Simultaneous temporal characterization of telecommunication optical pulses and modulators by use of spectrograms

We demonstrate a simple technique for simultaneous and complete characterization of the optical pulses and temporal modulators commonly used in telecommunication. The electric field of a pulse and the response of a modulator are obtained from the analysis of the two-dimensional spectrogram of the pulse gated by the modulator. The measurement sensitivity is greatly improved compared with the conventional nonlinear optical techniques. Trains of picosecond pulses as weak as 10(-17)J are accurately characterized with an electroabsorption modulator as the temporal gate. The time-resolved transmission and phase of the modulator are also presented.     

Imaging with short optical pulses

A new method of three-dimensional optical imaging based on range gating with subpicosecond pulses is being developed. As opposed to other techniques of medical imaging, this new method is characterized by both high contrast and resolution. Preliminary tests demonstrate a longitudinal resolution better than 10 μm. The computer algorithm needed to reconstruct the image from the attenuated backscattering and to extend to three dimensions the one-dimensional depth resolution, is discussed.     

Self-induced transparency of very short optical pulses

Solutions to a first order wave equation, appropriate to ultrashort optical pulse theory and to the optical undamped Bloch equations are presented. Detuning is shown to play essential role in the physical interpretation of these solutions. Related cases have been discussed by Courtens and by Lee. It is noted that the rotating wave approximation introduces strong restrictions on the range of validity of possible solutions. Pulses with Lorentzian shapes, while implied by the equations, appear to be without physical significance.     

Complete characterization of weak ultra-short near-UV pulses by spectral interferometry

We present a method for a complete characterization of a femtosecond ultraviolet pulse when a fundamental near-infrared beam is also available. Our approach relies on generation of the second harmonic from the pre-characterized fundamental, which serves as a reference against which an unknown pulse is measured using spectral interferometry (SI). The characterization apparatus is a modified second harmonic frequency resolved optical gating setup which additionally allows for taking SI spectra. The presented method is linear in the unknown field, simple and sensitive. We checked its accuracy using test pulses generated in a thick nonlinear crystal, demonstrating the ability to measure the phase in a broad spectral range, down to 0.1% peak spectral intensity as well as retrieving π leaps in the spectral phase. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.65.Re     

Temporal characterization of short pulses stretched by fiber Bragg gratings

Short femtosecond pulses at 1054 nm are stretched up to 400 ps by long broadband chirped-fiber Bragg gratings. The temporal profile of the reflected pulses is measured with a cross-correlation scheme. The advantage of this technique over the usual spectral measurements is its high sensitivity, since the temporal profile of reflected pulses is revealed to be strongly affected by the presence of defects in the grating. We show that this method is a good test of the quality of fiber Bragg gratings.     

Amplification of extremely short pulses in optical media

The dynamics of pulses with durations comparable to the inverse transition frequency that propagate in an optical medium is studied in terms of two integrable systems of Maxwell-Bloch equations. The first model describes the field interaction with a nondegenerate medium with a permanent dipole moment and permanent external pumping. A general formula is derived for the N-soliton solution. Particular solutions are used as examples to investigate the effect of permanent dipole moment and pumping on the soliton dynamics. The second model describes the interaction between two-component electric-field pulses and a two-level degenerate medium with permanent upper-level pumping. For different initial magnetic-sublevel populations, soliton solutions are used as examples to show that pumping causes a change in polarization dynamics. A two-soliton solution is used to analyze the interaction of solitons in a two-level medium with external pumping.     

Spatially-uniform temporal recompression of intense femtosecond optical pulses

A specially designed telescope with defocusing lens and off-axis parabolic mirror, which is working as a nonlinear element and producing self-phase modulation, was implemented for intense (3.1?TW/cm²) Fourier Transform Limit femtosecond laser pulses with Gaussian beam profiles. The pulse spectrum was broadened quasi- homogeneously over the beam cross-section due to the change in the lens thickness compensating for the reduction of the beam intensity from its center to periphery. In experimental demonstrations a set of chirped mirrors allowed for the spectral phase correction to a final pulse compression of 20?fs from 40?fs.     

Generation of single intense short optical pulses by ultrafast molecular phase modulation

Pulses with durations below 4 fs have been generated using the method of ultrafast molecular phase modulation. A laser pulse shorter than the molecular vibrational or rotational period obtains spectral broadening during propagation along a hollow waveguide filled with previously impulsively excited Raman active gases. The induced time dependent phase, frequency, and frequency chirp are controllable by changing the delay between excitation and probe pulse within the molecular vibrational period.     

Temporal characterization of mid-IR free-electron-laser pulses by frequency-resolved optical gating

We performed what we believe are the first practical full-temporal-characterization measurements of ultrashort pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL). Second-harmonic-generation frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) was used to measure a train of mid-IR pulses distorted by a saturated water-vapor absorption line and showing free-induction decay. The measured direction of time was unambiguous because of prior knowledge regarding free-induction decay. These measurements require only 10% of the power of the laser beam and demonstrate that FROG can be implemented as a pulse diagnostic simultaneously with other experiments on a FEL.     

Complete temporal pulse characterization based on phase reconstruction using optical ultrafast differentiation (PROUD)

A simple and general technique for recovering the phase profile of a given optical waveform from temporal intensity measurements is introduced and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed method involves the measurement of the temporal intensity profiles at the input and output of a linear optical time differentiator. The signal phase profile can be unambiguously recovered from these intensity measurements using a direct and noniterative algorithm. Given that ultrafast optical differentiators can be readily implemented in all-fiber or free-space platforms, the proposed technique could be applied over time waveforms with durations ranging from the subpicosecond to the nanosecond regime.     

