low-frequency (Hz~kHz) squeezing is very important in many schemes of quantum precision measurement. But it is more difficult than that at megahertz-frequency because of the introduction of laser low-frequency technical noise. In this paper, we propose a scheme to obtain a low-frequency signal beyond the quantum limit from the frequency comb in a non-degenerate frequency and degenerate polarization optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) operating below threshold with type I phase matching by frequency-shift detection. Low-frequency squeezing immune to laser technical noise is obtained by a detection system with a local beam of two-frequency intense laser. Furthermore, the low-frequency squeezing can be used for phase measurement in Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be enhanced greatly.

  16. Calibration of the Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array multilayer mirrors and XUV filters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Allen, Maxwell J.; Willis, Thomas D.; Kankelborg, Charles C.; O'Neal, Ray H.; Martinez-Galarce, Dennis S.; Deforest, Craig E.; Jackson, Lisa; Lindblom, Joakim; Walker, Arthur B. C., Jr.; Barbee, Troy W., Jr.

    1993-01-01

    The Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA), a rocket-borne solar observatory, was successfully flown in May, 1991, obtaining solar images in eight XUV and FUV bands with 12 compact multilayer telescopes. Extensive measurements have recently been carried out on the multilayer telescopes and thin film filters at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. These measurements are the first high spectral resolution calibrations of the MSSTA instruments. Previous measurements and/or calculations of telescope throughputs have been confirmed with greater accuracy. Results are presented on Mo/Si multilayer bandpass changes with time and experimental potassium bromide and tellurium filters.

  17. Acousto-Optic–Based Wavelength-Comb-Swept Laser for Extended Displacement Measurements

    PubMed Central

    Park, Nam Su; Chun, Soo Kyung; Han, Ga-Hee; Kim, Chang-Seok

    2017-01-01

    We demonstrate a novel wavelength-comb-swept laser based on two intra-cavity filters: an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and a Fabry-Pérot etalon filter. The AOTF is used for the tunable selection of the output wavelength with time and the etalon filter for the narrowing of the spectral linewidth to extend the coherence length. Compared to the conventional wavelength-swept laser, the acousto-optic–based wavelength-comb-swept laser (WCSL) can extend the measureable range of displacement measurements by decreasing the sensitivity roll-off of the point spread function. Because the AOTF contains no mechanical moving parts to select the output wavelength acousto-optically, the WCSL source has a high wavenumber (k) linearity of R2 = 0.9999 to ensure equally spaced wavelength combs in the wavenumber domain. PMID:28362318

  18. Perovskites in the comb roof base of hornets: their possible function.

    PubMed

    Ishay, J S; Joseph, Z; Galushko, D; Ermakov, N; Bergman, D J; Barkay, Z; Stokroos, I; van der Want, J

    2005-04-01

    On the ceiling of the Oriental hornet comb cell, there are mineral granules of polycrystalline material known to belong to the group of perovskites. In a comb cell intended to house a worker hornet, the roof base usually carries one or several such perovskite granules containing titanium (Ti), whereas in the roof base of a cell housing a developing queen, there are usually several granules containing a high percentage of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe), but very little if any Ti. In worker comb cells, Ti usually appears as ilmenite (FeTiO3). Besides documenting the above-mentioned facts, this report discusses possible reasons for the appearance of ilmenite crystals in worker cells only and not in queen cells. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  19. Controlled grafting of comb copolymer brushes on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) films by surface-initiated living radical polymerizations.

    PubMed

    Yu, W H; Kang, E T; Neoh, K G

    2005-01-04

    Surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films by well-defined comb copolymer brushes was carried out. Peroxide initiators were generated directly on the PTFE film surface via radio frequency Ar plasma pretreatment, followed by air exposure. Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brushes were first prepared by surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization from the peroxide initiators on the PTFE surface in the presence of a chain transfer agent. Kinetics study revealed a linear increase in the graft concentration of PGMA with the reaction time, indicating that the chain growth from the surface was consistent with a "controlled" or "living" process. alpha-Bromoester moieties were attached to the grafted PGMA by reaction of the epoxide groups with 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid. The comb copolymer brushes were subsequently prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of two hydrophilic vinyl monomers, including poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and sodium salt of 4-styrenesulfonic acid. The chemical composition of the modified PTFE surfaces was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

