Showing papers on "Ultrashort pulse published in 2020"

Tunable isolated attosecond X-ray pulses with gigawatt peak power from a free-electron laser

Abstract: The quantum-mechanical motion of electrons in molecules and solids occurs on the sub-femtosecond timescale. Consequently, the study of ultrafast electronic phenomena requires the generation of laser pulses shorter than 1 fs and of sufficient intensity to interact with their target with high probability. Probing these dynamics with atomic-site specificity requires the extension of sub-femtosecond pulses to the soft X-ray spectral region. Here, we report the generation of isolated soft X-ray attosecond pulses with an X-ray free-electron laser. Our source has a pulse energy that is millions of times larger than any other source of isolated attosecond pulses in the soft X-ray spectral region, with a peak power exceeding 100 GW. This unique combination of high intensity, high photon energy and short pulse duration enables the investigation of electron dynamics with X-ray nonlinear spectroscopy and single-particle imaging, unlocking a path towards a new era of attosecond science. The generation of ultrashort X-ray pulses with a peak power exceeding 100 GW offers new opportunities for studying electron dynamics with nonlinear spectroscopy and single-particle imaging.

Ultrafast Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Open Challenges.

Abstract: Ultrafast spectroscopy techniques use sequences of ultrashort light pulses (with femto- to attosecond durations) to study photoinduced dynamical processes in atoms, molecules, nanostructures, and s...

Strong-field nano-optics

Abstract: The present status and development of strong-field nano-optics, an emerging field of nonlinear optics, is discussed. A nonperturbative regime of light-matter interactions is reached when the amplitude of the external electromagnetic fields that are driving a material approach or exceed the field strengths that bind the electrons inside the medium. In this strong-field regime, light-matter interactions depend on the amplitude and phase of the field, rather than its intensity, as in more conventional perturbative nonlinear optics. Traditionally such strong-field interactions have been intensely investigated in atomic and molecular systems, and this has resulted in the generation of high-harmonic radiation and laid the foundations for contemporary attosecond science. Over the past decade, however, a new field of research has emerged, the study of strong-field interactions in solid-state nanostructures. By using nanostructures, specifically those made out of metals, external electromagnetic fields can be localized on length scales of just a few nanometers, resulting in signficantly enhanced field amplitudes that can exceed those of the external field by orders of magnitude in the vicinity of the nanostructures. This leads not only to dramatic enhancements of perturbative nonlinear optical effects but also to significantly increased photoelectron yields. It resulted in a wealth of new phenomena in laser-solid interactions that have been discovered in recent years. These include the observation of above-threshold photoemission from single nanostructures, effects of the carrier-envelope phase on the photoelectron emission yield from metallic nanostructures, and strong-field acceleration of electrons in optical near fields on subcycle timescales. The current state of the art of this field is reviewed, and several scientific applications that have already emerged from the fundamental discoveries are discussed. These include, among others, the coherent control of localized electromagnetic fields at the surface of solid-state nanostructures and of free-electron wave packets by such optical near fields, resulting in the creation of attosecond electron bunches, the coherent control of photocurrents on nanometer length and femtosecond timescales by the electric field of a laser pulse, and the development of new types of ultrafast electron microscopes with unprecedented spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. The review concludes by highlighting possible future developments, discussing emerging topics in photoemission and potential strong-field nanophotonic devices, and giving perspectives for coherent ultrafast microscopy techniques. More generally, it is shown that the synergy between ultrafast science, plasmonics, and strong-field physics holds promise for pioneering scientific discoveries in the upcoming years. (Less)

Ultralow-loss geometric phase and polarization shaping by ultrafast laser writing in silica glass

Abstract: Polarization and geometric phase shaping via a space-variant anisotropy has attracted considerable interest for fabrication of flat optical elements and generation of vector beams with applications in various areas of science and technology. Among the methods for anisotropy patterning, imprinting of self-assembled nanograting structures in silica glass by femtosecond laser writing is promising for the fabrication of space-variant birefringent optics with high thermal and chemical durability and high optical damage threshold. However, a drawback is the optical loss due to the light scattering by nanograting structures, which has limited the application. Here, we report a new type of ultrafast laser-induced modification in silica glass, which consists of randomly distributed nanopores elongated in the direction perpendicular to the polarization, providing controllable birefringent structures with transmittance as high as 99% in the visible and near-infrared ranges and >90% in the UV range down to 330 nm. The observed anisotropic nanoporous silica structures are fundamentally different from the femtosecond laser-induced nanogratings and conventional nanoporous silica. A mechanism of nanocavitation via interstitial oxygen generation mediated by multiphoton and avanlanche defect ionization is proposed. We demonstrate ultralow-loss geometrical phase optical elements, including geometrical phase prism and lens, and a vector beam convertor in silica glass.

