Time-domain holograms for generation and processing of temporal complex information by intensity-only modulation processes

Exploiting the FM-to-AM conversion to generate high-contrast picosecond laser pulses

In this work, we simulate and demonstrate experimentally a new approach to generate picosecond laser pulses. This technique is based on optoelectronic FM-to-AM conversion: a transient radiofrequency phase modulation is applied on a continuous-wave fiber laser otherwise blocked by a bandstop filter. By leveraging the ability of modern electronic amplifiers to generate high voltage swings values on a short timescale, the presented setup induces a large and brief excursion out of the filter, hence generating 18 ps pulses with a time contrast of 38 dB. Detailed simulations pave the road toward pulses shorter than 1 ps by using an optimally shaped RF response.

Several new directions for ultrafast fiber lasers [Invited]

Ultrafast fiber lasers have the potential to make applications of ultrashort pulses widespread - techniques not only for scientists, but also for doctors, manufacturing engineers, and more. Today, this potential is only realized in refractive surgery and some femtosecond micromachining. The existing market for ultrafast lasers remains dominated by solid-state lasers, primarily Ti:sapphire, due to their superior performance. Recent advances show routes to ultrafast fiber sources that provide performance and capabilities equal to, and in some cases beyond, those of Ti:sapphire, in compact, versatile, low-cost devices. In this paper, we discuss the prospects for future ultrafast fiber lasers built on new kinds of pulse generation that capitalize on nonlinear dynamics. We focus primarily on three promising directions: mode-locked oscillators that use nonlinearity to enhance performance; systems that use nonlinear pulse propagation to achieve ultrashort pulses without a mode-locked oscillator; and multimode fiber lasers that exploit nonlinearities in space and time to obtain unparalleled control over an electric field.

Time-domain Vander-Lugt filters for in-fiber complex (amplitude and phase) optical pulse shaping

The time-domain counterpart of spatial Vander-Lugt filters is proposed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The concept enables reshaping an ultrashort optical pulse into a desired complex (amplitude and phase) arbitrary temporal pulse waveform using a setup configuration similar to that of previously demonstrated fiber-optic time-domain pulse-intensity shapers, i.e., using a single temporal amplitude modulator between two opposite-dispersive all-fiber media. The proposal is experimentally validated through reconfigurable generation of two complex-valued pulse shapes, namely, a 60 ps asymmetrical triangular pulse with controlled parabolic phase and a 4-symbol 16-QAM picosecond pulse code sequence.

All-optical wavelength conversion based on time-domain holography

All-optical wavelength conversion of a complex (amplitude and phase) optical signal is proposed based on an all-optical implementation of time-domain holography. The temporal holograms are generated through a cross-phase modulation (XPM) process in a highly-nonlinear optical fiber, avoiding the necessity of accomplish the phase matching condition between the involved pump and probe signals, and reducing the power requirements compared to those of the traditional wavelength conversion implementations using four wave mixing (FWM). The proposed scheme also achieves symmetric conversion efficiency for up- and down-conversion. As a proof-of-concept, wavelength conversion of a train of 10 GHz chirped Gaussian-like pulses and their conjugated is experimentally demonstrated.

High-contrast linear optical pulse compression using a temporal hologram

Temporal holograms can be realized by temporal amplitude-only modulation devices and used for generation and processing of complex (amplitude and phase) time-domain signals. Based on the temporal hologram concept, we numerically and experimentally demonstrate a novel design for linear optical pulse compression using temporal modulation of continuous-wave light combined with dispersion. The newly introduced scheme overcomes the undesired background problem that is intrinsic to designs based on temporal zone plates, while also offering an energy efficiency of ~25%. This pulse compression scheme can ideally provide an arbitrarily high time-bandwidth product using a low peak-power modulation driving signal, though in practice it is limited by the achievable modulation bandwidth and dispersion amount.

Temporal phase conjugation based on time-domain holography

A novel, simple method for wavelength-preserving temporal phase conjugation (TPC) of complex optical waveforms is proposed and experimentally validated. The method is based on the concept of time-domain holography; it requires direct photo-detection of the original waveform mixed with a CW light beam (temporal hologram recording), followed by intensity-only modulation of a second CW light source with the photo-detected interference-like pattern. The conjugated signal is directly obtained from the modulated light through an optical bandpass filtering process, without requiring any further processing on the detected interferogram. The proposed scheme is successfully demonstrated by conjugating a train of arbitrarily chirped Gaussian-like pulses and a 3 Gbps 16-QAM data stream.