Modeling and experimental investigation of transverse mode dynamics in VECSEL

We present a new method to simulate the formation of transverse modes in VECSELs. An expression for the gain as a function of carrier density and temperature is derived from a simulation of the structure reflectivity, while the field propagation in the cavity is computed with the Huygens-Fresnel integral. A rate equation model is employed to calculate the field and gain dynamics over numerous round-trips. The optimal mode size for single mode operation for a given pump shape is calculated and compared to experimental results. The effect of pump geometry, thermal lensing and structure design will be discussed.Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-17-1-0246]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Ultrafast band-gap renormalization and build-up of optical gain in monolayer MoTe2_2

The dynamics of band-gap renormalization and gain build-up in monolayer MoTe$_2$ is investigated by evaluating the non-equilibrium Dirac-Bloch equations with the incoherent carrier-carrier and carrier-phonon scattering treated via quantum-Boltzmann type scattering equations. For the case where an approximately $300$ fs-long high intensity optical pulse generates charge-carrier densities in the gain regime, the strong Coulomb coupling leads to a relaxation of excited carriers on a few fs time scale. The pump-pulse generation of excited carriers induces a large band-gap renormalization during the time scale of the pulse. Efficient phonon coupling leads to a subsequent carrier thermalization within a few ps, which defines the time scale for the optical gain build-up energetically close to the low-density exciton resonance.Comment: This is a post-peer-review version of an article published in Physical Review

Influence of microscopic many-body scattering on multi-wavelength VECSEL lasing

Non-equilibrium multi-wavelength operation of vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) is investigated numerically using a coupled system of Maxwell semiconductor Bloch equations. The propagation of the electromagnetic field is modeled using Maxwell's equations, and the semiconductor Bloch equations simulate the optically active quantum wells. Microscopic many-body carrier-carrier and carrier-phonon scattering are treated at the level of second Born-Markov approximation, polarization dephasing with a characteristic rate, and carrier screening with the static Lindhard formula. At first, an initialization scheme is constructed to study multi-wavelength operation in a time-resolved VECSEL. Intracavity dual-wavelength THz stabilization is examined using longitudinal modes and an intracavity etalon. In the latter, anti-correlated noise is observed for THz generation and investigated.Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-17-1-0246]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Carrier dynamics in TMDCs for optical applications

Fully microscopic many-body models based on the Dirac-Bloch equations and quantum-Boltzmann type scattering equations are used to study the carrier dynamics in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) under conditions as typical for applications as lasers, diodes or saturable absorbers. The carrier-carrier scattering is shown to be happening on an ultra-fast few-femtosecond timescale for excitations high above the bandgap. Once the carriers have relaxed into quasi-equilibrium distributions near the bandgap, the scattering is slowed dramatically by phase-space filling and screening of the Coulomb interaction. Here, the scatterings and resulting dephasing of the optical polarizations happen on a 100fs timescale and lead to similar broadenings as found in conventional III-V semiconductor materials. Also like the case in III-V materials, the carrier phonon scattering times are found to be in the picosecond range. The scatterings are shown to allow for gain spectra as needed for good lasing operation. It is shown that the weak interaction between the two bands associated with the two different sub-lattices can potentially allow for simultaneous lasing at two different frequencies. Strong absorption and ultrafast carrier relaxation could allow for TMDCs to be used in saturable absorption applications.Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-17-1-0246]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Myrrh protects against IL-13-induced epithelial barrier breakdown in HT-29/B6 cells

The oleoresin myrrh has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory remedy for a variety of diseases and is said to have a protective effect on the intestinal epithelium. An intact epithelial barrier function is the prerequisite for a healthy gut. Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the intestine, in particular, lead to barrier impairment resulting in leak-flux diarrhea and mucosal immune responses. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of myrrh in an experimental inflammatory situation, namely, under the influence of IL-13, one of the key cytokines in ulcerative colitis. We used human intestinal epithelial HT-29/B6 cell monolayers for functional and molecular assessment of the epithelial barrier under IL-13 and myrrh treatment. IL-13 induced a loss in barrier function that was fully restored with myrrh treatment, as shown by transepithelial electrical resistance measurements. The molecular correlate of the IL-13-mediated barrier dysfunction could be assigned to an upregulation of the channel-forming tight junction (TJ) protein claudin-2 and to a subcellular redistribution of the TJ protein tricellulin, loosening the sealing of tricellular TJs. Moreover, IL-13 exposure leads to an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, contributing to the leak pathway of barrier dysfunction. Myrrh protected against changes in TJ deregulation and decreased the elevated apoptotic ratio under IL-13. The protective effects are mediated through the inhibition of the STAT3 and STAT6 pathway. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that myrrh exhibits antagonizing effects against IL-13-induced barrier impairment in a human intestinal cell model. These data suggest the use of myrrh as a promising option in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Extension of the LDA-1/2 method to the material class of bismuth containing III-V semiconductors

