A Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator delivering 215-fs pulses with 75-W average power and 1.4-MW peak power at a repetition rate of 260 MHz is presented. Self-starting KLM is demonstrated at an output power of 68 W. This is the highest repetition rate of any mode-locked thin-disk oscillators so far. Concepts for scaling the repetition rate up to 1 GHz are discussed.

Being the lightest and the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen is fascinating to physicists. In particular, the conditions of its metallization associated with a possible superconducting state at high temperature have been a matter of much debate in the scientific community, and progress in this field is strongly correlated with the advancements in theoretical methods and experiment...

The sacred 260-day Mesoamerican calendar probably originated near a latitude of 15 degrees N, where there is a 260-day interval between transits of the zenithal sun. Archeological and faunal evidence favors an origin in the Pacific lowlands rather than in the highlands near Copán, Honduras, although Copán, which is located at the 15th parallel of latitude, later became the principal Mayan astro...

INTRODUCTION Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a major public health problem in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of pregnant women on HIV transmission and prevention, particularly the four pillars of mother-to-child transmission. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study from October 2008 to January 2009 at the Yaoundé Gynaecology-Obstetric...

Purpose: The retinoic acid receptors are expressed from early stages of development in the diverse tissues that make up the vertebrate eye. Their loss has subtle effects on eye development. We adapted sensitive quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping methods to assess consequences of inactivating alleles of the alpha and beta receptors, Rara and Rarb, on eye and retinal development. Rara is of p...