Experimental study of the delayed threshold phenomenon in a semiconductor laser

An experimental study of the delayed threshold phenomenon in a Vertical Extended Cavity Semiconductor Emitting Laser is carried out. Under modulation of the pump power, the laser intensity exhibits a hysteresis behavior in the vicinity of the threshold. The temporal width of this hysteresis is measured as a function of the modulation frequency, and is proved to follow the predicted scaling law. A model based on the rate equations is derived and used to analyze the experimental observations. A frequency variation of the laser around the delayed threshold and induced by the phase-amplitude coupling is predicted and estimated

Observation of slow light in the noise spectrum of a vertical external cavity surface emitting laser

The role of coherent population oscillations is evidenced in the noise spectrum of an ultra-low noise lasers. This effect is isolated in the intensity noise spectrum of an optimized single-frequency vertical external cavity surface emitting laser. The coherent population oscillations induced by the lasing mode manifest themselves through their associated dispersion that leads to slow light effects probed by the spontaneous emission present in the non-lasing side modes.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Feed rate modeling in circular–circular interpolation discontinuity for high-speed milling

In this paper, a modeling approach is presented in order to evaluate feed rate during a circular interpolation in high-speed milling. The developed model depends on the type of discontinuity and the kinematic performance of the machine tool. To begin with, a feed rate modeling for circular interpolation with continuity in tangency is developed. After, the discontinuity in tangency between two circular interpolations is replaced by discontinuity in curvature by adding a fillet which is in relation to the functional tolerance ε imposed in the part design. An experimental study has been carried out to validate the models

Evaluation of the noise properties of a dual-frequency VECSEL for compact Cs atomic clocks (Poster)

International audienceWe evaluate a dual-frequency and dual-polarization optically-pumped semiconductor laser emitting at 852 nm as a new laser source for compact atomic clocks based on the coherent population trapping (CPT) technique. The frequency difference between the laser modes is tunable to 9.2 GHz corresponding to the ground state hyperfine-split of Cs. Impact of the laser noise has been investigated. Laser relative intensity noise is limited by the pump-RIN transfer to a level of-110 dB/Hz. Laser frequency noise shows excess mechanical and technical noise resulting in a laser linewidth of 1 MHz at 1 s in lock operation. The noise performance and spectral properties of the laser are already adequate to realize CPT experiments and should result in Allan standard-deviation of the clock below 1 × 10-12 at 1 second

Laser à semiconducteur à 852 nm bifrequence pompé optiquement pour les horloges atomiques CPT (poster)

National audienceNous présentons un laser à semiconducteur en cavité externe pompé optiquement, émettant sur deux fréquences optiques polarisées perpendiculairement, destiné au piégeage cohérent d'atomes (CPT) de Cs. L'émission est accordable autour de 852 nm. La différence de fréquence est ajustée grâce à une lame électro-optique autour de 9,2 GHz. La longueur d'onde du mode ordinaire est stabilisée sur la raie D2 du Cs et la différence de fréquence est asservie sur un signal de référence RF. En fonctionnement stabilisé, nous caractérisons les sources de bruits du laser afin d'évaluer les performances du laser en vue de son application dans une horloge atomique CPT

Dual-frequency VECSEL for atomic clocks using coherent population trapping

Workshop on Laser Diodes for Space Applications, Nov 2015, Palaiseau, FranceAtomic frequency references provide high-precision stable signals, which are crucial in the most demanding applications as high bitrate communication networks, high-end inertial navigation, or satellite positioning. One way to obtain those laser fields with low intensity-and frequency-noise is to use the dual-frequency and dual-polarization emission of an optically-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser (OP-VECSEL)

High-purity microwave signal from a dual-frequency semiconductor laser for CPT atomic clocks (poster)

