Yeung Lak Lee

Nonlinear integrated optical frequency converters with periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides

The development of a whole family of near and mid-IR quasi- phase matched parametric frequency converters with periodically poled in Ti:(Er:)LiNbO3 waveguides is reviewed. Due to high quality waveguides with very low losses and excellent homogeneity unprecedented conversion efficiencies have been achieved for second-harmonic generation, difference-frequency generation, optical parametric fluorescence and doubly as well as singly resonant optical parametric oscillation.

All-optical AND and NAND gates based on cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in a Ti-diffused periodically poled LiNbO(3) waveguide.

All-optical AND and NAND gates have been demonstrated in a Ti-diffused periodically poled LiNbO(3) channel waveguide which has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum-frequency-generation/difference-frequency-generation (cSFG/DFG) and sum-frequency-generation (SFG) processes. The conversion efficiency of signal to idler (AND gate signal) was approximately 0 dB in cSFG/DFG process. In the second SFG process, more than 15 dB extinction ratio between signal and dropped signal (NAND gate signal) has been observed.

All-optical wavelength conversion and tuning by the cascaded sum- and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG) in a temperature gradient controlled Ti:PPLN channel waveguide.

All-optical single and multiple wavelength conversion and tuning by the cascaded sum- and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG) have been demonstrated in a temperature gradient controlled periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 (Ti:PPLN) channel waveguide. Up to 4 channels of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals which have 100 GHz channel spacing were simultaneously wavelength converted at a 16.8 degrees C temperature difference between both end faces in a Ti:PPLN waveguide. The 3 dB signal conversion bandwidth was measured to be as broad as 48 nm at single channel conversion. The maximum wavelength conversion efficiency and optical signal to noise ratio of wavelength converted channel were approximately -16 dB and -20 dB at a total pump power level of 810 mW.

Broadening of the second-harmonic phase-matching bandwidth in a temperature-gradient-controlled periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 channel waveguide.

We have demonstrated broadening of the phase-matching bandwidth in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 (Ti:PPLN) channel waveguide Lambda = 16.6 microm) by using a temperature-gradient-control technique. With this technique, we have achieved a second-harmonic phase-matching bandwidth of more than 13 nm in a 74-mm-long Ti:PPLN waveguide, which has a 0.21-nm phase-matching bandwidth at a uniform temperature.

Channel-selective wavelength conversion and tuning in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO 3 waveguides

All-optical wavelength-selective single- and dual-channel wavelength conversion and tuning has been demonstrated in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide that has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG). The wavelength conversion efficiency was measured to be -7 dB with coupled pump power of 233 mW.

Tunable Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser based on digital micro-mirror array

We propose and demonstrate a tunable Q-switched erbium doped fiber laser with a digitally controlled micro-mirror array device. The tunable and pulsed output of the laser was achieved by the pixelated spatial modulation of the micro-mirror array. The wavelength tuning from 1530 nm to 1555 nm was shown with wavelength selectivity of ~0.1 nm and the pulsed operation was accomplished with 130 Hz repetition rate.

Reshaping of a second-harmonic curve in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 channel waveguide by a local-temperature-control technique

We have demonstrated reshaping and bandwidth control of a second-harmonic (SH) curve in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 (Ti:PPLN) waveguide (Λ=16.6μm) by using a local-temperature-control technique. With this technique, we have achieved several useful shapes of the SH curve such as an almost ideal sinc function, and double and multipeaks in a 74-mm-long Ti:PPLN waveguide, which has a prechirped SH curve at room temperature. More than 60% improvement of SH conversion efficiency and a 5nm broadening of SH phase-matching bandwidth were achieved.

Backward Terahertz Generation in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Crystal via Difference Frequency Generation

We have investigated the terahertz radiation generated by femtosecond laser pulses in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. Two different types of terahertz radiation, forward and backward, could be generated in quasi-phase-matching structures. The generation of these two different types of radiation is due to difference frequency generation under the quasi-phase matching condition. A broadband femtosecond optical pulse contributes to wave mixing, which occurs between two components of an ultrashort laser pulse and a terahertz pulse, in a quasi-phase-matching crystal. We observed a backward terahertz radiation at approximately 1.3 THz and the frequencies of terahertz radiations are easily controlled by varying the domain structures.

Efficient Single-Pass Optical Parametric Generation and Amplification using a Periodically Poled Stoichiometric Lithium Tantalate

A high-conversion efficiency, nanosecond pulsed optical parametric generation and amplification with repetition rate of 20 kHz based on a periodically poled MgO-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate was presented. Pumped by a Q-switched

Wavelength selective single and dual-channel dropping in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO 3 waveguide

Nd:YVO_4