We report the experimental results of the optical beam self-focusing and soliton formation in a photorefractive Fe doped lithium niobate (LN:Fe) crystal caused by a pyroelectric effect. The laser beam at 632.8 nm wavelength and with power of 5 mW and a 10 mm length LN:Fe crystal with the controlled temperature in the range of 10–45C are used. The time evolution of the soliton formation shows approximately two times decrease of the optical beam diameter to ~60 m with simultaneous bending of ~140 m opposite to the crystalline C+-axis. The physical model is developed to explain the experimental results. The generated curvilinear waveguiding channels in the crystal are long-living making them promising for applications.
We report the trapping of dielectric micro-particles of CaCO3 via dielectrophoretic forces on the surface of Fe doped LiNbO3 (LN:Fe) crystal with recorded volume holographic grating which provides quasi-periodic space-charge electric field distribution on the crystal surface. The non-diffracting Bessel beam approach was used for optical induction of holographic grating by 20÷40 mW power Bessel beam at 532 nm wavelength in photorefractive Y-cut LN:Fe crystal providing the Bessel lattice periodicity of ~40 m and hologram size on the crystal surface of 4 mm. This approach provides the induction of high contrast 2D periodic distribution of electric field on the crystal surface and high quality 2D patterning of microparticles. The particles are trapped on the crystal surface in the areas of refractive index maxima of the Bessel lattice. The physical model was developed to explain the experimental results. The photovoltaic approach of trapping and manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles is promising for applications in photonics, integrated optics and biotechnology.
We report for the first time a regular optical patterns formation in a laser beam propagating through a Fe doped lithium niobate (LN:Fe) crystal. The process was controlled by pyroelectric effect resulting in self-localization of the regular optical pattern in a single light spot with reduced size and displacement relative to the input beam. The experiments were performed with the use of single mode laser radiation at 632.8 nm wavelength and with beam powers of 0.5 ÷ 10 mW. The LN:Fe sample with 0.03 wt% concentration of Fe and 10 mm lengths along beam propagation was used in the experiments. The switching of the pyroelectric effect in the process was achieved by gradual heating of the crystal in the temperature range of 10 ÷ 42 °C during 130 s. The observed phenomenon of optical patterns formation is explained with the light induced complex refractive index variation with a central minimum (negative lens) and symmetric side maxima (positive lenses) due to photovoltaic effect. Light-induced complex lens produces beam defocusing from the beam center and focusing on the periphery. Mutual interference of the beams leads to the regular light patterns formation. The switching of pyroelectric effect results in the space-charge field modification in the crystal, asymmetric positive lens formation and light self-localization.
We report the first experimental realization of spatial soliton formation by the Gaussian beam at 632.8 nm in the azobenzene liquid crystal (LC) layer with planar orientation of LC director. By appropriate anti-parallel rubbing of alignment layers on the upper and lower substrates of the cell LC molecules were oriented along the glass substrates nearly perpendicular to the input window of the cell with a small pre-tilt angle of ~2.60 relative to the beam propagation Z direction. The strong self-focusing effect and soliton formation for laser beam with vertical Y-polarization and beam diffraction for horizontal X-polarization have been observed in the absence of an external electric field. The physical model is considered which implies that the interaction of azobenzene molecules with a laser field is much stronger due to a larger coefficient of orientation nonlinearity compared to other LCs, as well as they are not rigidly anchored to the cell boundary. Thus the molecule alignment can be readily varied by a low-power laser field even for a small pre-tilt angle of molecules which leads to the refractive index change and beam self-focusing regime. The numerical integration of the propagation equation for spatial solitons describes the experimental data very well.
COSMA: Coherent Optics Sensors for Medical Application is an European Marie Curie Project running from 2012 to March 2016, with the participation of 10 teams from Armenia, Bulgaria, India, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, UK, USA. The main objective was to focus theoretical and experimental research on biomagnetism phenomena, with the specific aim to develop all-optical sensors dedicated to their detection and suitable for applications in clinical diagnostics. The paper presents some of the most recent results obtained during the exchange visits of the involved scientists, after an introduction about the phenomenon which is the pillar of this kind of research and of many other new fields in laser spectroscopy, atomic physics, and quantum optics: the dark resonance.
The technique of the laser controlled deposition of sodium and rubidium deposits on the sapphire substrate is presented. The metals were deposited on the clean sapphire substrate from the vapor phase contained in the evacuated and sealed cell. We use an axicon to produce a non-diffracting Bessel beam out of the beam got from the cw diode laser with 200 mW power at the wavelength of 532 nm. After 30 minutes of the laser-controlled deposition the substrates were examined in the optical microscope. The obtained metal deposits form the sharp-cut circles with the pitch of 10 μm, coincident with the tens of dark rings of the Bessel beam. Reduction of the laser power leads to the build up of the continuous metal film over the whole substrate.
