Engineerable compression of ultrashort pulses by use of second-harmonic generation in chirped-period-poled lithium niobate

We demonstrate the use of an aperiodic quasi-phase-matching (QPM) grating to generate second-harmonic pulses that are stretched or compressed relative to input pulses at the fundamental frequency. We frequency doubled an externally chirped erbium-doped fiber laser generating 17-ps (FWHM) pulses at 1560nm to produce near-transform-limited 110-fs (FWHM) pulses at 780nm by use of a 5-cm-long lithium niobate crystal poled with a QPM grating chirped from an 18.2- to a 19.8-microm period.     

Efficient generation of terahertz pulses in lithium niobate crystal with integrated matching prism

We present results of experimental studies of Cherenkov-type generation of a terahertz (THz)-pulse during propagation of a femtosecond laser pulse in LiNbO₃ crystal with a Si-prism output coupler. Application of the Si-prism allows reducing essentially the damping of THz radiation because of shortening of the path of THz pulse in the nonlinear crystal. Results of experimental studies agree sufficiently well with theoretical calculations.     

Phase and group synchronization in second-harmonic generation of ultrashort light pulses in one-dimensional photonic crystals

It is shown, on the basis of an analysis of the dispersion relation for an infinite one-dimensional periodic multilayer structure and direct numerical integration of Maxwell’s equations by the finite-difference method, that structures with photonic band gaps (PBGs) make it possible to provide simultaneously conditions for phase and group synchronizations for second-harmonic generation with participation of extremely short light pulses. The phase and group detunings, which arise as a result of the dispersion of the nonlinear medium, are compensated by the dispersion of the PBG structure. The use of this regime of nonlinearly optical interactions opens up the possibility of attaining high frequency conversion efficiencies irrespective of the synchronization length in the interior volume of a nonlinear material.     

Matched second-harmonic generation of ultrashort laser pulses in photonic crystals

It is shown that one-dimensional photonic bandgap structures are capable of simultaneously satisfying the phase and group-velocity matching conditions for second-harmonic generation involving extremely short light pulses. When these conditions are satisfied, an optical frequency doubler utilizing photonic bandgap structures provides a means for increasing the rate of growth of the second-harmonic signal as a function of the nonlinear-optical interaction length relative to structures designed for quasi-matched interactions and affords possibilities for enhancing the frequency doubling efficiencies independently of the matching length in the bulk nonlinear material. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 12, 800–805 (25 December 1999)     

Collinear broadband optical parametric generation in periodically poled lithium niobate crystals by group velocity matching

Collinear broadband optical parametric generation (OPG) using periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystals were designed and experimentally demonstrated with the quasi-phase matching (QPM) periods of 21.5, 24.0, and 27.0 μm. The broad gain bandwidth was accomplished by choosing a specific set of the period and the pump wavelength that allows the group velocities of the signal and the idler to match close to the degeneracy point. OPG gain bandwidth and also the spectral region could be controlled by proper design of QPM period and pump wavelength. The total OPG gain bandwidth of 600, 900, and 1200 nm was observed for the PPLN devices with QPM periods of 21.5, 24.0, and 27.0 μm, respectively. We have also observed multiple color visible generation whenever the OPG spectrum was significantly broad. From the visible peaks of the three PPLN samples, it is found that broad gain bandwidth is crucial in the temperature-insensitive collinear simultaneous RGB generation from a single crystal.     

Properties of periodic multicrystal configurations in walk-off-compensating second harmonic generation of ultrashort pulses

This work designs a four-platelet periodic multicrystal configuration in the second harmonic generation of ultra-short pulses as a new walk-off-compensating device. It theoretically investigates a proposed active and a typical passive compensating scheme with the undepleted-pump approximation. The result shows that the angular and spectral band-widths are proportional to the number of crystal pairs as expected,but the temperature tunability is basically unaltered owing to inter-plate pulse interference. At the same time,an analysis reveals that a misuse of the phase mismatch factor is responsible for a historic controversy about pulse interference. A real design of an ultraviolet second harmonic generation (262.5 nm) is considered in a passive periodic β-Barium Borate-calcite configuration,where the inter-plate pulse interference is found to form an azimuthal tuning restriction and to lower plate length tolerance. A subsequent numerical simulation with pump depletion is in good accordance with theoretical prediction.     

