Innovated single flush on-line solid-phase extraction in bead injection format for flow programming-based determination of creatinine in human urine.

Reaction-based assays are commonly automated and miniaturized via flow analysis. However, aggressive reagents can affect or destroy even the chemically resistant manifold during long-term use. Using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) can eliminate this drawback and allow for high reproducibility and further advanced automation, as presented in this work.

An integrated optical modulator operating at cryogenic temperatures.

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) operating at cryogenic temperatures are fundamental building blocks required to achieve scalable quantum computing and cryogenic computing technologies. Silicon PICs have matured for room-temperature applications, but their cryogenic performance is limited by the absence of efficient low-temperature electro-optic modulation. Here we demonstrate electro-optic switching and modulation from room temperature down to 4 K by using the Pockels effect in integrated barium titanate (BaTiO) devices.

Attenuation Coefficients of Tubular Conduits for Liquid Phase Absorbance Measurement: Shot Noise Limited Optimum Path Length.

We trace the history of liquid core waveguides (LCWs, also called liquid core optical fibers) and the role Teflon AF (TAF) has played in their development. We show that, in any shot noise limited situation, the optimum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) occurs at a path length of 1/α{ln[1 + 2(α/α)]}, approximately 2/α under most conditions, α and α being the light attenuation coefficient due to the analyte and the background, respectively. The analysis shows that LCW length should be selected depending on the applicable α value.

Flow injection programmed to function in batch mode is used to determine molar absorptivity and to investigate the phosphomolybdenum blue method.

The ultimate goal of flow-based analytical techniques is to automate serial assays of a target analyte. However, when developing any reagent-based assay, the underlying chemistry has to be investigated and understood a step, which is almost always the most challenging component of the optimization effort. The difficulty lies in that almost all reagent-based assays were initially developed and optimized in a batch mode, with the aim to perform assays manually, within a time frame of up to 15 min, while flow injection techniques are designed to monitor concentration gradients at times prior to reaching chemical equilibria and while performing up to two assays per minute.

Quantum Logic with Cavity Photons From Single Atoms.

We demonstrate quantum logic using narrow linewidth photons that are produced with an a priori nonprobabilistic scheme from a single ^{87}Rb atom strongly coupled to a high-finesse cavity. We use a controlled-not gate integrated into a photonic chip to entangle these photons, and we observe nonclassical correlations between photon detection events separated by periods exceeding the travel time across the chip by 3 orders of magnitude. This enables quantum technology that will use the properties of both narrow-band single photon sources and integrated quantum photonics.

Engineering integrated photonics for heralded quantum gates.

Scaling up linear-optics quantum computing will require multi-photon gates which are compact, phase-stable, exhibit excellent quantum interference, and have success heralded by the detection of ancillary photons. We investigate the design, fabrication and characterisation of the optimal known gate scheme which meets these requirements: the Knill controlled-Z gate, implemented in integrated laser-written waveguide arrays. We show device performance to be less sensitive to phase variations in the circuit than to small deviations in the coupler reflectivity, which are expected given the tolerance values of the fabrication method.

QUANTUM OPTICS. Universal linear optics.

Linear optics underpins fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and quantum technologies. We demonstrate a single reprogrammable optical circuit that is sufficient to implement all possible linear optical protocols up to the size of that circuit. Our six-mode universal system consists of a cascade of 15 Mach-Zehnder interferometers with 30 thermo-optic phase shifters integrated into a single photonic chip that is electrically and optically interfaced for arbitrary setting of all phase shifters, input of up to six photons, and their measurement with a 12-single-photon detector system.

Theoretical modeling and experiments on a DBR waveguide laser fabricated by the femtosecond laser direct-write technique.

