Optimization of near-field optical field of multi-layer dielectric gratings for pulse compressor

Multi-layer dielectric (MLD) gratings for pulse compressors in high-energy laser systems should provide high diffraction efficiency as well as high laser induced damage thresholds (LIDT). Nonuniform optical near-field distribution is one of the important factors to limit their damage resistant capabilities. Electric field distributions in the gratings and multi-layer film region are analyzed by using Fourier modal method. Optimization of peak electric field in the gratings ridge is performed with a merit function, including both diffraction efficiency and electric field enhancement when the top layer material is HfO2 and SiO2, respectively. A set of optimized gratings parameters is obtained for each structure, which reduce the peak electric field within the gratings ridge to being respective 1.39 and 1.84 times the value of incident light respectively. Finally, we also discuss the effects of gratings refractive index, gratings sidewall angle and incident angle on peak electric field in the gratings ridge. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Picosecond pulse source for OTDM/WDM applications based on arrayed waveguide grating

A novel technique for high quality femtosecond pulse generation from a gain-switched laser diode by means of pulse compression and transformation in a compact nonlinear fiber device, based on a dispersion-imbalanced fiber loop mirror (DILM) is demonstrated. This source allows the generation of extremely high quality pulses as short as 270 fs on demand with strong suppression of pulse pedestals. Spectral filtering in arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) converts the device into a compact multiwavelength source of high-quality picosecond pulses for optical time division multiplexing/wavelength division multiplexing applications.

High-quality pulse compressor for WDM/OTDM applications

The paper reports the results of a high-quality pulse source incorporating a gain-switched laser diode followed by a novel compact two-cascade fibre compression scheme. The pulse compression scheme incorporates a dispersive delay line and a nonlinear pulse compressor based on a dispersion-imbalanced fibre loop mirror (DILM). We analyse and demonstrate for the first time significant improvement of the loop performance by means of the chirped pulse switching. As a result, the DILM provides high-quality nonlinear pulse compression as well as rejection of the nonsoliton component. In the experiment, 20ps pulses from a gain switched laser diode are compressed to a duration of 300fs at a repetition rate in range 70MHz-10GHz. The pulses are pedestal free and transform-limited. Spectral filtering of the output signal by means of a bandpass filter results in generation of wavelength-tuneable picosecond pulses with a duration defined by the filter bandwidth. Alternatively, signal filtering by an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) results in multichannel picosecond pulse generation for WDM and OTDM applications. The pulse source is built of standard components and is of compact and potentially robust design.

Amplifier similariton fiber laser with nonlinear spectral compression

We propose a new concept of a fiber laser architecture supporting self-similar pulse evolution in the amplifier and nonlinear spectral pulse compression in the passive fiber. The latter process allows for transform-limited picosecond pulse generation, and improves the laser’s power efficiency by preventing strong spectral filtering from being highly dissipative. Aside from laser technology, the proposed scheme opens new possibilities for studying nonlinear dynamical processes. As an example, we demonstrate a clear period-doubling route to chaos in such a nonlinear laser system.

Picosecond pulse amplification up to a peak power of 42 W by a quantum-dot tapered optical amplifier and a mode-locked laser emitting at 1.26 μm

We experimentally study the generation and amplification of stable picosecond-short optical pulses by a master oscillator power-amplifier configuration consisting of a monolithic quantum-dot-based gain-guided tapered laser and amplifier emitting at 1.26 μm without pulse compression, external cavity, gain-or Q-switched operation. We report a peak power of 42 W and a figure-of-merit for second-order nonlinear imaging of 38.5 W2 at a repetition rate of 16 GHz and an associated pulse width of 1.37 ps.

Nonlinear combining and compression in multicore fibers

We demonstrate numerically light-pulse combining and pulse compression using wave-collapse (self-focusing) energy-localization dynamics in a continuous-discrete nonlinear system, as implemented in a multicore fiber (MCF) using one-dimensional (1D) and 2D core distribution designs. Large-scale numerical simulations were performed to determine the conditions of the most efficient coherent combining and compression of pulses injected into the considered MCFs. We demonstrate the possibility of combining in a single core 90% of the total energy of pulses initially injected into all cores of a 7-core MCF with a hexagonal lattice. A pulse compression factor of about 720 can be obtained with a 19-core ring MCF.

