180-nm wavelength conversion based on Bragg scattering in an optical fiber

Abstract

Efficient, wideband and tunable optical wavelength conversion over 180 nm by four-wave mixing (Bragg scattering) in a fiber is demonstrated experimentally. This process has the potential to translate optical data (states of light) without the noise pollution associated with parametric amplification and spontaneous Raman scattering.

Quantum frequency translation by four-wave mixing in a fiber: low-conversion regime

“…The effect of SRS is minimized for very small or very large ( 13 THz) frequency shifts. Very large frequency shifts were demonstrated in [32,33]. As shown in [42] SRS is weaker for cross-polarized signals than co-polarized signals, so utilizing vector BS might diminish the effect.…”

“…This process has been used classically to allow FC (frequency conversion) over a wide frequency range [27][28][29]. The advantages of BS are that it is tunable [30], has low-noise transfer [31], and allows for very distant FC (more than 200 nm) [32,33]. BS has also been used to FC single photons [34].…”

Effects of nonlinear phase modulation on Bragg scattering in the low-conversion regime

“…This is a reasonable assumption for very small or very large frequency shifts (≫ 13 THz in silica fibers). In [29,30] very large frequency shifts were demonstrated. By using different polarizations, for instance cross-polarized pumps and sidebands, the effects of SRS were also weakened [39].…”

“…Like TWM, BS converts while adding the minimum excess noise required by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle [26,27]. However, among the many advantages of using FWM for classical FC are that the process is highly tunable [25,28], BS allows for very distant conversion (more than 200 nm was demonstrated in [29,30]) and in contrast to TWM, it also allows conversion of signals placed near each other. Another important property is that because BS is fiber-based, the modes emitted in the process are already mode-matched to the propagation medium.…”

Detailed study of four-wave mixing in Raman DFB fiber lasers

“…Moreover, a 3 dB wavelength conversion bandwidth of ~100 nm has been reported in a 20 m long silica-based highly nonlinear photonic-crystal fiber (PCF) [12] and a bandwidth of ~60 nm with ~0 dB PDFWM conversion efficiency has been demonstrated in a 2.2 m long lead silicate PCF [13]. In addition to the PDFWM discussed above, nondegenerate FWM or Bragg scattering FWM with a wavelength conversion range of ~180 nm has been realized in optical fibers as well [14]. In that particular scheme, two pump waves are launched into the optical fiber simultaneously [14].…”