Effect of pulse width on near-infrared supercontinuum generation in nonlinear fiber amplifier

The effect of pulse width on near-infrared supercontinuum generation in nonlinear fiber amplifier is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The complex Ginzburg–Landau equation and adaptive split-step Fourier method are used to simulate the propagation of pulses with different pulse widths in the fiber amplifier, and the results show that a longer pulse is more profitable in near-infrared supercontinuum generation if the central wavelength of the input laser lies in the normal dispersion region of the gain fiber. A four-stage master oscillator power amplifier configuration is adopted and the output spectra under picosecond and nanosecond input pulses are compared with each other. The experimental results are in good accordance with the simulations which can provide some guidance for further optimization of the system.     

Different supercontinuum generation processes in photonic crystal fibers pumped with a 1064-nm picosecond pulse

Picosecond pulse pumped supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber is investigated by performing a series of comparative experiments. The main purpose is to investigate the supercontinuum generation processes excited by a given pump source through the experimental study of some specific fibers. A 20-W all-fiber picosecond master oscillator-power amplifier （MOPA） laser is used to pump three different kinds of photonic crystal fibers for supercontinuum generation. Three diverse supercontinuum formation processes are observed to correspond to photonie crystal fibers with distinct dis- persion properties. The experimental results are consistent with the relevant theoretical results. Based on the above analyses, a watt-level broadband white light supercontinuum source spanning from 500 nm to beyond 1700 nm is demonstrated by using a picosecond fiber laser in combination with the matched photonic crystal fiber. The limitation of the group velocity matching curve of the photonic crystal fiber is also discussed in the paper.     

Pulse collapse and blue-shifted enhanced supercontinuum in a photonic crystal fiber

The blue-shifted supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber pumped by high peak power femtosecond pulses with a wavelength located in the anomalous dispersion region is investigated experimentally and numerically.The formation of a blue-shifted enhanced supercontinuum due to the pulse collapse is demonstrated.The process of the pulse collapse is measured by using the grating-eliminated no-nonsense observation of ultrafast incident laser light e-fields technique(GRENOUILLE).Numerical simulations in spectral and temporal domains are conducted.The data from the numerical simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results.Our experimental results and numerical simulations show that pulse collapse is the determining factor in the generation of a blue-shifted supercontinuum.     

Pulsed-pumped optical fiber amplifier

With the use of pulsed pumping, an optical fiber amplifier with all-fiber structure is developed based on the fused tapered fiber combiner and Yb^3＋-doped double cladding fiber （YDCF）. From the experimental results, 47-dBm peak power and 100-ns pulse duration are obtained when the repetition rate of pumping pulses is 100 Hz. The gain of the amplifier is up to 30 dB. It is shown that due to the use of pulsed pumping, pump light emits only when the signal light reaches the amplifier and thus the amplified spontaneous emission （ASE） is significantly suppressed.     

Spatial chirp in Ti:sapphire multipass amplifier

The spatial chirp generated in the Ti:sapphire multipass amplifier is numerically investigated based on the onedimensional(1D) and two-dimensional(2D) Frantz–Nodvik equations. The simulation indicates that the spatial chirp is induced by the spatially inhomogeneous gain, and it can be almost eliminated by utilization of proper beam profiles and spot sizes of the signal and pump pulses, for example, the pump pulse has a top-hatted beam profile and the signal pulse has a super-Gaussian beam profile with a relatively larger spot size. In this way, a clear understanding of spatial chirp mechanisms in the Ti:sapphire multipass amplifier is proposed, therefore we can effectively almost eliminate the spatial chirp and improve the beam quality of a high-power Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplifier system.     

