Highly functional all-optical control using ultrafast nonlinear phenomena in optical fibers

Using the ultrashort pulse and highly nonlinear fibers, we can obtain large nonlinear optical effects effectively. The group of author has been working on the highly functional optical control using ultrafast nonlinear optical effects induced by ultrashort pulse. We have demonstrated 1.55-2.0 mum and 1.0-1.7 mum widely wavelength tunable ultrashort pulse generation system by use of ultrashort pulse fiber laser and optical fibers. We have also demonstrated 1.0-2.0 mum ultrawideband super continuum generation in all fiber system. Recently, low noise and highly coherent high quality super continuum generation has been demonstrated for the first time. The octave spanning high quality super continuum is also generated using high energy soliton pulse. The group of author has discovered the two novel pulse trapping phenomena; pulse trapping across the zero-dispersion wavelength and trapped pulse amplification. Using the pulse trapping, we can tune the wavelength, output time, and temporal shape of trapped pulse. We can also trap the only arbitrary one pulse in the pulse train selectively using this technique. For the trapped pulse amplification, we can amplify the trapped pulse through the Raman gain of control pulse. The highly functional ~1 THz ultrafast all optical switching is also demonstrated by use of these techniques.