High index contrast passive potassium double tungstate waveguides

High-refractive-index-contrast potassium double tungstate waveguides have been experimentally demonstrated. A bulk KY(WO4)2 layer was successfully bonded onto a lower refractive index carrier using a UV curable optical adhesive and polished down to the thickness of 2.4 μm. A set of rib waveguides with ~2 μm width and 0.85 μm slab thickness were fabricated on the thin transferred KY(WO4)2 layer by focused-ion-beam milling. The upper-limit of the propagation losses of the fabricated waveguides is estimated to be 1.5 dB/cm at the wavelength of 1.55 μm using the Fabry-Perot method

La intervención escolar en los trastornos del espectro autista

[Resumen] La integración social y escolar de los niños con trastorno del espectro autista es un hecho consumado desde los últimos años. Sin embargo, su práctica debe considerar una serie de adaptaciones y ajustes. Las limita- ciones que manifiestan estos niños son muy variadas y heterogéneas, lo que en la práctica escolar debe traducirse por una actuación educativa que de respuesta a sus necesidades y habilidades. El objetivo del presente artícu- lo es revisar algunas cuestiones centrales para la intervención psicoeducativa de los niños con trastorno de espectro autista, las modalidades de escolarización y las adapta- ciones tanto curriculares como sociales. Se proponen algunas mejoras para la puesta en marcha efectiva de las diferentes medidas educativas a adoptar.[Abstract] The social and school integration of chil- dren with autistic spectrum disorders is a fait accompli in recent years. However, its practi- ce must consider a series of adaptations and adjustments. These children show a variety of heterogeneous limitations, what in the school practice must be translated into an educative performance that responds to their needs and abilities. The goal of this article is to revise some vital questions for the psychoeducative intervention in children with autistic spectrum disorders, for the different schooling systems and for the curricular or social adaptations. Improvements are proposed in order to carry out an effective launch of the different educa- tive measures that must be taken

Highly efficient channel waveguide lasers at 1 µm and 2 µm in refractive-index-engineered potassium double tungstates

Epitaxial growth of rare-earth-ion-activated KY(1-x-y)Gd(x)Lu(y)(WO4)2 co-doped thin layers onto KY(WO4)2 substrates has enabled lattice-matched waveguides with high refractive-index contract and large variation of the active rare-earth-ion concentration. In Yb3+-activated micro-structured channel waveguides, we demonstrated lasers with 418 mW of continuous-wave output power at 1023 nm and a slope efficiency of 71% versus launched pump power at 981 nm. Channel waveguide lasers operating on the 981-nm zero-phonon line were demonstrated under pumping at 934 nm with an output power of 650 mW and a slope efficiency of 76% versus absorbed pump power. Lasing with a record-low quantum defect of 0.7% was achieved. In a feasibility study, a device comprising a tapered active channel waveguide and a passive planar pump waveguide, fabricated by multi-layer growth of lattice-matched layers, was demonstrated as a laser by diode-side pumping with a high-power, multi-mode diode bar. This approach offers the potential for significantly increased output powers from channel waveguide lasers. Tm3+-activated channel waveguide lasers demonstrated a maximum output power of 300 mW and slope efficiency of 70%, when pumping near 800 nm. Lasing was obtained at various wavelengths between 1810 nm and 2037 nm. These lasers were operated with resonators exploiting either butt-coupled mirrors, providing only a non-permanent solution, or based on Fresnel reflection at the waveguide end-facets, resulting in laser emission from both waveguide ends and without control of the laser wavelength. Currently we are inscribing Bragg gratings into the top cladding to provide a stable resonator configuration that allows for effective wavelength selection

Gain dynamics in a highly ytterbium-doped potassium double tungstate epitaxial layer

Active media with high rare-earth concentrations are essential for small-footprint waveguide amplifiers. When operating at high population inversion, such devices are often affected by undesired energy-transfer processes and thermal effects. In this work, we study a 32-μm-thick epitaxial layer of KGd0.43Yb0.57WO42, representing an Yb3 concentration of ∼3.8 × 1021 cm−3, grown on an undoped KYWO42 substrate. The pump absorption, luminescence decay, and small-signal gain are investigated under intense pumping conditions. Spectroscopic signatures of an energy-transfer process and of quenched ions, as well as thermal effects, are observed. We present a gain model which takes into account excessive heat generated due to the abovementioned experimental observations. Based on finite-element calculations, we find that the net gain is significantly reduced due to, first, a fraction of Yb3 ions not contributing to stimulated emission, second, a reduction of population inversion owing to a parasitic energy-transfer process and, third, degradation of the effective transition cross-sections owing to device heating. Nevertheless, a signal enhancement of 8.1 dB was measured from the sample at 981 nm wavelength when pumping at 932 nm. The corresponding signal net gain of ∼800 dB∕cm, which was achieved without thermal management, is promising for a waveguide amplifier operating without active cooling

Low-loss highly tolerant flip-chip couplers for hybrid integration of Si3N4 and polymer waveguides

In this letter, low-loss and highly fabrication-tolerant flip-chip bonded vertical couplers under single-mode condition are demonstrated for the integration of a polymer waveguide chip onto the Si3N4/SiO2 passive platform. The passively aligned vertical couplers have a lateral misalignment between polymer and Si3N4 waveguide cores of ±1.25 μm. Low-loss operation has been experimentally demonstrated over a wide spectral window of 1480-1560 nm, with measured coupler losses below 0.8 dB for Si3N4 taper angles below 1.2°, in good agreement with the calculated values. Furthermore, thermal shock test results show less than 0.1 dB degradation, indicating a robust coupling performance

Al2O3 microring resonators for the detectin of a cancer biomarker in undiluted urine

: Concentrations down to 3 nM of the rhS100A4 protein, associated with human tumor development, have been detected in undiluted urine using an integrated sensor based on microring resonators in the emerging Al2O3 photonic platform. The fabricated microrings were designed for operation in the C-band (λ = 1565 nm) and exhibited a high-quality factor in air of 3.2 × 105. The bulk refractive index sensitivity of the devices was ~100 nm/RIU (for TM polarization) with a limit of detection of ~10−6 RIU. A surface functionalization protocol was developed to allow for the selective binding of the monoclonal antibodies designed to capture the target biomarker to the surface of the Al2O3 microrings. The detection of rhS100A4 proteins at clinically relevant concentrations in urine is a big milestone towards the use of biosensors for the screening and early diagnosis of different cancers. Biosensors based on this microring technology can lead to portable, multiplexed and easy-to-use point of care device