Open AccessClassical low-coherence interferometry based on broadband parametric fluorescence and amplification
Author(s) -
Julien Le Gouët,
Dheera Venkatraman,
Franco N. C. Wong,
Jeffrey H. Shapiro
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.017874
Subject(s) - optics , optical parametric amplifier , lithium niobate , interferometry , parametric statistics , optical coherence tomography , parametric oscillator , materials science , optical amplifier , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , physics , amplifier , optoelectronics , laser , statistics , mathematics , cmos , quantum mechanics
We demonstrate that single-mode broadband amplified spontaneous parametric downconversion, combined with optical parametric amplification, can be used as a classical source of phase-sensitive cross-correlated beams. We first study the single spatial mode emission and the spectral brightness properties of the parametric fluorescence, produced in periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate. Using the same single-pass bulk-crystal configuration for a pulsed optical parametric amplifier, we achieve a gain of approximately 20 dB at an average pump power of 2W, and explain the pulse narrowing observed at the output of both parametric fluorescence and amplification in the regime of high gain. Combining these two nonlinear processes, we measured optical coherence tomography signals with standard InGaAs photodiodes, thus realizing the first classical interferometer based on amplified parametric fluorescence. The results suggest their utility for demonstrating phase-conjugate optical coherence tomography.