  20. Frequency Standards and Metrology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maleki, Lute

    2009-04-01

    Preface / Lute Maleki -- Symposium history / Jacques Vanier -- Symposium photos -- pt. I. Fundamental physics. Variation of fundamental constants from the big bang to atomic clocks: theory and observations (Invited) / V. V. Flambaum and J. C. Berengut. Alpha-dot or not: comparison of two single atom optical clocks (Invited) / T. Rosenband ... [et al.]. Variation of the fine-structure constant and laser cooling of atomic dysprosium (Invited) / N. A. Leefer ... [et al.]. Measurement of short range forces using cold atoms (Invited) / F. Pereira Dos Santos ... [et al.]. Atom interferometry experiments in fundamental physics (Invited) / S. W. Chiow ... [et al.]. Space science applications of frequency standards and metrology (Invited) / M. Tinto -- pt. II. Frequency & metrology. Quantum metrology with lattice-confined ultracold Sr atoms (Invited) / A. D. Ludlow ... [et al.]. LNE-SYRTE clock ensemble: new [symbol]Rb hyperfine frequency measurement - spectroscopy of [symbol]Hg optical clock transition (Invited) / M. Petersen ... [et al.]. Precise measurements of S-wave scattering phase shifts with a juggling atomic clock (Invited) / S. Gensemer ... [et al.]. Absolute frequency measurement of the [symbol] clock transition (Invited) / M. Chwalla ... [et al.]. The semiclassical stochastic-field/atom interaction problem (Invited) / J. Camparo. Phase and frequency noise metrology (Invited) / E. Rubiola ... [et al.]. Optical spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen for an improved determination of the Rydberg constant / J. L. Flowers ... [et al.] -- pt. III. Clock applications in space. Recent progress on the ACES mission (Invited) / L. Cacciapuoti and C. Salomon. The SAGAS mission (Invited) / P. Wolf. Small mercury microwave ion clock for navigation and radioScience (Invited) / J. D. Prestage ... [et al.]. Astro-comb: revolutionizing precision spectroscopy in astrophysics (Invited) / C. E. Kramer ... [et al.]. High frequency very long baseline interferometry: frequency standards and

  1. Microphase separation of comb copolymers with two different lengths of side chains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aliev, M. A.; Kuzminyh, N. Yu.

    2009-10-01

    The phase behavior of the monodisperse AB comb copolymer melt contained the macromolecules of special architecture is discussed. Each macromolecule is assumed to be composed of two comb blocks which differ in numbers of side chains and numbers of monomer units in these chains. It is shown (by analysis of the structure factor of the melt) that microphase separation at two different length scales in the melt is possible. The large and small length scales correspond to separation between comb blocks and separation between monomer units in repeating fragments of blocks, respectively. The classification diagrams indicated which length scale is favored for a given parameters of chemical structure of macromolecules are constructed.

  2. Soft X-ray and XUV imaging with a charge-coupled device /CCD/-based detector

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loter, N. G.; Burstein, P.; Krieger, A.; Ross, D.; Harrison, D.; Michels, D. J.

    1981-01-01

    A soft X-ray/XUV imaging camera which uses a thinned, back-illuminated, all-buried channel RCA CCD for radiation sensing has been built and tested. The camera is a slow-scan device which makes possible frame integration if necessary. The detection characteristics of the device have been tested over the 15-1500 eV range. The response was linear with exposure up to 0.2-0.4 erg/sq cm; saturation occurred at greater exposures. Attention is given to attempts to resolve single photons with energies of 1.5 keV.

  3. The ultra high resolution XUV spectroheliograph: An attached payload for the Space Station Freedom

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Walker, Arthur B. C., Jr.; Hoover, Richard B.; Barbee, Troy W., Jr.; Tandberg-Hanssen, Einar; Timothy, J. Gethyn; Lindblom, Joakim F.

    1990-01-01

    The principle goal of the ultra high resolution XUV spectroheliograph (UHRXS) is to improve the ability to identify and understand the fundamental physical processes that shape the structure and dynamics of the solar chromosphere and corona. The ability of the UHRXS imaging telescope and spectrographs to resolve fine scale structures over a broad wavelength (and hence temperature) range is critical to this mission. The scientific objectives and instrumental capabilities of the UHRXS investigation are reviewed before proceeding to a discussion of the expected performance of the UHRXS observatory.

