Three-dimensional nanothermometry below the diffraction limit.

Lanthanide-doped nanothermometers are used to measure temperature through changes in their emission characteristic with sensitivities of up to a few %/K. In contrast to their sensitivity, their spatial resolution, which is of critical importance for various applications, has not been thoroughly studied and optimized. We numerically investigated the improvement in spatial resolution of nanothermometers with a stimulated emission depletion microscopy approach. Fundamental relationships between spatial and temperature resolution were identified by using different beam parameters for the excitation and depletion beams. Our simulations predict contactless temperature measurement below the diffraction limit with temperature resolution of ±1.25K. We further studied the influence of sample thickness and position on both temperature and spatial resolution and showed the potential of three-dimensional measurements.

Acceleration of sub-relativistic electrons with an evanescent optical wave at a planar interface.

We report on a theoretical and experimental study of the energy transfer between an optical evanescent wave, propagating in vacuum along the planar boundary of a dielectric material, and a beam of sub-relativistic electrons. The evanescent wave is excited via total internal reflection in the dielectric by an infrared (λ = 2 µm) femtosecond laser pulse. By matching the electron propagation velocity to the phase velocity of the evanescent wave, energy modulation of the electron beam is achieved. A maximum energy gain of 800 eV is observed, corresponding to the absorption of more than 1000 photons by one electron. The maximum observed acceleration gradient is 19 ± 2 MeV/m. The striking advantage of this scheme is that a structuring of the acceleration element's surface is not required, enabling the use of materials with high laser damage thresholds that are difficult to nano-structure, such as SiC, Al2O3 or CaF2.

Optical gating and streaking of free electrons with sub-optical cycle precision.

The temporal resolution of ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy experiments is currently limited by the available experimental techniques for the generation and characterization of electron bunches with single femtosecond or attosecond durations. Here, we present proof of principle experiments of an optical gating concept for free electrons via direct time-domain visualization of the sub-optical cycle energy and transverse momentum structure imprinted on the electron beam. We demonstrate a temporal resolution of 1.2±0.3 fs. The scheme is based on the synchronous interaction between electrons and the near-field mode of a dielectric nano-grating excited by a femtosecond laser pulse with an optical period duration of 6.5 fs. The sub-optical cycle resolution demonstrated here is promising for use in laser-driven streak cameras for attosecond temporal characterization of bunched particle beams as well as time-resolved experiments with free-electron beams.

Full phase stabilization of a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb via high-bandwidth transducers.

We present full phase stabilization of an amplified Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb using an intracavity electro-optic modulator and an acousto-optic modulator. These transducers provide high servo bandwidths of 580 kHz and 250 kHz for f(rep) and f(ceo), producing a robust and low phase noise fiber frequency comb. The comb was self-referenced with an f-2f interferometer and phase locked to an ultrastable optical reference used for the JILA Sr optical clock at 698 nm, exhibiting 0.21 rad and 0.47 rad of integrated phase errors (over 1 mHz-1 MHz), respectively. Alternatively, the comb was locked to two optical references at 698 nm and 1064 nm, obtaining 0.43 rad and 0.14 rad of integrated phase errors, respectively.

Power optimization of XUV frequency combs for spectroscopy applications [Invited].

We address technical impediments to the generation of high-photon flux XUV frequency combs through cavity-enhanced high harmonic generation. These difficulties arise from mirror damage, cavity nonlinearity, the intracavity plasma generated during the HHG process, and imperfect phase-matching. By eliminating or minimizing each of these effects we have developed a system capable of generating > 200 µW and delivering ~20 µW of average power for each spectrally separated harmonic (wavelengths ranging from 50 nm - 120 nm), to actual comb-based spectroscopy experiments.

Broadband phase noise suppression in a Yb-fiber frequency comb.

