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Adaptively shaped mid-infrared pulses from a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator
Optics Express
|June 6, 2009
Summary
Researchers achieved adaptive control over mid-infrared laser pulses using a simulated annealing algorithm. This method shapes ultrashort pulses for potential applications in spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are crucial for generating tunable ultrashort laser pulses.
- Controlling the shape and duration of these pulses is essential for advanced applications.
- Mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulse generation presents unique challenges due to material properties and detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve adaptive control over sub-picosecond mid-IR idler pulses from a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) based OPO.
- To investigate the use of a simulated annealing algorithm for pulse shaping.
- To demonstrate the generation of compressed and double pulses with variable delay.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) utilizing periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN).
- Employed a simulated annealing algorithm within a feedback loop to adaptively control the idler pulse shape by shaping the near-infrared pump pulse.
- Implemented indirect control via signal average power optimization and direct control via two-photon absorption of the idler pulse.
- Optimized the cross-correlation signal in an interferometer with unequal arm lengths to generate double pulses.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated adaptively shaped, sub-picosecond pulses at 3.4 micrometers.
- Demonstrated effective pulse compression of the mid-IR idler pulses through both indirect and direct control methods.
- Achieved the generation of compressed double pulses with controllable time delays.
Conclusions:
- Adaptive pulse shaping using simulated annealing provides precise control over ultrashort mid-IR laser pulses.
- The demonstrated methods enable the generation of compressed pulses and tunable double pulses, expanding the capabilities of OPOs.
- This technique holds promise for applications requiring tailored ultrashort mid-IR light, such as nonlinear spectroscopy and materials processing.