We present a model for a Yb-doped distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) waveguide laser fabricated in phosphate glass using the femtosecond laser direct-write technique. The model gives emphasis to transverse integrals to investigate the energy distribution in a homogenously doped glass, which is an important feature of femtosecond laser inscribed waveguide lasers (WGLs). The model was validated with experiments comparing a DBR WGL and a fiber laser, and then used to study the influence of distributed rare earth dopants on the performance of such lasers.

Non-classical interference in integrated 3D multiports.

We demonstrate three and four input multiports in a three dimensional glass platform, fabricated using the femtosecond laser direct-write technique. Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference is observed and a full quantum characterization is performed, obtaining two photon correlation matrices for all combinations of input and output ports. For the 3-port case, the quantum visibilities are accurately predicted solely from measurement of the classical coupling ratios.

Cladding mode coupling in highly localized fiber Bragg gratings II: complete vectorial analysis.

Highly localized fiber Bragg gratings can be inscribed point-by-point with focused ultrashort pulses. The transverse localization of the resonant grating causes strong coupling to cladding modes of high azimuthal and radial order. In this paper, we show how the reflected cladding modes can be fully analyzed, taking their vectorial nature, orientation and degeneracies into account.

Optimizing the net reflectivity of point-by-point fiber Bragg gratings: the role of scattering loss.

We present an experimental and theoretical analysis of the influence of scattering losses on the net reflectivity of fiber Bragg gratings inscribed with a femtosecond laser and the point-by-point technique. We demonstrate that the ratio of the coupling strength coefficient to the scattering loss coefficient varies significantly with the inscribing laser pulse energy, and highlight that an optimal pulse-energy range exists for achieving high-reflectivity gratings. These results are critical for exploiting high power fiber laser opportunities based on point-by-point gratings.

Ultrafast laser-written dual-wavelength waveguide laser.

We report the performance of a dual-wavelength waveguide laser based on a phase-modulated sampled-grating architecture fabricated using the femtosecond laser direct-write technique. The waveguide laser was written in Yb-doped phosphate glass and had a narrow linewidth (<10 pm), high signal-to-noise ratio (>60 dB), 5 mW output power per channel, and wavelength separation of 10 nm.

Slow-light enhanced correlated photon pair generation in a silicon photonic crystal waveguide.

We report the generation of correlated photon pairs in the telecom C-band at room temperature from a dispersion-engineered silicon photonic crystal waveguide. The spontaneous four-wave mixing process producing the photon pairs is enhanced by slow-light propagation enabling an active device length of less than 100 μm. With a coincidence to accidental ratio of 12.

Point-by-point inscription of apodized fiber Bragg gratings.

We demonstrate apodized fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed with a point-by-point (PbP) technique. We tailor the grating phase and coupling amplitude through precise control over the longitudinal and transverse positions of each laser-inscribed modification. This method of apodization is facilitated by the highly localized, high-contrast modifications generated by focused IR femtosecond laser inscription.

Linearly polarized fiber laser using a point-by-point Bragg grating in a single-polarization photonic bandgap fiber.

We present a narrow-linewidth, linearly polarized neodymium-doped fiber laser that incorporates a point-by-point Bragg grating inscribed into the core of a single-polarization all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. The Bragg grating was written within a single-polarization wavelength band of the fiber; thus, the Bragg reflection was polarized. This all-fiber laser produced 7.

Control of light transmission in laser-written phase-shifted Bragg grating couplers.

We demonstrate the fabrication by direct laser writing and the operation of a directional coupler containing Bragg gratings in each waveguide. We achieve high-precision control over the longitudinal shift between the gratings, which feature first-order Bragg resonance at telecommunication wavelengths. We observe fundamental differences between light transmission characteristics in couplers with unshifted and shifted gratings in agreement with theoretical predictions.

Three-dimensional imaging of direct-written photonic structures.

Third-harmonic generation microscopy has been used to analyze the morphology of photonic structures created using the femtosecond laser direct-write technique. Three-dimensional waveguide arrays and waveguide-Bragg gratings written in fused-silica and doped phosphate glass were investigated. A sensorless adaptive-optical system was used to correct the optical aberrations occurring in the sample and microscope system, which had a lateral resolution of less than 500 nm.

