1
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Matlis NH, Zhang Z, Demirbas U, Rentschler C, Ravi K, Youssef M, Cirmi G, Pergament M, Edelmann M, Mohamadi SM, Reuter S, Kärtner FX. Precise parameter control of multicycle terahertz generation in PPLN using flexible pulse trains. Opt Express 2023; 31:44424-44443. [PMID: 38178514 DOI: 10.1364/oe.503480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The low (sub %) efficiencies so-far demonstrated for nonlinear optical down-conversion to terahertz (THz) frequencies are a primary limiting factor in the generation of high-energy, high-field THz-radiation pulses (in particular narrowband, multicycle pulses) needed for many scientific fields. However, simulations predict that far higher conversion efficiencies are possible by use of suitably-optimized optical sources. Here we implement a customized optical laser system producing highly-tunable trains of infrared pulses and systematically explore the experimental optimization of the down-conversion process. Our setup, which allows tuning of the energy, duration, number and periodicity of the pulses in the train, provides a unique capability to test predictions of analytic theory and simulation on the parameter dependences for the optical-to-THz difference-frequency generation process as well as to map out, with unprecedented precision, key properties of the nonlinear crystal medium. We discuss the agreements and deviations between simulation and experimental results which, on the one hand, shed light on limitations of the existing theory, and on the other hand, provide the first steps in a recipe for development of practical, high-field, efficiency-optimized THz sources.
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2
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Zapata LE, Pergament M, Schust M, Reuter S, Thesinga J, Zapata C, Kellert M, Demirbas U, Calendron AL, Liu Y, Kärtner FX. One-joule 500-Hz cryogenic Yb:YAG laser driver of composite thin-disk design. Opt Lett 2022; 47:6385-6388. [PMID: 36538444 DOI: 10.1364/ol.476964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We present results on the development of a cryogenic Yb:YAG multi-pass laser amplifier based on a composite thin-disk design and demonstrate one-joule, diffraction limited, chirped 234-ps pulses with 50% optical-to-optical efficiency. High beam quality was obtained for repetition rates up to 400 Hz. The hardware was disassembled and thoroughly inspected after accumulating 80 hours of use at repetition rates from 100 to 500 Hz and exhibited no signs of damage. This laser driver is now commissioned to a dedicated laboratory where a grating compressor is producing 5.2-ps pulses used in the development of a compact x ray source based on inverse Compton scattering.
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3
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Olgun HT, Tian W, Cirmi G, Ravi K, Rentschler C, Çankaya H, Pergament M, Hemmer M, Hua Y, Schimpf DN, Matlis NH, Kärtner FX. Highly efficient generation of narrowband terahertz radiation driven by a two-spectral-line laser in PPLN. Opt Lett 2022; 47:2374-2377. [PMID: 35561354 DOI: 10.1364/ol.448457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate record ∼0.9% efficiencies for optical conversion to narrowband (<1% relative bandwidth) terahertz (THz) radiation by strongly cascaded difference frequency generation. These results are achieved using a novel, to the best of our knowledge, laser source, customized for high efficiencies, with two narrow spectral lines of variable separation and pulse duration (≥250 ps). THz radiation generation in 5% MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystals of varying poling period was explored at cryogenic and room temperature operation as well as with different crystal lengths. This work addresses an increasing demand for high-field THz radiation pulses which has, up to now, been largely limited by low optical-to-THz radiation conversion efficiencies.
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4
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Keathley PD, Putnam WP, Vasireddy P, Hobbs RG, Yang Y, Berggren KK, Kärtner FX. Vanishing Carrier-Envelope-Phase-Sensitive Response in Optical-Field Photoemission from Plasmonic Nanoantennas. Nat Phys 2019; 15:1128-1133. [PMID: 31700524 PMCID: PMC6837889 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-019-0613-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P. D. Keathley
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - W. P. Putnam
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Physics and Center for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Northrop Grumman Corporation, NG Next, 1 Space Park Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278, USA
| | - P. Vasireddy
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - R. G. Hobbs
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Advanced Materials and Bio-Engineering Research Centre (AMBER), and School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Y. Yang
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - K. K. Berggren
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - F. X. Kärtner
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Physics and Center for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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5
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Schimpf DN, Olgun HT, Kalaydzhyan A, Hua Y, Matlis NH, Kärtner FX. Frequency-comb-based laser system producing stable optical beat pulses with picosecond durations suitable for high-precision multi-cycle terahertz-wave generation and rapid detection. Opt Express 2019; 27:11037-11056. [PMID: 31052955 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.011037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We generate temporally modulated optical pulses with a beat frequency of 255 GHz, a duration of 360 ps, and a repetition rate of 2 MHz. The temporal envelope, beat frequency, and repetition rate are computer-programmable. A frequency comb serves as a phase and frequency reference for the locking of two laser lines. The system enables beat frequencies that are adjustable in steps of the frequency comb's repetition rate and exhibit Hz-level precision and accuracy. We expect the optical beat pulses to be well suited for versatile multi-cycle terahertz-wave generation with controllable carrier-envelope phase. We demonstrate that the inherent synchronization of the frequency comb's ultra-short pulse train and the synthesized optical beat (or later the multi-cycle terahertz) pulses enables rapid and phase-sensitive sampling of such pulses.