Phase matching limitation of high-efficiency second-harmonic generation in both phase- and group-velocity-matched structures

In this paper, we studied efficient second-harmonic generation (SHG) of femtosecond pulses in both phase- and group-velocity-matched structures. Obtained results show that phase matching becomes more critical under conditions required for high levels of conversion efficiency. And the imperfect phase mismatch caused by mismatched group-velocity dispersion (GVD) will limit conversion efficiency as well as bandwidth of generated second-harmonic (SH) pulses. The spectral characteristics of the generated SH pulses and its conversion efficiency in the strong pump regime are investigated in detail. The acceptance bandwidth of nonlinear crystal in the high-efficiency SHG is redefined in the paper, and the definition is much closer to the practical application of design.     

超短激光脉冲在等离子体中的分裂以及类孤子结构的形成

用一维粒子模拟研究了超短脉冲在等离子体中传播时产生的光孤子结构以及由此形成的脉冲分裂现象，比较了不同峰值强度和脉冲宽度对形成光孤子以及脉冲传播方式的影响.研究表明: 脉冲宽度在若干个到十几个振荡周期的超短脉冲在等离子体中可能形成高速传播的光孤子；脉冲宽度增加和强度增大两种方式都可以使得孤子结构的传播速度减慢,且由于高阶孤子的衰变使得初始激光脉冲在等离子体中发生分裂，形成两个以不同速度向前传播的孤子结构.由孤子阶数的理论计算可较好地预言激光脉冲在等离子体中分裂的子脉冲数. 关键词： 光孤子 超短激光脉冲 等离子体 粒子模拟     

Efficient self phase matched third harmonic generation of ultrashort pulses in a material with positive dispersion

An ultrafast transient refractive index grating, produced in barium fluoride, a material with positive dispersion, promotes very efficient third harmonic generation. The significant enhancement of the generation up to a conversion efficiency of about 3% is due to self phase matching, involving the instantaneous grating. At the same time several diffraction orders of the third harmonic signal are observed behind the sample. Received: 17 October 2000 / Published online: 21 February 2001     

Laser generation of acoustic waves at a periodic domain structure in lithium niobate

Generation of coherent acoustic oscillations due to the interaction of laser pulses with the periodic domain structure formed in a lithium niobate single crystal is observed. It is found that the excitation of acoustic waves is most efficient when the generated wavelength is equal to the period of the domain structure. The proposed mechanism of the optical generation of acoustic oscillations consists of the photogeneration of free carriers, which compensate the polarization fields within the domains, and the occurrence of alternating elastic stresses caused by the piezoelectric effect.     

Highly efficient second-harmonic and sum-frequency generation of nanosecond pulses in a cascaded erbium-doped fiber:periodically poled lithium niobate source

By combining erbium-doped fiber sources based on a large mode-area design and periodically poled lithium niobate, we have obtained single-pass conversion efficiencies of as much as 83% (energy efficiency) for second-harmonic generation into the near IR (768 nm) and of 34% for sum-frequency generation into the green (512 nm) for nanosecond pulses, using first-order quasi-phase matching. Pulse energies in excess of 80microJ of second harmonic have been obtained from systems pumped by a single laser diode.     

Magnetic field control of 90°, 180°, and 360° domain wall resistance

In the present work, we have compared the resistance of the 90°, 180°, and 360° domain walls in the presence of external magnetic field. The calculations are based on the Boltzmann transport equation within the relaxation time approximation. One-dimensional Néel-type domain walls between two domains whose magnetization differs by angle of 90°, 180°, and 360° are considered. The results indicate that the resistance of the 360° DW is more considerable than that of the 90° and 180° DWs. It is also found that the domain wall resistance can be controlled by applying transverse magnetic field. Increasing the strength of the external magnetic field enhances the domain wall resistance. In providing spintronic devices based on magnetic nanomaterials, considering and controlling the effect of domain wall on resistivity are essential.     

Efficient multi-frequency generation of ultrashort light pulses using stimulated Raman scattering and optical parametric amplification

Optical parametric amplification of multi-frequency seed pulses generated in a mixture of compressed hydrogen and methane by stimulated Raman scattering of 1 ps, 1 kHz laser pulses at 395.8 nm has been studied. Efficient generation of spectrally narrow ultrashort pulses with a spatial distribution close to the Gaussian profile of the pump beam was obtained in the visible and near infrared ranges.     

