Approximation of holomorphic mappings on strongly pseudoconvex domains

Let D be a relatively compact strongly pseudoconvex domain in a Stein manifold, and let Y be a complex manifold. We prove that the set A(D,Y), consisting of all continuous maps from the closure of D to Y which are holomorphic in D, is a complex Banach manifold. When D is the unit disc in C (or any other topologically trivial strongly pseudoconvex domain in a Stein manifold), A(D,Y) is locally modeled on the Banach space A(D,C^n)=A(D)^n with n=dim Y. Analogous results hold for maps which are holomorphic in D and of class C^r up to the boundary for any positive integer r. We also establish the Oka property for sections of continuous or smooth fiber bundles over the closure of D which are holomorphic over D and whose fiber enjoys the Convex approximation property. The main analytic technique used in the paper is a method of gluing holomorphic sprays over Cartan pairs in Stein manifolds, with control up to the boundary, which was developed in our paper "Holomorphic curves in complex manifolds" (Duke Math. J. 139 (2007), no. 2, 203--253)

Saturated 13.2 nm high-repetition-rate laser in nickel-like cadmium

Includes bibliographical references (page 2583).We report gain-saturated operation of a 13.2 nm tabletop laser in Ni-like Cd at a 5 Hz repetition rate. A gain-length product G×L=17.6 was obtained by heating a precreated plasma with 8 ps duration Ti:sapphirelaser pulses with an energy of only 1 J impinging at a grazing angle of 23°. With an average power of ~1 mW, this laser is an attractive coherent source for at-wavelength metrology of extreme UV lithography optics and other applications

Guiding of intense laser beams in highly ionized plasma columns generated by a fast capillary discharge

Includes bibliographical references (pages 235002-4).We have demonstrated the guiding of laser pulses with peak intensities up to 2.2 × 1017 W/cm2 in a 5.5 cm long plasma column containing highly charged Ar ions generated by a fast capillary discharge. A rapid discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization, until the guide collapses on axis. The lowest order mode (FWHM ~50 μm) is guided with 75% transmission efficiency shortly before the plasma reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The subsequent rapid plasma expansion forms a significantly leakier and more absorbent guide

Spatial coherence measurements of a 13.2 nm transient Nickel-like Cadmium soft x-ray laser pumped at grazing incidence

Includes bibliographical references (pages [12872-12873]).The spatial coherence of a 13.2 nm transient collisional Ni-like Cd soft X-ray laser pumped at 23 degrees grazing incidence was measured in a series of Young's double-slit experiments. We observed pronounced fringe visibility variations associated with microstructures in the beam's intensity profile. The transverse coherence length was measured to be about 1/20 of the beam diameter and did not significantly improve with longer plasma columns. The equivalent incoherent source size is determined to be 10 μm and the laser's peak spectral brightness ~ 3 × 1023 photons/sec/mm2/mrad2 within less than 0.01% spectral bandwidth

Two-stage hepatectomy with radioembolization for bilateral colorectal liver metastases: A case report

BACKGROUND Two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) is a well-established surgical technique, used to treat bilateral colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) with a small future liver remnant (FLR). However, in classical TSH, drop-out is reported to be around 25%- 40%, due to insufficient FLR increase or progression of disease. Trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE) has been described to control locally tumor growth of liver malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma, but it has been also reported to induce a certain degree of contralateral liver hypertrophy, even if at a lower rate compared to portal vein embolization or ligation. CASE SUMMARY Herein we report the case of a 75-year-old female patient, where TSH and TARE were combined to treat bilateral CRLM. According to computed tomography (CT)-scan, the patient had a hepatic lesion in segment VI-VII and two other confluent lesions in segment II-III. Therefore, one-stage posterior right sectionectomy plus left lateral sectionectomy (LLS) was planned. The liver volumetry estimated a FLR of 38% (segments I-IV-V-VIII). However, due to a more than initially planned, extended right resection, simultaneous LLS was not performed and the patient underwent selective TARE to segments II-III after the first surgery. The CT-scan performed after TARE showed a reduction of the treated lesion and a FLR increase of 55%. Carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 19.9 decreased significantly. Nearly three months later after the first surgery, LLS was performed and the patient was discharged without any postoperative complications. CONCLUSION According to this specific experience, TARE was used to induce liver hypertrophy and simultaneously control cancer progression in TSH settings for bilateral CRLM

