Confocal zero-angle dynamic depolarized light scattering.

We present a novel Dynamic Depolarized Scattering method based on a tight confocal, zero scattering angle, heterodyne scheme. The method is highly immune from parasitic multiple-scattering contributions, so that it can operate with non-index-matched samples presenting large turbidity. It provides measurements of both rotational and translational diffusion coefficients, the latter via number fluctuation spectroscopy. In addition, the amplitude ratio between the two baselines for the fast rotational mode and the slow translational mode can be used to determine the particles intrinsic birefringence.

All-optical wavelength conversion of a 100-Gb/s polarization-multiplexed signal.

We present the results of an in-depth experimental investigation about all-optical wavelength conversion of a 100-Gb/s polarization-multiplexed (POLMUX) signal. Each polarization channel is modulated at 25 Gbaud by differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK). The conversion is realized exploiting the high nonlinear chi((2)) coefficient of a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide, in a polarization-independent configuration. We find that slight non-idealities in the polarization independent setup of the wavelength converter can significantly impair the performance of POLMUX systems. We show that high-quality wavelength conversion can be nevertheless achieved for both the polarization channels, provided that an accurate optimization of the setup is performed. This is the first demonstration, to the best of our knowledge, of the possibility to obtain penalty-free all-optical wavelength conversion in a 100-Gb/s POLMUX transmission system using direct-detection.

Scattering from anisotropic particles: a challenge for the optical theorem?

The optical theorem is a very general law of scattering theory that has been discussed almost exclusively for spherically symmetric scatterers. In this work we present the extension to the case of anisotropic scatterers, by treating explicitly the problem within the Rayleigh-Gans approximation. Working formulas for the fluctuating components of the forward-scattering amplitude SVV(0) and SVH(0) are given, and a paradox concerning the applicability of the optical theorem is solved. While the SVH(0) cannot interfere with the incoming vertical polarized beam, we show that SVV(0) fluctuates around a non-zero average so to compensate at any instant for the integrated scattered intensity at both polarizations. The results are relevant for the design and interpretation of experiments of dynamic depolarized light scattering in the forward direction.

Bound electronic and free carrier nonlinearities in Silicon nanocrystals at 1550nm.

We present a detailed investigation of the different processes responsible for the optical nonlinearities of silicon nanocrystals at 1550 nm. Through z-scan measurements, the bound-electronic and excited carrier contributions to the nonlinear refraction were measured in presence of two-photon absorption. A study of the nonlinear response at different excitation powers has permitted to determine the change in the refractive index per unit of photo-excited carrier density sigma(r) and the value of the real bound-electronic nonlinear refraction n(2be) as a function of the nanocrystals size. Moreover at high excitation power, a saturation of the nonlinear absorption was observed due to band-filling effects.

Complete retrieval of the field of ultrashort optical pulses using the angle-frequency spectrum.

We propose an experimental technique that allows for a complete characterization of the amplitude and phase of optical pulses in space and time. By the combination of a spatially resolved spectral measurement in the near and far fields and a frequency-resolved optical gating measurement, the electric field of the pulse is obtained through a fast, error-reduction algorithm.

Generation and amplification of pulsed Bessel beams by seeding an optical parametric amplifier.

By using two very different seed pulses we demonstrate that the spatiotemporal gain properties of a chi(2) optical parametric amplifier can be exploited as an efficient conical reshaping mechanism leading to the generation and amplification of a pulsed Bessel beam.

Supercontinuum generation by higher-order mode excitation in a photonic crystal fiber.

We describe an experiment in which a train of femtosecond pulses is coupled into a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) by means of an offset pumping technique that can selectively excite either the mode LP(01) or LP(11) or LP(21). The PCF presents a wide range of wavelengths in which the fundamental mode experiences normal dispersion, whereas LP(11) and LP(21) propagate in the anomalous dispersion regime, generating a supercontinuum based on the soliton fission mechanism. We find that the existence of a cut-off wavelength for the higher-order modes makes the spectral broadening asymmetrical. This latter effect is particularly dramatic in the case of the LP(21) mode, in which, by using a pump wavelength slightly below cut-off, the spectral broadening occurs only on the blue side of the pump wavelength. Our experimental results are successfully compared to numerical solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

Ultrashort-pulse investigation of the propagation properties of the LP(11) mode in 1.55-mum communication fibers.

The coupling of an ultrashort laser pulse into a single-mode optical communication fiber gives rise to two propagating pulses as a result of the excitation of two guided modes, the fundamental, LP(01) , and the leaky, LP(11) . Such a phenomenon provides a new approach to the study of the propagation properties of the LP(11) mode. An experiment with tunable 110-fs pulses at a wavelength near 1550 nm is described. Information about the group velocity, the polarization-rotation length, the attenuation coefficient, and the cutoff wavelength of the LP(11) mode is obtained in a simple and direct way for various fibers.

Características das microemulsöes: uma investigaçäo de difusäo dinâmica da luz para avaliar a equivalência de duas preparaçöes similares de ciclosporina-A / Characterization of microemulsions: a dynamic light scattering investigation of Cyclosporine-A preparations

Difusäo de luz dinâmica (intensidade correlacionada à espectroscopia) é um método óptico de investigaçäo que permite obter uma medida rápida e detalhada do tamanhop médio e de toda distribuiçäo de partículascoloidais em suspensäo. Temos usado esta técnica para avaliar o tamanho médio e a multidifusäo das microemulsöes produzidas pela solubilizaçäo da preparaçöes farmacêuticas específicas baseadas na ciclosporina em um meio aquoso.(au)

Frequency shifting through cascaded second-order processes in a N-(4-nitrophenyl)- L-prolinol crystal.

We exploit the high second-order susceptibility of the organic crystal N-(4-nitrophenyl)-L-prolinol to accomplish, through a cascaded second-order process, wavelength conversion of a signal pulse (from 1.16 to 1.14 microm) under the action of a pump pulse (at 1.15 microm). In a 2.8-mm-thick crystal, wavelength conversion with unit gain was obtained with a pump peak intensity as low as 9 MW/cm(2) . At low intensities, in the limit of negligible conversion where the cascading effect can be described through an effective third-order susceptibility, we derive |(x)((3))(eff) | approximately 2.4 x 10(-17) m(2)/V(2), which is ~10(2) larger than the nonresonant (x)((3)) of conjugated polymers or semiconductors.

Measurement of the two-photon absorption coefficient of semiconductor nanocrystals by using tunable femtosecond pulses.

By using femtosecond pulses from traveling-wave parametric generation we have accurately measured the absolute value and the frequency dispersion of the two-photon absorption coefficient of semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix. Comparison is made with bulk semiconductors.