0000000000013021

AUTHOR

Christian Cuadrado-laborde

Actively mode-locked fibre ring laser based on in-fibre acousto-optic amplitude modulation

Recent advances in the development of all-fibre amplitude modulators have led to the implementation of a series of different actively mode-locked fibre lasers [1–4]. In-fibre acousto-optic modulation based on intermodal coupling induced my a standing flexural acoustic wave permits the implementation of broad bandwidth (1.5 nm), high modulation depth (0.72), low-insertion-loss (0.75 dB) all-fibre amplitude modulators that operate in the MHz frequency range. The experimental characterization of a laser with the configuration depicted in Fig. 1 (a) as a function of the radio frequency voltage that controls the modulator (see Fig. 1 (b)), the length of the Erbium doped fibre (EDF), and the opti…

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Actively mode-locked fiber laser with an acousto-optic in-fiber superlattice modulator

All-fiber lasers permit the development of efficient, robust and compact coherent light sources. However, all-fiber active mode-locking is a challenging objective and very few all-fiber techniques have been published [1–3]. The development of a low-insertion-loss acoustically-induced superlattice modulator that works in the MHz range has demonstrated its suitability to perform active mode-locking of an all-fiber laser. While travelling extensional acoustic waves launched along a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) produce stationary side bands and a frequency shift [4,5], we found that the excitation of a standing extensional acoustic wave should produce no frequency shift, but the amplitude modulati…

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Doubly active Q switching and mode locking of an all-fiber laser

Simultaneous and independent active Q switching and active mode locking of an erbium-doped fiber laser is demonstrated using all-fiber modulation techniques. A magnetostrictive rod attached to the output fiber Bragg grating modulates the Q factor of the Fabry-Perot cavity, whereas active mode locking is achieved by amplitude modulation with a Bragg-grating-based acousto-optic device. Fully modulated Q-switched mode-locked trains of optical pulses were obtained for a wide range of pump powers and repetition rates. For a Q-switched repetition rate of 500 Hz and a pump power of 100 mW, the laser generates trains of 12-14 mode-locked pulses of about 1 ns each, within an envelope of 550 ns, an o…

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Instantaneous frequency measurement of dissipative soliton resonant light pulses

Fil: Cuadrado-Laborde, Christian. Universidad de Valencia. Departamento de Física Aplicada y Electromagnetismo. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materiales; España Fil: Cuadrado-Laborde, Christian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Física Rosario; Argentina Fil: Cuadrado-Laborde, Christian. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Química e Ingeniería del Rosario; Argentina Fil: Armas Rivera, I. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas; Mexico Fil: Carrascosa, A. Universidad de Valencia. Departamento de Física Aplicada y Electromagnetismo. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materia…

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All polarization-maintaining passively mode-locked fiber-ring ytterbium-doped laser; from net-normal to net-anomalous dispersion

We investigated the behavior of a fiber-ring polarization-maintaining passively modelocked ytterbium-doped laser in a broad range of dispersion values; i.e., from highly net-normal to net-anomalous, with a special emphasis near the zero of chromatic dispersion. Different lengths of an ad hoc polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber were used as intracavity dispersion compensator to shift the operation of this laser from net-normal to the net-anomalous regime. The laser generated the shortest light pulses around the zero of dispersion: 6 ps / 7ps for −0.023 ps2 / 0.045 ps2 ; in both cases, pulses were not transform-limited, being theoretically possible an out-of-cavity recompression d…

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Self-referenced phase reconstruction proposal of Ghz bandwidth non-periodical optical pulses by in-fiber semi-differintegration

Abstract We propose two new techniques able to retrieve the phase profile of a given temporal optical pulse based on the use of in-fiber semi-differintegral operators, where by semi-differintegration we mean either a 0.5th-order differentiation or integration. In both cases, the signal's temporal phase can be obtained by simple dividing two temporal intensity profiles, namely the intensities of the input and output pulses of a spectrally shifted semi-differintegral operator. In both cases, we obtained simple analytical expressions for the phase profile. The techniques are self-referenced and well-suited for real-time applications. We numerically prove the viability of these proposals.

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Design of double-tapered fibers for tailoring the acousto-optic spectral response

A model to shape the spectral response of acousto-optic devices based on tapered fibers is reported. A double-tapered structure was designed in order to obtain a flat attenuation response with 34 nm bandwidth.

