Ultrashort-pulse source with controllable multiple-wavelength output
First Claim
1. An ultrashort pulse generator for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
- an ultrashort optical pulse source generating ultrashort optical pulses;
a plurality of wavelength conversion channels for converting a wavelength of said ultrashort optical pulses to said different wavelengths, each of said wavelength conversion channels comprising an optical waveguide and including an optical parametric generation portion for parametrically generating said ultrashort optical pulses at at least one of said different wavelengths.
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Abstract
A multiple-wavelength ultrashort-pulse laser system includes a laser generator producing ultrashort pulses at a fixed wavelength, and at least one and preferably a plurality of wavelength-conversion channels. Preferably, a fiber laser system is used for generating single-wavelength, ultrashort pulses. An optical split switch matrix directs the pulses from the laser generator into at least one of the wavelength conversion channels. An optical combining switch matrix is disposed downstream of the wavelength-conversion channels and combines outputs from separate wavelength-conversion channels into a single output channel. Preferably, waveguides formed in a ferroelectric substrate by titanium indiffusion (TI) and/or proton exchange (PE) form the wavelength-conversion channels and the splitting and combining matrices. Use of the waveguide allows efficient optical parametric generation to occur in the wavelength-conversion channels at pulse energies achievable with a mode-locked laser source. The multiple-wavelength laser system can replace a plurality of different, single-wavelength laser systems. One particular application for the system is a multi-photon microscope, where the ability to select the ultrashort-signal wavelength of the laser source accommodates any single fluorescent dye or several fluorescent dyes simultaneously. In its simplest form, the system can be used to convert the laser wavelength to a more favorable wavelength. For example, pulses generated at 1.55 μm by a mode-locked erbium fiber laser can be converted to 1.3 μm for use in optical coherence tomography or to 1.04-1.12 μm for amplification by a Yterbium amplifier, allowing amplification of pulses which can be used in a display, printing or machining system.
96 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An ultrashort pulse generator for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
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an ultrashort optical pulse source generating ultrashort optical pulses; a plurality of wavelength conversion channels for converting a wavelength of said ultrashort optical pulses to said different wavelengths, each of said wavelength conversion channels comprising an optical waveguide and including an optical parametric generation portion for parametrically generating said ultrashort optical pulses at at least one of said different wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An ultrashort pulse generator for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
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a mode-locked laser generating ultrashort optical pulses; and a wavelength conversion section including an optical parametric generation portion and including a waveguide-based optical switching section connecting a single input optical waveguide to n output optical waveguides, where n is an integer greater than 1, including acousto-optical or electro-optical means for effecting switching of optical pulses from said single input optical waveguide to respective ones of said n output optical waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A multi-wavelength ultrashort-pulse generator, comprising:
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a laser for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a single wavelength; a plurality of wavelength conversion channels for converting said ultrashort optical pulses to a plurality of respective different wavelengths; and an optical switch for switching ultrashort optical pulses from any one or any combination of said wavelength conversion channels into a single output channel. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An ultrashort pulse generator for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
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an ultrashort optical pulse source generating ultrashort optical pulses; an optical pump for generating pump pulses at a pump wavelength; an optical waveguide for converting a wavelength of said ultrashort optical pulses to said different wavelengths, said optical waveguide including;
a first harmonic generation section responsive to said ultrashort optical pulses, for generating harmonic ultrashort optical pulses at a harmonic wavelength;
an optical parametric generation section responsive to the harmonic ultrashort optical pulses and the pump pulses, for parametrically generating signal ultrashort optical pulses at a signal wavelength and idler ultrashort optical pulses at an idler wavelength;
a second harmonic generation section responsive to the signal ultrashort optical pulses, for generating first output ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
a third harmonic generation section responsive to said idler ultrashort optical pulses, for generating second output ultrashort optical pulses at a second wavelength, said optical waveguide transmitting third output ultrashort optical pulses at said pump wavelength; andan ultrashort-pulse amplifier downstream of said optical waveguide, for amplifying ultrashort optical pulses at a wavelength different from a wavelength of said ultrashort optical pulses generated by said ultrashort optical pulse source. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An ultrashort pulse generator for generating ultrashort optical pulses at a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
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an ultrashort optical pulse source generating ultrashort optical pulses; an optical pump for generating pump pulses at a pump wavelength; and an optical waveguide for converting a wavelength of said ultrashort optical pulses to said different wavelengths, said optical waveguide including;
a first harmonic generation section responsive to said ultrashort optical pulses, for generating harmonic ultrashort optical pulses at a harmonic wavelength;
an optical parametric generation section responsive to the harmonic ultrashort optical pulses and the pump pulses, for parametrically generating signal ultrashort optical pulses at a signal wavelength and idler ultrashort optical pulses at an idler wavelength;
a second harmonic generation section responsive to the signal ultrashort optical pulses, for generating first output ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
a third harmonic generation section responsive to said idler ultrashort optical pulses, for generating second output ultrashort optical pulses at a second wavelength, said optical waveguide transmitting third output ultrashort optical pulses at said pump wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification