Continuous-wave supercontinuum laser based on an erbium-doped fiber ring cavity incorporating a highly nonlinear optical fiber

We experimentally demonstrate a novel erbium-doped fiber based continuous-wave (cw) supercontinuum laser. The laser has a simple ring-cavity structure incorporating an erbium-doped fiber and a highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber (HNL-DSF). Differently from previously demonstrated cw supercontinuum sources based on single propagation of a strong Raman pump laser beam through a highly nonlinear fiber, erbium gain inside the cavity generates a seed light oscillation, and the oscillated light subsequently evolves into a supercontinuum by nonlinear effects such as modulation instability and stimulated Raman scattering in the HNL-DSF. High quality of the depolarized supercontinuum laser output with a spectral bandwidth larger than 250 nm is readily achieved.     

温度对飞秒激光脉冲在NaCl溶液中成丝产生的超连续谱的影响

利用飞秒激光脉冲在NaCl溶液中成丝,研究了溶液温度对飞秒激光成丝过程中产生的超连续谱的影响.发现在激光脉冲能量较低时,溶液温度对超连续谱的影响几乎可以忽略;而在激光脉冲能量较高时,随着NaCl溶液温度的升高,超连续谱呈现出被压缩的趋势.此外,在激光脉冲能量较高的情况下, NaCl中会产生大量的气泡.通过分析,得出了飞秒激光在溶液中成丝产生的气泡是影响超连续谱发射的主要因素.     

Generation of a broadband single-mode supercontinuum in a conventional dispersion-shifted fiber by use of a subnanosecond microchip laser

We report the experimental generation, simply by use of a subnanosecond microchip laser at 532 nm and a conventional dispersion-shifted fiber, of a supercontinuum that spans more than 1100 nm. We show by detailed spectral analysis that this supercontinuum originates from a preliminary four-wave mixing process with multimode phase matching and subsequent double-cascade stimulated Raman scattering and is transversely single mode as a result of Raman-induced mode competition. This technique is believed to be the simplest configuration that allows one to generate a stable supercontinuum.     

Self-pulsing in a double-clad ytterbium fiber laser induced by high scattering loss

The characteristics of self-pulsing behavior in a double-clad ytterbium-doped fiber laser are presented. The self-pulsing generates a supercontinuum spectrum that mostly propagates through the multimode structure of the fiber. In fact, 90% of the total power, including the fundamental laser wavelength and the generated supercontinuum spectrum, propagates trough the first cladding. The experimental evidence indicates that the main mechanism for the self-pulsing is the high scattering loss in the double-clad fiber.     

Nonlinear-optical transformation of nanosecond laser pulses and controlled supercontinuum generation in photonic-crystal fibers

Photonic-crystal fibers are shown to allow efficient spectral transformation of nanosecond laser pulses through parametric four-wave mixing and stimulated Raman scattering. Regimes providing highly efficient transformation of nanosecond laser pulses into white-light broadband radiation (supercontinuum) are identified. A strong parametric coupling between Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman sidebands around the wavelength of zero group-velocity dispersion is shown to increase the bandwidth and to improve the spectral quality of supercontinuum radiation.     

飞秒脉冲作用下光子晶体光纤超连续谱的产生

采用钛宝石超快fs激光器泵浦2m长光子晶体光纤产生超连续谱,重点研究了不同输入功率下350～959nm波长范围内光谱的演变过程,实验中产生的超连续光谱宽度超过550nm分析表明,内脉冲喇曼散射和孤子自频移在开始阶段对光谱长波方向上的展宽起主要作用,这些新的频率成分与随后光谱向短波方向的拓展有密切关系.     

Spectral dynamics studies on the supercontinuum channel of femtosecond laser pulses propagation in air

We present the spectral dynamics investigations of supercontinuum generation from 2.6 TW femtosecond laser pulses propagation in air. The measured spectra in the supercontinuum channel show a large amount of oscillating structure, which is mostly contributed from four-wave mixing, stimulated Raman scattering and the electronic mechanism self-phase modulation. The temporal coherence length is almost the same as 0.45 ps for each spectral component with the same spectral width of supercontinuum that is confirmed with a Michelson interferometer. The spatial coherence property of supercontinuum is measured by a Young’s double slit diffractometer, which demonstrates that supercontinuum preserves a transverse coherence of about 144 μm because of the divergence of the supercontinuum channel. PACS  42.62.Fi; 42.68.Ay; 43.25.Jh     

飞秒光脉冲在光子晶体光纤中的非线性传输和超连续谱产生

采用分步傅里叶方法数值模拟了飞秒光脉冲在光子晶体光纤中非线性传输和超连续谱的产生. 计算和分析了高阶色散和非线性效应对超连续谱形状和带宽的影响. 结果表明在光子晶体光纤中产生了孤子自频移现象. 同时也发现脉冲内拉曼散射和自相位调制的联合作用导致了超连续谱中精细结构的出现. 另外，还发现高阶色散和初始光脉冲的峰值功率对超连续谱的带宽和平滑也有直接影响. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 孤子自频移 超连续谱     

Aerosol scattering of supercontinuum radiation formed upon femtosecond laser pulse filamentation in the atmosphere

We report numerical calculations of scattering and backscattering efficiency factors of water droplets illuminated by a quasi-white light radiation (a supercontinuum radiation) that results from self-focusing of a high-power femtosecond laser pulse in the atmosphere. The behavior of these integral optical characteristics for a wide range of droplet sizes that covers the size spectra of fog and cloud particles is analyzed. The results are compared to the values of the scattering factors obtained by the Lorentz-Mie theory.     

