Efficient and wavelength-tunable anti-Stokes frequency conversion with good beam quality in the fundamental mode of photonic crystal fiber

Using the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with the zero dispersion wavelength of 848 nm for the fundamental mode, the efficient anti-Stokes signal generations from 645 to 543 nm are realized by pumping in the normal dispersion region. When the pump average power increases from 200 to 500 mW, the output power of the anti-Stokes signal increases 8.46 times, the power ratio of the anti-Stokes signal at 543 nm to the residual pump is calculated as 22.6:1, and the conversion efficiency η in the experiment can be up to 46%. Moreover, good optical beam quality of the anti-Stokes signal can be achieved.     

光子晶体光纤中高效的反斯托克斯信号产生

基于四波混频的反斯托克斯变换, 被广泛应用于短波辐射高分辨率成像以及直接激发分子的电子跃迁等方面. 为了实现更加高效的反斯托克斯变换, 利用中心波长为810 nm脉冲宽度为120 fs的钛蓝宝石(Ti: sapphire)飞秒激光器作为抽运光源, 在长度为0.5 m和3 m的光子晶体光纤中分别实现了高阶模和基膜的简并四波混频. 实验中, 采用的光子晶体光纤的零色散波长在820 nm附近. 在基模相位匹配条件下, 在560 nm附近实现了高效地反斯托克斯信号的产生, 反斯托克斯信号与残余抽运信号的最大功率比为33:1; 反斯托克斯信号和斯托克斯信号的最大功率比25:1; 反斯托克斯信号最大功率转换效率P_a/P_p0为34%. 抽运波长从790 nm逐渐增加到810 nm过程中, 在长为3 m的光子晶体光纤中相位从不匹配状态转化为高阶模匹配状态后, 再转化为基模匹配状态. 通过实验研究得出了相位匹配程度随抽运功率、波长和光纤长度的变化规律, 同时分析了造成理论计算与实验结果存在差异的主要因素. 本文为研究在光子晶体光纤基模中实现相位匹配和产生高效反斯托克斯信号提供了理论和实验依据.     

Ultra-violet and mid-infrared continuum generation by cross-phase modulation between red-shifted solitons and blue-shifted dispersive waves in a photonic crystal fiber

Using a photonic crystal fiber with a zero dispersion wavelength of the fundamental mode at 780 nm designed and fabricated in our lab, the ultraviolet and mid-infrared continua are generated by cross-phase modulation between red-shift solitons and blue-shift dispersive waves. The dependences of continuum on the pump power and wavelength are investigated. With the pump working at 820 nm, when the pump power increases from 300 to 500 mW, the bandwidths of ultraviolet and mid-infrared continua change from 80 to 140 nm and 100 to 200 nm, respectively. The wavelength of ultraviolet continuum is below 246 nm, and the wavelength of mid-infrared continuum exceeds 2500 nm. Moreover, the influences of pump power on wavelength and conversion efficiency of different parts of continua are also demonstrated.     

Polarisation-sensitive four-wave mixing and soliton self-frequency shift effect in the highly birefringent photonic crystal fibre

By adjusting the polarisation state of the pump at 805 nm parallel to slow (x) and fast (y) axes of the highly birefringent photonic crystal fibre with zero dispersion wavelengths 790 nm and 750 nm, this paper demonstrates the efficient polarisation-sensitive four wave mixing involved in pump, anti-Stokes and Stokes signals and soliton self-frequency shift effects induced by the phase-matching between red-shifted solitons and blue-shifted dispersive waves. If the reduction of coupling efficiency to the circular pump laser mode or other circular fibres due to asymmetry of the core is neglected, more than 98% of the total input power is kept in a single linear polarisation. Controlled dispersion characteristic of the doublet of fundamental guided-modes results in achieving light field strongly confined in principal axes of photonic crystal fibre, and enhancing the corresponding nonlinear-optical process through the remarkable nonlinear birefringence.     

Anti-Stokes Frequency Shift and Evolution in Polarization-Maintaining Photonic Crystal Fiber with Two-Zero Dispersion Wavelengths

Using the tunable pump pulses with about lOO fs pulse duration and 1064 nm central wavelength; the polarization-, wavelength- and power-dependent anti-Stokes lines are generated and modulated simultaneously in a polarization-maintaining photonie crystal fiber （PM-PCF） with two zero-dispersion wavelengths. By accurately controlling the polarization directions, the wavelength and the power of the pump pulse in the fiber anomalous region close to the second zero-dispersion wavelength of the PM-PCF, the output anti-Stokes pulse spectra can be tuned between 563 nm and 603 nm, which is in good agreement with the theoretical simulation. The color conversion of the mode image from yellow to orange is also observed with the different polarization pump pulses. These results can be attributed to the combined interaction between the fiber birefringence （including linear- and nonlinear- birefringence） and dispersion, and are attributed to phase-matching parametric four-wave mixing.     

