Magnetic field-induced cluster formation and variation of magneto-optical signals in zinc-substituted ferrofluids

Fine magnetic particles (sizeffi100A ˚ ) belonging to the series ZnxFe1 xFe2O4 were synthesized by cold co-precipitation methods and their structural properties were evaluated using X-ray diffraction. Magnetization studies have been carried out using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) showing near-zero loss loop characteristics. Ferrofluids were then prepared employing these fine magnetic powders using oleic acid as surfactant and kerosene as carrier liquid by modifying the usually reported synthesis technique in order to induce anisotropy and enhance the magneto-optical signals. Liquid thin films of these fluids were prepared and field-induced laser transmission through these films was studied. The transmitted light intensity decreases at the centre with applied magnetic field in a linear fashion when subjected to low magnetic fields and saturate at higher fields. This is in accordance with the saturation in cluster formation. The pattern exhibited by these films in the presence of different magnetic fields was observed with the help of a CCD camera and was recorded photographically

Feedback dew-point sensor utilising optimally cut plastic optical fibres

A plastic optical fibre reflectance sensor that makes full use of the critical angle of the fibres is implemented to monitor dew formation on a Peltier-cooled reflector surface. The optical configuration permits isolation of optoelectronic components from the sensing head and better light coupling between the reflector and the detecting fibre, giving a better signal of the onset of dew formation on the reflector. Continuous monitoring of the rate of change in reflectance as well as the absolute reflectance signals, the use of a novel polymethyl-methacrylate-coated hydrophobic film reflector on the Peltier element and the application of feedback around the point of dew formation, further reduces the possibility of contamination of the sensor head. Under closed-loop operation, the sensor is capable of cycling around the point of dew formation at a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Oscillating holograms recorded in photorefractive crystals by a frequency detuned feedback loop

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Structural refinement, optical and electrical properties of [Ba1-x Sm-2x/3](Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 ceramics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural refinement, optical and ferroelectric properties of microcrystalline Ba(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 perovskite

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Investigation of the structural, optical and dielectric properties of highly (100)-oriented (Pb0.60Ca0.20Sr0.20)TiO3 thin films on LaNiO3 bottom electrode

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and optical properties of PBCT, PBST and PCST complex thin films on LaNiO3 metallic conductive oxide layer coated Si substrates by the CSD technique

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Elimination of All-Optical Cycles in Wavelength-Routed Optical Networks

A transparent (wide-area) wavelength-routed optical network may be constructed by using wavelength cross-connect switches connected together by fiber to form an arbitrary mesh structure. The network is accessed through electronic stations that are attached to some of these cross-connects. These wavelength cross-connect switches have the property that they may configure themselves into unspecified states. Each input port of a switch is always connected to some output port of the switch whether or not such a connection is required for the purpose of information transfer. Due to the presence of these unspecified states, there exists the possibility of setting up unintended alloptical cycles in the network (viz., a loop with no terminating electronics in it). If such a cycle contains amplifiers [e.g., Erbium- Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA’s)], there exists the possibility that the net loop gain is greater than the net loop loss. The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise from amplifiers can build up in such a feedback loop to saturate the amplifiers and result in oscillations of the ASE noise in the loop. Such all-optical cycles as defined above (and hereafter referred to as “white” cycles) must be eliminated from an optical network in order for the network to perform any useful operation. Furthermore, for the realistic case in which the wavelength cross-connects result in signal crosstalk, there is a possibility of having closed cycles with oscillating crosstalk signals. We examine algorithms that set up new transparent optical connections upon request while avoiding the creation of such cycles in the network. These algorithms attempt to find a route for a connection and then (in a post-processing fashion) configure switches such that white cycles that might get created would automatically get eliminated. In addition, our call-set-up algorithms can avoid the possibility of crosstalk cycles.

Optical projection tomography reveals dynamics of HEV growth after immunization with protein plus CFA and features shared with HEVs in acute autoinflammatory lymphadenopathy

The vascular-stromal compartment of lymph nodes is important for lymph node function, and high endothelial venules (HEVs) play a critical role in controlling the entry of recirculating lymphocytes. In autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, lymph node swelling is often accompanied by apparent HEV expansion and, potentially, targeting HEV expansion could be used therapeutically to limit autoimmunity. In previous studies using mostly flow cytometry analysis, we defined three differentially regulated phases of lymph node vascular-stromal growth: initiation, expansion, and the re-establishment of vascular quiescence and stabilization. In this study, we use optical projection tomography to better understand the morphologic aspects of HEV growth upon immunization with ovalbumin/CFA (OVA/CFA). We find HEV elongation as well as modest arborization during the initiation phase, increased arborization during the expansion phase, and, finally, vessel narrowing during the re-establishment of vascular quiescence and stabilization. We also examine acutely enlarged autoinflammatory lymph nodes induced by regulatory T cell depletion and show that HEVs are expanded and morphologically similar to the expanded HEVs in OVA/CFA-stimulated lymph nodes. These results reinforce the idea of differentially regulated, distinct phases of vascular-stromal growth after immunization and suggest that insights gained from studying immunization-induced lymph node vascular growth may help to understand how the lymph node vascular-stromal compartment could be therapeutically targeted in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

