Investigation of a balanced microwave photonic link utilizing a single few-mode fiber.

A balanced microwave photonic link, which utilizes mode-division multiplexing in order to combine both of its optical paths into and out of a single six-mode few-mode fiber, is demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Due to non-negligible modal crosstalk, the link exhibited excess radio-frequency gain fluctuations when compared to an equivalent conventional balanced link. The LP02+LP01 mode pair was the most stable with 2σ (two standard deviations) fluctuations of 0.4 dB about the average link gain, compared to the conventional link's 2σ of 0.16 dB. The excess crosstalk-induced fluctuations may render the link impractical to use outside of the laboratory.

Monte-Carlo simulations of multimode speckle noise in photonic summation devices.

Monte-Carlo simulations of optical speckle noise are performed to predict the range of gain fluctuations for photonic devices which multiplex many single-moded inputs into single multimode waveguides. Here, two waveguides are simulated which bound the cases of interest: a few mode fiber and a standard multimode fiber. When fully-excited and after spatial-filtering by a 10µm photodiode, the former's gain variations can range up to the mean value of the gain itself, ΔG ≈ 〈G〉, whereas for the latter, ΔG ≈ 3.4〈G〉. In certain cases, ΔG can be reduced by offsetting the photodiode relative to the waveguide, results which cannot be predicted using standard analytical speckle noise theories.

High-pressure cell for terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.

We introduce a sample cell that can be used for pressure-dependent terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Compared with traditional far-IR spectroscopy with a diamond anvil cell, the larger aperture permits measurements down to much lower frequencies as low as 3.3 cm-1 (0.1 THz), giving access to new spectroscopic results. The pressure tuning range reaches up to 34.4 MPa, while the temperature range is from 100 to 473 K. With this large range of tuning parameters, we are able to map out phase diagrams of materials based on their THz spectrum, as well as to track the changing of the THz spectrum within a single phase as a function of temperature and pressure. Pressure-dependent THz-TDS results for nitrogen and R-camphor are shown as an example.

Terahertz disorder-localized rotational modes and lattice vibrational modes in the orientationally-disordered and ordered phases of camphor.

The temperature-dependent terahertz spectra of the partially-disordered and ordered phases of camphor (C10H16O) are measured using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. In its partially-disordered phases, a low-intensity, extremely broad resonance is found and is characterized using both a phenomenological approach and an approach based on ab initio solid-state DFT simulations. These two descriptions are consistent and stem from the same molecular origin for the broad resonance: the disorder-localized rotational correlations of the camphor molecules. In its completely ordered phase(s), multiple lattice phonon modes are measured and are found to be consistent with those predicted using solid-state DFT simulations.

High-contrast terahertz wave modulation by gated graphene enhanced by extraordinary transmission through ring apertures.

Gate-controllable transmission of terahertz (THz) radiation makes graphene a promising material for making high-speed THz wave modulators. However, to date, graphene-based THz modulators have exhibited only small on/off ratios due to small THz absorption in single-layer graphene. Here we demonstrate a ∼50% amplitude modulation of THz waves with gated single-layer graphene by the use of extraordinary transmission through metallic ring apertures placed right above the graphene layer. The extraordinary transmission induced ∼7 times near-filed enhancement of THz absorption in graphene. These results promise complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible THz modulators with tailored operation frequencies, large on/off ratios, and high speeds, ideal for applications in THz communications, imaging, and sensing.

High-Q terahertz Fano resonance with extraordinary transmission in concentric ring apertures.

We experimentally demonstrate a polarization-independent terahertz Fano resonance with extraordinary transmission when light passes through two concentric subwavelength ring apertures in the metal film. The Fano resonance is enabled by the coupling between a high-Q dark mode and a low-Q bright mode. We find the Q factor of the dark mode ranges from 23 to 40, which is 3~6 times higher than Q of bright mode. We show the Fano resonance can be tuned by varying the geometry and dimension of the structures. We also demonstrate a polarization dependent Fano resonance in a modified structure of concentric ring apertures.

Hypoxia triggers the expression of human ß defensin 2 and antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages.