Tracking attosecond electronic coherences using phase-manipulated extreme ultraviolet pulses

Abstract: The recent development of ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (XUV) coherent light sources bears great potential for a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of matter. Promising routes are advanced coherent control and nonlinear spectroscopy schemes in the XUV energy range, yielding unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. However, their implementation has been hampered by the experimental challenge of generating XUV pulse sequences with precisely controlled timing and phase properties. In particular, direct control and manipulation of the phase of individual pulses within an XUV pulse sequence opens exciting possibilities for coherent control and multidimensional spectroscopy, but has not been accomplished. Here, we overcome these constraints in a highly time-stabilized and phase-modulated XUV-pump, XUV-probe experiment, which directly probes the evolution and dephasing of an inner subshell electronic coherence. This approach, avoiding any XUV optics for direct pulse manipulation, opens up extensive applications of advanced nonlinear optics and spectroscopy at XUV wavelengths. Light pulses with controllable parameters are desired for studying the fundamental properties of matter. Here the authors generate and use phase-manipulated and highly time-stable XUV pulse pairs to probe the coherent evolution and dephasing of XUV electronic coherences in helium and argon.

Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography at the European XFEL.

Abstract: The European XFEL (EuXFEL) is a 3.4-km long X-ray source, which produces femtosecond, ultrabrilliant and spatially coherent X-ray pulses at megahertz (MHz) repetition rates. This X-ray source has been designed to enable the observation of ultrafast processes with near-atomic spatial resolution. Time-resolved crystallographic investigations on biological macromolecules belong to an important class of experiments that explore fundamental and functional structural displacements in these molecules. Due to the unusual MHz X-ray pulse structure at the EuXFEL, these experiments are challenging. Here, we demonstrate how a biological reaction can be followed on ultrafast timescales at the EuXFEL. We investigate the picosecond time range in the photocycle of photoactive yellow protein (PYP) with MHz X-ray pulse rates. We show that difference electron density maps of excellent quality can be obtained. The results connect the previously explored femtosecond PYP dynamics to timescales accessible at synchrotrons. This opens the door to a wide range of time-resolved studies at the EuXFEL.

10.4 kW coherently combined ultrafast fiber laser

Abstract: An ultrafast laser delivering 10.4 kW average output power based on a coherent combination of 12 step-index fiber amplifiers is presented. The system emits close-to-transform-limited 254 fs pulses at an 80 MHz repetition rate, and has a high beam quality (M2≤1.2) and a low relative intensity noise of 0.56% in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 MHz. Automated spatiotemporal alignment allows for hands-off operation.

Ultrafast photonics of two dimensional AuTe 2 Se 4/3 in fiber lasers

Abstract: The exploration of promising nonlinear optical materials, which allows for the construction of high-performance optical devices in fundamental and industrial applications, has become one of the fastest-evolving research interests in recent decades and plays a key role in the development and innovation of optics in the future. Here, by utilizing the optical nonlinearity of a recently synthesized, two dimensional material AuTe2Se4/3 prepared by the self-flux method, a passively mode-locked fiber laser operating at 1557.53 nm is achieved with 147.7 fs pulse duration as well as impressive stability (up to 91 dB). The proposed mode-locked fiber laser reveals superior overall performance compared with previously reported lasers which are more widely studied in the same band. Our work not only investigates the optical nonlinearity of AuTe2Se4/3, but also demonstrates its ultrafast photonics application. These results may stimulate further innovation and advancement in the field of nonlinear optics and ultrafast photonics. Two dimensional materials can exhibit unique optical properties, making them interesting for new photonic devices and laser sources. Here, the strong optical nonlinearity of AuTe2Se4/3 is exploited to achieve a femtosecond infra-red laser with high stability.

