All-optical wavelength multicasting exploiting cross-phase modulation in a dispersion-flattened nonlinear photonic crystal fiber

An all-optical wavelength multicasting scheme with tunable output wavelength and channel numbers has been proposed and demonstrated based on cross-phase modulation (XPM) in a dispersion-flattened highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. We show that the input signal wavelength can be simultaneously converted to four different wavelengths by filtering the broadened sideband of the continuous-wave (CW) probe beams. The experiments are carried out to investigate into the wavelength tunability, and exploit the dynamic characteristics with variable input signal powers, the ability of multicasting channels scalable, and the relationship between the multicasting signal qualities with variable optical band-pass filter (OBPF) bandwidth. The results indicate that the proposed wavelength multicasting scheme has the advantages of simple structure, efficient operation in a wide wavelength range, as well as transparent to bit rates. Moreover, the system can be upgraded to generate more multicasting channels by increasing the number of CW probe beams.     

All-optical NRZ-to-RZ format conversion with dual channel wavelength multicasting functions exploiting cross-phase modulation in a dispersion-flattened nonlinear photonic crystal fiber

All-optical single-to-dual channel format conversion from NRZ to RZ at 10 Gbit/s using cross phase modulation (XPM) in dispersion flattened highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (DF-HNL-PCF) is demonstrated. Format conversion with dual channels signal multicasting function is achieved by filtering simultaneously the blue- and red-chirped components of broadened optical spectrum induced by XPM between NRZ signal and clock light. Moreover, the wavelength tunability and dynamics characteristics of proposed format converter are also exploited experimentally by using NRZ signal light with different central wavelength and varying input power. Our results show that a wide wavelength operation range of 21.2 nm, extinction ratio (ER) and Q factor of over 10.9 dB and 6.1 are obtained. Furthermore, the influence of central wavelength offset of optical bandpass filter on converted RZ signal quality is investigated. The proposed scheme is simple, robust, and transparent to bit rate, which makes it very potential for application in future photonic networks.     

Supercontinuum generation from dispersion-flattened photonic crystal fiber using picosecond pulses

We present the all-fiber system for supercontiuum (SC) generation with picosecond pulses. By launching1.6-ps pulses from pulsed erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) into a section of photonic crystal fiber (PCF),the spectral broadening is observed. The bandwidth of 237 nm (at 20 dB level) is achieved.     

Optimization of highly nonlinear dispersion-flattened photonic crystal fiber for supercontinuum generation

A simple type of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for supercontinuum generation is proposed for the first time. The proposed PCF is composed of a solid silica core and a cladding with square lattice uniform elliptical air holes, which offers not only a large nonlinear coefficient but also a high birefringence and low leakage losses. The PCF with nonlinear coefficient as large as 46 W 1 · km-1 at the wavelength of 1.55 μm and a total dispersion as low as ±2.5 ps · nm-1 · km-1 over an ultra-broad waveband range of the S-C-L band (wavelength from 1.46 μm to 1.625 μm) is optimized by adjusting its structure parameter, such as the lattice constant Λ , the air-filling fraction f , and the air-hole ellipticity η. The novel PCF with ultra-flattened dispersion, highly nonlinear coefficient, and nearly zero negative dispersion slope will offer a possibility of efficient super-continuum generation in telecommunication windows using a few ps pulses.     

Design of highly nonlinear dispersion-flattened square photonic crystal fiber for medical applications

In this paper, we report the design of a highly nonlinear dispersion flattened high-index-core square photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for applications in optical coherence tomography (OCT). The finite-difference method with an anisotropic perfectly matched boundary layer is used as a numerical simulation tool. A set of optimized design parameters numerically resulted in a nonlinear coefficient of 79.9W⁻¹ km⁻¹ and a dispersion of −0:186 ps/(nm·km) at a wavelength of approximately 1.06 μm. Owing to its high nonlinear coefficient and flattened dispersion, the PCF is expected to be suitable for broadband supercontinuum generation, which is considered very important in OCT medical applications.     

