High-power supercontinuum lasers with a flat blue spectrum through pump modulation: a numerical study.

We numerically investigate high-power, modulational instability-based supercontinuum sources. Such sources have spectra that reach the infrared material absorption edge and as a result the spectrum has a strong narrow blue peak (dispersive wave group velocity matched to solitons at the infrared loss edge) followed by a significant dip in the neighboring longer-wavelength region. In a wide range of applications one prefers a broader and more flat blue part within a certain minimum and maximum power spectral density. From the perspective of fiber degradation it would be desirable to achieve this at reduced pump peak powers. We show that it is possible to improve the flatness by more than a factor of 3 by modulating the input peak power, although this comes at the expense of slightly higher relative intensity noise. Specifically, we consider a standard 6.6 W, 80 MHz supercontinuum source with a 455 nm blue edge, which uses 7 ps pump pulses. We then modulate its peak power to generate a pump pulse train having two and three different sub-pulses.

Femtosecond laser line-by-line tilted Bragg grating inscription in single-mode step-index TOPAS/ZEONEX polymer optical fiber.

In this Letter, we demonstrate 8°-tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) inscription in single-mode step-index TOPAS/ZEONEX polymer optical fibers (POFs) using a 520 nm femtosecond laser and the line-by-line (LbL) writing technique. As a result of the tilt angle and the fiber refractive index, a large spectral range of cladding mode resonances covering 147 nm is obtained. The evolution of the transmitted spectrum is analyzed as a function of the surrounding refractive index (SRI) in a large range from 1.30 to 1.50. The cutoff cladding mode shows a refractive index sensitivity of 507 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). For single-resonance tracking near the cutoff mode, the sensitivity is at least 6 nm/RIU, depending on the exact wavelength position of the cladding modes. The main originality of our work is that it produces, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a TFBG in POF that operates in the refractive index range of aqueous solutions. The sensing capability for a large range of refractive index values is also relevant for (bio)chemical sensing in different media.

Pulse-to-pulse relative intensity noise measurements for ultrafast lasers.

Relative intensity noise (RIN) can be used to characterize pulse-to-pulse energy variations of ultrafast lasers, and is a very important performance parameter when considering the suitability of a laser for an application. However, owing to a wide range of measurement and analysis techniques, comparison of RIN values is non-trivial. Here, we clearly layout a definition of RIN as a percentage value for ultrafast laser systems. Furthermore, we analytically describe how the RIN can be measured in the time and frequency domains, and reveal the conditions under which these two widely employed approaches are equivalent. Finally, we experimentally measure the RIN of an ultrafast supercontinuum laser to be 6.57% in the time domain and 6.98% in the frequency domain at 850 nm, and 17.06% in the time domain and 17.08% in the frequency domain at 1000 nm, thus demonstrating the expected strong agreement when the measurements and signal processing are performed appropriately.

Ultra-flat, low-noise, and linearly polarized fiber supercontinuum source covering 670-1390 nm: publisher's note.

This publisher's note contains a correction to Opt. Lett.46, 1820 (2021)10.1364/OL.420676.

Noise in supercontinuum generated using PM and non-PM tellurite glass all-normal dispersion fibers.

Intensity fluctuations in supercontinuum generation are studied in polarization-maintaining (PM) and non-PM all-normal dispersion tellurite photonic crystal fibers. Dispersive Fourier transformation is used to resolve the shot-to-shot spectra generated using 225-fs pump pulses at 1.55 µm, with experimental results well reproduced by vector and scalar numerical simulations. By comparing the relative intensity noise for the PM and non-PM cases, supported by simulations, we demonstrate the advantage of the polarization-maintaining property of the PM fibers in preserving low-noise dynamics. We associate the low-noise in the PM case with the suppression of polarization modulation instability.

Differentiation Between Benign and Malignant Pigmented Skin Tumours Using Bedside Diagnostic Imaging Technologies: A Pilot Study.

