In the disertation, the self-focusing phenomenon of intense femtosecond light pulses in media with cubic nonlinearity is investigated and the origin of formation of light filaments is revealed. In this work, new measurement techniques are introduced and applied experimentally, which allowed high resolution temporal, spatial and spectral mapping of light wave-packet dynamics during the nonlinear propagation in transparent media, and enabled to observe and make accurate quantitative evaluation of the ultrafast change of medium properties. By means of high temporal (20 fs) and spatial (1 μm) resolution laser 3D mapping technique, it was shown that the initial Gaussian wave packet during self-action in Kerr media redistributes its energy in a way that in spatio-temporal domain the wave packet takes a complex X-type intensity distribution. This transformation is universal and is determined by temporal and spatial spectral broadening (as a consequence of self-focusing and self phase modulation), conical emission (as a consequence of four-wave mixing) and nonlinear losses caused by multiphoton absorption. By means of imaging spectrometer technique it was shown that in the medium with normal group velocity dispersion the far-field angular spectrum of the wave packet takes a characteristic X shape, whereas in anomalous group velocity dispersion regime – a characteristic O shape. In both cases the localization of the wave packet is observed, however the quantitative differences of the... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjamas intensyvių femtosekundinių šviesos impulsų fokusavimosi reiškinys kubinio netiesiškumo terpėse bei atskleidžiama šviesos gijų formavimosi prigimtis. Darbe yra pasiūlytos ir eksperimentiškai realizuotos šviesos bangų paketų registravimo metodikos, kurios leidžia su didele skyra fiksuoti laikinę, erdvinę bei spektrinę šviesos bangų paketų dinamiką netiesinio sklidimo metu, taip pat stebėti bei itin tiksliai kiekybiškai įvertinti terpės savybių sparčius pokyčius. Pasitelkus didelės laikinės (20 fs) ir erdvinės (1 μm) skyros lazerinės tomografijos metodiką, parodyta, kad pradinio Gauso formos bangų paketo energija saviveikos Kero terpėje metu persiskirsto taip, kad erdvėlaikyje jis įgauna sudėtingą X tipo intensyvumo skirstinį. Ši transformacija yra universali, ir ją nulemia laikinis ir erdvinis spektro plitimas (dėl fokusavimosi ir fazės moduliavimosi), kūginė spinduliuotė (dėl keturbangio maišymosi) bei nuostoliai dėl daugiafotonės sugerties. Remiantis atvaizduojančio spektrometro metodika parodyta, kad formuojantis šviesos gijai normalios grupinių greičių dispersijos terpėje bangų paketo tolimojo lauko kampinis spektrinis skirstinys yra X formos, o anomalios grupinių greičių dispersijos terpės atveju – O formos. Abiem atvejais stebima bangų paketo lokalizacija, tačiau kiekybinius kampinių spektrinių skirstinių skirtumus nulemia keturbangio dažnių maišymo fazinio sinchronizmo sąlygos. Ir galiausiai, naudojant didelės laikinės (23 fs) ir erdvinės (1,5... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, penki pagrindiniai skyriai ir išvados. Įvade aiškinamas sudėtingas šviesos gijų formavimosi procesas. Paaiškinami fizikiniai reiškiniai, lemiantys šviesos gijų generacijos bei evoliucijos ypatybes, supažindinama su įvairiais šviesos gijų susidarymo ir sklidimo modeliais. Antrajame skyriuje nagrinėjama pradinio pluošto diametro įtaka superkontinuumo spektrui. Trečias skyrius, skirtas šviesos gijų generacijos sklaidančioje terpėje tyrimui, apima atlikto eksperimento bei sukurtos naujos skaitmeninio modeliavimo schemos pristatymą, ir, galiausiai, skaitmeninio modeliavimo ir eksperimentinių rezultatų palyginimą. Ketvirtame skyriuje nagrinėjama daugelio gijų generacija elipsiniais pluoštais. Trumpai paaiškinta kaskadinio keturbangio maišymo įtaka šviesos gijų periodiškumui. Ištirta šviesos gijų periodo priklausomybė nuo bangos intensyvumo, ir atskleista daugelio gijų generacijos dinamika. Moduliacinio nestabilumo analizė ir jos įtaka taip pat pateikiama ketvirtame skyriuje. Penktajame skyriuje nagrinėjama ekstremalių įvykių tūrinėje Kerro terpėje atsiradimas. Palyginami plataus spektro generacijos kompiuterinio modeliavimo ir eksperimento metu surinkti statistiniai duomenys. Pabaigoje pateikti pagrindiniai darbo rezultatai ir išvados. / Thesis consists of introduction, followed by five main chapters and conclusions. Introduction is devoted to the explanation of filamentation process. The mechanisms responsible for filament generation and evolution are explained first and various models of the filamentation are presented as well. The second chapter is devoted to the study on supercontinuum spectrum dependence on the initial pulse diameter. The chapter 4 is devoted to the study of the filamentation in scattering medium, and covers the performed experiment, explanation of new developed numerical scheme, and finally comparison of the numerical and experimental results. The chapter 5 describes the multifilamentation with elliptical beam. The role of the four wave mixing to the filaments periodicity is briefly explained. The periodicity dependence on the wave of intensity as well the evolution of multifilamentation is shown. Three dimensional study of the modulation instability during multifilamentation process is also presented in chapter 5. The last chapter 6 is devoted to the origin of the rogue wave statistics in supercontinuum generation, and comparison of the numeric results with experimental. At the end (chapter 7) the main conclusions of the current work are presented.

