Integrated Al2O3:Er3+ ring lasers on silicon with wide wavelength selectivity.

Integrated Al(2)O(3):Er(3+) channel waveguide ring lasers were realized on thermally oxidized silicon substrates. High pump power coupling into and low laser output power coupling from the ring is achieved in a straightforward design. Output powers of up to 9.5 microW and slope efficiencies of up to 0.11% were measured while lasing was observed for a threshold diode-pump power as low as 6.4 mW for ring lasers with cavity lengths varying from 2.0 to 5.5 cm. Wavelength selection in the range 1530-1557 nm was demonstrated by varying the length of the output coupler from the ring.

Ultra-narrow-linewidth, single-frequency distributed feedback waveguide laser in Al2O3:Er3+ on silicon.

We report the realization and performance of a distributed feedback channel waveguide laser in erbium-doped aluminum oxide on a standard thermally oxidized silicon substrate. The diode-pumped continuous-wave laser demonstrated a threshold of 2.2 mW absorbed pump power and a maximum output power of more than 3 mW with a slope efficiency of 41.3% versus absorbed pump power. Single-longitudinal-mode and single-polarization operation was achieved with an emission linewidth of 1.70+/-0.58 kHz (corresponding to a Q factor of 1.14 x 10(11)), which was centered at a wavelength of 1545.2 nm.

Anxiety and perceptive functioning of infertile women during in-vitro fertilization: exploratory survey of an Italian sample.

The aim of this study was to study the emotional impact of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and any possible influence due to the type of diagnosis, duration of infertility, number of cycles and type of responses to treatment. The study was carried out on 200 patients admitted to hospital for the final stages of IVF (oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer). The psychological measures taken into consideration were: state and trait anxiety levels (Stait-Trait Anxiety), unconscious and symptomatic anxiety, perception of self and of others (EWI). Monitoring of anxiety levels during hospitalization highlighted significant differences with respect to the state anxiety values (P < 0.01) and general anxiety (P < 0.05), but not with respect to trait anxiety. The level of state anxiety of women with a diagnosis of infertility was significantly lower (P < 0. 05). Women who have experienced infertility of medium to long duration presented a significantly lower state anxiety value (P < 0. 01). The failure of oocyte fertilization determines a significant increase in state anxiety level (P < 0.01) There were no significant differences in anxiety values with respect to the cycle number. Perceptive functioning was normal.