Broadband non-collinear double QPM optical parametric amplification in mid-infrared wave

The properties of optical parametric amplification (OPA) based on non-collinear double quasi-phase matching (NDQPM) with single periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) have been investigated theoretically. The NDQPM includes two different non-linear processes: one is optical parametric generation (OPG) and the other is difference frequency generation (DFG). The investigation of our numerical simulation focuses on the gain bandwidth of dependence upon non-collinear angle, grating period and crystal temperature. At a certain non-collinear angle and grating period with fixed temperature, there exists a broadest gain bandwidths of output mid-infrared pulse at 526 nm pump wavelength and certain signal wavelength in PPKTP. These are an optimal values of non-collinear angles and grating period. By accurately tuning the non-collinear angle or temperature near the optimal non-collinear angle, broadband mid-infrared tuning is obtained and an optimal operation of NDQPM can be realized. In this paper, the solutions of the coupled equations of the cascaded processes were discussed, and the spatial-temporal frequency (STF) band of the output idler pulse is analyzed by taking angular dispersion of amplified pulse beam into account. The idler pulse with a certain angular dispersion can improve the OPA bandwidth significantly. So, optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification can be realized in this configuration. For a broadband NDQPM both the acceptance angles and the acceptance temperature are smaller and the gain bandwidth is sensitive to non-collinear angles and temperature, it is important to control the precision of the non-collinear angles and the temperature in experiment.     

Noncollinear double quasi phase matching in one-dimensional poled crystals

We demonstrate simultaneous phase matching of two different nonlinear processes, using a noncollinear interaction in periodically poled crystal with single grating. The noncollinear scheme provides phase-matching solutions over continuous regions of the optical spectrum and can be used for multiple-harmonic generation as well as all-optical effects. We have demonstrated experimentally third-harmonic generation of a 3 microm pump wavelength in a noncollinear configuration using a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal. We observed, in good agreement with theoretical calculation, very broad spectral and thermal acceptance bandwidths, as well as a relatively narrow angular bandwidth.     

基于角色散的非共线匹配宽带三倍频技术

宽带光打靶可以有效降低激光等离子体相互作用过程中非线性效应。提出一种基于角色散的非共线匹配宽带三倍频方案,利用宽带基频与窄带二倍频的非共线和频产生宽带三倍频,和频过程中通过特殊设计的渐变光栅实现不同频率的基频光束以特定角度入射,补偿了波长差异引入的位相失配使得全波段满足位相匹配条件。理论模拟表明,采用KDP晶体Ⅱ类位相匹配,将中心波长为1058 nm、带宽10 nm的宽带基频光与526.5 nm的二倍频光进行非共线匹配和频,可以实现高效宽带三倍频转换。     

基于准相位匹配晶体的宽带可调谐光参量放大过程研究

系统分析了基于准相位匹配晶体的光参量放大过程中极化周期和非共线结构对信号光调谐带宽的影响.提出了最大极化周期的概念,用于描述非共线相位匹配和群速度匹配同时满足时晶体的极化周期所能达到的最大值,给出了用于计算不同温度下周期极化铌酸锂晶体的最大极化周期的数学公式,并确定了宽带可调谐光参量放大过程应使用的最佳非共线结构.当采用此非共线结构时,通过将晶体的极化周期设定为最大极化周期可以在相对最大的波长范围内实现信号光的调谐放大输出.在此基础上提出了一个用于最大化光参量放大过程的信号光调谐带宽、确定工作温度等最佳工作参数以及简化实验操作方法的可行性方案.最后对最大极化周期和非共线结构对光参量放大的参量带宽的影响进行了研究. 关键词： 光参量放大 极化周期 非共线结构 带宽     

非共线准相位匹配周期极化RbTiOAsO4的增益带宽

研究了非共线准相位匹配过程中,周期极化RbTiOAsO_4晶体同时满足准相位匹配和群速匹配条件的非共线角和相应的极化周期随信号光波长的变化。分析了满足群速匹配条件时,非共线准相位匹配的调谐特性。数值模拟了增益带宽随非共线角、晶体温度和极化周期的变化关系。对比了群速匹配和最大增益带宽情况下,周期极化RbTiOAsO_4晶体增益带宽与晶体温度之间的关系。     

