Experimental evidence for supercontinuum generation by fission of higher-order solitons in photonic fibers

We report on an experimental study of supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibers with low-intensity femtosecond pulses, which provides evidence for a novel spectral broadening mechanism. The observed results agree with our theoretical calculations carried out without making the slowly varying envelope approximation. Peculiarities of the measured spectra and their theoretical explanation demonstrate that the reason for the white-light generation in photonic crystal fibers is fission of higher-order solitons into redshifted fundamental solitons and blueshifted nonsolitonic radiation.     

Enhanced nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers

Photonic crystal fibers are a new class of single-material optical fibers with wavelength-scale air holes running down the entire fiber length. Photonic crystal fibers were first developed in 1996 and have subsequently been the focus of increasing scientific and technological interest in the field of fiber optics. The manufacturing, principles, basic properties, and some applications of photonic crystal fibers are briefly described in this paper. A review of our recent work on the nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers is presented, and special emphasis is placed on such effects as supercontinuum generation, frequency conversion, and solitons observed when femtosecond light pulses propagate in these fibers.     

基于光子晶体光纤和拉锥式单模光纤的超连续光谱产生的实验研究

本文使用重复频率为250 MHz、脉冲宽度为135 fs、最大功率为2.2 W的锁模掺镱光纤激光作为种子源,利用光子晶体光纤和自制的拉锥式单模光纤两种高非线性光纤研究了超连续光谱的产生特性,通过对比两种光纤的结构、色散等特性,分析了拉曼孤子、色散波及其他非线性效应对产生的超连续谱形状的影响,并均得到了大于一个倍频程的超连续光谱,特别是拉锥式单模光纤产生的超连续光谱,耦合效率达到60%,这为众多研究领域,尤其是光学频率梳的建立提供了实用的超连续光源.     

Different supercontinuum generation processes in photonic crystal fibers pumped with a 1064-nm picosecond pulse

Picosecond pulse pumped supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber is investigated by performing a series of comparative experiments. The main purpose is to investigate the supercontinuum generation processes excited by a given pump source through the experimental study of some specific fibers. A 20-W all-fiber picosecond master oscillator-power amplifier （MOPA） laser is used to pump three different kinds of photonic crystal fibers for supercontinuum generation. Three diverse supercontinuum formation processes are observed to correspond to photonie crystal fibers with distinct dis- persion properties. The experimental results are consistent with the relevant theoretical results. Based on the above analyses, a watt-level broadband white light supercontinuum source spanning from 500 nm to beyond 1700 nm is demonstrated by using a picosecond fiber laser in combination with the matched photonic crystal fiber. The limitation of the group velocity matching curve of the photonic crystal fiber is also discussed in the paper.     

光子晶体光纤四波混频光谱中相位匹配特性的研究

与传统光纤不同,光子晶体光纤可以具有多个零色散波长,在四波混频光谱中,具有更丰富的相位匹配特性。目前很多文献报道了光子晶体光纤非线性光学特性的实验结果,但对其产生机理及光谱的变化规律缺乏详细的理论分析。为此对光纤中四波混频原理进行了分析,给出了高增益的相位匹配条件。利用多极法计算了光子晶体光纤的非线性系数及色散特性。对具有多个零色散波长光子晶体光纤的相位失配特性进行了分析,得到了相位匹配波长随泵浦波长及泵浦功率的变化规律。给出了相位匹配曲线,分析了不同色散曲线的相位匹配波长特点,两个零色散波长光子晶体光纤,在四波混频光谱中将激发出四个新的波长。实验得到了两个零色散波长光子晶体光纤的四波混频光谱,与理论分析一致,验证了相位匹配理论的可靠性。多个零色散波长光纤,能产生丰富的相位匹配曲线,会出现更多的四波混频波长,可以有效的控制光孤子及超短脉冲的四波混频及共振散射产生的光谱特性。为光子晶体光纤中基于四波混频的波长变换及超连续谱的研究提供了理论指导。     

光子晶体光纤超连续谱产生过程中色散波的孤子俘获研究

基于光子晶体光纤中脉冲演化遵循的非线性薛定谔方程, 用数值模拟的方法分别研究了飞秒脉冲在单零色散点和双零色散点光子晶体光纤中超连续谱的产生和色散波的孤子俘获现象. 结果表明: 与单零色散点光子晶体光纤相比, 双零色散点光子晶体光纤产生的超连续谱既包含了蓝移色散波, 又包含了红移色散波, 且当满足群速度匹配时, 孤子通过四波混频不仅能俘获蓝移色散波, 而且能俘获红移色散波, 从而产生新的俘获波频谱成分. 为了清楚地观察脉冲传输的时频特性, 通过模拟交叉相关频率分辨光学开关技术, 得到了孤子俘获色散波的演化过程. 关键词： 超连续谱 色散波 孤子俘获 光子晶体光纤     

