184 research outputs found
Passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 oscillator operating at ultra-low repetition rate
We demonstrate the operation of an ultra low repetition rate, high peak
power, picosecond diode pumped Nd:YVO4 passively mode locked laser oscillator.
Repetition rates even below 1 MHz were achieved with the use of a new design
multiple-pass cavity and a semiconductor saturable absorber. Long term stable
operation at 1.2 MHz, pulse duration of 16.3 ps and average output power of 470
mW corresponding to 24 KW peak power pulses is reported. This is, to our
knowledge, the lowest repetition rate high peak power pulses ever generated
directly from a picosecond laser resonator without cavity dumping
Thermo-optic characterization of Yb:CaGdAlO4 laser crystal
Principal thermo-optic coefficients (TOCs), dno/dT and dne/dT, are measured for Yb:CaGdAlO4 crystal, for the first time, to our knowledge. At the wavelength of ~1 μm, they equal –7.6 and –8.6 (Ч10-6 K-1), accordingly. Thermal coefficients of the optical path (TCOP) are determined for this crystal for the principal crystal cuts (a-cut and c-cut) and light polarizations (π or σ). Thermo-optic dispersion formulas are evaluated for both TOC and TCOP coefficients. Optical power of thermal lens is measured for diode-pumped a-cut Yb:CaGdAlO4; it is also calculated on the basis of measured material parameters. Thermal conductivity of CaGdAlO4 crystal is measured versus Yb concentration. The results indicate that a-cut Yb:CaGdAlO4 can provide really "athermal" behavior
High-contrast 10-fs OPCPA-based Front-End for the Apollon-10PW laser (Orale)
International audienceWe present a high-contrast 10-fs Front-End for Ti:sapphire PW-lasers within the Apollon-10PW project. This injector uses OPCPA pumped at 100 Hz by Yb-based CPA chain. Combination of OPCPA and XPW permits a >10 12 contrast ratio
Global-scale environmental niche and habitat of blue shark (Prionace glauca) by size and sex: A pivotal step to improving stock management
Blue shark (Prionace glauca) is amongst the most abundant shark species in international trade, however this highly migratory species has little effective management and the need for spatio-temporal strategies increases, possibly involving the most vulnerable stage or sex classes. We combined 265,595 blue shark observations (capture or satellite tag) with environmental data to present the first global-scale analysis of species’ habitat preferences for five size and sex classes (small juveniles, large juvenile males and females, adult males and females). We leveraged the understanding of blue shark biotic environmental associations to develop two indicators of foraging location: productivity fronts in mesotrophic areas and mesopelagic micronekton in oligotrophic environments. Temperature (at surface and mixed layer depth plus 100 m) and sea surface height anomaly were used to exclude unsuitable abiotic environments. To capture the horizontal and vertical extent of thermal habitat for the blue shark, we defined the temperature niche relative to both sea surface temperature (SST) and the temperature 100 m below the mixed layer depth (Tmld+100). We show that the lifetime foraging niche incorporates highly diverse biotic and abiotic conditions: the blue shark tends to shift from mesotrophic and temperate surface waters during juvenile stages to more oligotrophic and warm surface waters for adults. However, low productivity limits all classes of blue shark habitat in the tropical western North Atlantic, and both low productivity and warm temperatures limit habitat in most of the equatorial Indian Ocean (except for the adult males) and tropical eastern Pacific. Large females tend to have greater habitat overlap with small juveniles than large males, more defined by temperature than productivity preferences. In particular, large juvenile females tend to extend their range into higher latitudes than large males, likely due to greater tolerance to relatively cold waters. Large juvenile and adult females also seem to avoid areas with intermediate SST (~21.7-24.0°C), resulting in separation from large males mostly in the tropical and temperate latitudes in the cold and warm seasons, respectively. The habitat requirements of sensitive size- and sex-specific stages to blue shark population dynamics are essential in management to improve conservation of this near-threatened species
Femtosecond Yb:YCOB laser pumped by narrow-stripe laser diode and passively modelocked using ion implanted saturable-absorber mirror
Zettawatt-Exawatt Lasers and Their Applications in Ultrastrong-Field Physics: High Energy Front
Since its birth, the laser has been extraordinarily effective in the study
and applications of laser-matter interaction at the atomic and molecular level
and in the nonlinear optics of the bound electron. In its early life, the laser
was associated with the physics of electron volts and of the chemical bond.
