Nonlinear Frequency Down-conversion Research Articles

2.76–3.98 μm picosecond mid-infrared optical parametric generation in a muti-grating MgO: PPLN

The high repetition rate, widely tunable, picosecond mid-infrared laser plays an important role in various fields. In this paper, the single-pass optical parametric generator (OPG) pumped by Yb-fiber laser based on MgO: PPLN is proposed. The Yb-fiber laser is mode locked by a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM) with an all-polarization-maintaining (PM) structure. A maximum power of 6.2 W was obtained with a repetition rate of 15.8 MHz and pulse duration of 18 ps after amplification by cascaded fiber. Based on the principle of nonlinear frequency down-conversion, the tunable mid-infrared output wavelength of 2.76–3.98 μm was realized by varying the crystal grating periods and temperature. The maximum power was 500 mW at 3.22 μm, corresponding to a quantum conversion efficiency of 25%, and the relative power fluctuation was measured as 0.37% over 30 min.

Progress on intra-pulse difference frequency generation in femtosecond laser

Mid-infrared (MIR) lasers have various advantages and can be widely used in either fundamental research fields or practical applications such as strong-field physics, molecular sensing and minimally-invasive tissue ablation. Generally, there are two categories of methods to generate MIR laser emission: one is direct lasing and the other is nonlinear frequency down-conversion. However, for the ultra-broadband few-cycle MIR generation, nonlinear down-conversion is the only available method. Intra-pulse Difference Frequency Generation (IP-DFG) is a simple method of nonlinear frequency conversion. In this article, the IP-DFG technology for the ultra-broadband MIR few-cycle pulses generation is reviewed. Different MIR nonlinear crystals, various driving laser sources, the spectral coverage of the MIR-IPDF output, and the conversion efficiency are compared and discussed. Last but not least, the prospects and challenges of MIR IP-DFG are presented.

Nonlinear frequency down-conversion of acoustic wave beams in the atmosphere and ionosphere under different types of modulation (regular item)

It is investigated theoretically the nonlinear down-conversion of powerful extremely low frequency (ELF) modulated acoustic wave beams at the carrier frequencies 1–20 Hz into ultra-low frequency (ULF) acoustic waves at the frequencies 0.01–0.1 Hz under the propagation upwards within the atmosphere and ionosphere. The approximation of the slowly varying profile is used. It is shown that under a fixed value of the integral power of the initial acoustic ELF beam there exists the optimal value of the initial transverse width where the maximum down-conversion is realized. The different types of the modulation are considered, namely the simplest two-frequency modulation and multifrequency noise-like one. The using of the complex multifrequency modulation results in the increase of the efficiency of the down-conversion within the ionosphere E- and F-layers.

Nonlinear Frequency Down-Conversion of Acoustic Wave Beams in the Atmosphere and Ionosphere Under Different Types of Modulation

Nonlinear Frequency Down-Conversion of Acoustic Wave Beams in the Atmosphere and Ionosphere Under Different Types of Modulation

On possibility of strong anomalous damping of an ordinary pump wave in the electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments due to the low-power-threshold parametric decay instability

We analyze the low power-threshold parametric decay instability of an ordinary wave in the first electron cyclotron harmonic frequency range, which leads to the excitation of a localized upper hybrid (UH) wave and a lower hybrid wave. We investigate its transition into the saturation mode due to both the pump wave depletion and the cascade of successive secondary decays. A set of equations describing this nonlinear frequency down-conversion of the primary UH wave is derived and then solved both analytically and numerically under the conditions typical of the off-axis O1-mode electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments in the FTU tokamak. The possibility of a strong anomalous absorption of the pump power in the case of even-step cascade of secondary decays is discovered.

Time-Delay Model of Nonlinear Frequency Down-Conversion in the Cavity of a Semiconductor Disk Laser

Time-Delay Model of Nonlinear Frequency Down-Conversion in the Cavity of a Semiconductor Disk Laser

Terahertz emission from laser-driven gas plasmas: a plasmonic point of view

We disclose an unanticipated link between plasmonics and nonlinear frequency down-conversion in laser-induced gas-plasmas. For two-color femtosecond pump pulses, a plasmonic resonance is shown to broaden the terahertz emission spectra significantly. We identify the resonance as a leaky mode, which contributes to the emission spectra whenever electrons are excited along a direction where the plasma size is smaller than the plasma wavelength. As a direct consequence, such resonances can be controlled by changing the polarization properties of elliptically-shaped driving laser pulses. Both, experimental results and 3D Maxwell consistent simulations confirm that a significant terahertz pulse shortening and spectral broadening can be achieved by exploiting the transverse driving laser beam shape as an additional degree of freedom.

Saturation of the low-threshold parametric decay of the O-mode pump in the fundamental harmonic ECRH experiment

The saturation regime of the low-power-threshold ordinary (O) wave parametric decay instability leading to the excitation of a localized upper hybrid (UH) wave and a low-hybrid wave is analysed. The cascade of secondary decays of a daughter UH wave to a localized UH wave and ion Bernstein wave is considered as presumably the most important nonlinear mechanism responsible for the transition to a saturation regime. A set of equations describing this nonlinear frequency down-conversion is derived and then solved both analytically and numerically under the conditions typical of the on-axis fundamental harmonic ordinary mode (O1-mode) electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments at the FTU tokamak.

