All-optical arbitrary temporal shaping technology of broadband low-coherence light based on saturable absorption effect

Abstract

Broadband low-coherence light has been applied in many fields such as optical imaging, atmospheric optical communication and laser inertial confinement fusion(ICF). It’s meaningful to investigate the temporal shaping technology of broadband low-coherence light. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a scheme of achieving all-optical arbitrary temporal shaping of broadband low-coherence light based on saturable absorption effect. Compared to traditional temporal shaping schemes such as electro-optic modulation(EOM) shaping or acousto-optic modulation(AOM) shaping, the modulation on the shaped pulse profile is much smaller, reduced from 14% (by acousto-optic modulator) to 3%(close to the ASE noise). Furthermore, we explore the evolution of shaped pulse contrast (intensity ratio between front edge and end edge) with the pump energy and contrast changing. The contrast of shaped pulse can be adjusted from 1:1.32 to 1:1.02 when pump contrast is 1:2, and from 1:2.25 to 1:1.90 when pump contrast is 1:3. And the maximum contrast of shaped pulse can reach 1:17 within the measurement accuracy. By changing the energy and contrast of pump, the contrast of the shaped pulse can be controlled flexibly. It’s useful to achieve all-optical arbitrary temporal shaping and pre-compensation during pulse amplification.