O uso de microrganismos na biotecnologia tem grande importância e interesse econômico no Brasil. Entre esses microrganismos a levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae tem grande destaque nos processos fermentativos para produção de pães, bebidas e álcool combustível. Dimorfismo em S. cerevisiae (alteração na morfologia celular de células brotantes para estruturas filamentosas) tem sido observado em condições de deficiência de nitrogênio, carbono e presença de álcoois superiores. Isso pode ser um tipo de defesa da levedura, que ao encontrar um meio prejudicial ao seu desenvolvimento, através da alongação das células, crescimento hifal e da invasão do meio, cria novos mecanismos para encontrar alimento para o seu desenvolvimento. Neste trabalho, dezessete linhagens (haplóides e diplóides) de S. cerevisiae isoladas do processo fermentativo industrial para produção de etanol foram caracterizadas quanto à filamentação induzida por deficiência de carbono (crescimento invasivo), nitrogênio e presença de álcoois superiores, em meio de cultura sólido. Objetivou-se também avaliar a indução da filamentação por álcool isoamílico em condições de fermentação e seus efeitos sobre os parâmetros fermentativos. A maioria das linhagens apresentou filamentação em resposta aos álcoois isoamílico, butanol e isobutanol, não respondendo ao metanol, sendo mais marcante em linhagens haplóides. O álcool isoamílico foi o indutor mais eficiente em meio (YEPD), linhagens diplóides apresentaram crescimento invasivo, embora esse tipo de filamentação seja mais comum em linhagens haplóides. Resultados semelhantes foram observados quando se utilizou frutose e manose em substituição à glicose no meio de cultura. As linhagens não filamentaram em meio de cultura deficiente em nitrogênio (SLAD). A linhagem CCA193 (PE-02), extensivamente utilizada nas destilarias da região, foi escolhida para a indução da filamentação por álcool isoamílico em condições de fermentação (meio de caldo de cana e sistema de reciclo celular). A adição de 0,1% desse álcool superior afetou significativamente os parâmetros fermentativos, induzindo filamentação após o terceiro ciclo fermentativo, coincidindo com a recuperação da viabilidade celular, número de células viáveis, produção de etanol e diminuição do Brix residual, embora não se comparando aos valores alcançados ao final do sexto ciclo no tratamento sem álcool isoamílico. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a filamentação induzida por álcoois superiores e deficiência de nutrientes (especialmente carbono) é um processo comum em linhagens industriais de S. cerevisiae e pode contribuir para a manutenção/sobrevivência das células em condições adversas. / The use of microorganisms in biotechnology is an important and economical area of interest in Brazil. Among these, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is specially remarkable in baking industry and alcohol fermentation. Dimorphism in S. cerevisiae (cell morphology alterations from budding cells to filamentous structures) has been observed in conditions of nitrogen and carbon deprivation and presence of fusel alcohoes. This can be a defense mechanism that allows the yeast to forage for nutrients through cell elongation, hyphal growth and medium invasiveness. In this work seventeen industrial strains of S. cerevisiae (haploid and diploid) isolated from the fermentative process for alcohol production were characterized for filamentation induced by carbon (invasive growth) and nitrogen deprivation and presence of fusel alcohol, in solid culture media. The induction of filamentation by isoamyl alcohol in fermentation condition was also aimed, evaluating its effects on the fermentative parameters. The majority presented filamentation induced by isoamyl alcohol, butanol and isobutanol, but not by methanol. The isoamyl alcohol was the most effective inducer in rich medium (YEPD), diploid strains showed invasive growth, although this kind of filamentous growth be common in haploid strains. Similar results were observed when fructose and mannose were utilized replacing glucose in the culture medium. In nitrogen-deficient medium (SLAD) the strains did not filament. The yeast strain CCA193 (PE-02), extensively used in the alcohol units, was chosen for filamentation induction by isoamyl alcohol in fermentation conditions (sugar cane juice medium and cell recycle system). The addition of 0.1% of this higher alcohol affected significantly the fermentative parameters, however filamentation was induced after the third fermentative cycle, coincident with the cell viability, viable cell number, ethanol production recuperation and residual Brix decrease, though the values were not comparable to the treatment without isoamyl alcohol by the sixth cycle.The results obtained indicate that the filamentation induced by higher alcohol and nutrient deprivation (specially carbon) is a common process in industrial strains of S. cerevisiae and can contribute for the cell maintenance/survival in adverse conditions.

