Second-harmonic generation in periodically poled nonlinear polymer waveguides

We demonstrate quasi-phase-matched (QPM) second-harmonic generation (SHG) at the optical communication wavelengths with side-chain polymer waveguides. A ridge waveguide structure is designed to support fundamental mode guiding at both the pump and the second harmonics, leading to a high field overlap integral of the guided modes. The nonlinearity contrast in the +/0 type QPM waveguide is maximized under a QPM poling electrode width of nearly half the coherence length. Using these configurations, we record a normalized SHG efficiency of 2.2% W(-1) cm(-2) in the polymer waveguide.     

Band gaps and defect modes in periodically structured waveguides

This work examines a simple one-dimensional acoustic band gap system made from a diameter-modulated waveguide. Experimental and theoretical results are presented on perfectly periodic waveguide arrays showing the presence of band gaps--frequency intervals in which the transmission of sound is forbidden. The introduction of defects in the perfect periodicity leads to narrow frequency transmission bands--defect states--within the forbidden band gaps. The circular cross-section waveguide system is straightforward to simulate theoretically and experimental results demonstrate good agreement with theory. The experimental transmission of the periodic waveguide arrays is measured using an impulse response technique.     

All-optical power limiting in waveguides with periodically distributed Kerr-like non-linearity

A slab waveguide with an embedded non-linear grating is considered as an all-optical power-limiting device. The limiting action is based on the power losses at boundaries between grating sections, where a mode-mismatch results from the self-focusing of the fundamental mode in each non-linear section. Time-harmonic and optical pulse propagation are both modelled numerically by finite-difference techniques to demonstrate the behaviour of the device. Received: 17 May 2001 / Revised version: 7 August 2001 / Published online: 23 October 2001     

Low-threshold spatial solitons in reverse-proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

Combining reverse proton exchange and uniform periodic poling in LiNbO3 planar waveguides, we demonstrate low-energy spatial optical solitons by second-harmonic generation at room temperature, with a threshold as low as 23 pJ/microm at 1.5 microm.     

Second-harmonic generation in Zn-diffused periodically poled LiNbO3 channel waveguides

In this work second-harmonic generation by quasi-phase matching (QPM) in Zn-diffused periodically poled lithium niobate channel waveguides is presented. A stable TM?TE conversion by QPM has been found. The results are in good accordance with theoretical estimations obtained by the phase-matching condition, either for the polarisation character of the second-harmonic wave as well as for the spectral range, taking into account the periodicity of the domains. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 7 September 2001 / Published online: 30 October 2001     

Singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We report quasi-phase-matched singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in electric-field-poled lithium niobate waveguides. Parametric gains as high as 250%/W, an oscillation threshold of 1.6 W (peak), idler output powers of 220 mW, and a tuning range of 1180-2080 nm for pump wavelengths of 756-772 nm have been observed. Pump depletion is limited to 40% because of the multiple launched transverse modes at the pump wavelength. We predict that fully optimized waveguide singly resonant oscillators can have thresholds of ~100 mW, accessible to cw diode pumping.     

Self-imaging and modulational instability in an array of periodically curved waveguides

Linear and nonlinear light propagation in an array of waveguides with a periodically bent axis is theoretically investigated. In the linear propagation regime, it is shown that a self-imaging effect at periodic planes may occur, a phenomenon analogous to that of dynamic localization observed when an electron in a periodic potential is subjected to an ac field. In the nonlinear propagation regime, it is shown that periodic waveguide bending under the self-imaging condition inhibits the phenomenon of discrete modulational instability.     

Ultrabroadband tunable continuous-wave difference-frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We report, for what is the first time to our knowledge, widely tunable mid-IR light generation over a range of greater than 1000 nm in the 4 microm region by employing a single quasi-phase-matched periodically poled niobate waveguide at room temperature. The waveguide we used was fabricated by annealed proton exchange based on periodically poled lithium niobate. A peak conversion efficiency of 10%/W and a linewidth as small as 37 MHz were achieved. The developed mid-IR light generator may find wide applications in trace gas detection of multiple atmospheric species and high-resolution spectroscopy.     

Phase-matched SHG in periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguides: A novel configuration

We present a feasiblity study of a new method for enhancing the continuously phase matched second harmonic generation in 2D PPLN optical waveguides fabricated using the off-center Czochralski technique and proton-exchange. We show that a periodic variation of the nonlinear coefficient along the transverse coordinate permits for efficient energetic exchanges.     

Multiband diffraction and refraction control in binary arrays of periodically curved waveguides

The possibility of controlling discrete diffraction and refraction in a multiband waveguide array by periodic waveguide bending is theoretically demonstrated. Resonance effects, leading to the enhancement or inhibition of discrete diffraction, are found and related to the quantum analog of field-induced n-photon resonances in semiconductor superlattices. A very distinct behavior for light refraction is found for odd or even resonances. In particular, for even resonances, the two-band behavior of the straight binary array is quenched, resulting in the inhibition of double refraction.     

Highly efficient polarization-entangled photon source using periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

In our experiment, two channels of a 3 cm long periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide are used to generate the nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down conversion (NSPDC) photon pairs. We experimentally obtained the highly efficient polarization-entangled photon pairs by coherently combining two NSPDC processes, and keeping the phase stable over 30 min. We can also prepare two entangled photon pairs with different central wavelengths with the help of wavelength division multiplex.     

Generation of octave-spanning spectra inside reverse-photon-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We demonstrate simultaneous octave-level spectral broadening and carrier-envelope-offset sensing of mode-locked Er- and Yb-doped femtosecond fiber lasers using constant-period and chirped reverse-proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides. Chirped quasi-phase-matching gratings greatly improve spectral broadening of Yb-fiber lasers.     