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6
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Klemke N, Tancogne-Dejean N, Rossi GM, Yang Y, Scheiba F, Mainz RE, Di Sciacca G, Rubio A, Kärtner FX, Mücke OD. Polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1319. [PMID: 30899026 PMCID: PMC6428929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09328-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Attosecond metrology sensitive to sub-optical-cycle electronic and structural dynamics is opening up new avenues for ultrafast spectroscopy of condensed matter. Using intense lightwaves to precisely control the fast carrier dynamics in crystals holds great promise for next-generation petahertz electronics and devices. The carrier dynamics can produce high-order harmonics of the driving field extending up into the extreme-ultraviolet region. Here, we introduce polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids, which provides deeper insights into both electronic and structural sub-cycle dynamics. Performing high-harmonic generation measurements from silicon and quartz, we demonstrate that the polarization states of the harmonics are not only determined by crystal symmetries, but can be dynamically controlled, as a consequence of the intertwined interband and intraband electronic dynamics. We exploit this symmetry-dynamics duality to efficiently generate coherent circularly polarized harmonics from elliptically polarized pulses. Our experimental results are supported by ab-initio simulations, providing evidence for the microscopic origin of the phenomenon. High-harmonic generation in solids is related to the carrier dynamics and can be used to probe dynamic processes. Here, Klemke et al. show that the polarization states of high harmonics generated from silicon and quartz are determined by the crystal symmetries but can also be dynamically controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Klemke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - N Tancogne-Dejean
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany. .,Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - G M Rossi
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Y Yang
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Scheiba
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - R E Mainz
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - G Di Sciacca
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Rubio
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany. .,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany. .,Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany. .,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany. .,Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ), The Flatiron Institute, 162 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
| | - F X Kärtner
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - O D Mücke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany. .,The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
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7
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Hemmer M, Cirmi G, Ravi K, Reichert F, Ahr F, Zapata L, Mücke OD, Calendron AL, Çankaya H, Schimpf D, Matlis NH, Kärtner FX. Cascaded interactions mediated by terahertz radiation. Opt Express 2018; 26:12536-12546. [PMID: 29801292 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.012536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We investigate a regime of parametric amplification in which the pump and signal waves are spectrally separated by only a few hundreds of GHz frequency - therefore resulting in a sub-THz frequency idler wave. Operating in this regime we find an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) behavior which is highly dissimilar to conventional OPAs. In this regime, we observe multiple three-wave mixing processes occurring simultaneously which results in spectral cascading around the pump and signal wave. Via numerical simulations, we elucidate the processes at work and show that cascaded optical parametric amplification offers a pathway toward THz-wave generation beyond the Manly-Rowe limit and toward the generation of high-energy, sparse frequency-combs.
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8
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Zapata LE, Reichert F, Hemmer M, Kärtner FX. 250 W average power, 100 kHz repetition rate cryogenic Yb:YAG amplifier for OPCPA pumping. Opt Lett 2016; 41:492-495. [PMID: 26907405 DOI: 10.1364/ol.41.000492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A cryogenically cooled, bulk Yb:YAG, four-pass amplifier delivering up to 250 W average power at 100 kHz repetition rate is reported. The 2.5 mJ amplified optical pulses show a sub-20 ps duration before temporal compression and a spectrum supporting a transform-limited duration of 3.6 ps. The power instabilities were measured to be <0.5% rms over 30 min at full power, and the spatial intensity profile showed a flat-top distribution and near diffraction-limited beam quality. This compact amplifier is an ideal source for pumping either near-IR or mid-IR optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers.