The dimorphic transition from the yeast to the filamentous form of growth allows cells to explore their environment for more suitable niches and is often crucial for the virulence of pathogenic fungi. In contrast to their Mep1/3 paralogues, fungal Mep2-type ammonium transport proteins of the conserved Mep-Amt-Rh family have been assigned an additional receptor role required to trigger the filamentation signal in response to ammonium scarcity. Here, genetic, kinetic, expression and structure-function analyses were used to shed light on the poorly characterized signaling role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mep2. We show that Mep2 variants lacking the C-terminal tail conserve the ability to induce filamentation, revealing that signaling can proceed in the absence of exclusive binding of putative partners to the largest cytosolic domain of the protein. Our data support that filamentation signaling requires the conformational changes accompanying substrate translocation through the pore crossing the hydrophobic core of Mep2. pHluorin reporter assays show that the transport activity of Mep2 and of non-signaling Mep1 differently affect yeast cytosolic pH in vivo, and that the unique pore variant Mep2H194E, with apparent uncoupling of transport and signaling functions, acquires increased ability of acidification. Functional characterization in Xenopus oocytes reveals that Mep2 mediates electroneutral substrate translocation while Mep1 performs electrogenic transport. Our findings highlight that the Mep2-dependent filamentation induction is connected to its specific transport mechanism, suggesting a role of pH in signal mediation. We also show that the signaling process is conserved for the Mep2 protein from the human pathogen Candida albicans. Our results allow to propose a model for the sensing function of Mep2 where pH and calcium are key players. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Un faisceau de Bessel est un champ électromagnétique résistant à la diffraction. il peut se propager en préservant son profile transversal d'intensité même en régime de filamentation. Ceci est très avantageux pour les applications laser de haute puissance, en particulier parce qu’ils permettent de générer des canaux de plasma homogènes dans les diélectriques. Cependant, à haute intensité, les impulsions laser ultracourtes subissent, dans certaines conditions expérimentales (faible focalisation), des instabilités non linéaires entraînant la modulation d’intensité du lobe central au cours de la propagation, ce qui peut être néfaste pour ces applications comme l’usinage des matériaux transparents. L’objectif de cette thèse est de contrôler la génération de canaux de plasma par impulsions de Bessel via le contrôle du profil spatial de ces impulsions. Nous avons dans une première partie, développé une méthode expérimentale pour manipuler le profil d’intensité axiale en régime linéaire. La seconde partie concerne l’étude et le contrôle des instabilités non linéaires induites par l’effet Kerr. Nous avons développé un modèle théorique du mélange à quatre ondes dans les faisceaux de Bessel et avons démontré une nouvelle approche pour manipuler ces instabilités par une mise en forme appropriée de l’intensité axiale des faisceaux de Bessel. Nous avons ensuite étudié la validité des modèles de filamentation basés l’équation non linéaire de Schrödinger et le modèle de Drude. Les résultats expérimentaux de la filamentation des faisceaux de Bessel dans le verre ont montré un comportement invariant par propagation, contrairement aux modèles numériques. Nous avons testé et amendé les modèles de dynamiques de plasma et de propagation. Nos simulations sont comparées à des résultats expérimentaux. Nous montrons que les corrections que nous avons pu apporter par rapport à l’état de l’art sont insuffisantes et rendent nécessaire une autre forme de modèle. / Bessel beams are solutions of Helmholtz equation. They can propagate while conserving their transverse intensity profile in space even in filamentation regime. This feature is very advantageous in high power laser applications such as plasma waveguide generation and laser ablation because they can generate homogeneous plasma channels in dielectrics. However, for moderate to low focusing conditions, Bessel pulses can sustain nonlinear instabilities, which consist in the modulation of the central core intensity along the propagation. Such a feature can prevent efficient energy deposition which hampers the applicability of Bessel pulses. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the possibility to control laser-generated plasma channels using spatially-reshaped Bessel pulses. In a first part, we have developed an experimental method based on a spatial light modulator to modify the evolution of the on-axis intensity of Bessel beams in the linear propagation regime. To study and control Kerr-induced instabilities, we developed, in a second part, a novel model based on four wave mixing interactions in Bessel beams. We have then demonstrated a novel approach to control these instabilities via on-axis intensity shaping. Bessel filamentation models in transparent media were then studied. Most models used in literature are based on nonlinear Schrödinger equation for light propagation and Drude model for laser-matter coupling. Experimental results on Bessel filamentation in glass showed propagation-invariant features in contrast with numerical simulations. Several corrections to this model were discussed. Our results show that such models are insufficient to explain our experimental results and thus the need to develop a more suitable one.

