Flat soliton microcomb source

Mode-locked microcombs with flat spectral profiles provide the high signal-to-noise ratio and are in high demand for wavelength division multiplexing(WDM)-based applications,particularly in future high-capacity communication and parallel optical computing.Here,we present two solutions to generate local relatively flat spectral profiles.One microcavity with ultra-flat integrated dispersion is pumped to generate one relatively flat single soliton source spanning over 150 nm.Besides,one extraordinary soliton crystal with single vacancy demonstrates the local relatively flat microcomb lines when the inner soliton spacings are slightly irregular.Our work paves a new way for soliton-based applications owing to the relatively flat spectral characteristics.

Watt-level and spectrally flat mid-infrared supercontinuum in fluoroindate fibers

We report on infrared supercontinuum(SC) generation in step-index fluoroindate-based fiber by using an all-fiber laser source. In comparison to widely used ZBLAN fibers for high-power mid-infrared(MIR) SC generation, fluoroindate fibers have multiphoton absorption edges at significantly longer wavelengths and can sustain similar intensities. Recent developments highlighted in the present study allowed the production of fluoroindate fibers with MIR background loss of 2 dB/km, which is similar to or even better than ZBLAN fibers.By using an all-fiber picosecond laser source based on an erbium amplifier followed by a thulium power amplifier,we demonstrate the generation of 1.0 W infrared SC spanning over 2.25 octaves from 1 μm to 5 μm. The generated MIR SC also exhibits high spectral flatness with a 6 dB spectral bandwidth from 1.91 μm to 4.77 μm and an average power two orders of magnitude greater than in previous demonstrations with a similar spectral distribution.

Spectrally flat supercontinuum generation in a holmium-doped ZBLAN fiber with record power ratio beyond 3μm

A spectrally flat mid-infrared supercontinuum(MIR-SC) spanning 2.8–3.9 μm with a maximum output power of 411 mW was generated in a holmium-doped ZBLAN fiber amplifier(HDZFA). A broadband fiber-based SC covering the 2.4–3.2 μm region was designed to seed the amplifier. Benefiting from the broadband seed laser,the obtained SC had a high spectral flatness of 3 dB over the range of 2.93–3.70 μm(770 nm). A spectral integral showed that the SC power beyond 3 μm was 372 mW, i.e., a power ratio of 90.6% of the total power. This paper,to the best of our knowledge, not only demonstrates the first spectrally flat MIR-SC directly generated in fluoride fiber amplifiers, but also reports the highest power ratio beyond 3 μm obtained in rare-earth-doped fluoride fiber until now.

Analysis of fabrication results for 17×17 polymer arrayed waveguide grating multiplexers with flat spectral responses

Based on transmission theory, a 17 x 17 polymer arrayed waveguide grating （AWG） multiplexer para meter optimization is performed, and the influence of the fabrication results on the transmission characteristics are analyzed. In this paper, we mainly discuss three of the main errors in the fabrication of polymer AWG devices. One is 3n 1, which is caused by the tuning of the core refractive index n 1, the second is 8b, which results from the rotating-coating of the core thickness b, and the other is the non-ideal core cross-section, which is caused by steam redissolution. The effects of the above fabrication errors on the transmission characteristics of the AWG device are investigated, and compensation techniques are proposed. By comparing the theoretical simulation and experimental results, the shift in the transmission spectrum is reduced by 0.028 nm, the 3 dB bandwidth is increased by about 0.036 nm, the insertion loss is reduced by about 3 dB for the central channel and 4.5 dB for the edge channels, and the crosstalk is reduced by 1.5 dB.

Fabrication of 17×17 polymer/Si arrayed waveguide grating with flat spectral response using steam-redissolution technique

Arrayed waveguide grating（AWG） is a key device in the wavelength-division multiplexing（WDM） system, and the flat spectral response of the AWG device is required.In this paper,the RIE process has been improved.By using the steam-redissolution technique,the insertion loss and the crosstalk have been reduced.Experimental results show that the central wavelength is 1550.86 nm,the channel spectral response flatness is about 1.5 dB,3-dB bandwidth is about 0.478 nm,insertion loss is 10.5 dB,and crosstalk is about-22 dB.The insertion loss of an AWG device is reduced by about 3 dB for the central channel and 4.5 dB for the edge channels,and the crosstalk is reduced by 2.5 dB after the steam-redissolution.