Multi-mode dynamics of optical oscillators based on intracavity nonlinear frequency down-conversion

The transient power characteristics of two optical oscillators—a difference frequency generator (ICDFG) and a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (ICSRO)—based on intracavity nonlinear optical frequency conversion, are described. The simulation has been performed via the rate-equation mathematical model, which features a multi-mode behavior of all optical fields. The reason for unattainability of single-mode emission in these devices without an additional frequency-selective element (e.g., a Fabry–Perot etalon) is clarified. It is shown that the dynamics of a short-wavelength emission (pump) results mainly from the nonlinear optical interaction, while that of the longer-wavelength optical fields (signal and idler) depends on selectivity of the etalon. With the suitable etalons inserted in their cavities, both devices are shown to operate dynamically single-mode under conventional experimental conditions. The nonlinear interaction makes the pump emission collapse to the single-mode operation very fast (it takes no more than a few tens of the photon lifetimes). To overcome the threshold of parametric generation, the intracavity pump power in the ICSRO has to exceed $$\sim 100$$ W, while the ICDFG is essentially a “thresholdless” device.

Polarization conversion in cubic Raman crystals

Nonlinear conversion of unpolarized beams to lower frequencies is generally inefficient in c(2) materials, as it is challenging to achieve phase-matching for input ordinary and extraordinary beams simultaneously in the normal dispersion regime. Here, we show that cubic Raman crystals having doubly and triply degenerate (E and F type) modes provide a method for efficient nonlinear frequency downconversion of an unpolarized beam and yield a linearly polarized output state. Using Mueller calculus, optimal crystal directions for such polarization conversion are determined. Using diamond, an example of an F-class Raman crystal, we have verified that such conversion is possible with near quantum-defect-limited slope efficiency and a linear polarization contrast of more than 23.9 dB.

Origin and suppression of back conversion in a phase-matched nonlinear frequency down-conversion process

Back conversion is an intrinsic phenomenon in nonlinear frequency down-conversion processes. However, the physical reason for its occurrence is not well understood. Here, we theoretically reveal that back conversion is the result of a π-phase jump associated with the depletion of one interacting wave. By suppressing the idler phase jump through a deliberate crystal absorption, the back conversion can be inhabited, thus enhancing the conversion efficiency from the pump to the signal. The results presented in this Letter will further the understanding of nonlinear parametric processes and pave the way toward the design of highly efficient down-conversion systems.

Active mode locking of quantum cascade lasers in an external ring cavity.

Stable ultrashort light pulses and frequency combs generated by mode-locked lasers have many important applications including high-resolution spectroscopy, fast chemical detection and identification, studies of ultrafast processes, and laser metrology. While compact mode-locked lasers emitting in the visible and near infrared range have revolutionized photonic technologies, the systems operating in the mid-infrared range where most gases have their strong absorption lines, are bulky and expensive and rely on nonlinear frequency down-conversion. Quantum cascade lasers are the most powerful and versatile compact light sources in the mid-infrared range, yet achieving their mode-locked operation remains a challenge, despite dedicated effort. Here we report the demonstration of active mode locking of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser. The laser operates in the mode-locked regime at room temperature and over the full dynamic range of injection currents.

Intracavity Nonlinear Frequency Down-Conversion in a Continuous-Wave Operation Regime of a Dual-Wavelength Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser

Steady-state operational characteristics of a dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) with a nonlinear quasi-phase-matched crystal placed in the laser cavity have been simulated. We have demonstrated the dramatic effect of three-wave nonlinear optical interaction on both the intensity of fundamental optical fields and the carrier concentration in the quantum wells of the laser. Potential capability of the dual-wavelength VECSEL for efficient generation of mid- or far-infrared radiation by means of the intracavity nonlinear frequency conversion has been shown.

Efficient low-power terahertz generation via on-chip triply-resonant nonlinear frequency mixing

In this letter, we show theoretically how the light-confining properties of triply-resonant photonic resonators can be tailored to enable dramatic enhancements of the conversion efficiency of terahertz (THz) generation via nonlinear frequency down-conversion processes. Using detailed numerical calculations, we predict that this approach can be used to reduce up to three orders of magnitude the pump powers required to reach quantum-limited conversion efficiency of THz generation in conventional nonlinear optical material systems. Furthermore, we propose a realistic design readily accessible experimentally, both for fabrication and demonstration of optimal THz conversion efficiency at sub-W power levels.

Increase of the Transparency for Cosmic Radio Waves due to the Decrease of Density of the Ionosphere Caused by Acoustic Waves

Ultra low frequency (ULF) acoustic waves, propagating in the ionosphere, may produce a decrease of the ionospheric density of the F-layer. In turn, decreasing the density of the ionospheric plasma results in the increase of the transparency of the ionosphere for cosmic radio waves. In this paper, simulations of nonlinear frequency down-conversion of extremely low frequency (ELF) acoustic waves into ULF acoustic waves are presented. The propagation of excited ULF waves within the non-isothermal ionosphere is simulated, and the increase of the transparency of the ionospheric F-layer for cosmic radio waves due to plasma density modulation is also considered. We argue that this phenomenon takes place jointly with an increase of the transparency caused by the periodic structure of extremely low frequency (ELF) acoustic waves in the E-layer of the ionosphere. Both phenomena have previously been confirmed experimentally.

Slowing light in chi2 photonic crystals.

A study of parametric nonlinear frequency down-conversion in photonic crystals reveals that under suitable conditions the probe field can be slowed down to approximately 11 m/s. The effect arises as a result of the simultaneous availability of global phase-matching conditions, field localization, and gain experienced by the probe beam. Together, these effects conspire to yield tunneling velocities previously reported only for coherently resonant interactions, i.e., electromagnetic induced transparency, in Bose-Einstein condensates, hot atomic gases, and doped crystals.