SOA-based loop mirror for tunable pulse-width generation

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a system for the generation of pulses of tunable pulse-width as those required in high spectral efficiency optically routed networks. Pulse narrowing of 500 ps pulses by 90% is accomplished through a SOA based non-linear loop mirror. Optical switching through the SOA loop mirror is used to shape and carve these large pulses (e.g., 500 ps) generated by non-expensive low-frequency optoelectronic components to narrow pulses (e.g., 50 ps). We also calculate the minimum loop size and optimum repetition rate of the original pulse train for the generation of the shorter pulse-width pulse train.     

Surface-emitted THz generation using a compact ultrashort pulse fiber amplifier at 1060 nm

Generation of InAs-surface-emitted terahertz radiation by application of an ultrashort pulse 1060 nm parabolic fiber amplifier source is reported for the first time. The fiber amplifier delivers 100 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 75 MHz and an average power of maximum 12 W. This new excitation laser for surface-emitters generates high brightness broadband THz radiation ranging from 100 GHz to over 2.5 THz. THz detection is demonstrated based on two-photon absorption at low-temperature-grown GaAs dipole receivers.     

Experimental investigation of the impact of optical injection on vital parameters of a gain-switched pulse source

An analysis of optical injection on a gain-switched distributed feedback (DFB) laser and its impact on pulse parameters that influence the performance of the pulse source in high-speed optical communication systems is presented in this paper. A range of 10 GHz in detuning and 5 dB in injected power has been experimentally identified to attain pulses, from an optically injected gain-switched DFB laser, with durations below 10 ps and pedestal suppression higher than 35 dB. These pulse features are associated with a side mode suppression ratio of about 30 dB and a timing jitter of less than 1 ps. This demonstrates the feasibility of using optical injection in conjunction with appropriate pulse compression schemes for developing an optimized and cost-efficient pulse source, based on a gain-switched DFB laser, for high-speed photonic systems.     

Large aperture tapered fiber phase conjugate mirror in MOPA laser systems with high repetition rate and high pulse energy

A large aperture tapered fused silica fiber phase conjugate mirror with a maximum 50.7% stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) reflectivity is presented, which is operated with 400 Hz pulse repetition rate and 36.5 mJ input pulse energy. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that over 50% SBS reflectivity is achieved by using solid-state phase conjugate mirror under such high pulse repetition rate and high pulse energy. With much higher pulse repetition rate of 500 and 1000 Hz, the maximum SBS reflectivity is 41.2% and 33.3%, respectively. A single-longitudinal-mode Nd:YAG laser is experimentally studied with master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) scheme using such a tapered fiber as a phase conjugate mirror. A 101 mJ pulse energy is achieved at 400 Hz repetition rate, with a pulse width of 6 ns and a M² factor of less than 2. The corresponding peak power reaches 16.8 MW.     

All optical arbitrary waveform generation by optical frequency comb based on cascading intensity modulation

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an all optical arbitrary waveform generation by optical frequency comb (OFC) based on cascading intensity modulation. By selecting spectral lines of interest from OFC through optical filters, 10 GHz, 20 GHz, and 60 GHz sinusoidal signals with low phase noise and more complex waveforms, including ultra-short pulse, half-wave cosine, and single frequency modulated MMW signals, are generated easily.     

Optical pulse compression using the temporal Radon-Wigner transform

The temporal Radon-Wigner transform (RWT), which is the squared modulus of the fractional Fourier transform (FRT) for a varying fractional order p, is here employed as a tool for pulse compression applications. To synthesize the compressed pulse, a selected FRT irradiance is optically produced employing a photonic device that combines phase modulation and dispersive transmission. For analysis purposes, the complete numerical generation of the RWT with 0 < p < 1 is proposed to select the value of p required for pulse compression. To this end, the amplitude and phase of the signal to be processed should be known. In order to obtain this information we use a method based on the recording of two different FRT irradiances of the pulse. The amplitude and phase errors of the recovered signal, which are inherent to the recording process, are discussed in connection with the RWT production. Numerical simulations were performed to illustrate the implementation of the proposed method. The technique is applied to compress signals commonly found in fiber optic transmission systems, such as chirped gaussian pulses, pulses distorted by second and third-order dispersion and nonlinear self-modulated pulses.     

