We propose and demonstrate generation of Brillouin dynamic grating (BDG) in a few-mode fiber (FMF) with a Gaussian pulse pump and a counterpropagating continuous wave pump in LP01 mode. Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA) is achieved by launching a third Gaussian pulse probe in LP11 mode. With coherent detection and time-domain analysis on the backreflected probe signal, the modal bi...

Extended coupled-wave analysis of optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) reveals regimes whereby high-peak-power few-cycle pulses can be generated in the long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) spectral range. Broadband OPCPA in suitable nonlinear crystals pumped at around 2 μm and seeded either through the signal or the idler input is shown to enable the generation of high-power field ...

In the previous chapter, we discussed devices based on deliberately introduced birefringence in an optical fiber, thus utilizing the polarization effects to our advantage. In Chapter 10, we discuss the detrimental aspect of birefringence in optical fibers—namely, polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The existence of birefringence in a fiber implies that the fiber supports two orthogonally polari...

We have studied the effect of generative-pulse amplitude, spatial profile, and temporal character as well as medium optical thickness on the power of photon and stimulated echoes. Working in atomic Yb vapor, photon echoes are observed that, absent material relaxation, are more powerful than the first generative pulse, thereby exceeding typically expected photon-echo powers by approximately two ...

Stimulated Raman scattering between a laser pump pulse and a Stokes pulse is considered in a two-level medium with vectorial optical fields. The model on the semi-line is proved to be solvable by inverse scattering transform scheme. Among solutions, soliton generation is discussed. Then, it is shown how rotation of the Stokes wave leads to a spike of pump radiation in the time domain.

We report the experimental generation of a 160-GHz picosecond pulse train at 1550 nm, using multiple four-wave mixing temporal compression of an initial dual-frequency beat signal in the anomalous-dispersion regime of a nonzero dispersion-shifted fiber. Complete intensity and phase characterizations of the pulse train were carried out by means of a frequency-resolved optical gating technique, s...

Ultrafast photonic signal processing based on Fourier optics principles offers exciting possibilities to go beyond the processing speeds of electronics technologies for applications in high-speed fiber communications and ultrawideband wireless. I review our recent work on processing of ultrafast optical signals via conversion between time, space, and optical frequency (Fourier) domains. Specifi...

The impact of pump pulse fluctuations on ultrafast nonlinear frequency conversion processes in optical fibers is investigated. A simple measure the sensitivity a particular process to technical noise introduced and tested against numerical ensemble simulations for normal-dispersion continuum generation dispersive-wave generation. proposed found adequately describe at per mill or percent level.

In pursuit of optical arbitrary waveform generation (OAWG), line-by-line pulse shapers use dynamic masks that can be modulated at the repetition rate of an input pulse train. The pulse-to-pulse control of the output pulse train with the waveform fidelity provided by line-by-line pulse shaping creates the most arbitrary waveform output possible, OAWG. This thesis studies the theoretical dynamic ...

We demonstrate a new time-domain surface phonon spectroscopy. We excite coherent surface optical phonons with an ultrashort laser pulse and probe the free-induction decay with time-resolved surface second-harmonic generation. For both clean GaAs (110) and (100) surfaces, the signals are remarkably large due to the highly localized electron-phonon interaction at the surface and the intrinsic sur...