Ultra-low threshold deep ultraviolet generation in a hollow-core fiber

Mohammed Sabbah, Kerrianne Harrington, Leah R. Murphy, Christian Brahms, Stephanos Yerolatsitis, James M. Stone, Tim A. Birks, John C. Travers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Tunable ultrashort pulses in the ultraviolet spectral region are in great demand for a wide range of applications, including spectroscopy and pump–probe experiments. While laser sources capable of producing such pulses exist, they are typically very complex. Notably, resonant dispersive-wave (RDW) emission has emerged as a simple technique for generating such pulses. However, the required pulse energy used to drive the RDW emission, so far, is mostly at the microjoule level, requiring complicated and expensive pump sources. Here, we present our work on lowering the pump energy threshold for generating tuneable deep ultraviolet pulses to the level of tens of nanojoules. We fabricated a record small-core antiresonant fiber with a hollow-core diameter of just 6 µm. When filled with argon, the small mode area enables higher-order soliton propagation and deep ultraviolet (220 to 270 nm) RDW emission from 36 fs pump pulses at 515 nm with the lowest pump energy reported to date (tens of nanojoules). This approach will allow the use of low-cost and compact laser oscillators to drive nonlinear optics in gas-filled fibers for the first time to our knowledge.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3090-3093
Number of pages4
JournalOptics Letters
Volume49
Issue number11
Early online date27 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2024

Data Availability Statement

Data underlying the results presented in this paper are not publicly available but may be obtained from the authors upon reasonable request.

Funding

Royal Academy of Engineering (RF/202122/21/133); Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET A. F. Harvey Engineering Research Prize); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/T020903/1).

FundersFunder number
Royal Academy Of EngineeringRF/202122/21/133
Royal Academy Of Engineering
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEP/T020903/1
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ultra-low threshold deep ultraviolet generation in a hollow-core fiber'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this