Single Chirped Pulse Research Articles

Distributed Fiber Birefringence Measurement Using Pulse-Compression \u03a6-OTDR

In this paper, a novel birefringence measurement method through the Rayleigh backscattered lightwave within single-mode fiber is proposed, using a single chirped-pulse with arbitrary state of polarization. Numerical analysis is carried out in detail, then pulse-compression phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (PC-Φ-OTDR) with polarization-diverse coherent detection is employed to verify this method. A 2km spun single-mode fiber is tested with 8.6 cm spatial resolution, and the average birefringence of the fiber under test is measured as 0.234rad/m, which is consistent with previous literatures about single-mode fiber. Moreover, the relationship between the measured birefringence and the spatial resolution is also studied for the first time, and the results show that spatial resolution is crucial for fiber birefringence measurement.

A pump–probe scheme with a single chirped pulse to image electron and nuclear dynamics in molecules

A single chirped few-femtosecond pulse can be used to control and image coupled electron-nuclear dynamics. Using full ab initio simulations of the simplest molecule, as a prototype target, we show that for intermediate values of the chirp, interference between sequential and direct contributions enables significant control over ionization yields, even when taking into account the effective decoherence introduced by nuclear motion and the presence of an electronic continuum. For larger values of the chirp, the single chirped pulse reproduces a classical pump–probe setup, with the chirp parameter mapping an effective time delay between the pumping and probing frequencies of the pulse. After demonstrating this numerically, we present a full analytical solution for the two-photon ionization amplitudes that provides an intuitive analogy between the molecular dynamics induced by a single chirped pulse and a traditional pump–probe setup.

Improved common-path spectral interferometer for single-shot terahertz detection

To seek high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is critical but challenging for single-shot intense terahertz (THz) coherent detection. This paper presents an improved common-path spectral interferometer for single-shot THz detection with a single chirped pulse as the probe for THz electro-optic (EO) sampling. Here, the spectral interference occurs between the two orthogonal polarization components with a required relative time delay generated with only a birefringent plate after the EO sensor. Our experiments show that this interferometer can effectively suppress the noise usually suffered in a non-common-path interferometer. The measured single-shot SNR is up to 88.85, and the measured THz waveforms are independent of the orientation of the used ZnTe EO sensor, so it is easy to operate and the results are more reliable. These features mean that the interferometer is quite qualified for applications where strong THz pulses, usually with single-shot or low repetition rate, are indispensable.

Phase control in coherent population distribution in molecules

A chirped laser pulse transfers population from one level to another level accessible by one photon dipole transition. We have used a pair of phase-locked chirped pulses of same frequency instead of a single chirped pulse to achieve phase control over the population transfer and thus creating coherent population distribution in hydrogen molecule. Simultaneous actions of the phase controlled interference and rapid adiabatic passages due to chirped pulses lead to the control in population transfer from the ground X(v = 0, j = 0) level to the C(v = 2, j = 1) level. We have extended this two-level system to a three-level 1 + 1 ladder system for population transfer from the X level to the J(v = 2, j = 2) level via the C intermediate level using two pairs of phase-locked laser chirped pulses and have achieved laudable control over the coherent population distribution.

Laser control of the RbCs bond

We show numerically that it is possible to control the bond distance of the RbCs dimer and create laser-induced oscillations using a single chirped pulse. The implementation of the scheme involves the creation of a superposition of the 1 3 Σ + and 2 3 Σ + excited triplet electronic states. We assume that the molecule is aligned and the dynamics is initiated in the bound 2 3 Σ + state. The chirped pulse allows full population transfer and dynamic vibrational trapping in the 1 3 Σ + state. In the adiabatic regime the position of the vibrational wave packet can be fully controlled by the carrier frequency of the field, so that one can determine and fix the bond length at any desired value, or impose particular trajectories, depending on the choice of the chirp.

Theoretical exploration of harmonic emission and attosecond pulse generation from H2+ in the presence of terahertz pulse

Harmonic generation spectra from H[Formula: see text] molecule ion driven by the chirped pulse combined with a terahertz (THz) pulse have been theoretically investigated by numerically solving the non-Born–Oppenheimer time-dependent Schrödinger equation (NBO-TDSE). The results show that with the introduction of the chirp, the harmonic cutoff is extended, resulting in a smooth supercontinuum. Further, when the initial vibrational state is prepared as [Formula: see text], and by properly adding a THz controlling pulse, the harmonic yield is enhanced by almost six orders of magnitude compared with the single chirped pulse case. Quantum analyses are shown to explain the harmonic extension and enhancement. Furthermore, through the investigation of the isotopic effect, we find that more intense harmonics are generated in the lighter nucleus. Finally, by properly superposing the harmonics, a series of intense 35 as XUV pulses can be obtained, which are almost six orders of magnitude improvement in comparison with the single chirped pulse case.

