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This paper formulates an utility indifference pricing model for investors trading in a discrete time financial market under non-dominated model uncertainty. The investors preferences are described by strictly increasing concave random functions defined on the positive axis. We prove that under suitable conditions the multiple-priors utility indifference prices of a contingent claim converge to its multiple-priors superreplication price. We also revisit the notion of certainty equivalent for random utility functions and establish its relation with the absolute risk aversion.

International audience; Gondwanan floras of Late Devonian age are poorly known. In Australia, the rare studies that have been published on Late Devonian plants are old and need reinvestigation. This paper is an account of the plant macro- and micro-remains found in the Mandowa Mudstone at Barraba, New South Wales. According to the miospores, plants are late to latest Famennian in age. The record of anatomically preserved specimens is diversified, with nine taxa assigned to the Lycopsida, Cladoxylopsida, Iridopteridales and Archaeopteridales. One specimen is referrable to the spermatophytes. Several taxa are specific to Barraba, i.e., the lycopsid genera Cymastrobus and Lycaugea, the iridopteridalean genus Keraphyton, the cladoxylopsid species Polyxylon australe, and possibly a plant represented by a large Hierogramma branch showing exarch protoxylem strands. The adpression record is dominated by axes of the cosmopolitan lycopsid genus Leptophloeum. It also includes specimens interpreted as seed plants such as a possible ovule resembling Pseudosporogonites, and two types of foliage differing by their petiole width. One of this foliage consists of delicate fronds broadly comparable to those of Cosmosperma. The closest flora from Barraba is the late Famennian–earliest Tournaisian flora of the New Albany Shale in eastern USA, suggesting floral connexion and comparable environmental conditions between Northern Gondwana and Southern Laurussia.

We demonstrate instrumentation and methods to enable fluorescence-detected photothermal infrared (F-PTIR) microscopy, then demonstrate the utility of F-PTIR to characterize the composition within phase-separated domains of model amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) induced by water sorption. In F-PTIR, temperature-dependent changes in fluorescence quantum efficiency are shown to sensitively report on highly localized absorption of mid-infrared radiation. The spatial resolution with which infrared spectroscopy can be performed is dictated by fluorescence microscopy, rather than the infrared wavelength. Following proof of concept F-PTIR demonstration on model systems of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and silica gel, F-PTIR enabled the characterization of chemical composition within inhomogeneous ritonavir / polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVPVA) amorphous dispersions. Phase separation is implicated in the observation of critical behaviors in ASD dissolution kinetics, with the results of F-PTIR supporting the formation of phase-separated drug-rich domains upon water absorption in spin-cast films., 5 pages, 4 figures

International audience; Premise of research. Resolving the time and patterns of origination of the Isoetales that thrived in the wet habitats of the late Paleozoic and have extant representatives in the genus Isoetes requires a better understanding of their early members and precursors. Recent studies conducted for a large part in South China acknowledged the diversification of Middle to Late Devonian taxa that possessed isoetalean traits and either were closely related to the Isoetales or occupied a basal position within this plant order. Recent investigations of Late Devonian floras from Australia show that this area, on the northeastern edge of Gondwana, also yields taxa with combinations of characters unknown elsewhere.Methodology. The anatomy and external morphology of an anatomically preserved fragment of a lycopsid axis from the Famennian locality of Barraba, in New South Wales, are described. The new specimen is compared to lycopsid taxa on the basis of anatomically preserved specimens ranging from the Middle Devonian to the Late Carboniferous.Pivotal results. The Barraba specimen shows a new combination of characters consisting of a medullated protostele, three-zoned cortex with a wide middle cortex, homogeneous primary outer cortex, presumably deciduous leaves, and slightly protuberant widely spaced leaf bases. Leaf bases show a single large parichnos and are covered adaxially by a thick translucent layer. The specimen is interpreted as the distal branch of a new arborescent taxon, Lycaugea edieae. Taxa with the closest morphoanatomical characters, such as Wexfordia hookense, belong to the Isoetales and are found in deposits of Europe and the eastern United States.Conclusions. Lycaugea edieae is the third lycopsid taxon described from Barraba, which, to date, has yielded a majority of spore-producing plants. It increases the diversity of the early Isoetales around the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary. The Barraba flora is more similar to the contemporaneous flora in southern Laurussia than to that in China.

