Energy conversion in degenerate four-photon mixing in birefringent fibers

Optimal frequency conversion in the nonlinear stage of modulation instability

We investigate multi-wave mixing associated with the strongly pump depleted regime of induced modulation instability (MI) in optical fibers. For a complete transfer of pump power into the sideband modes, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that it is necessary to use a much lower seeding modulation frequency than the peak MI gain value. Our experiment shows that, at such optimal modulation frequency, a record 95 % of the output pump power is frequency converted into the comb of sidebands, in good quantitative agreement with analytical predictions based on the simplest exact breather solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger ¨ equation.

Quasi-phase-matched modulation instability in birefringent fibers

The phase-sensitive nature of polarization modulation instability has been demonstrated in optical fibers whose birefringence has been manipulated to generate phase mismatches. Quasi-phase-matched modulation instability has been demonstrated, and the gain of the quasi-phase-matched sidebands has been investigated. The results are in good agreement with experiment.

Nonlinear parametric mixing instabilities induced by self-phase and cross-phase modulation

A stability analysis of the nonlinear dynamics of two-wave parametric mixing in a quadratic nonlinear medium in the presence of self- and cross-phase modulation reveals a novel symmetry-breaking instability. This instability may be lead to abrupt changes, as a function of the fundamental and its second harmonic.