Over the past fifteen years, however, we have seen a surge in our ability to
produce high intensities, five to six orders of magnitude higher than was
possible before. At these intensities, particles, electrons and protons,
acquire kinetic energy in the mega-electron-volt range through interaction with
intense laser fields. This opens a new age for the laser, the age of nonlinear
relativistic optics coupling even with nuclear physics. We suggest a path to
reach an extremely high-intensity level W/cm in the coming
decade, much beyond the current and near future intensity regime W/cm, taking advantage of the megajoule laser facilities. Such a laser at
extreme high intensity could accelerate particles to frontiers of high energy,
tera-electron-volt and peta-electron-volt, and would become a tool of
fundamental physics encompassing particle physics, gravitational physics,
nonlinear field theory, ultrahigh-pressure physics, astrophysics, and
cosmology. We focus our attention on high-energy applications in particular and
the possibility of merged reinforcement of high-energy physics and ultraintense
laser.Comment: 25 pages. 1 figur
Mesoscale productivity fronts and local fishing opportunities in the European Seas
This study evaluates the relationship between both commercial and scientific spatial fisheries data and a new satellite-based estimate of potential fish production (Ocean Productivity available to Fish, OPFish) in the European Seas. To construct OPFish, we used productivity frontal features derived from chlorophyll-a horizontal gradients, which characterize 10%–20% of the global phytoplankton production that effectively fuels higher trophic levels. OPFish is relatively consistent with the spatial distribution of both pelagic and demersal fish landings and catches per unit of effort (LPUEs and CPUEs, respectively). An index of harvest relative to ocean productivity (HP index) is calculated by dividing these LPUEs or CPUEs with OPFish. The HP index reflects the intensity of fishing by gear type with regard to local fish production. Low HP levels indicate lower LPUEs or CPUEs than expected from oceanic production, suggesting over-exploitation, while high HP levels imply more sustainable fishing. HP allows comparing the production-dependent suitability of local fishing intensities. Our results from bottom trawl data highlight that over-exploitation of demersal species from the shelves is twice as high in the Mediterranean Sea than in the North-East Atlantic. The estimate of HP index by dominant pelagic and demersal gears suggests that midwater and bottom otter trawls are associated with the lowest and highest overfishing, respectively. The contrasts of fishing intensity at local scales captured by the HP index suggest that accounting for the local potential fish production can promote fisheries sustainability in the context of ecosystem-based fisheries management as required by international marine policies
Mesoscale productivity fronts and local fishing opportunities in the European Seas. Fish and Fisheries
This study evaluates the relationship between both commercial and scientific spatial fisheries data and a new satellite-based estimate of potential fish production (Ocean Productivity available to Fish, OPFish) in the European Seas. To construct OPFish, we used productivity frontal features derived from chlorophyll-a horizontal gradients, which characterize 10%–20% of the global phytoplankton production that effectively fuels higher trophic levels. OPFish is relatively consistent with the spatial distribution of both pelagic and demersal fish landings and catches per unit of effort (LPUEs and CPUEs, respectively). An index of harvest relative to ocean productivity (HP index) is calculated by dividing these LPUEs or CPUEs with OPFish. The HP index reflects the intensity of fishing by gear type with regard to local fish production. Low HP levels indicate lower LPUEs or CPUEs than expected from oceanic production, suggesting over-exploitation, while high HP levels imply more sustainable fishing. HP allows comparing the production-dependent suitability of local fishing intensities. Our results from bottom trawl data highlight that over-exploitation of demersal species from the shelves is twice as high in the Mediterranean Sea than in the North-East Atlantic. The estimate of HP index by dominant pelagic and demersal gears suggests that midwater and bottom otter trawls are associated with the lowest and highest overfishing, respectively. The contrasts of fishing intensity at local scales captured by the HP index suggest that accounting for the local potential fish production can promote fisheries sustainability in the context of ecosystem-based fisheries management as required by international marine policies
Criteria for sustainable fisheries on juveniles illustrated for Mediterranean hake: control the juvenile harvest, and safeguard spawning refugia to rebuild population fecundity
Technical Design Report EuroGammaS proposal for the ELI-NP Gamma beam System
The machine described in this document is an advanced Source of up to 20 MeV
Gamma Rays based on Compton back-scattering, i.e. collision of an intense high
power laser beam and a high brightness electron beam with maximum kinetic
energy of about 720 MeV. Fully equipped with collimation and characterization
systems, in order to generate, form and fully measure the physical
characteristics of the produced Gamma Ray beam. The quality, i.e. phase space
density, of the two colliding beams will be such that the emitted Gamma ray
beam is characterized by energy tunability, spectral density, bandwidth,
polarization, divergence and brilliance compatible with the requested
performances of the ELI-NP user facility, to be built in Romania as the Nuclear
Physics oriented Pillar of the European Extreme Light Infrastructure. This
document illustrates the Technical Design finally produced by the EuroGammaS
Collaboration, after a thorough investigation of the machine expected
performances within the constraints imposed by the ELI-NP tender for the Gamma
Beam System (ELI-NP-GBS), in terms of available budget, deadlines for machine
completion and performance achievement, compatibility with lay-out and
characteristics of the planned civil engineering
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