Abstract: Embodiments of instructions are detailed herein including one or more of 1) a branch fence instruction, prefix, or variants (BFENCE); 2) a predictor fence instruction, prefix, or variants (PFENCE); 3) an exception fence instruction, prefix, or variants (EFENCE); 4) an address computation fence instruction, prefix, or variants (AFENCE); 5) a register fence instruction, prefix, or variants (RFENCE); and, additionally, modes that apply the above semantics to some or all ordinary instructions.

Abstract: Embodiments of instructions are detailed herein including one or more of 1) a branch fence instruction, prefix, or variants (BFENCE); 2) a predictor fence instruction, prefix, or variants (PFENCE); 3) an exception fence instruction, prefix, or variants (EFENCE); 4) an address computation fence instruction, prefix, or variants (AFENCE); 5) a register fence instruction, prefix, or variants (RFENCE); and, additionally, modes that apply the above semantics to some or all ordinary instructions.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a gain medium configured to amplify incident electromagnetic radiation and a nonlinear optical element configured to convert electromagnetic radiation amplified by the gain medium to a shorter wavelength. The laser system is configured to introduce mode competition and nonlinear effects such that the nonlinear optical element produces output electromagnetic radiation having a frequency spectrum comprising a first peak formed of a first group of frequencies and a second peak formed of a second group of frequencies. A trough separates the first and second peaks. The first and second peaks are the only dominant peaks in the frequency spectrum. The output electromagnetic radiation has a coherence curve comprising a contrast ratio of less than about 0.1 at an optical path difference that is within the inclusive range of about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

Abstract: Embodiments of instructions are detailed herein including one or more of 1) a branch fence instruction, prefix, or variants (BFENCE); 2) a predictor fence instruction, prefix, or variants (PFENCE); 3) an exception fence instruction, prefix, or variants (EFENCE); 4) an address computation fence instruction, prefix, or variants (AFENCE); 5) a register fence instruction, prefix, or variants (RFENCE); and, additionally, modes that apply the above semantics to some or all ordinary instructions.

Abstract: A computer method of managing a workflow of scheduled nodes. The method comprises instantiating a computer instantiated mathematical model of workflow paths, wherein the mathematical model defines nodes to be scheduled, defines time-based anchors between the nodes, and sequence-based anchors between the nodes; for each workflow object, determining a workflow schedule for the workflow object by an application executing on a computer system, wherein the workflow schedule comprises a plurality of nodes and wherein the application determines the workflow schedule based on the time-based anchors and sequence-based anchors between nodes defined by the mathematical model; storing by the application context information about completion of the activities performed when performing the node associated with the workflow path of the workflow object; and changing the workflow schedule of the workflow object based on the context information about completion of the activities performed and based on the mathematical model.

Abstract: A computer method of managing a workflow of scheduled nodes. The method comprises instantiating a computer instantiated mathematical model of workflow paths, wherein the mathematical model defines nodes to be scheduled, defines time-based anchors between the nodes, and sequence-based anchors between the nodes; for each workflow object, determining a workflow schedule for the workflow object by an application executing on a computer system, wherein the workflow schedule comprises a plurality of nodes and wherein the application determines the workflow schedule based on the time-based anchors and sequence-based anchors between nodes defined by the mathematical model; storing by the application context information about completion of the activities performed when performing the node associated with the workflow path of the workflow object; and changing the workflow schedule of the workflow object based on the context information about completion of the activities performed and based on the mathematical model.

Abstract: A computer method of managing a workflow of scheduled nodes. The method comprises instantiating a computer instantiated mathematical model of workflow paths, wherein the mathematical model defines nodes to be scheduled, defines time-based anchors between the nodes, and sequence-based anchors between the nodes; for each workflow object, determining a workflow schedule for the workflow object by an application executing on a computer system, wherein the workflow schedule comprises a plurality of nodes and wherein the application determines the workflow schedule based on the time-based anchors and sequence-based anchors between nodes defined by the mathematical model; storing by the application context information about completion of the activities performed when performing the node associated with the workflow path of the workflow object; and changing the workflow schedule of the workflow object based on the context information about completion of the activities performed and based on the mathematical model.

Abstract: A computer method of managing a workflow of scheduled nodes. The method comprises instantiating a computer instantiated mathematical model of workflow paths, wherein the mathematical model defines nodes to be scheduled, defines time-based anchors between the nodes, and sequence-based anchors between the nodes; for each workflow object, determining a workflow schedule for the workflow object by an application executing on a computer system, wherein the workflow schedule comprises a plurality of nodes and wherein the application determines the workflow schedule based on the time-based anchors and sequence-based anchors between nodes defined by the mathematical model; storing by the application context information about completion of the activities performed when performing the node associated with the workflow path of the workflow object; and changing the workflow schedule of the workflow object based on the context information about completion of the activities performed and based on the mathematical model.

Abstract: Embodiments of instructions are detailed herein including one or more of 1) a branch fence instruction, prefix, or variants (BFENCE); 2) a predictor fence instruction, prefix, or variants (PFENCE); 3) an exception fence instruction, prefix, or variants (EFENCE); 4) an address computation fence instruction, prefix, or variants (AFENCE); 5) a register fence instruction, prefix, or variants (RFENCE); and, additionally, modes that apply the above semantics to some or all ordinary instructions.

