FM mode-locked, laser-diode-pumped La_1-xNd_xMgAl₁₁O₁₉ Laser

We report the operation of a laser diode pumped La(1-x)Nd(x)MgAl(11)O(19) laser mode locked by an electro-optic phase modulator The repetition rate of the laser was 230 MHz, and the average output power was 50 mW when pumped by a 500-mW broad-stripe laser diode. Transform-limited pulses of 14 ps duration were obtained We have also demonstrated the FM operation of this laser, with bandwidths of up to 440 GHz being obtaine

Self starting additive pulse modelocking of a Nd:LMA laser

A Ti:sapphire-pumped Nd:LMA laser has been passively mode locked by using additive-pulse mode locking, which generates 600-fs-duration pulses at 1.054-µm. The wavelength, pulse duration, and long-term stability of the laser make it eminently suitable as a front-end oscillator of a high-power, chirped-pulse amplifier experiment based on 1.053-µm amplification in Nd:phosphate glass

Sub-picosecond pulse generation from a laser-diode pumped, self-starting additive-pulse mode-locked Nd:LMA laser

We report the generation of sub-picosecond mode-locked pulses at 1.05 µm from an additive-pulse mode-locked laser diode-pumped La1-xNdxMgAl11O19 laser. The repetition rate was 93 MHz, and the maximum average output power was 60 mW

Tracking Single Particles and Elongated Filaments with Nanometer Precision

Recent developments in image processing have greatly advanced our understanding of biomolecular processes in vitro and in vivo. In particular, using Gaussian models to fit the intensity profiles of nanometer-sized objects have enabled their two-dimensional localization with a precision in the one-nanometer range. Here, we present an algorithm to precisely localize curved filaments whose structures are characterized by subresolution diameters and micrometer lengths. Using surface-immobilized microtubules, fluorescently labeled with rhodamine, we demonstrate positional precisions of ∼2 nm when determining the filament centerline and ∼9 nm when localizing the filament tips. Combined with state-of-the-art single particle tracking we apply the algorithm 1), to motor-proteins stepping on immobilized microtubules, 2), to depolymerizing microtubules, and 3), to microtubules gliding over motor-coated surfaces