VSe2 nanosheets for ultrafast fiber lasers

Abstract: In this work, we investigate VSe2 for generating femtosecond and large energy mode-locked laser pulses for the first time. Two types of VSe2 based saturable absorbers (SAs), microfiber–VSe2 and VSe2/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), are prepared, which exhibit strong nonlinear optical characteristics with a modulation depth (ΔT) of 22.5% and 1.849%, respectively. In contrast to other transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), theoretical calculations show that VSe2 is a metallic TMDC SA. With the implementation of microfiber–VSe2, conventional soliton mode-locking Er-doped fiber (EDF) laser is demonstrated with an ultrashort pulse duration of 910 fs. Based on VSe2/PVA, a large energy EDF laser is established. The maximum single pulse energy is 25.57 nJ. This study suggests that VSe2 possesses application potential in ultrafast photonics and provides a valuable strategy for the development of TMDC based devices with desirable optoelectronic properties.

Sub-femtosecond electron transport in a nanoscale gap

Abstract: The strong fields associated with few-cycle pulses can drive highly nonlinear phenomena, allowing the direct control of electrons in condensed matter systems. In this context, by employing near-infrared single-cycle pulse pairs, we measure interferometric autocorrelations of the ultrafast currents induced by optical field emission at the nanogap of a single plasmonic nanocircuit. The dynamics of this ultrafast electron nanotransport depends on the precise temporal field profile of the optical driving pulse. Current autocorrelations are acquired with sub-femtosecond temporal resolution as a function of both pulse delay and absolute carrier-envelope phase. Quantitative modelling of the experiments enables us to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of the electron density and currents induced in the system and to elucidate the physics underlying the electron transfer driven by strong optical fields in plasmonic gaps. Specifically, we clarify the interplay between the carrier-envelope phase of the driving pulse, plasmonic resonance and quiver motion. Single-cycle interferometric autocorrelation measurements of electrons tunnelling across the gap of a plasmonic bowtie antenna and quantitative models provide insight into the physical interactions that drive the electron transfer.

Niobium disulfide as a new saturable absorber for an ultrafast fiber laser

Abstract: Group VB transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are emerging two-dimensional materials and have attracted significant interests in the fields of physics, chemistry, and material sciences. However, there are very few reports about the optical characteristics and ultrafast photonic applications based on group VB TMDCs so far. In this work, we have calculated the niobium disulfide (NbS2) band structure by the density functional theory (DFT), which has revealed that NbS2 is a metallic TMDC. In addition, we have prepared an NbS2-microfiber device and the nonlinear optical characteristics have been investigated. The modulation depth, saturation intensity and non-saturable loss have been measured to be 13.7%, 59.93 MW cm−2 and 17.74%, respectively. Based on the nonlinear optical modulation effect, the Er-doped fiber (EDF) laser works in the soliton mode-locking state with the pump power of 94–413 mW. The pulse duration of 709 fs and the maximum average output power of 23.34 mW have been obtained at the pump power of 413 mW. The slope efficiency is as high as 6.79%. Compared to the recently reported studies based on TMDCs comprehensively, our experimental results are better. These experimental results demonstrate that NbS2 with excellent nonlinear optical properties can be used as a promising candidate to advance the development of ultrafast photonics.

Optical fibres with embedded two-dimensional materials for ultrahigh nonlinearity.

Abstract: Nonlinear optical fibres have been employed for a vast number of applications, including optical frequency conversion, ultrafast laser and optical communication1–4. In current manufacturing technologies, nonlinearity is realized by the injection of nonlinear materials into fibres5–7 or the fabrication of microstructured fibres8–10. Both strategies, however, suffer from either low optical nonlinearity or poor design flexibility. Here, we report the direct growth of MoS2, a highly nonlinear two-dimensional material11, onto the internal walls of a SiO2 optical fibre. This growth is realized via a two-step chemical vapour deposition method, where a solid precursor is pre-deposited to guarantee a homogeneous feedstock before achieving uniform two-dimensional material growth along the entire fibre walls. By using the as-fabricated 25-cm-long fibre, both second- and third-harmonic generation could be enhanced by ~300 times compared with monolayer MoS2/silica. Propagation losses remain at ~0.1 dB cm–1 for a wide frequency range. In addition, we demonstrate an all-fibre mode-locked laser (~6 mW output, ~500 fs pulse width and ~41 MHz repetition rate) by integrating the two-dimensional-material-embedded optical fibre as a saturable absorber. Initial tests show that our fabrication strategy is amenable to other transition metal dichalcogenides, making these embedded fibres versatile for several all-fibre nonlinear optics and optoelectronics applications. The internal surface of an optical fibre can be covered by uniform two-dimensional-material layers for highly nonlinear and low-loss light propagation.