Building on our previous development of a compact, portable, and low SWaP gas analyzer (11” x 6.7” x 5.1”, 7.8 lbs) based on photoacoustic spectroscopy and using broadband quantum cascade laser arrays, we demonstrate here compositional analysis of airborne aerosols using this instrument. With an integration time of 330-ms per laser, and ~70 seconds for a spectrum covering 950-1500 cm-1, our instrument showed a detection sensitivity at the mg/m3 level for solid and liquid-loaded solid aerosols. Additionally, Malathion-loaded aerosols can be discriminated from pure Syloid aerosols based on their absorption features. The preliminary results show a potential path for developments of a portable real-time aerosol composition analyzer.

This presentation introduces advances realized at Pendar Technologies on the development of fieldable IR and Raman spectroscopy systems for the detection of residues on surfaces. In the first part of the presentation, we will focus on active standoff infrared hyperspectral imaging of small amounts of biological materials (BG and BT spores) deposited on surfaces using a compact quantum cascade laser array-based system. In the second part, we will discuss the development of a fieldable Raman microscopy system to autonomously analyze the composition of single particles deposited on surfaces. The compact system we developed can be used in the field by non-expert users.

This presentation describes implementations of remote chemical detection capabilities developed by Pendar Technologies, allowing safe identification of explosives and toxic materials by military personnel and first responders using unmanned ground and air vehicles. These integration efforts are based on the Pendar X10 system, a handheld standoff Raman chemical identification system. Following an update on recent improvements to the Pendar X10 platform, integration to both air and ground vehicles will be discussed. Our presentation will highlight the key design elements enabling successful remote chemical identification, as well as solutions developed specifically to facilitate integration to unmanned platforms.

Mid-infrared spectral “fingerprints” of many hazardous and harmful gaseous substances are characterized by broad absorption bands, resulting from the merging of several absorption lines corresponding to ro-vibrational transitions. Broadband absorption spectroscopy is fundamental to detect and discriminate these substances. Here we report on a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor for broadband absorbers detection, employing a monolithic array of 32, individually addressable, distributed-feedback quantum cascade lasers as the excitation source. This light source combines a fast tuning speed with a large tuning range, from 1190 cm−1 to 1340 cm−1 together with a high stability. The QEPAS sensor was tested for nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) detection, exhibiting absorption features in the laser source emission spectral range. The two broad P- and R- absorption branches of N2O have been accurately reconstructed, as well as several absorption features of CH4, for gas concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000 part-per-million in nitrogen.

We report a portable broadband photoacoustic spectroscopic system for trace gas detection using distributed feedback quantum cascade laser arrays. By sequentially firing 128 lasers, our system acquires a photoacoustic spectrum covering 565 c m − 1 ( 935 − 1500 c m − 1 ) with a normalized-noise-equivalent-absorption coefficient of 2.5 × 10 − 9 c m − 1 W H z − 1 / 2 . The firing sequence that determines when and which laser to activate is programmable, which enables frequency-multiplexing excitation. For demonstration, 12 lasers are modulated simultaneously at distinct frequencies, and a photoacoustic spectrum is acquired within 13 ms. The compactness ( 28 c m × 17 c m × 13 c m , 3.5 kg) and low power consumption enable convenient installation for on-site monitoring.

We present a portable broadband photoacoustic spectroscopic system for trace gas or aerosol detection using distributed feedback quantum cascade laser arrays. By sequentially firing 128 lasers, our system acquires a photoacoustic spectrum covering 565 cm-1 (935-1500 cm-1) with a normalized-noise-equivalent-absorption coefficient of 2.5×10-9 cm−1WHz−1/2. In addition to sequential firing mode, the laser source can be operated in multiplexing mode. The firing sequence that determines when and which laser to be activated is programmable, which enables frequency-multiplexing excitation. For demonstration, we modulate 12 lasers at 12 distinct frequencies and a photoacoustic spectrum is acquired within 13 ms.

