access icon free Flat super-continuum generation using carbon-nanotube-based modelocked laser and normal dispersion photonic crystal fibre

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 22/04/2013, Published

A flat super-continuum (SC) generated by a 1.5 µm passively fibre modelocked laser incorporating a single-walled carbon-nanotube-based saturable absorber and a normal dispersion highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibre (PCF) is demonstrated. A compressed 620 fs pulse train from the modelocked laser is obtained and launched into the PCF. Since the pulses propagate in the normal dispersion regime of the PCF, linear frequency chirp is induced by self-phase modulation which leads to a flat SC. An SC covering 200 nm with less than 7 dB power fluctuation is achieved. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

Inspec keywords: self-phase modulation; optical saturable absorption; carbon nanotubes; holey fibres; Schrodinger equation; photonic crystals; supercontinuum generation; laser mode locking; optical fibre dispersion

Other keywords: normal dispersion regime; normal dispersion highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibre; passively fibre mode-locked laser; self-phase modulation; linear frequency chirp; wavelength 1.5 mum; nonlinear Schrodinger equation; flat super-continuum generation; time 620 fs; pulse train; carbon-nanotube-based mode-locked laser; single-walled carbon-nanotube-based saturable absorber

Subjects: Optical transient phenomena, self-induced transparency, optical saturation and related effects; Fibre optics; Optical propagation, dispersion and attenuation in fibres; Laser beam modulation, pulsing and switching; mode locking and tuning; Laser beam modulation, pulsing and switching; mode locking and tuning; Optical self-focusing and related effects; Optical materials; Beam trapping, self focusing, thermal blooming, and related effects; Other fibre optical devices and techniques; Optical saturation and related effects; Photonic bandgap materials

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