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9
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Şafak K, Xin M, Callahan PT, Peng MY, Kärtner FX. All fiber-coupled, long-term stable timing distribution for free-electron lasers with few-femtosecond jitter. Struct Dyn 2015; 2:041715. [PMID: 26798814 PMCID: PMC4711637 DOI: 10.1063/1.4922747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report recent progress made in a complete fiber-optic, high-precision, long-term stable timing distribution system for synchronization of next generation X-ray free-electron lasers. Timing jitter characterization of the master laser shows less than 170-as RMS integrated jitter for frequencies above 10 kHz, limited by the detection noise floor. Timing stabilization of a 3.5-km polarization-maintaining fiber link is successfully achieved with an RMS drift of 3.3 fs over 200 h of operation using all fiber-coupled elements. This all fiber-optic implementation will greatly reduce the complexity of optical alignment in timing distribution systems and improve the overall mechanical and timing stability of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Xin
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science , Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - P T Callahan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - M Y Peng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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10
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Hobbs RG, Yang Y, Keathley PD, Swanwick ME, Velásquez-Garcíia LF, Kärtner FX, Graves WS, Berggren KK. High-density Au nanorod optical field-emitter arrays. Nanotechnology 2014; 25:465304. [PMID: 25354583 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/465304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the design, fabrication, characterization, and operation of high-density arrays of Au nanorod electron emitters, fabricated by high-resolution electron beam lithography, and excited by ultrafast femtosecond near-infrared radiation. Electron emission characteristic of multiphoton absorption has been observed at low laser fluence, as indicated by the power-law scaling of emission current with applied optical power. The onset of space-charge-limited current and strong optical field emission has been investigated so as to determine the mechanism of electron emission at high incident laser fluence. Laser-induced structural damage has been observed at applied optical fields above 5 GV m(-1), and energy spectra of emitted electrons have been measured using an electron time-of-flight spectrometer.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Hobbs
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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11
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Li H, Chen LJ, Cheng HPH, May JE, Smith S, Muehlig K, Uttamadoss A, Frisch JC, Fry AR, Kärtner FX, Bucksbaum PH. Remote two-color optical-to-optical synchronization between two passively mode-locked lasers. Opt Lett 2014; 39:5325-5328. [PMID: 26466262 DOI: 10.1364/ol.39.005325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Using balanced detection in both the radio frequency (RF) and the optical domain, we remotely synchronize the repetition rate of a Ti:sapphire oscillator to an Er-doped fiber oscillator through a 360 m length-stabilized dispersion compensated fiber link. The drift between these two optical oscillators is 3.3 fs root mean square (rms) over 24 hours. The 68 MHz Er-doped fiber oscillator is locked to a 476 MHz local RF reference clock, and serves as a master clock to distribute 10 fs-level timing signals through stabilized fiber links. This steady remote two-color optical-to-optical synchronization is an important step toward an integrated femtosecond fiber timing distribution system for free-electron lasers (FELs); it does not require x-ray pulses, and it makes sub-10-fs optical/x-ray pump-probe experiments feasible.
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12
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Graves WS, Kärtner FX, Moncton DE, Piot P. Graves et al. reply:. Phys Rev Lett 2013; 111:019402. [PMID: 23863031 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.111.019402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- W S Graves
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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13
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Manzoni C, Huang S, Cirmi G, Farinello P, Moses J, De Silvestri S, Kärtner FX, Cerullo G. Coherent Synthesis of ultra-broadband Optical Parametric Amplifiers. EPJ Web of Conferences 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20134110002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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14
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Cirmi G, Lai CJ, Huang SW, Granados E, Sell A, Moses J, Hong KH, Keathley P, Kärtner FX. Tunable High Harmonic Generation driven by a Visible Optical Parametric Amplifier. EPJ Web of Conferences 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20134101002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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15
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Cox JA, Putnam WP, Sell A, Leitenstorfer A, Kärtner FX. Pulse synthesis in the single-cycle regime from independent mode-locked lasers using attosecond-precision feedback. Opt Lett 2012; 37:3579-3581. [PMID: 22940955 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.003579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of a nearly single-cycle (3.7 fs), ultrafast optical pulse train at 78 MHz from the coherent combination of a passively mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser (6 fs pulses) and a fiber supercontinuum (1-1.4 μm, with 8 fs pulses). The coherent combination is achieved via orthogonal, attosecond-precision synchronization of both pulse envelope timing and carrier envelope phase using balanced optical cross-correlation and balanced homodyne detection, respectively. The resulting pulse envelope, which is only 1.1 optical cycles in duration, is retrieved with two-dimensional spectral shearing interferometry (2DSI). To our knowledge, this work represents the first stable synthesis of few-cycle pulses from independent laser sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Cox
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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16
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Graves WS, Kärtner FX, Moncton DE, Piot P. Intense superradiant x rays from a compact source using a nanocathode array and emittance exchange. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 108:263904. [PMID: 23004981 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.263904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A novel method of producing intense short wavelength radiation from relativistic electrons is described. The electrons are periodically bunched at the wavelength of interest enabling in-phase superradiant emission that is far more intense than from unbunched electrons. The periodic bunching is achieved in steps beginning with an array of beamlets emitted from a nanoengineered field emission array. The beamlets are then manipulated and converted to a longitudinal density modulation via a transverse-to-longitudinal emittance exchange. Periodic bunching at short wavelength is shown to be possible, and the partially coherent x-ray properties produced by inverse Compton scattering from an intense laser are estimated. The proposed method increases the efficiency of x-ray production by several orders of magnitude, potentially enabling compact x-ray sources to produce brilliance and flux similar to major synchrotron facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Graves
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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17
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Manzoni C, Huang SW, Cirmi G, Farinello P, Moses J, Kärtner FX, Cerullo G. Coherent synthesis of ultra-broadband optical parametric amplifiers. Opt Lett 2012; 37:1880-1882. [PMID: 22660060 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.001880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report on coherent synthesis of two ultra-broadband optical parametric amplifiers, each compressed by chirped mirror pairs, resulting in almost-octave-spanning (520-1000 nm) spectra supporting nearly single-cycle sub-4 fs pulse duration. Synthesized pulse timing is locked to less than 30 as by a balanced optical cross-correlator. The synthesized pulse is characterized by two-dimensional spectral interferometry and has a 3.8 fs duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Manzoni
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
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18
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Gkortsas VM, Wang C, Kuznetsova L, Diehl L, Gordon A, Jirauschek C, Belkin MA, Belyanin A, Capasso F, Kärtner FX. Dynamics of actively mode-locked Quantum Cascade Lasers. Opt Express 2010; 18:13616-13630. [PMID: 20588495 DOI: 10.1364/oe.18.013616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The impact of upper state lifetime and spatial hole burning on pulse shape and stability in actively mode locked QCLs is investigated by numerical simulations. It is shown that an extended upper state lifetime is necessary to achieve stable isolated pulse formation per roundtrip. Spatial hole burning helps to reduce the pulse duration by supporting broadband multimode lasing, but introduces pulse instabilities which eventually lead to strongly structured pulse shapes that further degrade with increased pumping. At high pumping levels gain saturation and recovery between pulses leads to suppression of mode locking. In the absence of spatial hole burning the laser approaches single-mode lasing, while in the presence of spatial hole burning the mode locking becomes unstable and the laser dynamics does not reach a steady state anymore.