  4. Constrained evolution of the sex comb in Drosophila simulans.

    PubMed

    Maraqa, M S; Griffin, R; Sharma, M D; Wilson, A J; Hunt, J; Hosken, D J; House, C M

    2017-02-01

    Male fitness is dependent on sexual traits that influence mate acquisition (precopulatory sexual selection) and paternity (post-copulatory sexual selection), and although many studies have documented the form of selection in one or the other of these arenas, fewer have done it for both. Nonetheless, it appears that the dominant form of sexual selection is directional, although theoretically, populations should converge on peaks in the fitness surface, where selection is stabilizing. Many factors, however, can prevent populations from reaching adaptive peaks. Genetic constraints can be important if they prevent the development of highest fitness phenotypes, as can the direction of selection if it reverses across episodes of selection. In this study, we examine the evidence that these processes influence the evolution of the multivariate sex comb morphology of male Drosophila simulans. To do this, we conduct a quantitative genetic study together with a multivariate selection analysis to infer how the genetic architecture and selection interact. We find abundant genetic variance and covariance in elements of the sex comb. However, there was little evidence for directional selection in either arena. Significant nonlinear selection was detected prior to copulation when males were mated to nonvirgin females, and post-copulation during sperm offence (again with males mated to nonvirgins). Thus, contrary to our predictions, the evolution of the D. simulans sex comb is limited neither by genetic constraints nor by antagonistic selection between pre- and post-copulatory arenas, but nonlinear selection on the multivariate phenotype may prevent sex combs from evolving to reach some fitness maximizing optima. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2016 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

  5. Measure of the albedo of a warm plasma in the XUV range

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Busquet, Michel; Thais, Frederic; Geoffroy, Ghita; Raffestin, Didier

    2009-11-01

    It has been shown in a recent experience at PALS [1] that the radiative precursor celerity in front of a strong radiative shock is sensitive to the lateral radiative losses, thus to the albedo of the wall of a ``radiative shock tube.'' In the experiment presented here, we measure the albedo of various materials (Al, Cu, Au) heated by a Xenon gaz at temperature around 30 eV. The Xenon gas was heated by the ALISE laser in CESTA in Bordeaux (France). The emission of Xenon with and without the reflecting samples is measured with a spatially resolving XUV spectrograph in the 30-250 eV range. [4pt] [1] M. Busquet et al, HEDP 3, 8 (2007)

  6. High-repetition-rate setup for pump-probe time-resolved XUV-IR experiments employing ion and electron momentum imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pathak, Shashank; Robatjazi, Seyyed Javad; Wright Lee, Pearson; Raju Pandiri, Kanaka; Rolles, Daniel; Rudenko, Artem

    2017-04-01

    J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS, USA We report on the development of a versatile experimental setup for XUV-IR pump-probe experiments using a 10 kHz high-harmonic generation (HHG) source and two different charged-particle momentum imaging spectrometers. The HHG source, based on a commercial KM Labs eXtreme Ultraviolet Ultrafast Source, is capable of delivering XUV radiation of less than 30 fs pulse duration in the photon energy range of 17 eV to 100 eV. It can be coupled either to a conventional velocity map imaging (VMI) setup with an atomic, molecular, or nanoparticle target; or to a novel double-sided VMI spectrometer equipped with two delay-line detectors for coincidence studies. An overview of the setup and results of first pump-probe experiments including studies of two-color double ionization of Xe and time-resolved dynamics of photoionized CO2 molecule will be presented. This project is supported in part by National Science Foundation (NSF-EPSCOR) Award No. IIA-1430493 and in part by the Chemical science, Geosciences, and Bio-Science division, Office of Basic Energy Science, Office of science, U.S. Department of Energy. K.

  7. Elucidating ultrafast electron dynamics at surfaces using extreme ultraviolet (XUV) reflection-absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Biswas, Somnath; Husek, Jakub; Baker, L Robert

    2018-04-24

    Here we review the recent development of extreme ultraviolet reflection-absorption (XUV-RA) spectroscopy. This method combines the benefits of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, such as element, oxidation, and spin state specificity, with surface sensitivity and ultrafast time resolution, having a probe depth of only a few nm and an instrument response less than 100 fs. Using this technique we investigated the ultrafast electron dynamics at a hematite (α-Fe2O3) surface. Surface electron trapping and small polaron formation both occur in 660 fs following photoexcitation. These kinetics are independent of surface morphology indicating that electron trapping is not mediated by defects. Instead, small polaron formation is proposed as the likely driving force for surface electron trapping. We also show that in Fe2O3, Co3O4, and NiO, band gap excitation promotes electron transfer from O 2p valence band states to metal 3d conduction band states. In addition to detecting the photoexcited electron at the metal M2,3-edge, the valence band hole is directly observed as transient signal at the O L1-edge. The size of the resulting charge transfer exciton is on the order of a single metal-oxygen bond length. Spectral shifts at the O L1-edge correlate with metal-oxygen bond covalency, confirming the relationship between valence band hybridization and the overpotential for water oxidation. These examples demonstrate the unique ability to measure ultrafast electron dynamics with element and chemical state resolution using XUV-RA spectroscopy. Accordingly, this method is poised to play an important role to reveal chemical details of previously unseen surface electron dynamics.