Optical transmitter for time-bin encoding Quantum Key Distribution

We introduce an electro-optical arrangement that is able to produce time-bin encoded symbols with the decoy state method over a standard optical fiber in the C-band telecom window. The device consists of a specifically designed pulse pattern generator for pulse production, a field-programmable gate array that controls timing and synchronization. The electrical pulse output drive a sequence of intensity modulators acting on a continuous laser that deliver bursts of weak optical pulse pairs of discrete intensity values. Such transmitter allows for the generation of all the quantum states needed to implement a discrete variable Quantum Key Distribution protocol over a single-mode fiber channel. Symbols are structured in bursts; the minimum relative delay between pulses is 1.25 ns, and the maximum symbol rate within a burst is 200 MHz. We test the transmitter on simulated optical channels of 7dB and 14dB loss, obtaining maximum extractable secure key rates of 3.0 kb/s and 0.57 kb/s respectively. Time bin state parameters such as symbol rate, pulse separation and intensity ratio between signal and decoy states can be easily accessed and changed, allowing the transmitter to adapt to different experimental conditions and contributing to standardization of QKD implementations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Saturated high-repetition-rate 18.9-nm tabletop laser in nickel-like molybdenum

Includes bibliographical references (page 167).We report saturated operation of an 18.9-nm laser at 5-Hz repetition rate. An amplification with a gain-length product GL of 15.5 is obtained in the 4d 1S0―4p 1P1 laser line of Ni-like Mo in plasmas heated at grazing incidence with ~1-J pulses of 8.1-ps duration from a tabletop laser system. Lasing is obtained over a broad range of time delays and pumping conditions. We also measure a GL of 13.5 in the 22.6-nm transition of the same ion. The results are of interest for numerous applications requiring high-repetition-rate lasers at wavelengths below 20 nm

Pulse duration measurements of grazing-incidence-pumped high repetition rate Ni-like Ag and Cd transient soft x-ray lasers

Includes bibliographical references (page 3045).We have measured the pulse duration of gain-saturated 13.9 nm Ni-like Ag and 13.2 nm Ni-like Cd transient collisional lasers excited by grazing-incidence-pumping for several pumping conditions. High-resolution streak-camera measurements yielded FWHM pulse durations close to 5 ps for both lasers under optimum pumping conditions. The very high brightness and short pulse duration of these new high repetition tabletop soft x-ray lasers make them an attractive source for dynamic applications

High repetition rate collisional soft x-ray lasers based on grazing incidence pumping

We discuss the demonstration of gain-saturated high repetition rate table-top soft x-ray lasers producing microwatt average powers at wavelengths ranging from 13.9 to 33 nm. The results were obtained heating a pre-created plasma with a picosecond optical laser pulse impinging at grazing incidence onto a pre-created plasma. This pumping geometry increases the energy deposition efficiency of the pump beam into the gain region, making it possible to saturate soft x-ray lasers in this wavelength range with a short pulse pump energy of only 1 J at 800 nm wavelength. Results corresponding to 5 Hz repetition rate operation of gain-saturated 14.7 nm Ni-like Pd and 32.6 nm line Ne-like Ti lasers pumped by a table-top Ti:sapphire laser are reported. We also discuss results obtained using a 1 {omega} 1054 nm pre-pulse and 2{omega} 527 nm short pulse from a Nd:glass pump laser. This work demonstrates the feasibility of producing compact high average power soft x-ray lasers for applications

Inclusive production of ρ0(770),f0(980)\rho^{0}(770), f_0(980) and f2(1270)f_2(1270) mesons in νμ\nu_{\mu} charged current interactions

The inclusive production of the meson resonances $\rho^{0}(770)$, $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ in neutrino-nucleus charged current interactions has been studied with the NOMAD detector exposed to the wide band neutrino beam generated by 450 GeV protons at the CERN SPS. For the first time the $f_{0}(980)$ meson is observed in neutrino interactions. The statistical significance of its observation is 6 standard deviations. The presence of $f_{2}(1270)$ in neutrino interactions is reliably established. The average multiplicity of these three resonances is measured as a function of several kinematic variables. The experimental results are compared to the multiplicities obtained from a simulation based on the Lund model. In addition, the average multiplicity of $\rho^{0}(770)$ in antineutrino - nucleus interactions is measured.Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures, 8 tables. To appear in Nucl. Phys.