Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Frequency Modulated Hybrid Photonic Crystal Laser By Thermal Tuning, Sharon M. Butler, Andrei P. Bakoz, Praveen K.J. Singaravelu, A. A. Liles, Ben O’Shaughnessy, E. A. Viktorov, Liam O'Faolain, Stephen P. Hegarty

Cappa Publications

We demonstrate frequency modulation (FM) in an external cavity (EC) III-V/silicon laser, comprising a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) and a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide vertically coupled to a 2D silicon photonic crystal (PhC) cavity. The PhC cavity acts as a tunable narrowband reflector giving wavelength selectivity. The FM was achieved by thermo-optical modulation of the reflector via a p-n junction. Single-mode operation was ensured by the short cavity length, overlapping only one longitudinal laser mode with the reflector. We investigate the effect of reflector modulation theoretically and experimentally and predict a substantial tracking of the resonator by the laser …

Interactive And Accessible Pdfs, Quality Blended Learning Consortium

Open Educational Resources

This tutorial introduces the users to the fundamental concepts on how to create interactive and accessible PDFs, as well as provides guidance on the tools to be used, best practices, and mistakes to avoid. The tutorial includes quizzes for self-assessment.

Extreme Hbl Behavior Of Markarian 501 During 2012, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Aims. We aim to characterize the multiwavelength emission from Markarian 501 (Mrk 501), quantify the energy-dependent variability, study the potential multiband correlations, and describe the temporal evolution of the broadband emission within leptonic theoretical scenarios.

Methods. We organized a multiwavelength campaign to take place between March and July of 2012. Excellent temporal coverage was obtained with more than 25 instruments, including the MAGIC, FACT and VERITAS Cherenkov telescopes, the instruments on board the Swift and Fermi spacecraft, and the telescopes operated by the GASP-WEBT collaboration.

Results. Mrk 501 showed a very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray flux above 0.2 TeV of …

Wavelength Stability In A Hybrid Photonic Crystal Laser Through Controlled Nonlinear Absorptive Heating In The Reflector, Andrei P. Bakoz, Alexandros A. Liles, Alfredo A. Gonzalez-Fernandez, Tatiana Habruseva, Changyu Hu, Evgeny A. Viktorov, Stephen P. Hegarty, Liam O'Faolain

Cappa Publications

The need for miniaturized, fully integrated semiconductor lasers has stimulated significant research efforts into realizing unconventional configurations that can meet the performance requirements of a large spectrum of applications, ranging from communication systems to sensing. We demonstrate a hybrid, silicon photonics-compatible photonic crystal (PhC) laser architecture that can be used to implement cost-effective, high-capacity light sources, with high side-mode suppression ratio and milliwatt output output powers. The emitted wavelength is set and controlled by a silicon PhC cavity-based reflective filter with the gain provided by a III–V-based reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). The high power density in the laser cavity …

Results Of Webt, Vlba And Rxte Monitoring Of 3c 279 During 2006-2007, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

Context. The quasar 3C 279 is among the most extreme blazars in terms of luminosity and variability of flux at all wavebands. Its variations in flux and polarization are quite complex and therefore require intensive monitoring observations at multiple wavebands to characterise and interpret the observed changes.

Aims. In this paper, we present radio-to-optical data taken by the WEBT, supplemented by our VLBA and RXTE observations, of 3C 279. Our goal is to use this extensive database to draw inferences regarding the physics of the relativistic jet.

Methods. We assemble multifrequency light curves with data from 30 ground-based observatories and …

Tunable Optical Buffer Through An Analogue To Electro-Magnetically Induced Transparency In Coupled Photonic Crystal Cavities, Changyu Hu, Sebastian A. Schulz, Alexandros A. Liles, Liam O'Faolain

Cappa Publications

Tunable on-chip optical delay has long been a key target for the research community, as it is the enabling technology behind delay lines, signal re-timing and other applications vital to optical signal processing. To date the field has been limited by high optical losses associated with slow light or delay structures. Here, we present a novel tunable delay line, based on a coupled cavity system exhibiting an Electromagnetically Induced Transparency-like transmission spectrum, with record low loss, around 15dB/ns. By tuning a single cavity the delay of the complete structure can be tuned over 120ps, with the maximum delay approaching 300ps.

