Efficiency of non-phase-matched second-harmonic generation by Gaussian pulses

Conversion efficiency contour plots for second-harmonic generation by optical pulses exhibiting Gaussian temporal and spatial profiles are calculated numerically based on the monochromatic plane-wave theory. Comparison with a similar plot for pump pulses constant in time and space shows that Gaussian pulses convert less efficiently at low nonlinear drives and more efficiently in a specific range of high drives. This effect is due to the intensity-dependent period of conversion. We calculated the harmonic pulse shapes using the suggested computational routine and found them to depend on the magnitude of drive as well. The pulse shape is nearly Gaussian at low drives, but it becomes severely distorted at intermediate and high drives. It is shown that the conversion efficiency contour plots provide a convenient tool for evaluating the trade-off between the desirable efficiency and other parameters of the conversion process in the case of Gaussian pulses.     

On the Use of Non-fourier Eigensignals for Measuring Short Optical Pulses by Photomultiplier Tubes

Abstract

In this paper we show that the envelopes of short optical pulses detected by conversion of photomultiplier tubes-secondary electrons into single-frequency decayed oscillations may be presented by a set of orthogonal non-Fourier eigensignals. The enhanced temporal resolution estimated is of the order of (10–1) ps. A calculation of an optical receiver based on the commercial multianode microchannel plate photomultiplier-photomultiplier tubes is given. The method may be successfully applied in such areas as picosecond lidars, fibre optics, time-resolved spectroscopy etc.     

All-optical analog-to-digital conversion scheme based on Sagnac loop and balanced receivers

An all-optical analog-to-digital conversion scheme based on a Sagnac loop and balanced receivers is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Adjustable phase shift about the transfer function of the Sagnac loop is obtained by using the multiwavelength optical pulses to realize the phase-shift optical quantization. Benefit from the complementary outputs at the transmitted and reflected ports of the Sagnac loop and balanced receiver can be used to obtain the quantized output binary signal for the encoding operation. A proof-of-concept experiment is implemented using a wavelength tunable continuous-wave laser diode. Using 16 different wavelengths, the 16 quantization levels are demonstrated and an effective number of bits (ENOB) of 4?bits is obtained.     

Ultrafast picket fence pulse trains to enhance frequency conversion of shaped inertial confinement fusion laser pulses

A high-frequency train of 5-100-ps pulses (picket fence) is proposed to improve significantly the third-harmonic frequency conversion of Nd:glass lasers that are used to generate high-contrast-shaped pulses for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets. High conversion efficiency of the low-power foot of a shaped ICF pulse is obtained by use of a low duty cycle, multi-gigahertz train of ~20-ps pulses with high peak power. Even with less than 10% duty cycle, continuous illumination is maintained on the target by a combination of temporal broadening schemes. The picket fence approach is analyzed, and the practical limits are identified as applied to the National Ignition Facility laser. It is found that the higher conversion efficiency allows ~40% more third-harmonic energy to be delivered to the target, potentially enabling the larger drive needed for high-yield ICF target designs. In addition, the frequency conversion efficiency of these short pulses saturates much more readily, which reduces the transfer of fluctuations at the fundamental and thus greatly improves the power stability of the third harmonic.     

Influence of spectral broadening on femtosecond wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing in silicon waveguides

Femtosecond wavelength conversion in the telecommunication bands via four-wave mixing in a 1.5 mm long silicon rib waveguide is theoretically investigated. Compared with picosecond pulses, the spectra are greatly broadened for the femtosecond pulses due to self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation in the four-wave mixing process, and it is difficult to achieve a wavelength converter when the pump and signal pulse widths are close to or less than 100 fs in the telecommunication bands because of the spectral overlap. The influence of the spectral broadening on the conversion efficiency is also investigated. The conversion bandwidth of 220 nm and peak conversion efficiency of -8 dB are demonstrated by using 500 fs pulses with higher efficiency than the picosecond pulse-pumped efficiency when the repetition rate is 100 GHz.     