Supercontinuum generation by ultra-high power femtosecond laser pulses in dielectrics

The results of the numerical study of the supercontinuum generation by high power femtosecond laser pulses in transparent dielectrics, taking into account the group-velocity dispersion, are presented. The contribution of induced photoionization processes to the supercontinuum generation was analyzed.     

基于超连续光谱激发的时间分辨相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射方法与实验研究

采用钛宝石飞秒激光器输出的一部分光抽运光子晶体光纤以产生超连续光谱,作为抽运光和斯托克斯光,另一部分飞秒激光作为探测光,并结合时间延迟方法,建立超连续光谱激发时间分辨相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射(CARS)实验系统,测试了具有较宽拉曼光谱的二甲基亚砜样品.实验结果表明,所建立的实验系统能有效抑制非共振背景噪声,并且通过一次测量,即可获得二甲基亚砜在690—3200cm-1范围内的CARS光谱信息,获得的二甲基亚砜CARS光谱范围达到2500cm-1.同时给出了所采用的光子晶体光纤光谱展宽的实验结果.     

飞秒平顶光束经微透镜阵列在熔融石英中的成丝及其超连续辐射

实验研究了平顶激光光束经微透镜阵列在熔融石英中成丝的演化以及超连续辐射的产生,并进一步与高斯光束的成丝和超连续辐射进行了对比研究.分别对这两种光束的多丝传输进行了横向和纵向成像.结果表明,使用平顶光束可以获得更为均匀的多丝分布,成丝的起点也更为一致;尤其重要的是,相对于高斯光束,平顶光束可以使用更高的入射激光脉冲能量而不会造成介质的损伤,从而可以获得更高脉冲能量和更高转换效率的超连续辐射.     

飞秒激光成丝过程中由等离子体光栅引起的超连续谱增强与转移

在飞秒宽带激光脉冲成丝过程中, 由于双光束干涉效应而形成的空间等离子体光栅, 研究了空气中飞秒宽带激光脉冲成丝所产生的超连续谱增强效应, 并进一步观测到泵浦光脉冲成丝产生的超连续谱能量向较弱的未成丝的探测光脉冲转移, 有效拓展探测光脉冲带宽的新现象. 通过基于布拉格衍射特性的理论计算较好地解释了实验结果.     

Generation of an extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum with a multicycle chirped laser and a static electric field

We theoretically present a method for generating an ultrabroad extreme ultraviolet(XUV) supercontinuum by using the combination of a multicycle chirped laser and a static electric field.At a low laser intensity,the spectral cutoff is extended to the 495th order harmonic,and the bandwidth of the supercontinuum spectrum is broadened to 535 eV.At a high laser intensity,the harmonic cutoff is enlarged to the 667th order,and a supercontinuum covering a bandwidth of 1035 eV is generated.In these two cases,the long quantum path is removed,and the short quantum path is selected.Especially for the relatively high laser intensity,an isolated 23-attosecond pulse with a bandwidth of about 170.6 eV is directly obtained.Finally,we also analyze the influences of the chirp parameter and the duration of the chirped pulse as well as the static field strength on the supercontinuum.     

中红外组合激光场产生低于50阿秒的单个脉冲

研究了氦离子在中红外组合激光场作用下的高次谐波辐射和孤立阿秒脉冲的产生. 研究结果表明,当主脉冲强度相对低时,谐波截止在657阶次处,形成一个宽度为287 eV的连续谱. 当主脉冲强度相对高时,可使谐波截止拓展到1795阶次,连续谱加宽到834 eV. 在两种情况下,我们实现了长量子路径选取,并且产生转换效率较高的连续谱. 特别是对于相对高的激光强度,叠加450—1590阶次内任意87 eV的谐波都可以直接得到50 as以内的单个脉冲.     

Spectral modulation and supercontinuum generation assisted by infrared femtosecond plasma grating

Spectral modulation and supercontinuum generation of a probe pulse is investigated by using the plasma grating induced by the interference of two infrared femtosecond laser pulses. The dependences of the supercontinuum generation from the probe pulse on the time delay, the relative polarization angle between the probe pulse and the two-pump pulses, and the input probe pulse energy are investigated. The far-field spatial profiles of the three pulses are measured with different time delays and relative polarization angle, and the core energy of the probe pulse as functions of the time delay and relative polarization angle are also shown.     

