Generation of tunable light pulses

• US 7,218,443 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
• Original Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
• Inventors: Tauser, Florian, Leitenstorfer, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diacou; Ari M.
• Application Number:
  US10/787,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 359/337.4, 359/6, 372/20
• US Class Current: 359/337.5
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/353 Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/383 of the optical fibre type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/26 Pulse shaping; Apparatus or methods therefor

Abstract

A device for generating tunable light pulses has a non-linear optical fiber. The optical spectrum of femtosecond light pulses can be modified by this optical fiber, taking advantage of solitonic effects. In order to make available such a device, which makes it possible to vary the pulse energy and the wavelength of the light pulses independently of one another, an optical compressor precedes the non-linear optical fiber.

Claims

1. A device for generating tunable light pulses comprising:

(a) a pulse laser light source configured to produce femtosecond light pulses having an optical spectrum and a temporal frequency progression (“

chirp”

);

(b) an adjustable optical compressor configured to change the chirp of the light pulses output from the pulse laser light source; and

a non-linear optical fiber configured to modify the optical spectrum of the femtosecond light pulses and for tuning the generated light pulses coupled out of the non-linear optical fiber to the desired wavelength in accordance with the chirp of the light pulses received from the adjustable optical compressor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light pulses coupled into said non-linear optical fiber have a pulse energy of at least one nanojoule.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said non-linear optical fiber maintains polarization or is dispersion-shifted.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said non-linear optical fiber has a core diameter of less than five micrometers.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said non-linear optical fiber comprises a microstructured photonic fiber.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said non-linear optical fiber has a length of less than one meter.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an additional optical compressor following said non-linear optical fiber.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical measuring instrument for characterization of the light pulses modified by means of said non-linear optical fiber.

9. A method for generating tunable light pulses, the method comprising:

(a) producing femtosecond light pulses having an optical spectrum and a temporal frequency progression (“

chirp”

);

(b) regulating the chirp of the femtosecond light pulses;

(c) inputting the light pulses into a non-linear optical fiber in order to generate output light pulses having a modified optical spectrum due to non-linear soliton effects occurring in the optical fiber, wherein the spectrum of the output light pulses is tuned in accordance with the regulated chirp of the input light pulses.

10. A method for generating tunable light pulses, the method comprising:

(a) producing femtosecond light pulses having an optical spectrum and a temporal frequency progression (“

chirp”

) by means of a pulse laser light source;

(b) regulating the chirp of the femtosecond light pulses by means of an optical compressor;

(c) inputting the light pulses into a non-linear optical fiber in order to generate frequency-shifted output light pulses, the frequency shift depending on the predetermined chirp of the input light pulses.