Abstract: A laser comprises a first end mirror and a second end mirror defining an optical cavity therebetween, a first gain medium and a second gain medium positioned in the optical cavity, at least one radiation source configured to provide pump radiation to the first and second gain media, wherein the pump radiation comprises a first pump beam directed to be incident on the first gain medium and a second pump beam directed to be incident on the second gain medium so as to stimulate emission of radiation from the first and second gain media thereby establishing a laser beam in the optical cavity and a control apparatus operable to adjust a property of at least one of the first and second pump beams and thereby control a thermal lens of at least one of the first and second gain media so as to substantially remove an instability zone from the power curve of the laser.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser configured to emit a laser beam wherein the laser beam is linearly polarized in a polarization plane and an optical assembly comprising a partial reflector having a refractive index and comprising a partially reflective surface. The partially reflective surface is arranged to receive the laser beam at an angle of incidence which lies in a plane of incidence and reflect a portion of the laser beam such that the reflected portion is output from the optical assembly. The partially reflective surface is arranged such that the plane of incidence forms a polarization angle with the polarization plane of the laser beam and the laser beam includes a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component.

Abstract: A laser comprises a first end mirror and a second end mirror defining an optical cavity therebetween, a first gain medium and a second gain medium positioned in the optical cavity, at least one radiation source configured to provide pump radiation to the first and second gain media, wherein the pump radiation comprises a first pump beam directed to be incident on the first gain medium and a second pump beam directed to be incident on the second gain medium so as to stimulate emission of radiation from the first and second gain media thereby establishing a laser beam in the optical cavity and a control apparatus operable to adjust a property of at least one of the first and second pump beams and thereby control a thermal lens of at least one of the first and second gain media so as to substantially remove an instability zone from the power curve of the laser.

Abstract: A rights management system monitors and controls use of a computer program to prevent use that is not in compliance with acceptable terms. The system monitors usage of the computer program for usage and activities that are not in compliance with the license or other use terms. Upon detection of a violation of these terms, state information pertaining to the computer program is saved and operation of the computer program and/or a portion of the computer system is suspended. The system maintains the suspension for as long as the violation exists. Once compliance has been reestablished, the suspension is terminated.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser configured to emit a laser beam wherein the laser beam is linearly polarised in a polarisation plane and an optical assembly comprising a partial reflector having a refractive index and comprising a partially reflective surface. The partially reflective surface is arranged to receive the laser beam at an angle of incidence which lies in a plane of incidence and reflect a portion of the laser beam such that the reflected portion is output from the optical assembly. The partially reflective surface is arranged such that the plane of incidence forms a polarisation angle with the polarisation plane of the laser beam and the laser beam includes a p-polarised component and an s-polarised component.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser configured to generate a laser beam, a power supply arranged to provide a drive power to the laser, a photodetector arranged to detect the power of the laser beam and provide a detection signal from the power of the laser beam and a feedback loop arranged to form a feedback signal by subtracting a target signal from the detection signal wherein the feedback signal has a high bandwidth, amplify the feedback signal and adjust the drive power according to the amplified feedback signal, thereby reducing noise in the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser configured to generate a laser beam, a power supply arranged to provide a drive power to the laser, a photodetector arranged to detect the power of the laser beam and provide a detection signal from the power of the laser beam and a feedback loop arranged to form a feedback signal by subtracting a target signal from the detection signal wherein the feedback signal has a high bandwidth, amplify the feedback signal and adjust the drive power according to the amplified feedback signal, thereby reducing noise in the laser beam.

Abstract: An optical fiber laser or amplifier comprising an optical fiber and a pump radiation source configured to generate pump radiation which is received through an input end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber may include a doped core which is configured to guide the pump radiation and to generate or amplify and guide signal radiation when pump radiation passes through it. The optical fiber laser or amplifier may include a first reflector configured to reflect pump radiation and further comprises a second reflector configured to selectively reflect a portion of pump radiation. The selection of the portion of pump radiation to be reflected by the second reflector depends upon one or more of: the spatial position of the pump radiation, the direction of the pump radiation, and the polarization of the pump radiation.

Abstract: Designating and handling confidential memory allocations of virtual memory. An operating system provides a memory allocation flag that applications may use to indicate any arbitrary area of physical memory marked with this flag may contain confidential data and should be handled accordingly. The operating system also ensures that memory allocated with this flag can be placed in physical memory. When freeing up memory, the operating system protects any data in the memory allocated with this flag. For example, the operating system may prevent the confidential memory from being swapped out to storage or from being accessible to other applications, such as debuggers. Alternatively, the operating system may encrypt any data in the confidential memory before it is swapped out to storage.

Abstract: An optical fibre laser or amplifier comprising an optical fibre and a pump radiation source configured to generate pump radiation which is received through an input end of the optical fibre. The optical fibre may include a doped core which is configured to guide the pump radiation and to generate or amplify and guide signal radiation when pump radiation passes through it. The optical fibre laser or amplifier may include a first reflector configured to reflect pump radiation and further comprises a second reflector configured to selectively reflect a portion of pump radiation. The selection of the portion of pump radiation to be reflected by the second reflector depends upon one or more of: the spatial position of the pump radiation, the direction of the pump radiation, and the polarisation of the pump radiation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for designating and handling confidential memory allocations of virtual memory. In particular, the operating system provides a memory allocation flag that applications may use to indicate any arbitrary area of physical memory marked with this flag may contain confidential data and should be handled accordingly. The operating system also ensures that memory allocated with this flag can be placed in physical memory. When freeing up memory, the operating system protects any data in the memory allocated with this flag. For example, the operating system may prevent the confidential memory from being swapped out to storage or from being accessible to other applications, such as debuggers. Alternatively, the operating system may encrypt any data in the confidential memory before it is swapped out to storage.