Coherent population trapping (CPT) of metal-alkali atoms is an interesting technique for the development of compact atomic frequency references; it relies on the excitation of the atoms by two phase-coherent laser fields. We describe the design and operation of an innovating dual-frequency laser source dedicated to Cs CPT atomic clocks, based on the direct dual-frequency and dual-polarization operation of an optically-pumped semiconductor laser at 852 nm. The phase noise of beatnote generated by the laser source is at maximum of -90 dBrad²/Hz with active stabilization, and the relative intensity noise (RIN) has been measured at -115 dB/Hz. It would potentially results in a clock frequency stability of 1.6 .10^-12 at 1 second, limited by the laser RIN. With proper adjustments in the laser and clock set-up, we target a stability of 3.10^-13 at 1 second

factors influencing acute and late toxicity in the era of adjuvant hypofractionated breast radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate toxicity in breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline and taxane based chemotherapy and whole breast hypofractionated radiotherapy, and to identify the risk factors for toxicity. Methods and materials 537 early breast cancer patients receiving hypofractionated radiotherapy after conservative surgery were enrolled from April 2009 to December 2014, in an Italian cancer institute. The dose was 42.4 Gy in 16 daily fractions, 2.65 Gy per fraction. The boost to the tumor bed was administered only in grade III breast cancer patients and in patients with close or positive margins. Acute and late toxicity were prospectively assessed during and after radiotherapy according to RTOG scale. The impact of patients clinical characteristics, performed treatments and dose inhomogeneities on the occurrence of an higher level of acute skin toxicity and late fibrosis has been evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The mean age was 74 (range 46–91 yrs). 27% of patients received boost. 22% of cases (n = 119) received also chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 32 months. G1 and G2/G3 acute skin toxicity were 61.3% and 20.5% and G1 and G2/G3 late fibrosis 12.6% and 4.3% respectively. Chemotherapy (p = 0.04), diabetes (p = 0.04) and boost administration (p Conclusions The results of our study, according to the large randomized trials, confirmed that hypofractionated whole breast irradiation is safe, and only the boost administration seems to be an important predictor for toxicity. Chemotherapy does not impact on acute and late skin toxicity

Spectral and noise characterization of a 852 nm dual-frequency VECSEL (orale)

3rd Workshop VECSEL, Nov 2015, Montpellier, FranceCoherent population trapping (CPT) is a common technique used in compact atomic clocks which requires two-phase coherent laser modes with a frequency difference in the GHz range for alkali atoms. To improve the performance vs size trade-off of Cs atomic clocks, we develop a laser source generating two cross-polarized coherent laser fields at 852 nm. It relies on the dual-frequency and dual-polarization operation of an optically-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser

A three-gene signature marks the time to locoregional recurrence in luminal-like breast cancer

Background: Gene expression profiling (GEP)-based prognostic signatures are being rapidly integrated into clinical decision making for systemic management of breast cancer patients. However, GEP remains relatively underdeveloped for locoregional risk assessment. Yet, locoregional recurrence (LRR), especially early after surgery, is associated with poor survival. Patients and methods: GEP was carried out on two independent luminal-like breast cancer cohorts of patients developing early (≤5 years after surgery) or late (>5 years) LRR and used, by a training and testing approach, to build a gene signature able to intercept women at risk of developing early LRR. The GEP data of two in silico datasets and of a third independent cohort were used to explore its prognostic value. Results: Analysis of the first two cohorts led to the identification of three genes, CSTB, CCDC91 and ITGB1, whose expression, derived by principal component analysis, generated a three-gene signature significantly associated with early LRR in both cohorts (P value <0.001 and 0.005, respectively), overcoming the discriminatory capability of age, hormone receptor status and therapy. Remarkably, the integration of the signature with these clinical variables led to an area under the curve of 0.878 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.810-0.945]. In in silico datasets we found that the three-gene signature retained its association, showing higher values in the early relapsed patients. Moreover, in the third additional cohort, the signature significantly associated with relapse-free survival (hazard ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.04-2.35). Conclusions: Our three-gene signature represents a new exploitable tool to aid treatment choice in patients with luminal-like breast cancer at risk of developing early recurrence