Picosecond-pulse wavelength conversion based on cascaded second-harmonic generation-difference frequency generation in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

The wavelength conversion of picosecond optical pulses based on the cascaded second-harmonic generation-difference-frequency generation process in a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide is studied both experimentally and theoretically. In the experiments, the picosecond pulses are generated from a 40 GHz mode-locked fiber laser and two tunable filters, with which the lasing wavelength can be tuned from 1530 to 1570 nm, and the pulse width can be tuned from 2 to 7 ps. New-frequency pulses, i.e., converted pulses, are generated when the picosecond pulse train and a cw wave interact in the waveguide. The conversion characteristics are systematically investigated when the pulsed and cw waves are alternatively taken as the pump at the quasi-phase-matching wavelength of the device. In particular, the conversion dependences on input pulse width, average power, and pump wavelength are examined quantitatively. Based on the temporal and spectral characteristics of wavelength conversion, a comprehensive analysis on conversion efficiency is presented. The simulation results are in good agreement with the measured data.     

Time transfer using multi-channel GPS receivers

This report is on time transfer experiments using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver constructed using a commercial GPS "engine" and a standard PC. The receiver measures the time difference between the local clock and a 1 pps signal synchronized to GPS time using data from up to 8 satellites. The receiver also reports the difference between GPS time as estimated using each of the satellites being tracked and the composite output pulses that have a rate of 1 Hz (1 pps signal). These data can be used to construct the standard 13-minute tracks as defined in the BIPM standard; the same data also can be averaged in other ways that make better use of the multi-channel capabilities of the hardware. The 13-minute averages can be directly compared with standard time-transfer receivers using common-view analysis. The results of the tests suggest that the methods currently used for national and international time and frequency coordination should be re-examined, and an alternative approach based on multi-channel receivers is suggested that should be more flexible, simpler, and easier to operate than the current system.     

Extension of an absolute vector error correction technique to wideband, high-frequency measurements

The authors have previously demonstrated how a transmitter (Tx), a reciprocal transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) signal path and two unidirectional receiver (Rx) paths can be used together with short, open and load standards for the absolute vector error correction (AVEC) of a Tx/Rx module. Once calibrated, this Tx/Rx module can then provide accurate vector measurements of the signals that are flowing into and/or out of the test port. In order to simplify the analysis, the AVEC technique was applied to a simplified baseband circuit that did not include frequency conversion mixers in a previous paper. Now, in this paper the authors first show how the AVEC technique can be extended to the vector calibration of high-frequency receivers that involve frequency conversion mixers. The authors then show how to calibrate a system that allows for wideband absolute phase relationship measurements of periodic modulated signals, provided that the same local oscillator is employed for the two down-conversion receivers, and different radio frequencies and intermediate frequencies are employed in these receivers. This novel AVEC technique is one of the key concepts in the design of a wideband absolute vector signal measurement system, which overcomes the limitations of traditional measurement instruments by combining the features of vector signal analysers, spectrum analysers and vector network analysers.     

Quasi-stationary scattering of electromagnetic pulses by spherical particles

The Lorentz-Mie theory is generalized for the case of a spherical particle irradiated by a pulse with a finite length L that is transferred by a carrier wavelength λ(0). Two cases should be physically distinguished, depending on radiation-receiver properties: quasi-stationary scattering (a receiver integrates the entire signal over time) and nonstationary scattering, when a receiver is capable of recording scattered signal changes with time. General formulas that allow one to calculate optical characteristics for both scattering cases and for an arbitrary ratio L/λ(0) are derived. Quasi-stationary-scattering peculiarities and limiting cases of small and large particles are studied in detail. The formulas are illustrated with calculations of spherical-particle optical characteristics for pulses of different lengths, for differently sized particles, and for a case in which a scattered pulse has a Gaussian form. The results obtained should be taken into account when one is studying the passage of a pulse through scattering media.     

Linear and nonlinear operation of a time-to-space processor

The operational characteristics of a time-to-space processor based on three-wave mixing for instantaneous imaging of ultrafast waveforms are investigated. We assess the effects of various system parameters on the processor's important attributes: time window of operation and signal conversion efficiency. Both linear and nonlinear operation regimes are considered, with use of a Gaussian pulse profile and a Gaussian spatial mode model. This model enables us to define a resolution measure for the processor, which is found to be an important characteristic. When the processor is operated in the linear interaction regime, we find that the conversion efficiency of a temporal signal to a spatial image is inversely proportional to the resolution measure. In the nonlinear interaction regime, nonuniform signal conversion due to fundamental wave depletion gives rise to a phenomenon that can be used to enhanced the imaging operation. We experimentally verify this nonlinear operation.     

