Analysis and application of nonlinear amplification effects in single-mode optical fibers

This thesis focuses on all-optical signal generation and processing through nonlinear amplification phenomena in single-mode fibers. Three different nonlinear fiber optical oscillators are investigated and experimentally demonstrated. A continuous-wave pump for fiber Raman amplifiers, developed with the goal of achieving high degree of polarization, tunability and suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering, is presented, discussed and used to achieve nonlinear polarization attraction. A fast and widely tunable fiber optical oscillator based on stimulated Raman scattering and on broad- and narrow-band fiber optical parametric amplification, and exploiting the time-dispersion-tuning technique, is demonstrated and characterized. Each nonlinear effect dominates in a different spectral region, so that the fiber optical oscillator achieves a tuning range of 160 nm. Through the same time-dispersion-tuning method, a fast tunable optical frequency comb, based on cascaded four-wave mixing, is obtained by using a single pump, avoiding the limitations in spectral purity and frequency and phase stability given by double pump systems. Finally, the control of the state of polarization and of the degree of polarization through nonlinear polarization attraction in counter-propagating fiber Raman amplifiers in standard, randomly birefringent, single-mode fibers is studied, analyzed and characterized. The analysis, including the effects of pump depletion, nonlinear polarization rotation and orthogonal Raman gain, shows that counter-propagating fiber Raman amplifiers are effective in attracting the signal toward a predetermined state of polarization settled by the pump input state of polarization. Moreover, the importance of the role of pump depletion in achieving signal repolarization in fibers with moderately-high polarization-mode dispersion is discussed. The performances and the limits of repolarization efficiency are determined, leading to a quantitative relationship between the degree of polarization and the gain of the fiber Raman amplifier, which is then confirmed to represent an upper bound on the maximum achievable degree of polarization

Experimental analysis of degenerate vector phase-sensitive amplification

We comprehensively investigate a degenerate vector phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA). We determine the gain dependence on the relative phase and polarization angle between the pumps and the degenerate signal wave. The vector PSA is experimentally shown to be sensitive to the pump states of polarization (SOP) due to polarization mode dispersion in the fiber. However, the scheme performance agrees well with theory under specific pump SOPs and we achieve an on-off gain over 10 dB with a small deviation from the theoretically expected results. In comparison to the scalar scheme, the proposed vector scheme has larger tolerance for pump depletion due to four-wave mixing between pumps and generation of higher-order idlers

Microwave Photonic Notch Filter Based on Dynamic Brillouin Gratings Generated by PRBS Signals

A method to create a microwave notch filter through dynamic Brillouin gratings is proposed and numerically demonstrated. It exploits the thumbtack correlation peaks of pseudo random bit sequences

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase

The Athena X-ray Integral Unit (X-IFU) is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer, studied since 2015 for flying in the mid-30s on the Athena space X-ray Observatory, a versatile observatory designed to address the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme, selected in November 2013 by the Survey Science Committee. Based on a large format array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), it aims to provide spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (up to 7 keV) over an hexagonal field of view of 5 arc minutes (equivalent diameter). The X-IFU entered its System Requirement Review (SRR) in June 2022, at about the same time when ESA called for an overall X-IFU redesign (including the X-IFU cryostat and the cooling chain), due to an unanticipated cost overrun of Athena. In this paper, after illustrating the breakthrough capabilities of the X-IFU, we describe the instrument as presented at its SRR, browsing through all the subsystems and associated requirements. We then show the instrument budgets, with a particular emphasis on the anticipated budgets of some of its key performance parameters. Finally we briefly discuss on the ongoing key technology demonstration activities, the calibration and the activities foreseen in the X-IFU Instrument Science Center, and touch on communication and outreach activities, the consortium organisation, and finally on the life cycle assessment of X-IFU aiming at minimising the environmental footprint, associated with the development of the instrument. Thanks to the studies conducted so far on X-IFU, it is expected that along the design-to-cost exercise requested by ESA, the X-IFU will maintain flagship capabilities in spatially resolved high resolution X-ray spectroscopy, enabling most of the original X-IFU related scientific objectives of the Athena mission to be retained. (abridged).Comment: 48 pages, 29 figures, Accepted for publication in Experimental Astronomy with minor editin