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Affiliation(s)
- V-M Gkortsas
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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19
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Amorim AA, Tognetti MV, Oliveira P, Silva JL, Bernardo LM, Kärtner FX, Crespo HM. Sub-two-cycle pulses by soliton self-compression in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers. Opt Lett 2009; 34:3851-3853. [PMID: 20016635 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.003851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the direct generation of sub-two-cycle pulses by soliton self-compression of femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser at 85 MHz using a 4.85-mm-long highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. Sub-nanojoule, 41 fs input pulses were compressed down to 4.6 fs without additional phase compensation schemes. To our knowledge, these are the shortest pulses obtained by soliton-effect compression of a laser oscillator. Efficient, near-dispersionless collimation of the fiber output was achieved with a simple lens and an octave-spanning double-chirped mirror pair. The full electric field of the compressed pulses was retrieved with a genetic algorithm applied to spectral and interferometric autocorrelation measurements, and the results are well described by numerical simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Amorim
- IFIMUP and IN-Instituto de Física dos Materiais da Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, R. do Campo Alegre 687,4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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20
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Siddiqui AM, Cirmi G, Brida D, Kärtner FX, Cerullo G. Generation of <7 fs pulses at 800 nm from a blue-pumped optical parametric amplifier at degeneracy. Opt Lett 2009; 34:3592-3594. [PMID: 19927221 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.003592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We generate ultrabroadband pulses at 800 nm from an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) pumped by the second harmonic of a Ti:sapphire system and working at degeneracy. The OPA is seeded by a white-light continuum generated from a near-IR OPA pumped by the same laser. Nearly transform-limited <7 fs pulses, fully characterized in amplitude and phase, are obtained with a chirped mirror compressor. The system fills the gap around 800 nm for broadband continuum seeded OPAs pumped by Ti:sapphire-based sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Siddiqui
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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21
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Wang CY, Kuznetsova L, Gkortsas VM, Diehl L, Kärtner FX, Belkin MA, Belyanin A, Li X, Ham D, Schneider H, Grant P, Song CY, Haffouz S, Wasilewski ZR, Liu HC, Capasso F. Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Opt Express 2009; 17:12929-43. [PMID: 19654698 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.012929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report the unequivocal demonstration of midinfrared mode-locked pulses from quantum cascade lasers. The train of short pulses was generated by actively modulating the current and hence the gain of an edge-emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL). Pulses with duration of about 3 ps at full-width-at-half-maxima and energy of 0.5 pJ were characterized using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique based on a nonlinear quantum well infrared photodetector. The mode-locking dynamics in the QCLs was modeled based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations in an open two-level system. Our model reproduces the overall shape of the measured autocorrelation traces and predicts that the short pulses are accompanied by substantial wings as a result of strong spatial hole burning. The range of parameters where short mode-locked pulses can be formed is found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Y Wang
- Department of Physics and 2School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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22
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Moses J, Huang SW, Hong KH, Mücke OD, Falcão-Filho EL, Benedick A, Ilday FO, Dergachev A, Bolger JA, Eggleton BJ, Kärtner FX. Highly stable ultrabroadband mid-IR optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier optimized for superfluorescence suppression. Opt Lett 2009; 34:1639-1641. [PMID: 19488133 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.001639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present a 9 GW peak power, three-cycle, 2.2 microm optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification source with 1.5% rms energy and 150 mrad carrier envelope phase fluctuations. These characteristics, in addition to excellent beam, wavefront, and pulse quality, make the source suitable for long-wavelength-driven high-harmonic generation. High stability is achieved by careful optimization of superfluorescence suppression, enabling energy scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Moses
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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23
