A global model of intensity autocorrelation to determine laser pulse duration

We present a new global model of collinear autocorrelation based on second harmonic generation nonlinearity.The model is rigorously derived from the nonlinear coupled wave equation specific to the autocorrelation measurement configuration,without requiring a specific form of the incident pulse function.A rigorous solution of the nonlinear coupled wave equation is obtained in the time domain and expressed in a general analytical form.The global model fully accounts for the nonlinear interaction and propagation effects within nonlinear crystals,which are not captured by the classical local model.To assess the performance of the global model compared to the classic local model,we investigate the autocorrelation signals obtained from both models for different incident pulse waveforms and different full-widthes at half-maximum(FWHMs).When the incident pulse waveform is Lorentzian with an FWHM of 200 fs,the global model predicts an autocorrelation signal FWHM of 399.9 fs,while the classic local model predicts an FWHM of 331.4 fs.The difference between the two models is 68.6 fs,corresponding to an error of 17.2%.Similarly,for a sech-type incident pulse with an FWHM of 200 fs,the global model predicts an autocorrelation signal FWHM of 343.9 fs,while the local model predicts an FWHM of 308.8 fs.The difference between the two models is 35.1 fs,with an error of 10.2%.We further examine the behavior of the models for Lorentzian pulses with FWHMs of 100 fs,200 fs and 500 fs.The differences between the global and local models are 17.1 fs,68.6 fs and 86.0 fs,respectively,with errors approximately around 17%.These comparative analyses clearly demonstrate the superior accuracy of the global model in intensity autocorrelation modeling.

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus)to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.

A simple and comprehensive electromagnetic theory uncovering complete picture of light transport in birefringent crystals

Birefringence production of light by natural birefringent crystal has long been studied and well understood.Here,we develop a simple and comprehensive rigorous electromagnetic theory that allows one to build up the complete picture about the optics of crystals in a friendly way.This theory not only yields the well-known refraction angle and index of ellipse for birefringence crystal,but also discloses many relevant physical and optical quantities that are rarely studied and less understood.We obtain the reflection and transmission coefficient for amplitude and intensity of light at the crystal surface under a given incident angle and show the electromagnetic field distribution within the crystal.We derive the wavefront and energy flux refraction angle of light and the corresponding phase and ray refractive index.We find big difference between them,where the phase refractive index satisfies the classical index of ellipse and Snell’s law,while the ray refractive index does not.Moreover,we disclose the explicit expressions for the zero-reflection Brewster angle and the critical angle for total internal reflection.For better concept demonstration,we take a weak birefringent crystal of lithium niobate and a strong birefringent crystal tellurium as examples and perform simple theoretical calculations.In addition,we perform experimental measurement upon z-cut lithium niobate plate and find excellent agreement between theory and experiment in regard to the Brewster angle.Our theoretical and experimental results can help to construct a clear and complete picture about light transport characteristics in birefringent crystals,and may greatly facilitate people to find rigorous solution to many light-matter interaction processes happening within birefringent crystals,e.g.,nonlinear optical interactions,with electromagnetic theory.

Synergic action of linear dispersion, second-order nonlinearity, and third-order nonlinearity in shaping the spectral profile of a femtosecond pulse transporting in a lithium niobate crystal

We present a detailed theoretical and numerical analysis on the temporal-spectral-spatial evolution of a highpeak-power femtosecond laser pulse in two sets of systems:a pure lithium niobate(LN)plate and a periodically poled lithium niobate(PPLN)plate.We develop a modified unidimensional pulse propagation model that considers all the prominent linear and nonlinear processes and carried out the simulation process based on an improved split-step Fourier transformation method.We theoretically analyze the synergic action of the linear dispersion effect,the second-order nonlinearity(2nd-NL)second-harmonic generation(SHG)effect,and the third-order nonlinearity(3rd-NL)self-phase modulation(SPM)effect,and clarify the physical mechanism underlying the peculiar and diverse spectral broadening patterns previously reported in LN and PPLN thin plate experiments.Such analysis and discussion provides a deeper insight into the synergetic contribution of these linear and nonlinear effects brought about by the interaction of a femtosecond laser pulse with the LN nonlinear crystal and helps to draw a picture to fully understand these fruitful optical physical processes,phenomena,and laws.

Intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum laser

A high-brightness ultrabroadband supercontinuum white laser is desirable for various fields of modern science.Here,we present an intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum femtosecond laser source(with 300–5000 nm 25 dB bandwidth)with 0.54 mJ per pulse.The laser is obtained by sending a 3.9μm,3.3 mJ mid-infrared pump pulse into a cascaded architecture of gas-filled hollow-core fiber,a bare lithium niobate crystal plate,and a specially designed chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal,under the synergic action of second and third order nonlinearities such as high harmonic generation and self-phase modulation.This full-spectrum femtosecond laser source can provide a revolutionary tool for optical spectroscopy and find potential applications in physics,chemistry,biology,material science,industrial processing,and environment monitoring.