We report the experimental investigation of image self-replication - Talbot effect with the use of 1- and 6 - fold rotational symmetry masks to create 3D intensity modulated light. These masks while having strong periodicity in azimuthal direction, are examples of multi-periodical and nearly periodical structures, respectively, along transverse XY directions. Since the Talbot image self-replication period in the axial direction depends on light wavelength and square of the structure periods, which are different in X-Y directions for 1-fold rotational symmetry mask, this gives a possibility to create the complex 3D light intensity distribution with different Talbot axial periodicity across the beam transverse plane. A cw single mode 532 nm, 100 mW laser beam was used in the experiment for formation of complex lattice beams. The observation of the transverse intensity patterns at multiple longitudinal positions will allow the construction of a whole 3D intensity distribution of the lattice beam. 3D intensity modulated light beams are promising for formation of crystalline and quasi-crystalline refractive index micro- and nano-structures in photorefractive materials.
In this report we present the results of optical induction of 1D and 2D micrometric and sub-micrometric scale annular
symmetry photonic lattices in singly and doubly doped photorefractive lithium niobate crystals by Bessel beam
technique. The non-diffracting Bessel beam was formed by axicon and the counter-propagating Bessel beam (CPBB)
geometry was used to build-up the Bessel standing wave. The cw single mode 532 nm, 17 mW laser beam and 2mm
thick lithium niobate (LN) crystals doped by Fe and doubly doped by Fe and Cu with 0,05 w% of impurity ions were
used for lattices recording. The crystals with optical C-axes oriented along and perpendicular to the crystal surface (Y-cut
and Z-cut LN crystals) were used for photonic lattices recording. The duration of recording was 60 min. 2D photonic
lattices formed by CPBB method is a combination of annular and planar gratings and have the periods of 9.0 μm in
radial and 266 nm in axial directions. The recorded lattices were tested by diffraction of probe laser beam at 633nm on
the lattices. The direct observation of recorded lattices by phase microscope was also performed. The pronounced
azimuthal dependence of recorded annular lattices was observed for Y-cut LN crystals. The photonic lattices recorded in
LN:Fe:Cu crystals showed high stability against erasure during readout by weak probe beam at the recording
wavelength. Under illumination by 2 mW probe green beam the total erasure of the photonic lattice occurred after 8000
sec, which was controlled by measuring the diffracted beam power during readout. The readout destruction of lattices
recorded in LN:Fe crystal takes several minutes.
The study of the contributions of photovoltaic and diffusion effects in the formation of 1D and 2D holographic gratings
by Bessel beam technique in photorefractive Fe doped lithium niobate crystals are performed. For this purpose 1D and
2D gratings were recorded by travelling Bessel beam and counter-propagating Bessel beam (CPBB) techniques using
laser radiation at 532nm wavelength and 17 mW power. Created 1D grating in the form of concentric rings had 9.0μm
period in radial direction. 2D grating which is a combination of annular and planar gratings had a period of 9.0μm in
radial and 266 nm in axial directions. The testing of the profile of the recorded gratings by phase microscope was
performed. The investigations show that the refractive index depth of modulation for 1D annular grating has pronounced
azimuthal dependence as a result of formation of gratings predominantly by the photovoltaic effect taking place along
the C-axis of the crystal. For 2D grating formed by CPBB technique the azimuthal dependence of grating modulation
depth is less pronounced. The 266 nm period in axial direction provides, except for the photovoltaic effect, also the
contribution of the diffusion of charge carriers to the grating formation. Diffusion effect takes place in all directions and
provides the isotropic contribution to the grating formation, but with less efficiency than the photovoltaic effect.
The formation of 2D and 3D photonic lattices by Bessel standing wave and combined interferometric-mask techniques
is performed with the use of cw 532 nm laser beam in photorefractive lithium niobate crystal doped with Fe and Fe, Cu
impurity ions. The non-uniform intensity distribution of the beams is imparted into the irradiating photorefractive
medium via electro-optic effect thus creating micro- and nano-scale 2D and 3D refractive index gratings with new
symmetries and properties. Non-diffracting Bessel standing wave technique provides the recording of high contrast 2D
photonic lattices which is the combination of annular and planar gratings with the period of ~9 μm in radial direction
and half-wavelength period of 266 nm in azimuthal direction. The created by combined interferometric-mask technique
3D photonic lattices can be represented as numerous mask-generated 2D quasi-periodic structures located in each antinode
of the standing wave. The formed 3D gratings have ~ 30 μm period in radial and azimuthal directions and 266 nm
in axial direction. The 2D and 3D gratings were interrogated by diffraction of low intensity Gaussian probe beams from
the recorded structures, as well as by direct observation by phase microscope.