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Crespo HM, Birge JR, Falcão-Filho EL, Sander MY, Benedick A, Kärtner FX. Nonintrusive phase stabilization of sub-two-cycle pulses from a prismless octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser. Opt Lett 2008; 33:833-835. [PMID: 18414548 DOI: 10.1364/ol.33.000833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Carrier-envelope (CE) phase-stabilized sub-two-cycle pulses are generated from a 500 MHz compact prismless octave-spanning laser without extracavity nonlinear optical processes distorting the laser output. The necessary f and 2f spectral components are generated intracavity and coupled out independently from the main pulse through specially designed cavity mirrors, resulting in a 55 dB CE beat note (100 kHz resolution bandwidth). The in-loop CE phase error (integrated from 2.5 mHz to 10 MHz) is 67 mrad, equivalent to a timing jitter between carrier and envelope of 28 as at 790 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Crespo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
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24
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Kim J, Ludwig F, Felber M, Kärtner FX. Long-term stable microwave signal extraction from mode-locked lasers. Opt Express 2007; 15:8951-8959. [PMID: 19547234 DOI: 10.1364/oe.15.008951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Long-term synchronization between two 10.225 GHz microwave signals at +10 dBm power level, locked to a 44.26 MHz repetition rate passively mode-locked fiber laser, is demonstrated using balanced optical-microwave phase detectors. The out-of-loop measurement result shows 12.8 fs relative timing jitter integrated from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. Long-term timing drift measurement shows 48 fs maximum deviation over one hour, mainly limited by drift of the out-of-loop characterization setup itself. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to demonstrate long-term (>1 hour) 3 mrad-level phase stability of a 10.225 GHz microwave signal extracted from a mode-locked laser.
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25
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Kim J, Chen J, Zhang Z, Wong FNC, Kärtner FX, Loehl F, Schlarb H. Long-term femtosecond timing link stabilization using a single-crystal balanced cross correlator. Opt Lett 2007; 32:1044-6. [PMID: 17410229 DOI: 10.1364/ol.32.001044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a self-aligned balanced cross correlator based on a single type-II phase-matched periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal. The birefringence of the crystal generates a walk-off between the two orthogonally polarized pulses. This enables the balancing of the cross correlator with input pulses at the same center wavelength. As a first application of this single-crystal balanced cross correlator, we stabilized a 310 m long optical fiber link for timing distribution with long-term stable 10 fs precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA 02139, USA.
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26
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Barwicz T, Byun H, Gan F, Holzwarth CW, Popovic MA, Rakich PT, Watts MR, Ippen EP, Kärtner FX, Smith HI, Orcutt JS, Ram RJ, Stojanovic V, Olubuyide OO, Hoyt JL, Spector S, Geis M, Grein M, Lyszczarz T, Yoon JU. Silicon photonics for compact, energy-efficient interconnects [Invited]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1364/jon.6.000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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27
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Abstract
A balanced optical-microwave phase detector for the extraction of low-jitter, high-power, and drift-free microwave signals from optical pulse trains is presented. The phase detection is based on electro-optic sampling with a differentially biased Sagnac loop. Because the timing information is transferred in the optical domain, the regenerated microwave signal is robust against drifts and photodetector nonlinearities. In a first experimental implementation, 3 fs in-loop relative timing jitter (integrated from 1 Hz to 10 MHz) between a 44 MHz optical pulse train and a 10.225 GHz microwave signal is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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28
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Binhammer T, Rittweger E, Morgner U, Ell R, Kärtner FX. Spectral phase control and temporal superresolution toward the single-cycle pulse. Opt Lett 2006; 31:1552-4. [PMID: 16642169 DOI: 10.1364/ol.31.001552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The concept of temporal superresolution is applied to optical few-cycle laser pulses for the first time to our knowledge. Pulse durations of as little as to 3.7 fs, well below the Fourier limit, are achieved by pulse shaping of an octave-spanning Ti:sapphire oscillator spectrum. Our prism-based pulse shaper also enables us to generate a manifold of well-controlled pulse sequences that are important for coherent control applications on a femtosecond time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Binhammer
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg, Germany.
