2017 Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics Europe and European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO Europe EQEC)


Book Description

The CLEO Europe EQEC conference series has a strong tradition as a comprehensive and prestigious gathering of optics and photonics researchers and engineers in Europe CLEO Europe reflects a strong international presence in the complementary research traditions of laser science, photonics and quantum electronics More specifically, CLEO Europe emphasizes applied physics, optical engineering and applications of photonics and laser technology whereas EQEC emphasizes basic research in laser physics, nonlinear optics and quantum optics This combination provides a unique forum to obtain informative overviews and discuss recent advances in a wide spectrum of topics, from fundamental light matter interactions and new sources of coherent light to technology development, system engineering and applications in industry and applied science







Optical Amplifiers


Book Description

Optical amplifiers are indispensable in long-haul communication systems operating in a relatively broad range of electromagnetic spectra. Various forms of optical amplifiers and their advancements have been extensively discussed in the literature emphasizing the relative merits and demerits of different types of configurations and/or designs and also usefulness in specific applications. The book - Optical Amplifiers: A Few Different Dimensions - aims at reporting developments in these devices in the recent years. The contributed chapters in this book encompass both theoretical and experimental results covering various aspects in the relevant research directions. This somehow makes the volume useful to both experts and novice researchers. Finally, the expectation remains of the contents to be of some merit for the R




A compact mode-locked diode laser system for high precision frequency comparison experiments (Band 64)


Book Description

Optical frequency combs (OFC) have revolutionized various applications in applied and fundamental sciences that rely on the determination of absolute optical frequencies and frequency differences. The latter requires only stabilization of the spectral distance between the individual comb lines of the OFC, allowing to tailor and reduce system complexity of the OFC generator (OFCG). One such application is the quantum test of the universality of free fall within the QUANTUS experimental series. Within the test, the rate of free fall of two atomic species, Rb and K, in micro-gravity will be compared. The aim of this thesis was the development of a highly compact, robust, and space-suitable diode laser-based OFCG with a mode-locked optical spectrum in the wavelength range around 780 nm. A diode laser-based OFCG was developed, which exceeds the requirements with a spectral bandwidth > 16 nm at 20 dBc, a comb line optical power > 650 nW (at 20 dBc), a pulse repetition rate of 3.4 GHz, and an RF linewidth of the free-running pulse repetition rate < 10 kHz. To realize a proof-of-concept demonstrator module, the diode laser-based OFCG was hybrid-integrated into a space-suitable technology platform that has been developed for future QUANTUS experiments. Proof of sufficient RF stability of the OFCG was provided by stabilizing the pulse repetition rate to an external RF reference. This resulted in a stabilized pulse repetition rate with an RF linewidth smaller than 1.4 Hz (resolution limited), thus exceeding the requirement. The developed diode laser-based OFCG represents an important step towards an improved comparison of the rate of free fall of Rb and K quantum gases within the QUANTUS experiments in micro-gravity.




Broad-Area Laser Bars for 1 kW-Emission


Book Description

ndustrial laser systems for material processing applications rely on the availability of highly efficient, high-brightness diode lasers. GaAs-based broad-area laser bars play a vital role in such applications as pump sources for high-beam-quality solid-state lasers and, increasingly, as direct processing tools. This work studies 940 nm-laser bars emitting 1 kW optical power at room temperature, identifying those physical mechanisms that are currently limiting electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency as well as lateral beam quality. In the process, several diagnostic studies on bars with varied lateral-longitudinal design were carried out. The effects of technological measures for performance optimization were analyzed, yielding a new benchmark in efficiency and lateral divergence. The studies into altered resonator lengths of 4 and 6 mm as well as fill factors between 69 and 87 % successfully reduce both the voltage dropping across the device and power saturation at high currents, enabling 66 % efficiency at the operation point. Concrete measures how to reach efficiencies ≥70 % are presented thereafter, showing that doubling the efficiency value of the first 1 kW-demonstration in 2007 – amounting to 35 % – is in near reach. Investigation of the beam quality bases on a herein proposed and realized concept, in which the far field is resolved for each individual bar emitter. In this way, it is possible to determine how far-field profiles vary along the bar width and how much these variations affect the overall bar far-field. Further, such effects specific to bar structures can be separated into non-thermal and thermal influences. The effect of mechanical chip deformation (bar smile) as well as neighboring-emitter interaction has been investigated for the first time in active kW-class devices, yielding a lateral divergence as low as 8.8° at the operation point.




