Picosecond Supercontinuum Generation Research Articles

Picosecond supercontinuum generation in large mode area photonic crystal fibers for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy

We perform a detailed theoretical and experimental investigation of supercontinuum generation in large-mode-area photonic crystal fibers pumped by a high-energy, high-repetition rate picosecond Nd:YVO4 laser, with the goal of using it as the Stokes beam in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering setup. We analyze the influence of fiber structure and length on the supercontinuum power, spectral shape, and group delay dispersion. We identify the experimental conditions for stable supercontinuum generation, with microjoule-level pulse energy and the spectrum extending beyond 1600 nm, which allows excitation of Raman frequencies up to 3000 cm−1 and beyond. We demonstrate reliable and efficient operation of a coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and microscopy setup using this supercontinuum source.

The influence of a weak signal seed-wave on picosecond supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber

We present a numerical study of the properties of picosecond supercontinuum (SC) generation when pumping in the normal dispersion region of photonic crystal fibers. Simulation results demonstrate that rogue wave generation can be reduced by adding a weak signal continuous-wave (CW) seed on the main pump pulse. Besides, the red-shifted part of SC exhibits higher degree of coherence and pulse-to-pulse intensity stability.

Picosecond supercontinuum generation seeded by a weak continuous wave

We experimentally investigate the spectral details of a picosecond supercontinuum pumped at 1064 nm and seeded by a weak continuous wave (∼20000 times weaker than the pulse peak power) at several power levels in photonic crystal fibers. Seeding at different wavelengths leads to different spectral details and the effects to the bandwidth of supercontinuum are also distinct. Spectra can be widened when seeded by a continuous wave at 1070 nm and narrowed by ∼ 100 nm when seeded at 1080 nm. The influence is enhanced by increasing the average seeded power.

Intensity noise in normal‐pumped picosecond supercontinuum generation, where higher‐order Raman lines cross into anomalous dispersion regime

The relative intensity noise (RIN) properties at different wavelengths and power levels for picosecond supercontinuum (SC) generated by pumping a PCF in its normal dispersion regime is investigated. For low power levels the all-normal SC is generated while the generated SC extends beyond the zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) at high power levels. The RIN measurements are compared with a red-edge matched SC generated in a highly nonlinear PCF pumped in the anomalous dispersion regime close to its ZDW.

Investigating the influence of a weak continuous-wave-trigger on picosecond supercontinuum generation

We numerically study the impacts of introducing a minute continuous-wave (CW) trigger on the properties of picosecond supercontinuum (SC) generation. We show that this simple triggering approach enables active control of not only the bandwidth, but more importantly the temporal coherence of SC. Detailed numerical simulations suggest that depending on the wavelength of the CW-trigger the multiple higher-order four-wave mixing (FWM) components generated by the CW-trigger can create either a relatively more stochastic or a more deterministic beating effect on the pump pulse, which has significant implications on how soliton fission and the onset of SC are initiated in the presence of noise. By controlling the CW-trigger wavelengths, the rogue solitons emerged in SC generation can exhibit high-degree of temporal coherence and pulse-to-pulse intensity stability. The present study provides a valuable insight on how the initial soliton fission can be initiated in a more controllable manner such that SC generation with both high temporal coherence and stability can be realized.

Back-seeding of higher order gain processes in picosecond supercontinuum generation

In photonic crystal fibers with closely spaced zero dispersion wavelengths it is possible to have two pairs of four-wave mixing (FWM) gain peaks. Here, we demonstrate both numerically and experimentally how the outer four-wave mixing gain peaks can be used to produce a strong amplification peak in a picosecond supercontinuum. The method involves feeding back part of the output light of a SC source and time matching it with the pump light. In this way it is possible to produce a gain of over 20 dB near the FWM gain wavelengths.