Cladding mode coupling in highly localized fiber Bragg gratings: modal properties and transmission spectra.

The spectral characteristics of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with a transversely inhomogeneous refractive index profile, differs considerably from that of a transversely uniform one. Transmission spectra of inhomogeneous and asymmetric FBGs that have been inscribed with focused ultrashort pulses with the so-called point-by-point technique are investigated. The cladding mode resonances of such FBGs can span a full octave in the spectrum and are very pronounced (deeper than 20dB).

Point-by-point written fiber-Bragg gratings and their application in complex grating designs.

The point-by-point technique of fabricating fibre-Bragg gratings using an ultrafast laser enables complete control of the position of each index modification that comprises the grating. By tailoring the local phase, amplitude and spacing of the grating's refractive index modulations it is possible to create gratings with complex transmission and reflection spectra. We report a series of grating structures that were realized by exploiting these flexibilities.

All-optical, actively Q-switched fiber laser.

All-fiber lasers offer increased robustness and simplicity over other fiber laser systems. Current active Q-switching techniques for all-fiber lasers rely on electro-mechanical transducers to strain-tune an intra-cavity fiber-Bragg grating, which adds complexity and can lead to vibrational sensitivity. An all-optical technique for achieving active Q-switched operation is a more elegant approach and would maintain the inherent robustness and simplicity of an all-fiber laser system.

Adaptive optics for direct laser writing with plasma emission aberration sensing.

Aberrations affect the focal spot quality in direct laser write applications when focusing through a refractive index mismatch. Closed loop adaptive optics can correct these aberrations if a suitable feedback signal can be found. Focusing an ultrafast laser beam into transparent dielectric material can lead to plasma formation in the focal region.

Laser written waveguide photonic quantum circuits.

We report photonic quantum circuits created using an ultrafast laser processing technique that is rapid, requires no lithographic mask and can be used to create three-dimensional networks of waveguide devices. We have characterized directional couplers--the key functional elements of photonic quantum circuits--and found that they perform as well as lithographically produced waveguide devices. We further demonstrate high-performance interferometers and an important multi-photon quantum interference phenomenon for the first time in integrated optics.

Polarization-dependent effects in point-by-point fiber Bragg gratings enable simple, linearly polarized fiber lasers.

Fiber Bragg gratings inscribed with a femtosecond laser using the point-by-point (PbP) technique have polarization dependent grating strength (PDGS) and exhibit birefringence. In this paper we quantify the dependence of these two properties on the ellipticity, position in the core and size of the micro-voids at the center of each refractive index modulation. We demonstrate that the effective modal index for type II gratings written with a femtosecond laser using the PbP method must be lower than that of the pristine fiber, and for the first time associate an axis with a polarization such that the long axis of the elliptically-shaped index modulations corresponds to the slow axis of the gratings.

Monolithic 100 mW Yb waveguide laser fabricated using the femtosecond-laser direct-write technique.

A femtosecond-laser-written monolithic waveguide laser (WGL) oscillator based on a distributed-feedback architecture and fabricated in ytterbium-doped phosphate glass is reported. The device lased at 1033 nm with an output power of 102 mW and a bandwidth of less than 2 pm when bidirectionally pumped at 976 nm. The WGL device was stable and operated for 50 h without degradation.

Femtosecond laser modification of fused silica: the effect of writing polarization on Si-O ring structure.

A femtosecond laser with a 1 kHz repetition rate and two different polarization states was used to fabricate low-loss waveguides in fused silica. Investigations of chemically-mechanically polished waveguide regions using near-field scanning optical microscopy revealed the presence of modifications outside the glass regions directly exposed to a circularly polarized writing laser. These waveguides also exhibited refractive index contrast up to twice as large as that of waveguides written with linearly polarized radiation.