A topical review of numerical and experimental studies of supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber is presented over the full range of experimentally reported parameters, from the femtosecond to the continuous-wave regime. Results from numerical simulations are used to discuss the temporal and spectral characteristics of the supercontinuum, and to interpret the physics of the underlying spectral broadening processes. Particular attention is given to the case of supercontinuum generation seeded by femtosecond pulses in the anomalous group velocity dispersion regime of photonic crystal fiber, where the processes of soliton fission, stimulated Raman scattering, and dispersive wave generation are reviewed in detail. The corresponding intensity and phase stability properties of the supercontinuum spectra generated under different conditions are also discussed.

Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber

This paper gives the 2010 self-consistent set of values of the basic constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) for international use. The 2010 adjustment takes into account the data considered in the 2006 adjustment as well as the data that became available from 1 January 2007, after the closing date of that adjustment, until 31 December 2010, the closing date of the new adjustment. Further, it describes in detail the adjustment of the values of the constants, including the selection of the final set of input data based on the results of least-squares analyses. The 2010 set replaces the previously recommended 2006 CODATA set and may also be found on the World Wide Web at physics.nist.gov/constants.

/pdf/codata-recommended-values-of-the-fundamental-physical-4bsdant71c.pdf

CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2006

The rise in output power from rare-earth-doped fiber sources over the past decade, via the use of cladding-pumped fiber architectures, has been dramatic, leading to a range of fiber-based devices with outstanding performance in terms of output power, beam quality, overall efficiency, and flexibility with regard to operating wavelength and radiation format. This success in the high-power arena is largely due to the fiber’s geometry, which provides considerable resilience to the effects of heat generation in the core, and facilitates efficient conversion from relatively low-brightness diode pump radiation to high-brightness laser output. In this paper we review the current state of the art in terms of continuous-wave and pulsed performance of ytterbium-doped fiber lasers, the current fiber gain medium of choice, and by far the most developed in terms of high-power performance. We then review the current status and challenges of extending the technology to other rare-earth dopants and associated wavelengths of operation. Throughout we identify the key factors currently limiting fiber laser performance in different operating regimes—in particular thermal management, optical nonlinearity, and damage. Finally, we speculate as to the likely developments in pump laser technology, fiber design and fabrication, architectural approaches, and functionality that lie ahead in the coming decade and the implications they have on fiber laser performance and industrial/scientific adoption.

High power fiber lasers: current status and future perspectives [Invited]

The history, fabrication, theory, numerical modeling, optical properties, guidance mechanisms, and applications of photonic-crystal fibers are reviewed

Photonic-Crystal Fibers

A review on the latest developments on graphene, written from the perspective of a chemist, is presented. The role of chemistry in bringing graphene research to the next level is discussed.

The chemistry of graphene

Laser Induced Rise of Luminescence Efficiency in Bi-Doped Glass

Using a computer simulation, the authors have studied self-start of passive mode-locking in a laser with a nonlinear mirror in the form of a fiber loop reflector. They have demonstrated that intracavity interferometric pulse compression in a nonlinear resonator makes it possible to broaden the bandwidth and to accomplish efficient pulse shortening. Stable solutions have been found for perfect mode-locking with a steady-state pulse bandwidth which essentially exceeds the gain bandwidth. >

Intracavity pulse compression in a laser with nonlinear resonator

Picosecond structure of the pump pulse in stimulated Raman scattering in a single-mode optical fiber

The possibility of producing tungsten-telluride glasses using plasma chemical vapor phase deposition using corresponding chlorides as source components has been experimentally demonstrated. Homogeneous layers in the entire vitrification range of the TeO2-WO3 system have been obtained. The concentration of metal impurities in the deposited layers does not exceed n × 10−4 wt % that is comparable with their concentration in the source chlorides. Using the techniques of differential scanning calorimetry and Raman scattering, it has been shown that, at the melting stage, the layers obtained are vitreous and comparable in their characteristics with the glasses fabricated using traditional techniques.

Fabrication of glasses in the TeO2-WO3 system using plasma chemical oxidation of tellurium and tungsten chlorides

The mechanisms of light scattering losses ∝ s in fibers fabricated by plastic deformation of silver and thallium halide crystals have been analysed. It was found that the power index 7 in the loss dependence on wavelenght λ(∝ s ~λ -7 ) continuosly changes in the range -0.5 s and η by evolution of the micropores distribution and by exsistence of vacancy excess in fibers. The average diameter D of effective micropores and their concentration N are determined from the spectra We observed these micropores in KRS-5 and KRS-13 polycrystalline fibers.

E. M. Dianov

Papers

Laser Induced Rise of Luminescence Efficiency in Bi-Doped Glass

Intracavity pulse compression in a laser with nonlinear resonator

Picosecond structure of the pump pulse in stimulated Raman scattering in a single-mode optical fiber

Fabrication of glasses in the TeO2-WO3 system using plasma chemical oxidation of tellurium and tungsten chlorides

Light Scattering By Voids In Polycrystalline Fibers