Rapid diagnosis of suspicious pigmented skin lesions is imperative; however, current bedside skin imaging technologies are either limited in penetration depth or resolution. Combining imaging methods is therefore highly relevant for skin cancer diagnostics. This pilot study evaluated the ability of optical coherence tomography, reflectance confocal microscopy, photo-acoustic imaging and high-frequency ultrasound to differentiate malignant from benign pigmented skin lesions. A total of 41 pigmented skin tumours were scanned prior to excision. Morphological features and blood vessel characteristics were analysed with reflectance confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, high-frequency ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging images, and the diagnostic accuracy was assessed. Three novel photoacoustic imaging features, 7 reflectance confocal microscopy features, and 2 optical coherence tomography features were detected that had a high correlation with malignancy; diagnostic accuracy > 71%. No significant features were found in high-frequency ultrasound. In conclusion, optical coherence tomography, reflectance confocal microscopy and photoacoustic imaging in combination enable image-guided bedside evaluation of suspicious pigmented skin tumours. Combining these advanced techniques may enable more efficient diagnosis of skin cancer.

Interrogation Method with Temperature Compensation Using Ultra-Short Fiber Bragg Gratings in Silica and Polymer Optical Fibers as Edge Filters.

The use of simpler and less bulky equipment, with a reliable performance and at relative low cost is increasingly important when assembling sensing configurations for a wide variety of applications. Based on this concept, this paper proposes a simple, efficient and relative low-cost fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogation solution using ultra-short FBGs (USFBGs) as edge filters. USFBGs with different lengths and reflection bandwidths were produced in silica optical fiber and in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF), and by adjusting specific inscription parameters and the diffraction pattern, these gratings can present self-apodization and unique spectral characteristics suitable for filtering operations. In addition to being a cost-effective edge filter solution, USFBGs and standard uniform FBGs in silica fiber have similar thermal sensitivities, which results in a straightforward operation without complex equipment or calculations. This FBG interrogation configuration is also quite promising for dynamic measurements, and due to its multiplexing capabilities multiple USFBGs can be inscribed in the same optical fiber, allowing to incorporate several filters with identical or different spectral characteristics at specific wavelength regions in the same fiber, thus showing great potential to create and develop new sensing configurations.

Non-Contact Paper Thickness and Quality Monitoring Based on Mid-Infrared Optical Coherence Tomography and THz Time Domain Spectroscopy.

In industrial paper production, online monitoring of a range of quality parameters is essential for ensuring that the performance and appearance of the final product is suitable for a given application. In this article, two optical sensing techniques are investigated for non-destructive, non-contact characterization of paper thickness, surface roughness, and production defects. The first technique is optical coherence tomography based on a mid-infrared supercontinuum laser, which can cover thicknesses from ~20-90 µm and provide information about the surface finish. Detection of subsurface voids, cuts, and oil contamination was also demonstrated. The second technique is terahertz time domain spectroscopy, which is used to measure paper thicknesses of up to 443 µm. A proof-of-concept thickness measurement in freely suspended paper was also demonstrated. These demonstrations highlight the added functionality and potential of tomographic optical sensing methods towards industrial non-contact quality monitoring.

Thermally tunable dispersion modulation in a chalcogenide-based hybrid optical fiber.

A hybrid optical fiber comprising metal electrodes, high performance polymers, and a highly nonlinear glass core is presented in this work as a novel, to the best of our knowledge, platform for mid-infrared nonlinear devices. The fiber allows for electrical tuning of the temperature by joule heating using a set of embedded tungsten wires. Unlike temperature tuning by an external heater, this results in a strong modulation, which introduces alternating signs of its dispersion. Enhanced spectral broadening through supercontinuum generation in the mid-infrared due to this modulation is investigated numerically.

Ultra-flat, low-noise, and linearly polarized fiber supercontinuum source covering 670-1390 nm.