周期性极化铌酸锂晶体中半非共线型宽带光学参变放大理论研究

基于周期性极化铌酸锂晶体(PPLN)的准相位匹配光参变放大过程,通过倾斜周期极化铌酸锂晶体中极化域(极化光栅)一定角度,实现了介于共线匹配方式和非共线匹配方式之间的一种半非共线型准相位匹配方式,并以该匹配方式下的各光矢量几何关系得出相位匹配曲线,找到在特定抽运光和信号光波长下能获得宽带增益放大的周期极化长度。并研究其极化倾斜角度与温度特性。模拟计算表明,在合适的角度与温度条件下,该方式可以532 nm抽运光抽运的信号光在800 nm和1064 nm处均获得宽带光参变放大。     

Achromatic diffraction from polarization gratings with high efficiency

We demonstrate a broadband, thin-film, polarizing beam splitter based on an anisotropic diffraction grating composed of reactive mesogens (polymerizable liquid crystals). This achromatic polarization grating (PG) manifests high diffraction efficiency (approximately 100%) and high extinction ratio (> or = 1000:1) in both theory and experiment. We show an operational bandwidth Deltalambda/lambda0 approximately 56% (roughly spanning visible wavelength range) that represents more than a fourfold increase of bandwidth over conventional PGs (and significantly larger than any other grating). The diffraction angle and operational region (visible, near-infrared, midwave infrared, and ultraviolet wavelengths) may be easily tailored during fabrication. The essence of the achromatic design is a stack of two chiral PGs with an opposite twist sense and employs the principle of retardation compensation. We fully characterize its optical properties and derive the theoretical diffraction behavior.     

飞秒光参量放大中三波群速失配的补偿

为了消除群速失配对参量放大的不利影响，描述了利用脉冲波面倾斜与非共线相位匹配相结 合，完全补偿飞秒光参量放大（OPA）中三波群速失配的新方法.计算了在BBOⅠ类、Ⅱ类相 位匹配条件下， 三波实现群速匹配时，相位匹配角、脉冲波面倾斜角以及非共线角随信号 光波长的变化.并分析了三波群速匹配对空间走离长度、参量增益和参量带宽的影响.结果表 明，在BBOⅠ类、Ⅱ类相位匹配条件下，利用该方法均能实现飞秒OPA连续调谐时三波的群速 匹配，从而大大增加了三波的有效互作用长度，为能够获得高增益，窄脉宽的参量光脉冲提 供了理论依据和指导. 关键词： 群速匹配 脉冲波面倾斜 非共线相位匹配 飞秒光参量放大     

Few-optical-cycle pulses in the near-infrared from a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier

We extend the concept of broadband phase matching in a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) to the near-IR. In an 800 nm pumped NOPA using periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate, we amplify a spectrum spanning the 1.1-1.7 microm range and corresponding to two optical cycles of the carrier wavelength. A limited portion of the spectrum is compressed by a prism pair down to 16 fs.     

Nonlinear optical properties of Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> (LB4) crystal for the generation of tunable ultra-fast laser radiation by optical parametric amplification

Using a very simple and straightforward approach we derive the condition to be satisfied for achieving wavelength-insensitive broadband phase matching in a type-I noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA), required for the generation of ultra-fast laser radiation. Nonlinear optical properties of a relatively newly grown crystal Li₂B₄O₇ (LB4) have also been studied and we found that this crystal satisfies the condition required to realize the broadband phase matching and is suited for the generation of tunable visible–near-infrared ultra-fast laser radiation employed in a 395-nm-pumped type-I NOPA. The phase-matching bandwidths of type-I NOPAs in different borate-group crystals, such as BBO, CLBO, and KABO, are also numerically estimated. The values are 157, 164, 152, and 174 THz for 1-mm-thick BBO, CLBO, KABO, and LB4 crystals, with the noncollinear angles between the input pump and the signal beams 3.7°, 3.0°, 3.4°, and 2.9°, respectively, for the signal wavelengths centered at 630 nm. In addition to the largest bandwidth, LB4 crystal has several other attractive properties to be used in optical parametric applications, such as high laser damage threshold, wide optical transmission, easy crystal growth to excellent optical quality with large sizes, easy treatment of cutting and polishing, and nonhygroscopicity. PACS 42.65.Yj; 42.65.Re; 42.70.Mp