生物医学领域中超连续激光光谱技术的研究进展

超连续谱激光指的是当泵浦激光穿过特殊光波导时,一系列的非线性效应引起入射激光束的光谱展宽,从而输出宽光谱激光束。随着超快激光和光子晶体光纤技术的发展,利用超短脉冲在光子晶体光纤中的传播链产生相干的且亮度高的超连续谱激光成为了一种理想的白光源。自从超连续谱激光源投入应用以来,其应用领域越来越广。尤其在生物医学的细胞、血液等样品分析当中,荧光光谱学、流式细胞仪、共焦显微、光学相干层析等技术都是强有力的分析工具,在采用这些先进技术的科学仪器中,超连续谱激光源成为了一种主要光学部件。首先对超连续谱激光源的国际研究进展作了详细介绍,然后对超连续激光光谱技术在显微成像、流式细胞仪、荧光寿命成像显微、荧光共振能量转移、光学相干层析、共焦显微生物医学分析等生物医学领域中的发展及应用作了综合阐述。对超连续激光光谱技术在非接触式血液制品鉴别的需求、方案及研究进展进行了重点论述,包括覆盖400～2 000 nm光谱范围的光纤化轻型超连续谱激光光源研究;采用超连续谱激光光谱方法探索不同物种血液的种属特征;根据大数据的血液样品光谱特征元数据库分析建立数学模型,利用数学模型实现对血液样品种属光谱学判定;血液鉴别光谱分析便携式整机系统研发等。对超连续激光光谱技术在生物医学领域的应用前景作了展望。     

中红外超连续谱在氟化物光纤中的产生

为获得高功率全光纤中红外超连续谱,采用自制的掺Er锁模光纤激光器作为种子源,激光经过两级放大至1.67W,泵浦氟化物光纤,获得光谱覆盖1000~2400nm的超连续光谱;光谱宽度随着泵浦功率的增加而展宽,当输出功率达到1.21W时,转换效率为72%,并且产生的超连续谱被强烈的调制,在多个波长点处谱功率密度调制到0mW/nm,但调制波长与泵浦功率无关。     

Fundamental amplitude noise limitations to supercontinuum spectra generated in a microstructured fiber

Broadband supercontinuum spectra are generated in a microstructured fiber using femtosecond laser pulses. Noise properties of these spectra are studied through experiments and numerical simulations based on a generalized stochastic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In particular, the relative intensity noise as a function of wavelength across the supercontinuum is measured over a wide range of input pulse parameters, and experimental results and simulations are shown to be in good quantitative agreement. For certain input pulse parameters, amplitude fluctuations as large as 50% are observed. The simulations clarify that the intensity noise on the supercontinuum arises from the amplification of two noise inputs during propagation – quantum-limited shot noise on the input pulse, and spontaneous Raman scattering in the fiber. The amplification factor is a sensitive function of the input pulse parameters. Short input pulses are critical for the generation of very broad supercontinua with low noise. PACS 42.50.Lc; 42.65.Re; 42.81.Dp; 02.60.CbAn Erratum to this article can be found at     

1040nm泵浦的光子晶体光纤超连续光谱产生性能退化研究

光子晶体光纤已经被广泛应用于由飞秒脉冲激光源产生超连续光谱。当激光源的重复频率较低时,由光子晶体光纤产生的超连续光谱随时间的变化过程较为缓慢,通常不被注意到。而在天文光谱仪定标等应用中,需要使用GHz至几十GHz量级的高重复频率激光源。此时,可观察到光子晶体光纤的超连续光谱产生性能在有限时间内产生显著的退化。在1 040 nm飞秒激光泵浦条件下,通过测试三种不同气孔占空比的光子晶体光纤的超连续光谱产生性能演化,发现超连续光谱的退化进程随光纤气孔占空比的增大而加速。观察发生光谱退化后的光子晶体光纤样品,发现在光纤上超连续光被产生的区段出现多个不同颜色的亮点,呈现有方向性的光泄露现象。针对光泄露现象,通过测量光纤的吸收光谱线,证实了实验中超连续光谱退化的主因并非是光纤熔融石英材料中大量非桥氧色心产生。针对光泄露具有方向性这一特征,提出了经由多光子吸收作用在光纤纤芯中形成长周期光栅的理论。为探究影响光子晶体光纤超连续光谱产生性能的退化的因素,以达到光谱退化抑制的目的,首先通过改变了光纤的拉锥参数,期望增强光纤熔融石英材料的光子耐受性。实验结果证实了该方法的有效性较为有限。其次,从保持激光源的平均功率,降低激光脉冲的峰值功率和保持激光脉冲的峰值功率,降低激光源平均功率两个方面入手,对激光源进行调制。实验结果证明,光纤单位时间内接受的高峰值功率脉冲总量是影响其超连续光谱产生性能的最重要因素。在天文光谱仪定标的应用中,对超连续光谱光功率的需求并不高,使用斩波器降低光子晶体光纤入射光的平均功率是减缓超连续光谱产生性能退化过程的有效且简单可行的方法。