Gamma-Ray Observations Of Tycho's Supernova Remnant With Veritas And Fermi, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

High-energy gamma-ray emission from supernova remnants (SNRs) has provided a unique perspective for studies of Galactic cosmic-ray acceleration. Tycho's SNR is a particularly good target because it is a young, type Ia SNR that has been well-studied over a wide range of energies and located in a relatively clean environment. Since the detection of gamma-ray emission from Tycho's SNR by VERITAS and Fermi-LAT, there have been several theoretical models proposed to explain its broadband emission and high-energy morphology. We report on an update to the gamma-ray measurements of Tycho's SNR with 147 hr of VERITAS and 84 months of Fermi-LAT …

Tev Gamma-Ray Observations Of The Galactic Center Ridge By Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The Galactic Center ridge has been observed extensively in the past by both GeV and TeV gamma-ray instruments revealing a wealth of structure, including a diffuse component and the point sources G0.9+0.1 (a composite supernova remnant) and Sgr A* (believed to be associated with the supermassive black hole located at the center of our Galaxy). Previous very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray observations with the H.E.S.S. experiment have also detected an extended TeV gamma-ray component along the Galactic plane in the >300 GeV gamma-ray regime. Here we report on observations of the Galactic Center ridge from 2010 to 2014 by the …

Multiwavelength Study Of Quiescent States Of Mrk 421 With Unprecedented Hard X-Ray Coverage Provided By Nustar In 2013, P. T. Reynolds, Nustar, Veritas, Magic

Physical Sciences Publications

We present coordinated multiwavelength observations of the bright, nearby BL Lacertae object Mrk 421 taken in 2013 January–March, involving GASP-WEBT, Swift, NuSTAR, Fermi-LAT, MAGIC, VERITAS, and other collaborations and instruments, providing data from radio to very high energy (VHE) γ-ray bands. NuSTAR yielded previously unattainable sensitivity in the 3–79 keV range, revealing that the spectrum softens when the source is dimmer until the X-ray spectral shape saturates into a steep ${\rm{\Gamma }}\approx 3$ power law, with no evidence for an exponential cutoff or additional hard components up to ~80 keV. For the first time, we observed both the synchrotron and …

First Nustar Observations Of Mrk 501 Within A Radio To Tev Multi-Instrument Campaign, P. T. Reynolds, Nustar, Magic, Veritas, F-Gamma

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on simultaneous broadband observations of the TeV-emitting blazar Markarian 501 between 2013 April 1 and August 10, including the first detailed characterization of the synchrotron peak with Swift and NuSTAR. During the campaign, the nearby BL Lac object was observed in both a quiescent and an elevated state. The broadband campaign includes observations with NuSTAR, MAGIC, VERITAS, the Fermi Large Area Telescope, Swift X-ray Telescope and UV Optical Telescope, various ground-based optical instruments, including the GASP-WEBT program, as well as radio observations by OVRO, Metsähovi, and the F-Gamma consortium. Some of the MAGIC observations were affected …

Unprecedented Study Of The Broadband Emission Of Mrk 421 During Flaring Activity In March 2010, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Context. Because of its proximity, Mrk 421 is one of the best sources on which to study the nature of BL Lac objects. Its proximity allows us to characterize its broadband spectral energy distribution (SED).

Aims. The goal is to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the broadband emission and the temporal evolution of Mrk 421. These mechanisms may also apply to more distant blazars that cannot be studied with the same level of detail.

