Mechanism and tuning sensitivity of symmetry-protected resonances in high-contrast gratings.

We develop a theory of refractive index tuning for symmetry-protected optical bound states (SP-BICs) in high-contrast gratings (HCGs). A compact analytical formula for tuning sensitivity is derived and verified numerically. We also discover a new type of SP-BIC in HCGs that has an accidental nature with a spectral singularity, which is explained in terms of hybridization and strong coupling among the odd- and even-symmetric waveguide-array modes.

Mechanism and sensitivity of Fano resonance tuning in high-contrast gratings.

We develop a theory for Fano resonance tuning in dual-mode high-contrast gratings (HCGs). Compact analytical formulas of tuning sensitivity are derived and verified numerically, and are in good agreement with reported experiments. We show that the resonance tuning in HCGs, containing cooperative contribution from two propagating modes, is fundamentally different from that in single-mode microresonators.

Bright and Ultrafast Photoelectron Emission from Aligned Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes through Multiphoton Exciton Resonance.

Ultrashort bunches of electrons, emitted from solid surfaces through excitation by ultrashort laser pulses, are an essential ingredient in advanced X-ray sources, and ultrafast electron diffraction and spectroscopy. Multiphoton photoemission using a noble metal as the photocathode material is typically used but more brightness is desired. Artificially structured metal photocathodes have been shown to enhance optical absorption via surface plasmon resonance but such an approach severely reduces the damage threshold in addition to requiring state-of-the-art facilities for photocathode fabrication.

Thermal refraction focusing in planar index-antiguided lasers.

Thermal refraction focusing in planar index-antiguided lasers is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. An analytical model based on zero-field approximation is presented for treating the combined effects of index antiguiding and thermal focusing. At very low pumping power, the mode is antiguided by the amplifier boundary, whereas at high pumping power it narrows due to thermal focusing.

Power characteristics of homogeneously broadened index-antiguided waveguide lasers.

A model is reported that describes a bidirectional homogeneously broadened index-antiguided (IAG) slab laser having arbitrary single-pass gain and distributed losses. Maximum extraction efficiency and corresponding optimum output coupling are determined for various values of unsaturated gain and loss per pass. A method is proposed to determine the intrinsic laser parameters from output power measurements.

Gain guiding in large-core Bragg fibers.

We theoretically analyze gain guiding in large-core Bragg fibers, to be used for large-mode-area laser amplifiers with single-transverse-mode operation. The signal is gain-guided in a low-index core, whereas the pump is guided by the photonic bandgap of the Bragg cladding to achieve good confinement. The high-index layers in the Bragg cladding are half-wave thick at the signal wavelength in order to eliminate Bragg reflection, reducing the Bragg fiber effectively to a step-index fiber for gain guiding.

Gain saturation in gain-guided slab waveguides with large-index antiguiding.

We investigate numerically and analytically the effects of gain saturation on the propagation of the fundamental mode in a gain-guided index-antiguided slab waveguide. The propagating mode adapts to gain saturation by becoming less confined, while at the same time its peak intensity increases more slowly. At steady state, both the mode shape and the power remain constant.

Gain-guiding in transverse grating waveguides for large modal area laser amplifiers.

A new optically pumped waveguide amplifier with ultra-large mode area is proposed. This amplifier is based on gain guiding in a transverse grating waveguide in which the pump is confined by the photonic bandgap while the signal is guided by optical gain. Characteristics of the propagating modes of the waveguide amplifier are analyzed theoretically using the transfer matrix method, indicating robust single-transverse-mode operation with large modal gain.

Deposition of tungsten nanogratings induced by a single femtosecond laser beam.

Tungsten nanogratings with sub-100nm linewidths and subwavelength periods are fabricated by laser-induced chemical vapor deposition using a single 400 nm femtosecond pulsed laser beam without any beam shaping. Combining advantages of parallel and direct-write processing, this method can produce various nanograting structures on a wide range of substrates in a single step.