  8. Mycological examinations on the fungal flora of the chicken comb.

    PubMed

    Gründer, S; Mayser, P; Redmann, T; Kaleta, E F

    2005-03-01

    A total of 500 combs of adult chickens from two different locations in Germany (Hessen and Schleswig-Holstein) were clinically and mycologically examined. The chickens came from three battery cages (n = 79), one voliere system (n=32), six flocks maintained on deep litter (n = 69) and 12 flocks kept on free outdoor range (n=320). Twenty-two of the 500 chicken combs (4.4%) were found to have clinical signs: only non-specific lesions neither typical of mycosis nor of avian pox such as desquamation with crust formation, yellow to brown or black dyschromic changes, alopecia in the surrounding area and moist inflammation. Only seven of the 22 clinically altered combs showed a positive mycological result; the non-pathogenic and geophilic Trichophyton terrestre in one case and non-pathogenic yeast in six cases. The following fungi were seen in the different housing systems: 13 dermatophytes (2.6% of 500 samples): 12 x T. terrestre, 1 x Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 11 isolates of Chrysosporium georgiae (2.2% of 500 samples) and 149 isolates of yeasts (29.8%): Malassezia sympodialis: n = 52, Kloeckera apiculata: n = 33, Trichosporon capitatum (syn. Geotrichum capitatum): n = 23, Trichosporon cutaneum/Trichosporon mucoides: n = 12, Trichosporon inkin (syn. Sarcinosporon inkin): n = 8 and Candida spp.: n = 21, including pathogenic or possibly pathogenic species: Candida albicans: n = 3, Candida famata: n = 4, Candida guilliermondii: n = 3, Candida lipolytica: n = 3, Candida dattila: n = 2 and one isolate each of Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida aaseri, Candida catenulata sive brumpti, Candida fructus and Candida kefyr sive pseudotropicalis. There is no stringent correlation between the clinical symptoms diagnosed on the chicken combs and the species of yeasts isolated. The causative agent of favus in chickens, Trichophyton gallinae, and the saprophytic yeast in pigeons, Cr. neoformans were not isolated. The most frequently isolated yeasts M. sympodialis and

  9. XUV-exposed, non-hydrostatic hydrogen-rich upper atmospheres of terrestrial planets. Part II: hydrogen coronae and ion escape.

    PubMed

    Kislyakova, Kristina G; Lammer, Helmut; Holmström, Mats; Panchenko, Mykhaylo; Odert, Petra; Erkaev, Nikolai V; Leitzinger, Martin; Khodachenko, Maxim L; Kulikov, Yuri N; Güdel, Manuel; Hanslmeier, Arnold

    2013-11-01

    We studied the interactions between the stellar wind plasma flow of a typical M star, such as GJ 436, and the hydrogen-rich upper atmosphere of an Earth-like planet and a "super-Earth" with a radius of 2 R(Earth) and a mass of 10 M(Earth), located within the habitable zone at ∼0.24 AU. We investigated the formation of extended atomic hydrogen coronae under the influences of the stellar XUV flux (soft X-rays and EUV), stellar wind density and velocity, shape of a planetary obstacle (e.g., magnetosphere, ionopause), and the loss of planetary pickup ions on the evolution of hydrogen-dominated upper atmospheres. Stellar XUV fluxes that are 1, 10, 50, and 100 times higher compared to that of the present-day Sun were considered, and the formation of high-energy neutral hydrogen clouds around the planets due to the charge-exchange reaction under various stellar conditions was modeled. Charge-exchange between stellar wind protons with planetary hydrogen atoms, and photoionization, lead to the production of initially cold ions of planetary origin. We found that the ion production rates for the studied planets can vary over a wide range, from ∼1.0×10²⁵ s⁻¹ to ∼5.3×10³⁰ s⁻¹, depending on the stellar wind conditions and the assumed XUV exposure of the upper atmosphere. Our findings indicate that most likely the majority of these planetary ions are picked up by the stellar wind and lost from the planet. Finally, we estimated the long-time nonthermal ion pickup escape for the studied planets and compared them with the thermal escape. According to our estimates, nonthermal escape of picked-up ionized hydrogen atoms over a planet's lifetime within the habitable zone of an M dwarf varies between ∼0.4 Earth ocean equivalent amounts of hydrogen (EO(H)) to <3 EO(H) and usually is several times smaller in comparison to the thermal atmospheric escape rates.