We investigate the spatial evolution of an intense laser pulse as it generates high-order harmonics in a long gas cell, filled with 80 torr of helium. A thin foil separates the gas-filled region of the cell from a subsequent evacuated region. The exit plane of the gas cell can be scanned along the laser axis so that the evolution of the laser throughout the focus can be observed (full scanning range of 9 cm). We constructed an apparatus that images the laser radial energy profile as it exits the cell. The high harmonics, odd orders ranging from 45 to 91, are observed at the same time that the laser spot is characterized. Re-absorption of the harmonics within the gas cell restricts the region of harmonic emission to the final centimeter (or less) of the cell. We present the first direct evidence (to our knowledge) of laser filamentation under conditions ideal for high-order harmonic generation. The 30 fs, 4 mJ, laser pulses were observed to undergo double focusing within the gas cell, with about 4 cm separating the two foci. The region with best harmonic emission occurs midway between the two foci. The radial profile of the laser focus, 150-200 microns in diameter, evolves from a Gaussian-like profile to a more square-top profile as it propagates over several centimeters. The filamentation phenomenon as well as the brightness of the harmonics improves when an aperture is partially closed on the laser beam before reaching the focusing mirror. A spectral sampling of the imaged laser focus revealed a 4 nm blue-shift associated with the generation of plasma in the gas cell. The blue-shifting occurs primarily in the center of the laser beam and less at the wider radii. The initial laser pulse had a spectrum centered at 800 nm with a 35 nm bandwidth. The energy associated with each of the observed 26 harmonic beams was found to be approximately 1 nJ, yielding a conversion efficiency of approximately 2e−7.

Laser filamentation is a non-diffracting propagation regime consisting of an intense core that is surrounded by an energy reservoir. For laser ablation based spectroscopy techniques such as Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), laser filamentation enables the remote delivery of high power density laser radiation at long distances. This work shows a quasiconstant filament-induced mass ablation along a 35 m propagation distance. The mass ablated is sufficient for the application of laser filamentation as a sampling tool for plasma based spectroscopy techniques. Within the scope of this study, single-shot ablation was compared with multi-shot ablation. The dependence of ablated mass on the number of pulses was observed to have a quasi-linear dependence on the number of pulses, advantageous for applications such as spectroscopy. Sample metrology showed that both physical and optical material properties have significant effects on the filament-induced ablation behavior. A relatively slow filament-induced plasma expansion was observed, as compared with a focused beam. This suggests that less energy was transferred to the plasma during filamentinduced ablation. The effects of the filament core and the energy reservoir on the filamentinduced ablation and plasma formation were investigated. Goniometric measurements of the filament-induced plasma, along with radiometric calculations, provided the number of emitted photons from a specific atomic transition and sample material. This work advances the understanding of the effects of single filaments on the ablation of solid materials and the understanding of filament-induced plasma dynamics. It has lays the foundation for further quantitative studies of multiple filamentation. The implications of this iv work extend beyond spectroscopy and include any application of filamentation that involves the interaction with a solid material

To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive study of laser-induced effects generated at intermediate distances using self-channeled femtosecond laser pulses. Studies performed were made both experimentally and theoretically with the use of novel modeling techniques. Peak laser pulse powers above 3 GW allow beam propagation without divergence for up to several kilometers. In this regime, experiments were performed at 30 meters from the laser system in a custom propagation and target range, utilizing the Laser Plasma Laboratory's Terawatt laser system. Experiments included investigations of laser ablation; electromagnetic pulsed (EMP) radiation generation over the 1-18 GHz region; shockwave formation in air and solid media; optical coupling of channeled pulses into transparent media; and, conservation of energy in these interactions. The use of bursts of femtosecond pulses was found to increase the ablation rate significantly over single-pulse ablation in both air and vacuum. EMP generation from near-field focused and distance-propagated pulses was investigated. Field strengths upwards of 400 V/m/[Lambda] for vacuum focusing and 25 V/m/[Lambda] for self-channeled pulses were observed. The total field strengths over 1-18 GHz measured at distance surpassed 12 kV/m. Shockwaves generated in transparent media at 30 meters were observed as a function of time. It was found that the interaction conditions control the formation and propagation of the shock fronts into the medium. Due to the processes involved in self-channeling, significant fractions of the laser pulse were coupled into the target materials, resulting in internal optical and exit-surface damage. Basic estimations on the conservation of energy in the interaction are presented. The results of the experiments are supported by hydrodynamic plasma physics code and acoustic modeling.

