Olivier Deparis

Secure communication scheme using chaotic laser diodes subject to incoherent optical feedback and incoherent optical injection

We propose a secure communication scheme based on anticipating synchronization of two chaotic laser diodes, one subject to incoherent optical feedback and the other to incoherent optical injection. This scheme does not require fine tuning of the optical frequencies of both lasers as is the case for other schemes based on chaotic laser diodes subject to coherent optical feedback and injection. Our secure communication scheme is therefore attractive for experimental investigation.

Statistical properties of stimulated Brillouin scattering in single-mode optical fibers above threshold

We performed numerical simulations to obtain statistical and spectral characteristics of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) initiated by Gaussian noise in single-mode optical fibers. Recently published experimental spectra of SBS power [e.g., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1879 (2000)] are explained completely by a one-dimensional SBS model. We give a clear physical insight into the problem and, for what is to our knowledge the first time, reveal how the probability function of Stokes power, the power-correlation function, and the SBS spectra evolve as key parameters of the model vary, leading to a modification of Stokes field statistics.

Experimental demonstration of suppression of low-frequency fluctuations and stabilization of an external-cavity laser diode

We demonstrate experimentally all-optical stabilization of a single-mode laser diode subject to external optical feedback operating in the low-frequency fluctuations (LFF) regime, by the technique of applying a second delayed optical feedback. We interpret our results as suppression of LFF through destruction of the antimodes responsible for the LFF crises and stabilization of the laser through creation of new maximum gain modes, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions.

Bandpass filters based on π-shifted long-period fiber gratings for actively mode-locked erbium fiber lasers

We have fabricated bandpass filters based on pi-shifted long-period gratings for application in actively mode-locked erbium fiber lasers. Introducing the pi-phase shift in the middle of the grating opens a bandpass within the core-cladding mode resonance peaks. With a 22-nm bandwidth filter inserted in an actively mode-locked erbium fiber sigma laser, solitonlike pulses are generated, with a power-dependent duration of approximately 3-5 ps , at a 3-GHz repetition rate. These all-fiber filters have the advantages of low insertion loss (<0.5 dB) and a wide bandwidth (10-20 nm), and they do not require that a circulator be inserted into the laser cavity.

Electric field-assisted formation of percolated silver nanolayers inside glass.

A combination of direct current (d.c.) electric field and moderately elevated temperature is applied to a glass with embedded spherical silver nanoparticles in the near surface region. The field-assisted dissolution of silver nanoparticles leads to the formation of a layer of percolated silver clusters with modified optical properties beneath the glass surface. The distance between this produced buried layer and the surface of the sample can be controlled by the magnitude of the applied voltage. The same holds for the interferential colors observable in reflection. The presented technique is easy to implement and paves a route towards the engineering of the optical properties of metal-doped nanocomposite glasses via modification of the spatial distribution of metallic inclusions.

Suppression of low-frequency fluctuations and stabilization of a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback from a double cavity:?theoretical results

We demonstrate numerically that low-frequency fluctuations (LFFs) observed in a laser diode subjected to a first optical feedback with a short delay are suppressed by means of an adequate second optical feedback. The general idea of this technique is based on the observation that second feedback can suppress the antimodes that are responsible for the crises in the LFF regime. Furthermore, we observe that the second optical feedback can steer an unstable laser that is biased near threshold into a stable regime.

Influence of the cladding thickness on the evolution of the NBOHC band in optical fibers exposed to gamma radiations

Abstract The gamma radiation induced loss spectra are recorded from 400 nm to 700 nm in high OH undoped silica core multimode step-index fibers having thin or thick cladding and polyimide or acrylate coating. For both coating materials, the better radiation resistance of thin-cladding fibers is observed. This behavior was reported in the past but not explained. A physical explanation is proposed on the basis of the assumed existence of peroxy-linkage precursors of the non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHCS) and on the basis of a diffusion-limited radiation hardening due to radiolytic hydrogen released by the coating. Besides the radiation effects, an in-situ heating of the fibers performed after irradiation reveals a sensitivity of microbending losses to temperature.

Photon pair source based on parametric fluorescence in periodically poled twin-hole silica fiber

We present observations of quasi-phase matched parametric fluorescence in a periodically poled twin-hole silica fiber. The phase matching condition in the fiber enables the generation of a degenerate signal field in the fiber-optic communication band centered on 1556 nm. We performed coincidence measurements and a Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment to validate that the signal arises from photon pairs. A coincidence peak with a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 4 using 43 mW of pump power and a Hong-Ou-Mandel dip showing 40% net visibility were measured. Moreover, the experiments were performed with standard single mode fibers spliced at both ends of the poled section, which makes this source easy to integrate in fiber-optic quantum communication applications.

Evolution of poling-assisted bleaching of metal-doped nanocomposite glass with poling conditions

Poling-assisted bleaching was studied with respect to poling time, voltage, and temperature in glass samples having a gradient of silver nanoparticles across the depth. The optical extinction band due to the particles surface plasmon resonance (around 415 nm) was measured and the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory was used to fit extinction spectra. Fitting allowed us to determine the evolution of the thickness of the near-surface layer where the particles volume filling factor has dropped to zero as a result of the bleaching process. At 280 degrees C, bleaching started with a voltage as low as 200 V and saturated with time after about 1 h. Tight glass-electrode contact, voltage of at least 1 kV, and temperature higher than 200 degrees C were required in order to obtain significant and uniform bleaching in the poled area. The results were discussed in terms of the underlying electric-field-assisted dissolution of embedded metal nanoparticles.

Stabilization of actively mode-locked Er-doped fiber lasers in the rational-harmonic frequency-doubling mode-locking regime

Stabilization of an actively mode-locked fiber laser in the frequency-doubling rational-harmonic mode-locking regime is demonstrated experimentally for the first time to the authors knowledge. The stabilization is achieved by a method based on minimization of the average optical power at the second output of a dual-output Mach-Zehnder modulator used as a mode locker. This method produces long-term stable operation of the laser with ~35-dB suppression of the pulse-to-pulse amplitude fluctuation caused by rational-harmonic frequency doubling.