Application of harmonic perturbations to the calculation of periodically corrugated waveguides

Harmonic perturbation of the profile of an infinite axisymmetric periodically-corrugated waveguide is used for the calculation of its electrodynamic characteristics. The analysis is based on the method of Fredholm-type integral equations of the second kind. The problem is solved analytically for the perturbation of a cylindrical waveguide. These analytical results serve as the basis for the solution of the inverse problem of recovery of the waveguide profile from the given dispersion curve.Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 467–480, May, 1995.     

Light-enhanced electro-optic spectral tuning in annealed proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate channel waveguides

We report the observation of light-enhanced electro-optic spectral tuning in annealed proton-exchanged, asymmetric domain-duty-cycle periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) channel waveguides for second-harmonic generation. The spectral tuning rate was increased rapidly from 0.07 nm/(kV/mm) to a saturated value of 0.32 nm/(kV/mm) in a 30%/70% domain-duty-cycle PPLN waveguide when the fundamental pump power near 1534 nm was increased from 0.6 to 46 mW. The second-harmonic laser power at 767 nm was identified to be the source enhancing the spectral tuning.     

Traversal time for Dirac particles through a potential barrier

A traversal time that has no problem of superluminality was advanced for particles to tunnel through potential barriers in the non‐relativistic quantum theory in a previous paper by C.‐F. Li and Q. Wang, Physica B 296 (2001) 356. This time is generalized in this paper to Dirac's relativistic quantum theory. Both evanescent and propagating cases are considered. It is shown that the traversal time in the evanescent case has much the same properties as in the non‐relativistic quantum theory and thus has no problem of superluminality. It also gets rid of the problem of superluminality in the propagating case. Comparisons with the dwell time, the group delay, and the velocity of monochromatic front are also made.     

Ultraviolet quasi-phase-matched second harmonic generation in surface periodically poled lithium niobate optical waveguides

The compatibility of low concentration (α-phase) proton exchange channel waveguides with electric field surface periodic poling of congruent lithium niobate (SPPLN) crystals has been experimentally demonstrated. With such waveguides, we obtained ultraviolet second harmonic generation (SHG) by first order quasi-phase-matching (QPM), a result made possible by the fabrication, on Z-cut LN crystals, of periodic structures with a pitch down to 750 nm. Nonlinear copropagating QPM-SHG measurements have been carried out on such structures. The pump source was a Ti:sapphire laser with a tunability range of 700–980 nm and a 40 GHz linewidth. We have measured UV continuous wave light at 390 nm by means of a lock-in amplifier and a photodiode with an enhanced response in the UV. The measured conversion efficiency was about 1% W^?1 cm^?2.     

The sharpness-induced mode stopping and spectrum rarefication in waveguides with periodically corrugated walls

Abstract

Starting from the rigorous excitation equation, the propagation of waves through a 2D waveguide with the periodically corrugated finite-length insert is examined in detail. The corrugation profile is chosen to obey the property that its amplitude is small as compared to the waveguide width, whereas the sharpness of the asperities is arbitrarily large. With the aid of the method of mode separation, which was developed earlier for inhomogeneous-in-bulk waveguide systems [Waves Random Media 2000; 10: 395], the corrugated segment of the waveguide is shown to serve as the effective scattering barrier whose width is coincident with the length of the insert and the average height is controlled by the sharpness of boundary asperities. Due to this barrier, the mode spectrum of the waveguide can be substantially rarefied and adjusted so as to reduce the number of extended modes to the value arbitrarily less than that in the absence of corrugation (up to zero), without changing considerably the waveguide average width.     

Shaping and switching of polychromatic light in arrays of periodically curved nonlinear waveguides

We overview our recent theoretical results on spatio-spectral control, diffraction management, and broadband all-optical switching of polychromatic light in periodically curved one and two dimensional arrays of coupled optical waveguides. In particular, we show that polychromatic light beams and patterns produced by white-light and supercontinuum sources can experience wavelength-independent normal, anomalous, or zero diffraction in specially designed structures. We also demonstrate that in the nonlinear regime, it is possible to achieve broadband all-optical switching of polychromatic light in a directional waveguide coupler with special bending of the waveguide axes. Our results suggest novel opportunities for creation of all-optical logical gates and switches which can operate in a very broad frequency region, e.g., covering the entire visible spectrum. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Applications, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujście, Poland     

Quasi-phase-matched difference-frequency generation in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) channel waveguides

Mid-infrared radiation near 2.8 mum was generated by difference-frequency generation in an 80-mm-long periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) channel waveguide by pump radiation near 1.55 mum (tunable external-cavity laser) and a signal radiation of 3.391 mum (HeNe laser). We obtained a normalized conversion efficiency of 105% W(-1) , which is to our knowledge the highest value ever reported.     

Transmittance antiresonances,longitudinal resonances,and large photonic gaps in periodically modulated waveguides

Light transmission through complex-unit waveguides (WGs) with or without stubs attached to them periodically is studied theoretically. The transmittance through stubless WGs of widtha, with periodic dielectric contrast and two different subunits, exhibits longitudinal resonances due to bound states trapped in individual subunits that disappear when the optical lengths of the latter are sufficiently long. On the other hand, stubbed WGs can have bound states trapped in the stubs which may result in transmittance resonances in the gaps and antiresonances within the bands that can widen into new bands and gaps, respectively. The photonic gaps of the stubbed WGs, with or without dielectric contrast, can be several times larger than those of the corresponding one-dimensional quarter-wave structure for sufficiently shorta. This increase results from destructive interference between waves propagating along the main WG and those reflected from the stubs. Distributed-feedback-laser stubbed or stubless (with contrast) structures, of stub lengths ≈ a, show a much higherQthan that of conventional, weakly corrugated WGs.