New absolute vector error correction technique for a transmitter/receiver module

The authors demonstrate how a transmitter (Tx), a reciprocal transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) signal path and two unidirectional receiver (Rx) paths can be used together with short, open, and load standards for the absolute vector error correction (AVEC) of a Tx/Rx module. Once calibrated, this Tx/Rx module can then provide accurate vector measurements of the signals that are flowing into and/or out of the test port. This novel AVEC technique is one of the key concepts in the design of a wideband absolute vector signal measurement system, which overcomes the limitations of traditional measurement instruments by combining the features of vector signal analysers, spectrum analysers, and vector network analysers. The AVEC method is validated using numerical simulation data for a simplified baseband test circuit. The AVEC technique is then extended to the calibration of wideband, high-frequency Tx/Rx modules that involve frequency up/down conversion mixers in a follow-on paper     

Automatic time delay optimization between the pump and seed pulses of a broadly tunable femtosecond optical parametric amplifier

We propose a scheme for optimizing the time delay between the pump and seed pulses of an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) over a large spectral range. The efficiency of this method is demonstrated for a femtosecond BBO parametric amplifier seeded with a white-light continuum pulse. The error signal used for intensity stabilization results from a modulation of the temporal delay between the pump and the continuum pulses and phase-sensitive detection of the amplified signal. It allows us to lock the delay to the position that maximizes the OPA gain.     

Femtosecond single-shot correlation system: a time-domain approach

We introduce, analyze, and experimentally demonstrate what to the best of our knowledge is a new pulse correlation technique that is capable of real-time conversion of a femtosecond pulse sequence into its spatial image. Our technique uses a grating at the entrance of the system, thus introducing a transverse time delay (TTD) into the transform-limited reference pulse. The shaped signal pulses and the TTD reference pulse are mixed in a nonlinear optical crystal (LiB(3)O(5)), thus producing a second-harmonic field that carries the spatial image of the temporal shaped signal pulse. We show that the time scaling of the system is set by the magnification of the anamorphic imaging system as well as by the grating frequency and that the time window of the system is set by the size of the grating aperture. Our experimental results show a time window of ~20 ps. We also show that the chirp information of the shaped pulse can be recovered by measurement of the spectrum of the resulting second-harmonic field.     

Free space optical communications through clouds: analysis of signal characteristics

Free space optical communications (FSOC) is a method by which one transmits a modulated beam of light through the atmosphere for broadband applications. Fundamental limitations of FSOC arise from the environment through which light propagates. This work addresses transmitted light beam dispersion (spatial, angular, and temporal dispersion) in FSOC operating as a ground-to-air link when clouds exist along the communications channel. Light signals (photons) transmitted through clouds will interact with the cloud particles. Photon-particle interaction causes dispersion of light signals, which has significant effects on signal attenuation and pulse spread. The correlation between spatial and angular dispersion is investigated as well, which plays an important role on the receiver design. Moreover, the paper indicates that temporal dispersion (pulse spread) and energy loss strongly depend on the aperture size of the receiver, the field-of-view (FOV), and the position of the receiver relative to the optical axis of the transmitter.     

Secure ultrafast communication with spatial-temporal converters

An encrypted database interfaced with an ultrafast secure data communication system using spatial-temporal converters is proposed. The original spatial signal is optically encrypted, and the encrypted signal is holographically stored in a storage medium such as photorefractive materials. The spatially encrypted signal is sampled to avoid the overlap of each datum at the receiver. The sampled data are converted into a temporal signal to transmit the information through an optical fiber. At the receiver the temporal signal is converted back into the spatially encrypted signal. Retrieval of the original data can be achieved when the correct phase key is used in the decryption system. We developed an expression for encrypted output and decrypted data. We numerically evaluate the effect of sampling the spatially encrypted signal on the quality of the decrypted data.     

Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier and spatiotemporal shaping for a petawatt laser

We present a degenerate noncollinear optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier pumped by a high-energy, diode-pumped Nd:Glass regenerative amplifier delivering monomode pulses at 527 nm. The spatial mode shaping of the pump pulses is achieved with a diffractive laser cavity element, and temporal pulse shaping makes use of an electro-optic modulator and an arbitrary electrical waveform generator. Amplification at gain saturation achieves tailoring of the signal pulses. Numerical simulations with Miró software are presented and compared with experimental measurements.     

