Dispersion measurements for femtosecond-pulse generation and applications

Dispersive phenomena provide limits in the generation, measurement and applications of femtosecond optical pulses. Optical elements such as prisms, gratings, air, mirrors, filters, and laser crystals all contribute to the total dispersion in optical systems. Interferometric techniques enable measurements of dispersion of individual elements, and new techniques allow dispersion measurement inside the cavity of operating modelocked femtosecond tunable lasers. These techniques provide access to detailed information about dispersion errors which can distort pulses and produce undesirable effects in modelocked lasers. In this article, we review techniques for the measurement of dispersion in optical components and systems. In several cases, we compare measurements made with intracavity dispersion techniques with extracavity measurements and point out common features.     

太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳的色散

群速度色散会限制太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳的稳定以及频谱宽度.对于太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳,其色散主要由器件增益、波导损耗、材料损耗引起.研究基于4.2 THz量子级联激光器双面金属波导结构,通过建立德鲁德模型,利用有限元法计算了激光器的波导损耗;器件未钳制的增益由费米黄金定则计算得到,结合增益钳制效应,计算了器件子带电子跃迁吸收以及镜面损耗,得到了器件钳制后的增益;利用Kramers-Kronig关系得到了器件的增益、波导损耗、材料损耗引起的色散,结果表明器件的激射区域存在非常严重的色散(–8×10~5—8×10~5 fs~2/mm).同时,计算了一种基于Gires-Tournois干涉仪结构的色散,结果表明,该结构的色散具有周期性,可以用于太赫兹量子级联激光器的色散补偿.     

Quadratic detection with two-photon quantum well infrared photodetectors

Two-photon quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) involving three equidistant subbands take advantage of a resonantly enhanced optical nonlinearity, which is six orders of magnitude stronger than in a bulk semiconductor. This approach results in a sensitive device to measure quadratic autocorrelation of mid-infrared optical pulses from modelocked quantum cascade lasers, nonlinear optical conversion, and free-electron lasers (FEL). We report on autocorrelation measurements at wavelengths in the mid-infrared and Terahertz regimes using ps optical pulses from the FEL at the Forschungszentrum Dresden Rossendorf. In particular, quadratic detection at wavelengths around 5.5 μm is still possible at room-temperature, which is crucial for applications in practical systems. We also report on a two-photon detector which works below the Reststrahlen band at 42 μm (7.1 THz).     

Single-frequency terahertz source pumped by Q-switched fiber lasers based on difference-frequency generation in GaSe crystal

We demonstrate a unique terahertz (THz) source that is compact, utilizes recently developed all-fiber Q-switched lasers, and is based on difference-frequency generation in a GaSe crystal. A single piezo simultaneously Q switched the two fiber lasers by using stress-induced birefringence, to achieve the temporal overlap of pulses from the two fiber lasers. These correlated pulses then combine in the GaSe crystal to produce coherent and highly monochromatic THz pulses. The peak power for this THz source can reach 0.53 mW, corresponding to an average power of 0.43 microW and a conversion efficiency of 4.75 x 10(-7). The estimated linewidth of this THz source can be as narrow as approximately 35 MHz or 1.17 x 10(-3) cm(-1).     

Transient behaviour of pulsed dye lasers

Some aspects of the transient behaviour of pulsed dye lasers are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Relaxation oscillations induced in the output from a dye cell by an external reflector have been observed and explained, using a rate equation approximation to the physical situation in the dye cell. These oscillations are shown to play an important part in the generation of short laser pulses from long cavity dye lasers. Finally, it is proposed that 10 ps pulses can be obtained from conventional dye lasers pumped by 100 ps pulses from a high-pressure nitrogen laser.     

Broadband THz emission from gas plasmas induced by femtosecond optical pulses: From fundamentals to applications

We review the generation of broadband THz radiation from femtosecond photo‐induced gas plasmas, with an emphasis on the highly efficient “AC‐bias” case where the plasma is generated and driven by a superposition of fundamental and second‐harmonic optical fields. The dependence on experimental parameters such as pulse energy, air pressure, polarization and focusing are presented, and compared to the predictions from semi‐quantitative models for the THz generation process, namely (i) a microscopic photocurrent model and (ii) a four‐wave mixing model. We also employ these models to the case of few‐cycle pulses, where the observed THz emission is related directly to the carrier‐envelope phase of the pulses, and hence provides a mechanism with which to measure this phase.}     

基于非线性偏振旋转锁模的高功率光子晶体光纤飞秒激光振荡器

为了探索大模场面积光子晶体光纤锁模激光器在全正色散锁模域内的耗散孤子锁模机理, 以获得更大的单脉冲能量和更高的峰值功率, 本文搭建了以掺镱大模场面积光子晶体光纤作为增益介质的耗散孤子锁模激光器. 激光器使用环形腔结构, 利用非线性偏振旋转以及滤光片提供的耗散作用实现了稳定的锁模运转. 实验中, 从激光器振荡级直接获得了平均功率10 W, 重复频率49.09 MHz(对应202 nJ的单脉冲能量), 脉冲宽度为1.03 ps的稳定锁模脉冲输出, 经过腔外色散补偿得到的脉冲宽度为95.5 fs.     

