All-optical self-switching in optimized phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating.

We experimentally demonstrate all-optical self-switching based on sub nanosecond pulse propagation through an optimized fiber Bragg grating with a pi phase-jump. The jump acts as a cavity leading to an intensity enhancement by factor 19. At pulse peak powers of 1.5 kW we observe 4.2 dB nonlinear change in transmission. Experimental results are consistent with numerical simulations.

Multi-wavelength synchronous pulse burst generation with a wavelength selective switch.

We demonstrate simultaneous pulse-shaping at different ports of a rapidly tunable wavelength selective switch at a base rate of 40 GHz, based on Fourier-domain pulse shaping. Various pulse bursts are generated and accurately characterized with a linear spectrographic method.

Narrowband supercontinuum control using phase shaping.

We study theoretically, numerically and experimentally the effect of self-phase modulation of ultrashort pulses with spectrally narrow phase features. We show that spectral enhancement and depletion is caused by changing the relative phase between the initial field and the nonlinearly generated components. Our theoretical results explain observations of supercontinuum enhancement by fiber Bragg gratings, and predict similar enhancements for spectrally shaped pulses in uniform fiber. As proof of principle, we demonstrate this effect in the laboratory using a femtosecond pulse shaper.

Tunable spectral enhancement of fiber supercontinuum.

We demonstrate tunable spectral enhancement of the supercontinuum generated in a microstructured fiber with a fiber long-period grating. The long-period grating leads to phase distortion and loss that, with subsequent high-intensity propagation in uniform fiber, evolves into an enhancement around the grating's resonant wavelengths. Wavelength tunability is achieved by varying the temperature or the ambient refractive index, and the spectral peak can be extinguished by immersing the grating in index-matching oil.