Efficient continuous-wave 908 nm Nd:YLF laser emission under direct 880 nm pumping

The quasi-three-level 908-nm continuous-wave laser emission under direct diode laser pumping at 880 nm into emitting level ⁴ F _3/2 of Nd:YLF have been demonstrated. An end-pumped Nd:YLF crystal yielded 4.7 W of output power for 11.8 W of absorbed pump power. The slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power was 43.3%. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 808 nm, into the highly-absorbing ⁴ F _5/2 level, are given in order to prove the advantages of the 880-nm wavelength pumping.     

Generation of Anti-Stokes Line in Fundamental Mode of Photonic Crystal Fibre

A photonic crystal fibre （PCF） with zero-dispersion wavelength around 800 nm is designed and fabricated. Simulated results show that the zero-dispersion wavelength of fundamental mode for this PCF is at 826nm, and phase-matched four-wave mixing can be achieved in fundamental mode. Using 20ors Ti：sapphire laser with central wavelength at 810nm as pump, the anti-Stokes line around 610hm ＆ generated efficiently. The output signal has a Gaussian-like profile, which indicates that the anti-Stokes signal is in the fundamental mode of the PCF. The energy of anti-Stokes signal is higher than that of residual pump laser and the maximum ratio of the anti-Stokes signal to the pump component in the output spectrum is estimated to be 1.2.     

Characteristics of Wavelength Tunable Femtosecond Soliton Pulse Generation Using Femtosecond Pump Laser and Polarization Maintaining Fiber

We have investigated both experimentally and numerically the characteristics of wavelength tunable femtosecond soliton pulse generation using a pulse width variable fiber laser and two different types of polarization maintaining fibers. The generated soliton shows the feature of the pulsewidth becoming almost constant at - 250 fs under any conditions of the pump pulse for 220m fiber. High conversion efficiency from pump pulse to a generated soliton pulse accounting for as much as 73% can be obtained. This efficiency decreases with increase in the input power or wavelength shift. A superior conversion efficiency and broad wavelength shift can be obtained by using a more shortened pump pulse. In the numerical calculations, it is predicted that under a condition of constant power of pump pulse, the maximum wavelength shift is achieved when the soliton number N is -1.4. The difference of mode field diameter and the group velocity dispersion (GVD) coefficient β₂ affect the wavelength shift and conversion efficiency. Using the fiber with small mode field diameter and small absolute value of GVD coefficient β₂, a high conversion efficiency and large wavelength shift can be obtained.     

飞秒泵浦不同锥长微结构光纤超连续谱的产生

对飞秒脉冲泵浦下,不同锥长及锥腰直径的微结构光纤的超连续谱产生进行了实验研究。采用“快速低温拉锥方法”,在保持d/Λ不变的情况下,对实验室自制的空气孔间距Λ=6.53 μm,归一化孔径d/Λ=0.79的微结构光纤进行了拉锥,分别得到6,8,10 mm等不同锥长微结构光纤。理论计算表明,随着锥长变长,锥腰直径变小,锥腰处零色散波长向短波移动：未拉锥及6,8和10 mm锥微结构光纤锥腰处零色散波长分别为1 129,885,806和637 nm。利用中心波长为810 nm,重复频率76 MHz,脉宽120 fs的钛蓝宝石飞秒激光器对拉锥后微结构光纤进行了实验研究：锥长为6 mm时,泵浦光中心波长位于整根光纤的正常色散区,锥腰的零色散点附近,内脉冲拉曼散射和级联四波混频是光谱初始展宽的主要因素。泵浦功率达到450 mW时,在可见波段390～461 nm及红外波段1 134～1 512 nm形成-5 dB的平坦宽带连续光谱。泵浦功率达到500 mW时,出现366～2 450 nm覆盖紫外、可见、近红外、中红外的超连续谱,其光谱红蓝移边缘已经接近实验用微结构光纤的传输带宽。锥长为8 mm、泵浦功率为450 mW时,在群速度匹配和群加速度失配的共同影响下,连续谱蓝移边缘达到366 nm,比6 mm锥时蓝移9 nm;锥长为10 mm时,由于锥腰处零色散点移动到可见光区域,可见区光谱仍能满足相位匹配条件。通过级联四波混频效应,在可见区域实现了频率上转换及光谱蓝移。泵浦光功率达到500 mW时,在382～412 nm得到谱宽仅为30 nm,转换效率达到27.7%的频率上转换。     

