Highly Functional All-Optical Control Using Ultrafast Nonlinear Effects in Optical Fibers

Abstract

Using the optical fibers and ultrashort pulses, we can demonstrate highly functional optical control. We have succeeded in generation of low-noise, ultraflat, high-quality supercontinuum (SC). Recently, octave spanning high-quality SC is also generated. The carrier envelope offset frequency measurement and ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography are demonstrated using SC. We can also generate widely wavelength-tunable ultrashort soliton pulses using soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS). So far, several new techniques have been proposed and demonstrated using SSFS. The author has also discovered novel two-pulse trapping phenomena. The ultrafast all-optical switching is demonstrated using the pulse trapping techniques, and principles and characteristics are described.