Optical-window birefringence is frequently a major obstacle in experiments measuring changes in the polarization state of light traversing a sample under investigation. It can contribute a signal indistinguishable from that due to the sample and complicate the analysis. Here, we explore a method to measure and compensate for the birefringence of an optical window using the reflection from the l...

In this paper, the dynamic behavior of laser induced optical breakdown in impure water was studied by using a pump- probe technique. The plasma was induced by a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser pulse (with pulse duration ~10 ns) in distilled water with two types of impurities: (I) a solution (highly diluted salt water as a conductor) and (II) a colloidal (TiO2 in colloidal nanoparticle form as a dielectric...

For an Er-doped fiber laser, for the first time, to best of our knowledge, we demonstrate both experimentally and theoretically a novel mechanism harmonic mode-locking based on electrostriction effect leading excitation torsional acoustic modes in transverse section laser. The exited modulate birefringence that results synchronization oscillations at linewidth narrowing with increased signal-to...

A complete analysis of the eigenstate of polarization (ESOP’s) in a Brillouin fiber ring laser using fibers with a high circular birefringence is proposed in this paper. Conditions to obtain circular ESOP’s for application in a Brillouin fiber optic current sensor are highlighted as well as conditions to have stable ESOP’s for applications in other passive or active sensors. Measurements are pe...

We present an all-fiber bidirectional passively mode-locked soliton laser with a graphene-based saturable absorber for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Our design includes a four-port circulator to introduce different sections of cavity for the two counter-propagating pulses, so they have distinct output characteristics. Simultaneous bidirectional operation is achieved by appropriat...

The recent interpretation of experiments on the nonlinear non-resonant birefringence induced in a weak probe beam by a high intensity pump beam in air and its constituents has stimulated interest in the non-resonant birefringence due to higher-order Kerr nonlinearities. Here a simple formalism is invoked to determine the non-resonant birefringence for higher-order Kerr coefficients. Some genera...

Using a generalized Landau theory involving orientational, layering, tilt, and biaxial order parameters we analyze the smectic-A* and smectic-C* (Sm-A*-Sm-C*) transitions, showing that a combination of small orientational order and large layering order leads to Sm-A*-Sm-C* transitions that are either continuous and close to tricriticality or first order. The model predicts that in such systems ...

In this Letter we show that, in spectral regions where there are no orbital cladding resonances to cause transmission loss, the core mode of a continuously twisted photonic crystal fiber (PCF) exhibits optical activity, and that the magnitude of the associated circular birefringence increases linearly with twist rate and is highly reproducible. In contrast to previous work on twist-induced circ...

PURPOSE To develop a quantitative understanding of scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) for retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) assessment in glaucoma diagnosis and management. METHODS The Mueller calculus was used to model the polarization optics of SLP. A birefringent retinal structure (RNFL or macula) was represented as a circularly symmetric linear retarder with a radial slow axis. The birefring...