Diode-pumped continuous-wave Nd:YLF laser at 1313 nm

We present an efficiency Nd:LiYF₄ (Nd:YLF) laser operating at 1313 nm pumped directly into the emitting level ⁴ F _3/2. At the incident pump power of 10.3 W, as high as 3.1 W of continuous-wave output power at 1313 nm is achieved. The slope efficiency with respect to the incident pump power was 36.1%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of such a laser system. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 806 nm, into the highly absorbing ⁴ F _5/2 level, are given in order to prove the advantages of the 880 nm wavelength pumping.     

Highly efficient intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:GdVO4-LBO red laser at 670 nm under direct 880 nm pumping

We report the efficient compact red laser at 670 nm generation by intracavity frequency doubling of a continuous wave laser operation of a diode direct pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser on the ⁴ F _3/2 → ⁴ I _13/2 transition at 1340 nm. An LBO crystal, cut for critical type I phase matching at room temperature is used for second harmonic generation of the laser. At an absorbed pump power of 16.2 W, as high as 5.1 W of continuous wave output power at 670 nm is achieved with 15-mm-long LBO. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is up to 0.31, and the fluctuation of the red output power was better than 3.0% in the given 30 min. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 808 nm, into the highly-absorbing ⁴ F _5/2 level, are given in order to prove the advantages of the 880 nm wavelength pumping.     

All-Fiber Wavelength Conversion of Ultra-Fast Signal with Enhanced Extinction Ratio Using Stimulated Raman Scattering

We propose a simple method for all-fiber wavelength conversion of ultra-fast signal by means of stimulated Raman scattering. The idea is based on the transference of energy from the signal as pump to a desired signal as first Stokes by stimulated Raman scattering. To minimize the walk-off between two wavelengths, we chose the input signal and the desired output signal wavelengths, equally spaced on opposite sides of the zero dispersion wavelength of the fiber. Based on this assumption, we numerically analyzed the all-fiber wavelength converter for ultra-fast signal with high output power and significantly enhanced output extinction ratio.     

基于光子晶体光纤四波混频效应的波长转换研究

研究了光子晶体光纤中的四波混频效应及其波长转换.采用长度为25 m的高非线性色散平坦光子晶体光纤,当泵浦功率为19.8 dBm时,得到100 nm的转换带宽和－20 dB的最大转换效率.实验结果表明,当信号功率低于四波混频阈值时,两路不同波长的信号同时输入产生的四波混频效应互不影响.     

Parametric amplification in a microstructure fiber

We report an observation of parametric amplification with a gain greater than 30 dB in a 1.7-m microstructure fiber. It is found that there exists a peak pump power P_s. For peak pump powers less than P_s, the amplified twin (signal: longer wavelength, and idler: shorter wavelength) pulses are highly correlated, and the bandwidth of the amplified signal pulse broadens monotonically with pump power. For peak pump powers exceeding P_s, the correlation between the amplified twin pulses drops when the pump power increases, the bandwidth of the amplified signal pulse becomes narrower when the pump power increases, and the central wavelength of the amplified signal (idler) pulse shifts towards longer (shorter) wavelength, respectively, due to phase matching. PACS 42.65.Yj     

Analysis of Effect of Chromatic Dispersion for Wavelength Tunable Ultrashort Soliton Pulse Generation

The performance characteristics of generated soliton and anti-Stokes pulses for the wavelength tunable ultrashort soliton pulse generation system are discussed for different fiber dispersion parameters of β₂ and β₃ at the pump wavelength. Numerical analysis showed that the broadband wavelength tunability is improved as both the absolute value of negative β₂ and the value of β₃ are decreased. When β₃ is the usual value, the best performance of broadband continuous wavelength tunability which broadens symmetrically to the pump wavelength is obtained for β₃ of around 蜢2 psβ²/km. The reason for this is that the behaviors of both the generated soliton and anti-Stokes pulses are due to the β₂. Through simulations for different fiber dispersion parameters of β₂ or β₃ we obtained interesting results. When β₃ is negative and the zero dispersion wavelength is set at the longer wavelength side than the pump wavelength, such as around 2 μm, it is possible to convert the generated soliton into new components at the longer wavelength side over 2 μm.     

