Experimental observation of the spectral self-imaging effect with a four-wave mixing time lens.

Abstract

Here we use a four-wave mixing time lens to demonstrate the spectral self-imaging effect for a frequency comb. The time lens is built by imposing a temporal quadratic phase modulation onto the input signal pulses, which corresponds to a frequency comb in the Fourier spectrum. The modulation is implemented by a Gaussian pump pulse propagating in an external single-mode fiber. Both the signal and pump pulses are injected into a highly nonlinear fiber and four-wave mixing Bragg scattering occurs. We observe periodic revivals of the input frequency comb as the pump pulse propagates periodic distances. The comb-spacing is squeezed at fractional ratios to its original value. Meanwhile, the central-frequency undergoes redshifts and blueshifts subject to the scattered frequencies. We also find that the envelope width of input pulses has an effect on the output spectrum width. The study may find great applications in spectral reshaping and frequency metrology used for optical communication and signal processing.