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Actively Q-switched and modelocked all-fiber lasers

Here we demonstrate active mode-locking (ML) and doubly-active Q-switching mode-locking (QML) of erbium-doped strictly all-fiber lasers. The active ML mechanism relies in the acoustooptic superlattice modulation (AOSLM) effect induced when longitudinal acoustic waves are launched along a fiber Bragg grating. In both regimes - ML as well as QML - we focus on the laser behavior when the AOSLM is driven by traveling acoustic waves, and next we compare these results with those obtained when the AOSLM is driven by standing acoustic waves. In the ML regime, optical pulses were obtained of 530 mW peak power, 700 ps temporal width, at a repetition rate of 4.1 MHz. On the other hand, in the QML regi…

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Photonic fractional Fourier transformer with a single dispersive device

In this work we used the temporal analog of spatial Fresnel diffraction to design a temporal fractional Fourier transformer with a single dispersive device, in this way avoiding the use of quadratic phase modulators. We demonstrate that a single dispersive passive device inherently provides the fractional Fourier transform of an incident optical pulse. The relationships linking the fractional Fourier transform order and scaling factor with the dispersion parameters are derived. We first provide some numerical results in order to prove the validity of our proposal, using a fiber Bragg grating as the dispersive device. Next, we experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of this proposal by us…

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All polarization-maintaining assively mode-locked yb-doped fiber laser : pulse compression using an anomalous polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber

We report the generation of short pulses at 1 μm using an all-polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber configuration. The pulses are provided by an all normal-dispersion Fabry-Perot Yb-doped cavity and are compressed with an anomalous polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM PCF). Opposed to standard configurations; here the filtering action is solely performed by the finite bandwidth of the gain medium. The laser generates 8 ps width sech 2 profile pulses at 1046.8 nm with a −10 dB bandwidth of 5.9 nm. After compression using the PM PCF, pulses with an FWHM of 3 ps were obtained, limited by the actual value of the available anomalous dispersion. We also report the changes in the outp…

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Fractional Fourier transform dual random phase encoding of time-varying signals

Optical techniques have shown great potential in the field of information security to encode high-security images. Among several established methods, a double-random phase encryption technique (DRPE) for encoding a primary image into stationary white noise was developed by using the analogy between Fresnel diffraction patterns and the fractional Fourier transform (FrFT-DRPE). In this case, additional keys are obtained through the knowledge of the fractional orders of the FrFTs. In this work we propose an encoding setup for time-varying signals, mainly for short-haul fiber optics link applications, that can be considered as the temporal analogue of the spatial FrFT-DRPE. The behavior of the …

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Acousto-optic interaction in biconical tapered fibers: shaping of the stopbands

The effect of a gradual reduction of the fiber diameter on the acousto-optic (AO) interaction is reported. The experimental and theoretical study of the intermodal coupling induced by a flexural acoustic wave in a biconical tapered fiber shows that it is possible to shape the transmission spectrum, for example, substantially broadening the bandwidth of the resonant couplings. The geometry of the taper transitions can be regarded as an extra degree of freedom to design the AO devices. Optical bandwidths above 45 nm are reported in a tapered fiber with a gradual reduction of the fiber down to 70 μm diameter. The effect of including long taper transition is also reported in a double-tapered st…

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Dissipative soliton resonance in a full polarization-maintaining fiber ring laser at different values of dispersion

We investigated the dissipative solitons resonance in an ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser in which all the elements are polarization maintaining (PM). A semiconductor saturable absorber mirror was used as a mode-locker. The cavity included a normal dispersion single-mode fiber (SMF) and an anomalous dispersion photonic crystal fiber. The change of the length of the PM SMF allows the variation of the net-normal dispersion of the cavity in the range from 0.022 ps2 to 0.262 ps2. As the absolute value of the net-normal dispersion increases from 0.022 ps2 to 0.21 ps2, a square-shaped single pulse transformed to a single right-angle trapezoid-shaped pulse, and, at the dispersion of 0.262 ps2, to …

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In-Fiber Fractional Signal Processing: Recent Results and Applications

The implementation of mathematical operators using photonic signal processing –as for example, conventional differentiators and integrators– is particularly well suited to overcome the speed and bandwidth limitations of electronics. In the Laboratory of Fiber Optics of the University of Valencia we work on the development of in-fiber time-domain fractional operators and their applications. In the last years we have made some specific proposals to perform photonic fractional differentiation (PFD), photonic fractional integration (PFI), photonic fractional Hilbert transform (PFHT), and photonic fractional Fourier transform (PFFT), using fiber-based technologies. Recently, we have been able to…

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Mode-locked Yb-doped all-fiber laser based on in-fiber acoustooptic modulation

We show what we believe is the first demonstration of an ytterbium-doped strictly all-fiber active mode-locking laser. The active control of the laser is based on in-fiber amplitude modulation at 11 MHz, which is achieved by using an all-fiber acoustooptic superlattice modulator driven by standing acoustic waves. In our experiments, the laser was operated at 1091.3 nm and had two stable regimes producing either a train of mode-locked single pulses or a train of pulse pairs. Best results for the mode-locked train of single pulses were 740 ps of time width and 26 mW of average power, at a pump power of 480 mW.

