A high efficiency architecture for cascaded Raman fiber lasers.

We demonstrate a new high efficiency architecture for cascaded Raman fiber lasers based on a single pass cascaded amplifier configuration. Conversion is seeded at all intermediate Stokes wavelengths using a multi-wavelength seed source. A lower power Raman laser based on the conventional cascaded Raman resonator architecture provides a convenient seed source providing all the necessary wavelengths simultaneously. In this work we demonstrate a 1480nm laser pumped by an 1117nm Yb-doped fiber laser with maximum output power of 204W and conversion efficiency of 65% (quantum-limited efficiency is ~75%). We believe both the output power and conversion efficiency (relative to quantum-limited efficiency) are the highest reported for cascaded Raman fiber lasers.

Intermodal Cerenkov radiation in a higher-order-mode fiber.

We demonstrate an intermodal Cerenkov radiation effect in a higher-order-mode (HOM) fiber with a mode crossing (i.e., two guided modes having the same propagation constant at the same wavelength). A frequency-shifted soliton in the vicinity of the mode-crossing wavelength emits a phase-matched dispersive wave in a different propagation mode. We develop a theoretical explanation for this nonlinear optical effect and demonstrate that the mode crossing in HOM fibers can be utilized to achieve simultaneous wavelength and mode conversion; the strength of this intermodal nonlinear interaction can be tuned by controlled fiber bending.

Intermodal four-wave mixing in a higher-order-mode fiber.

We demonstrate a high-efficiency intermodal four-wave-mixing process in an all-fiber system, comprising a picosecond fiber laser and a high-order-mode (HOM) fiber. Two pump photons in the LP(01) mode of the fiber can generate an anti-Stokes photon in the LP(01) mode and a Stokes photon in the LP(02) mode. The wavelength dependent mode profiles of the HOM fiber produce significant spatial overlap between the modes involved. The anti-Stokes wave at 941 nm is generated with 20% conversion efficiency with input pulse energy of 20 nJ. The guidance of the anti-Stokes and Stokes waves in the HOM fiber enhances system stability.

Time-domain multimode dispersion measurement in a higher-order-mode fiber.

We present a new multimode dispersion measurement technique based on the time-of-flight method. The modal delay and group velocity dispersion of all excited modes in a few-mode fiber can be measured simultaneously by a tunable pulsed laser and a high speed sampling oscilloscope. A newly designed higher-order-mode fiber with large anomalous dispersion in the LP(02) mode has been characterized using this method, and experimental results are in good agreement with the designed dispersion values. The demonstrated technique is significantly simpler to implement than the existing frequency-domain or interferometry-based methods.

Higher-order-mode fiber optimized for energetic soliton propagation.

We describe the design optimization of a higher-order-mode (HOM) fiber for energetic soliton propagation at wavelengths below 1300 nm. A new HOM fiber is fabricated according to our design criteria. The HOM fiber is pumped at 1045 nm by an energetic femtosecond fiber laser. The soliton self-frequency shift process shifts the center wavelength of the soliton to 1085 nm. The soliton has a temporal duration of 216 fs and a pulse energy of 6.3 nJ. The demonstrated pulse energy is approximately six times higher than the previous record in a solid core fiber at wavelengths below 1300 nm.

Generation of Cerenkov radiation at 850 nm in higher-order-mode fiber.

We demonstrate generation of Cerenkov radiation at 850 nm in a higher-order-mode (HOM) fiber. The LP02 mode in this solid, silica-based fiber has anomalous dispersion from 690 nm to 810 nm. Cerenkov radiation with 3 nJ pulse energy is generated in this module, exhibiting 60% energy conversion efficiency from the input. The HOM fiber provides a valuable fiber platform for nonlinear wavelength conversion with pulse energies in-between index-guided silica-core photonic crystal fibers and air-core photonic bandgap fibers.

A higher-order-mode fiber delivery for Ti:Sapphire femtosecond lasers.

We report the first higher-order-mode fiber with anomalous dispersion at 800nm and demonstrate its potential in femtosecond pulse delivery for Ti:Sapphire femtosecond lasers. We obtain 125fs pulses after propagating a distance of 3.6 meters in solid-silica fiber. The pulses could be further compressed in a quartz rod to nearly chirp-free 110fs pulses. Femtosecond pulse delivery is achieved by launching the laser output directly into the delivery fiber without any pre-chirping of the input pulse. The demonstrated pulse delivery scheme suggests scaling to >20meters for pulse delivery in harsh environments not suited for oscillator operation or in applications that require long distance flexibility.

A stretcher fiber for use in fs chirped pulse Yb amplifiers.

A newly developed fiber for use in pulse stretchers for chirped pulse amplifiers working in the 1 mum wavelength range of Yb fiber amplifiers is reported. The fiber has a record high numerical third order to second order dispersion beta(3)/beta(2) ratio of -7.7 fs. The fiber has very good dispersion match to a grating compressor for second, third, and fourth order dispersion. By combining the stretcher fiber with an anomalous dispersion fiber working in a higher order mode, even higher beta(3)/beta(2) ratio of -16.8 fs is demonstrated. The combined module shows very good dispersion match to a grating compressor.