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29
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Abstract
We demonstrate an ultraviolet diode laser system for cooling of trapped ytterbium ions. The laser power and linewidth are comparable to those of previous systems based on resonant frequency doubling, but the system is simpler, more robust, and less expensive. We use the laser system to cool small numbers of ytterbium ions confined in a linear Paul trap. From the observed spectra, we deduce final temperatures of < 270 mK.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kielpinski
- Center for Ultracold Atoms and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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30
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Grawert FJ, Ilday EO, Kielpinski DF, Gopinath JT, Petrich GS, Kolodziejski LA, Ippen EP, Kärtner FX. Automatic feedback control of an Er-doped fiber laser with an intracavity loss modulator. Opt Lett 2005; 30:1066-8. [PMID: 15907005 DOI: 10.1364/ol.30.001066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Suppression of Q-switching instabilities with an actively controlled intracavity loss modulator is demonstrated in an Er-doped waveguide laser that is mode locked with a slow saturable absorber at repetition rates of as much as 100 MHz. By automatic gain control in the feedback loop, stable mode locking is achieved over the entire parameter range of the laser. This approach renders laser stabilization independent of the characteristics of the gain medium and intracavity power. The pulse-shaping dynamics is not affected by the presence of the intracavity loss modulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Grawert
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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31
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Grawert FJ, Gopinath JT, Ilday FO, Shen HM, Ippen EP, Kärtner FX, Akiyama S, Liu J, Wada K, Kimerling LC. 220-fs erbium-ytterbium:glass laser mode locked by a broadband low-loss silicon/germanium saturable absorber. Opt Lett 2005; 30:329-331. [PMID: 15751901 DOI: 10.1364/ol.30.000329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate femtosecond performance of an ultrabroadband high-index-contrast saturable Bragg reflector consisting of a silicon/silicon dioxide/germanium structure that is fully compatible with CMOS processing. This device offers a reflectivity bandwidth of over 700 nm and subpicosecond recovery time of the saturable loss. It is used to achieve mode locking of an Er-Yb:glass laser centered at 1540 nm, generating 220-fs pulses, with what is to our knowledge the broadest output spectrum to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Grawert
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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32
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Mücke OD, Kuzucu O, Wong FNC, Ippen EP, Kärtner FX, Foreman SM, Jones DJ, Ma LS, Hall JL, Ye J. Experimental implementation of optical clockwork without carrier-envelope phase control. Opt Lett 2004; 29:2806-2808. [PMID: 15605512 DOI: 10.1364/ol.29.002806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate optical clockwork without the need for carrier-envelope phase control by use of sum-frequency generation between a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator at 3.39 microm and a femtosecond mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser with two strong spectral peaks at 834 and 670 nm, a spectral difference matched by the 3.39-microm radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- O D Mücke
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA.
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33
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Tandon SN, Gopinath JT, Shen HM, Petrich GS, Kolodziejski LA, Kärtner FX, Ippen EP. Large-area broadband saturable Bragg reflectors by use of oxidized AlAs. Opt Lett 2004; 29:2551-2553. [PMID: 15584291 DOI: 10.1364/ol.29.002551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Broadband saturable Bragg reflectors (SBRs) are designed and fabricated by monolithic integration of semiconductor saturable absorbers with broadband Bragg mirrors. The wet oxidation of AlAs creates low-index AlxOy layers for broadband, high-index-contrast AlGaAs/AlxOy or InGaAlP/AlxOy mirrors. SBR mirror designs indicate greater than 99% reflectivity over bandwidths of 294, 466, and 563 nm for center wavelengths of 800, 1300, and 1550 nm, respectively. Highly strained and unstrained absorbers are stably integrated with the oxidized mirrors. Large-scale lateral oxidation techniques permit the fabrication of SBRs with diameters of 500 microm. Large-area, broadband SBRs are used to self-start and mode lock a variety of laser systems at wavelengths from 800 to 1550 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- S N Tandon
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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34
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Abstract
A synchronization scheme for extraction of low-jitter rf signals from optical pulse trains, which is robust against photodetector nonlinearities, is described. The scheme is based on a transfer of timing information into an intensity imbalance of the two output beams from a Sagnac loop. Sub-100-fs timing jitter between the extracted 2-GHz rf signal and the 100-MHz optical pulse train from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA.
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35
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Bourquin S, Prasankumar RP, Kärtner FX, Fujimoto JG, Lasser T, Salathé RP. High-speed femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy with a smart pixel detector array. Opt Lett 2003; 28:1588-1590. [PMID: 12956388 DOI: 10.1364/ol.28.001588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A new femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy technique is demonstrated that permits the high-speed, parallel acquisition of pump-probe measurements at multiple wavelengths. This is made possible by use of a novel, two-dimensional smart pixel detector array that performs amplitude demodulation in real time on each pixel. This detector array can not only achieve sensitivities comparable with lock-in amplification but also simultaneously performs demodulation of probe transmission signals at multiple wavelengths, thus permitting rapid time- and wavelength-resolved femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Measurements on a thin sample of bulk GaAs are performed across 58 simultaneous wavelengths. Differential probe transmission changes as small as approximately 2 x 10(-4) can be measured over a 5-ps delay scan in only approximately 3 min. This technology can be applied to a wide range of pump-probe measurements in condensed matter, chemistry, and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bourquin