光子晶体光纤非线性特性的研究

光子晶体光纤是近年来出现的一种通常由单一介质构成，并由波长量级的空气孔构成微结构包层的新型光纤．文章介绍了光子晶体光纤的制作工艺、工作原理、基本特性、目前的研究重点和进展情况，重点评述了光子晶体光纤非线性特性方面的研究，特别是在超连续光谱的产生、光孤子效应以及频率变换等方面的实验和理论成果以及潜在的应用．     

不同零色散点光子晶体光纤的超连续谱产生

本文实验研究了飞秒脉冲在不同零色散点光子晶体光纤中传输时产生超连续谱的现象。首先,我们通过非线性薛定谔方程理论计算了激光脉冲分别在正、负色散光子晶体光纤中传输时产生的超连续谱;计算结果表明在正色散光子晶体光纤产生的超连续谱远远大于在负色散中产生的超连续谱。其次,在实验上采用零色散点分别为800 nm、1 060 nm和2 000 nm的光子晶体光纤,将脉宽为130 fs,中心波长800 nm,脉冲重复频率为80 MHz的脉冲输入这些光纤中产生超连续谱并研究其特性,实验结果表明光子晶体光纤的零色散点越小,在其中产生的超连续谱越宽越平坦。同时产生的超连续谱也与激光脉冲的能量和中心波长相关。     

在色散渐减光子晶体光纤中产生超连续谱的实验研究

本文利用非线性偏振锁模激光器产生的重复频率50 MHz, 脉宽为1.8 ps的脉冲分别抽运外径均匀和色散渐减两种高非线性光子晶体光纤, 在三阶非线性效应 (自相位调制、交叉相位调制、四波混频和受激拉曼散效应等) 和色散共同作用下得到扩展至蓝光部分的超连续谱. 模拟了光谱在色散渐减光纤和均匀光纤中的展宽过程, 通过对比均匀光纤发现色散渐减光纤在调控色散, 加强拉曼孤子和色散波的群速度匹配条件, 产生超带宽光谱方面具有很大优势. 实验利用20 m长的色散渐减光纤, 得到了406.1至671.8 nm的可见光波段增强的较为平坦的超连续谱. 关键词： 超连续谱 色散渐减光子晶体光纤 群速度匹配 非线性效应     

超短光脉冲在双折射光子晶体光纤中产生超连续谱的偏振特性数值分析

采用矢量耦合非线性薛定谔方程描述了超短光脉冲在双折射光子晶体光纤中的传输过程,并利用分步傅里叶方法求解该方程。数值模拟了中心波长为1550nm的超短光脉冲在不同色散参量的双折射光子晶体光纤中超连续谱的产生及其偏振特性。分析了光纤在不同色散区时,高阶色散和非线性效应对超连续谱及其偏振态的影响。结果表明,当超短光脉冲波长位于近光纤零色散点的反常色散区时,比其在光纤正常色散区和远离光纤零色散点的反常色散区更容易产生宽且平坦的超连续谱,所得到的光谱显示出了复杂的偏振态特性。     

基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效超连续谱光源

报道了一种基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效率超连续谱产生系统。将光纤锁模激光器输出的脉宽5 ps、重复频率20 MHz、平均功率50 mW的脉冲,输入到15 μm的大模场光纤中进行放大,通过与两级芯径较小的短光纤模场匹配缩小输出的模场直径后,输入到20 m低非线性系数的光子晶体光纤,获得的超连续谱波长覆盖范围宽于650～1 700 nm。输入光子晶体光纤的泵浦光功率为740 mW,输出超连续光功率为670 mW,转换效率大于90%。实验研究了超连续光谱展宽的过程,从理论上进行了分析解释。     

基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效超连续谱光源

 报道了一种基于低非线性系数光子晶体光纤的全光纤高效率超连续谱产生系统。将光纤锁模激光器输出的脉宽5 ps、重复频率20 MHz、平均功率50 mW的脉冲,输入到15 μm的大模场光纤中进行放大,通过与两级芯径较小的短光纤模场匹配缩小输出的模场直径后,输入到20 m低非线性系数的光子晶体光纤,获得的超连续谱波长覆盖范围宽于650～1 700 nm。输入光子晶体光纤的泵浦光功率为740 mW,输出超连续光功率为670 mW,转换效率大于90%。实验研究了超连续光谱展宽的过程,从理论上进行了分析解释。     

基于光子晶体光纤的百瓦量级超连续谱光源研究

采用脉冲重复频率可调的高功率皮秒脉冲光纤激 光抽运光子晶体光纤产生了平均输出功率为101 W的全 光纤化超连续谱. 通过一系列的对比实验, 详细研究了抽运激光的脉冲重复频率以及光子晶体光纤的长度对超连续谱产生的影响. 最后, 对如何实现更高平均功率的超连续谱输出进行相关的分析和讨论. 相关研究结果可以为进一步发展基于光子晶体光纤的高功率超连续谱光源提供一定的参考. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 非线性光纤光学 超连续谱产生     

