Analysis of temporal structure in spike trains of visual cortical area MT

The temporal structure of neuronal spike trains in the visual cortex can provide detailed information about the stimulus and about the neuronal implementation of visual processing. Spike trains recorded from the macaque motion area MT in previous studies (Newsome et al., 1989a; Britten et al., 1992; Zohary et al., 1994) are analyzed here in the context of the dynamic random dot stimulus which was used to evoke them. If the stimulus is incoherent, the spike trains can be highly modulated and precisely locked in time to the stimulus. In contrast, the coherent motion stimulus creates little or no temporal modulation and allows us to study patterns in the spike train that may be intrinsic to the cortical circuitry in area MT. Long gaps in the spike train evoked by the preferred direction motion stimulus are found, and they appear to be symmetrical to bursts in the response to the anti-preferred direction of motion. A novel cross-correlation technique is used to establish that the gaps are correlated between pairs of neurons. Temporal modulation is also found in psychophysical experiments using a modified stimulus. A model is made that can account for the temporal modulation in terms of the computational theory of biological image motion processing. A frequency domain analysis of the stimulus reveals that it contains a repeated power spectrum that may account for psychophysical and electrophysiological observations.

Some neurons tend to fire bursts of action potentials while others avoid burst firing. Using numerical and analytical models of spike trains as Poisson processes with the addition of refractory periods and bursting, we are able to account for peaks in the power spectrum near 40 Hz without assuming the existence of an underlying oscillatory signal. A preliminary examination of the local field potential reveals that stimulus-locked oscillation appears briefly at the beginning of the trial.

Study and comparison of four forest structures on Mt. Chortiatis (northern Greece)

EL proyecto estudia y analiza la estructura de cuatro bosques en el monte Chortiatis, Grecia.

Nd3+螯合物的含氢有机溶液光谱性能研究

Tris-thenoyltrifluroacetonate of Nd3+ has been prepared and dissolved in DMF solation with very high concentration, and the contained hydrogen has not been substituted by deuterium. The absorption spectrum, emission spectrum, and fluorescence lifetime of the solution were measured. Very obvious characteristic fluorescence peaks were observed at 898 and 1058 nm. Based on Judd-Ofelt theory, three intensity parameters were obtained: Omega(2) = 4.9 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4) = 5.1 x 10(-20) cm(2) and Omega(6) = 2.5 x 10(-20) cm(2). Line strengths S-cal, oscillator strengths f(cal), radiative transition probabilities A(ed), radiative lifetimes tau(r) and branch ratios beta were calculated too. The measured lifetime tau of 1058 nm peak is 460 mu s, and that of 898 nm 505 mu s. Comparison between theoretically computed radiative lifetime tau(r)(682 mu s) and the measured lifetime indicates that the non-radiative transition probability of the solution is very low and the fluorescence quantum efficiency very high. High values of three intensity parameters prove the high asymmetric surroundings of Nd3+, which is important for Nd3+ to absorb the excitation energy. Spectropic quality factor Omega(4)/Omega(6) > 1 makes radiation at 898 nm stronger than at 1058 nm.

Low-loss planar and stripe waveguides in Nd3+-doped silicate glass produced by oxygen-ion implantation

We report on the fabrication and characterization of low-loss planar and stripe waveguides in a Nd3+-doped glass by 6 MeV oxygen-ion implantation at a dose of 1x10(15) ions/cm(2). The dark mode spectroscopy of the planar waveguide was measured using a prism coupling arrangement. The refractive index profile of the planar waveguide was reconstructed from a code based on the reflectivity calculation method. The results indicate that a refractive index enhanced region as well as an optical barrier have been created after the ion beam processing. The near-field mode profiles of the stripe waveguide were obtained by an end-fire coupling arrangement, by which three quasitransverse electric modes were observed. After annealing, the propagation losses of the planar and stripe waveguides were reduced to be similar to 0.5 and similar to 1.8 dB/cm, respectively. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Low loss waveguide in Nd3+-doped silicate glass fabricated by carbon ion implantation

Low loss index enhanced planar waveguides in Nd3+-doped silicate glass were fabricated by 3.0 MeV C+ ion implantation. The enhancement of the refractive index confined the light propagating in the waveguide. The prism-coupling method was used to measure dark modes in the waveguide. The effective refractive indices of the waveguide were obtained based on the dark modes. The moving fiber method was applied to measure the waveguide propagation loss. Loss measured in non-annealed samples is about 0.6 dB/cm. And the waveguide mode optical near-field output at 633 nm was presented. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

UV-blue upconverted emission from Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses for blue upconversion fibre laser

We report spectral properties and thermal stability of Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses. Fluoroindate glasses in the chemical compositions (in mol%) of (38-x)InF3-16BaF(2)-20ZnF(2)-20SrF(2)-3GdF(3)-1GaF(3-)2NaF-xNdF(3) (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3) have been prepared under a controlled atmosphere in a dry box. Strong UVblue upconversion emission from a green excitation wavelength has been observed and the involved mechanisms have been explained. Near-infrared emission occurs simultaneously upon excitation of the UV-blue upconversion emissions with a cw Ar(+)laser. The upconversion spectra have revealed four dominant emissions at 354, 380, 412 and 449 nm, which belong to the transitions of D-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(13/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(11/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(13/2), respectively.