This presentation introduces advances realized at Pendar Technologies on standoff detection of chemicals. We will first focus on improvements realized to our QCL array-based prototype for infrared hyperspectral imaging of small amounts of CWAs, with the addition of visible imaging to enhance detection confidence. We will then introduce the technological advances enabling Pendar X10, our handheld standoff Raman system, designed for the identification of bulk chemicals. New capabilities of this product will be discussed in the context of specific field measurement examples and the impact of these capabilities on user safety and measurement speed will be detailed. Finally, our presentation will close on recent results obtained with our Raman platform for the detection of smaller amount of materials.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic-based broadband detection is demonstrated. • Methane detection sensitivity of 200 ppb in 10 s integration time is achieved. • Multi-gas detection of mixtures of methane and nitrous oxide is demonstrated. • Analytes concentration is retrieved despite absorption spectra significant overlap., Here we report on the broadband detection of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) mixtures in dry nitrogen by using a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic (QEPAS) sensor exploiting an array of 32 distributed-feedback quantum cascade lasers, within a spectral emission range of 1190−1340 cm−1 as the excitation source. Methane detection down to a minimum detection limit of 200 ppb at 10 s lock-in integration time was achieved. The sensor demonstrated a linear response in the range of 200−1000 ppm. Three different mixtures of N2O and CH4 in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure have been analyzed. The capability of the developed QEPAS sensor to selectively determine the N2O and CH4 concentrations was demonstrated, in spite of significant overlap in their respective absorption spectra in the investigated spectral range.

This article presents new hyperspectral imaging (HSI) results from a standoff chemical detection system that utilizes monolithic arrays of Distributed Feedback (DFB) Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) as a source, with each array element at a slightly different wavelength than its neighbor. In this rastering approach to HSI, analysis of analyte/substrate pairs benefits from a laser source with characteristics offered uniquely by a QCL Array. In addition to describing the HSI system developed, a description of experimental standoff detection results using the man-portable system from 1.4 meters are presented. We present HSI results on two very different chemical substrate pairs; trace solid PETN on aluminum and the liquid VX on polycarbonate.

A hyperspectral beam-scanning microscope operating in the long wave infrared (LWIR) is demonstrated for future application to stand-off imaging platforms. A 32-channel quantum-cascade laser (QCL) array enables rapid wavelength modulation for fast hyperspectral imaging through sparse sampling in position and wavelength, which when coupled with image reconstruction techniques can enhance frame rate. Initial measurements of dichloromethane and water mixtures are shown, utilizing spectral information for classification across the field of view. Ongoing efforts aim to utilize copropagating visible and IR beams to enhance spatial resolution for the IR measurements by combining spatial information retrieved from visible images obtained concurrently. Future work will leverage Lissajous trajectories for sparsely-sampled beam-scanning and extend the image interpolation algorithms to arbitrary dimension for sparse sampling in the spectral domain. Simulations of the error associated with various sparse-sampling methods are also presented herein which support the use of Lissajous trajectories as a sparse-sampling method in beam-scanning microscopy.

We report on a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic (QEPAS) sensor employing a monolithic distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser array operating in a pulsed mode as a light source. The array consists of 32 quantum cascade lasers emitting in a spectral range from 1190 cm-1 to 1340 cm-1, which covers two absorption branches of nitrous oxide (N2O) and several absorption features of (CH4). The versatility of the QEPAS technique combined with the rapid wavelength tuning provided by the ultra-compact, low-power consuming laser source allowed the detection of N2O and CH4 with detection sensitivities below a part-per-million at atmospheric pressure.

Using rapidly-tunable quantum cascade laser arrays, we demonstrate acquisition of absorption spectra over 50cm-1 with < 0.1cm−1 resolution and a minimum detectable absorbance of 1 × 10−4 over the full spectrum in < 0.5s.

This paper investigates the problem of maximizing expected terminal utility in a discrete-time financial market model with a finite horizon under non-dominated model uncertainty. We use a dynamic programming framework together with measurable selection arguments to prove that under mild integrability conditions, an optimal portfolio exists for an unbounded utility function defined on the half-real line.

This article presents new spectroscopic results in standoff chemical detection that are enabled by monolithic arrays of Distributed Feedback (DFB) Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), with each array element at a slightly different wavelength than its neighbor. The standoff analysis of analyte/substrate pairs requires a laser source with characteristics offered uniquely by a QCL Array. This is particularly true for time-evolving liquid chemical warfare agent (CWA) analysis. In addition to describing the QCL array source developed for long wave infrared coverage, a description of an integrated prototype standoff detection system is provided. Experimental standoff detection results using the man-portable system for droplet examination from 1.3 meters are presented using the CWAs VX and T-mustard as test cases. Finally, we consider three significant challenges to working with droplets and liquid films in standoff spectroscopy: substrate uptake of the analyte, time-dependent droplet spread of the analyte, and variable substrate contributions to retrieved signals.