Novel optical controllable terahertz wave switch

We study theoretically and demonstrate experimentally light controllable terahertz wave switch. When the modulated optical excitation source is used to irradiate a high resistivity silicon wafer, a novel controllable terahertz wave switch is achieved. The results show that the ON-OFF response time is less than 150 ms and the attenuation of the novel terahertz wave switch is more than 20 dB at frequency of 0.315 THz.     

Mode locking of an erbium-doped fiber laser with intra-cavity polarization modulation

Erbium-doped fiber lasers are normally actively mode-locked through amplitude modulation or phase modulation. In this paper, we demonstrate that the laser can also be mode-locked by employing polarization modulation with a polarization-dependent cavity loss. We obtain a nearly transform-limited mode-locked pulse train at 10 GHz repetition rate with timing jitter as low as 164 fs. The timing jitter is only limited by the timing jitter of the driving signal.     

Nanostructural pulse laser-deposited Ag(Tl)SbS semiconductor thin films: Growth dynamics, structural and electrical properties

Ag₃SbS₃ semiconductor material is an attractive substance for different optoelectronic and data storage applications [D. Adler, M.S. Shur, M. Silver, S.R. Ovchinsky, J. Appl. Phys. 51 (1979) 3289]. The most reliable way to get thin films with proper quality is the pulse laser deposition (PLD) technology. The paper reports data on growth dynamics (electron microscopic experiments (EME) performed in situ in order to clarify structural features of the films under PLD process), X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations and room temperature current-voltage (IVC) characteristics. The sets of investigated samples were prepared by Nd:IAG laser. Films were deposited under substrate temperatures T = 300 K and T = 400 K and at different pulse repetition frequencies. EME studies revealed time-dependent changes of the grown films’ structure occurring under stationary pulse repetition frequency and the substrate temperature. The structure of the films was identified as an amorphous with nanoscale crystalline phase inclusions (there are results of the XRD studies). The IVCs investigations performed at the room temperature and under applied bias up to 10 V in both directions showed a domination of tunneling current for all samples under study.     

Research of multiple wavelength light source based on super-continuous spectrum

In order to meet the requirements of the multi-wavelength light source of large-capacity, high-speed, long-distance optical communication system, we researched the multi-wavelength light source based on super-continuum (SC), analyzed the main factors in the SC generation, such as dispersion, nonlinear effects. The SC simulation and optimization around the input pulse width, peak power, fiber length, non-linear coefficient parameters for analysis. The optimized results: SC input achieved 25 GHz repetition rate, amplified by high power EDFA, input average power did not exceed 33 dBm. The output of the SC 3 dB bandwidth was greater than 70 nm, after AWG, output 320 wavelengths, wavelength spacing is 0.2 nm (25 GHz), the signal-to-noise ratio was greater than 30 dB.     

Mode-locked performance of hybrid soliton pulse source utilizing fiber grating external cavity lasers

Mode-locking characteristic of hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) utilizing linearly chirped raised-cosine flat top apodized fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is investigated by using coupled-mode equations. It is found that the fundamental repetition frequency range of HSPS is significantly extended by using linearly chirped raised-cosine flat top apodized FBG instead of linearly chirped Gaussian apodized FBG. The range of repetition frequencies over which proper mode-locking is obtained is 2-3.3 GHz with linearly chirped raised-cosine flat top apodized grating whereas this range is 2.1-2.95 GHz with linearly chirped Gaussian apodized grating.     

