Sources of, and methods for generating, optical pulses
First Claim
1. A source of optical pulses, comprising:
- an optical source operable to generate ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
an optical fiber amplifier comprising an optical fiber and a pump source operable to deliver pump radiation to the optical fiber, the optical fiber being a microstructured fiber containing an array of air holes running along the length of the fiber and having a core containing a dopant to provide optical gain at the first wavelength, and anomalous dispersion over a wavelength range including the first wavelength and a second wavelength, and being arranged to receive the ultrashort optical pulses, amplify the ultrashort optical pulses, and alter the wavelength of the ultrashort optical pulses to at least the second wavelength by the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A source of optical pulses, comprises an optical source operable to generate ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; and an optical fiber amplifier comprising an optical fiber having a core containing a dopant to provide optical gain at the first wavelength and anomalous dispersion over a wavelength range including the first wavelength and a second wavelength. The optical fiber receives the ultrashort optical pulses, amplifies the ultrashort optical pulses, and alters the wavelength of the ultrashort optical pulses to at least the second wavelength by the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect. Microstructured and/or tapered fibers can be used to provide the required dispersion characteristics. Pulses can be generated in one of three spectral regimes—monocolor solitons, multicolor solitons and continuous broadband spectra by adjusting the energy of the optical pulses, and tunability can be achieved by varying the power of pump light provided to the amplifier.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A source of optical pulses, comprising:
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an optical source operable to generate ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
an optical fiber amplifier comprising an optical fiber and a pump source operable to deliver pump radiation to the optical fiber, the optical fiber being a microstructured fiber containing an array of air holes running along the length of the fiber and having a core containing a dopant to provide optical gain at the first wavelength, and anomalous dispersion over a wavelength range including the first wavelength and a second wavelength, and being arranged to receive the ultrashort optical pulses, amplify the ultrashort optical pulses, and alter the wavelength of the ultrashort optical pulses to at least the second wavelength by the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23)
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12. A method of producing optical pulses, comprising
generating ultrashort optical pulses at a first wavelength; -
amplifying the ultrashort optical pulses in an optical fiber amplifier; and
altering the wavelength of the ultrashort optical pulses from the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength by the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect within the optical fiber amplifier;
the optical fiber amplifier comprising an optical fiber being a microstructured fiber containing an array of air holes running along the length of the fiber and having a core containing a dopant to provide optical gain at the first wavelength, and anomalous dispersion over a wavelength range including the first wavelength and a second wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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24. A source of optical pulses, comprising:
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means for generating optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
means for generating light at a second wavelength using the optical pulses and the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect and including an optical fiber being a microstructured optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A source of optical pulses, comprising:
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an optical source operable to generate optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
means for altering the wavelength of the optical pulses to at least a second wavelength, the means including an optical fiber being a microstructured optical fiber, and a pump source operable to deliver pump radiation to the optical fiber, the optical fiber having anomalous dispersion over a wavelength range including the first wavelength and the second wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A source of optical pulses, comprising:
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means for generating optical pulses at a first wavelength; and
means for amplifying, and altering the wavelength of, the optical pulses by using the soliton-self-frequency shifting effect within an optical fiber being a microstructured optical fiber to generate optical pulses with a second wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification