Continuous ultraviolet to blue-green astrocomb.

Cosmological and exoplanetary science using transformative telescopes like the ELT will demand precise calibration of astrophysical spectrographs in the blue-green, where stellar absorption lines are most abundant. Astrocombs-lasers providing a broadband sequence of regularly-spaced optical frequencies on a multi-GHz grid-promise an atomically-traceable calibration scale, but their realization in the blue-green is challenging for current infrared-laser-based technology. Here, we introduce a concept achieving a broad, continuous spectrum by combining second-harmonic generation and sum-frequency-mixing in an MgO:PPLN waveguide to generate 390-520 nm light from a 1 GHz Ti:sapphire frequency comb. Using a Fabry-Pérot filter, we extract a 30 GHz sub-comb spanning 392-472 nm, visualizing its thousands of modes on a high-resolution spectrograph. Experimental data and simulations demonstrate how the approach can bridge the spectral gap present in second-harmonic-only conversion. Requiring only [Formula: see text]100 pJ pulses, our concept establishes a new route to broadband UV-visible generation at GHz repetition rates.

Temperature-tunable UV generation using an Alexandrite laser and PPLN waveguides.

We present a simple and novel technique for achieving ultra-violet (UV) wavelength-tunable laser operation in the continuous-wave regime. Wavelength tunable operation in the near infrared is obtained from a compact two-mirror Alexandrite laser cavity by temperature tuning of the laser crystal. Second-harmonic-generation to the UV is then achieved at 376-379 nm and 384-386 nm by temperature tuning of a periodically-poled lithium-niobate (PPLN) waveguide. A maximum UV power of 1.3 mW from 185 mW infra-red pump throughput is obtained from a third-order PPLN Λ=6.1µm grating. These results show promising potential for simple and wavelength tunable access to wavelengths at 360-400 nm.

Short single-frequency self-pulsing Brillouin-Raman distributed feedback fiber laser.

We demonstrate that the stimulated Brillouin scattering of a 250 mm long distributed feedback Raman fiber laser can self-pulse with repetition rates up to 7 MHz, pulse widths of 25 ns, and peak powers of 1.2 W. While both CW and pulsed lasing are produced from a bespoke grating at 1119 nm this laser design could be constructed at almost any wavelength, as the Raman and Brillouin gain regions are relative to the pump wavelength. The laser has a low lasing threshold for a Raman laser of 0.55 W, a peak slope efficiency of 14 %, and a maximum average output of 0.25 W. An investigation of beating between pure Raman and Raman-pumped Brillouin lasing shows that the outputs of the two processes are highly correlated and thus the Brillouin lasing is essentially single-frequency when CW and near transform limited for pulsed operation. A phenomenological model of the Raman-Brillouin interaction shows that the pulsing behaviour of such a cavity is expected and produces very similar pulsing to that the seen in experimental results.

Upconversion detection of 1.25 Gb/s mid-infrared telecommunications using a silicon avalanche photodiode.

With an ever-increasing interest in secure and reliable free-space optical communication, upconversion detectors enabled through nonlinear optical processes are an attractive route to transmitting data as a mid-infrared signal. This spectral region is known to have a higher transmissivity through the atmosphere. In this work, we present an upconversion scheme for detection in the silicon absorption band using magnesium-oxide doped periodically poled lithium niobate to generate 21 mW of a 3.4 µm signal from commercial laser sources using a difference frequency generation process. Following a further nonlinear frequency conversion, via sum-frequency generation, the resulting signal at 809 nm is detected. We achieve >50 µW of signal and bit error rates of 10-7 from a single-pass nonlinear conversion for both the transmitter and receiver systems without the need for additional optical amplifiers at the receiving end. The error rates due to potentially reduced laser powers at the receiver end are investigated and laser noise transfer through our system is discussed.

213 nm laser written waveguides in Ge-doped planar silica without hydrogen loading.

In this paper we present the first example of waveguides fabricated by UV writing in non-hydrogen loaded Ge-doped planar silica with 213 nm light. Single mode waveguides were fabricated and the numerical apertures and mode field diameters were measured for a range of writing fluences. A peak index change of 5.3 x 10-3 was inferred for the waveguide written with 70 kJ cm-2. The refractive index change is sufficient to match the index structure of standard optical fiber. Uniformity of the written structures was measured and a propagation loss of 0.39 ± 0.03 dB cm-1 was determined through cutback measurements.

CW demonstration of SHG spectral narrowing in a PPLN waveguide generating 2.5 W at 780†nm.

Periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguides are a proven and popular means for efficient wavelength conversion. However, conventional PPLN waveguides typically have small mode field diameters (MFD) (≲6 µm) or significant insertion and/or propagation losses, limiting their ability to operate at multi-watt power levels. In this work we utilise zinc indiffused PPLN ridge waveguides that have a larger MFD, favourable pump/SHG modal overlap, and low insertion losses. Here for the first time, we have demonstrated continuous wave (CW) spectral narrowing from a PPLN waveguide, both with high efficiency and multi-watt second harmonic generation (SHG). 2.5 W of 780 nm has been produced by SHG of an amplified 1560 nm telecom laser with a device efficiency of 58% in a 4.0-cm long ridge waveguide. We have modelled conversion efficiency and applied experimentally measured waveguide parameters to show excellent agreement to the SHG spectra. Spectral narrowing of the full width half maximum (FWHM) of 35.7% has been measured as the nonlinear drive is increased. This work demonstrates that single-pass, multi-watt, CW SHG at 780 nm is feasible from our PPLN waveguide in the large conversion regime.

Highly-chirped Bragg gratings for integrated silica spectrometers.

A blazed chirped Bragg grating in a planar silica waveguide device was used to create an integrated diffractive element for a spectrometer. The grating diffracts light from a waveguide and creates a wavelength dependent focus in a manner similar to a bulk diffraction grating spectrometer. An external imaging system is used to analyse the light, later device iterations plan to integrate detectors to make a fully integrated spectrometer. Devices were fabricated with grating period chirp rates in excess of 100 nm mm-1, achieving a focal length of 5.5 mm. Correction of coma aberrations resulted in a device with a footprint of 20 mm×10 mm, a peak FWHM resolution of 1.8 nm, a typical FWHM resolution of 2.6 nm and operating with a 160 nm bandwidth centered at 1550 nm.

Zinc-indiffused MgO:PPLN waveguides for blue/UV generation via VECSEL pumping.

We present the design and characterization of a zinc-indiffused periodically poled lithium-niobate ridge waveguide for second-harmonic generation of ∼390nm light from 780 nm. We use a newly developed, broadband near-infrared vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) to investigate the potential for lower-footprint nonlinear optical pump sources as an alternative to larger commercial laser systems. We demonstrate a VECSEL with an output power of 500 mW, containing an intracavity birefringent filter for spectral narrowing and wavelength selection. In this first demonstration of using a VECSEL to pump a nonlinear waveguide, we present the ability to generate 1 mW of ∼390nm light with further potential for increased efficiency and size reduction.

ZnO indiffused MgO:PPLN ridge waveguides.

We have demonstrated the first MgO:PPLN ridge waveguides based on ZnO indiffusion and dicing. The fabrication process utilizes ductile regime dicing of a planar waveguide layer producing second harmonic generation (SHG) devices with a near-symmetric sinc2 spectral profile, indicating highly uniform 40 mm long devices. A near circular pump mode is also obtained enabling efficient coupling to single mode telecommunication fibers. A conversion efficiency of 145%/W, for 1560-780 nm SHG, has been measured.

Integrated polarizer based on 45° tilted gratings.

We report the first integrated implementation of a polarizer based on the use of 45° tilted gratings in planar waveguides. The waveguides and gratings are fabricated by direct UV writing in a hydrogenated germanium-doped silica-on-silicon chip. We experimentally demonstrate a polarization extinction ratio per unit length of 0.25 dB mm -1 with a modelled wavelength dependence smaller than 0.3 dB for a 20 mm device over the C band from 1530-1570 nm. We also present a novel numerical study and analytical description of the architecture that are in good agreement with each other and the experimental data.

Leaky mode integrated optical fibre refractometer.

A route to monitor external refractive indices greater than the core index of the waveguide is presented. Initial application utilizes an integrated optical fibre (IOF) platform due to its potential for use in harsh environment sensing. IOF is fabricated using a bespoke flame hydrolysis deposition process to fuse an optical fibre to a planar substrate achieving an optical quality, ruggedized glass layer between the fibre and substrate was fabricated. The presented refractometer is created by direct UV writing of multiple fibre Bragg gratings into an etched (22 µm diameter) optical fibre post fabrication. Linear regression analysis is applied to quantify propagation loss by monitoring each FBG's back reflected power. The device operates with a sensitivity of approximately 350 dB/cm/RIU at a refractive index of 1.451 at 1550 nm. Numerical simulations using a transfer matrix method are presented and potential routes for development are discussed.

Germanium-on-silicon waveguides operating at mid-infrared wavelengths up to 8.5 µm.

We report transmission measurements of germanium on silicon waveguides in the 7.5-8.5 µm wavelength range, with a minimum propagation loss of 2.5 dB/cm at 7.575 µm. However, we find an unexpected strongly increasing loss at higher wavelengths, potential causes of which we discuss in detail. We also demonstrate the first germanium on silicon multimode interferometers operating in this range, as well as grating couplers optimized for measurement using a long wavelength infrared camera. Finally, we use an implementation of the "cut-back" method for loss measurements that allows simultaneous transmission measurement through multiple waveguides of different lengths, and we use dicing in the ductile regime for fast and reproducible high quality optical waveguide end-facet preparation.

Nanoscale roughness micromilled silica evanescent refractometer.

We demonstrate machining of precision slots in silica with nanoscale roughness for applications in photonics. Using our in-house developed milling system we have achieved machined slots with surface roughness of 3.0 nm (Sa) and 17 µm depth of cut. This result represents eight times improvement in surface roughness and forty times increase in depth of cut than previously reported. We also demonstrate integration of these milled slots with UV-written waveguides and Bragg gratings to create optical refractometers, based on monitoring Fabry-Pérot spectral fringe changes.

Compact, high-pulse-energy, picosecond optical parametric oscillator.

We report a high-energy optical parametric oscillator (OPO) synchronously pumped by a 7.19 MHz, Yb:fiber-amplified, picosecond, gain-switched laser diode. The 42-m-long ring cavity maintains a compact design through the use of an intracavity optical fiber. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO(3) OPO provides output pulse energies as high as 0.49 µJ at 1.5 µm (signal) and 0.19 µJ at 3.6 µm (idler). Tunability from 1.5 to 1.7 µm and from 2.9 to 3.6 µm is demonstrated, and typical M(2) values of 1.5 × 1.3 and 2.8 × 1.9 are measured for the signal and idler, respectively, at high power.

High-power, variable repetition rate, picosecond optical parametric oscillator pumped by an amplified gain-switched diode.

We demonstrate a picosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that is synchronously pumped by a fiber-amplified gain-switched laser diode. At 24W of pump power, up to 7.3W at 1.54microm and 3.1W at 3.4microm is obtained in separate output beams. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO(3) OPO operates with ~17ps pulses at a fundamental repetition rate of 114.8MHz but can be switched to higher repetition rates up to ~1GHz. Tunabilty between 1.4microm and 1.7microm (signal) and 2.9microm and 4.4microm (idler) is demonstrated by translating the nonlinear crystal to access different poling-period gratings and typical M(2) values of 1.1 by 1.2 (signal) and 1.6 by 3.2 (idler) are measured at high power for the singly resonant oscillator.

Design and demonstration of direct UV-written small angle X couplers in silica-on-silicon for broadband operation.

Experimental demonstration of small angle (0.8 degrees-5 degrees ) direct UV-written X couplers in silica-on-silicon is presented. Maximum and minimum coupling ratios of 95%(+/-0.8%) and 1.9% (+/-1%), respectively, were recorded. The structures also display very low polarization and wavelength dependence. A typical excess loss of 1.0 dB(+/-0.5 dB) was recorded. Device modeling using the beam propagation method and an analytical model showed good agreement with experimental results over a broad crossing angle and wavelength range.

Guided-wave second-harmonic generation in a LiNbO3 nonlinear photonic crystal.

We demonstrate twin-beam second-harmonic generation from telecommunications wavelengths in an optimized buried reverse proton exchanged planar waveguide made in 2D hexagonally poled LiNbO3. Experiments carried out with a nanosecond narrow-bandwidth, high-power fiber source thoroughly explored the response of the nonlinear photonic crystal device in terms of its power, wavelength, and angle tunability.

Physical observation of single step UV-written integrated planar Bragg structures and their application as a refractive-index sensor.

We present what is to our knowledge the first demonstration of a potentially low-cost refractive-index sensor based on UV processing. A channel waveguide and a Bragg grating are defined in a single UV processing step, resulting in a buried structure with a well-defined grating period. A subsequent wet etch process located over the Bragg grating opens a sensing window in the device and reveals the grating structure. Sensitivity of as much as 5 x 10(-6) was inferred from our device.