On the theory of second-harmonic generation in 2D nonlinear photonic crystals with arbitrary domain structures

Theoretical analysis is given to second-harmonic generation in 2D nonlinear photonic crystals of rectangular symmetry with rectangular domains. Formulas for the nonlinear response of the crystal with an arbitrary domain structure are derived within the approximation of a given field. A possibility of calculating time profiles of second-harmonic pulses down to the femtosecond range is demonstrated.     

Characterization of periodic domain structures in lithium niobate crystals by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis

Congruent lithium niobate crystals with periodic domain structures formed by the method of thermoelectric postgrowth treatment have been investigated. Periodic domain structures in the samples of polar ZY-, YZ-, and YX-cuts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution x-ray diffractometry, and topography. The evaluation and comparison of the secondary electron (SE) signal cycling, electron emission coefficient, and charge value to equalize the differences in the SE signal have allowed us to specify the features of ZY-and YZ-cut structures. A correlation between the crystal lattice distortions near domain boundaries and the type of domain walls has been found. The domain walls separating the areas with the tail-to-tail P _s vectors not only cause stronger crystal lattice distortions near them, but also are charged less quickly under electron irradiation.     

Nonlinear optical generation and detection of ultrashort electrical pulses in transmission lines

The nonlinear optical generation and detection of subpicosecond electrical pulses on coplanar transmission lines is demonstrated. The electrical pulses are generated by optical rectification of ultrashort optical pulses and detected by electro-optic sampling. Both processes are the result of a second-order nonlinear optical response that occurs in the same poled polymer medium. A bipolar temporal waveform with a FWHM duration of 180 fs for the positive lobe that was measured after a propagation distance of 125 mum was observed. Pulse broadening was minimized by careful attention to the device structure.     

Efficient second-harmonic generation for a high-intensity femtosecond pulse in the absence of group synchronism of interacting waves

A method is proposed to compensate for the influence of the group velocity mismatch on the frequency conversion efficiency for any ratio between the coefficients of square and cubic nonlinearities. The method allows the limiting efficiency of the frequency doubling to be achieved. This efficiency corresponds to the cases of phase and group synchronisms. For this purpose, it is necessary to apply a low-frequency phase modulation of the input radiation at the frequency of the first harmonic in combination with the optimal selection of the wavenumber mismatch. In practice, under certain conditions, this modulation can be obtained only with the aid of the wavenumber mismatch, whose optimal value is determined by the group velocity mismatch. The generation efficiency can be increased several times by introducing a phase shift in certain cross sections of the medium.     

Non-phase-matched enhancement of second-harmonic generation in multilayer nonlinear structures with internal reflections

Traditional notions of second-harmonic generation rely on phase matching or quasi phase matching to achieve good conversion efficiencies. We present an entirely new concept for efficient second-harmonic generation that is based on the interference of counterpropagating waves in multilayer structures. Conversion efficiencies are an order of magnitude larger than with phase-matched second-harmonic generation in similar multilayer structures.     

Multistep third-harmonic generation of femtosecond laser pulses in periodically-poled and chirped-periodically-poled lithium niobate

Simultaneous generation of the second and third harmonics in periodically-poled and chirped-periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN and CPPLN) is studied numerically taking into account mismatches and dispersions of the group velocities of interacting laser pulses. It is shown that CPPLN frequency converters can be successfully used for creating multicolor short laser pulses.     

Terahertz-pulse generation by photoionization of air with laser pulses composed of both fundamental and second-harmonic waves

Intense radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range can be generated by focusing of an ultrashort laser pulse composed of both a fundamental wave and its second-harmonic field into air, as reported previously by Cook et al. [Opt. Lett. 25, 1210 (2000)]. We identify a threshold for THz generation that proves that generation of a plasma is required and that the nonlinearity of air is insufficient to explain our measurements. An additional THz field component generated in the type I beta-barium borate crystal used for second-harmonic generation has to be considered if one is to avoid misinterpretation of this kind of experiment. We conclude with a comparison that shows that the plasma emitter is competitive with other state-of-the-art THz emitters.