Ultrabroadband nonlinear Raman-Nath diffraction against femtosecond pulse laser

Nonlinear Raman–Nath diffraction(NRND) offers an effective way to realize multiple noncollinear parametric processes based on the partially satisfied transverse phase-matching conditions in quadratic nonlinear media.Here, the realization of ultrabroadband NRND(UB-NRND) driven by a high-peak-power ultrashort femtosecond pump laser in two types of nonlinear crystals is reported: periodically poled lithium niobate(PPLN) and chirped PPLN(CPPLN). Multi-order ultrabroadband Raman–Nath second-harmonic(SH) signal outputs along fixed diffraction angles are simultaneously observed. This distinguished transversely phase-matched supercontinuum phenomenon is attributed to the synergic action of natural broad bandwidth of an ultrashort femtosecond pump laser and the third-order nonlinear effect induced spectral broadening, in combination with the principal ultrabroadband noncollinear second-harmonic generation processes. The NRND process with multiple quasiphase matching(QPM) interactions from CPPLN leads to the SH output covering a wide range of wavelengths between 389 and 997 nm and exhibiting an energy conversion efficiency several orders of magnitude higher than previous studies. This UB-NRND scheme would bring better techniques and tools for applications ranging from ultrashort pulse characterization and nondestructive identification of domain structures to accurate parameter monitoring of second-and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities within solid-state nonlinear microstructured materials.

White Laser Realized via Synergic Second-and Third-Order Nonlinearities

White laser with balanced performance of broad bandwidth,high average and peak power,large pulse energy,high spatial and temporal coherence,controllable spectrum profile,and overall chroma are highly desirable in various fields of modern science.Here,for the first time,we report an innovative scheme of harnessing the synergic action of both the second-order nonlinearity(2^(nd)-NL)and the third-order nonlinearity(3^(rd)-NL)in a single chirped periodically poled lithium niobate(CPPLN)nonlinear photonic crystal driven by a high-peak-power near-infrared(NIR)(central wavelength~1400 nm,energy~100μJ per pulse)femtosecond pump laser to produce visible to near infrared(vis-NIR,400-900 nm)supercontinuum white laser.The CPPLN involves a series of reciprocal-lattice bands that can be exploited to support quasiphase matching for simultaneous broadband second-and third-harmonic generations(SHG and THG)with considerable conversion efficiency.Due to the remarkable 3rdNL which is due to the high energy density of the pump,SHG and THG laser pulses will induce significant spectral broadening in them and eventually generate bright vis-NIR white laser with high conversion efficiency up to 30%.Moreover,the spectral profile and overall chroma of output white laser can be widely modulated by adjusting the pump laser intensity,wavelength,and polarization.Our work indicates that one can deeply engineer the synergic and collective action of 2^(nd)-NL and 3^(rd)-NL in nonlinear crystals to accomplish high peak power,ultrabroadband vis-NIR white laser and hopefully realize the even greater but much more challenging dream of ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum laser.

Robust modal phase matching in subwavelength x-cut and z-cut lithium niobate thin-film waveguides

We use the nonlinear coupled-mode theory to theoretically investigate second-harmonic generation(SHG) in subwavelength x-cut and z-cut lithium niobate(LN) thin-film waveguides and derive the analytical formula to calculate SHG efficiency in x-cut and z-cut LN thin-film waveguides explicitly.Under the scheme of optimal modal phase matching(MPM), two types of LN thin films can achieve highly efficient frequency doubling of a 1064 nm laser with a comparable conversion efficiency due to very consistent modal field distribution of the fundamental wave and second-harmonic wave with efficient overlap between them.Such a robust MPM for high-efficiency SHG in both the subwavelength x-cut and z-cut LN thin-film waveguides is further confirmed in a broad wavelength range, which might facilitate design and application of micro–nano nonlinear optical devices based on the subwavelength LN thin film.

Intense Two-Octave Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Supercontinuum Laser via High-Efficiency One-Octave Second-Harmonic Generation

Intense ultrabroadband laser source of high pulse energy has attracted more and more attention in physics,chemistry,biology,material science,and other disciplines.We report design and realization of a chirped periodically poled lithium niobate nonlinear crystal that supports ultrabroadband second-harmonic generation covering 350-850 nm by implementing simultaneously up to 12 orders of quasiphase matching against ultrabroadband pump laser covering 700-1700 nm with an average high conversion efficiency of about 25.8%.We obtain a flat supercontinuum spectrum with a 10 dB bandwidth covering more than one octave(about 375-1200 nm)and 20 dB bandwidth covering more than two octaves(about 350-1500 nm)in the ultraviolet-visible-infrared regime and having intense energy as 0.17 mJ per pulse through synergic action of second-order and third-order nonlinearity under pump of 0.48 mJ per pulse Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser.This scheme would provide a promising method for the construction of supercontinuum laser source with extremely broad bandwidth,large pulse energy,and high peak power for a variety of basic science and high technology applications.