Collision of extremely short optical pulses in semiconductor carbon nanotubes

The interaction of extremely short optical pulses in semiconductor carbon nanotubes is discussed. An equation is derived for the dynamics of the electromagnetic field in a system of semiconductor carbon nanotubes at low temperatures, whose solutions are analogs to the solitons of the sine-Gordon equation. The behavior of extremely short optical pulses in semiconductor carbon nanotubes on collision is analyzed.     

Noisy optical pulses enhance the temporal resolution of pump-probe spectroscopy

Time-resolved measurements of quantum dynamics are based on the availability of controlled events that are shorter than the typical evolution time scale of the processes to be observed. Here we introduce the concept of noise-enhanced pump-probe spectroscopy, allowing the measurement of dynamics significantly shorter than the average pulse duration by exploiting randomly varying, partially coherent light fields consisting of bunched colored noise. These fields are shown to be superior by more than a factor of 10 to frequency-stabilized fields, with important implications for time-resolved experiments at x-ray free-electron lasers and, in general, for measurements at the frontiers of temporal resolution (e.g., attosecond spectroscopy). As an example application, the concept is used to explain the recent experimental observation of vibrational wave-packet motion in D(2)(+) on time scales shorter than the average pulse duration.     

Analysis of temporal broadening of optical pulses by atmospheric dispersion in laser communication system

In this paper, pulse broadening caused by atmospheric dispersion is analyzed, which is the key factor in high-speed and long-distance free space laser communication systems according to our simulation. The measured datum of atmospheric parameters, including atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperature of the desert in Xinjiang, China, is used in the analysis of pulses broadening. The pulse broadening caused by atmospheric dispersion is very significant when pulsewidth is on the order of 5 ps, and pulse broadening is negligible if the pulsewidth is larger than 20 ps. With the increment of optical wavelength, atmospheric dispersion-induced pulse broadening is mitigated. The received pulsewidth is dominated mainly by dispersion-induced pulse broadening at small duty ratio of original signal, and original pulsewidth at large duty ratio of original signal respectively. By selecting proper duty ratio of optical pulse, the received pulsewidth can be minimized and the system bit rate can be maximized.     

Amplitude and phase characterization of 4.5-fs pulses by frequency-resolved optical gating

The technique of second-harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating is applied to measure the intensity and the phase of 4.5-fs pulses resulting from the fiber-compressed output of a cavity-dumped Ti:sapphire laser. Characterization of even shorter optical pulses by this method should also be feasible.     

On a possibility of analysing the temporal characteristics of short light pulses

The problem of noncollinear second harmonic generation (NSHG) of short, spatially limited light pulses in uni-axial nonlinear crystals has been solved. Based on an analysis of the obtained solution concrete experimental procedures to determine the duration of ultra-short laser pulses are suggested. Expressions for the evaluation of experimental results are given.     

Raman generated synchronous short optical pulses for laser-matter interaction diagnostics

Forward and backward stimulated raman scattering (SRS) emitted under 532 nm, 75 ps pulse excitation is amplified by a travelling-wave dye amplifier. Temporal behaviour of the emissions is investigated with a streak camera. The backward raman-strokes emission of ethanol at 633 nm (linewidth 0.15 nm) produces pulses as short as 15 ps. With a rhodamine 640 amplifier, peak power reaches 10 MW under 50 MW excitation.     

Characteristics of wavelength conversion of short optical pulses in quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers

The characteristics of short optical pulse four-wave mixing (FWM) and amplification in quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-SOAs) are investigated taken into account the effect of the multi-discrete QD energy levels. Different saturation and recovery response for the electron and hole states are observed, which is attributed to different energy spacing between the energy states. We found that the 3 dB saturation energy of QD-SOA depends on the pulse width for short input pulses. Also, the optimum time delay between the probe and pump pulses in QD-SOAs, which provides maximum FWM efficiency in QD-SOAs, is smaller than the optimum delay in quantum well SOA.     

Processing of metals by double pulses with short laser pulses

Experimental results related to the influence of time delayed pulses for ablation efficiency with short multi pulses (pulse duration of 5 ps) are reported. A significant improvement of the micro structuring quality at relatively high fluence regime in metals is obtained. Less removed or recast matter is observed and the processed surface appears to be smoother with better roughness. Ablation depths and burr heights are compared for single pulses and double pulses in steel, Al and Cu as a function of scans number. Best results are obtained for weak time delays, typically less than 1 ps. PACS 79.20.Ds; 42.62.Cf; 81.65.Cf     

On propagation of short pulses in strong dispersion managed optical lines

We show that the propagation of short pulses in optical lines with strong dispersion management is described by an integrable Hamiltonian system. The leading nonlinear effect is the formation of a collective dispersion which is a result of the interaction of all pulses propagating along the line. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 9, 573–576 (10 November 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Large temporal narrowing of subnanosecond pulses in a low-birefringence optical fiber

A temporal shortening by a factor higher than 10 of subnanosecond pulses launched into a low-birefringence optical fiber is achieved by polarization filtering at the output. By means of the theoretical approach, in good agreement with experimental measurements, the impact of the nonlinear polarization rotation and of the coherent coupling phenomena is pointed out.