Accurate modeling of high-repetition rate ultrashort pulse amplification in optical fibers.

A numerical model for amplification of ultrashort pulses with high repetition rates in fiber amplifiers is presented. The pulse propagation is modeled by jointly solving the steady-state rate equations and the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which allows accurate treatment of nonlinear and dispersive effects whilst considering arbitrary spatial and spectral gain dependencies. Comparison of data acquired by using the developed model and experimental results prove to be in good agreement.

Tunable, high-power, continuous-wave dual-polarization Yb-fiber oscillator.

We demonstrate a high-power, dual-polarization Yb-fiber oscillator, by separately locking the two linear polarization states defined by slow and fast axis of a polarization-maintaining gain fiber with volume Bragg gratings. Dual-line lasing is achieved with a tunable wavelength separation from 0.03 to 2 THz, while exceeding output powers of 78 W over the entire tuning range, maintaining a high beam-quality with M(2)<1.2. With this laser configuration we achieve a peak-to-peak power variation of <1% for the dual-line signal and <3% for the individual signals.

High-power, single-frequency, continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator employing a variable reflectivity volume Bragg grating.

A continuous-wave singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) with an optimum extraction efficiency, that can be adjusted independent of the pump power, is demonstrated. The scheme employs a variable-reflectivity volume Bragg grating (VBG) as the output coupler of a ring cavity, omitting any additional intra-cavity elements. In this configuration, we obtained a 75%-efficient SRO with a combined signal (19 W @ 1.55 µm) and idler (11 W @ 3.4 µm) output power of 30 W.

Myths and realities about the recovery of L׳Aquila after the earthquake.

There is a set of myths which are linked to the recovery of L׳Aquila, such as: the L׳Aquila recovery has come to a halt, it is still in an early recovery phase, and there is economic stagnation. The objective of this paper is threefold: (a) to identify and develop a set of spatial indicators for the case of L׳Aquila, (b) to test the feasibility of a numerical assessment of these spatial indicators as a method to monitor the progress of a recovery process after an earthquake and (c) to answer the question whether the recovery process in L׳Aquila stagnates or not. We hypothesize that after an earthquake the spatial distribution of expert defined variables can constitute an index to assess the recovery process more objectively. In these articles, we aggregated several indicators of building conditions to characterize the physical dimension, and we developed building use indicators to serve as proxies for the socio-economic dimension while aiming for transferability of this approach. The methodology of this research entailed six steps: (1) fieldwork, (2) selection of a sampling area, (3) selection of the variables and indicators for the physical and socio-economic dimensions, (4) analyses of the recovery progress using spatial indicators by comparing the changes in the restricted core area as well as building use over time; (5) selection and integration of the results through expert weighting; and (6) determining hotspots of recovery in L׳Aquila. Eight categories of building conditions and twelve categories of building use were identified. Both indicators: building condition and building use are aggregated into a recovery index. The reconstruction process in the city center of L׳Aquila seems to stagnate, which is reflected by the five following variables: percentage of buildings with on-going reconstruction, partial reconstruction, reconstruction projected residential building use and transport facilities. These five factors were still at low levels within the core area in 2012. Nevertheless, we can conclude that the recovery process in L׳Aquila did not come to a halt but is still ongoing, albeit being slow.

Femtosecond laser-induced apodized Bragg grating waveguides.

We report on the inscription of apodized Bragg grating waveguides (BGWs) in fused silica using a modulated high repetition rate fs laser system. Tailoring of the grating's coupling strength is facilitated by appropriately substructuring the modulation of the inscribing laser radiation. The proposed alteration delivers an unchanged constant mean refractive index entailing homogeneous guiding properties along the entire waveguide. The BGWs fabricated using a Gaussian apodized modulation profile exhibit a 10 dB improvement in sideband suppression compared to waveguide gratings written with a uniform modulation profile.

Efficient spectral control and tuning of a high-power narrow-linewidth Yb-doped fiber laser using a transversely chirped volume Bragg grating.

A transversely chirped volume Bragg grating (TCVBG) is used for flexible wavelength-tuning of a high-power (>100 W) tunable Yb-fiber laser oscillator. Continuous tuning over 2.5 THz of the narrow-band (13 GHz) signal was achieved by transversely translating the TCVBG during high-power operation without cavity realignment. The laser operated in a single polarization with a beam propagation factor (M(2)) of 1.2. Since the cavity losses remained constant, the high gain fiber laser exhibited excellent power stability (<0.6% relative deviation) over the investigated tuning range. The possibility of considerably increasing the output power and extending the tuning range while maintaining the power stability is discussed.

High-power continuous-wave frequency-doubling in KTiOAsO4.

High-power continuous-wave generation at 533 nm is demonstrated in bulk periodically poled KTiOAsO(4) (KTA) by single-pass frequency doubling of a VBG-locked Yb-doped fiber laser. Absorption characteristic and second harmonic generation (SHG) performance of different KTA samples are studied and compared. The best performing sample catered for 25%-efficient SHG of 13.6 W green light with high spatial beam quality M(2) <1.2.

Laser-written waveguides in KTP for broadband Type II second harmonic generation.

Femto-second laser writing was used to fabricate waveguides in a z-cut KTP sample with losses below 0.8 dB/cm. They were used for efficient, broad bandwidth, Type II birefringent second harmonic generation to the green. The temperature and wavelength bandwidth were, 28 C ∙ cm and 0.85 nm ∙ cm, respectively.

On the tunability of a narrow-linewidth Yb-fiber laser from three- to four-level lasing behaviour.

We report on a tunable multi-watt ytterbium-doped fiber laser bridging the gap from three-level lasing around 980 nm to true four-level lasing at 1100 nm. Wavelength-locking and -tuning was achieved by using an external volume-Bragg grating(VBG) as the cavity end mirror. The results are compared with detailed numerical calculations based on a spectrally resolved rate equation analysis, taking competing emission at other wavelengths into account.