Multilevel aperiodic Huffman sequences

Certain sequences that have zero aperiodic autocorrelation except for zero and the maximum shifts are described. They are useful in radar pulse compression.

Part 1: Longitudinal static and dynamic effects in semiconductor lasers. Part II: Spectral characteristics of passively mode-locked quantum well lasers

In the first part of this thesis a study of the effect of the longitudinal distribution of optical intensity and electron density on the static and dynamic behavior of semiconductor lasers is performed. A static model for above threshold operation of a single mode laser, consisting of multiple active and passive sections, is developed by calculating the longitudinal optical intensity distribution and electron density distribution in a self-consistent manner. Feedback from an index and gain Bragg grating is included, as well as feedback from discrete reflections at interfaces and facets. Longitudinal spatial holeburning is analyzed by including the dependence of the gain and the refractive index on the electron density. The mechanisms of spatial holeburning in quarter wave shifted DFB lasers are analyzed. A new laser structure with a uniform optical intensity distribution is introduced and an implementation is simulated, resulting in a large reduction of the longitudinal spatial holeburning effect.

A dynamic small-signal model is then developed by including the optical intensity and electron density distribution, as well as the dependence of the grating coupling coefficients on the electron density. Expressions are derived for the intensity and frequency noise spectrum, the spontaneous emission rate into the lasing mode, the linewidth enhancement factor, and the AM and FM modulation response. Different chirp components are identified in the FM response, and a new adiabatic chirp component is discovered. This new adiabatic chirp component is caused by the nonuniform longitudinal distributions, and is found to dominate at low frequencies. Distributed feedback lasers with partial gain coupling are analyzed, and it is shown how the dependence of the grating coupling coefficients on the electron density can result in an enhancement of the differential gain with an associated enhancement in modulation bandwidth and a reduction in chirp.

In the second part, spectral characteristics of passively mode-locked two-section multiple quantum well laser coupled to an external cavity are studied. Broad-band wavelength tuning using an external grating is demonstrated for the first time in passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers. A record tuning range of 26 nm is measured, with pulse widths of typically a few picosecond and time-bandwidth products of more than 10 times the transform limit. It is then demonstrated that these large time-bandwidth products are due to a strong linear upchirp, by performing pulse compression by a factor of 15 to a record pulse widths as low 320 fs.

A model for pulse propagation through a saturable medium with self-phase-modulation, due to the a-parameter, is developed for quantum well material, including the frequency dependence of the gain medium. This model is used to simulate two-section devices coupled to an external cavity. When no self-phase-modulation is present, it is found that the pulses are asymmetric with a sharper rising edge, that the pulse tails have an exponential behavior, and that the transform limit is 0.3. Inclusion of self-phase-modulation results in a linear upchirp imprinted on the pulse after each round-trip. This linear upchirp is due to a combination of self-phase-modulation in a gain section and absorption of the leading edge of the pulse in the saturable absorber.

飞秒激光脉冲在正色散固体材料中的自压缩

实验研究了正色散固体介质中的激光脉冲自压缩现象，证明了无需任何外加色散补偿情况下，固体透明介质中的自聚焦传输过程可使高功率飞秒激光脉冲实现时域脉冲压缩，并详细研究了输出脉冲的时域和频域特性随入射脉冲强度的演化规律．实验结果表明脉冲自压缩量随入射脉冲强度的增加呈递增趋势，然而当入射光强增大到足以引起超连续谱及锥形辐射产生时，脉冲时域形状会发生分裂．此外还发现发散光束入射情况下同样可以观察到脉冲自压缩现象．

