Cross-phase-modulation-induced temporal reflection and waveguiding of optical pulses

Journal Article · 30 January 2018 · Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.35.000436 · OSTI ID:1423130

Plansinis, Brent W. ^[1]; Donaldson, William R. ^[2]; Agrawal, Govind P. ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics and Inst. of Optics; Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
2. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
3. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics and Inst. of Optics

Cross-phase modulation (XPM) is commonly viewed as a nonlinear process that chirps a probe pulse and modifies its spectrum when an intense pump pulse overlaps with it. Here we present an alternative view of XPM in which the pump pulse creates a moving refractive-index boundary that splits the probe pulse into two parts with distinct optical spectra through temporal reflection and refraction inside a dispersive nonlinear medium. The probe even undergoes a temporal version of total internal reflection for sufficiently intense pump pulses, a phenomenon that can be exploited for making temporal waveguides. In this paper we investigate the practical conditions under which XPM can be exploited for temporal reflection and waveguiding. The width and shape of pump pulses as well as the nature of medium dispersion at the pump and probe wavelength (normal versus anomalous) play important roles. A super-Gaussian shape of pump pulses is particularly helpful because of its relatively sharp edges. When the pump wavelength lies in the anomalous-dispersion regime, the pump pulse can form a soliton,whose unique properties can be exploited to advantage. We also discuss a potential application of XPM-induced temporal waveguides for compensating timing jitter.

• Research Organization: University of Rochester, NY (United States). Laboratory for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0001944
• OSTI ID: 1423130
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1418729
• Report Number(s): 2017--219; 1375; {"2017-219, 2332, 1375","Journal ID: ISSN JOBPDE","Journal ID: ISSN 0740-3224"}
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 35; ISSN JOBPDE; ISSN 0740-3224
• Publisher: Optical Society of America (OSA)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English