We present a gas sensing system based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) employing a monolithic distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) array operated in a pulsed mode as a light source. The array consists of 32 quantum cascade lasers emitting in a spectral range from 1190 cm−1 to 1340 cm−1. The optoacoustic detection module was composed of a custom quartz tuning fork with a prong spacing of 1 mm, coupled with two micro-resonator tubes to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The QEPAS sensor was validated by detecting the absorption of the P- and R-branches of nitrous oxide. The measurements were performed by switching the array QCLs in sequence while tuning their operating temperature to retrieve the fine structure of the two N2O branches. A sensor calibration was performed, demonstrating a linear responsivity for N2O:N2 concentrations from 1000 down to 200 parts-per-million. With a 10 s lock-in integration time, a detection sensitivity of less than 60 parts-per-billion was achieved permitting the monitoring of nitrous oxide at global atmospheric levels.

Three dimensional chemical and structural information from an Al 0.25 Ga 0.75 As/GaAs terahertz quantum cascade laser heterostructure obtained by atom probe tomography is used to demonstrate the impact of diffusion-induced chemical roughening of the AlGaAs barrier layers on the optoelectronic characteristics of the laser by recalculating the band structure of the QCL and comparing the relevant parameters with the ones from the nominal structure and finally an optimized structure is proposed.

Significance Renewable energy can be generated whenever heat flows from a hotter to a colder body. One such flow is from the warm surface of Earth to cold outer space, via infrared thermal radiation. An emissive energy harvester (EEH) is a device that can generate energy from emitting thermal radiation into the clear sky. We calculate how much power is thermodynamically available, using a location in Oklahoma as a case study. We discuss two possible ways to make such a device: A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using a rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in near-neutral pH environment remains a major concern for high pressure pipelines transporting oil and gas in Canada since its first discovery in 1980s. A variety of laboratory experiments and models have been developed to address different aspects of this complex problem. Full-scale pipe SCC testing using soil box that mimics the condition in the field can directly assess crack growth in terms of pressure level, range of pressure fluctuation, soil conditions, etc. This type of test also offers the most direct validation of SCC models. A state-of-the-art full-scale SCC pipe testing facility has been established at CanmetMATERIALS Hamilton Laboratory. The facility includes a new hydraulic power unit (HPU), an upgraded 500 kN fatigue frame, and a new 2000 psi (14MPa) pressurization system. In addition, a 24-channel direct current potential drop (DCPD) unit has been refurnished for in-situ monitoring of crack growth. The full-scale pipe SCC testing facility has been successfully used to measure crack growth in an X-70 (Grade 483) large diameter (914 mm or 36” OD) spiral seam-welded pipe. Six axial cracks were made using saw cutting and fatigue pre-cracking in the base metal and across the spiral-weld metal. All cracks were buried under two types of soil boxes with soil obtained from a near-neutral pH SCC pipeline failure site mixed with distilled water or NS4 solution. The pH of the solution was maintained between 6.9 and 7.2 throughout the testing. Several loading conditions were tested and DCPD was used to monitor SCC growth rate during all the tests. No detectable growth was observed in the cracks of weld area during all the tests mainly due to over-matching strength. Crack growth was also not detected for the base metal until the maximum pressure was raised up to 95% SMYS with R = 0.7. The threshold of the range of stress intensity factor, (ΔK)th for SCC is thus estimated to be between 11.53 to 13.52 MPa m1/2. The measured average crack growth rate was 5.98×10−7 mm/s.

We report on room-temperature, continuous-wave operation of single-mode quantum cascade lasers designed for minimal threshold power consumption in the 4 to 10 μm spectral range. Narrow-ridge distributed feedback lasers were developed with plasma-etched sidewall corrugations and infrared-transparent dielectric cladding, enabling fabrication without any epitaxial steps beyond the initial growth of the planar laser wafer. The devices exhibit single-mode emission with stable, mode-hop-free tuning and side-mode suppression greater than 25 dB. We demonstrate packaged single-mode devices with continuous-wave threshold power consumption near 1 W above room temperature.

