Narrow-linewidth idler generation in fiber four-wave mixing and parametric amplification by dithering two pumps in opposition of phase

Abstract

Wide-bandwidth and high-gain fiber optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) have been demonstrated recently. Their application as all-optical wavelength converters has been hampered by pump-induced converted-signal spectrum broadening, due to the required pump phase modulation. In this paper, we theoretically investigate and experimentally demonstrate a technique to cancel the converted-signal broadening by using four-wave mixing (FWM) or parametric amplification with two pumps phase-modulated 180/spl deg/ out of phase. The resulting converted-signal quality is comparable to that of the output signal.