Methods. A flare occurring in March 2010 was observed for 13 consecutive days (from MJD 55 265 to MJD 55 277) with unprecedented wavelength coverage …

The 2009 Multiwavelength Campaign On Mrk 421: Variability And Correlation Studies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Aims. We perform an extensive characterization of the broadband emission of Mrk 421, as well as its temporal evolution, during the non-flaring (low) state. The high brightness and nearby location (z = 0.031) of Mrk 421 make it an excellent laboratory to study blazar emission. The goal is to learn about the physical processes responsible for the typical emission of Mrk 421, which might also be extended to other blazars that are located farther away and hence are more difficult to study.

Methods. We performed a 4.5-month multi-instrument campaign on Mrk 421 between January 2009 and June 2009, which …

Veritas Observations Of The Bl Lac Object Pg 1553+113, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present results from VERITAS observations of the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 spanning the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. The time-averaged spectrum, measured between 160 and 560 GeV, is well described by a power law with a spectral index of 4.33 ± 0.09. The time-averaged integral flux above 200 GeV measured for this period was (1.69 ± 0.06) × 10^–11 photons cm^–2 s^–1, corresponding to 6.9% of the Crab Nebula flux. We also present the combined γ-ray spectrum from the Fermi Large Area Telescope and VERITAS covering an energy range from 100 MeV to 560 …

Investigating Broadband Variability Of The Tev Blazar 1es 1959+650, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We summarize broadband observations of the TeV-emitting blazar 1ES 1959+650, including optical R-band observations by the robotic telescopes Super-LOTIS and iTelescope, UV observations by Swift Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope, X-ray observations by the Swift X-ray Telescope, high-energy gamma-ray observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope, and very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray observations by VERITAS above 315 GeV, all taken between 2012 April 17 and 2012 June 1 (MJD 56034 and 56079). The contemporaneous variability of the broadband spectral energy distribution is explored in the context of a simple synchrotron self Compton (SSC) model. In the SSC emission scenario, we find that the …

Very-High Energy Observations Of The Galactic Center Region By Veritas In 2010-2012, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The Galactic center is an interesting region for high-energy (0.1-100 GeV) and very-high-energy (E > 100 GeV) γ-ray observations. Potential sources of GeV/TeV γ-ray emission have been suggested, e.g., the accretion of matter onto the supermassive black hole, cosmic rays from a nearby supernova remnant (e.g., Sgr A East), particle acceleration in a plerion, or the annihilation of dark matter particles. The Galactic center has been detected by EGRET and by Fermi/LAT in the MeV/GeV energy band. At TeV energies, the Galactic center was detected with moderate significance by the CANGAROO and Whipple 10 m telescopes and with high significance by …

Spatially Resolving The Very High Energy Emission From Mgro J2019+37 With Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present very high energy (VHE) imaging of MGRO J2019+37 obtained with the VERITAS observatory. The bright extended (~2°) unidentified Milagro source is located toward the rich star formation region Cygnus-X. MGRO J2019+37 is resolved into two VERITAS sources. The faint, point-like source VER J2016+371 overlaps CTB 87, a filled-center remnant (SNR) with no evidence of a supernova remnant shell at the present time. Its spectrum is well fit in the 0.65-10 TeV energy range by a power-law model with photon index 2.3 ± 0.4. VER J2019+378 is a bright extended (~1°) source that likely accounts for the bulk of …

Observations Of The Unidentified Gamma-Ray Source Tev J2032+4130 By Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

TeV J2032+4130 was the first unidentified source discovered at very high energies (VHEs; E > 100 GeV), with no obvious counterpart in any other wavelength. It is also the first extended source to be observed in VHE gamma rays. Following its discovery, intensive observational campaigns have been carried out in all wavelengths in order to understand the nature of the object, which have met with limited success. We report here on a deep observation of TeV J2032+4130 based on 48.2 hr of data taken from 2009 to 2012 by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System experiment. The source is …

A Three-Year Multi-Wavelength Study Of The Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Blazar 1es 0229+200, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object 1ES 0229+200 is a relatively distant (z = 0.1396), hard-spectrum (Γ ~ 2.5), very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) emitting γ-ray blazar. VHE measurements of this active galactic nucleus have been used to place constraints on the intensity of the extragalactic background light and the intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF). A multi-wavelength study of this object centered around VHE observations by Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) is presented. This study obtained, over a period of three years, an 11.7 standard deviation detection and an average integral flux F(E > 300 GeV) = (23.3 ± 2.8stat …

