Ultra-wideband pulse generation based on cross-gain modulation in fiber optical parametric amplifier

Abstract

A novel approach to generate ultra-wideband (UWB) monocycle or doublet pulse using cross-gain modulation in fiber optical parametric amplifier is demonstrated in a single experimental setup. The high-speed optical parametric process realizes the signal amplification, idler generation, and pump depletion simultaneously within femtosecond response time in the highly nonlinear fiber. After the combination of the three lightwaves with a suitable time delay between them, UWB pulse is obtained. A selective generation of monocycle or doublet pulse can be made by altering the optical attenuators without changing the wavelengths or the powers of the pump and the signal. In our experiment, high-quality UWB monocycle and doublet pulses with a fractional bandwidth of 115% and 126% were generated. © 2009 IEEE.