Broadband dispersion compensation using microstructure fibers

Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876Dispersion and dispersion slope compensation of 10-Gb/s pulses using microstructure fibers (MFs) is demonstrated experimentally. A 26-m MF is used to compensate the dispersion of 2-km standard singe mode fiber in a 20-nm range in C band. The experimental results show that a significant improvement can be achieved in the quality of the observed pulses with the dispersion compensation. Moreover, the further research shows that the MF can compensate the anomalous dispersion of a single mode fiber within ±0.27 ps/(nm·km) over a 50-nm wavelength range from 1520 to 1570 nm.     

Amplification of kW peak power femtosecond pulses in single quantum well InGaAs tapered amplifiers

The amplification of ps and fs pulses with peak powers of up to 4.5 kW has been investigated in a single quantum well InGaAs tapered amplifier. The pulses with durations of 100 fs or 2 ps were generated by a modelocked titanium-sapphire laser. The amplified pulses indicate strong gain saturation and carrier generation due to photon absorption in the laser active region which causes a temporal broadening of the amplified pulses as well as modifications of the optical spectrum. The gain recovery time was measured by a pump-probe experiment. The experimental results are analyzed with respect to the sub-ps gain dynamics which is described by a relaxation time approximation.     

Brewster-angled chirped mirrors for broadband pulse compression without dispersion oscillations

We use Brewster-angled chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation of a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier. This novel mirror design virtually eliminates spurious surface reflections and resultant dispersion ripple. The absence of compression artifacts is demonstrated by the generation of clean 5.6 fs pulses, with what is believed to be an unprecedented low ripple-induced satellite content for a nonadaptive scheme. In addition, the 270 THz spectral coverage allows generation of widely tunable visible pulses of 8 to 15 fs duration.     

Quasi-soliton generation in solid-state lasers with semiconductor saturable absorber

Recent advances in ultrafast, ultra-short solid-state lasers have resulted in sub-6 fs pulses generated directly from the cavity of Ti:sapphire lasers. The generation of extremely short pulses is possible due to the formation of a quasi-Schrodinger soliton. Our investigation is directed to the peculiarities of the transition between femtosecond to picosecond generation. We found that the above transition is accompanied by the threshold and hysteresis phenomena. On the basis of soliton perturbation theory, the numerical simulation studying two different experimental situations has been performed, the first situation corresponds to the study of the lasers field's parameters under variation of control parameters (dispersion or pump power), the second one is for continuous variation of control parameter within a single generation session. Physically it corresponds to not repeated laser session but the variation of control parameter when the pulse has formed already.     

Group delay dispersion compensation in an Ytterbium-doped fiber laser using intracavity Gires-Tournois interferometers

This paper reports the use of a pair of multi-cavity Gires-Tournois interferometer (GTI) mirrors in a ring cavity Ytterbium-doped fiber laser for dispersion compensation. The optical spectrum was broadened by 6 nm due to the large negative group delay dispersion introduced by the light undergoing 10 round trips between the GTI mirrors. The design of the GTI mirrors and the optimisation of the layers are discussed and fabrication results are presented.     

Direct generation of 128-fs Gaussian pulses from a compensation-free fiber laser using dual mode-locking mechanisms

We have experimentally demonstrated the direct generation of 128-fs pulses in an all-anomalous-dispersion all-fiber mode-locked laser. The laser is free of dispersion compensation in the cavity based on standard single mode fiber (SMF). The time-bandwidth product is 0.536. The laser is achieved by using two mode-lockers, one is nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR), and the other is nonlinear amplifying loop mirror. The coexistence of dual mode-locking mechanisms can decrease the cavity length to 12-m, and also results in producing high-quality pulses with a Gaussian shape both on the pulse profile and spectrum, but without Kelly sidebands.     