Long-Term Tev And X-Ray Observations Of The Gamma- Ray Binary Hess J0632+057, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas, Hess

Physical Sciences Publications

HESS J0632+057 is the only gamma-ray binary known so far whose position in the sky allows observations with ground-based observatories in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Here we report on long-term observations of HESS J0632+057 conducted with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System and High Energy Stereoscopic System Cherenkov telescopes and the X-ray satellite Swift, spanning a time range from 2004 to 2012 and covering most of the system's orbit. The very-high-energy (VHE) emission is found to be variable and is correlated with that at X-ray energies. An orbital period of days is derived from the …

Discovery Of A New Tev Gamma-Ray Source: Ver J0521+211, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We report the detection of a new TeV gamma-ray source, VER J0521+211, based on observations made with the VERITAS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope Array. These observations were motivated by the discovery of a cluster of >30 GeV photons in the first year of Fermi Large Area Telescope observations. VER J0521+211 is relatively bright at TeV energies, with a mean photon flux of (1.93 ± 0.13stat ± 0.78sys) × 10–11 cm–2 s–1 above 0.2 TeV during the period of the VERITAS observations. The source is strongly variable on a daily timescale across all wavebands, from optical to TeV, with a peak …

Multiwavelength Observations And Modeling Of 1es 1959+650 In A Low Flux State, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on the VERITAS observations of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1959+650 in the period 2007-2011. This source is detected at TeV energies by VERITAS at 16.4 standard deviation (σ) significance in 7.6 hr of observation in a low flux state. A multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) is constructed from contemporaneous data from VERITAS, Fermi-LAT, RXTE PCA, and Swift UVOT. Swift XRT data is not included in the SED due to a lack of simultaneous observations with VERITAS. In contrast to the orphan γ-ray flare exhibited by this source in 2002, the X-ray flux of the source …

Discovery Of Tev Gamma-Ray Emission From Cta 1 By Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report the discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission coincident with the shell-type radio supernova remnant (SNR) CTA 1 using the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory. The source, VER J0006+729, was detected as a 6.5 standard deviation excess over background and shows an extended morphology, approximated by a two-dimensional Gaussian of semimajor (semiminor) axis 0fdg30 (0fdg24) and a centroid 5' from the Fermi gamma-ray pulsar PSR J0007+7303 and its X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The photon spectrum is well described by a power-law dN/dE = N 0(E/3 TeV)–Γ, with a differential spectral index of Γ = 2.2 ± 0.2stat ± 0.3sys, and normalization …

Rapid Tev Gamma-Ray Flaring Of Bl Lacertae, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on the detection of a very rapid TeV gamma-ray flare from BL Lacertae on 2011 June 28 with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). The flaring activity was observed during a 34.6 minute exposure, when the integral flux above 200 GeV reached (3.4 ± 0.6) × 10–6 photons m–2 s–1, roughly 125% of the Crab Nebula flux measured by VERITAS. The light curve indicates that the observations missed the rising phase of the flare but covered a significant portion of the decaying phase. The exponential decay time was determined to be 13 ± 4 minutes, …

Constraints On Cosmic Rays, Magnetic Fields, And Dark Matter From Gamma-Ray Observations Of The Coma Cluster Of Galaxies With Veritas And Fermi, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Observations of radio halos and relics in galaxy clusters indicate efficient electron acceleration. Protons should likewise be accelerated and, on account of weak energy losses, can accumulate, suggesting that clusters may also be sources of very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. We report here on VHE gamma-ray observations of the Coma galaxy cluster with the VERITAS array of imaging Cerenkov telescopes, with complementing Fermi Large Area Telescope observations at GeV energies. No significant gamma-ray emission from the Coma Cluster was detected. Integral flux upper limits at the 99% confidence level were measured to be on the order …

Variability Of The Blazar 4c 38.41 (B3 1633+382) From Ghz Frequencies To Gev Energies, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

Context. After years of modest optical activity, the quasar-type blazar 4C 38.41 (B3 1633+382) experienced a large outburst in 2011, which was detected throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum, renewing interest in this source.