A new combined interferometric-mask method is suggested and realized for creation of 3-dimensional (3D) holographic
periodic and quasi-periodic structures in photorefractive materials. The method is based on the preparation of 2-
dimensional (2D) micrometric scale masks with different symmetries and illumination of the photorefractive material
through the mask by Gaussian beam in combination with back reflecting mirror. The counter-propagating beam
geometry builds up Gaussian standing wave, which determines the third half-wave period of the grating in the axial
direction. Thus, the created 3D intensity pattern can be represented as numerous mask-generated 2D quasi-periodic
structures located in each anti-node of the standing wave.
The formed intensity pattern can be imparted into the photorefractive medium via electro-optic effect, thus creating
micro- and sub-micro scale 3D refractive index volume gratings with new symmetries and properties. The gratings were
recorded by 532 nm cw laser beams in Fe-doped lithium niobate crystals taking into account their high photorefractive
properties and possibility of creating the persistent gratings. The gratings formed have ~ 10 μm period in radial and
azimuthal directions and ~266 nm in axial direction. The gratings were interrogated by diffraction of low intensity
Gaussian probe beams from the recorded structures.
A counter-propagating Bessel beam technique is suggested and realized for creation of 2-dimensional (2D) holographic
periodic structures (PS) in photorefractive materials. 2D PS formed by the suggested method is a combination of
annular and planar gratings. The Bessel beam is formed by optical element - axicon. The recording of the gratings are
performed by single mode He-Ne laser beam at 633 nm. The counter-propagating beam geometry builds up the Bessel
standing wave with periodic annular structure in each anti-node. The refractive gratings are recorded in Z and Y-cut 2
mm thick Fe doped lithium niobate crystals via electro-optic effect. The read-out of 2D PS is performed by Gaussian
and Bessel beams. Diffraction patterns in transmission and reflection are observed. The formed 2D PS have the halfwavelength
standing wave period of ~300 nm in longitudinal direction, the period of ~10 μm in radial direction, and up
to 10 % diffraction efficiency.
The circularly distributed speckle pattern, as well as interference fringe structure in profile of the beam of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) I Stokes component, pumped by multimode radiation with nearly four-fold azimuthal symmetry, have been observed. The SRS was excited near the threshold of generation by nanosecond pulses of laser radiation at wavelength 530 nm. The profile of output pump beam had a uniform intensity distribution, whereas the SRS beam profile showed kaleidoscopic change from shot to shot, while the energies of input pulses were kept stable. The interference fringes showed a number of points where the fringes originated or vanished. Such behavior, which is the vortex signature, allows to suppose that SRS waves, generated from quantum noise, carry screw dislocations.
The beam profile of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a Kerr medium pumped by multimode radiation with regular structure having nearly four-fold azimuthal symmetry was studied. The SRS was excited near the threshold of generation by nanosecond pulses of laser radiation at wavelength 530 nm. The profile of output pump beam had a uniform intensity distribution, whereas the SRS beam profile showed kaleidoscopic change from shot to shot, while the energies of input pulses were kept stable. The circularly distributed speckle pattern, as well as interference fringe structure in the profile of the beam of SRS I Stokes components was observed. The interference fringes showed the number of points with origination and vanishing of fringes. Such behavior, which is the vortex signature, allows to suppose that SRS waves, generated from quantum noise, carry the screw dislocations. The origin of dislocations is analogous to one described for a speckle field and discussed for SRS.
The Faraday effect in potassium vapor pumped by nanosecond pulses of near resonant laser radiation is studied experimentally. The input radiation with linewidth 3 cm-1 had a central frequency vp equals 13055 cm-1 which was 12 cm-1 higher than 4S1/2 - 4P3/2 atomic transition frequency v0 equals 13043 cm-1. The strong spectral broadening of pump radiation allowed to observe the Faraday rotation at frequencies v+/- 1 equals v0 +/- 2.5 cm-1 located closer to the atomic resonance where the rotation was high. The decrease of Faraday rotation from 150 degree(s) to 20 degree(s) with the increase of the intensity of pump radiation from 2 (DOT) 105 to 107 W/cm2 has been measured. The saturation of 4S1/2 - 4P3/2 transition is considered as a cause of suppression of Faraday rotation. The contributions of one photon resonance absorption, as well as of multiphoton processes, caused by more intense off resonant part of the broadened pump radiation (having frequency detuning 12 cm-1), to saturation of resonant transition is discussed. The experimental results are compared with theoretical calculations performed.
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