High-resolution spectroscopy using interleaved 100 GHz optical frequency comb scanned by phase modulator

A high-resolution spectroscopy technique is proposed with an optical phase modulator combined with an interleaved optical frequency comb. The optical phase modulator and a frequency-locked laser light guarantee a spectral resolution less than 1 MHz on an absolute frequency axis. A wide measurement frequency range was realized using a 25 GHz optical frequency comb lying over a 4 THz frequency region. An extraction of single tooth intensity from the comb was realized by a heterodyne technique with a frequency-tunable laser used as a local oscillator. Also, the 25 GHz optical frequency comb was interleaved to generate four 100-GHz combs for removing the crosstalk from the 25 GHz neighboring sidebands in the teeth. This proposed spectroscopy technique was experimentally demonstrated with a resonator of less than 1 MHz linewidth and a H¹³C¹⁴N gas cell. Thus, a measurement frequency range higher than 4 THz (1530 nm-1560 nm) was confirmed with an effective spectral resolution 100 kHz order. In addition, the characteristics of the proposed system were compared with those of the previous system with a single-sideband (SSB) optical modulator.     

High frequency pulse trains from a self-starting additive pulse mode-locked all-fiber laser

In this paper, a coupled-cavity Er-doped fiber laser is experimentally developed and analyzed. The proposed scheme has the advantage of an all-fiber configuration. Two similar fiber Bragg gratings are employed as reflective components of the main cavity containing the gain medium. The second cavity is generated, in one side, by the reflective flat end of a standard fiber optic pigtail of variable length and, in the other, by one of the Bragg gratings belonging to the main cavity. Depending on the ratio between the lengths of both cavities, trains of stable and short pulses were obtained with a repetition frequency larger than the frequency of the main cavity. The repetition rate of the pulse trains experimentally obtained was as high as 780 MHz (15 times the main cavity frequency) and the pulse width was ∼110 ps. Prediction of the possible repetition rates for each cavities lengths ratio and the upgrading possibilities of this laser system are analyzed.     

Generation of widely tunable Fourier-transform-limited terahertz pulses using narrowband near-infrared laser radiation

Widely tunable, Fourier-transform-limited pulses of terahertz (THz) radiation have been generated using (i) crystals of the highly nonlinear organic salt 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-N′-methyl stilbazolium tosylate (DAST), (ii) zinc telluride (ZnTe) crystals, (iii) gallium phosphide (GaP) crystals, and (iv) low-temperature-grown gallium arsenide (LTG-GaAs) photomixers with THz spiral antennas. Outputs from two narrowband (Δν < 1 MHz, λ ∼ 800 nm) cw titanium-doped sapphire (Ti:Sa) ring lasers with a well-controlled frequency difference were shaped into pulses using acousto-optic modulators (AOM), coupled into an optical fiber, pulse amplified in Nd:YAG-pumped Ti:Sa crystals and used as optical sources to pump the THz emitters. The THz radiation was detected over a broad frequency range and its bandwidth was determined to be ∼10 MHz. The spectroscopic potential of the THz source is illustrated by the absorption spectrum of a pure rotational transition of OCS.     

2 W/nm peak-power all-fiber supercontinuum source and its application to the characterization of periodically poled non-linear crystals

We demonstrate a uniform high spectral brightness and peak power density all-fiber supercontinuum source. The source consists of a nanosecond Ytterbium fiber laser and an optimal length PCF producing a continuum with a peak power density of 2 W/nm and less than 5 dB of spectral variation between 590 and 1500 nm. The Watt level per nm peak power density enables the use of such sources for the characterization of non-linear materials. Application of the source is demonstrated with the characterization of several periodically poled crystals.     

Simultaneous wavelength conversion and pulse compression exploiting cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in LiNbO3 waveguides

Simultaneous wavelength conversion and pulse compression are proposed and demonstrated exploiting cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in periodically domain-inverted LiNbO₃ waveguides. The influences of initial pulse widths and waveguide length on the conversion efficiency and converted pulse compression are theoretically analyzed. Tunable wavelength conversion is performed for the signal pulse with the temporal width of 7.5 ps and repetition rate of 40 GHz. Conversion efficiency of more than −24 dB is obtained for 35-nm conversion span under average signal power of 10 dBm when a CW control wave is adopted.     

