Polarization and temporal selectivity of subpicosecond optical responses in CS2

We report new results from subpicosecond laser studies on the optical Kerr effect and its polarization properties in CS2, for which it is demonstrated experimentally for the first time that circular polarization can selectively lead to subpicosecond responses.     

Comparative studies of female sex pheromone components and male response of the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides in three different populations

Studies to determine possible differences in the pheromone communication system of three different populations of the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lef.) in France, Spain, and Greece were carried out. The two main pheromone components (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11–16:Ac) and (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11–16:OH), were detected in all analyses with very small differences in the three populations. Among the minor components, analyzed by GC-MS on concentrated gland extracts from French and Greek origin females, (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11–16:Ald) was detected in minor amounts. Wind-tunnel and field studies revealed similar a male response in the three populations to pheromone glands extracts and synthetic pheromone regardless of the female/male origin. The results do not support the assumption of the existence of different pheromone types of the corn stalk borer S. nonagrioides due to geographic isolation.     

Third order autocorrelation study of amplified subpicosecond laser pulses

We have used the well-known optical Kerr effect shutter method to determine the temporal width and shape of subpicosecond pulses issued from a passively mode-locked CW dye laser, feeding a three stage amplifier. This technique corresponds to a third order correlation measurement and thus yields information on the pulse profile and especially about a possible asymmetry. The accuracy of results greatly benefits from the large dynamic range that reaches 10³.