The pure-quartic soliton laser

Abstract: Ultrashort pulse generation hinges on the careful management of dispersion. Traditionally, this has exclusively involved second-order dispersion, with higher-order dispersion treated as a nuisance to be minimized. Here, we show that this higher-order dispersion can be strategically leveraged to access an uncharted regime of ultrafast laser operation. In particular, our mode-locked laser—with an intracavity spectral pulse shaper—emits pure-quartic soliton pulses that arise from the interaction of fourth-order dispersion and the Kerr nonlinearity. Phase-resolved measurements demonstrate that their pulse energy scales with the third power of the inverse pulse duration. This implies a strong increase in the energy of short pure-quartic solitons compared with conventional solitons, for which the energy scales as the inverse of the pulse duration. These results not only demonstrate a novel approach to ultrafast lasers, but more fundamentally, they clarify the use of higher-order dispersion for optical pulse control, enabling innovations in nonlinear optics and its applications. By suppressing the second- and third-order intracavity dispersion using an intracavity spectral pulse shaper, a mode-locked laser that emits pure-quartic soliton pulses that arise from the interaction of the fourth-order dispersion and the Kerr nonlinearity is demonstrated.

Dynamical Control over Terahertz Electromagnetic Interference Shielding with 2D Ti3C2Ty MXene by Ultrafast Optical Pulses.

Abstract: High electrical conductivity and strong absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range by metallic 2D MXene Ti3C2Ty make it a promising material for electromagnetic interference shielding, THz detectors, and transparent conducting electrodes. Here, we demonstrate that ultrafast optical pulses with wavelengths straddling the visible range (400 and 800 nm) induce transient broad-band THz transparency in the MXene that persists for nanoseconds. We demonstrate that optically induced transient THz transparency is independent of temperature from 95 to 290 K. This discovery opens new possibilities for development of switchable electromagnetic interference shielding materials and devices that can be rendered partially transparent on demand for transmitting THz signals, or for designing new THz devices such as sensitive optically gated detectors.

Relativistic-intensity near-single-cycle light waveforms at kHz repetition rate

Abstract: The development of ultra-intense and ultra-short light sources is currently a subject of intense research driven by the discovery of novel phenomena in the realm of relativistic optics, such as the production of ultrafast energetic particle and radiation beams for applications. It has been a long-standing challenge to unite two hitherto distinct classes of light sources: those achieving relativistic intensity and those with pulse durations approaching a single light cycle. While the former class traditionally involves large-scale amplification chains, the latter class places high demand on the spatiotemporal control of the electromagnetic laser field. Here, we present a light source producing waveform-controlled 1.5-cycle pulses with a 719 nm central wavelength that can be focused to relativistic intensity at a 1 kHz repetition rate based on nonlinear post-compression in a long hollow-core fiber. The unique capabilities of this source allow us to observe the first experimental indications of light waveform effects in laser wakefield acceleration of relativistic energy electrons. A pioneering laser source combines extremely high intensity and fast-repeating pulses with ultra-short pulse duration, opening new opportunities in the field of research and technology called relativistic optics. This requires lasers that are sufficiently intense to accelerate particles such as electrons to close to light speed, when effects of relativity theory become increasingly significant. Marie Ouille and colleagues at the CNRS Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquee in France, with co-workers in Germany, combined laser sources with light compression and manipulation methods to generate relativistic intensity pulses almost as short as a single cycle of the light wave. They say their system is currently the only light source capable of achieving pulses shorter than four femtoseconds combined with peak powers up to 1 terawatt. The researchers also demonstrated precise control over the fine structure of the light pulses.

