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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Single-Stage Few-Cycle Pulse Amplification, Sagnik Ghosh, Nathan G. Drouillard, Tj Hammond Jan 2024

Single-Stage Few-Cycle Pulse Amplification, Sagnik Ghosh, Nathan G. Drouillard, Tj Hammond

Physics Publications

Kerr instability can be exploited to amplify visible, near-infrared, and midinfrared ultrashort pulses. We use the results of Kerr instability amplification theory to inform our simulations amplifying few-cycle pulses. We show that the amplification angle dependence is simplified to the phase-matching condition of four-wave mixing when the intense pump is considered. Seeding with few-cycle pulses near the pump leads to broadband amplification without spatial chirp, while longer pulses undergo compression through amplification. Pumping in the midinfrared leads to multioctave spanning amplified pulses with single-cycle duration not previously predicted. We discuss limitations of the amplification process and optimizing pump and seed …


Detection And Diagnosis Of Bacterial Pathogens In Blood And Urine Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Emma J.M. Blanchette Jan 2023

Detection And Diagnosis Of Bacterial Pathogens In Blood And Urine Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Emma J.M. Blanchette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to expand on and improve the existing techniques used for detecting and identifying bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Specifically, the existing experimental procedures, including bacterial sample preparation and data acquisition, as well as the data analysis with chemometric algorithms were investigated. Substantial reductions in LIBS background signal were achieved by implementing rigorous cleaning steps and the introduction of the use of ultrapure water. Following this, a database of LIBS spectra was acquired from specimens of E. coli, S. aureus, E. cloacae, M. smegmatis, and P. …


Calculated Charge State Distributions And Anisotropies Following The Β-Decay Of 6he, Eva E. Sculhoff Feb 2022

Calculated Charge State Distributions And Anisotropies Following The Β-Decay Of 6he, Eva E. Sculhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the standard model the beta-decay of 6He is a pure Gamow-Teller transition. The aim of this thesis is to provide theoretical support in the search for new physics beyond the standard model by examining the angular distribution of beta particles following decay. The simple structure of 6He, along with its ability to under go beta-decay into 6Li+ makes it an ideal candidate for studying the weak force. Due to the sudden increase in nuclear charge from Z = 2 to Z = 3, and the recoil momentum of the daughter nucleus resulting from the emitted leptons, this decay …


Spectral Broadening For Pulse Compression Using Liquid Alcohols, Jacob A. Stephen, Chathurangani J. Arachchige, Tj Hammond Jan 2022

Spectral Broadening For Pulse Compression Using Liquid Alcohols, Jacob A. Stephen, Chathurangani J. Arachchige, Tj Hammond

Physics Publications

Although gases, and more recently solids, have been used to create few-cycle pulses, we explore using liquid alcohols for spectral broadening and femtosecond pulse compression. By using a series of 1 cm cuvettes filled with 1-decanol, we have compressed a pulse from 83.6 fs down to 31.3 fs with a spectrum capable of supporting 25 fs pulses without filamentation.We measure the nonlinear index of refraction for various liquids, measuring n2 = (6.8 ± 0.5) × 10−20 m2 W−1 for 1-decanol.We demonstrate liquids to be a compact, simple, versatile, and cost-effective material to obtain broad spectra.


Measurement Of Dispersion And Index Of Refraction Of 1-Decanol With Spectrally Resolved White Light Interferometry, Nathan G. Drouillard, Tj Hammond Jan 2022

Measurement Of Dispersion And Index Of Refraction Of 1-Decanol With Spectrally Resolved White Light Interferometry, Nathan G. Drouillard, Tj Hammond

Physics Publications

The high density, high nonlinearity, and stability of liquids make them an attractive medium for spectral broadening and supercontinuum generation in ultrafast experiments. To understand ultrashort pulse propagation in these media, their indices of refraction and dispersions must be characterized. We employ a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to generate a series of interferograms, which we refer to as a spectrogram, to develop a new method of using spectrally resolved white light interferometry to determine the refractive indices of materials. We determine the indices of refraction of BK7, sapphire, ethanol, and 1-decanol at 24°C across the visible and near infrared. To our knowledge, …


Variational Energies For The Rydberg P States Of Helium, Cody Mcleod Oct 2021

Variational Energies For The Rydberg P States Of Helium, Cody Mcleod

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this work is to solve the quantum mechanical three-body problem for helium, and to obtain high precision eigenvalues for the higher-lying Rydberg states where previous methods have been of limited accuracy. A variational method in correlated Hylleraas coordinates is used involving three distinct distance scales, called a triple basis set. The eigenvalues and matrix elements of other operators are computed for P states of helium up to n = 15 using the varational method with a triple basis set in Hylleraas coordinates. The construction of the wave functions, as well as the behaviour of the asymptotic, intermediate …


Determination Of The Zinc Concentration In Human Fingernails By Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Steven J. Rehse, Vlora A. Riberdy, Christopher J. Frederickson Apr 2017

Determination Of The Zinc Concentration In Human Fingernails By Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Steven J. Rehse, Vlora A. Riberdy, Christopher J. Frederickson

Physics Publications

The absolute concentration of zinc in human fingernail clippings tested ex vivo was determined by 1064 nm laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and confirmed by speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry. A nail testing protocol that sampled across the nail (perpendicular to the direction of growth) was developed and validated by scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Using this protocol, a partial least squares regression model predicted the zinc concentration in five subjects’ fingernails to within 7 ppm on average. The variation of the zinc concentration with depth into the nail as determined by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was studied and found to …