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase

The Athena X-ray Integral Unit (X-IFU) is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer studied since 2015 for flying in the mid-30s on the Athena space X-ray Observatory. Athena is a versatile observatory designed to address the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme, as selected in November 2013 by the Survey Science Committee. Based on a large format array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), X-IFU aims to provide spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (up to 7 keV) over a hexagonal field of view of 5 arc minutes (equivalent diameter). The X-IFU entered its System Requirement Review (SRR) in June 2022, at about the same time when ESA called for an overall X-IFU redesign (including the X-IFU cryostat and the cooling chain), due to an unanticipated cost overrun of Athena. In this paper, after illustrating the breakthrough capabilities of the X-IFU, we describe the instrument as presented at its SRR (i.e. in the course of its preliminary definition phase, so-called B1), browsing through all the subsystems and associated requirements. We then show the instrument budgets, with a particular emphasis on the anticipated budgets of some of its key performance parameters, such as the instrument efficiency, spectral resolution, energy scale knowledge, count rate capability, non X-ray background and target of opportunity efficiency. Finally, we briefly discuss the ongoing key technology demonstration activities, the calibration and the activities foreseen in the X-IFU Instrument Science Center, touch on communication and outreach activities, the consortium organisation and the life cycle assessment of X-IFU aiming at minimising the environmental footprint, associated with the development of the instrument. Thanks to the studies conducted so far on X-IFU, it is expected that along the design-to-cost exercise requested by ESA, the X-IFU will maintain flagship capabilities in spatially resolved high resolution X-ray spectroscopy, enabling most of the original X-IFU related scientific objectives of the Athena mission to be retained. The X-IFU will be provided by an international consortium led by France, The Netherlands and Italy, with ESA member state contributions from Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, with additional contributions from the United States and Japan.The French contribution to X-IFU is funded by CNES, CNRS and CEA. This work has been also supported by ASI (Italian Space Agency) through the Contract 2019-27-HH.0, and by the ESA (European Space Agency) Core Technology Program (CTP) Contract No. 4000114932/15/NL/BW and the AREMBES - ESA CTP No.4000116655/16/NL/BW. This publication is part of grant RTI2018-096686-B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. This publication is part of grant RTI2018-096686-B-C21 and PID2020-115325GB-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033

It is time to define an organizational model for the prevention and management of infections along the surgical pathway : a worldwide cross-sectional survey

Background The objectives of the study were to investigate the organizational characteristics of acute care facilities worldwide in preventing and managing infections in surgery; assess participants' perception regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, antibiotic prescribing practices, and source control; describe awareness about the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and IPC measures; and determine the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on said awareness. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted contacting 1432 health care workers (HCWs) belonging to a mailing list provided by the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The self-administered questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team. The survey was open from May 22, 2021, and June 22, 2021. Three reminders were sent, after 7, 14, and 21 days. Results Three hundred four respondents from 72 countries returned a questionnaire, with an overall response rate of 21.2%. Respectively, 90.4% and 68.8% of participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary IPC team or a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team. Local protocols for antimicrobial therapy of surgical infections and protocols for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis were present in 76.6% and 90.8% of hospitals, respectively. In 23.4% and 24.0% of hospitals no surveillance systems for surgical site infections and no monitoring systems of used antimicrobials were implemented. Patient and family involvement in IPC management was considered to be slightly or not important in their hospital by the majority of respondents (65.1%). Awareness of the global burden of AMR among HCWs was considered very important or important by 54.6% of participants. The COVID-19 pandemic was considered by 80.3% of respondents as a very important or important factor in raising HCWs awareness of the IPC programs in their hospital. Based on the survey results, the authors developed 15 statements for several questions regarding the prevention and management of infections in surgery. The statements may be the starting point for designing future evidence-based recommendations. Conclusion Adequacy of prevention and management of infections in acute care facilities depends on HCWs behaviours and on the organizational characteristics of acute health care facilities to support best practices and promote behavioural change. Patient involvement in the implementation of IPC is still little considered. A debate on how operationalising a fundamental change to IPC, from being solely the HCWs responsibility to one that involves a collaborative relationship between HCWs and patients, should be opened.Peer reviewe

