Anisotropy analysis of third-harmonic generation in a germanium-doped silica optical fiber.

We performed an intermodal third-harmonic generation around 516 nm in a germanium-doped silica optical fiber. The analysis of the complex polarization behavior that was observed allowed us to determine the orientation symmetry group of the fiber and the relative values of the independent coefficients of the third-order electric susceptibility tensor.

Energetic and spectral properties of triple photon downconversion in a phase-matched KTiOPO4 crystal.

We measured the spectrum and energy of infrared triple photons generated in a phase-matched KTiOPO4 crystal pumped by picosecond beams at 532 and 1662 nm. The experimental data are in good agreement with our model, taking into account the spectral linewidths of the incident beams as well as a parasitic Kerr effect.

Analytical first-order extension of coupled-mode theory for waveguide arrays.

Coupled mode theory for waveguide arrays is extended to next-nearest neighbor interactions using propagation equations. Both lateral diffraction and propagation of Floquet-Bloch waves are altered respectively by extra coupling and non-orthogonality between isolated waveguide modes. The analytical formula describing the distortions of the diffraction relation is validated by direct numerical simulation for weakly coupled InP and GaAs shallow ridge waveguides and for strongly coupled Si-SiO(2) buried strip waveguides. The impact of extended coupled mode theory on propagation and diffraction design in waveguide arrays is discussed with reference to available experimental work.

Confining light flow in weakly coupled waveguide arrays by structuring the coupling constant: towards discrete diffractive optics.

Structuring the coupling constant in coupled waveguide arrays opens up a new route towards molding and controlling the flow of light in discrete structures. We show coupled mode theory is a reliable yet very simple and practical tool to design and explore new structures of patterned coupling constant. We validate our simulation and technological choices by successful fabrication of appropriate III-V semiconductor patterned waveguide arrays. We demonstrate confinement of light in designated areas of one-dimensional semi-conductor waveguide arrays.

Symmetry-based analytical solutions to the χ

In general, the ubiquitous χ^{(2)} nonlinear directional coupler, where nonlinearity and evanescent coupling are intertwined, is nonintegrable. We rigorously demonstrate that matching excitation to the even or odd fundamental supermodes yields dynamical analytical solutions for any phase matching in a symmetric coupler. We analyze second harmonic generation and optical parametric amplification regimes and study the influence of fundamental field parity and power on the operation of the device. These fundamental solutions are useful to develop applications in classical and quantum fields such as all-optical modulation of light and quantum-states engineering.

A dense array of small coupled waveguides in fiber technology: trefoil channels of microstructured optical fibers.

We calculate the limit to which the density of two-dimensional arrays of diffraction limited fiber waveguides can be reduced while maintaining weakly-coupled characteristics. We demonstrate that this density can be experimentally reached in an array of trefoil channels formed by the air holes of a microstructured optical fiber specially designed to meet limiting size and density specifications at lambda=1.55 microm.