A novel 2-μm pulsed fiber laser based on a supercontinuum source and its application to mid-infrared supercontinuum generation

A new method to achieve 2-μm pulsed fiber lasers based on a supercontinuum(SC) is demonstrated. The incident pump light is a pulsed SC which contains a pump light and a signal light at the same time. The initial signal of the seed laser is provided by the incident pump light and amplified in the cavity. Based on this, we obtain a 2-μm pulsed laser with pulse repetition rate of 50 kHz and pulse width of 2 ns from the Tm-doped fiber laser. This 2-μm pulsed laser is amplified by two stages of fiber amplifiers, then the amplified laser is used for mid-infrared(mid-IR) SC generation in a 10-m length of ZrF4–BaF2–LaF3–AlF3–NaF(ZBLAN) fiber. An all-fiber-integrated mid-IR SC with spectrum ranging from 1.8 μm to4.3 μm is achieved. The maximal average output power of the mid-IR SC from the ZBLAN fiber is 1.24 W(average output power beyond 2.5 μm is 340 mW), corresponding to an output efficiency of 6.6% with respect to the 790-nm pump power.     

Monolithic all-fiber mid-infrared supercontinuum source based on a step-index two-mode As_2S_3 fiber

We demonstrate efficient supercontinuum generation extending into mid-infrared spectral range by pumping a twomode As_2S_3 fiber in the normal dispersion regime. The As_2S_3 fiber is fusion spliced to the pigtail of a near-infrared supercontinuum pump source with ultra-low splicing loss of 0.125 dB, which enables a monolithic all-fiber mid-infrared supercontinuum source. By two-mode excitation and mixed-mode cascaded stimulated Raman scattering, a supercontinuum spanning from 1.8 μm to 4.2 μm is obtained. Over 70% of the supercontinuum power is converted to wavelengths beyond2.4 μm. This is the first experimental report with respect to the multimode mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in a step-index two-mode chalcogenide fiber.     

Fiber laser pumped burst-mode operated picosecond mid-infrared laser

We demonstrate a compact periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate(MgO:PPLN)-based optical parametric oscillator(OPO) quasi-synchronously pumped by a fiber laser system with burst-mode operation.The pump source is a peak-power-selectable pulse-multiplied picosecond Yb fiber laser.The chirped pulses from a figure of eight-cavity modelocked fiber laser seed are narrowed to a duration of less than 50 ps using an FBG reflector and a circulator.The narrowed pulses are directed to pass through a pulse multiplier and to form pulse bunches,each of which is composed of 13 subpulses.The obtained pulse bunches are amplified by two-stage fiber pre-amplifiers:one-stage is core-pumped and the other is cladding-pumped.A fiberized acousto-optic modulator is inserted to control the pulse repetition rate(PRR) of the pulse bunches before they are power-amplified in the final amplifier stage with a large mode area(LMA) PM Yb-doped fiber.The maximum average powers from the final amplifier are 85 W,60 W,and 45 W,respectively,corresponding to the PRR of2.72 MHz,1.36 MHz,and 0.68 MHz.The amplified pulses are directed to pump an MgO:PPLN-based optical parametric oscillator(OPO).A maximum peak power at 3.45 μm is obtained approximately to be 8.4 kW.Detailed performance characteristics are presented.     

Laser diode end-pumped Nd：YVO4 regenerative amplifier for picosecond pulses

A diode dual-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 regenerative amplifier is reported. The influence of the cavity stability on the performance of the regenerative amplifier is studied. The experimental results match well with the analysis at high pump power. The mode locking seed pulses with 15 ps pulse width and 10 nJ single pulse energy at 86 MHz are amplified up to 4.7 mJ at 1 kHz, corresponding to the maximum amplification about 0.5 × 106 , by our regenerative amplifier. And an average power of 4.7 W is obtained at the repetition rate from 1 kHz to 10 kHz.     

Influence of mode competition on beam quality of fiber amplifier

Theoretical and experimental studies of the influence of the mode competition on the output beam quality of fiber amplifiers are presented. Rate equations and modal decomposition method are used in the theoretical model. In the experiment, the output beam-quality factor of a fiber amplifier, which is based on a Yb-doped double-clad large mode area fiber as a function of the seed beam quality and the pump power of the amplifier, is measured. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.     

