Passive harmonic mode-locking by mode selection in Fabry-Perot diode lasers with patterned effective index

We demonstrate passive harmonic mode-locking of a quantum well laser diode designed to support a discrete comb of Fabry-Perot modes. Spectral filtering of the mode spectrum was achieved using a non-periodic patterning of the cavity effective index. By selecting six modes spaced at twice the fundamental mode spacing, near-transform limited pulsed output with 2 ps pulse duration was obtained at a repetition rate of 100 GHz.Comment: 3 page

Optical Synthesis of Terahertz and Millimeter-Wave Frequencies with Discrete Mode Diode Lasers

It is shown that optical synthesis of terahertz and millimeter-wave frequencies can be achieved using two-mode and mode-locked discrete mode diode lasers. These edge-emitting devices incorporate a spatially varying refractive index profile which is designed according to the spectral output desired of the laser. We first demonstrate a device which supports two primary modes simultaneously with high spectral purity. In this case sinusoidal modulation of the optical intensity at terahertz frequencies can be obtained. Cross saturation of the material gain in quantum well lasers prevents simultaneous lasing of two modes with spacings in the millimeter-wave region. We show finally that by mode-locking of devices that are designed to support a minimal set of four primary modes, we obtain a sinusoidal modulation of the optical intensity in this frequency region.Comment: 6 page

On-off intermittency in an optically injected semiconductor laser

We report on the observation of on-off intermittency in an optically injected dual-mode semiconductor laser. It is shown that quasi-single-mode chaotic dynamics of the injected mode are accompanied by intermittent and irregular bursts of the intensity of the uninjected mode. We define a threshold intensity of the uninjected mode to distinguish laminar and bursting states of the system. For small values of the threshold parameter we observe excellent agreement with the predictions of theory for the distribution of the laminar phase durations. For larger values of the threshold parameter, a gap appears in the distribution of laminar phase durations. Numerical simulations demonstrate that this gap is a consequence of the fact that in this case the on states of the system define large intensity spikes, which can belong either to the same or to distinct bursts away from the single-mode manifold

Superconducting nanowire photon number resolving detector at telecom wavelength

The optical-to-electrical conversion, which is the basis of optical detectors, can be linear or nonlinear. When high sensitivities are needed single-photon detectors (SPDs) are used, which operate in a strongly nonlinear mode, their response being independent of the photon number. Nevertheless, photon-number resolving (PNR) detectors are needed, particularly in quantum optics, where n-photon states are routinely produced. In quantum communication, the PNR functionality is key to many protocols for establishing, swapping and measuring entanglement, and can be used to detect photon-number-splitting attacks. A linear detector with single-photon sensitivity can also be used for measuring a temporal waveform at extremely low light levels, e.g. in long-distance optical communications, fluorescence spectroscopy, optical time-domain reflectometry. We demonstrate here a PNR detector based on parallel superconducting nanowires and capable of counting up to 4 photons at telecommunication wavelengths, with ultralow dark count rate and high counting frequency

Association d'un réseau de diffraction à un réseau de Bragg intracavité pour le filtrage optique accordable

Le développement du multiplexage en longueur d'onde dans les télécommunications optiques nécessite l'utilisation de filtres rapidement accordables et ayant une bonne sélectivité. La technique proposée dans cette thèse consiste en l'association d'un réseau de diffraction et d'un réseau de Bragg intracavité. Ce principe a été implémenté en deux montages expérimentaux. Le premier utilise un réseau intracavité inscrit sur cristaux liquides, le second un réseau de Bragg acousto-optique. Le dispositif à cristaux liquides permet d'obtenir un filtre avec une bande passante de 0,09nm. Cette sélectivité est satisfaisante cependant la méthode utilisée ne permet pas de faire varier sa période et donc d'accorder le filtre. L'acousto-optique, en revanche, est une technologie déjà bien maîtrisée et qui permet d'incrire des réseaux d'indice dont la période peut être modifiée très rapidement (~ s). Le dispositif que nous avons réalisé avec une cellule acousto-optique permet d'obtenir une bande passante de 0,076nm avec un rapport signal à bruit de 20dB. Ce filtre est accordable sur une gamme de 2,2nm, ce qui permet de distinguer 30 longueurs d'ondes. La bande passante du filtre ainsi que sa gamme d'accord sont très facilement adaptables en changeant l'orientation ou le pas du réseau de diffraction. Afin de modéliser le principe de filtrage, une simulation en faisceau gaussien a été développée. Elle est en bon accord avec les résultats expérimentaux et nous permet de prévoir les performances qu'il est possible d'obtenir avec d'autres réseaux de Bragg. Par exemple, en remplaçant la cellule acousto-optique, il est possible d'obtenir un filtre capable de séparer 500 longueurs d'ondes.The constant growth of the needs in data transmission rates has led to the development of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The demultiplexing associated with WDM requires very selective filters with fast tuning possibilities. In this thesis, we propose a filtering technique associating a diffraction grating with an intracavity Bragg grating. Two filters have been implemented experimentally using this principle: one using a liquid crystal intracavity grating and one using an acousto-optic Bragg grating. The liquid crystal device has a bandwidth of 0.09nm, which is very interesting but this technique does not allow to tune the filter. A tunable Bragg grating can be implemented using the acousto-optic effect. The device we made using an acousto-optic cell has a bandwidth of 0.076nm with a signal to noise ratio of 20dB. This filter is tunable on a range of 2.2nm, which allows to separate 30 wavelengths. The bandwidth and the tuning range can be easily adapted by changing the diffraction grating's orientation or its period. A numerical simulation of the response of the filter for a gaussian beam has been developped and it fits the experimental results. It allows us to calculate the performances that could be obtained with filters designed differently. For example, replacing our acoust-optic cell by one with a wider active medium (commercially available) would allow us to separate 500 frequencies. It would then be possible to have a tuning range of 100nm with a bandwidth of 0.2nm.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF