Super-resolution scanning laser microscopy with a third-order optical nonlinear thin film

In a configuration of optical far-field scanning microscopy, super-resolution achieved by inserting a third-order optical nonlinear thin film is demonstrated and analyzed in terms of the frequency response function. Without the thin film the microscopy is diffraction limited; thus, subwavelength features cannot be resolved. With the nonlinear thin film inserted, the resolution is dramatically improved and thus the microscopy resolves features significantly smaller than the smallest spacing allowed by the diffraction limit. A theoretical model is established and the device is analyzed for the frequency response function. The results show that the frequency response function exceeds the cutoff spatial frequency of the microscopy defined by the laser wavelength and the numerical aperture of the convergent lens. The main contribution to the improvement of the cutoff spatial frequency is from the phase change induced by the complex transmission of the nonlinear thin film. Experimental results are presented and are shown to be consistent with the results of theoretical simulations.

Compact continuous-wave blue lasers by direct frequency doubling of laser diodes with periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide crystals

A compact continuous-wave blue laser has been demonstrated by direct frequency doubling of a laser diode with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide crystal. The optimum PPLN temperature is near 28 degreesC, and the dependence of waveguide crystals on crystal temperature is less sensitive than that of bulk crystals. A total of 14.8 mW of 488-nm laser power has been achieved. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

SiO2 对Bi2O3-B2O3 玻璃体系光学、热学及结构的 影响

Glasses with compositions 50Bi2O3-xB2O3- (50-x)SiO2(x=0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50) in mol% have been prepared by using a normal melt-quench technique. The effect of SiO2 addition on thermal stability, optical properties and structural characteristic on Bi2O3-B2O3 glass were systematically investigated by using XRD, DTA, ultraviolet-visible transmittance spectra, midinfrared transmittance spectra and Raman spectra. The experimental results demonstrate that, with the addition of SiO2, thermal stability of glass samples has been obviously improved. Once the amount of SiO2 is too much, the glass samples tend to be phase seperation which results in the decrease of thermal stability. With increasing SiO2 content, the UV cutoff edge firstly shifts to short-wave band and then shifts to long-wave band, and the transmittance of mid-infrared has been greatly improved. With substitution of SiO2 for B2O3, the [BO3] triangles and [BO4] tetrahedral groups are gradually replaced by [SiO4]. [BiO6] octahedral and [SiO4] tetrahedral units are connected forming a vibrational mode of Bi-O-Si. The physical chemistry and optical performance of Bi2O3-B2O3 glass were greatly improved by addition of SiO2.

High Er3+ concentration low refractive index fluorophosphate glass for evanescent wave optical amplifiers

This is about the first reported laser glass with very low no, high Er3+ concentration and no quenching. In this work, a series of high Er3+ concentration (10.6-12.2 x 10(20) ions/cm(3)), low refractive index (n(1550) < 1.47) and relatively high fluorescence lifetime (6.8-12.6 ms) fluorophosphate glasses were made. A cw-pumping evanescent wave optical amplifier experiment was performed with it, and a relative gain of around 2dB at 1550 nm wavelength was achieved while the noise level was almost unchanged. To our knowledge, this is the first successful relative gain in evanescent wave optical amplifiers (EWOA) demonstrated with cw pumping. It is a valuable study of specially designed fluorophosphate glass suitable for EWOA communication experiment. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modeling Innovative Power Take-Off Based on Double-Acting Hydraulic Cylinders Array for Wave Energy Conversion

One of the key systems of a Wave Energy Converter for extraction of wave energy is the Power Take-Off (PTO) device. This device transforms the mechanical energy of a moving body into electrical energy. This paper describes the model of an innovative PTO based on independently activated double-acting hydraulic cylinders array. The model has been developed using a simulation tool, based on a port-based approach to model hydraulics systems. The components and subsystems used in the model have been parameterized as real components and their values experimentally obtained from an existing prototype. In fact, the model takes into account most of the hydraulic losses of each component. The simulations show the flexibility to apply different restraining torques to the input movement depending on the geometrical configuration and the hydraulic cylinders on duty, easily modified by a control law. The combination of these two actions allows suitable flexibility to adapt the device to different sea states whilst optimizing the energy extraction. The model has been validated using a real test bench showing good correlations between simulation and experimental tests.