Effects of contract-relax vs static stretching on stretch-induced strength loss and length-tension relationship.

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of contract-relax stretching (CRS) vs static stretching (SS) on strength loss and the length-tension relationship. We hypothesized that there would be a greater muscle length-specific effect of CRS vs SS. Isometric hamstring strength was measured in 20 healthy people at four knee joint angles (90°, 70°, 50°, 30°) before and after stretching. One leg received SS, the contralateral received CRS. Both stretching techniques resulted in significant strength loss, which was most apparent at short muscle lengths [SS: P = 0.025; stretching × angle P < 0.001; 11.7% at 90° P < 0.01; 5.6% at 70° nonsignificant (ns); 1.3% at 50° ns; -3.7% at 30° ns. CRS: P < 0.001; stretching × angle P < 0.001; 17.7% at 90°, 13.4% at 70°, 11.4% at 50°, all P < 0.01, 4.3% at 30° ns]. The overall stretch-induced strength loss was greater (P = 0.015) after CRS (11.7%) vs SS (3.7%). The muscle length effect on strength loss was not different between CRS and SS (stretching × angle × stretching technique P = 0.43). Contrary to the hypothesis, CRS did not result in a greater shift in the length-tension relationship, and in fact, resulted in greater overall strength loss compared with SS. These results support the use of SS for stretching the hamstrings.

How lasing localized structures evolve out of passive mode locking.

We investigate the relationship between passive mode locking and the formation of time-localized structures in the output intensity of a laser. We show how the mode-locked pulses transform into lasing localized structures, allowing for individual addressing and arbitrary low repetition rates. Our analysis reveals that this occurs when (i) the cavity round-trip is much larger than the slowest medium time scale, namely the gain recovery time, and (ii) the mode-locked solution coexists with the zero intensity (off) solution. These conditions enable the coexistence of a large quantity of stable solutions, each of them being characterized by a different number of pulses per round-trip and with different arrangements. Then, each mode-locked pulse becomes localized, i.e., individually addressable.

Multimode dynamics in bidirectional laser cavities by folding space into time delay.

Multimode dynamics in bidirectional laser cavities can be accurately described by folding space into time delay. This results in a set of delayed algebraic equations that preserve the dynamics of all cavity modes while drastically reducing number of degrees of freedom. This reduction allows for both linear stability analysis and bifurcation diagram reconstruction, as well as integration times reduced by orders of magnitude.

Anticolliding design for monolithic passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers.

The performance of two-section, passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers is theoretically analyzed for different cavity designs. Placing the saturable absorber section close to an antireflection-coated facet leads to a substantial increase in output power and a reduction in amplitude and timing jitter. Moreover, it broadens the bias current region of stable passive mode-locking operation.

Longitudinal mode multistability in Ring and Fabry-Pérot lasers: the effect of spatial hole burning.

We theoretically discuss the impact of the cavity configuration on the possible longitudinal mode multistability in homogeneously broadened lasers. Our analysis is based on the most general form of a Travelling-Wave Model for which we present a method that allows us to evaluate the monochromatic solutions as well as their eigenvalue spectrum. We find, in agreement with recent experimental reports, that multistability is more easily reached in Ring than in Fabry-Pérot cavities which we attribute to the different amount of Spatial-Hole Burning in each configuration.

Alternate oscillations in semiconductor ring lasers.

We report on fabrication and characterization of single-longitudinal- and transverse-mode semiconductor ring lasers. A bifurcation from bidirectional stable operation to a regime with alternate oscillations of the counterpropagating modes was observed experimentally and is theoretically explained through a two-mode model. Analytical expressions for the onset and the frequency of the oscillations are derived, and L-I curves numerically evaluated. Good quantitative agreement between theory and measurements made over a large number of tested devices is obtained.

Experimental evidence of coherence resonance in an optical system

Experimental evidence of coherence resonance in an optical system is reported. We show that the regularity of the excitable pulses in the intensity of a laser diode with optical feedback increases when adding noise, up to an optimal value of the noise strength. Both phase and amplitude fluctuations of the pulses play a relevant role in the dynamics of the system. We introduce the joint entropy of the two variables to generalize the indicator of coherence, and we put in evidence the mechanism of destruction of the excitable orbit after the resonance.

Spatial structure of broad-area vertical-cavity regenerative amplifiers.

We investigate the spatial structure of broad-area vertical-cavity regenerative amplifiers injected with a homogeneous beam. The emerging patterns have a predominantly sixfold rotational symmetry, verifying the recent prediction of formation of hexagons. The length scale is controllable by means of detuning and follows the prediction for tilted waves.

Frozen spatial chaos induced by boundaries.

We show that rather simple but nontrivial boundary conditions could induce the appearance of spatial chaos (that is stationary, stable, but spatially disordered configurations) in extended dynamical systems with very simple dynamics. We exemplify the phenomenon with a nonlinear reaction-diffusion equation in a two-dimensional undulated domain. Concepts from the theory of dynamical systems, and a transverse-single-mode approximation are used to describe the spatially chaotic structures.

Mechanisms of polarization switching in single-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers: thermal shift and nonlinear semiconductor dynamics.

We analyze polarization switching in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, taking into account a proper semiconductor frequency-dependent complex susceptibility and spin-flip processes. Thermal effects are included as a varying detuning, and gain differences arise from birefringence splitting. We find that, for large birefringence, gain differences between the two linearly polarized modes are preponderant, and switching occurs owing to thermal shift. For small birefringence polarization switching from the high- to the low-gain mode occurs owing to the combined effect of birefringence and semiconductor phase-amplitude-coupled dynamics for a finite value of the carrier spin-flip rate.

Polarization and transverse-mode dynamics of gain-guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.

Transverse-mode competition and polarization selection in gain-guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are studied by use of a transverse continuous model that incorporates basic physical mechanisms of polarization dynamics. Polarization stability and polarization switching within the fundamental Gaussian mode are described. The first-order transverse mode always starts lasing orthogonally polarized to the fundamental one. At larger currents polarization coexists with several active transverse modes. These results are shown to be sensitive to the carrier spin-flip relaxation rate.