高非线性光纤正常色散区产生超连续谱的数值研究

基于广义非线性薛定谔方程,通过数值计算对高非线性光纤正常色散区产生超连续谱进行了研究.结果表明,抽运脉冲的峰值功率、脉冲宽度以及脉冲初始啁啾对该光纤正常色散区超连续谱的形成有极其重要的影响;在高非线性光纤正常色散区产生超连续谱的过程中,三、四阶群速度色散甚至更高阶群速度色散对超连续谱的影响完全可以忽略,但与其他高非线性效应相比,自陡峭效应对超连续谱产生的影响更为明显.高功率超短光脉冲在高非线性光纤正常色散区,得到了没有泵浦成份残余、－20 dB谱宽达400 nm以上而频谱强度起伏小于10 dB的超宽而平坦超连续谱.     

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的理论模型和数值分析

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器在非线性频率变换、遥感探测和量子信息等领域有广泛的应用前景.综合考虑受激拉曼散射(stimulated Raman scattering,SRS)、受激布里渊散射(stimulated Brillouin scattering,SBS)、自相位调制(self-phase modulation)和交叉相位调制(cross-phase modulation)等非线性效应,建立了窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的非线性动力学模型.仿真分析了放大器中脉冲激光的时频演化特性,对比研究了抽运脉冲宽度、光纤长度和信号光功率等因素对放大器性能的影响.研究发现,上述因素会影响放大器的SRS阈值、SBS阈值、输出激光线宽、激光转换效率等.例如,当脉冲宽度为800 ns时,SBS随着抽运功率的增加而发生,限制了激光功率的提升;减短抽运脉宽可以抑制SBS,但是输出激光的线宽易于展宽到数百MHz以上;增加光纤长度可以获得更低的SRS阈值和更高的转换效率,但是SBS效应和光谱展宽程度也随之增强.系统搭建中需要平衡各非线性效应,选择合适的系统参数.研究内容可以为窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的设计搭建提供参考.     

基于石墨烯可饱和吸收体的纳秒锁模掺铥光纤激光器

报道了一种基于石墨烯可饱和吸收体的纳秒锁模掺铥光纤激光器.该激光器采用环形腔结构,利用自制的三层石墨烯薄膜作为可饱和吸收体实现锁模.同时在腔内插入一个窄带光纤光栅,约束腔内起振的纵模数,适当调节抽运功率和偏振控制器的角度,得到了重复频率为3.8 MHz、脉宽在3.8—94.3 ns之间灵活可调的2μm纳秒锁模脉冲输出,整个脉宽调节范围超过90 ns.此外,由于获得的兆赫兹纳秒锁模脉冲时间带宽积在49—1119范围内,即存在强烈的啁啾,因而可作为2μm波段啁啾脉冲放大系统中的种子源使用.     

光子晶体光纤中超连续谱产生的理论与实验研究

研究了光子晶体光纤中超连续激光光源的产生机理.利用非线性偏振旋转技术产生的中心波长为1 556.0 nm的飞秒光脉冲作为泵浦光源,在69 m长的高非线性光子晶体光纤中,得到了20 dB带宽约为140 nm的超连续谱；采用实验和数值模拟方法,研究了不同泵浦功率下超连续谱形成的过程.结果表明,在不同的泵浦功率下,超连续谱的形成机理不同,在各种非线性效应的共同作用下,泵浦光脉冲的峰值功率越高,得到超连续谱的带宽越宽,实验与数值模拟结果一致.另外,要想获得平坦的宽带超连续谱,必须选择合适的光纤长度.     