Emerging High-Performance SnS/CdS Nanoflower Heterojunction for Ultrafast Photonics.

Abstract: Metal sulfide nanomaterials show many unique photoelectric properties when they are constructed as heterojunction materials, which have made them attractive in recent years. Among various applications of these heterojunction materials, nonlinear optical properties and related applications are promising research fields. Herein, a novel high performance SnS/CdS nanoflower heterostructure is successfully prepared by a water bath method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images suggest the formation of a nanoheterojunction between SnS and CdS. In addition, a large modulation depth (13.6%) and a low saturation intensity (230.6 MW/cm2) of the SnS/CdS heterostructure are demonstrated, which indicates the outstanding potential of the SnS/CdS heterostructure in photonics among the other emerging novel nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Meanwhile, the surface morphology, structures, and optical characteristics of the as-prepared SnS/CdS nanoflower sample are systemically analyzed. Furthermore, an ultrashort pulse laser with a fundamental repetition rate of 34.3 MHz, a pulse width of 558 fs, and a spectral width of 8.6 nm is realized at a central wavelength of 1560.8 nm. More importantly, we have successfully realized a soliton molecule with controllable pulse-pulse separation from 2.8 to 10.2 ps by controlling the phase difference of the cavity. This work reveals the excellent nonlinear optical properties of the SnS/CdS heterostructure and lays a foundation for its development in advanced optical modulators, saturable absorbers, and optical switching devices.

Few-Layer Bismuthene for Coexistence of Harmonic and Dual Wavelength in a Mode-Locked Fiber Laser

Abstract: Bismuthene, as a novel two-dimensional (2D) material, has attracted extensive attention because of its outstanding properties including narrow band gap, stability at room temperature, nonlinear optical transmission, and so on. In this paper, the physical characteristic, nonlinear optical response, and ultrafast photonics application of few-layer bismuthene are studied experimentally. By the balanced twin-detector measurement method, the saturable absorption property of few-layer bismuthene with a modulation depth of 2.5% and saturable intensity of 110 MW/cm2 at the optical communication band (C-band) is illustrated. Dependent on a few-layer bismuthene saturable absorber, an all-fiber ultrashort pulse laser is fabricated and the proposed fiber laser can operate with coexistence of harmonic mode-locking and dual-wavelength mode-locking. The different laser generations of harmonic and dual wavelength depend on the saturable absorption of few-layer bismuthene, the suitable birefringence and nonlinearity strength in the laser cavity. The results suggest that the ultrashort pulse laser obtained based on few-layer bismuthene could be applied to the field of pump-probe experiments and tunable terahertz radiation generation potentially.

Adiabatic frequency shifting in epsilon near zero materials: The role of group velocity

Abstract: The conversion of a photon’s frequency has long been a key application area of nonlinear optics. It has been discussed how a slow temporal variation of a material’s refractive index can lead to the adiabatic frequency shift (AFS) of a pulse spectrum. Such a rigid spectral change has relevant technological implications, for example, in ultrafast signal processing. Here, we investigate the AFS process in epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials and show that the frequency shift can be achieved in a shorter length if operating in the vicinity of ${\rm Re}\{{\varepsilon _r}\}\; = \;{0}$Re{er}=0. We also predict that, if the refractive index is induced by an intense optical pulse, the frequency shift is more efficient for a pump at the ENZ wavelength. Remarkably, we show that these effects are a consequence of the slow propagation speed of pulses at the ENZ wavelength. Our theoretical predictions are validated by experiments obtained for the AFS of optical pulses incident upon aluminum zinc oxide thin films at ENZ. Our results indicate that transparent metal oxides operating near the ENZ point are good candidates for future frequency conversion schemes.

