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A short linear cavity erbium fiber laser is adapted to become a Q-switched laser by using a new and simple loss switching technique. The technique utilizes the inherent flexibility of optical fiber to rapidly drive the fiber end in and out of alignment with a cavity mirror, creating the conditions necessary for Q-switching. We investigate the effectiveness of different Q-switch configurations and analyze the Q-switch opening time of each configuration. [c] 2010 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 060.2410, 060.3510, 140.3500, 140.3510, 140.3540.

A new design method for planar microwave filters based on the theory of inverse scattering is presented. The method results in filters with a continuously changing profile, for example a nonuniform microstrip line with continuously varying width. Filters designed by this method are shown to possess some distinct advantages in realization and performance over other common techniques. The design method is presented in detail, and efficient numerical algorithms to solve the design equations that arise are discussed. A wideband 4 pole Chebyshev bandpass filter was designed, constructed, and tested, to prove the design method. This is the first demonstration of a microwave filter designed using inverse scattering.

Data from the New South Wales (NSW) Household Travel Survey (2014/15) was analyzed to determine the trip-by-trip range of automobile travel in NSW. The results show that 88% of trips were less than 30 km, which could readily be provided by electric vehicles, consuming a total of 18 GWh in electrical energy per weekday. Even if all electric vehicles were recharged from non-renewable coal-fired power plants, the greater efficiency of electric vehicles would result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across NSW by 18% carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2(eq)). Additionally, we mapped the average state of charge distribution of the electric vehicles at key times during the day, indicating the maximum net load (for recharging) and/or available energy (for vehicle-to-grid services) across NSW. The results are consistent with other international studies and demonstrate the potential for wide scale electric vehicles adoption in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of detailed numerical modeling and optimization of optical amplification in polymer nanocomposite materials, comprising highly doped phosphate nanoparticles in a polymer host. A key feature of the model is that the effects of scattering at both pump and signal wavelengths were included in the calculations. As an example, we show that optical gain is feasible at 1.55~\mu \textm in a poly-methyl-methacrylate host containing 10% by volume of Er/Yb-doped phosphate nanoparticles 100 nm in diameter when pumped at 980 nm with intensity 1 mW/ \mu \textm^2 , i.e. parameters which are representative of what may be achieved in practice in optical waveguides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]