Plasma absorption evidence via chirped pulse spectral transmission measurements

This work aims at highlighting the plasma generation dynamics and absorption when a Bessel beam propagates in glass. We developed a simple diagnostics allowing us to retrieve clear indications of the formation of the plasma in the material, thanks to transmission measurements in the angular and wavelength domains. This technique featured by the use of a single chirped pulse having the role of pump and probe simultaneously leads to results showing the plasma nonlinear absorption effect on the trailing part of the pulse, thanks to the spectral-temporal correspondence in the measured signal, which is also confirmed by numerical simulations.

Laser adiabatic manipulation of the bond length of diatomic molecules with a single chirped pulse

We propose and test numerically a scheme for controlling the bond distance in a diatomic molecule that requires the use of a single chirped pulse. The laser prepares a superposition state of both nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom, where the main character of the electronic wave function is that of an excited dissociative state. The main limitation of the scheme is the need of ultra broadband pulses, where the bandwidth must be of the order of the dissociation energy to achieve large bond elongations. The scheme can be used to deform the bond during the laser excitation to an arbitrary large and constant value, or to allow slow time-dependent bond elongations. Additionally, the scheme can be used to prepare highly excited vibrational wave packets in the ground potential after the pulse is switched off, at the expense of losing some population that dissociates. These wave packets are initially localized at the outer well of the potential, at energies controllable by the excitation process.

Coherent control of the vibrational state population in a nonpolar molecule

A coherent control scheme for the population distribution in the vibrational states of nonpolar molecules is proposed. Our theoretical analysis and results of numerical simulations for the interaction of the hydrogen molecular ion in its electronic ground state with an infrared laser pulse reveal a selective two-photon transition between the vibrational states via a coupling with the first excited dissociative state. We demonstrate that for a given temporal intensity profile the population transfer between vibrational states, or a superposition of vibrational states, can be made complete for a single chirped pulse or a train of chirped pulses, which accounts for the accumulated phase difference due to the ac Stark effect. Effects of a spatial intensity (or focal) averaging are discussed.

Interaction of pulses in the nonlinear Schrödinger model.

The interaction of two rectangular pulses in the nonlinear Schrödinger model is studied by solving the appropriate Zakharov-Shabat system. It is shown that two real pulses may result in an appearance of moving solitons. Different limiting cases, such as a single pulse with a phase jump, a single chirped pulse, in-phase and out-of-phase pulses, and pulses with frequency separation, are analyzed. The thresholds of creation of new solitons and multisoliton states are found.

Femtosecond spectroscopy of condensed phases with chirped supercontinuum probing

Pump--supercontinuum-probe (PSCP) spectroscopy with femtosecond time resolution is developed theoretically and experimentally. The connection to previous theoretical results on nonchirped probing is established. It is experimentally shown that the supercontinuum can be described as a single chirped pulse. A key problem of the technique---the precise time correction of transient spectra---is solved by monitoring the nonresonant electronic response from a pure solvent (liquids) or from a transparent substrate (solid films). This allows for an adequate characterization of the supercontinuum, in particular, for directly measuring the spectral dependence of the pump-probe cross correlation. For 50-fs pump pulses, a theoretical estimate gives an accuracy for the time correction of 10 fs, which is typically \ensuremath{\approx}1/30 of the supercontinuum pulse duration. Hence a time resolution of 10--20 fs can be experimentally realized. Contributions to the nonresonant transient signal from high-frequency Raman excitations and from low-frequency impulsive-stimulated Raman processes are discussed. The PSCP technique is illustrated by results from experiments with fused silica and several common solvents and with a chromophore in solution.

Control and measurement of ultrashort pulse shapes (in amplitude and phase) with femtosecond accuracy

The performances of a tunable femtosecond dye laser are analyzed using accurate correlation techniques. The source is a passively mode-locked dye laser, of which both the frequency and frequency modulation are controlled by one or two intracavity prisms. Interferometric second-order autocorrelations, with a peak-to-background ratio of 8 to 1, are used simultaneously with the conventional intensity autocorrelation and the pulse spectrum to determine the pulse shape. The main advantages of the interferometric autocorrelations are that they provide phase information otherwise not available, and they are more sensitive to the pulse shape than the intensity autocorrelation. The phase sensitivity is demonstrated in an analysis of the Gaussian pulses with a linear frequency modulation. Analytical expressions for the envelopes of the interferometric autocorrelations of typical pulse shapes are provided for quick pulse shape identification. A numerical method is used to analyze the more complex pulse shapes and chirps that can be produced by the laser. A series of examples demonstrates the control of this laser over various pulse shapes and frequency modulations. Pulse broadening or compression by propagation through glass is calculated for the pulse shapes determined from the fittings. Comparisons of autocorrelations and cross correlations calculated for the dispersed pulses, with the actual measurements, demonstrate the accuracy of the fitting procedure. The method of pulse shape determination demonstrated here requires a train of identical pulses. Indeed, it is shown that, for example, a train of unchirped pulses randomly distributed in frequency can have the same interferometric autocorrelation than a single chirped pulse. In the case of the present source, a comparison of the pulse spectrum, with that of the second harmonic, gives an additional proof that pulse-to-pulse fluctuations are negligible.