Ultra-short pulse fiber optical parametric oscillator.

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Fiber Optics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are crucial for generating tunable laser light.
• Micro-structured fibers offer unique nonlinear properties for light manipulation.
• Short pulse generation is essential for high-resolution spectroscopy and advanced imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate frequency conversion and short pulse generation using a novel OPO.
• To explore the performance of OPOs based on micro-structured fibers.
• To achieve ultra-short pulse durations for potential applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a custom-built optical parametric oscillator (OPO) incorporating micro-structured fibers.
• Operated the OPO in different regimes to study dispersion effects.
• Employed external pulse compression techniques for further pulse shortening.

Main Results:

• Achieved frequency conversion and generation of short optical pulses.
• Demonstrated two distinct operational regimes: normal-dispersion and dispersion-managed.
• Obtained linearly chirped pulses compressed to 26 fs in the normal-dispersion regime.
• Directly generated compressed pulses with a duration of 39 fs in the dispersion-managed regime.

Conclusions:

• Micro-structured fiber OPOs are effective for generating ultra-short optical pulses.
• Dispersion management in OPOs allows for direct generation of compressed pulses.
• External compression provides an alternative route to achieving shorter pulse durations.