高非线性光纤正常色散区利用皮秒脉冲产生超连续谱的相干特性

使用复互相干度的定义对时域光波分裂前后以及不同输入噪声、不同初始啁啾和波形下抽运脉冲在高非线性光纤中产生的超连续谱的相干度进行了数值计算,得到了光波分裂前后和不同输入噪声下生成的超连续谱的演化和相干性变化,结果表明:皮秒脉冲在高非线性光纤正常色散区产生超连续谱的相干性主要受到系统中噪声占比的影响,其中由光波分裂生成的频谱旁瓣的相干度低于由自相位调制生成的中心频谱的相干度:抽运脉冲啁啾和波形对在高非线性光纤正常色散区产生超连续谱的相干性的影响不明显,若想获得高相干的超连续谱,需要采用低噪声的脉冲进行抽运;若获得大谱宽高相干度的超连续谱,则需要合理选择皮秒脉冲的功率。     

色散平坦渐减光纤中超连续谱的产生

对双正交偏振光脉冲在色散平坦渐减光纤中传输时超连续谱的产生进行了计算和分析。结果表明，由于交叉相位调制效应的作用，双光脉冲可以产生比单光脉冲明显展宽且更为平坦的超连续谱。对于双基孤子脉冲，可以得到-20dB谱宽达388nm的平坦宽带超连续谱，比单基孤子脉冲产生的超连续谱谱宽增加72nm，交叉相位调制效应对超连续谱的产生起到增强的效果。当输入脉冲的抽运功率较低时，交叉相位调制效应对超连续谱的产生的增强效果更为显著，它极大地提高了超连续谱的产生的效率。数值计算的结果还表明，与其他高阶非线性效应相比，拉曼自频率移效应对超连续谱产生的影响更为明显。     

孤子光脉冲的产生及其应用研究

利用非线性偏振旋转技术实现自起振被动锁模.在掺铒光纤环形腔激光器中产生了中心波长为1563.3 nm、重复频率为12.5 MHz、脉冲宽度为352.0 fs、3 dB光谱宽度为7.8 nm的孤子光脉冲.采用该孤子光脉冲作为抽运光源，经掺铒光纤放大器放大后，输入到101 m长的高非线性光子晶体光纤中，获得了20 dB带宽约为240 nm的超连续激光光谱.实验详细观测了光脉冲随抽运功率的变化及超连续激光光谱的形成过程，分析了其形成机理.研究表明：当抽运功率较低时，光谱加宽主要由高阶孤子的分裂引起；随着抽运功率的增加，高阶孤子分裂成基本孤子的数目逐渐增大，光谱进一步加宽；当抽运功率增加到受激拉曼散射的阈值时，受激拉曼散射成为光谱展宽的主要原因；抽运功率进一步增加时，受激拉曼散射、参量四波混频等非线性的共同作用将使光谱进一步加宽且变得光滑. 关键词： 孤子光纤激光器 超连续 光子晶体光纤     

利用锁模光纤激光器在色散位移光纤中产生超连续谱的研究

采用主动锁模光纤激光器输出的重复频率10GHz、脉宽7．97ps的脉冲作为抽运光源，无需压缩后直接抽运4．2km的普通色散位移光纤(DSF)．利用色散位移光纤中自相位调制、交叉相位调制等非线性效应的联合作用，获得了20dB带宽达125nm、覆盖整个C波段、L波段和部分S波段的超连续(SC)谱。实验研究了抽运光脉冲峰值功率和抽运波长对超连续谱宽度的影响，结果表明抽运光脉冲峰值功率越高，得到的超连续谱的带宽越宽；通过对抽运波长的优化，可以实现最大程度的超连续展宽；分析了滤波器带宽对脉冲质量的影响；利用0．4nm带宽的可调谐滤波器对从超连续谱中滤出脉冲的特性进行了研究，在超连续谱的不同波长处获得了脉宽为8．90～9．80ps、时间一带宽积为0．44～0．49的稳定的窄光脉冲。     

基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效超连续谱光源

 报道了一种基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效率超连续谱产生系统。将光纤锁模激光器输出的脉宽5 ps、重复频率20 MHz、平均功率50 mW的脉冲,输入到15 μm的大模场光纤中进行放大,通过与两级芯径较小的短光纤模场匹配缩小输出的模场直径后,输入到20 m低非线性系数的光子晶体光纤,获得的超连续谱波长覆盖范围宽于650～1 700 nm。输入光子晶体光纤的泵浦光功率为740 mW,输出超连续光功率为670 mW,转换效率大于90%。实验研究了超连续光谱展宽的过程,从理论上进行了分析解释。