The LDA-1/2 method is employed in density functional theory calculations for the electronic structure of III-V dilute bismide systems. For the representative example of Ga(SbBi) with Bi concentrations below $10 \%$, it is shown that this method works very efficiently, especially due to its reasonably low demand on computer memory. The resulting bandstructure and wavefunctions are used to compute the interaction matrix elements that serve as input to microscopic calculations of the optical properties and intrinsic losses relevant for optoelectronic applications of dilute bismides

Factor interaction analysis for chromosome 8 and DNA methylation alterations highlights innate immune response suppression and cytoskeletal changes in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Alterations of chromosome 8 and hypomethylation of LINE-1 retrotransposons are common alterations in advanced prostate carcinoma. In a former study including many metastatic cases, they strongly correlated with each other. To elucidate a possible interaction between the two alterations, we investigated their relationship in less advanced prostate cancers. RESULTS: In 50 primary tumor tissues, no correlation was observed between chromosome 8 alterations determined by comparative genomic hybridization and LINE-1 hypomethylation measured by Southern blot hybridization. The discrepancy towards the former study, which had been dominated by advanced stage cases, suggests that both alterations converge and interact during prostate cancer progression. Therefore, interaction analysis was performed on microarray-based expression profiles of cancers harboring both alterations, only one, or none. Application of a novel bioinformatic method identified Gene Ontology (GO) groups related to innate immunity, cytoskeletal organization and cell adhesion as common targets of both alterations. Many genes targeted by their interaction were involved in type I and II interferon signaling and several were functionally related to hereditary prostate cancer genes. In addition, the interaction appeared to influence a switch in the expression pattern of EPB41L genes encoding 4.1 cytoskeleton proteins. Real-time RT-PCR revealed GADD45A, MX1, EPB41L3/DAL1, and FBLN1 as generally downregulated in prostate cancer, whereas HOXB13 and EPB41L4B were upregulated. TLR3 was downregulated in a subset of the cases and associated with recurrence. Downregulation of EPB41L3, but not of GADD45A, was associated with promoter hypermethylation, which was detected in 79% of carcinoma samples. CONCLUSION: Alterations of chromosome 8 and DNA hypomethylation in prostate cancer probably do not cause each other, but converge during progression. The present analysis implicates their interaction in innate immune response suppression and cytoskeletal changes during prostate cancer progression. The study thus highlights novel mechanisms in prostate cancer progression and identifies novel candidate genes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In particular, TLR3 expression might be useful for prostate cancer prognosis and EPB41L3 hypermethylation for its detection

Microscopic theory of the intracollisional field effect in semiconductor superlattices

A detailed analysis of the optical and transport properties of semiconductor superlattices in the high-field regime is presented. Electronic Bloch oscillations and the resulting terahertz emission signals are computed including phonon damping in the presence of the electric field. The modifications of the phonon-induced terahertz signal decay are analyzed including the movement of the carriers in the field (intracollisional field effect). For elevated fields it is shown that the interplay between electric field and electron-phonon interaction leads to resonance structures in the terahertz damping rate

Changes in cortical cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix gene expression in prostate cancer are related to oncogenic ERG deregulation

Abstract Background The cortical cytoskeleton network connects the actin cytoskeleton to various membrane proteins, influencing cell adhesion, polarity, migration and response to extracellular signals. Previous studies have suggested changes in the expression of specific components in prostate cancer, especially of 4.1 proteins (encoded by EPB41 genes) which form nodes in this network. Methods Expression of EPB41L1, EPB41L2, EPB41L3 (protein: 4.1B), EPB41L4B (EHM2), EPB41L5, EPB49 (dematin), VIL2 (ezrin), and DLG1 (summarized as „cortical cytoskeleton" genes) as well as ERG was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in a well-characterized set of 45 M0 prostate adenocarcinoma and 13 benign tissues. Hypermethylation of EPB41L3 and GSTP1 was compared in 93 cancer tissues by methylation-specific PCR. Expression of 4.1B was further studied by immunohistochemistry. Results EPB41L1 and EPB41L3 were significantly downregulated and EPB41L4B was upregulated in cancer tissues. Low EPB41L1 or high EPB41L4B expression were associated with earlier biochemical recurrence. None of the other cortical cytoskeleton genes displayed expression changes, in particular EPB49 and VIL2, despite hints from previous studies. EPB41L3 downregulation was significantly associated with hypermethylation of its promoter and strongly correlated with GSTP1 hypermethylation. Protein 4.1B was detected most strongly in the basal cells of normal prostate epithelia. Its expression in carcinoma cells was similar to the weaker one in normal luminal cells. EPB41L3 downregulation and EPB41L4B upregulation were essentially restricted to the 22 cases with ERG overexpression. Expression changes in EPB41L3 and EPB41L4B closely paralleled those previously observed for the extracellular matrix genes FBLN1 and SPOCK1, respectively. Conclusions Specific changes in the cortical cytoskeleton were observed during prostate cancer progression. They parallel changes in the expression of extracellular matrix components and all together appear to be associated with oncogenic ERG overexpression. We hypothesize that these alterations may contribute to the increased invasivity conferred to prostate cancer cells by ERG deregulation.</p