It is time to define an organizational model for the prevention and management of infections along the surgical pathway: a worldwide cross-sectional survey

Background The objectives of the study were to investigate the organizational characteristics of acute care facilities worldwide in preventing and managing infections in surgery; assess participants' perception regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, antibiotic prescribing practices, and source control; describe awareness about the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and IPC measures; and determine the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on said awareness. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted contacting 1432 health care workers (HCWs) belonging to a mailing list provided by the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The self-administered questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team. The survey was open from May 22, 2021, and June 22, 2021. Three reminders were sent, after 7, 14, and 21 days. Results Three hundred four respondents from 72 countries returned a questionnaire, with an overall response rate of 21.2%. Respectively, 90.4% and 68.8% of participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary IPC team or a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team. Local protocols for antimicrobial therapy of surgical infections and protocols for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis were present in 76.6% and 90.8% of hospitals, respectively. In 23.4% and 24.0% of hospitals no surveillance systems for surgical site infections and no monitoring systems of used antimicrobials were implemented. Patient and family involvement in IPC management was considered to be slightly or not important in their hospital by the majority of respondents (65.1%). Awareness of the global burden of AMR among HCWs was considered very important or important by 54.6% of participants. The COVID-19 pandemic was considered by 80.3% of respondents as a very important or important factor in raising HCWs awareness of the IPC programs in their hospital. Based on the survey results, the authors developed 15 statements for several questions regarding the prevention and management of infections in surgery. The statements may be the starting point for designing future evidence-based recommendations. Conclusion Adequacy of prevention and management of infections in acute care facilities depends on HCWs behaviours and on the organizational characteristics of acute health care facilities to support best practices and promote behavioural change. Patient involvement in the implementation of IPC is still little considered. A debate on how operationalising a fundamental change to IPC, from being solely the HCWs responsibility to one that involves a collaborative relationship between HCWs and patients, should be opened

INDIGO-DataCloud: A data and computing platform to facilitate seamless access to e-infrastructures

This paper describes the achievements of the H2020 project INDIGO-DataCloud. The project has provided e-infrastructures with tools, applications and cloud framework enhancements to manage the demanding requirements of scientific communities, either locally or through enhanced interfaces. The middleware developed allows to federate hybrid resources, to easily write, port and run scientific applications to the cloud. In particular, we have extended existing PaaS (Platform as a Service) solutions, allowing public and private e-infrastructures, including those provided by EGI, EUDAT, and Helix Nebula, to integrate their existing services and make them available through AAI services compliant with GEANT interfederation policies, thus guaranteeing transparency and trust in the provisioning of such services. Our middleware facilitates the execution of applications using containers on Cloud and Grid based infrastructures, as well as on HPC clusters. Our developments are freely downloadable as open source components, and are already being integrated into many scientific applications

Analysis and application of nonlinear amplification effects in single-mode optical fibers