Nonlinear Meta-Optics


Book Description

This book addresses fabrication as well as characterization and modeling of semiconductor nanostructures in the optical regime, with a focus on nonlinear effects. The visible range as well as near and far infrared spectral region will be considered with a view to different envisaged applications. The book covers the current key challenges of the research in the area, including: exploiting new material platforms, fully extending the device operation into the nonlinear regime, adding re-configurability to the envisaged devices and proposing new modeling tools to help in conceiving new functionalities. • Explores several topics in the field of semiconductor nonlinear nanophotonics, including fabrication, characterization and modeling of semiconductor nanostructures in the optical regime, with a focus on nonlinear effects • Describes the research challenges in the field of optical metasurfaces in the nonlinear regime • Reviews the use and achievements of all-dielectric nanoantennas for strengthening the nonlinear optical response • Describes both theoretical and experimental aspects of photonic devices based on semiconductor optical nanoantennas and metasurfaces • Gathers contributions from several leading groups in this research field to provide a thorough and complete overview of the current state of the art in the field of semiconductor nonlinear nanophotonics Costantino De Angelis has been full professor of electromagnetic fields at the University of Brescia since 1998. He is an OSA Fellow and has been responsible for several university research contracts in the last 20 years within Europe, the United States, and Italy. His technical interests are in optical antennas and nanophotonics. He is the author of over 150 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles. Giuseppe Leo has been a full professor in physics at Paris Diderot University since 2004, and in charge of the nonlinear devices group of MPQ Laboratory since 2006. His research areas include nonlinear optics, micro- and nano-photonics, and optoelectronics, with a focus on AlGaAs platform. He has coordinated several research programs and coauthored 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, 200 conference papers, 10 book chapters and also has four patents. Dragomir Neshev is a professor in physics and the leader of the experimental photonics group in the Nonlinear Physics Centre at Australian National University (ANU). His activities span over several branches of optics, including nonlinear periodic structures, singular optics, plasmonics, and photonic metamaterials. He has coauthored 200 publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.




A New Generation of Ultrafast Oscillators for Mid-Infrared Applications


Book Description

This thesis presents the first successful realization of a compact, low-noise, and few-cycle light source in the mid-infrared wavelength region. By developing the technology of pumping femtosecond chromium-doped II-VI laser oscillators directly with the emission of broad-stripe single-emitter laser diodes, coherent light was generated with exceptionally low amplitude noise — crucial for numerous applications including spectroscopy at high sensitivities. Other key parameters of the oscillator's output, such as pulse duration and output power, matched and even surpassed previous state-of-the-art systems. As a demonstration of its unique capabilities, the oscillator's powerful output was used to drive — without further amplification — the nonlinear generation of coherent mid-infrared light spanning multiple octaves. The resulting table-top system uniquely combines high brilliance and ultrabroad spectral bandwidth in the important mid-infrared spectral range. The rapid development of this technology is comprehensively and lucidly documented in this PhD thesis. Together with a thorough review of literature and applications, and an extensive analysis of the theoretical foundations behind ultrafast laser oscillators, the thesis will serve as a valuable reference for the construction of a new generation of mid-infrared light sources.




Sensors Fault Diagnosis Trends and Applications


Book Description

Fault diagnosis has always been a concern for industry. In general, diagnosis in complex systems requires the acquisition of information from sensors and the processing and extracting of required features for the classification or identification of faults. Therefore, fault diagnosis of sensors is clearly important as faulty information from a sensor may lead to misleading conclusions about the whole system. As engineering systems grow in size and complexity, it becomes more and more important to diagnose faulty behavior before it can lead to total failure. In the light of above issues, this book is dedicated to trends and applications in modern-sensor fault diagnosis.




Magnetic Sensors and Actuators in Medicine


Book Description

Magnetic Sensors and Actuators in Medicine: Materials, Devices, and Applications provides an overview of the various sensors and actuators, their characteristics, role in the development of medical applications, the medical problems they solve, and future directions. The book brings together recent advances in the physics, chemistry and engineering of magnetic materials related to sensors and actuators that improve their functions in medical applications. The book describes the main applications of magnetic sensors and actuators, starting from the common and emerging magnetic materials, their principles of operation, the medical problems that they are used to address, and the latest achievements in the field. - Reviews a wide range of magnetic sensors and actuators employed in medical applications such as diagnosis, surgery and therapy - Describes magnetic material-based sensors and actuators, including their operation principles, properties and optimization for specific applications - Includes examples of recent advances, such as emerging magnetic materials, magnetic nanowires, nanorods and/or nanotubes