361 research outputs found
Spatial homogeneity of optically switched semiconductor photonic crystals and of bulk semiconductors
This paper discusses free carrier generation by pulsed laser fields as a
mechanism to switch the optical properties of semiconductor photonic crystals
and bulk semiconductors on an ultrafast time scale. Requirements are set for
the switching magnitude, the time-scale, the induced absorption as well as the
spatial homogeneity, in particular for silicon at lambda= 1550 nm. Using a
nonlinear absorption model, we calculate carrier depth profiles and define a
homogeneity length l_hom. Homogeneity length contours are visualized in a plane
spanned by the linear and two-photon absorption coefficients. Such a
generalized homogeneity plot allows us to find optimum switching conditions at
pump frequencies near v/c= 5000 cm^{-1} (lambda= 2000 nm). We discuss the
effect of scattering in photonic crystals on the homogeneity. We experimentally
demonstrate a 10% refractive index switch in bulk silicon within 230 fs with a
lateral homogeneity of more than 30 micrometers. Our results are relevant for
switching of modulators in absence of photonic crystals
Ultrafast optical switching of three-dimensional Si inverse opal photonic band gap crystals
We present ultrafast optical switching experiments on 3D photonic band gap
crystals. Switching the Si inverse opal is achieved by optically exciting free
carriers by a two-photon process. We probe reflectivity in the frequency range
of second order Bragg diffraction where the photonic band gap is predicted. We
find good experimental switching conditions for free-carrier plasma frequencies
between 0.3 and 0.7 times the optical frequency: we thus observe a large
frequency shift of up to D omega/omega= 1.5% of all spectral features including
the peak that corresponds to the photonic band gap. We deduce a corresponding
large refractive index change of Dn'_Si/n'_Si= 2.0% and an induced absorption
length that is longer than the sample thickness. We observe a fast decay time
of 21 ps, which implies that switching could potentially be repeated at GHz
rates. Such a high switching rate is relevant to future switching and
modulation applications
Fiber transport of spatially entangled photons
Entanglement in the spatial degrees of freedom of photons is an interesting
resource for quantum information. For practical distribution of such entangled
photons it is desireable to use an optical fiber, which in this case has to
support multiple transverse modes. Here we report the use of a hollow-core
photonic crystal fiber to transport spatially entangled qubits.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Hybrid-Entanglement in Continuous Variable Systems
Entanglement is one of the most fascinating features arising from
quantum-mechanics and of great importance for quantum information science. Of
particular interest are so-called hybrid-entangled states which have the
intriguing property that they contain entanglement between different degrees of
freedom (DOFs). However, most of the current continuous variable systems only
exploit one DOF and therefore do not involve such highly complex states. We
break this barrier and demonstrate that one can exploit squeezed cylindrically
polarized optical modes to generate continuous variable states exhibiting
entanglement between the spatial and polarization DOF. We show an experimental
realization of these novel kind of states by quantum squeezing an azimuthally
polarized mode with the help of a specially tailored photonic crystal fiber
Excitation of higher-order modes in optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fiber
Higher-order modes are controllably excited in water-filled kagomè-, bandgap-style, and simplified hollow-core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCF). A spatial light modulator is used to create amplitude and phase distributions that closely match those of the fiber modes, resulting in typical launch efficiencies of 10–20% into the liquid-filled core. Modes, excited across the visible wavelength range, closely resemble those observed in air-filled kagomè HC-PCF and match numerical simulations. These results provide a framework for spatially-resolved sensing in HC-PCF microreactors and fiber-based optical manipulation
A new method to measure Bowen ratios using high-resolution vertical dry and wet bulb temperature profiles
The Bowen ratio surface energy balance method is a relatively simple method
to determine the latent heat flux and the actual land surface evaporation.