Optical coatings, which consist of one or more films of dielectric or metallic materials, are widely used in applications ranging from mirrors to eyeglasses and photography lenses. Many conventional dielectric coatings rely on Fabry-Perot-type interference, involving multiple optical passes through transparent layers with thicknesses of the order of the wavelength to achieve functionalities such as anti-reflection, high-reflection and dichroism. Highly absorbing dielectrics are typically not used because it is generally accepted that light propagation through such media destroys interference effects. We show that under appropriate conditions interference can instead persist in ultrathin, highly absorbing films of a few to tens of nanometres in thickness, and demonstrate a new type of optical coating comprising such a film on a metallic substrate, which selectively absorbs various frequency ranges of the incident light. These coatings have a low sensitivity to the angle of incidence and require minimal amounts of absorbing material that can be as thin as 5-20 nm for visible light. This technology has the potential for a variety of applications from ultrathin photodetectors and solar cells to optical filters, to labelling, and even the visual arts and jewellery.

The concept of optical phase discontinuities is applied to the design and demonstration of aberration-free planar lenses and axicons, comprising a phased array of ultrathin subwavelength-spaced optical antennas. The lenses and axicons consist of V-shaped nanoantennas that introduce a radial distribution of phase discontinuities, thereby generating respectively spherical wavefronts and nondiffracting Bessel beams at telecom wavelengths. Simulations are also presented to show that our aberration-free designs are applicable to high-numerical aperture lenses such as flat microscope objectives.

The manipulation of light by conventional optical components such as lenses, prisms, and waveplates involves engineering of the wavefront as it propagates through an optically thick medium. A unique class of flat optical components with high functionality can be designed by introducing abrupt phase shifts into the optical path, utilizing the resonant response of arrays of scatterers with deeply subwavelength thickness. As an application of this concept, we report a theoretical and experimental study of birefringent arrays of two-dimensional (V- and Y-shaped) optical antennas which support two orthogonal charge-oscillation modes and serve as broadband, anisotropic optical elements that can be used to locally tailor the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light. The degree of optical anisotropy can be designed by controlling the interference between the waves scattered by the antenna modes; in particular, we observe a striking effect in which the anisotropy disappears as a result of destructive interference. These properties are captured by a simple, physical model in which the antenna modes are treated as independent, orthogonally oriented harmonic oscillators.

This article presents new spectroscopic results in standoff chemical detection that are enabled by monolithic arrays of Distributed Feedback (DFB) Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), with each array element at a slightly different wavelength than its neighbor. The standoff analysis of analyte/substrate pairs requires a laser source with characteristics offered uniquely by a QCL Array. This is particularly true for time-evolving liquid chemical warfare agent (CWA) analysis. In addition to describing the QCL array source developed for long wave infrared coverage, a description of an integrated prototype standoff detection system is provided. Experimental standoff detection results using the man-portable system for droplet examination from 1.3 meters are presented using the CWAs VX and T-mustard as test cases. Finally, we consider three significant challenges to working with droplets and liquid films in standoff spectroscopy: substrate uptake of the analyte, time-dependent droplet spread of the analyte, and variable substrate contributions to retrieved signals.

This paper reviews our recent work on laser beam shaping using plasmonics. We demonstrated that by integrating properly designed plasmonic structures onto the facet of semiconductor lasers, their divergence angle can be dramatically reduced by more than one orders of magnitude, down to a few degrees. A plasmonic collimator consisting of a slit aperture and an adjacent 1-D grating can collimate laser light in the laser polarization direction; a collimator consisting of a rectangular aperture and a concentric ring grating can reduce the beam divergence both perpendicular and parallel to the laser polarization direction, thus achieving collimation in the plane perpendicular to the laser beam. The devices integrated with plasmonic collimators preserve good room-temperature performance with output power comparable to that of the original unpatterned lasers. A collimator design for one wavelength can be scaled to adapt to other wavelengths ranging from the visible to the far-IR regimes. Plasmonic collimation offers a compact and integrated solution to the problem of laser beam collimation and may have a large impact on applications such as free-space optical communication, pointing, and light detection and ranging. This paper opens up major opportunities in wavefront engineering using plasmonic structures.

Predictable tuning behavior and stable laser operation are both crucial for laser spectroscopy measurements. We report a sampled grating quantum cascade laser (QCL) with high spectral tuning stability over the entire tuning range. We have determined the minimum loss margin required to suppress undesired lasing modes in order to ensure predictable tuning behavior. We have quantified power fluctuations and drift of our devices by measuring the Allan deviation. To demonstrate the feasibility of sampled grating QCLs for high-precision molecular spectroscopy, we have built a simple transmission spectroscopy setup. Our results prove that sampled grating QCLs are suitable light sources for highly sensitive spectroscopy measurements.

A next-generation bistatic, open-path sensor is currently in development that utilizes a Quantum cascade laser array for the source in order to achieve methane and nitrous oxide detection over path lengths exceeding 100 m.

