We discuss the progenitor evolution of high mass black hole binaries with black hole of mass ∼ > 10M⊙, like Cyg X-1. From the observed large space velocity of Cyg X-1, which we interpret as coming from a Blaauw-Boersma kick, we find that the helium envelope of the black hole progenitor must have been at least 16M⊙. Using new and improved wind mass loss rates for Wolf-Rayet stars, we are unable ...

Thin holograms with novel diffraction properties were created in spectral hole-burning materials. Simultaneously sweeping the frequency of the recording light and the phase of the holograms results in an asymmetric distribution of diffraction efficiency between positive and negative orders. Experiments were performed that demonstrate amplified or attenuated diffraction efficiency with respect t...

We employed nonphotochemical hole burning (NPHB) and fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) spectroscopies to explore protein energy landscapes and energy transfer processes in dimeric Cytochrome b6f, containing one chlorophyll molecule per protein monomer. The parameters of the energy landscape barrier distributions quantitatively agree with those reported for other pigment-protein complexes involv...

Due to their narrow homogeneous linewidths, rare-earth ions in inorganic crystals at low temperatures have recently been given considerable attention as test materials for experiments in coherent quantum optics. Because these narrow linewidth transitions have been buried in a wide inhomogeneous line, the scope of experiments that could be carried out in these materials has been limited. However...

An analytical description of the effects of spectral hole burning on the optical properties of active semiconductor materials is developed for fields that are slow compared to intraband relaxation times. Nonlinear gain compression and four-wave mixing effects are discussed.