Open AccessUltrafast wavelength conversion via cross-phase modulation in hydrogenated amorphous silicon optical fibers
Author(s) -
Priyanth Mehta,
Noel Healy,
Todd D. Day,
John V. Badding,
Anna C. Peacock
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.026110
Subject(s) - femtosecond , materials science , cross phase modulation , optics , ultrashort pulse , picosecond , self phase modulation , zero dispersion wavelength , amorphous silicon , wavelength , modulation (music) , optical fiber , optoelectronics , nonlinear optics , extinction ratio , phase modulation , silicon , dispersion shifted fiber , laser , fiber optic sensor , crystalline silicon , physics , phase noise , acoustics
We present a characterization of the spectral modulation and wavelength shifting induced via cross-phase modulation (XPM) in a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) core optical fiber. Pump-probe experiments using picosecond and femtosecond signal pulses are shown to be in good agreement with numerical simulations of the coupled nonlinear propagation equations. The large 10nm red-shifts obtained with the femtosecond probe pulses are attributed to the high Kerr nonlinearity of the a-Si:H material. Extinction ratios as high as 12 dB are measured for the conversion process at telecommunications wavelengths, indicating the potential for high-speed nonlinear optical control in a-Si:H fibers and waveguides.