This presentation presents the spectroscopic concepts and results enabled by arrays of Distributed Feedback (DFB) QCLs, with each element at a slightly different wavelength than its neighbor. In optical systems, such as standoff detectors and in situ gas analyzers, this increases analyte sensitivity and selectivity by broadening spectral source coverage and by allowing for extremely fast all-electronic wavelength tuning with no moving parts. The QCL array is also an increasingly essential solution to the power scaling of QCLs. This talk will present the QCL array concept and our packaging systems before moving to discuss molecular spectroscopy results for a) multigas sensing, b) standoff explosives detection, and c) power scaling for directed energy.

In the Cherenkov effect a charged particle moving with a velocity faster than the phase velocity of light in the medium radiates light that forms a cone with a half angle determined by the ratio of the two speeds. In this paper, we show that by creating a running wave of polarization along a one dimensional metallic nanostructure consisting of subwavelength spaced rotated apertures that propagates faster than the surface plasmon polariton phase velocity, we can generate surface plasmon wakes, which are the two-dimensional analogue of Cherenkov radiation. The running wave of polarization travels with a speed determined by the angle of incidence and the photon spin angular momentum. We utilize this running wave of polarization to demonstrate controlled steering of the wakes by changing both the angle of incidence and the polarization of light, which we measure through near-field scanning optical microscopy.

Together with the optimal basic design, buried heterostructure quantum cascade laser (BH-QCL) with semi-insulating regrowth offers unique possibility to achieve an effective thermal dissipation and lateral single mode. We demonstrate here for the first time realization of BH-QCLs with a single step regrowth of highly resistive (>1x10(8) ohm.cm) semi-insulating InP:Fe in less than 45 minutes in a flexible hydride vapour phase epitaxy process for burying ridges etched down to 10-15 mu m deep both with and without mask overhang. The fabricated BH-QCLs emitting at similar to 4.7 mu m and similar to 5.5 mu m were characterized. 2 mm long 5.5 mu m lasers with ridge width 17-22 mu m, regrown with mask overhang, exhibited no leakage current. Large width and high doping in the structure did not permit high current density for CW operation. 5 mm long 4.7 mu m BH-QCLs of ridge widths varying from 6-14 mu m regrown without mask overhang, besides being spatially monomode, TM00, exhibited WPE of similar to 8-9% with an output power of 1.5 - 2.5 W at room temperature and under CW operation. Thus, we demonstrate a simple, flexible, quick, stable and single-step regrowth process with extremely good planarization for realizing buried QCLs leading to monomode, high power and high WPE.

We present a genetically optimized multi-wavelengths laser based on an aperiodic sampled grating. We show that the grating phases and amplitudes can be optimized to flatten the spectral signature allowing multi-wavelengths operation.

We experimentally demonstrate that a thin (~150 nm) film of vanadium dioxide (VO2) deposited on sapphire has an anomalous thermal emittance profile when heated, which arises due to the optical interaction between the film and the substrate when the VO2 is at an intermediate state of its insulator-metal transition (IMT). Within the IMT region, the VO2 film comprises nanoscale islands of metal- and dielectric-phase, and can thus be viewed as a natural, disordered metamaterial. This structure displays "perfect" blackbody-like thermal emissivity over a narrow wavelength range (~40 cm-1), surpassing the emissivity of our black soot reference. We observed large broadband negative differential thermal emittance over a >10 {\deg}C range: upon heating, the VO2/sapphire structure emitted less thermal radiation and appeared colder on an infrared camera. We anticipate that emissivity engineering with thin film geometries comprising VO2 will find applications in infrared camouflage, thermal regulation, infrared tagging and labeling., Comment: 3 figures

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has both natural and anthropogenic sources. The ability to measure methane using an integrated path length approach such as an open/long-path length sensor would be beneficial in several environments for examining anthropogenic and natural sources, including tundra landscapes, rivers, lakes, landfills, estuaries, fracking sites, pipelines, and agricultural sites. Here a broadband monolithic distributed feedback-quantum cascade laser array was utilized as the source for an open-path methane sensor. Two telescopes were utilized for the launch (laser source) and receiver (detector) in a bistatic configuration for methane sensing across a 50 m path length. Direct-absorption spectroscopy was utilized with intrapulse tuning. Ambient methane levels were detectable, and an instrument precision of 70 ppb with 100 s averaging and 90 ppb with 10 s averaging was achieved. The sensor system was designed to work "off the grid" and utilizes batteries that are rechargeable with solar panels and wind turbines.