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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36
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Kowalevicz AM, Zare AT, Kärtner FX, Fujimoto JG, Dewald S, Morgner U, Scheuer V, Angelow G. Generation of 150-nJ pulses from a multiple-pass cavity Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 oscillator. Opt Lett 2003; 28:1597-1599. [PMID: 12956391 DOI: 10.1364/ol.28.001597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A high-pulse-energy, prismless, Kerr-lens mode-locked, extended cavity Ti:sapphire laser is demonstrated with double-chirped mirrors and a multiple-pass cavity. The laser operates at 5.85-MHz repetition rate and generates pulse energies as high as 150 nJ with 43-fs pulse duration, corresponding to peak powers of 3.5 MW directly from the laser.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Kowalevicz
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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37
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Tritschler T, Mücke OD, Wegener M, Morgner U, Kärtner FX. Evidence for third-harmonic generation in disguise of second-harmonic generation in extreme nonlinear optics. Phys Rev Lett 2003; 90:217404. [PMID: 12786589 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.90.217404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2002] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In contrast with traditional nonlinear optics, a peak at the spectral position of the second harmonic of a laser can also be generated in an inversion-symmetric medium in the regime of extreme nonlinear optics. We describe the underlying mechanism of such third-harmonic generation in disguise of second-harmonic generation and compare theory with the optical as well as the radio-frequency spectra measured in recent experiments on thin ZnO films. The peak at twice the carrier-envelope offset frequency in the radio-frequency spectra is shown to be an unambiguous signature of such a process.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tritschler
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Wolfgang-Gaede-Strasse 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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38
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Seitz W, Ell R, Morgner U, Schibli TR, Kärtner FX, Lederer MJ, Braun B. All-optical active mode locking with a nonlinear semiconductor modulator. Opt Lett 2002; 27:2209-2211. [PMID: 18033485 DOI: 10.1364/ol.27.002209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
All-optical active mode locking of a picosecond Nd:YVO(4) laser is demonstrated by use of an intracavity semiconductor nonlinear Fabry-Perot mirror. The reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot mirror is modulated by optical carrier injection. Depending on the carrier recombination time, the width of the Nd:YVO(4) laser pulses varies from 6 to 20 ps, as is typical for passively mode-locked Nd:YVO(4) lasers.
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39
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Mücke OD, Tritschler T, Wegener M, Morgner U, Kärtner FX. Determining the carrier-envelope offset frequency of 5-fs pulses with extreme nonlinear optics in ZnO. Opt Lett 2002; 27:2127-2129. [PMID: 18033463 DOI: 10.1364/ol.27.002127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We excite ZnO samples with two-cycle optical pulses directly from a mode-locked oscillator with average powers of several tens of milliwatts. The emitted light reveals peaks at the carrier-envelope offset frequency f(ø) and at 2f(ø) in the radio-frequency spectra. These peaks can still be detected in layers as thin as 350 nm-a step toward determining the carrier-envelope offset phase itself.
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40
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Kowalevicz AM, Schibli TR, Kärtner FX, Fujimoto JG. Ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser. Opt Lett 2002; 27:2037-9. [PMID: 18033437 DOI: 10.1364/ol.27.002037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
An ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser achieved by use of an extended cavity design is demonstrated. Mode-locking thresholds as low as 156 mW are achieved. Pulses with durations as short as 14 fs and bandwidths of >100 nm with output powers of ~15 mW at 50-MHz repetition rates are generated by only 200 mW of pump power. Reducing the pump power requirements to a factor of 10x less than required by most conventional Kerr-lens mode-locked lasers permits inexpensive, low-power pump lasers to be used. This will facilitate the development of low-cost, high-performance femtosecond Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser technology.
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41
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Mücke OD, Tritschler T, Wegener M, Morgner U, Kärtner FX. Role of the carrier-envelope offset phase of few-cycle pulses in nonperturbative resonant nonlinear optics. Phys Rev Lett 2002; 89:127401. [PMID: 12225122 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.89.127401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2002] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We study the influence of the carrier-envelope offset phase of few-cycle pulses on nonperturbative resonant extreme nonlinear optics in a semiconductor. If the Rabi frequency becomes comparable to the light frequency, the different Rabi sidebands interfere around twice the laser center frequency, giving rise to a signal which strongly depends on the carrier-envelope offset phase. This signature should be measurable in GaAs samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- O D Mücke
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Wolfgang-Gaede-Strasse 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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42
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Seitz W, Schibli TR, Morgner U, Kärtner FX, Lange CH, Richter W, Braun B. Passive synchronization of two independent laser oscillators with a Fabry-Perot modulator. Opt Lett 2002; 27:454-456. [PMID: 18007832 DOI: 10.1364/ol.27.000454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
By optical modulation of the reflectivity of an intracavity nonlinear Fabry-Perot semiconductor mirror, the pulse train from a passively mode-locked picosecond Nd:YVO(4) laser oscillator is synchronized to an independent femtosecond-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. We obtain stable synchronized pulse trains at central wavelengths of 1064 and 850 nm, and the Ti:sapphire laser is still independently tunable over a large wavelength range. The tolerable cavity-length difference between the two laser oscillators exceeds 20mu;m .