Highly efficient continuous-wave intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:YVO4-LBO laser at 457 nm under diode pumping into the emitting level 4F3/2

The continuous-wave high efficiency laser emission of Nd:YVO₄ at the fundamental wavelength of 914 nm and its 457 nm second harmonic obtained by intracavity frequency doubling with an LBO nonlinear crystal is investigated under pumping by diode laser at 880 nm into emitting level ⁴F_3/2. 6.5 W at 457 nm with M ²=1.8 was obtained from a 5-mm-thick 0.4 at.% Nd:YVO₄ laser medium and a 15-mm-long LBO nonlinear crystal in a Z-type cavity for 18.6 W absorbed pump power. An optical-to-optical efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power was 0.35. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 808 nm, into the highly-absorbing level ⁴F_5/2, are given in order to prove the advantages of the 880 nm wavelength pumping.     

Blue light generation in photonic crystal fibers with 1-μm femtosecond laser pulses

Using 300-fs 1039-nm Yb-doped fiber laser, we experimentally demonstrate blue light generation in a high-△ and high nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The zero dispersion wavelength of PCF is 793 nm, detuning 245.8 nm from the pump wavelength. PCF allows a frequency conversion exceeding the octave of pump wavelength. The visible component of the measured output spectrum occurs in the fundamental mode and spans from 391.3 to 492.3 nm. The peak wavelength of 441.8 nm has a frequency detuning of 390 THz from the pump wavelength of 1039 nm.     

Efficient intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:YLiF<Subscript>4</Subscript>-LiB<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> red laser emission under diode pumping into the emitting level

We report for the first time (to our knowledge) an efficient compact red laser at 660.5 nm generation by intracavity frequency doubling of a continuous wave laser operation of a diode direct pumped Nd:YLiF₄ (Nd:YLF) laser on the ⁴ F _3/2 → ⁴ I _13/2 transition at 1321 nm. A LiB₃O₆ (LBO) crystal, cut for critical type I phase matching at room temperature is used for second harmonic generation of the laser. At an absorbed pump power of 16.2 W, as high as 1.5 W of continuous wave output power at 660.5 nm is achieved with 10-mm-long LBO. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is up to 9.3%. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 806 nm, into the highly-absorbing ⁴ F _5/2 level, are given in order to prove the advantages of the 880 nm wavelength pumping.     

Tunable wavelength conversion between picosecond pulses using cascaded second-order nonlinearity in LiNbO3 waveguides

Tunable wavelength conversion between picosecond pulses is demonstrated by exploiting cascaded secondorder nonlinearity in periodically poled LiNbO₃ waveguides when the pump pulse with 40-GHz repetition rate and 7.5-ps pulse width is adopted. No external continuous-wave input is required in the proposed wavelength converter. The converted signal wavelength can be tuned from 1519 to 1562.6 nm as the lasing wavelength is changed from 1534.5 to 1572.1 nm.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

20-Gb/s and Higher Bit Rate Optical Wavelength Conversion for RZ-DPSK Signal Based on Four-Wave Mixing in Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

Abstract

We investigate 20 Gb/s wavelength conversion for return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) signal using four-wave mixing (FWM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). We show that the 10-Gb/s RZ-DPSK signal-to-pump ratio increases up to ?0.286 dB with Q factor improvement of 1.663 dB for increasing the cascadeability of optical networks. The effect of variation in bandwidth for an ideal dual-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is illustrated. For different bit rates, the converted power signal is investigated with increase in signal input power. We show that the quality of converted signal is best before the saturation of SOA. The dependence of four-wave mixing (FWM) efficiency and converted signal power with signal input power is also studied, and it is found that FWM efficiency decreases with increase in signal input power.

The impact of signal-to–pump power ratio, unsaturated amplifier gain, and pump power is further optimized with minimum Q factor penalty for 10-Gb/s and 20-Gb/s bit rate. We show that converted signal power increases up to power saturation level and then starts decreasing. We also show that with higher bit rate, we have a wide range of choices for pump power signal. We further investigate the quality of converted signal at 10 Gb/s, which shows an improvement over signal input power. Finally, the increase in transmission distance after wavelength conversion is investigated.