Stretching and compression of laser pulses by means of high efficiency volume diffractive gratings with variable period in photo-thermo-refractive glass

High efficiency reflective volume Bragg gratings with chirped gratings recorded in photo-thermo-refractive glass having an absolute diffraction efficiency exceeding 95% in transmitting and reflecting modes are used to stretch and/or compress ultrashort laser pulses with high efficiency. Robustness, compactness, thermal and laser stability along with placement of multiple elements in the same space provides femtosecond laser system with high efficiency of stretching and re-compression of femtosecond pulses

Microwave response near zero magnetic field in transition-metal-doped silicate glasses

A sharp microwave response centered at zero magnetic field was observed in manganese- and iron-doped Na2O-CaO-MgO-SiO2 glasses with phase opposite to the normal Mn+2 and Fe+3 paramagnetic signals. The response can be described as magneto-induced microwave conductivity in the dielectric glass that derives from spin-dependent charge migration within the first coordination sphere of the paramagnetic ion. In contrast to the spin-polarized tunneling in ferromagnets between different valence states of metals, the observed effect is due to spin-dependent tunneling that occurs in the vicinity of manganese or iron in diluted paramagnetic systems

Mode selection and phase locking of sidelobe-emitting semiconductor laser arrays via reflection coupling from an external narrow-bandwidth grating

A phase locked array design, utilizing direct reflection feedback between adjacent cavities by an external grating, is analyzed and proposed. The narrow grating reflection bandwidth causes longitudinal mode selection, while the array geometry causes transverse wavenumber selection through the coupling strength. As a result, only one among the free running cavity eigenmodes can couple effectively into a phase locked collective eigenmode. The coupled array mode is experiencing the high reflectivity of the grating and surpasses the low gain of the free running modes, that experience only a much lower reflectivity from the cavity edge antireflective coating. These results suggest that in-phase locking and single mode operation can be achieved simultaneously through the use of an external narrow-bandwidth grating

DBR and DFB lasers in neodymium-and ytterbium-doped photothermorefractive glasses

The first demonstration, to the best of our knowledge, of distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and monolithic distributed feedback (DFB) lasers in photothermorefractive glass doped with rare-earth ions is reported. The lasers were produced by incorporation of the volume Bragg gratings into the laser gain elements. The need for environment-insensitive, compact, robust, narrow line laser sources has stimulated the development of hybrid devices, such as distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers, in which a laser resonator is produced by Bragg mirrors incorporated in a gain element, or distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, in which a resonator is produced by a Bragg grating that occupies the whole gain element. The concept of DFB was first successfully applied to optically pumped dye lasers The PTR glass has composition (M%) The two last elements are responsible for initiation of the photostructural transformations in the glass and enable VBG recording. As it was demonstrated in our earlier studies Nd-and Yb-doped PTR glasses with 2 wt. % of Yb and Nd ions have been prepared. The measurements of emission spectra were carried out in these glasses using an Ocean Optics spectrometer when glass samples were excited with a diode laser emitting at 808 nm (in the case of Nd ions) and 915 nm (for Yb ones

Coupled-wave analysis of apodized volume gratings

This work presents the use of longitudinal refractive index modulation (apodization) in photosensitive glass for improved sidelobe suppression in volume holographic optical elements. We develop a numerical model for both uniform and apodized volume holograms based on rigorous coupled-wave analysis. We validate the model by comparison with a transmissive 1.55-mum uniform volume grating in photothermorefractive glass. We then apply our numerical model to calculate the spectral response of apodized gratings. The numerical results demonstrate that apodization of the refractive index modulation envelope improves spectral selectivity and reduces first and second-order side-lobe peaks by up to 33 and 65 dB, respectively. We suggest a method for creating apodization in volume holograms with approximately Gaussian spatial refractive index profile

Residual internal stress in partially crystallized photothermorefractive glass: Evaluation by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and first principles calculations

In some circumstances, the mechanical and optical properties of multiphase brittle materials strongly depend on the level of residual micromechanical stresses that arise upon cooling due to thermal and elastic mismatch between the constituent phases. Here we study the residual internal stress in a partially crystallized oxyfluoride glass, best known as photothermorefractive (PTR) glass. This material is composed of a glass matrix with embedded nanosize sodium fluoride (NaF) crystals. Using both the Selsing model and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance in combination with first principles calculations we found that the crystals are under a tensile stress field of approximately 610-800 MPa. For this stress level the estimated critical crystal diameter for spontaneous cracking is about 2300-1900 nm, which greatly exceeds the observed diameters of 7-35 nm. Hence no spontaneous cracking is expected for the PTR glasses. First principles calculations indicate that the stress induced change of the refractive index of the NaF crystals is about -0.08%, which agrees with the observed refractive index changes

Autoresonance in a Dissipative System

We study the autoresonant solution of Duffing's equation in the presence of dissipation. This solution is proved to be an attracting set. We evaluate the maximal amplitude of the autoresonant solution and the time of transition from autoresonant growth of the amplitude to the mode of fast oscillations. Analytical results are illustrated by numerical simulations.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Spontaneous magnetization of aluminum nanowires deposited on the NaCl(100) surface

We investigate electronic structures of Al quantum wires, both unsupported and supported on the (100) NaCl surface, using the density-functional theory. We confirm that unsupported nanowires, constrained to be linear, show magnetization when elongated beyond the equilibrium length. Allowing ions to relax, the wires deform to zig-zag structures with lower magnetization but no dimerization occurs. When an Al wire is deposited on the NaCl surface, a zig-zag geometry emerges again. The magnetization changes moderately from that for the corresponding unsupported wire. We analyse the findings using electron band structures and simple model wires.Comment: submitted to PHys. Rev.

Statins in unconventional secretion of insulin-degrading enzyme and degradation of the amyloid-β peptide.

Population-based studies demonstrated that statins might decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Statins inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase and thereby de novo synthesis of cholesterol. Cell culture and animal studies indicated that cholesterol affects the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein and the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Recently, we have demonstrated that statins can also stimulate the degradation of Aβ. The statin-induced clearance of Aβ could be attributed to increased release of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) via an exosome-related unconventional secretory pathway. Interestingly, this statin-induced secretion of exosome-associated IDE was independent of cellular cholesterol concentrations, but rather caused by impairment of isoprenoid biosynthesis and protein prenylation. We further identified a new hexapeptide sequence in the C-terminal region of IDE, named the SlyX motif that is critically involved in IDE secretion. Taken these findings together, the increased clearance of Aβ by stimulated secretion of IDE might contribute to the protective effects of statins against AD

Performance and Mix Measurements of Indirect Drive Cu-Doped Be Implosions

The ablator couples energy between the driver and fusion fuel in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Because of its low opacity, high solid density, and material properties, beryllium has long been considered an ideal ablator for ICF ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility. We report here the first indirect drive Be implosions driven with shaped laser pulses and diagnosed with fusion yield at the OMEGA laser. The results show good performance with an average DD neutron yield of ~2 × 10[superscript 9] at a convergence ratio of R[subscript 0]/R ~ 10 and little impact due to the growth of hydrodynamic instabilities and mix. In addition, the effect of adding an inner liner of W between the Be and DD is demonstrated.United States. Dept. of Energy (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344