We report continuous-wave operation of single-mode quantum cascade (QC) lasers emitting near 7.4 µm with threshold power consumption below 1 W at temperatures up to 40 °C. The lasers were fabricated with narrow, plasma-etched waveguides and distributed-feedback sidewall gratings clad with sputtered aluminum nitride. In contrast to conventional buried-heterostructure (BH) devices with epitaxial sidewall cladding and in-plane gratings, the devices described here were fabricated without any epitaxial regrowth processes, yet they exhibit power consumption comparable to the lowest-dissipation BH QC lasers reported to date. These low-dissipation devices are designed primarily as light sources for infrared spectroscopy instruments with limited volume, mass, and power budgets.

We demonstrate a three-section, electrically pulsed quantum cascade laser which consists of a Fabry-Perot section placed between two sampled grating distributed Bragg reflectors. The device is current-tuned between ten single modes spanning a range of 0.46 μm (63 cm(-1)), from 8.32 to 8.78 μm. The peak optical output power exceeds 280 mW for nine of the modes.

We demonstrate a double-waveguide quantum cascade laser (QCL) consisting of two full broadband QCLs vertically integrated into a single monolithic device. Up to 1.1W peak power at room temperature is obtained for this record thick QCL. Coupling between the two laser waveguides is minimized to reduce gain competition. Simultaneous lasing on Fabry-Perot modes separated by as much as 360 cm−1 is obtained. This design opens the route to high-power ultra-broadband mid-infrared sources.

We present a simplified numerical method to solve for the current distribution in a V-shaped antenna excited by an electric field with arbitrary polarization. The scattered far-field amplitude, phase, and polarization of the antennas are extracted. The calculation technique presented here is an efficient method for probing the large design parameter space of such antennas, which have been proposed as basic building blocks for the design of ultrathin plasmonic metasurfaces. Our calculation is based on the integral equation method of moments and is validated by comparison to the results of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The computation time is approximately five orders of magnitude less than for FDTD simulations. This speed-up relies mainly on the use of the thin-wire approximation, whose domain of validity is discussed. This method can be generalized to more complex geometries such as zigzag antennas.

We explore guided modes in metallic "spoof-insulator-spoof" (SIS) waveguides: parallel plate structures with subwavelength corrugation on the surfaces of both conductors. A dispersion relation for SIS waveguides is analytically obtained. The modes in the structure arise from the coupling of conventional parallel plate waveguide modes with the localized modes of the grooves. SIS waveguides can be engineered to guide modes with low group velocities and SIS tapers can be used to convert light between photonic modes and plasmonic ones.

We demonstrate that plasmonic two-oscillator elements such as V- and Y-shaped antennas can locally tailor the phase of light over 2π. A theoretical model and full-wave simulations explain the measured spectral response of these elements.

ACL-12-37; International audience; The composition of the allochthonous flora from Dechra Aït Abdallah (Central Morocco), initially described by Termier and Termier (1950), is reassessed from newly collected fossil material. Our work provides an updated taxonomic treatment of the plant remains. The flora comprises two lycophytes (including Leclercqia complexa), the probable iridopterid Anapaulia moodyi, and two aneurophytalean progymnosperms: Rellimia sp. and "Aneurophyton" maroccanum. Our revision confirms the Termiers' main conclusions that this Devonian flora is to date the most diverse and best known from Africa. Based on the complete paleontological evidence available from this locality, a Givetian age is as likely as an Eifelian age for the flora. The abundance of plant remains associated with the extreme scarcity of fertile organs may be accounted for by a taphonomic sorting, climatic conditions and/or specific ecological strategies. The flora of Dechra Aït Abdallah shows similarities with the Middle Devonian floras from the European part of Laurussia. This suggests that the paleogeographical position of Central Morocco permitted exchanges with Laurussia, and infers proximity of the latter with the north-western border of Gondwana during Middle Devonian times

We demonstrate 1.1W peak power from a monolithic broadband laser composed of four quantum cascade laser active regions distributed over two uncoupled optical waveguides. This work paves the way for high-brightness broadband mid-infrared sources.

Ultra-thin and integrated photonic devices based on optical phase discontinuities can generate optical vortices with a variety of topological charges, as well as sort out vortex beam topological charges by means of holographic gratings.