Divided pulse soliton self-frequency shift: a multi-color, dual-polarization, power-scalable, broadly tunable optical source

Abstract

A versatile, broadly tunable, power scalable, multi-line, ultrafast source is presented, the operation of which is based on combining principles of pulse division with the phenomenon of the soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS). Interferometric pulse recombination is demonstrated showing that the source can decouple the generally limiting relationship between the output power and the center wavelength in SSFS-based optical sources. Broadly tunable two- and four-color soliton self-frequency shifted pulses are experimentally demonstrated. Simultaneous dual-polarization second-harmonic generation was performed with the source, demonstrating one novel imaging methodology that the source can enable. It is expected that this source architecture will be useful for advancing current nonlinear optical imaging methodologies.

Supplementary document for Efficient soliton self-frequency shift in hydrogen-filled hollow-core fiber - 5547062.pdf

“…To avoid ionization, Jenkins et al have proposed use of the divided-pulse technique [38] to reduce the peak power [39]. This technique has also been applied experimentally in SSFS but with a solid-core photonic crystal fiber [40]. Divided-pulse SSFS may be a way to avoid photoionization in scaling SSFS in hydrogen to energies above several microjoules.…”

Efficient soliton self-frequency shift in hydrogen-filled hollow-core fiber

“…To avoid ionization, Jenkins et al have proposed use of the divided-pulse technique [57] to reduce the peak power [58]. This technique has also been applied experimentally in SSFS but with a solid-core photonic crystal fiber [59]. Divided-pulse SSFS may be a way to avoid photoionization in scaling SSFS in hydrogen to energies 1-µJ.…”

Numerical demonstration of widely tunable femtosecond soliton generation in chalcogenide microstructured fibers

“…Tunable femtosecond laser sources with high coherence, relatively narrow bandwidth and high peak power have attracted considerable interest for applications from pumping nonlinear interactions to chemical sensors, and biomedical surgery [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) effect, as one of the most promising approaches for obtaining tunable laser sources, has been widely researched [7][8][9][10][11]. In SSFS, the longer wavelength part of the pulse spectrum experiences an amplification pumped by the shorter wavelength part through intrapulse Raman scattering.…”