We report an octave-spanning coherent supercontinuum (SC) fiber laser with excellent noise and polarization properties. This was achieved by pumping a highly birefringent all-normal dispersion photonic crystal fiber with a compact high-power ytterbium femtosecond laser at 1049 nm. This system generates an ultra-flat SC spectrum from 670 to 1390 nm with a power spectral density higher than 0.4 mW/nm and a polarization extinction ratio of 17 dB across the entire bandwidth. An average pulse-to-pulse relative intensity noise down to 0.54% from 700 to 1100 nm was measured and found to be in good agreement with numerical simulations. This highly stable broadband source could find strong potential applications in biomedical imaging and spectroscopy where an improved signal-to-noise ratio is essential.

High-resolution mid-infrared optical coherence tomography with kHz line rate.

We report on mid-infrared optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 4 µm based on collinear sum-frequency upconversion and promote the A-scan scan rate to 3 kHz. We demonstrate the increased imaging speed for two spectral realizations, one providing an axial resolution of 8.6 µm, and one providing a record axial resolution of 5.8 µm. Image performance is evaluated by sub-surface micro-mapping of a plastic glove and real-time monitoring of CO2 in parallel with OCT imaging.

Multi-wavelength high-energy gas-filled fiber Raman laser spanning from 1.53 µm to 2.4 µm.

In this work, we present a high-pulse-energy multi-wavelength Raman laser spanning from 1.53 µm up to 2.4 µm by employing the cascaded rotational stimulated Raman scattering effect in a 5 m hydrogen (H2)-filled nested anti-resonant fiber, pumped by a linearly polarized Er/Yb fiber laser with a peak power of ∼13kW and pulse duration of ∼7ns in the C-band. The developed Raman laser has distinct lines at 1683 nm, 1868 nm, 2100 nm, and 2400 nm, with pulse energies as high as 18.25 µJ, 14.4 µJ, 14.1 µJ, and 8.2 µJ, respectively. We demonstrate how the energy in the Raman lines can be controlled by tuning the H2 pressure from 1 bar to 20 bar.

Power stable 1.5-10.5 µm cascaded mid-infrared supercontinuum laser without thulium amplifier.

We demonstrate a simple and power stable 1.5-10.5 µm cascaded mid-infrared 3 MHz supercontinuum fiber laser. To increase simplicity and decrease cost, the design of the fiber cascade is optimized so that no thulium amplifier is needed. Despite the simple design with no thulium amplifier, we demonstrate a high average output power of 86.6 mW. Stability measurements for seven days with 8-9 h operation daily revealed fluctuations in the average power with a standard deviation of only 0.43% and a power spectral density stability of ±0.18dBm/nm for wavelengths <10µm. The high-repetition-rate, robust, and cheap all-fiber design makes this source ideal for applications in spectroscopy and imaging.

Spectral broadening of ultraviolet dispersive waves in gas-filled hollow-core fiber using pump pulse modulation.

UV supercontinuum laser sources based on resonant dispersive wave (RDW) generation in gas-filled hollow-core (HC) fibers offer an attractive architecture for numerous applications. However, the narrow UV spectral peak inherent to RDW generation limits the suitability for applications that require broad spectral coverage within the UV region such as spectroscopic scatterometry. In this Letter, we demonstrate how the UV spectrum can be shaped by modulating the peak power of the pump pulses driving the RDW generation, thereby creating a broadened and flattened UV spectrum. Using an argon-filled anti-resonant HC fiber, we generate a UV spectrum with a center wavelength of 323.6 nm with an FWHM of 51.7 nm, corresponding to a relative bandwidth of 16.1%.

Cross-phase modulation instability in PM ANDi fiber-based supercontinuum generation.

We demonstrate broadband supercontinuum generation in an all-normal dispersion polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber and report the observation of a cross-phase modulation instability sideband generated outside of the supercontinuum bandwidth. We demonstrate that this sideband is polarized on the slow axis and can be suppressed by pumping on the fiber's fast axis. We theoretically confirm and model this nonlinear process using phase-matching conditions and numerical simulations, obtaining good agreement with the measured data.