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43
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Ripin DJ, Chudoba C, Gopinath JT, Fujimoto JG, Ippen EP, Morgner U, Kärtner FX, Scheuer V, Angelow G, Tschudi T. Generation of 20-fs pulses by a prismless Cr(4+):YAG laser. Opt Lett 2002; 27:61-63. [PMID: 18007716 DOI: 10.1364/ol.27.000061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast optical pulses shorter than 20 fs with 400-mW average power at a 110-MHz repetition rate have been generated by a Cr(4+):YAG laser with only double-chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation. The corresponding pulse spectrum has a peak intensity at 1450 nm and extends from 1310 to 1500 nm full width at half-maximum (FWHM). These pulses, which are believed to be the shortest generated to date from a Cr(4+):YAG laser, are only four optical cycles within the FWHM intensity width.
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44
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Mücke OD, Tritschler T, Wegener M, Morgner U, Kärtner FX. Signatures of carrier-wave Rabi flopping in GaAs. Phys Rev Lett 2001; 87:057401. [PMID: 11497805 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.87.057401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
For excitation of the model semiconductor GaAs with optical pulses which are both extremely short ( 5 fs) and extremely intense ( approximately 10(12) W cm(-2)), we can meet the condition that the Rabi frequency becomes comparable to the band gap frequency-a highly unusual and previously inaccessible situation. Specifically, in this regime, we observe carrier-wave Rabi flopping, a novel effect of nonlinear optics which has been predicted theoretically and which is related to the failure of the area theorem.
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Affiliation(s)
- O D Mücke
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Wolfgang-Gaede-Strasse 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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45
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Schibli TR, Kremp T, Morgner U, Kärtner FX, Butendeich R, Schwarz J, Schweizer H, Scholz F, Hetzler J, Wegener M. Continuous-wave operation and Q-switched mode locking of Cr(4+):YAG microchip lasers. Opt Lett 2001; 26:941-943. [PMID: 18040499 DOI: 10.1364/ol.26.000941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cw-operation, gain-switched, and passively Q -switched mode locking of Cr(4+): YAG microchip lasers with output powers of several hundred milliwatts is demonstrated experimentally in the eye-safe region near 1.5microm . Requirements for cw mode locking of such lasers are investigated by numerical simulations.
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46
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Morgner U, Ell R, Metzler G, Schibli TR, Kärtner FX, Fujimoto JG, Haus HA, Ippen EP. Nonlinear optics with phase-controlled pulses in the sub-two-cycle regime. Phys Rev Lett 2001; 86:5462-5465. [PMID: 11415276 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.86.5462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2000] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear optical effects due to the phase between carrier and envelope are observed with 5 fs pulses from a Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. These sub-two-cycle pulses with octave spanning spectra are the shortest pulses ever generated directly from a laser oscillator. Detection of the carrier-envelope phase slip is made possible by simply focusing the short pulses directly from the oscillator into a BBO crystal. As a further example of nonlinear optics with such short pulses, the interference between second- and third-harmonic components is also demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Morgner
- High Frequency and Quantum Electronics Laboratory, University of Karlsruhe, Engesserstrasse 5, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Cho SH, Kärtner FX, Morgner U, Ippen EP, Fujimoto JG, Cunningham JE, Knox WH. Generation of 90-nJ pulses with a 4-MHz repetition-rate Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser operating with net positive and negative intracavity dispersion. Opt Lett 2001; 26:560-562. [PMID: 18040385 DOI: 10.1364/ol.26.000560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the generation of high-energy pulses by using a low-repetition-rate Kerr-lens mode-locked laser. Repetition rates as low as 4 MHz were achieved with a long, multiple-pass cavity and a semiconductor saturable Bragg reflector. The laser generated pulses of 55-fs duration with a pulse energy of 48 nJ when it was mode locked in the net negative dispersion regime. Mode locking in the positive dispersion regime reduces instabilities and enables pulses to have durations of 80 fs and energies as high as 90 nJ. This is, to our knowledge, the highest pulse energy and the lowest repetition rate ever generated directly from a femtosecond laser resonator without cavity dumping.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Drexler
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Chudoba C, Fujimoto JG, Ippen EP, Haus HA, Morgner U, Kärtner FX, Scheuer V, Angelow G, Tschudi T. All-solid-state Cr:forsterite laser generating 14-fs pulses at 1.3 mum. Opt Lett 2001; 26:292-294. [PMID: 18040305 DOI: 10.1364/ol.26.000292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We report the generation of 14-fs pulses at 1.3mum with 80-mW average power at 100-MHz repetition rate by an all-solid-state Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr:forsterite laser. The laser spectrum covers wavelengths of 1230-1580 nm, with a FWHM of 250 nm. Since 1.3-mum wavelengths are close to the zero dispersion wavelength of Cr:forsterite, higher-order dispersion is the main factor limiting pulse durations. We use specially designed and fabricated double-chirped mirrors in combination with high-index PBH71 prisms to compensate for the intracavity dispersion over almost 300 nm.
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Abstract
It is demonstrated that Q-switching dynamics in mode-locked lasers can be controlled by use of an active feedback loop. Analytic design rules for the feedback loop are presented. Suppression of Q-switched mode locking in a diode-pumped, passively mode-locked Nd:YVO(4) laser is shown experimentally and numerically.
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