Supercontinuum generation in a two-dimensional photonic kagome crystal

We demonstrate the generation of ultrabroad spectra in a photonic crystal fiber with a kagome-lattice transverse structure. This two-dimensional periodic photonic lattice allows for strong confinement of light without employing defect states nor using photonic bandgap guiding. Light guiding is mediated by total internal reflection in the intersections of the lattice structure, similar to tapered or micro-structured fibers. The kagome lattice structure is manufactured from a soft glass with a high nonlinearity. Using a Ti:sapphire oscillator as a pump source, we observe for the first time impressive supercontinuum generation in the guided modes of a 2D photonic lattice. Supercontinuum generation is caused by fission and radiation of higher-order solitons in the anomalous dispersion range. Our spectrum encompasses the spectral range from 200 to 1750 nm. The dependence of the continuum on coupling spot location, fiber length, and pump wavelength and power as well as on pulse duration and polarization state is investigated. Using a numerical simulation for the lattice structure, pulse propagation through this structure is theoretically studied. Our model reveals the mechanism of supercontinuuum generation in the 2D photonic structure and explains the essential experimental findings.Electronic supplementary material to this article is avaiable at and accessible for authorized users.     

Linear and nonlinear properties of multicomponent glass photonic crystal fibers

Processes resulting in supercontinuum generation in multicomponent glass photonic crystal fibers are reviewed in this paper. Multicomponent glass photonic crystal fibers are shown to have a broad transmission range, extending up to 4.5 μm in selected cases. Pumping with a 1240-nm femtosecond pulse at very low sub-nJ energies resulted in soliton formation and dispersive wave generation in a multicomponent PCF sample having a double-core square-lattice structure. These processes were described using a phase-matching model derived from the simulated dispersive properties of the fiber. Third-harmonic generation was observed in the radiation modes of a different cobweb sample with the simultaneous formation of a soliton in the NIR.     

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.     

石英光子晶体光纤中高功率中红外超连续谱的产生

非石英光纤在产生大功率超连续谱方面存在难以克服的局限性.本文首次报道了采用石英光纤产生大功率中红外超连续谱.精心设计光纤结构使色散有利于超连续谱向中红外波段展宽,同时保证相对较大的芯径以承受较高的泵浦功率.合理选择光纤长度,在保证光谱展宽到3.4 μm的情况下使光纤损耗的影响降低到最小限度.研究表明,在1.95 μm皮秒脉冲泵浦下,采用色散适宜的石英光子晶体光纤可以产生20 dB带宽覆盖1 550~3 420 nm的超连续谱.超连续谱的平均功率可达56.6 W.     

Supercontinuum generation in visible to mid-infrared region in square-lattice photonic crystal fiber made from highly nonlinear glasses

Square-lattice microstructure geometry of photonic crystal fibers made with high nonlinearity non-silica glass composition material as well as fused silica glass are studied here for modal propagation, dispersion analysis and supercontinuum generation. Our investigation of nonlinear propagation of low threshold power femtosecond pulse aims at generating supercontinuum in the near and mid infrared region using these highly nonlinear fibers. We performed a series of analyses through varying parameters of square-lattice geometry to map a desired broadband window. We also demonstrate a compact high power broadband source in visible region generated within few centimeter length of the fused silica square-lattice microstructure.     

光子晶体光纤中超连续谱产生的理论与实验研究

研究了光子晶体光纤中超连续激光光源的产生机理.利用非线性偏振旋转技术产生的中心波长为1 556.0 nm的飞秒光脉冲作为泵浦光源,在69 m长的高非线性光子晶体光纤中,得到了20 dB带宽约为140 nm的超连续谱;采用实验和数值模拟方法,研究了不同泵浦功率下超连续谱形成的过程.结果表明,在不同的泵浦功率下,超连续谱的形成机理不同,在各种非线性效应的共同作用下,泵浦光脉冲的峰值功率越高,得到超连续谱的带宽越宽,实验与数值模拟结果一致.另外,要想获得平坦的宽带超连续谱,必须选择合适的光纤长度.     

Build-up of supercontinuum in heated and unheated photonic crystal fibers using a chirped femtosecond laser

The build-up of supercontinuum in a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) has been investigated experimentally as a function of pump power using chirped 100-fs pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. As compared with the PCF at room temperature, a new blue-shifted spectral component is observed in the initial steps of supercontinuum (SC) generation when the central part of PCF is heated to 120 °C by a hot plate. In addition, the slope efficiency of SG is slightly improved with the slightly extension of supercontinuum spectrum in blue edge at high pump powers. The change in dispersion property as well as the effective cascading of nonlinear photonic crystal fibers for heated PCF would be the main attributions.