High pulse energy and quantum efficiency mid-infrared gas Raman fiber laser targeting CO2 absorption at 4.2 µm.

In this Letter, we demonstrate a high pulse energy and linearly polarized mid-infrared Raman fiber laser targeting the strongest absorption line of ${\rm CO}_2$CO2 at $\sim{4.2}\;\unicode {x00B5} {\rm m}$∼4.2µm. This laser was generated from a hydrogen (${\rm H}_2$H2)-filled antiresonant hollow-core fiber, pumped by a custom-made 1532.8 nm Er-doped fiber laser delivering 6.9 ns pulses and 11.6 kW peak power. A quantum efficiency as high as 74% was achieved, to yield 17.6 µJ pulse energy at 4.22 µm. Less than 20 bar ${\rm H}_2$H2 pressure was required to maximize the pulse energy since the transient Raman regime was efficiently suppressed by the long pump pulses.

Influence of pulse duration and repetition rate on mid-infrared cascaded supercontinuum.

We experimentally investigate the influence of varying pulse parameters on the spectral broadening, power spectral density, and relative intensity noise of mid-infrared (mid-IR) in-amplifier cascaded supercontinuum generation (SCG) by varying the pulse duration (35 ps, 1 ns, 3 ns) and repetition rate (100, 500, 1000 kHz). The system is characterized at the output of the erbium-ytterbium-doped in-amplifier SCG stage, the thulium/germanium power redistribution stage, and the passive ZBLAN fiber stage. In doing so, we demonstrate that the output of the later stages depends critically on the in-amplifier stage, and relate this to the onset of modulation instability.

Correction: Prospective on using fibre mid-infrared supercontinuum laser sources for in vivo spectral discrimination of disease.

Correction for 'Prospective on using fibre mid-infrared supercontinuum laser sources for in vivo spectral discrimination of disease' by Angela B. Seddon et al., Analyst, 2018, 143, 5874-5887.

Annular Cavity Design for Photoluminescent Polymer Optical Fiber Sensors.

We present optimization results on the design of a polymer optical fiber single point sensor suitable for photoluminescence-based sensing. The single point sensing design consists of one or two annular cavities, separated by a small distance, milled into the fiber and subsequently filled with a thick solution of polymer, solvent, and photoluminescent molecules, which is then allowed to dry. The design is tested by varying the depth and length of a single cavity and utilizing two cavities with varying separations. Results from experiments show a maximum response at a separation of 2 mm for which we present an analytical explanation. A geometrical, numerical simulation model, taking into account both skew and meridional rays, is developed and shows very good agreement with the experimental results. The fiber design presents a general platform that has the potential for the fabrication of multi-point photoluminescent sensors, for which it is necessary to have several points along the fiber functionalized for sensing. Furthermore, the approach with polymer fibers and polymer sensing gels allows for a robust integration of the sensing matrix and the optical fiber, more so than is possible using glass optical fibers.

Optimization of All-Polymer Optical Fiber Oxygen Sensors with Antenna Dyes and Improved Solvent Selection Using Hansen Solubility Parameters.

We present an all-polymer optical fiber sensor for the sensing of dissolved oxygen by phase-fluorometry. The sensing matrix is applied as a film on the fiber end-surface, and consists of poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA), the oxygen quenchable luminophore platinum-octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) and the luminophore coumarin 545T for increasing the brightness of PtOEP by way of resonance energy transfer (RET), also called light harvesting. We show that by using Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs), it is possible to quantitatively formulate a solvent mixture with a good solubility of the polymer matrix and the luminophores simultaneously. Our approach can readily be extended to other polymers and luminophores and is therefore a valuable tool for researchers working with photoluminescence and polymeric matrices.