The Bowen ratio method is based on the measurement of air temperature and
vapour pressure gradients. If these measurements are performed at only two
heights, correctness of data becomes critical. In this paper we present the
concept of a new measurement method to estimate the Bowen ratio based on
vertical dry and wet bulb temperature profiles with high spatial resolution.
A short field experiment with distributed temperature sensing (DTS) in a
fibre optic cable with 13 measurement points in the vertical was undertaken.
A dry and a wetted section of a fibre optic cable were suspended on a 6 m
high tower installed over a sugar beet trial plot near Pietermaritzburg
(South Africa). Using the DTS cable as a psychrometer, a near continuous
observation of vapour pressure and air temperature at 0.20 m intervals was
established. These data allowed the computation of the Bowen ratio with a
high spatial and temporal precision. The daytime latent and sensible heat
fluxes were estimated by combining the Bowen ratio values from the DTS-based
system with independent measurements of net radiation and soil heat flux. The
sensible heat flux, which is the relevant term to evaluate, derived from the
DTS-based Bowen ratio (BR-DTS) was compared with that derived from co-located
eddy covariance (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.91), surface layer scintillometer
(<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.81) and surface renewal (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.86) systems. By using
multiple measurement points instead of two, more confidence in the derived Bowen
ratio values is obtained
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Toward Waveguide-Based Optical Chromatography
We report analytical expressions for optical forces acting on particles inside waveguides. The analysis builds on our previously reported Fourier Transform method to obtain Beam Shape Coefficients for any beam. Here we develop analytical expressions for the Beam Shape Coefficients in cylindrical and rectangular metallic waveguides. The theory is valid for particle radius a ranging from the Rayleigh regime to large microparticles, such as aerosols like virus loaded droplets. The theory is used to investigate how optical forces within hollow waveguides can be used to sort particles in “optical chromatography” experiments in which particles are optically propelled along a hollow-core waveguide. For Rayleigh particles, the axial force is found to scale with a6, while the radial force, which prevents particles from crashing into the waveguide walls, scales with a3. For microparticles, narrow Mie resonances create a strong wavelength dependence of the optical force, enabling more selective sorting. Several beam parameters, such as power, wavelength, polarization state and waveguide modes can be tuned to optimize the sorting performance. The analysis focuses on cylindrical waveguides, where meter-long liquid waveguides in the form of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers are readily available. The modes of such fibers are well-approximated by the cylindrical waveguide modes considered in the theory.</jats:p
Prenatal Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, DDE, and DDT and Overweight in Children: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study
Background: Recent experimental evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may increase postnatal obesity risk and that these effects may be sex or diet dependent
A Prospective Analysis of Elevated Fasting Glucose Levels and Cognitive Function in Older People: Results From PROSPER and the Rotterdam Study
OBJECTIVE-To investigate the relationship between fasting glucose levels, insulin resistance, and cognitive impairment in old age. Diabetes is associated with cognitive impairment in older people. However, the link between elevated fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance in nondiabetic individuals, and the risk of cognitive impairment is unclear.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-We analyzed data from, in total, 8,447 participants in two independent prospective studies: the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), 5,019 participants, aged 69-84 years, and the Rotterdam Study, 3,428 participants, aged 61-97 years. Fasting glucose levels were assessed at baseline in both studies; fasting insulin levels were assessed in the Rotterdam Study only. Cognitive function was assessed in both studies at baseline and during follow-up.
RESULTS-Subjects with diabetes had impaired cognitive function at baseline. In contrast, in people without a history of diabetes, there was no clear association between baseline fasting glucose levels and executive function and memory, nor was there a consistent relationship between elevated baseline fasting glucose levels and the rate of cognitive decline in either cohort. Insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment index) was also unrelated to cognitive function and decline.
CONCLUSIONS-Elevated fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance are not associated with worse cognitive function in older people without a history of diabetes. These data suggest either that there is a threshold for effects of dysglycemia on cognitive function or that factors other than hyperglycemia contribute to cognitive impairment in individuals with frank diabetes
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