Towards jitter-free ultrafast electron diffraction technology

Abstract: Stroboscopic visualization of nuclear or electron dynamics in atoms, molecules or solids requires ultrafast pump and probe pulses and a close to perfect synchronization between the two. We have developed a 3 MeV ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) probe technology that nominally reduces the electron bunch duration and the arrival time jitter to the subfemtosecond level. This simple configuration uses a radiofrequency photogun and a 90° achromatic bend and is designed to provide effectively jitter-free conditions. Terahertz streaking measurements reveal an electron bunch duration of 25 fs, even for a charge as high as 0.6 pC, and an arrival time jitter of 7.8 fs, the latter limited by only the measurement accuracy. From pump–probe measurements of photoexcited bismuth films, the instrument response function was determined to be 31 fs. This pioneering jitter-free technique paves the way towards UED of attosecond phenomena in atomic, molecular and solid-state dynamics. An ultrafast electron diffraction facility with an overall temporal resolution of 31 fs root mean square is developed. Even for a charge as high as 0.6 pC, the electron bunch duration and timing jitter are 25 fs and less than 10 fs, respectively.

Light-induced magnetism in plasmonic gold nanoparticles

Abstract: Strategies for the ultrafast optical control of magnetism have been a topic of intense research for several decades because of the potential impact in technologies such as magnetic memory1, spintronics2 and quantum computation, as well as the opportunities for nonlinear optical control and modulation3 in applications such as optical isolation and non-reciprocity4. Here we report experimental quantification of optically induced magnetization in plasmonic gold nanoparticles due to the inverse Faraday effect. The induced magnetic moment is large under typical ultrafast pulse excitation (<1014 W m−2 peak intensity), with magnetization and demagnetization kinetics that are instantaneous within the subpicosecond time resolution of our study. Our results support a mechanism of coherent transfer of angular momentum from the optical field to the electron gas, and open the door to all-optical subwavelength strategies for optical isolation that do not require externally applied magnetic fields. Optically induced magnetization is experimentally demonstrated using gold nanoparticles. The inverse-Faraday-effect-enabled magnetization may lead to new types of compact optical isolator.

SnSSe as a saturable absorber for an ultrafast laser with superior stability

Abstract: Compared with ${{\rm SnS}_2}$SnS2 and ${{\rm SnSe}_2}$SnSe2, SnSSe shows high hole mobilities and short relaxation time, resulting in potential applications in photoelectric devices. Here SnSSe is investigated for the ultrashort pulse generation in the mode-locked fiber laser. The prepared SnSSe saturable absorber (SA) exhibits a large modulation depth of 56.75%. Because of the saturable absorption characteristic of the SnSSe SA, mode-locked pulses as short as 158.6 fs with a signal-to-noise ratio of 94 dB are obtained at 1560.9 nm. The nonlinear exploration of SnSSe offers the possibility to explore further applications of SnSSe in near-infrared regions, especially for ultrafast photonic devices and modulators.

Zero-Dimensional MXene-Based Optical Devices for Ultrafast and Ultranarrow Photonics Applications.

Abstract: In recent years, MXene has become a hotspot because of its good conductivity, strong broadband absorption, and tunable band gap. In this contribution, 0D MXene Ti3C2Tx quantum dots are synthesized by a liquid exfoliation method and a wideband nonlinear optical response from 800 to 1550 nm is studied, which have a larger nonlinear absorption coefficient β of -(11.24 ± 0.14) × 10-2 cm GW-1. The carrier dynamic processes of 0D MXene are explored with ultrahigh time resolution nondegenerate transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy, which indicates that the TA signal reaches its maximum in 1.28 ps. Furthermore, 0D MXene is used to generate ultrashort pulses in erbium or ytterbium-doped fiber laser cavity. High signal-to-noise (72 dB) femtosecond lasers with pulse durations as short as 170 fs with spectrum bandwidth of 14.8 nm are obtained. Finally, an ultranarrow fiber laser based on 0D MXene is also investigated and has a full width at half maximum of only 5 kHz, and the power fluctuation is less than 0.75% of the average power. The experimental works prove that 0D MXene is an excellent SA and has a promising application in ultrafast and ultranarrow photonics.

Intelligent control of mode-locked femtosecond pulses by time-stretch-assisted real-time spectral analysis.