不同偏振飞秒激光经块状材料传输后的脉宽压缩

实验研究了线偏振和圆偏振状态下的飞秒强激光脉冲在块状材料中的传输过程。不同偏振的激光脉冲在传输过程中得到了不同程度的光谱展宽，经色散补偿后，脉冲时域宽度均得到了压缩。详细分析了压缩脉冲的脉宽以及啁啾情况与入射激光脉冲能量之间的关系，比较了飞秒激光在线偏振及圆偏振情况下的不同压缩效果。在线偏振入射光情况下得到了最短21fs的压缩脉冲宽度，在圆偏振情况下得到的最短脉冲宽度为22fs。实验结果表明，这种光谱展宽与色散补偿方式对圆偏振光同样适用，而且圆偏振的入射激光将更有利于对更高能量的脉冲进行压缩。在色散补偿量

利用块状介质进行飞秒强激光脉冲的腔外压缩

高强度飞秒激光脉冲的腔外压缩是获得高次谐波阿秒脉冲驱动源的必要手段。实验研究了超强超短飞秒激光脉冲在经过块状介质后的光谱展宽和色散补偿压缩现象。单脉冲能量0．26mJ，脉宽50fs的激光脉冲经透镜在空气中聚焦后再入射到块状材料上，出射脉冲光谱被展宽到接近40nm。由于在块状材料中的自聚焦效应，出射光束质量变好并保持较小的空间啁啾。利用熔融石英棱镜对补偿带有正色散的出射脉冲，最后得到〉0．1mJ，19fs的压缩脉冲。利用SPIDER装置测量了出射脉冲的脉宽和光谱相位。整个系统的能量效率大约为35％，压缩后的

不同功率下的飞秒激光在水中形成的脉冲压缩和超连续谱

本文研究了飞秒激光脉冲在水中的传输情况.通过改变不同的激光输入功率进行模拟，我们发现从输入功率略高于到远远高于发生自聚焦的临界功率,分别是群速度色散和多光子电离多光子吸收阻止了自聚焦导致的脉冲塌陷，当多光子电离和多光子吸收主导传输时，脉冲能被压缩到几个光学周期.在频域，多光子电离能引起很强的蓝移,而多光子吸收能对这种蓝移起到抑制作用。

基于多台阶反射光栅的飞秒脉冲压缩装置

反射式光栅对是一种具有负色散性质的器件,可用于飞秒激光脉冲的压缩和展宽,具有无材料色散的优点。给出了一种基于多台阶反射光栅的脉冲压缩装置。该装置为倍密度光栅结构,由两个周期分别为40μm和20μm的四台阶反射式光栅组成。实验得到的衍射效率可以达到70%以上,输入脉冲经过两个光栅的衍射后会按原路返回,从而达到色散补偿的效果。利用此压缩装置,脉冲宽度为66.8 fs的输入脉冲压缩至接近傅里叶变换极限脉冲,即46.6 fs,由此证明只要多台阶光栅效率足够高,此装置就有可能成为不同于棱镜对进行飞秒脉冲腔内和腔外压缩的另一种途径。

脉冲压缩光栅光路调节新方法研究

介绍了一种简单而实用的大口径脉冲压缩光栅光路调节方法，有效解决了普通光路调节方法中轴向调节精度不高的问题。首先由全息透镜（光栅）成像公式出发，推导出了该光路调节的基本原理。并从光栅记录系统与光栅衍射波像差的关系，结合初级像差理论推导得出叠栅条纹像差为0．4786λ，大约是光栅衍射波像差（0．25λ）的两倍，利用此关系也可对光栅衍射波像差进行实时监测。从数值模拟结果可知，利用叠栅条纹法调节光路可将光栅波像差减至0．06λ，相应的轴向误差量为0．007mm，可有效提高了轴向调节精度。

拼接光栅压缩器的时域特性

在拼接光栅和拼接光栅压缩器的设计中,子光栅调节偏差不可避免,各维偏差与拼接光栅的时间特性之间的关系很关键。通过脉冲压缩理论分析得到各维偏差和聚焦脉冲时间宽度展宽之间的解析关系,从数值计算结果分析,面平行左右偏差对脉冲的时间宽度影响较大,必须控制在21.08 μrad内；条纹密度差异对脉冲宽度的影响很显著,相对条纹密度的比值应控制在10-5以内；从消除角色散的角度分析,面平行俯仰偏差和条纹平行度偏差可以相互补偿,条纹密度差异和面平行左右偏差也可以相互补偿。