在色散渐减光子晶体光纤中产生超连续谱的实验研究

本文利用非线性偏振锁模激光器产生的重复频率50 MHz, 脉宽为1.8 ps的脉冲分别抽运外径均匀和色散渐减两种高非线性光子晶体光纤, 在三阶非线性效应 (自相位调制、交叉相位调制、四波混频和受激拉曼散效应等) 和色散共同作用下得到扩展至蓝光部分的超连续谱. 模拟了光谱在色散渐减光纤和均匀光纤中的展宽过程, 通过对比均匀光纤发现色散渐减光纤在调控色散, 加强拉曼孤子和色散波的群速度匹配条件, 产生超带宽光谱方面具有很大优势. 实验利用20 m长的色散渐减光纤, 得到了406.1至671.8 nm的可见光波段增强的较为平坦的超连续谱. 关键词： 超连续谱 色散渐减光子晶体光纤 群速度匹配 非线性效应     

光子晶体光纤中高效的反斯托克斯信号产生

基于四波混频的反斯托克斯变换, 被广泛应用于短波辐射高分辨率成像以及直接激发分子的电子跃迁等方面. 为了实现更加高效的反斯托克斯变换, 利用中心波长为810 nm脉冲宽度为120 fs的钛蓝宝石(Ti: sapphire)飞秒激光器作为抽运光源, 在长度为0.5 m和3 m的光子晶体光纤中分别实现了高阶模和基膜的简并四波混频. 实验中, 采用的光子晶体光纤的零色散波长在820 nm附近. 在基模相位匹配条件下, 在560 nm附近实现了高效地反斯托克斯信号的产生, 反斯托克斯信号与残余抽运信号的最大功率比为33:1; 反斯托克斯信号和斯托克斯信号的最大功率比25:1; 反斯托克斯信号最大功率转换效率P_a/P_p0为34%. 抽运波长从790 nm逐渐增加到810 nm过程中, 在长为3 m的光子晶体光纤中相位从不匹配状态转化为高阶模匹配状态后, 再转化为基模匹配状态. 通过实验研究得出了相位匹配程度随抽运功率、波长和光纤长度的变化规律, 同时分析了造成理论计算与实验结果存在差异的主要因素. 本文为研究在光子晶体光纤基模中实现相位匹配和产生高效反斯托克斯信号提供了理论和实验依据.     

Degenerate four-wave mixing based all-optical wavelength conversion in a semiconductor optical amplifier and highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber parametric loop mirror

The idler is separated from the co-propagating pump in a degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) with a symmetrical parametric loop mirror (PALM), which is composed of two identical SOAs and a 70 m highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (HN-PCF). The signal and pump are coupled into the symmetrical PALM from different ports, respectively. After the DFWM based wavelength conversion (WC) in the clockwise and anticlockwise, the idler exits from the signal port, while the pump outputs from its input port. Therefore, the pump is effectively suppressed in the idler channel without a high-speed tunable filter. Contrast to a traditional PALM, the DFWM based conversion efficiency is increased greatly, and the functions of the amplification and the WC are integrated in the smart SOA and HN-PCF PALM.     

光子晶体光纤长周期光栅的谐振波长特性研究

利用有限差分法和耦合模理论分析了光子晶体光纤结构参数等因素对光栅周期调节长周期光栅谐振波长作用的影响,结果表明:对于同种光纤,可通过增大或减小光栅周期来减小或增大谐振波长;若占空比f增大或减小,可通过减小或增大光栅周期来保持谐振波长不变;若比例系数M增大或减小,可以成正比增大或减小光栅周期来保持谐振波长不变;在只是空气孔层数增加的系列光纤中,在长波处,为取得同一谐振波长,光栅周期需要增大数个m,但在短波处则正好相反;内层气孔对光栅周期调节谐振波长的作用影响较大,而第5层以外各层的影响十分微弱。综合利用这些规律,可以快捷地选择合适的光栅周期,高效率地制备有合适谐振波长的光子晶体光纤长周期光栅。     

Combined nonlinear effects for UV to visible wavelength generation in a photonic crystal fiber

We experimentally study the combined nonlinear effects,including four-wave mixing,stimulated Raman scattering,soliton dynamics,and cross-phase modulation by coupling femtosecond pulses around 850 nm into the normal dispersion region near the zero-dispersion wavelength in the fundamental mode of a homemade silica photonic crystal fiber. The nonlinear optical dynamics at different stages are demonstrated,and the discrete ultraviolet(UV) to visible wavelengths widely separated from the pump wave are generated by the interaction of several nonlinear effects involved. The UV to visible wavelengths can be used as short pulse sources for multiphoton ionization,fluorescence spectroscopy,and biochemical imaging.