  10. 75 FR 11559 - Certain Combed Cotton Yarns: Effect of Modification of U.S.-Bahrain FTA Rules of Origin

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-11

    ... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. Bahrain-FTA-103-025] Certain Combed Cotton Yarns.... 3805 note), the Commission instituted investigation No. Bahrain FTA-103-025, Certain Combed Cotton... rules of origin to the FTA for certain combed cotton yarns used in the production of certain home...

  11. Radio frequency phototube and optical clock: High resolution, high rate and highly stable single photon timing technique

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Margaryan, Amur

    2011-10-01

    A new timing technique for single photons based on the radio frequency phototube and optical clock or femtosecond optical frequency comb generator is proposed. The technique has a 20 ps resolution for single photons, is capable of operating with MHz frequencies and achieving 10 fs instability level.

  12. XUV coherent diffraction imaging in reflection geometry with low numerical aperture.

    PubMed

    Zürch, Michael; Kern, Christian; Spielmann, Christian

    2013-09-09

    We present an experimental realization of coherent diffraction imaging in reflection geometry illuminating the sample with a laser driven high harmonic generation (HHG) based XUV source. After recording the diffraction pattern in reflection geometry, the data must be corrected before the image can be reconstructed with a hybrid-input-output (HIO) algorithm. In this paper we present a detailed investigation of sources of spoiling the reconstructed image due to the nonlinear momentum transfer, errors in estimating the angle of incidence on the sample, and distortions by placing the image off center in the computation grid. Finally we provide guidelines for the necessary parameters to realize a satisfactory reconstruction within a spatial resolution in the range of one micron for an imaging scheme with a numerical aperture NA < 0.03.

  13. Fast wavelength calibration method for spectrometers based on waveguide comb optical filter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yu, Zhengang; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240; Huang, Meizhen, E-mail: mzhuang@sjtu.edu.cn

    2015-04-15

    A novel fast wavelength calibration method for spectrometers based on a standard spectrometer and a double metal-cladding waveguide comb optical filter (WCOF) is proposed and demonstrated. By using the WCOF device, a wide-spectrum beam is comb-filtered, which is very suitable for spectrometer wavelength calibration. The influence of waveguide filter’s structural parameters and the beam incident angle on the comb absorption peaks’ wavelength and its bandwidth are also discussed. The verification experiments were carried out in the wavelength range of 200–1100 nm with satisfactory results. Comparing with the traditional wavelength calibration method based on discrete sparse atomic emission or absorption lines,more » the new method has some advantages: sufficient calibration data, high accuracy, short calibration time, fit for produce process, stability, etc.« less

  14. Hexagonal comb cells of honeybees are not produced via a liquid equilibrium process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bauer, Daniel; Bienefeld, Kaspar

    2013-01-01

    The nests of European honeybees ( Apis mellifera) are organised into wax combs that contain many cells with a hexagonal structure. Many previous studies on comb-building behaviour have been made in order to understand how bees produce this geometrical structure; however, it still remains a mystery. Direct construction of hexagons by bees was suggested previously, while a recent hypothesis postulated the self-organised construction of hexagonal comb cell arrays; however, infrared and thermographic video observations of comb building in the present study failed to support the self-organisation hypothesis because bees were shown to be engaged in direct construction. Bees used their antennae, mandibles and legs in a regular sequence to manipulate the wax, while some bees supported their work by actively warming the wax. During the construction of hexagonal cells, the wax temperature was between 33.6 and 37.6 °C. This is well below 40 °C, i.e. the temperature at which wax is assumed to exist in the liquid equilibrium that is essential for self-organised building.

  15. Multi-Tone Millimeter-Wave Frequency Synthesizer for Atmospheric Propagation Studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simons, Rainee N.; Wintucky, Edwin G.

    2014-01-01

    The design and test results of a multi-tone millimeter-wave frequency synthesizer, based on a solid-state frequency comb generator is presented. The intended applications of the synthesizer is in a space-borne transmitter for radio wave atmospheric studies at Q-band (37 to 43 GHz). These studies would enable the design of robust high data rate space-to-ground satellite communication links.

