Efficient second harmonic generation in integrated platforms is usually achieved by resonant structures, intermodal phase-matching or quasi-phase matching by periodically poling ferroelectric waveguides. However, in all these structures, it is impossible to reconfigure the phase-matching condition in an all-optical way. Here, we demonstrate that a Watt-level laser causes a periodic modification of the second-order susceptibility in a silicon nitride waveguide, allowing for quasi-phase-matching between the pump and second harmonic modes for arbitrary wavelengths inside the erbium band. The grating is long-term inscribed, and leads to a second harmonic generation enhancement of more than 30 dB. We estimate a χ (2) on the order of 0.3 pm/V, with a maximum conversion efficiency of 0.05% W−1. We explain the observed phenomenon with the coherent photogalvanic effect model, which correctly agrees with the retrieved experimental parameters.

We report the first demonstration of a unidirectional, isolator-free 2-mm thulium-doped fiber (TDF) laser, relying on the properties of the theta cavity (ring resonator with S-shaped feedback). The core pumped theta cavity TDF laser provides sub-Watt output power with a slope efficiency of 25%, a 2 dB flat tuning range of 1900-2050 nm, and a linewidth of 0.2 nm, and achieves the extinction ratio of 18-25 dB (depending on the feedback value) between the favored and suppressed lasing directions. It is shown that these characteristics are competitive with, if not superior to, those of conventional ring cavities. The simulation results of the linear and Kerr-nonlinear theta cavities are also presented, explaining certain unexpected features of the laser behavior and establishing the importance of the doped fiber nonlinearity on the spectral shaping of the emitted signal.

We demonstrate all-normal dispersion supercontinuum generation in chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers pumped at 2070-2080 nm with a femtosecond fiber laser. At 2.9 kW peak power, the generated supercontinuum has a 3 dB bandwidth of 27.6 THz and -20 dB bandwidth of 75.5 THz. We experimentally investigated the supercontinuum evolution inside our sample fiber at various peak powers and fiber lengths and study the impact of fiber water absorption on the generated supercontinuum spectrum. Multiple tests with fiber length- ranging from 0.34 to 10 cm-provide insight on pulse evolution along fiber length. Our simulations, which utilizes the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation model, match perfectly the experiments for all tested pump powers and fiber lengths, and confirm that the output pulse has a linear chirp, allowing linear pulse compression.

We experimentally demonstrate wavelength conversion in the 2 µm region by four-wave mixing in an AsSe and a GeAsSe chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers. A maximum conversion efficiency of −25.4 dB is measured for 112 mW of coupled continuous wave pump in a 27 cm long fiber. We estimate the dispersion parameters and the nonlinear refractive indexes of the chalcogenide PCFs, establishing a good agreement with the values expected from simulations. The different fiber geometries and glass compositions are compared in terms of performance, showing that GeAsSe is a more suited candidate for nonlinear optics at 2 µm. Building from the fitted parameters we then propose a new tapered GeAsSe PCF geometry to tailor the waveguide dispersion and lower the zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) closer to the 2 µm pump wavelength. Numerical simulations shows that the new design allows both an increased conversion efficiency and bandwidth, and the generation of idler waves further in the mid-IR regions, by tuning the pump wavelength in the vicinity of the fiber ZDW.

Abstract:We report the design of an all-fiber continuous wave Short-Wave Infrared source capable to output up to 700 mW of power at 1940 nm. The source is tunable over wavelength intervals comprised between 1850 nm and 2070 nm depending on its configuration. The output can be single or multimode while the optical signal to noise ratio ranges from 25 and 40 dB. The architecture is based on the integrated association of a fiber optical parametric amplifier and a Thulium doped fiber amplifier.