Stimulated Brillouin Review: Invented 50 Years Ago and Applied Today

Abstract

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is embedded today in a variety of optical systems, such as advanced high-power lasers, sensors, microwave signal processors, scientific instrumentation, and optomechanical systems. Reduction in SBS power requirements involves use of optical fibers, integrated optics, micro-optic devices, and now nano-optics, often in high Q cavities. It has taken fifty years from its earliest invention by conceptual discovery until today for SBS to become a practical and useful technology in a variety of applications. Some of these applications are explained and it is shown how they are tied to particular attributes of SBS: phase conjugation, frequency shifts, low noise, narrow linewidth, frequency combs, optical and microwave signal processing, etc.

Acoustic frequency combs using gas bubble cluster oscillations in liquids: a proof of concept

“…In view of the above, AFCs should be compared with either Brillouin 62 , 63 or opto-electronic combs 64 that are known to also have a small number of lines and require special techniques for broadening their spectral ranges 65 . The same applies, although to a lesser degree, to Kerr optical combs that are generated using a cascade of optical four-wave mixing processes in a photonic microresonator 66 .…”

Comparative analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering at 2 µm in various infrared glass-based optical fibers

“…This work gives an overview of the SBS features in step-index fibers suitable for the promising 2-µm spectral window, thus paving the way for the design and development of a new class of compact all-fibered Brillouin-based devices for optical processing applications, frequency conversions, widely-tunable narrow-linewidth lasers and sensing [55][56][57][58].…”

High-Visibility Pseudothermal Light Source Based on a Cr4+ : YAG Passively Q-Switched Single-Longitudinal-Mode Laser

“…To achieve higher brightness pseudothermal light, the laser pulses with higher intensity will be required. Stimulated Brillouin scattering compression technology provides a great manner to compress the time duration to enhance the intensity of the laser pulses in the equivalent energy level; meanwhile, the intrinsic property of SBS material promises a great chance to gain the laser pulses with narrow bandwidth [21]. In future, the combination of SBS compression technology and the passively Q-switched laser will make the realization of the high-visibility high-brightness pseudothermal light possible.…”