Controlled process for polymer micromachining using designed pulse trains of a UV solid state laser

A flexible workstation equipped with a solid state laser operating at 266 nm wavelength was used to machine holes in polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide and polycarbonate. An optical pulse picker was employed to reduce the high repetition rates of the laser, while a breakthrough sensor was used to avoid over-drilling of through holes. For each material, different repetition rates and designed pulse trains were tested to improve feature quality and process efficiency. Although the three polymers had very different reactions at this wavelength they all showed an improvement in feature quality with decreasing repetition rate due to a reduction in thermal effects. Up to 10 kHz the average depth per pulse remained unchanged and afterwards a slight increase was observed but this was accompanied by large uncertainties. Bursts of pulses at 40 kHz inserted inside the low repetition rate pulse train reduced the drilling time and the amount of debris redeposited without affecting the feature quality. It was found that a number of cleaning pulses after perforation eliminates the heat affected zone around exits. Holes with entrance diameters below 20 μm and exit diameters as small as 2 μm were obtained with high repeatability.     

Characterization of 60 GHz Multi Quantum well passively mode-locked laser under optical self-injection locking

The quality and pulse compression of the 60 GHz millimeter wave signals generated by 750 μm long InAlGaAs Multi Quantum Well (MQW) passively mode locked laser under free running and optical self-injection locked conditions are experimentally characterized in terms of longitudinal modes under certain bias currents that range from 24 mA to 90 mA. Initially, the MQW laser is characterized in free running condition with no external injection. The measurements reflect that the free spectral range of laser under test is around 61 GHz and exhibit more than 22 lasing modes. The laser is then integrated into low phase noise self-injection locking oscillator by feeding a part of output RF signal back into the laser cavity to enhance passive mode locking. By doing so the microwave line width of our laser is reduced from 900 kHz to 24 kHz with significant increase in output of resultant beat tones which exhibits strong passive mode locking. This is the first time that the free running microwave line width of MQW laser is reduced up to this level. It is evident from our experimental investigation that as we increase the power and phase correlation between different longitudinal modes inside laser cavity through optical self-injection, the strength of the passively mode locked mechanism is significantly increased and the phase noise of radio frequency signal is drastically reduced.     

Adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping to control supercontinuum generation in a microstructure fiber

Efficient confinement of laser radiation in the core of a photonic crystal fiber increases the nonlinear processes resulting in supercontinuum generation. The technique of adaptive pulse shaping using an evolutionary algorithm provides a method to gain control over such highly nonlinear processes. Adaptive pulse shaping of the driving laser radiation passing through the photonic crystal fiber is employed to modify the shape and composition of the output supercontinuum. Amplitude and phase shaping are used to optimize the broadband emission between 500 and 700 nm, as well as a soliton centered at 935 nm. The intensities of the emission and of the soliton driven by a shaped laser pulse increase in comparison to an unshaped pulse by factors of 4 and 3, respectively. The spectral width in the range of 500-600 nm is increased by approximately 40%. In addition, the suppression of self-steepening effects in supercontinuum spectra is demonstrated.     

Self-Q-switching and mode-locking in an all-fiber Er/Yb co-doped fiber ring laser

Using a section of un-pumped Er/Yb co-doped fiber (EYDF) as a saturable absorber, Self-Q-switching and self-mode-locking pulses have been obtained in an all-fiber EYDF ring laser. Such laser is with the self-Q-switched pulse threshold of 135.22 mW, the repetition rate of approximately 22.2 kHz, and the pulse duration of ∼2.8 μs, respectively. The self-mode-locked threshold is 591.8 mW. By incorporating the saturable absorption in an un-pumped EYDF and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, when the pump power is increased to 1242.9 mW, the continuous-wave (CW) mode-locking with the pulse width of 26 ns has also been demonstrated experimentally for the first time.