Carrier dynamics of terahertz emission from low-temperature-grown gaas

Through theoretical modeling, we find that the dynamics of photogenerated carriers play a very important role in shaping the temporal waveform of terahertz (THz) radiation pulses emitted from biased low-temperature (LT-grown GaAs antenna. Our modeling gives successful analyses for the sharp and short, slow and long negative parts of temporal THz waveforms. By including intraband, carrier relaxation effect in the modeled mobility, we find an obvious dependence of the THz conversion efficiency on the material of THz emitter and experimental parameters such as the optical duration, the center wavelength, and the fluence of the laser pulses. Our research also shows that electron-hole and electron-electron collisions in LT-GaAs contribute to the saturation phenomenon with an increase of laser fluence.     

An exact representation of the image field in a perfect wedge

Summary. A solution is presented for the image component of the three-dimensional (3-D) acoustic wave-field from an impulsive point source in a liquid wedge with impenetrable boundaries (mixed Dirichlet-Neumann) modeling shallow water over sloping bottom (shallow-water wedge). This exact and complete solution is in the form of a sum of partial waves including the pulse emitted from the source plus a finite number of pulses reflected off the wedge boundaries, and it is generally valid for all ranges and depths. The 3-D acoustic propagation effects in an impenetrable wedge are examined for range propagation when the receivers are located directly up-slope and down-slope of the source and at the source-point itself, and for cross-range propagation when the receivers are located directly cross-slope of the source. When the receiver recedes up-slope from the source, the duration of the pressure response is shortened, and the number of pulses arriving along the indirect ray paths (the backscattered pulses) decreases. When the receiver recedes down-slope from the source, the response duration is constant, and the number of backscattered pulses also decreases. As the source and the receiver separate in the cross-range-direction, the response duration is so shortened that the arrival of the last-arriving pulse approaches that of the first-arriving pulse in the limit (i.e., when the separation between the source and the receiver is large in the cross-range-direction), and the number of backscattered pulses remains constant.     

Channel modeling of light signals propagating through a battlefield environment: analysis of channel spatial, angular, and temporal dispersion

Free-space optical communication (FSOC) is used to transmit a modulated beam of light through the atmosphere for broadband applications. Fundamental limitations of FSOC arise from the environment through which light propagates. We address transmitted light signal dispersion (spatial, angular, and temporal dispersion) in FSOC that operates in the battlefield environment. Light signals (photons) transmitted through the battlefield environment will interact with particles of man-made smoke such as fog oil, along the propagation path. Photon-particle interaction causes dispersion of light signals, which has significant effects on signal attenuation and pulse spread. We show that physical properties of battlefield particles play important roles in determining dispersion of received light signals. The correlation between spatial and angular dispersion is investigated as well, which has significant effects on receiver design issues. Moreover, our research indicates that temporal dispersion (delay spread) and the received power strongly depend on the receiver aperture size, field of view (FOV), and the position of the receiver relative to the optical axis of the transmitter. The results describe only specific scenarios for given types of battlefield particles. Generalization of the results requires additional work. Based on properties of the correlation, a sensitive receiver with a small FOV is needed that can find the line-of-sight photons and work with them.     

Spectral Fraunhofer regime: time-to-frequency conversion by the action of a single time lens on an optical pulse

We analyze a new regime in the interaction between an optical pulse and a time lens (spectral Fraunhofer regime), where the input pulse amplitude is mapped from the time domain into the frequency domain (time-to-frequency conversion). Here we derive in detail the conditions for achieving time-to-frequency conversion with a single time lens (i.e., for entering the spectral Fraunhofer regime) as well as the expressions governing this operation. Our theoretical findings are demonstrated both numerically and experimentally. A comparative study between the proposed single-time-lens configuration and the conventional dispersion + time-lens configuration for time-to-frequency conversion is also conducted. Time-to-frequency conversion with a single time lens can be used for applications similar to those previously proposed for the conventional time-to-frequency converters, e.g., high-resolution measurement of fast optical temporal waveforms. Moreover, our results also indicate that the spectral Fraunhofer regime provides additional capabilities for controlling and processing optical pulses.