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Analog Photonic Fractional Signal Processing

Fil: Cuadrado Laborde, Christian. Universidad de Valencia. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materiales; España Fil: Cuadrado Laborde, Christian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Cuadrado Laborde, Christian. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Química e Ingeniería del Rosario; Argentina Fil: Poveda-Wong, Luis. Universidad de Valencia. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materiales; España Fil: Carrascosa, Antonio. Universidad de Valencia. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materiales ; España Fil: Diez, Antonio. Universidad de Valencia. Instituto Universitario de Ciencia de los Materiales; España Fil: Cruz, Jo…

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Q-switched all-fibre laser using a fibre-optic resonant acousto-optic modulator

Abstract We report an actively Q-switched all-fibre laser using a fibre-optic resonant acousto-optic modulator as Q-switching element. The modulator consists of a short-length fibre Bragg grating modulated by a standing longitudinal elastic wave, being the grating length much shorter than the acoustic wavelength. Q-switch pulses were successfully obtained from an Er3+-doped fibre laser at repetition rates of 18 and 37 kHz.

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Transform-limited pulses generated by an actively Q-switched distributed fiber laser.

A single-mode, transform-limited, actively Q-switched distributed-feedback fiber laser is presented, based on a new in-line acoustic pulse generator. Our technique permits a continuous adjustment of the repetition rate that modulates the Q factor of the cavity. Optical pulses of 800 mW peak power, 32 ns temporal width, and up to 20 kHz repetition rates were obtained. The measured linewidth demonstrates that these pulses are transform limited: 6 MHz for a train of pulses of 10 kHz repetition rate, 80 ns temporal width, and 60 mW peak power. Efficient excitation of spontaneous Brillouin scattering is demonstrated.

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Actively Q-switched DFB fiber laser for Brillouin sensor applications

Q-switching of distributed feedback (DFB) fiber lasers permits to achieve high peak powers, preserving an ultra narrow linewidth [1,2]. The development of a new in-line acousto-optic modulator based on a magnetostrictive actuator, instead of a piezoelectric-based device, permits an efficient excitation of elastic pulses propagating along the optical fiber and an easy access to both emission outputs of the laser. The repetition rate can be continuously adjusted, as well as the amplitude of the elastic pulses. The interaction of these elastic pulses with a fiber Bragg grating written in an erbium-doped fiber permits an actively Q-switched operation of the DFB fiber laser [3]. The birefringenc…

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Long-cavity all-fiber ring laser actively mode locked with an in-fiber bandpass acousto-optic modulator.

We demonstrate low-frequency active mode locking of an erbium-doped all-fiber ring laser. As the mode locker, we used a new in-fiber bandpass acousto-optic modulator showing 74% modulation depth, 3.7 dB power insertion losses, 4.5 nm of optical bandwidth, and 20 dB of nonresonant light suppression. The laser generates 330 ps mode-locked pulses over a 10 ns pedestal, at a 1.538 MHz frequency, with 130 mW of pump power. Fil: Cuadrado Laborde, Christian Ariel. Universidad de Valencia; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de In…

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In-fiber all-optical fractional differentiator

We demonstrate that an asymmetrical pi phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating operated in reflection can provide the required spectral response for implementing an all-optical fractional differentiator. There are different (but equivalent) ways to design it, e.g., by using different gratings lengths and keeping the same index modulation depth at both sides of the pi phase shift, or vice versa. Analytical expressions were found relating the fractional differentiator order with the grating parameters. The device shows a good accuracy calculating the fractional time derivatives of the complex field of an arbitrary input optical waveform. The introduced concept is supported by numerical simulations.

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Long- and short-term stability of all polarization-maintaining thulium doped passively mode-locked fiber lasers with emission wavelengths at 1.95 µm and 2.07 µm

In this work, we compare the operation of a passively modelocked polarization-maintaining emission in two thulium-doped fiber lasers pumped at 1561 nm, with emission at wavelengths of 1.951 μm in one case and 2.07 μm in the other. We obtained a sequence of light pulses at 15.6 MHz, whose temporal width was 81 ps at 1.95 μm, and a sequence of light pulses at 13.1 MHz, whose temporal width was 94 ps at 2.07 μm. Finally, we also measured the long-term stability of this setup during a 24-h operation, as well as the short-term stability in a simulated harsh environment. The results confirm the superior performance of fiber laser systems with a fully polarization-maintaining design.

