Polarization effects in a highly birefringent nonlinear photonic crystal fiber with two-zero dispersion wavelengths

Brendan J Chick,James W Chon,Min Gu

doi:10.1364/oe.16.020099

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental study is presented on polarized pulsed propagation from a highly birefringent nonlinear photonic crystal fiber with two-zero dispersion wavelengths. Experimental observations show that the input polarization state can maintain its linearity and that the fiber birefringence creates different spectral properties dependent on the input polarization orientation. The most extensive spectra are obtained for a coupling polarization angles aligned with the fast and slow axis, which is created by the high-order dispersion and Kerr nonlinearity.

Highlights

Supercontinumm (SC) generation in nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) due to the generation of their small core [1] has been pursued in many areas such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) [2], coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS) [3], optical metrology [4] and optical trapping [5]
Three structural properties of PCFs allow the modification of dispersion and nonlinearity; the air-fill fraction; a one-dimensional asymmetry; and the core size
The extent of SC generation is enhanced in the anomalous dispersion regime, where the carrier frequency of the coupled light is close to the zero dispersion wavelengths (ZDWs)

Summary

Introduction

Supercontinumm (SC) generation in nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) due to the generation of their small core [1] has been pursued in many areas such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) [2], coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS) [3], optical metrology [4] and optical trapping [5]. Dispersion engineering by the manipulation of the air hole structure of a PCF [6, 7, 8], allows the guidance of the optical wave to be influenced by different dispersion effects. The extent of SC generation is enhanced in the anomalous dispersion regime, where the carrier frequency of the coupled light is close to the ZDW. In this region four-wave mixing is the strongest causing strong Stokes and Anti-Stokes frequencies [9]. What has not been shown is an experimental and theoretical study of polarized pulse propagation of femtosecond pulses in two ZDWs nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. A comparison is made between the theoretical and experimental degree of polarization

Numerical study

Experimental study

Conclusion