Carving out configurable ultrafast pulses from a continuous wave source via the optical Kerr effect

Abstract

Wavelength-tunable, time-locked pairs of ultrafast pulses are crucial in modern-day time-resolved measurements. We demonstrate a simple means of generating configurable optical pulse sequences: sub-picosecond pulses are carved out from a continuous wave laser via pump-induced optical Kerr switching in 10 cm of a commercial single-mode fiber. By introducing dispersion to the pump, the near transform-limited switched pulse duration is tuned between 305–570 fs. Two- and four-pulse signal trains are also generated by adding birefringent α-BBO plates in the pump beam. These results highlight an ultrafast light source with intrinsic timing stability and pulse-to-pulse phase coherence, where pulse generation could be adapted to wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to infrared.

Manipulating optical absorption and polarization using microwave control in an atomic vapor

“…MAOP results in atomic polarization that is determined by an external magnetic field vector rather than the orientation and polarization of the pumping laser beam, unlike optical pumping alone [49]. Here, we tailor the MAOP to generate microwave-induced optical birefringence and dichroism, which can be used to implement a polarization-selective microwave-to-optical interface, while the birefrengence leads to microwave-controlled nonlinear magneto-optical rotation [50] that can, for instance, be applied for signal transduction based on pulse carving [51].…”

Engineering atomic polarization with microwave-assisted optical pumping

“…We observe this polarization as a microwave-induced optical birefringence and dichroism. The dichroism can be used to implement a polarization-selective microwave-to-optical interface, while the birefrengince leads to microwavecontrolled nonlinear magneto-optical rotation [41] that can be applied for signal transduction based on pulse carving [42].…”