Optical frequency comb generation in gas-filled hollow core photonic crystal fibres

F Couny, F Benabid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The efficiency of gas-based nonlinear processes is often limited by the diffraction of the pump laser as it propagates through the nonlinear medium. As a consequence, phenomena with strong nonlinear response requirements, such as high harmonic generation or Raman sideband generation, lack the required laser-matter interaction to fulfil their potential. Indeed, the conversion efficiency of these techniques is usually low and the experimental set-up cumbersome. The advent of hollow core photonic crystal fibre technology drafts new territories for nonlinear optics, and in particular offers new alternatives for sub-femtosecond pulse generation. The air-guiding fibre combines unprecedented laser confinement over long interaction lengths and, when filled with an adequate nonlinear gas, offers improved conversion efficiency and up to a million-fold reduction of the pump power threshold. This paper presents a review of the types of hollow core PCF available for nonlinear applications and the results obtained for efficient Raman conversion in H-2-filled hollow core PCF that led to the observation of a multi-octave frequency comb spanning from similar to 325 to similar to 2300 nm using a single pump laser with relatively low power. The generated ultra-broad spectrum creates a simple route towards a compact source of attosecond pulses.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics
Volume11
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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