  16. Multi-Tone Millimeter-Wave Frequency Synthesizer for Atmospheric Propagation Studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simons, Rainee N.; Wintucky, Edwin G.

    2014-01-01

    This paper presents the design and test results of a multi-tone millimeter-wave frequency synthesizer, based on a solid-state frequency comb generator. The intended application of the synthesizer is in a space-borne transmitter for radio wave atmospheric studies at Q-band (37-43 GHz). These studies would enable the design of robust high data rate space-to-ground satellite communication links.

  17. Multi-Tone Millimeter-Wave Frequency Synthesizer for Atmospheric Propagation Studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simons, Rainee N.; Wintucky, Edwin G.

    2014-01-01

    This paper presents the design and test results of a multi-tone millimeter-wave frequency synthesizer, based on a solid-state frequency comb generator. The intended application of the synthesizer is in a space-borne transmitter for radio wave atmospheric studies at Q-band (37 to 43 GHz). These studies would enable the design of robust high data rate space-to-ground satellite communication links.

  18. Wavelength calibration with PMAS at 3.5 m Calar Alto Telescope using a tunable astro-comb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chavez Boggio, J. M.; Fremberg, T.; Bodenmüller, D.; Sandin, C.; Zajnulina, M.; Kelz, A.; Giannone, D.; Rutowska, M.; Moralejo, B.; Roth, M. M.; Wysmolek, M.; Sayinc, H.

    2018-05-01

    On-sky tests conducted with an astro-comb using the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrograph (PMAS) at the 3.5 m Calar Alto Telescope are reported. The proposed astro-comb approach is based on cascaded four-wave mixing between two lasers propagating through dispersion optimized nonlinear fibers. This approach allows for a line spacing that can be continuously tuned over a broad range (from tens of GHz to beyond 1 THz) making it suitable for calibration of low- medium- and high-resolution spectrographs. The astro-comb provides 300 calibration lines and his line-spacing is tracked with a wavemeter having 0.3 pm absolute accuracy. First, we assess the accuracy of Neon calibration by measuring the astro-comb lines with (Neon calibrated) PMAS. The results are compared with expected line positions from wavemeter measurement showing an offset of ∼5-20 pm (4%-16% of one resolution element). This might be the footprint of the accuracy limits from actual Neon calibration. Then, the astro-comb performance as a calibrator is assessed through measurements of the Ca triplet from stellar objects HD3765 and HD219538 as well as with the sky line spectrum, showing the advantage of the proposed astro-comb for wavelength calibration at any resolution.

  19. Ultra-narrow linewidth quantum dot coherent comb lasers with self-injection feedback locking.

    PubMed

    Lu, Z G; Liu, J R; Poole, P J; Song, C Y; Chang, S D

    2018-04-30

    We have used an external cavity self-injection feedback locking (SIFL) system to simultaneously reduce the optical linewidth of over 39 individual wavelength channels of an InAs/InP quantum dot (QD) coherent comb laser (CCL). Linewidth reduction from a few MHz to less than 200 kHz is observed. Measured phase noise spectra clearly indicate a significant decrease in phase noise in the frequency range above 2 kHz. The RF beating signal between two adjacent channels also shows a substantial reduction in 3-dB linewidth from 10 kHz to 300 Hz with the SIFL system, and a corresponding drop in baseline level (-27 dB to -50 dB).

  20. Unidirectional, dual-comb lasing under multiple pulse formation mechanisms in a passively mode-locked fiber ring laser.

    PubMed

    Liu, Ya; Zhao, Xin; Hu, Guoqing; Li, Cui; Zhao, Bofeng; Zheng, Zheng

    2016-09-19

    Dual-comb lasers simultaneously generating asynchronous ultrashort pulses could be an intriguing alternative to the current dual-laser comb source. When generated through a common light path, the low common-mode noises and good coherence between the pulse trains could be realized. Here we demonstrate the completely common-path, unidirectional dual-comb lasing using a carbon nanotube saturable absorber with additional pulse narrowing and broadening mechanisms. The interactions between multiple soliton formation mechanisms result in bifurcation into unusual two-pulse states with pulses of four-fold bandwidth difference and tens-of-Hz repetition rate difference. Coherence between the pulses is verified by the asynchronous cross-sampling and dual-comb spectroscopy measurements.