Enhancement of ultraviolet-beam generation through a double walk-off compensation.

We propose a novel walk-off-compensation method for ultraviolet-light-source development. A walk-off occurring in the frequency mixing of infrared and green beams is doubly compensated for using an external walk-off compensator and a nonlinear-material set with internal walk-off-compensation arrangement. We theoretically and experimentally verified that our method can improve the power and beam shape of the output ultraviolet beam.

Effects of uncertain phase-matching wave vectors of rotating fan-out type poled LiNbO3 on THz generation.

We investigated terahertz pulses from a rotating fan-out type poled lithium niobate (LiNbO(3)) pumped by femtosecond laser pulses. In particular, the rotating fan-out type poled sample produces an uncertain phase-matching wave vector perpendicular to input laser pulses. Such a wave vector allowed us to observe terahertz pulses normally unobservable from bulk or periodically poled LiNbO(3) at large rotation angles because of the terahertz wave critical angle of LiNbO(3). Further, we explained center frequency dependence on rotation angles by difference frequency generation process with the uncertain wave vector. We also discussed bandwidth dependence and terahertz pulse power regarding rotation angles.

Kinetics of two wave mixing gain for moving grating technique in photorefractive BaTiO3 crystal.

We present analytic expressions for time-dependent space charge field and two wave mixing gain under the external applied field accompanying the grating translation. The variations of complex space charge field are analyzed in a complex plane, and the explicit expressions for the resonance and optimum frequencies (or moving grating velocities), which maximize the magnitude and imaginary part of space charge field, respectively, are also obtained. In addition, two wave mixing experiment was conducted with a grating translation technique without the external applied field in a BaTiO(3) crystal and the transient behaviors of measured gain look like damped harmonic oscillations, showing excellent agreement with the theory for the entire time range.

Quasi-holographic solution to polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography acceptable to nonlaboratory applications.

Experimental proof-of-concept is presented for a quasi-holographic solution to polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS OCT). Due to decoupling between the reference and sample beams by polarization, the solution seems acceptable to acquisition and communication of optical data in the nonlaboratory environment. The nonlab environment implies uncontrollable disturbances, e.g., temperature changes and mechanical effects happening under shop testing in industry or routine examinations in common clinics and hospitals. For mapping the collagen-related depolarization ratio of light backscattered from the human dermis, a phenomenological model is evolved from the theory of light depolarization in crystalline polymers. The model yielded a simplified intensity-based estimation algorithm. The design concept and the model rely on a submillimeter tumor thickness as a proofed prognostic factor and an important criterion for complementary functional diagnostics of skin cancers in their early phase. Choice of the model is inspired by similarity of structural and optical properties between liquid-crystal collagen fibers in the dermis and birefringent crystalline lamellae in some polymer materials. The model gives a plausible interpretation of a peculiarity of cumulative birefringence in the abnormal skin dermis. Following a top-down approach to design, the authors attempt to contribute to bridging the gap between practitioners' concerns and academic studies.

Bandwidth control of a Ti:PPLN Solc filter by a temperature-gradient-control technique.

We have demonstrated the bandwidth control of a Ti-diffused periodically poled LiNbO(3) (Ti:PPLN) Solc filter by a temperature-gradient-control technique. Up to 2.8 nm of filtering bandwidth was achieved with a simple temperature-gradient-control technique in a 78-mm-long of Ti:PPLN waveguide, which has a 0.2 nm filtering bandwidth at an uniform temperature. We have also analyzed the experimental results with the theoretical calculation which is derived from the codirectional coupled mode equations.

All-optical AND and NAND gates based on cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in a Ti-diffused periodically poled LiNbO(3) waveguide.

All-optical AND and NAND gates have been demonstrated in a Ti-diffused periodically poled LiNbO(3) channel waveguide which has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum-frequency-generation/difference-frequency-generation (cSFG/DFG) and sum-frequency-generation (SFG) processes. The conversion efficiency of signal to idler (AND gate signal) was approximately 0 dB in cSFG/DFG process. In the second SFG process, more than 15 dB extinction ratio between signal and dropped signal (NAND gate signal) has been observed.

Tunable Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser based on digital micro-mirror array.

We propose and demonstrate a tunable Q-switched erbium doped fiber laser with a digitally controlled micro-mirror array device. The tunable and pulsed output of the laser was achieved by the pixelated spatial modulation of the micro-mirror array. The wavelength tuning from 1530 nm to 1555 nm was shown with wavelength selectivity of ~0.1 nm and the pulsed operation was accomplished with 130 Hz repetition rate.

All-optical wavelength conversion and tuning by the cascaded sum- and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG) in a temperature gradient controlled Ti:PPLN channel waveguide.

All-optical single and multiple wavelength conversion and tuning by the cascaded sum- and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG) have been demonstrated in a temperature gradient controlled periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 (Ti:PPLN) channel waveguide. Up to 4 channels of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals which have 100 GHz channel spacing were simultaneously wavelength converted at a 16.8 degrees C temperature difference between both end faces in a Ti:PPLN waveguide. The 3 dB signal conversion bandwidth was measured to be as broad as 48 nm at single channel conversion. The maximum wavelength conversion efficiency and optical signal to noise ratio of wavelength converted channel were approximately -16 dB and -20 dB at a total pump power level of 810 mW.

Wavelength selective single and dual-channel dropping in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide.

All-optical wavelength selective single and dual channel dropping by sum frequency generation has been demonstrated in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide, which has two second harmonic phase-matching peaks. Less than -17 dB of channel dropping extinction ratio was observed with coupled pump power of 325 mW.

Channel-selective wavelength conversion and tuning in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguides.

All-optical wavelength-selective single- and dual-channel wavelength conversion and tuning has been demonstrated in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide that has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG). The wavelength conversion efficiency was measured to be -7 dB with coupled pump power of 233 mW.

Broadening of the second-harmonic phase-matching bandwidth in a temperature-gradient-controlled periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 channel waveguide.

We have demonstrated broadening of the phase-matching bandwidth in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 (Ti:PPLN) channel waveguide Lambda = 16.6 microm) by using a temperature-gradient-control technique. With this technique, we have achieved a second-harmonic phase-matching bandwidth of more than 13 nm in a 74-mm-long Ti:PPLN waveguide, which has a 0.21-nm phase-matching bandwidth at a uniform temperature.