Marko M. Krstić

Injection Power and Detuning-Dependent Bistability in Fabry–Perot Laser Diodes

In this paper, we investigate the range of injection power and frequency detuning for which bistability of the injection-locked semiconductor Fabry-Perot laser diode can be achieved and preserved. The analysis is based on a detailed model of the multimode rate equations and material gain. The stationary analysis shows that there is a region of the injection power and detuning for which the laser has three stationary states. However, the stability analysis shows that for a wide range of injection powers and detuning, the two of three stationary states are stable and provide bistability. One of these states is the result of injection locking, whereas the other is mainly a consequence of the interplay between injection-locked and unlocked modes. The difference of the side-mode-suppression ratio between the stable states is of the order of 20 dB and it can increase with detuning and decrease with mode order.

A Self-Consistent Numerical Method for Calculation of Steady-State Characteristics of Traveling-Wave and Reflective SOAs

This paper presents a detailed numerical model of reflective and traveling-wave semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), based on a self-consistent iteration method. The method is fully transparent to the input parameters and provides stable and efficient convergence of all relevant SOA variables as long as the sufficient number of previous iterations is taken into account. The model accounts for the detailed spectral and carrier density dependence of the radiative recombination rate, material gain, refractive index, and confinement factor. The analysis of unstrained bulk and strained multi-quantum well polarization insensitive SOAs based on this model provides a deep and detailed insight into the device internal state, confirming that spectral and carrier density material dependencies critically influence the modeling results.

Multivalued Stability Map of an Injection-Locked Semiconductor Laser

We present a novel and detailed analysis of the locking range and the stability map for side-mode injection-locked in-plane semiconductor multimode lasers. By including the usually neglected unlocked modes in our model, we predict a multivalued locking range and stability map for this type of lasers. We also explain and relate, the previously noticed slave laser bistability phenomenon with the multivalued character of the locking range and stability map, and experimentally validate our findings. Moreover, we find that the unstable operating region, commonly found in literature by stability analysis of the injection-locked mode alone, is actually much smaller.

Switching time in optically bistable injection-locked semiconductor lasers

Switching between states in a dispersive bistable injection-locked slave laser has been theoretically investigated. We show that the switching can be achieved by relatively small and short (≈10-50 ps) variation of the master laser injection power or frequency, which, besides the variation of the slave laser optical power, leads to significant variation of its photon phase (≈5π/6). By using an analytical model, we calculate the switching time dependence on the magnitude of the injection power and the frequency detuning variation.

Impact of class imbalance on personalized program guide performance

When TV recommender systems perform well, number of interactions in which their users expressed positive feedback on the recommended content is expected to be greater than the number of negative ones. This is known as class imbalance and, paradoxically, it degrades the system performance by making the identification of the programs the user will dislike increasingly difficult. As the misclassification of the unwanted content is easily perceived by TV viewers, it should be avoided by all means. In this paper, a personalized TV program guide based on neural network is described. It is shown how class imbalance information can be exploited in learning the user preferences. This not only improves the system performance, but increases the user satisfaction as well1.

Application of Quality by Design Concepts in the Development of Fluidized Bed Granulation and Tableting Processes

This study illustrates the application of experimental design and multivariate data analysis in defining design space for granulation and tableting processes. According to the quality by design concepts, critical quality attributes (CQAs) of granules and tablets, as well as critical parameters of granulation and tableting processes, were identified and evaluated. Acetaminophen was used as the model drug, and one of the study aims was to investigate the possibility of the development of immediate- or extended-release acetaminophen tablets. Granulation experiments were performed in the fluid bed processor using polyethylene oxide polymer as a binder in the direct granulation method. Tablets were compressed in the laboratory excenter tablet press. The first set of experiments was organized according to Plackett-Burman design, followed by the full factorial experimental design. Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression were applied as the multivariate analysis techniques. By using these different methods, CQAs and process parameters were identified and quantified. Furthermore, an in-line method was developed to monitor the temperature during the fluidized bed granulation process, to foresee possible defects in granules CQAs. Various control strategies that are based on the process understanding and assure desired quality attributes of the product are proposed.

Numerical Study of the Small-Signal Modulation Bandwidth of Reflective and Traveling-Wave SOAs

We present a comprehensive numerical model for intrinsic small-signal modulation response of both reflective, and traveling-wave semiconductor optical amplifiers. We investigate the small-signal photon and carrier density spatial distribution, modulation response, and -3 dB bandwidth for uniform and lossless traveling-wave modulation current model. The analysis shows that the current model does not significantly affect the modulation response as long as the modulation frequency is within the bandwidth. One of the most important results of our analysis is the discovery of the bandwidth maximum in case of a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier operating with low to moderate input optical powers and high current densities. The bandwidth can be further improved by choosing the optimal amplifier length.

Design Space Approach in Optimization of Fluid Bed Granulation and Tablets Compression Process

The aim of this study was to optimize fluid bed granulation and tablets compression processes using design space approach. Type of diluent, binder concentration, temperature during mixing, granulation and drying, spray rate, and atomization pressure were recognized as critical formulation and process parameters. They were varied in the first set of experiments in order to estimate their influences on critical quality attributes, that is, granules characteristics (size distribution, flowability, bulk density, tapped density, Carrs index, Hausners ratio, and moisture content) using Plackett-Burman experimental design. Type of diluent and atomization pressure were selected as the most important parameters. In the second set of experiments, design space for process parameters (atomization pressure and compression force) and its influence on tablets characteristics was developed. Percent of paracetamol released and tablets hardness were determined as critical quality attributes. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were applied in order to determine design space. ANNs models showed that atomization pressure influences mostly on the dissolution profile, whereas compression force affects mainly the tablets hardness. Based on the obtained ANNs models, it is possible to predict tablet hardness and paracetamol release profile for any combination of analyzed factors.

Formulation and characterization of nanofibers and films with carvedilol prepared by electrospinning and solution casting method

ABSTRACT The preparation and characterization of films and nanofibers with carvedilol as a poorly water‐soluble drug in poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer were investigated. Films are prepared by solution casting method, and nanofibers by electrospinning from a polymer solution. Water and mixture of ethanol and water were used as solvents. FT‐IR analysis of the samples showed that there was no interaction between the polymer and the drug substance. DSC analysis revealed that carvedilol was dissolved in the polymer and influenced the degree of crystallinity of PEO. Carvedilol release rate for all of the formulations was increased in comparison with pure carvedilol. Significant differences in the rate of release of carvedilol from the films and nanofibers were observed. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images of the obtained fiber was revealed the dependence of the fiber diameter of formulation and electrospinning process parameters, and consequently influence the amount and distribution of carvedilol in the encapsulated fibers. Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available.

Switching of Bistable Injection-Locked Fabry–Pérot Laser by Frequency Detuning Variation

Theoretical study of switching of a bistable injection-locked Fabry-Pérot laser by frequency detuning variation is performed and presented. It has been found that the shortest switching time of the master laser, which allows for the slave laser to be successfully switched by frequency detuning variation, reaches the values of several picoseconds, and up to 200 ps. The disproportion of the slave laser switching times with respect to the switching direction is found (3 versus 0.3 ns), and techniques for its equalization, as well as for minimization of the slave laser total switching time, are presented and discussed. We found that the modest increase of the master laser switching time establishes the balance between the two directions of the slave laser switching, providing almost one order of magnitude improvement in comparison to the results achieved for the shortest possible master laser switching times.