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Nonlinear optics in tapered silicon fibres

Nonlinear optics in tapered silicon fibres
Nonlinear optics in tapered silicon fibres
Tapered fibres provide a unique means to manipulate pulse propagation for use in all-optical signal processing applications. Recently, we have demonstrated a new class of taper that is fabricated from our silicon core optical fibre platform. Owing to the high core-cladding index contrast, these silicon tapered fibres can accommodate large taper ratios over short millimetre lengths without introducing any appreciable loss. Such strong tapers allow for unprecedented control over the dispersion and nonlinearity parameters for the tailoring of femtosecond pulse propagation. Using numerical simulations based on realistic tapered fibres with micro to nanoscale core dimensions, we have shown that it is possible to exploit the longitudinally varying waveguide parameters for nonlinear pulse shaping in both the normal and anomalous dispersion regimes. In the normal dispersion regime, we have made use of a decreasing dispersion profile to generate linearly chirped parabolic pulses which allow for high power distortion-free propagation. Similarly, in the anomalous regime a decreasing dispersion profile can be used to compensate for the material losses to allow for soliton propagation, and even soliton compression to generate ultrashort pulses. Due to the broad optical transmission window of silicon, we anticipate that nonlinear pulse shaping in tapered silicon fibres and waveguides will find use not only in the telecoms band, but also extending into the mid-infrared for applications in the life sciences.
Peacock, A.C.
685d924c-ef6b-401b-a0bd-acf1f8e758fc
Healy, N.
26eec85c-8d12-4f21-a67a-022f8dc2daab
Peacock, A.C.
685d924c-ef6b-401b-a0bd-acf1f8e758fc
Healy, N.
26eec85c-8d12-4f21-a67a-022f8dc2daab

Peacock, A.C. and Healy, N. (2012) Nonlinear optics in tapered silicon fibres. SPIE2012: Photonics Europe, Brussels, Belgium. 16 - 19 Apr 2012. (doi:10.1117/12.928091).

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Other)

Abstract

Tapered fibres provide a unique means to manipulate pulse propagation for use in all-optical signal processing applications. Recently, we have demonstrated a new class of taper that is fabricated from our silicon core optical fibre platform. Owing to the high core-cladding index contrast, these silicon tapered fibres can accommodate large taper ratios over short millimetre lengths without introducing any appreciable loss. Such strong tapers allow for unprecedented control over the dispersion and nonlinearity parameters for the tailoring of femtosecond pulse propagation. Using numerical simulations based on realistic tapered fibres with micro to nanoscale core dimensions, we have shown that it is possible to exploit the longitudinally varying waveguide parameters for nonlinear pulse shaping in both the normal and anomalous dispersion regimes. In the normal dispersion regime, we have made use of a decreasing dispersion profile to generate linearly chirped parabolic pulses which allow for high power distortion-free propagation. Similarly, in the anomalous regime a decreasing dispersion profile can be used to compensate for the material losses to allow for soliton propagation, and even soliton compression to generate ultrashort pulses. Due to the broad optical transmission window of silicon, we anticipate that nonlinear pulse shaping in tapered silicon fibres and waveguides will find use not only in the telecoms band, but also extending into the mid-infrared for applications in the life sciences.

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More information

Published date: 1 June 2012
Venue - Dates: SPIE2012: Photonics Europe, Brussels, Belgium, 2012-04-16 - 2012-04-19
Organisations: Optoelectronics Research Centre

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 363558
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/363558
PURE UUID: 20961be1-e688-42f0-ac0e-4ed3f0d3cc1a
ORCID for A.C. Peacock: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1940-7172

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 27 Mar 2014 11:11
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:15

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Contributors

Author: A.C. Peacock ORCID iD
Author: N. Healy

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