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Analog Photonic Fractional Signal Processing

In this work, we provide an up to date overview on the subject of photonic fractional signal processing, including both, in-fiber and waveguide on-chip technology. Thus, we discuss in detail fractional differentiation, fractional integration, fractional Hilbert transforms, and finally, fractional Fourier transforms. In each case, the underlying mathematical principles are explained for each operation, together with a short historical discussion in the context of classical optics. After that, the different proposals to perform these operations photonically on the complex field envelope of a given light pulse are presented, divided according to its working principle. Finally, current applicat…

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Mode locking of an all-fiber laser by acousto-optic superlattice modulation

Active mode locking of an erbium-doped all-fiber laser with a Bragg-grating-based acousto-optic modulator is demonstrated. The fiber Bragg grating was acoustically modulated by a standing longitudinal elastic wave, which periodically modulates the sidebands at twice the acoustic frequency. The laser has a Fabry-Perot configuration in which cavity loss modulation is achieved by tuning the output fiber Bragg grating to one of the acoustically induced sidebands. Optical pulses at 9 MHz repetition rate, 120 mW peak power, and 780 ps temporal width were obtained. The output results to be stable and has a timing jitter below 40 ps. The measured linewidth, 2.8 pm, demonstrates that these pulses ar…

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Q -switched and modelocked all-fiber lasers based on advanced acousto-optic devices

The interest in all-fiber lasers is stimulated by the inherent advantages they have over bulk lasers in aspects such as heat dissipation and robustness. The performance of Q-switched and modelocked fiber lasers can benefit enormously from the development of all-fiber configurations. A fiber laser with strictly all-fiber components can fulfil the requirements of mechanical stability, low maintenance, enhanced power efficiency, simplified assembly process, and low cost. In this framework, recent developments infiber acousto-optic devices are reviewed that have demonstrated new possibilities for actively Q-switched distributed feedback fiber lasers, modelocking lasers and doubly active Q-switc…

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Nonlinearity measurement undergoing dispersion and loss

Accurate knowledge of the nonlinear coefficient is extremely important to make reliable predictions about optical pulses propagating along waveguides. Nevertheless, determining this parameter when dispersion and loss are as important as nonlinear effects brings both theoretical and experimental challenges that have not yet been solved. A general method for measuring the nonlinear coefficient of waveguides under these demanding conditions is here derived and demonstrated experimentally in a kilometer-long standard silica fiber pumped close to 2 µm.

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All-fiber lasers actively modelocked by acousto-optic modulation

The development of all-fiber lasers is of high interest because of the intrinsic robustness, compactness and energy efficiency. In-fiber amplitude modulators based on acousto-optic modulation of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) permit the implementation of novel all-fiber actively modelocked lasers. Using either traveling or standing longitudinal acoustic waves, optical pulses between 500 and 100 mW peak powers and ∼ 700 ps temporal width were obtained at 4.1 and 9 MHz repetition rates, respectively. Implementing a simultaneous active Q-switching, we have demonstrated a doubly active Q-switching and mode-locking of two different all-fiber laser configurations. In the case of the laser based on tr…

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Proposal and design of an in-fiber all-optical fractional integrator

Abstract We theoretically and numerically demonstrate that a single fiber Bragg grating – conveniently apodized and of uniform period – operated in reflection can perform an arbitrary-order fractional integration of an input optical waveform. Analytical expressions were found relating the fractional integration order with the apodization profile of the fiber Bragg grating. This simple device shows a good accuracy calculating the fractional time integral of the complex field of arbitrary input optical waveforms.

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Phase recovery by using optical fiber dispersion

We propose a simple and fast procedure to retrieve the phase profile of arbitrary light pulses. It combines a first experimental stage, followed by a one-step numerical stage. To this end, it is necessary to perform a Fresnel transform, which is obtained just by propagating the light pulses through an optical fiber. We experimentally test this proposal recovering the phase profile in the light pulses provided by a passively mode-locked laser. The proposal is then compared with a temporal variation of the Gerchberg–Saxton recursive algorithm, which is specially modified for this purpose. Fil: Cuadrado Laborde, Christian Ariel. Universidad de Valencia; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigacio…

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Actively mode-locked fiber ring laser by intermodal acousto-optic modulation

We report an actively mode-locked fiber ring laser. A simple and low-insertion-loss acousto-optic modulator driven by standing flexural waves, which couples core-to-cladding modes in a standard single-mode optical fiber, is used as an active mechanism for mode locking. Among the remarkable features of the modulator, we mention its high modulation depth (72%), broad bandwidth (187 GHz), easy tunability in the optical wavelength, and low insertion losses (0.7 dB). The narrowest optical pulses obtained were of 95 ps time width, 21 mW peak power, repetition rate of 4.758 MHz, and 110 mW of pump power.

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