Reconfigurable all-optical bistability/tristability in dual injection-locked Fabry-Perot laser diodes.

In this Letter, we present a detailed theoretical and experimental investigation of optical bistability and tristability in dual injection-locked Fabry-Perot laser diodes. The proposed device can be reconfigured between the bistable and tristable regimes, simply by adjusting the power level of the injected control optical signal. The tristability presented in the experiment is achieved for relatively low optical input powers between 1.03 and 1.25 mW, with the output signal ratio of up to 7 dB between stable states. Such a device is a potential candidate for designing trits, a bit analogy in ternary computational logic.

Demodulation of quasi-quadrature interferometric signals for use in the totally implantable hearing aids.

We propose and experimentally prove an algorithm for demodulation of interferometric signals, modified for use in a totally implantable hearing aid device. A fiber optic configuration, which generates two quasi-quadrature signals by a passive 3x3 coupler, for a non-contact detection of the middle ear ossicle vibration is employed. We simulated the ossicle vibration and large movements and demonstrated the effectiveness of the algorithm to compensate changes of the signal DC values and the phase shift introduced by the coupler. Applying the proposed algorithm we obtained the output signal stability better than 0.5 dB, and the system equivalent input noise of about 31 dB (A) SPL @ 1 kHz.

Compensation of Verdet Constant Temperature Dependence by Crystal Core Temperature Measurement.

Compensation of the temperature dependence of the Verdet constant in a polarimetric extrinsic Faraday sensor is of major importance for applying the magneto-optical effect to AC current measurements and magnetic field sensing. This paper presents a method for compensating the temperature effect on the Faraday rotation in a Bi12GeO20 crystal by sensing its optical activity effect on the polarization of a light beam. The method measures the temperature of the same volume of crystal that effects the beam polarization in a magnetic field or current sensing process. This eliminates the effect of temperature difference found in other indirect temperature compensation methods, thus allowing more accurate temperature compensation for the temperature dependence of the Verdet constant. The method does not require additional changes to an existing Δ/Σ configuration and is thus applicable for improving the performance of existing sensing devices.

High performance gel imaging with a commercial single lens reflex camera.

A high performance gel imaging system was constructed using a digital single lens reflex camera with epi-illumination to image 19 × 23 cm agarose gels with up to 10,000 DNA bands each. It was found to give equivalent performance to a laser scanner in this high throughput DNA fingerprinting application using the fluorophore SYBR Green(®). The specificity and sensitivity of the imager and scanner were within 1% using the same band identification software. Low and high cost color filters were also compared and it was found that with care, good results could be obtained with inexpensive dyed acrylic filters in combination with more costly dielectric interference filters, but that very poor combinations were also possible. Methods for determining resolution, dynamic range, and optical efficiency for imagers are also proposed to facilitate comparison between systems.

A miniature pockels cell with novel electrode geometry.

This paper discusses important elements of the Pockels sensing cell design. A novel electrode geometry is analyzed in order to obtain maximum sensitivity response from Pockels crystals (Bi(12)GeO(20)). This neither transversal nor truly longitudinal geometry, results in electrical field distribution along the sensing beam path that provides high modulation depth. Demonstrated performance level is in agreement with theoretical studies. Delta-sigma polarization detection method allows high linearity of the detector transfer function and measurement independent on laser intensity variations. Channel gain equalization process necessary for accurate delta-sigma normalization is provided by a walk off prism.

Mathematical analysis of reactive hyperaemia in the isolated rat heart with & without electrical pacing.

Studies were undertaken for a mathematical analysis of reactive hyperaemia in the isolated rat heart with and without electrical pacing and the introduction of a new parameter i.e., rate of reactive hyperaemia, to evaluate reactive hyperaemia. Rate of reactive hyperaemia is represented as a change of coronary perfusion pressure in function with duration of reactive hyperaemia (delta P/DRH). The experiments were performed on the isolated rat heart using constant flow Langendorff's technique. Reactive hyperaemia was induced by interruption of coronary inflow for 30, 60, 120 sec. The electrical pacing produced two-phasic changes in the coronary perfusion pressure (CPP). Restoration of CPP (a long lasting gradual increase of coronary perfusion pressure after the period of ischaemia) correlated well with time following the logistic function. Correlation coefficient was 0.9485 (P < 0.05) with electrical pacing and 0.9892 (P < 0.05) for CPP restoration without electrical pacing. Duration of reactive hyperaemia was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter with electrical pacing than without it. However, the rate of reactive hyperaemia was not significantly different with or without electrical pacing. Fitting of the experimental results as well as the rate of reactive hyperaemia suggest the same mechanism of CPP restoration during the reactive hyperaemia with or without pacing. However, the extent of the phenomenon is significantly affected by pacing.