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

Investigations of optical fibre losses in the range from -100°C to 20°C have shown that silicone crystallisation causes a significant loss increase in coated MCVD fibres, irrespective of the secondary jacket material. The application of noncrystallised silicone has provided a low level of the excess losses at low temperatures.

Frost-resistant coated optical fibres

Self-effect and maximum contraction of optical femtosecond wave packets in a nonlinear dispersive medium

Erbium-Doped Fibers Based on Cesium–Silicate Glasses

The fast mode of optical discharge propagation in optical fibres has been discovered. In contrast to the known fibre fuse effect such optical discharge propagation is accompanied by fibre cracks and velocity reaches = 3 km/s under the intensity ≈40 W/m2. (2 pages)

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/10509/33432/01584167.pdf

Fast optical discharge propagation through optical fibres under kW-range laser radiation

We report on oscillators and amplifiers based on all-silica singlemode, large mode area photonic bandgap fibers elaborated by the modified chemical vapour deposition process.

E. M. Dianov

Papers

Frost-resistant coated optical fibres

Self-effect and maximum contraction of optical femtosecond wave packets in a nonlinear dispersive medium

Erbium-Doped Fibers Based on Cesium–Silicate Glasses

Fast optical discharge propagation through optical fibres under kW-range laser radiation

All-silica photonic bandgap fiber oscillators and amplifiers