Laser-diode-pumped Cr4+,Nd3+: YAG with self-Q-switched laser output of 1.4 W

By use of a laser diode as a pump source, a self-Q-switched laser from a Cr,Nd:YAG crystal is demonstrated. The output Q-switched traces are very stable, the threshold pump power is 3.5 W, the pulse duration is 50 ns, and the slope efficiency is as high as 20%. In addition, the pulse width remains constant while the pulse repetition rate Varies with pump power. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 140.0140, 140.2020, 140.3380, 140.3480, 140.3540, 140.3580.

Nd3+ doped silicate glass photonic crystal fibres

We report on the fabrication of two kinds of large core area Nd3+ doped silicate glass photonic crystal fibres, and demonstration of the fibre waveguiding properties. The measured minimum loss of one kind of fibres is 2.5 db/m at 660nm. The fibres sustain only a single mode at least over the wavelength range from 660nm to 980nm.

Temperature dependence of femtosecond laser induced refractive index change in Nd3+-doped phosphate glass

We report refractive index change in a femtosecond laser irradiated Nd3+-doped phosphate glass. The effects of annealing temperature on the refractive index change of the glass have been investigated. Absorption spectra of the glass sample before and after femtosecond laser irradiation and subsequent annealing were measured. The results indicate that multiphoton absorption can undertake although there are intrinsic absorption for the glass in irradiation wavelength. The results may be useful for fabrication of three-dimensional integrated optics devices and waveguide laser devices in this glass. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped high silica glass prepared by sintering porous glass

A new kind of Nd3+, -doped high silica glass (SiO2 > 96% (mass fraction)) was obtained by sintering porous glass impregnated with Nd3+, ions. The absorption and luminescence properties of high silica glass doped with different Nd3+, concentrations were studied. The intensity parameters Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous emission probability, fluorescence lifetime, radiative quantum efficiency, fluorescence branching ratio, and stimulated emission cross section were calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory. The optimal Nd3+ concentration in high silica glass was 0.27% (mole fraction) because of its high quantum efficiency and emission intensity. By comparing the spectroscopic parameters with other Nd3+ doped oxide glasses and commercial silicate glasses, the Nd3+-doped high silica glasses are likely to be a promising material used for high power and high repetition rate lasers.

Nd3+掺杂的氧化镧钇透明激光陶瓷的光谱性能研究

Nd3+-doped Y2-2x La-2x O-3 (x = 0.08) transparent ceramics were fabricated by conventional fabrication process. Spectroscopic properties of the samples were investigated. The absorption band of Nd3+ : Y1.84La0.16O3 was broad covering the wavelength range 780-850 nm. When doped with 1.5at% Nd3+, the cross sections of the sample at 820 nm and laser diode pumped 808 nm were 1.81 x 10(-20) cm(2) and 1.54 x 10(-20) cm(2), respectively. The strongest emission peak of the sample was centered at 1078 mn with long fluorescent lifetime, broad emission bandwidth and high quantum efficiency. Because of the additive La2O3, the spectroscopic quality parameter (X-Nd) of matrix was' decreased from 1.6 to 0.46, thus the fluorescence branch ratio of F-4(3/2) - (4) I-11/2 transition was increased to 56.82%. These properties of Nd3' : Y1.84La0.16O3 transparent ceramic are benefitial to achieve high efficient laser output and ultrashort modelocked pulse.

Cr^4＋，Nd3＋共掺的钆镓石榴石（Cr，Nd：GGG）的光谱性能与光谱参数的研究

用提拉法生长了掺铬、钕的钆镓石榴石(Cr^4+，Nd^3+:GGG)晶体，研究了室温下的吸收光谱和荧光光谱性质，以及晶体中Cr离子浓度对Nd离子光谱性质的影响。应用Judd—ofelt理论计算了强度参数Ωt(t=2，4，6)，自发辐射跃迁几率、荧光分支比和辐射辱命等光谱参数。应用McCumber理论计算^4F3/2→^4I11/2能级跃迁的受激发射截面。结果表明：Cr^3+在300～900nm之间较强地增加了吸收截面，尤其是伴随Cr^3+→Nd^3+有效的能量转移。Cr^4+在1．06μm附近的吸收减弱了