Abstract: Mode-locked fiber lasers based on nonlinear polarization evolution can generate femtosecond pulses with different pulse widths and rich spectral distributions for versatile applications through polarization tuning. However, a precise and repeatable location of a specific pulsation regime is extremely challenging. Here, by using fast spectral analysis based on a time-stretched dispersion Fourier transform as the spectral discrimination criterion, along with an intelligent polarization search algorithm, for the first time, we achieved real-time control of the spectral width and shape of mode-locked femtosecond pulses; the spectral width can be tuned from 10 to 40 nm with a resolution of ~1.47 nm, and the spectral shape can be programmed to be hyperbolic secant or triangular. Furthermore, we reveal the complex, repeatable transition dynamics of the spectrum broadening of femtosecond pulses, including five middle phases, which provides deep insight into ultrashort pulse formation that cannot be observed with traditional mode-locked lasers. A method providing greater control over very short duration light pulses generated by systems called mode-locked fiber lasers (MLFLs) will enhance the use of the light in such diverse applications as atomic clocks, radars, optical computing, measuring systems and astronomy. Researchers in China led by Lilin Yi at Shanghai Jiao Tong University developed apparatus and software algorithms allowing automatic ‘intelligent control’ over the generation of MLFL light pulses. The system can manipulate key aspects of the frequency range and composition of the pulses – technically their ‘spectral width’ and ‘spectral shape’ – more effectively than previously possible. The procedure also yields new technical insights into the factors determining the nature of the generated light pulses. The researchers believe their low-cost and portable system will find widespread application in research and industry.

Ultrafast all-optical switching enabled by epsilon-near-zero-tailored absorption in metal-insulator nanocavities

Abstract: Ultrafast control of light−matter interactions is fundamental in view of new technological frontiers of information processing However, conventional optical elements are either static or feature switching speeds that are extremely low with respect to the time scales at which it is possible to control light Here, we exploit the artificial epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) modes of a metal-insulator-metal nanocavity to tailor the linear photon absorption of our system and realize a nondegenerate all-optical ultrafast modulation of the reflectance at a specific wavelength Optical pumping of the system at its high energy ENZ mode leads to a strong redshift of the low energy mode because of the transient increase of the local dielectric function, which leads to a sub-3-ps control of the reflectance at a specific wavelength with a relative modulation depth approaching 120% All-optical switching allows control of one optical signal using another, holding potential to overcome the limitations of electrical switches via ultrafast manipulation of light In this work, sub-3 ps all-optical switching is achieved in an epsilon-near-zero nanocavity, exhibiting a relative modulation depth of 120% at a specific wavelength

Resonant excitation and all-optical switching of femtosecond soliton molecules

Abstract: The emergence of confined structures and pattern formation are exceptional manifestations of nonlinear interactions found in a variety of physical, chemical and biological systems1. Facilitated by optical nonlinearities, solitons enable ultrashort temporal confinement of light and stable propagation despite the presence of dispersion. Such particle-like structures can assemble in stable arrangements, forming ‘soliton molecules’2,3. Recent work has revealed oscillatory internal motions of these bound states, akin to molecular vibrations4–9, raising the question of how far the ‘molecular’ analogy reaches, that is, whether further concepts from molecular spectroscopy apply and whether such intramolecular dynamics can be externally driven or manipulated. Here, we probe and control ultrashort bound states in an optical oscillator, using real-time spectral interferometry and time-dependent excitation. For a frequency-swept pump modulation, we analyse the nonlinear response and resolve anharmonicities in soliton interactions that lead to generation of overtones and sub-harmonics. Applying stronger stimuli, we demonstrate all-optical switching between states with different binding separations. These results could be applied to rapid pulse-pair generation and may stimulate the development of future instruments for ultrafast science. By driving ultrafast soliton molecules with an all-optical external perturbation and monitoring their response in real time, a form of spectroscopy of soliton molecules akin to optical spectroscopy of chemical bonds is introduced.

Determination of Electron Band Structure using Temporal Interferometry.

Abstract: We propose an all-optical method to directly reconstruct the band structure of semiconductors. Our scheme is based on the temporal Young's interferometer realized by high harmonic generation with a few-cycle laser pulse. As a time-energy domain interferometer, temporal interference encodes the band structure into the fringe in the energy domain. The relation between the band structure and the emitted harmonic frequencies is established. This enables us to retrieve the band structure from the spectrum of high harmonic generation with a single-shot measurement. Our scheme paves the way to study matters under ambient conditions and to track the ultrafast modification of band structures.