This thesis focuses on all-optical signal generation and processing through nonlinear amplification phenomena in single-mode fibers. Three different nonlinear fiber optical oscillators are investigated and experimentally demonstrated. A continuous-wave pump for fiber Raman amplifiers, developed with the goal of achieving high degree of polarization, tunability and suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering, is presented, discussed and used to achieve nonlinear polarization attraction. A fast and widely tunable fiber optical oscillator based on stimulated Raman scattering and on broad- and narrow-band fiber optical parametric amplification, and exploiting the time-dispersion-tuning technique, is demonstrated and characterized. Each nonlinear effect dominates in a different spectral region, so that the fiber optical oscillator achieves a tuning range of 160 nm. Through the same time-dispersion-tuning method, a fast tunable optical frequency comb, based on cascaded four-wave mixing, is obtained by using a single pump, avoiding the limitations in spectral purity and frequency and phase stability given by double pump systems. Finally, the control of the state of polarization and of the degree of polarization through nonlinear polarization attraction in counter-propagating fiber Raman amplifiers in standard, randomly birefringent, single-mode fibers is studied, analyzed and characterized. The analysis, including the effects of pump depletion, nonlinear polarization rotation and orthogonal Raman gain, shows that counter-propagating fiber Raman amplifiers are effective in attracting the signal toward a predetermined state of polarization settled by the pump input state of polarization. Moreover, the importance of the role of pump depletion in achieving signal repolarization in fibers with moderately-high polarization-mode dispersion is discussed. The performances and the limits of repolarization efficiency are determined, leading to a quantitative relationship between the degree of polarization and the gain of the fiber Raman amplifier, which is then confirmed to represent an upper bound on the maximum achievable degree of polarization.Questa tesi è focalizzata sulla generazione e sull’elaborazione completamente ottiche di segnali attraverso fenomeni di amplificazione non lineare in fibre ottiche a singolo modo. Tre diversi oscillatori non lineari in fibra ottica sono investigati e dimostrati sperimentalmente. Una pompa ad onda continua per amplificatori Raman in fibra, sviluppata con l’obiettivo di ottenere un alto grado di polarizzazione, sintonizzabilità e soppressione dell’effetto Brillouin, è presentata, discussa e utilizzata al fine di ottenere attrazione di polarizzazione non lineare. Un oscillatore in fibra ottica con sintonia veloce su un’ampia banda basato sugli effetti di amplificazione Raman e di amplificazione parametrica a banda stretta e a banda larga, che sfrutta la tecnica di sintonia mediante dispersione temporale (time-dispersion tuning), è dimostrato e caratterizzato. Ciascuno degli effetti non lineari domina in una diversa regione spettrale, cosicché l’oscillatore raggiunge un intervallo di sintonia di 160 nm. Attraverso lo stesso metodo di sintonia mediante dispersione temporale, un comb ottico in fibra con sintonia veloce, basato sull’effetto di miscelazione a quattro onde a cascata, è ottenuto usando una singola pompa, evitando così i limiti di purezza spettrale e di stabilità di frequenza e di fase dei sistemi a doppia pompa. Infine, il controllo dello stato e del grado di polarizzazione, attraverso l’attrazione di polarizzazione non lineare in amplificatori Raman in fibra ottica standard con birifrangenza aleatoria, è studiato, analizzato e caratterizzato. L’analisi, che include gli effetti di svuotamento della pompa, della rotazione non lineare di polarizzazione e di guadagno Raman ortogonale, mostra che gli amplificatori Raman contro-propaganti sono efficaci nell’attrarre il segnale verso uno stato di polarizzazione predeterminato e imposto dallo stato di polarizzazione di ingresso della pompa. Viene inoltre discussa l’importanza del ruolo dello svuotamento della pompa nell’ottenere la ripolarizzazione del segnale in fibre con dispersione dei modi di polarizzazione moderatamente alta. Le prestazioni e i limiti dell’efficienza di ripolarizzazione vengono determinati portando ad una relazione quantitativa tra il grado di polarizzazione e il guadagno dell’amplificatore Raman, relazione che rappresenta un limite superiore sul massimo grado di polarizzazione raggiungibile

Study of an optical chaotic steganographic free space system

An optical communication system for the secure transmission of an information message in free-space is investigated. The message hiding, at the transmitter, is achieved by a steganographic encryption process onto an optical chaotic carrier generated by a semiconductor laser subjected to delayed optoelectronic feedback. The message recovery, at the receiver, is attained by subtracting the received signal from a reconstructed carrier obtained through the synchronization of a semiconductor laser similar to that used at the transmitter. A detailed numerical analysis of the system performance is performed for various configurations. the aim is to determine the quality of both the message masking and recovering. In questa Tesi viene studiato numericamente un sistema di comunicazione steganografica su portante ottica caotica in spazio libero. La portante caotica viene generata, al trasmettitore, mediante l'utilizzo di un laser a semiconduttore con retroazione optoelettronica ritardata. Il messaggio viene poi sovrapposto alla portante caotica così generata. Al ricevitore il messaggio viene recuperato usando un laser a semiconduttore, simile a quello usato al trasmettitore, in configurazione ad anello aperto. L'analisi delle prestazioni è volta a determinare sia la qualità della copertura del messaggio in trasmissione, sia la qualità di recupero dell'informazione in ricezione. Una accurata analisi numerica è effettuata prima in assenza del canale, e poi considerando la propagazione in spazio libero all'interno di un ambiente chiuso