<p>This study examined the self-trapping of light emitted by a miniature green laser in a photopolymerizable medium and the interactions between two parallel-propagating self-trapped beams. The work included the design and fabrication of an Intra-Cavity Frequency-Doubling (IC-FD) Nd: YVO₄/MgO: PPLN miniature green laser with a stable and tunable output intensity. Emission from this laser enabled a systematic examination of self-trapping phenomena at incident intensities spanning 8 orders of magnitude (3.2× W·cm^-2to 6368 W·cm^-2). When launched into a photopolymerizable medium, light emitted by the miniature green laser self-trapped by initiating polymerization and corresponding changes in refractive index along its propagation path. The evolution and dynamics of the self-trapped beam corresponded to the behaviour of self-trapped beams of coherent light. Interactions between a pair of parallel-propagating self-trapped beams were also characterised at a range of intensities. This study shows that the miniature green laser is an efficient, coherent source with a large range of output intensities for the excitation of self-trapped beams. This opens opportunities for its incorporation into small-scale optical systems designed to operate based on the generation and interactions of self-trapped beams.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

This dissertation details the development and applications of two innovative types of optical filament-based impulsive Raman spectroscopy: filament-assisted Raman spectroscopy (FAIRS) and spectral-to-temporal amplitude mapping polarization spectroscopy (STAMPS). These techniques provide complimentary vibrational and rotational information on molecular systems of interest. Both are powerful due to their impulsive nature which allows for rapid measurement of entire Raman spectra. However, each type of spectroscopy utilizes the filament in a different manner. The recently reported vibrational technique, referred to as filament-assisted impulsive Raman spectroscopy, employs the pulse shortening and continuum generation of filamentation to impulsively excite a massive vibrational coherence in a molecular system for simultaneous measurement of all the Raman-active modes. In the first half of this dissertation, FAIRS is further developed and applied to a plethora of signature molecules. Radioactive decay signature molecules, including nitrogen oxides, ozone, and ions are detected via FAIR spectroscopy. Concurrent generation and detection of ozone, ionic, and excited-state molecules through filamentation is reported for the first time. Production of these species through the strong field chemistry of filamentation and their subsequent filament-driven excitation is a mark of sensitivity of FAIRS. Spatial studies of combustion species in a natural gas flame are also presented. FAIRS monitors the Raman signal intensities of known reactants and products as a function of vertical flame position. The appearance of combustion products as a function of flame height is also tracked. Spectral fringes overlapping the Raman-active modes are present in all measurements and enable more sensitive detection of low signal intensity species. The results described illustrate the potential of FAIRS for threat sensing applications. The rotational technique, referred to as spectral-to-temporal amplitude mapping polarization spectroscopy, temporally chirps the spectral content of the white-light continuum generated during filamentation to map the transient rotational rivals that are impulsively excited by a short pump pulse. In the second half of this dissertation, the initial development and testing, followed by the applications of STAMPS are described. STAMPS proves successful in mapping the rotational wavepacket rephasing of simple linear molecules, including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, as well as the more complicated asymmetric top molecules, ethylene and methanol. The application of STAMPS to the detection of nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide, which are considered signatures of multiple threat substances and events, is demonstrated. A pressure study of nitrous oxide reveals dephasing effects as a function of time and pressure. These preliminary results also indicate the potential of STAMPS for hazard sensing applications. / Chemistry