Modeling Reflective Bistability in Vertical-Cavity Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

The characteristics of optical bistability in a vertical- cavity semiconductor optical amplifier (VCSOA) operated in reflection are reported. The dependences of the optical bistability in VCSOAs on the initial phase detuning and on the applied bias current are analyzed. The optical bistability is also studied for different numbers of superimposed periods in the top distributed bragg reflector (DBR) that conform the internal cavity of the device. The appearance of the X-bistable and the clockwise bistable loops is predicted theoretically in a VCSOA operated in reflection for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Moreover, it is also predicted that the control of the VCSOA’s top reflectivity by the addition of new superimposed periods in its top DBR reduces by one order of magnitude the input power needed for the assessment of the X- and the clockwise bistable loop, compared to that required in in-plane semiconductor optical amplifiers. These results, added to the ease of fabricating two-dimensional arrays of this kind of device could be useful for the development of new optical logic or optical signal regeneration devices.

Low cost time division multiplexing of identical optical fibre ring intensity sensors

A time division multiplexing (TDM) array for passive multiplexing of identical fibre, optic intensity sensors has been demonstrated. Microbending loss sensors are introduced in fibre optic rings and pressure information is directly detected, demultiplexed and demodulated from the relative amplitude of the first two pulses produced on each ring. Several dynamic ranges from 6 dB to 14 dB are shown. A comparison between both fibre optic ring and Mach-Zehnder structure impulse responses is carried out and the consequences derived from second- and higher-order recirculating ring pulses are also evaluated. This technique can be applied to those TDM intensity sensing schemes which require low cost, high number of identical sensors, and suffer high element loss and undersirable intensity fluctuations at low frequencies.

Arrays de sensores interferométricos recirculantes de fibra óptica

Two discrete interferometric sensors' arrays have been analysed from time división multiplexing of recirculating crossed loop structures based on singlemode optical fiber. Intensity impulsive responses for both arrays have been obtained and compared under different design considerations, calculating Ihe system coupling constants, signial to interference noise ratio, input pulse repetition rate and duty cycle for each case. First experimental results are shown in this paper and very simple temperature and pressure sensing applicalions are suggested from here.

Optical fiber cavity ring down measurement of refractive index with a microchannel drilled by femtosecond laser

A microchannel was inscribed in the fiber of a ring cavity which was constructed using two 0.1%:99.9% couplers and a 10-m fiber loop. Cavity ring down spectroscopy was used to measure the refractive index (RI) of gels infused into the microchannel. The ring down time discloses a nonlinear increase with respect to RI of the gel and sensitivity up to 300 µs/RI unit and an index resolution of 1.4 × 10 was obtained. © 2009 IEEE.

The use of loop mirrors and chirped fibre Bragg gratings in actively-modelocked fibre lasers

The development of an all-optical communications infrastructure requires appropriate optical switching devices and supporting hardware. This thesis presents several novel fibre lasers which are useful pulse sources for high speed optical data processing and communications. They share several attributes in common: flexibility, stability and low-jitter output. They all produce short (picosecond) and are suitable as sources for soliton systems. The lasers are all-fibre systems using erbium-doped fibre for gain, and are actively-modelocked using a dual-wavelength nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) as a modulator. Control over the operating wavelength and intra-cavity dispersion is obtained using a chirped in-fibre Bragg grating.Systems operating both at 76MHz and gigahertz frequencies are presented, the latter using a semiconductor laser amplifier to enhance nonlinear action in the loop mirror. A novel dual-wavelength system in which two linear cavities share a common modulator is presented with results which show that the jitter between the two wavelengths is low enough for use in switching experiments with data rates of up to 130Gbit/s.

Mathematical and numerical modelling of dispersion-managed solitons, autosolitons and self-similar optical pulses

This thesis presents theoretical investigation of three topics concerned with nonlinear optical pulse propagation in optical fibres. The techniques used are mathematical analysis and numerical modelling. Firstly, dispersion-managed (DM) solitons in fibre lines employing a weak dispersion map are analysed by means of a perturbation approach. In the case of small dispersion map strengths the average pulse dynamics is described by a perturbation approach (NLS) equation. Applying a perturbation theory, based on the Inverse Scattering Transform method, an analytic expression for the envelope of the DM soliton is derived. This expression correctly predicts the power enhancement arising from the dispersion management.Secondly, autosoliton transmission in DM fibre systems with periodical in-line deployment of nonlinear optical loop mirrors (NOLMs) is investigated. The use of in-line NOLMs is addressed as a general technique for all-optical passive 2R regeneration of return-to-zero data in high speed transmission system with strong dispersion management. By system optimisation, the feasibility of ultra-long single-channel and wavelength-division multiplexed data transmission at bit-rates ³ 40 Gbit s-1 in standard fibre-based systems is demonstrated. The tolerance limits of the results are defined.Thirdly, solutions of the NLS equation with gain and normal dispersion, that describes optical pulse propagation in an amplifying medium, are examined. A self-similar parabolic solution in the energy-containing core of the pulse is matched through Painlevé functions to the linear low-amplitude tails. The analysis provides a full description of the features of high-power pulses generated in an amplifying medium.