Low oxygen tension is a metabolic hallmark of chronic infection. To investigate the influence of hypoxia on macrophage biology, we analyzed the interaction between the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primary human macrophages. Although the metabolic activity of extracellular M. tuberculosis was reduced at oxygen levels between 0.5 and 10%, the bacilli remained viable throughout the 4 d of culture. Phagocytosis of virulent M. tuberculosis and the pathogen-induced release of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages were not affected by oxygen levels as low as 1%. However, we detected the upregulation of an antimicrobial effector pathway mediated by the vitamin D receptor and human ß defensin 2. This finding was functionally relevant, because intracellular mycobacterial growth was inhibited by 58 ± 8% at 1% O(2). We conclude that a hypoxic microenvironment, which is characteristic of infected tissue, supports the efficacy of antimicrobial immunity, in part by the upregulation of the antimicrobial peptide human ß defensin 2.

Terahertz vibrational modes of the rigid crystal phase of succinonitrile.

Succinonitrile (N ≡ C-CH2-CH2-C ≡ N), an orientationally disordered molecular plastic crystal at room temperature, exhibits rich phase behavior including a solid-solid phase transition at 238 K. In cooling through this phase transition, the high-temperature rotational disorder of the plastic crystal phase is frozen out, forming a rigid crystal that is both spatially and orientationally ordered. Using temperature-dependent terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, we characterize the vibrational modes of this low-temperature crystalline phase for frequencies from 0.3 to 2.7 THz and temperatures ranging from 20 to 220 K. Vibrational modes are observed at 1.122 and 2.33 THz at 90 K. These modes are assigned by solid-state density functional theory simulations, corresponding respectively to the translation and rotation of the molecules along and about their crystallographic c-axis. In addition, we observe a suppression of the phonon modes as the concentration of dopants, in this case a lithium salt (LiTFSI), increases, indicating the importance of doping-induced disorder in these ionic conductors.

High-contrast terahertz modulator based on extraordinary transmission through a ring aperture.

We demonstrated extraordinary THz transmission through ring apertures on a metal film. Transmission of 60% was obtained with an aperture-to-area ratio of only 1.4%. We show that the high transmission can be suppressed by over 18 dB with a thin layer of free carriers in the silicon substrate underneath the metal film. This result suggests that CMOS-compatible terahertz modulators can be built by controlling the carrier density near the aperture.

Rapid identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Rapid identification of pathogenic, beta-hemolytic streptococci is important for treatment decisions. We evaluated fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for this purpose using 23 reference strains, 157 clinical isolates, and 80 blood cultures showing streptococci in the Gram stain. With a sensitivity and specificity in excess of 99%, FISH proved to be suitable for rapid identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci in a diagnostic laboratory.

Crystal structure of a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase.

Error-free protein biosynthesis is dependent on the reliable charging of each tRNA with its cognate amino acid. Many bacteria, however, lack a glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. In these organisms, tRNA(Gln) is initially mischarged with glutamate by a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-GluRS). This enzyme thus charges both tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Gln) with glutamate. Discriminating GluRS (D-GluRS), found in some bacteria and all eukaryotes, exclusively generates Glu-tRNA(Glu). Here we present the first crystal structure of a non-discriminating GluRS from Thermosynechococcus elongatus (ND-GluRS(Tel)) in complex with glutamate at a resolution of 2.45 A. Structurally, the enzyme shares the overall architecture of the discriminating GluRS from Thermus thermophilus (D-GluRS(Tth)). We confirm experimentally that GluRS(Tel) is non-discriminating and present kinetic parameters for synthesis of Glu-tRNA(Glu) and of Glu-tRNA(Gln). Anticodons of tRNA(Glu) (34C/UUC36) and tRNA(Gln) (34C/UUG36) differ only in base 36. The pyrimidine base of C36 is specifically recognized in D-GluRS(Tth) by the residue Arg358. In ND-GluRS(Tel) this arginine residue is replaced by glycine (Gly366) presumably allowing both cytosine and the bulkier purine base G36 of tRNA(Gln) to be tolerated. Most other ND-GluRS share this structural feature, leading to relaxed substrate specificity.