Aims. We present the results of low-energy multifrequency monitoring by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium and collaborators, as well as those of spectropolarimetric/spectrophotometric monitoring at the Steward Observatory. We also analyse high-energy observations of the Swift and Fermi satellites. This combined study aims to provide insights into the source broad-band emission and variability properties.

Methods. We assemble …

Multiwavelength Observations Of The Agn 1es 0414+009 With Veritas, Fermi-Lat, Swift-Xrt, And Mdm, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present observations of the BL Lac object 1ES 0414+009 in the >200 GeV gamma-ray band by the VERITAS array of Cherenkov telescopes. 1ES 0414+009 was observed by VERITAS between 2008 January and 2011 February, resulting in 56.2 hr of good quality pointed observations. These observations resulted in a detection of 822 events from the source corresponding to a statistical significance of 6.4 standard deviations (6.4σ) above the background. The source flux, showing no evidence for variability, is measured as (5.2 ± 1.1stat ± 2.6sys) × 10–12 photons cm–2 s–1 above 200 GeV, equivalent to approximately 2% of the Crab …

Veritas Observations Of The Nova In V407 Cygni, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on very high energy (E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray observations of V407 Cygni, a symbiotic binary that underwent a nova outburst producing 0.1-10 GeV gamma rays during 2010 March 10-26. Observations were made with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System during 2010 March 19-26 at relatively large zenith angles due to the position of V407 Cyg. An improved reconstruction technique for large zenith angle observations is presented and used to analyze the data. We do not detect V407 Cygni and place a differential upper limit on the flux at 1.6 TeV of 2.3 × 10–12 erg cm–2 …

Pump Dependence Of The Dynamics Of Quantum Dot Based Waveguide Absorbers, T. Piwonski, Jaroslaw Pulka, Guillaume Huyet, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The nonlinear two stage recovery of quantum dot based reverse-biased waveguide absorbers is investigated experimentally and analytically as a function of the initial ground state occupation probability of the dot. The latter is controlled experimentally by the pump pulse power. The slow stage of the recovery is exponential and its basic timescale is independent of pump power. The fast stage of the recovery is a logistic function which we analyze in detail. The relative strength of slow to fast components is highlighted and the importance of higher order absorption processes at the highest pump level is demonstrated.

Discovery Of Tev Gamma-Ray Emission Toward Supernova Remnant Snr G78.2+2.1, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report the discovery of an unidentified, extended source of very-high-energy gamma-ray emission, VER J2019+407, within the radio shell of the supernova remnant SNR G78.2+2.1, using 21.4 hr of data taken by the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory in 2009. These data confirm the preliminary indications of gamma-ray emission previously seen in a two-year (2007-2009) blind survey of the Cygnus region by VERITAS. VER J2019+407, which is detected at a post-trials significance of 7.5 standard deviations in the 2009 data, is localized to the northwestern rim of the remnant in a region of enhanced radio and X-ray emission. It has an intrinsic …

Discovery Of High-Energy And Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Emission From The Blazar Rbs 0413, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on the discovery of high-energy (HE; E > 0.1 GeV) and very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object RBS 0413. VERITAS, a ground-based γ-ray observatory, detected VHE γ rays from RBS 0413 with a statistical significance of 5.5 standard deviations (σ) and a γ-ray flux of (1.5 ± 0.6stat ± 0.7syst) × 10–8 photons m–2 s–1 (~1% of the Crab Nebula flux) above 250 GeV. The observed spectrum can be described by a power law with a photon index of 3.18 ± 0.68stat ± 0.30syst. Contemporaneous observations with the Large Area …