We report a simple technique to suppress high-frequency phase noise of a Yb-based fiber optical frequency comb using an active intensity noise servo. Out-of-loop measurements of the phase noise using an optical heterodyne beat with a cw laser show suppression of phase noise by ≥7 dB out to Fourier frequencies of 100 kHz with a unity-gain crossing of ∼700 kHz. These results are enabled by the strong correlation between the intensity and phase noise of the laser. Detailed measurements of intensity and phase noise spectra, as well as transfer functions, reveal that the dominant phase and intensity noise contribution above ∼100 kHz is due to amplified spontaneous emission or other quantum noise sources.

Impact of third-order dispersion on the generation of wave-breaking free pulses in ultrafast fiber lasers.

Wave-breaking free pulses generated in passively mode-locked fiber lasers can tolerate a certain cubic phase delay induced by third-order dispersion without losing pulse quality. We demonstrate that the spectral as well as the temporal profile of the pulses become asymmetric. The generated pulses had a pulse energy up to 3.5nJ and could be externally compressed down to 145fs. The fact that the pulses could always be dechirped within 10% of the Fourier limit points out the linearity of the chirp. The pulse asymmetry was also observed in the output coupling characteristic of the mode-locking mechanism.

Similariton fiber laser with a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber for dispersion control.

We report on an ytterbium-doped similariton fiber ring laser with a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber for intracavity dispersion control. The oscillator is hybrid mode locked with a saturable Bragg reflector and by nonlinear polarization evolution. This scheme allows for an exact adjustment of the transmission characteristic to avoid the formation of bunched noiselike pulses while the self-starting characteristic is preserved. The oscillator generates highly stretched similaritons at 1025 nm with a pulse energy above 1n J at a repetition rate of 21.9 MHz.

Estimating the accumulation and transfer of Nodularia spumigena toxins by the blue mussel Mytilus edulis: an appraisal from culture and mesocosm experiments.

Accumulation of Nodularia spumigena toxins by Mytilus edulis was studied during laboratory and mesocosm experiments in order to investigate the possible pathways of nodularin in mussels and calculate toxin budgets. Mussels were exposed to 0.2-15.6 microg nodularin l(-1), fed for up to 5 days with Nodularia cells from culture, or blooming in different nutrient-treated seawater. Toxin concentration was monitored with LC-ESI-MS. During different exposures, the amount of nodularin detected in mussels increased linearly with increasing toxin concentration in food and attained 0.28-13.8 microg of nodularin g dw(-1) of the mussel whole body tissue after 12 h. The digestive gland was found to be the tissue with the highest toxin concentration. Nodularin concentration in faeces was not proportional to faeces production or to toxin concentration in food; however, it seemed to be mostly related to food quality as well as to food availability. The percentage of nodularin taken up by the mussels, relative to the amount contained in the offered food, varied from 10% to 20%, depending on food quality. During a 5-day toxin accumulation experiment, the acute reduction of the toxin in mussel tissues the second day and the following stabilization, showed that probably mussels maintain low toxin levels via efficient elimination and/or toxin metabolism. After a 72 h depuration period, mussels showed 75% reduction in their toxin content.

Dynamics of parabolic pulses in an ultrafast fiber laser.

We report experimental and numerical results on the dynamics and propagation of parabolic pulses in a passively mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser. Experimental data and numerical simulations are shown to match. Particular importance is attached to the pulse-shaping process in the different sections of the resonator. The paramount role of the gain fiber and saturable absorber in the laser is explicated.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: a distinctive bone-forming lesion of the soft tissue.

A 3-month-old white female presented with a bone-forming lesion of the soft tissue of the left cheek. Skeletal survey revealed numerous associated radiographic abnormalities, predominantly involving the phalanges. Mineral metabolism and endocrine function were within normal limits. Multiple operations were performed over a 17-year period for palliation of sequelae arising from inability to open the mouth due to ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint by the progressively ossifying lesion. Histologically, the pathologic material had features resembling those of periosteal grafts, with all stages of membranous bone formation and a tendency for more mature lesions later in the course. .The clinico-pathologic features are those of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). The differential diagnosis of this rare condition from other bone-forming lesions of the soft tissue such as myositis ossificans, extra-skeletal osteosarcoma and osseous metaplasia is discussed.