Generation of 207-femtosecond pulses from a ytterbium figure-of-eight fibre laser

We report the generation of 207-fs pulses with 1.2mW average power at 1036nm directly from a passively mode-locked Yb-doped fibre laser with a nonlinear optical loop mirror for mode-locking and pairs of diffraction gratings for intracavity dispersion compensation. These results imply a 4-fold reduction in pulse duration over previously reported figure-of-eight cavity passively mode-locked Yb-doped fibre lasers. Stable pulse trains are produced at the fundamental repetition rate of the resonator, 24.0MHz. On the other hand, this laser offers a cleaner spectrum and greater stability and is completely self-starting.     

Q‐switched and modelocked all‐fiber lasers based on advanced acousto‐optic devices

The interest in all‐fiber lasers is stimulated by the inherent advantages they have over bulk lasers in aspects such as heat dissipation and robustness. The performance of Q‐switched and modelocked fiber lasers can benefit enormously from the development of all‐fiber configurations. A fiber laser with strictly all‐fiber components can fulfil the requirements of mechanical stability, low maintenance, enhanced power efficiency, simplified assembly process, and low cost. In this framework, recent developments infiber acousto‐optic devices are reviewed that have demonstrated new possibilities for actively Q‐switched distributed feedback fiber lasers, modelocking lasers and doubly active Q‐switched modelocked lasers. The aim is to demonstrate the great potential of infiber devices for the active control of different types of fiber lasers.     

Modeling of integrated extended cavity InP/InGaAsP semiconductor modelocked ring lasers

In this paper a model and simulation results of integrated semiconductor passively modelocked ring lasers are presented. The model includes nonlinear effects such as two-photon absorption and a non-linear refractive index, a logarithmic gain-carrier relation, and concentration dependent radiative and non-radiative carrier recombination rates. The optical bandwidth of the system is controlled by a digital filter. The model has been used to simulate two geometries of ring modelocked lasers. The first is a symmetric design, where the two counter propagating pulses in the cavity experience the same amplification and absorption. The second is an asymmetric design where the differences for the two directions of pulse propagation are maximised. Simulation results show that a symmetrical cavity shows a several times wider window for its operating parameters for stable modelocking.     

300 Femtosecond pulses at 497 nanometer generated by an excimer laser pumped cascade of distributed feedback dye lasers

The setup is a cascade of 3 lasers: A competing cavity dye laser pumped by a XeCl excimer laser, followed by two distributed feedback dye lasers. The typical durations of the pulses from the lasers are 100 ps, 5 ps, and 300 fs, respectively. The output pulses at 497 nm are amplified up to 500 MW. The shortest pulse duration obtained was 198 fs.     

Wavelength tunable,high energy femtosecond laser pulses directly generated from large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber

Wavelength tunable high energy ultrashort laser pulses are generated from a large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber in anomalous dispersion (AD) regime. A simplified laser cavity design with one fine polished facet of the fiber as a cavity mirror is used. The intra-cavity dispersion compensation is achieved by a grating pair, the spatial dispersed light from which also have optical spectrum filtering effects combined with the limited aperture of the fiber core. The laser system is able to generate ultrashort pulses ranging from 494 fs (with 56 nJ pulse energy) to 1.24 ps (with 49 nJ pulse energy) at 55 MHz repetition rate. The filtering mechanism benefits the generation of high energy pulses with narrowing pulse duration in AD regime. An undulation in frequency and time domain is also observed with the increase of the pump power. Furthermore, this laser system is directly used as seed for supercontinuum generation.     

宽可调谐自起振被动锁模掺铒光纤激光器

分析了利用非线性偏振旋转效应作为等效可饱和吸收体锁模的原理,并用该方法构建起环形腔被动锁模掺铒光纤激光器,结合可调谐滤波器腔外滤波的方法实现锁模脉冲波长的连续可调谐.实验中得到自起振、平均输出功率0.313 mW,脉冲半极大全宽度(FWHM)1.5 ps,中心波长1562.3nm,重复频率13.9MHz的稳定被动锁模脉冲序列输出,滤波后输出脉冲中心波长在1553.2～1571.4 nm内连续可调,得到谱宽2.5 nm以下,脉宽小于1.8 ps的限变脉冲输出.     

Solid-state Er:Yb:glass laser mode-locked by using single-wall carbon nanotube thin film

We design single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) thin-film saturable absorbers (SAs) integrated onto semiconductor distributed Bragg reflectors for mode-locking solid-state Er:Yb:glass lasers. We characterize the low nonsaturable loss, high-damage-threshold SWNT SAs and verify their operation up to a pulse fluence of 2 mJ/cm(2). We demonstrate passive fundamental continuous-wave mode locking with and without group-delay dispersion compensation. Without compensation the laser produces chirped 1.8 ps pulses with a spectral width of 3.8 nm. With compensation, we obtain 261 fs Fourier-transform-limited pulses with a spectral width of 9.6 nm.