Mertk deficiency alters expression of micrornas in the retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Phagocytic clearance of the spent photoreceptor outer segments (OS) by RPE cells is regulated by circadian rhythm cycle and is essential for photoreceptor integrity and function. Mertk regulates RPE phagocytosis and a deficiency in Mertk causes photoreceptor degeneration and visual loss. This study aimed to investigate Mertk regulation of the microRNAs (miRNA), potentially regulating expression of their target genes, which affect phagocytosis. The differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using miRCURY(TM) microRNA Arrays from total RNA isolated at 0900 h and 1900 h from the mechanically dissociated RPE sheets of the WT and Mertk (-/-) mice, which were housed in a 12-h light-dark cycle with the lighting onset at 0700 h (7:00am). Validation of the differentially expressed miRNAs and assessment of the putative miRNA target gene expression were performed by real-time PCR. Among the differentially expressed miRNAs in the Mertk (-/-) RPE, seven miRNAs were up-regulated and 13 were down-regulated in the morning groups. Similarly, 24 miRNAs were found to be up-regulated and 13 were down-regulated in the evening groups. To search for those that may participate in regulating expression of cytoskeletal proteins, we examined the predicted target genes that might participate in phagocytosis were examined by real-time PCR. Of nine potential altered targets, four deregulated genes were myosin subunits. Notably, multiple members of the 21 up-regulated miRNAs can theoretically recognize these down-regulated mRNAs, particularly MyH14 and Myl3. This study shows that loss of Mertk alters miRNA expression, which in turn affects expression of the downstream target genes, potentially affecting phagocytosis.

Dammann-grating-based passive phase locking by an all-optical feedback loop.

A Dammann grating is used as a spatial filter for a passive coherent beam combination (CBC) of three Yb-doped fiber amplifiers with an all-optical feedback loop. Using this diffractive-optics-based spatial filtering technique, we demonstrate CBC with 20 W output power, and the visibility of the far-field interference pattern is up to 88.7%. Measurements suggest that this approach is robust with respect to laboratory environment perturbations, and it can scale to high powers and large arrays.

Passive coherent beam combining of four Yb-doped fiber amplifier chains with injection-locked seed source.

An injection-locked fiber laser is introduced to the passive fiber laser coherent beam combination with all-optical feedback loop. A coherent beam combining system with two-dimensional four Yb-doped fiber amplifier chains is established, and the injection-locked fiber laser works as a switchable seed source. The 1064 nm output laser of the injection-locked fiber laser is extinguished automatically as the feedback injection power is high enough, and the injection-locked fiber laser acts as an amplifier for the feedback laser with 7.4 dB gains. We find that the phase-locked far-field interference pattern of our system with seed laser extinguished is stable, and the visibility is up to 91.5%, which is slightly higher than the prevalent method with auxiliary seed laser (88.2%).

Coherent beam combination of two nanosecond fiber amplifiers by an all-optical feedback loop.

A passive coherent beam combination of two nanosecond amplifiers is realized by using an all-optical feedback loop. The width of the combined pulses is 9.7 ns, and the pulse repetition frequency is 2.023 MHz. With the least mismatch between pulse period and time of the cavity round trip in our loop, the visibility of far-field coherent patterns is more than 71%. The dynamics of passive phase locking is studied, and the established time of phase locking of two pulsed amplifiers is at least 10 cavity round trips in the all-optical feedback loop.

Polarization self-selection in a coherent beam combination system with an all-optical feedback loop.

Polarization self-selection in passive phasing of four fiber amplifiers with an all-optical feedback loop is demonstrated. The polarization extinction ratio (PER) of the combined beam is increased, and the polarized direction is selected with the use of a polarization-maintaining (PM) isolator and some non-PM components. The best visibility of the interference patterns is observed at 95.2% and in the largest increment in the PER of the combined beam up to 7.4 dB. Results show that all PM components are unnecessary in the coherent beam combination with an all-optical feedback loop, whereas non-PM components have good potential to achieve high output power.

Thermal effects in kilowatt all-fiber MOPA.

