Coexisting periodic attractors in injection locked diode lasers

We present experimental evidence for coexisting periodic attractors in a semiconductor laser subject to external optical injection. The coexisting attractors appear after the semiconductor laser has undergone a Hopf bifurcation from the locked steady state. We consider the single mode rate equations and derive a third order differential equation for the phase of the laser field. We then analyze the bifurcation diagram of the time periodic states in terms of the frequency detuning and the injection rate and show the existence of multiple periodic attractors.Comment: LaTex, 14 pages, 6 postscript figures include

Bifurcation to square-wave switching in orthogonally delay-coupled semiconductor lasers: Theory and experiment

We analyze the dynamics of two semiconductor lasers with so-called orthogonal time-delayed mutual coupling: the dominant TE (x) modes of each laser are rotated by 90∘ (therefore, TM polarization or y) before being coupled to the other laser. Although this laser system allows for steady-state emission in either one or in both polarization modes, it may also exhibit stable time-periodic dynamics including square waveforms. A theoretical mapping of the switching dynamics unveils the region in parameter space where one expects to observe long-term time-periodic mode switching. Detailed numerical simulations illustrate the role played by the coupling strength, the mode frequency detuning, or the mode gain to loss difference. We complement our theoretical study with several experiments and measurements. We present time series and intensity spectra associated with the characteristics of the square waves and other waveforms observed as a function of the strength of the delay coupling. The experimental observations are in very good agreement with the analysis and the numerical results.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Stable microwave oscillations due to external-cavity-mode beating in laser diodes subject to optical feedback

Laser diodes subject to a delayed optical feedback may exhibit high-frequency oscillating intensities as a result of a beating between two external-cavity-modes ͑ECMs͒. We analyze the conditions for the stability of these microwave oscillations in the framework of the Lang-Kobayashi equations for a single-mode edgeemitting semiconductor laser ͓R. Lang and K. Kobayashi, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-16, 347 ͑1980͔͒. We show that two different scenarios are possible. If the linewidth enhancement factor is relatively large (␣ϭ2 Ϫ5), the beating occurs between a stable ECM ͑mode͒ and an unstable ECM ͑antimode͒. The stability of the time-periodic solution is then limited in parameter space. But if the linewidth enhancement factor is sufficiently low (␣р␣ c Ӎ1), a beating between two stable modes is possible allowing stable high-frequency oscillating outputs

Synthesis of TiO2-x/W18O49 Hollow Double-shell and Core-shell Microspheres for CO2 Photoreduction under Visible Light

TiO2x/W18O49 with core–shell or double-shelled hollow microspheres were synthesized through a facile multi-step solvothermal method. The formation of the hollow microspheres with a doubleshell was a result of the Kirkendall effect during the solvothermal treatment with concentrated NaOH. The advanced architecture significantly enhanced the electronic properties of TiO2x/ W18O49, improving by more than 30 times the CO2 photoreduction efficiency compared to the pristine W18O49. Operando DRIFTS measurements revealed that the yellow TiO2x was a preferable CO2 adsorption and conversion site

Impurity-induced stabilization of solitons in arrays of parametrically driven nonlinear oscillators

Chains of parametrically driven, damped pendula are known to support soliton-like clusters of in-phase motion which become unstable and seed spatiotemporal chaos for sufficiently large driving amplitudes. We show that the pinning of the soliton on a "long" impurity (a longer pendulum) expands dramatically its stability region whereas "short" defects simply repel solitons producing effective partition of the chain. We also show that defects may spontaneously nucleate solitons.Comment: 4 pages in RevTeX; 7 figures in ps forma

Victim-offender mediation and social work: focus groups with mediators in Flanders

The role of social work in the restorative justice field remains largely unexplored. This article reports on the findings of focus groups conducted with mediators of juvenile and adult mediation practices in Flanders (Belgium) to gain more insight into how mediators perceive their professional role and to what extent they refer to individual and structural dimensions of social work practice. Implications for future social work involvement and research are made

Pathologist Concordance for Ovarian Carcinoma Subtype Classification and Identification of Relevant Histologic Features Using Microscope and Whole Slide Imaging.

CONTEXT.—: Despite several studies focusing on the validation of whole slide imaging (WSI) across organ systems or subspecialties, the use of WSI for specific primary diagnosis tasks has been underexamined. OBJECTIVE.—: To assess pathologist performance for the histologic subtyping of individual sections of ovarian carcinomas using a light microscope and WSI. DESIGN.—: A panel of 3 experienced gynecologic pathologists provided reference subtype diagnoses for 212 histologic sections from 109 ovarian carcinomas based on optical microscopy review. Two additional attending pathologists provided diagnoses and also identified the presence of a set of 8 histologic features important for ovarian tumor subtyping. Two experienced gynecologic pathologists and 2 fellows reviewed the corresponding WSI images for subtype classification and feature identification. RESULTS.—: Across pathologists specialized in gynecologic pathology, concordance with the reference diagnosis for the 5 major ovarian carcinoma subtypes was significantly higher for a pathologist reading on a microscope than each of 2 pathologists reading on WSI. Differences were primarily due to more frequent classification of mucinous carcinomas as endometrioid with WSI. Pathologists had generally low agreement in identifying histologic features important to ovarian tumor subtype classification with either an optical microscopy or WSI. This result suggests the need for refined histologic criteria for identifying such features. Interobserver agreement was particularly low for identifying intracytoplasmic mucin with WSI. Inconsistencies in evaluating nuclear atypia and mitoses with WSI were also observed. CONCLUSIONS.—: Further research is needed to specify the reasons for these diagnostic challenges and to inform users and manufacturers of WSI technology

Towards continuously programmable networks

While programmability has been a feature of network devices for a long time, the past decade has seen significant enhancement of programming capability for network functions and nodes, spearheaded by the ongoing trend towards softwarization and cloudification. In his context, new design principles and technology enablers are introduced (Section 7.2) which reside at: (i) service/application provisioning level, (ii) network and resource management level, as well as (iii) network deployment and connectivity level

Neutralising antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination in UK haemodialysis patients

Vaccination against COVID-19 induces highly protective immune responses in most people. As some countries switch from suppression to acceptance of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within a largely vaccinated adult population, vulnerable patient groups that have not mounted adequate immune responses to vaccination might experience significant morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to identify such patient groups and to optimise medical advice and vaccination strategies for them