Réal Vallée

Direct femtosecond laser writing of waveguides in As2S3 thin films

Single-channel waveguides and Y couplers were fabricated in chalcogenide thin films by use of femtosecond laser pulses from a 25-MHz repetition rate Ti:sapphire laser. Refractive-index differentials (delta n > 10(-2)) were measured through interferometric microscopy and are higher than the typical values reported for oxide glasses. The dependence of the index differential on the peak intensity reveals the nonlinear nature of the photosensitivity in arsenic trisulfide below its bandgap energy, and the refractive-index change is correlated to the photoinduced structural changes inferred by Raman spectroscopy data. A free-electron model to predict the parametric dependence of delta n is proposed.

20 W passively cooled single-mode all-fiber laser at 2.8 μm

A maximum output power of 20.6 W at 2.825 μm from an erbium-doped all-fiber laser is reported, which we believe is the highest output power for this laser transition in single-mode operation. The slope efficiency of the passively cooled laser was up to 35.4% with respect to the absorbed pump power. Accounting for an estimated round-trip intracavity loss of 1.3 dB, we calculated a theoretical conversion efficiency of 39.5%, which is 15% higher than the Stokes efficiency of 34.3%. We believe this is the first experimental confirmation of the predicted pump energy recycling for this fiber laser. The narrow laser linewidth varied from 0.09 to 0.16 nm from low to maximum output power.

Microstructured fiber splicing

We present experimental results on Microstructured Optical Fiber (MOF) splicing with a simple method relying on conventional electric-arc splicers. The results are presented in terms of fusion losses and tensile strength. An electric-arc splicing system is used to demonstrate its effectiveness in splicing MOFs together as well as splicing MOF with a single mode fiber.

Bragg gratings photoinduced in ZBLAN fibers by femtosecond pulses at 800 nm.

Fiber Bragg gratings were written in thulium-doped and undoped single-mode ZBLAN fibers by focusing femtosecond laser pulses on the fiber core through a phase mask. Maximum index modulation of the order of 1 x 10(-3) was induced in both types of fibers. Measurements of the transverse refractive index changes across the core and cladding regions indicate that the grating formation originates from a negative index change.

Optical breakdown versus filamentation in fused silica by use of femtosecond infrared laser pulses.

The competition between optical breakdown (OB) and laser-pulse filamentation (FL) in bulk fused silica is investigated by using a 1-kHz femtosecond infrared laser. We measure input powers corresponding to the threshold of OB and FL in terms of external focusing conditions. The results demonstrate that OB precedes FL for tight focusing, whereas for sufficiently long focal lengths FL takes places at a lower power than OB does.

A microprobe for parallel optical and electrical recordings from single neurons in vivo

Recording electrical activity from identified neurons in intact tissue is key to understanding their role in information processing. Recent fluorescence labeling techniques have opened new possibilities to combine electrophysiological recording with optical detection of individual neurons deep in brain tissue. For this purpose we developed dual-core fiberoptics–based microprobes, with an optical core to locally excite and collect fluorescence, and an electrolyte-filled hollow core for extracellular single unit electrophysiology. This design provides microprobes with tips <10 μm, enabling analyses with single-cell optical resolution. We demonstrate combined electrical and optical detection of single fluorescent neurons in rats and mice. We combined electrical recordings and optical Ca2+ measurements from single thalamic relay neurons in rats, and achieved detection and activation of single channelrhodopsin-expressing neurons in Thy1::ChR2-YFP transgenic mice. The microprobe expands possibilities for in vivo electrophysiological recording, providing parallel access to single-cell optical monitoring and control.

Mid-infrared chalcogenide glass Raman fiber laser

We report the first demonstration of a Raman fiber laser (RFL) emitting in the mid-infrared, above 3 μm. The operation of a single-mode As2S3 chalcogenide glass based RFL at 3.34 μm is demonstrated by using a low-loss Fabry-Pérot cavity formed by a pair of fiber Bragg gratings. A specially designed quasi-cw erbium-doped fluoride fiber laser emitting at 3.005 μm is used to pump the RFL. A laser output peak power of 0.6 W is obtained with a lasing efficiency of 39% with respect to the launched pump power.

Mechanism of nanograting formation on the surface of fused silica

Nanograting inscription with a tightly focused femtosecond beam on the surface of fused silica was studied. The width and spacing of grooves are shown to decrease with the increase of the number of overlapped shots in both stationary and scanning cases. We propose a model to explain this behavior, based on both the so-called nanoplasmonic model and the incubation effect.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering hyperspectral tissue imaging with a wavelength-swept system

We present a wavelength-swept coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (WS-CARS) spectroscopy system for hyperspectral imaging in thick tissue. We use a strategy where the Raman lines are excited sequentially, circumventing the need for a spectrometer. This fibre laser system, consisting of a pump laser synchronized with a rapidly tunable programmable laser (PL), can access Raman lines over a significant fraction of the high wavenumber region (2700–2950 cm−1) at rates of up to 10,000 spectral points per second. To demonstrate its capabilities, we have acquired WS-CARS spectra of several samples as well as images and hyperspectral images (HSI) of thick tissue both in forward and epi-detection. This instrument should be especially useful in providing local biochemical information with surrounding context supplied by imaging.

30 W fluoride glass all-fiber laser at 2.94 μm

We report the demonstration of a 2938 nm erbium-doped fluoride glass fiber laser delivering a record output power of 30.5 W in continuous wave operation. The passively cooled all-fiber laser cavity based on intracore fiber Bragg gratings has an overall laser efficiency of 16% as a function of the launched pump power at 980 nm and a single-mode output beam quality of M2<1.2. This power scaling demonstration of a fiber laser operating near the vibrational resonance of water is likely to have a significant impact on several biomedical applications.