Thermal effects and output power characteristics of kilowatt all-fiber master-oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) are investigated. Proper designs for cooling apparatus are proposed and demonstrated experimentally, for the purpose of minimizing splice heating which is critical for the reliability of high power operation. By using these optimized methods, a thermal damage-free, highly efficient ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber MOPA operating at 1080 nm with 1.17 kW output was obtained. The maximum surface temperature at the pump light launching end splice of the booster amplifier was 345 K, and the temperature rise for this key splice was 0.052 K/W.

Single-frequency linearly polarized master-oscillator fiber power amplifier system and its application in high fill factor coherent beam combining.

In this paper we combine the master-oscillator power fiber amplifier (MOPFA), active phase-compensation, and beam-tilting techniques to demonstrate high fill factor coherent beam combining. First, we optimize a single-frequency, linearly polarized MOPFA system with high scalability and flexibility based on compact, high efficiency Yb-doped fiber amplifier chains. Second, we demonstrate high fill factor coherent beam combining of these MOPFA arrays at a 50 W level in the far field successfully. Last, the interference matrix of eight element arrays under an opened loop condition is investigated. Scaling the system to higher power can be expected by increasing the power per fiber chain and adding the number of laser channels.

Stable pulse-compressed acousto-optic Q-switched fiber laser.

A novel acousto-optic switch operation by a simple laser-diode pumped acousto-optic, Q-switched, ytterbium-doped, double-clad fiber laser is reported. Stable compressed Q-switched sub-40 ns pulses with a beam quality factor (M(2)=2) are achieved at the repetition rate of 1-50 kHz. Q-switched pulses of ~20 microJ pulse energy and 35 ns pulse width are obtained at the repetition rate of 50 kHz. Finally, a reasonable explanation of the novel Q-switched operation is presented.

High power coherent beam combination from two fiber lasers.

Phase locking of two fiber lasers is demonstrated experimentally by the use of a self-imaging resonator with a spatial filter. The high-contrast interference strips of the coherent beam profile are observed. The coherent output power of the fiber array exceeds 12W and the efficiency of coherent power combination is 88% with pump power of 60W. The whole system operates quite stably and, for the spatial filter, no thermal effects have been observed, which means that we can increase the coherent output power further by this method.

Compact continuous-wave blue lasers by direct frequency doubling of laser diodes with periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide crystals.

A compact continuous-wave blue laser has been demonstrated by direct frequency doubling of a laser diode with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide crystal. The optimum PPLN temperature is near 28 degrees C, and the dependence of waveguide crystals on crystal temperature is less sensitive than that of bulk crystals. A total of 14.8 mW of 488-nm laser power has been achieved.

Nd:YAG ceramic laser obtained high slope-efficiency of 62% in high power applications.

By using quite uniformly nine-stacks side-around arranged compact pumping system, a high power Nd:YAG ceramic quasi-CW laser with high slope efficiency of 62% has been demonstrated. With 450 W quasi-CW stacked laser diode bars pumping at 808 nm, performance of the Nd:YAG ceramic laser with different output coupling mirrors has been investigated. Optimum output power of 236 W at 1064 nm was obtained and corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was as high as 52.5%. The laser system operated quite stably and no saturation phenomena have been observed, which means higher output laser power could be obtained if injecting higher pumping power. The still-evolving Nd:YAG ceramics are potential super excellent media for high power practical laser applications.

[Improvement of grating spectrograph and its application to frequency-doubling in PPLN].

Charge-coupled device (CCD) has been widely used in spectral detection and spectral imaging fields, which has a number of benefits: broad spectral range response, low detection limit, wide dynamic range, minimal dark current and readout noise as well as the abilities of signal integration, simultaneous multichannel detection, and real-time detection. The combination of a traditional one meter grating spectrograph and a science charge-coupled device (CCD) led to a real-time grating spectrograph for laser spectrum detection developed in this paper. Based on the new grating spectrograph, the spectral characteristic of frequency-doubling of a broad band double-cladding fiber laser in polarized lithium niobate (PPLN) has been investigated. Dynamic spectrum of the second harmonic with varying temperature of PPLN has been observed and analyzed in detail.