Dissipative light bullets in externally driven multimode Kerr cavity with parabolic 3D potential

We study the formation of dissipative light bullets in externally driven multimode GRIN fiber cavity with chirped pulse pumping. Numerical simulations show the generation of stable bullets, with a spatiotemporal shape controlled via the pump chirp

Dissipative Kerr solitons, breathers and chimera states in coherently driven passive cavities with parabolic potential

We analyze the stability and dynamics of dissipative Kerr solitons in the presence of a parabolic potential. This potential stabilizes oscillatory and chaotic regimes, favoring the generation of static DKSs. Furthermore, the potential induces the emergence of new dissipative structures, such as asymmetric breathers and chimera-like states. Based on a mode decomposition of these states, we unveil the underlying modal interactions

Spatial beam cleaning in multimode GRIN fibers. Polarization effects

The beam self-cleaning effect in graded-index multimode optical fibers has several interesting potential applications, such as high-resolution nonlinear imaging and mode-locked fiber lasers. Most experimental and theoretical studies of beam selfcleaning have neglected the role of the state of polarization of light. In this work, we fill this gap by reporting extensive experimental investigations of beam self-cleaning in multimode fibers, for beams with different input states of light polarization. We found that the state of polarization undergoes a complex evolution, which may lead either to full conservation of the input state of polarization, or to nearly complete light depolarization at the fiber output. The former outcome is compelling for applications based on the beam self-cleaning effect, such as multimode mode-locked fiber lasers for micromachining, and multimode devices for microscopy and endoscopy. The latter result, instead, permits to test the limits of validity of current purely scalar theoretical approaches for describing nonlinear propagation in multimode fibers

Robust three-dimensional high-order solitons and breathers in driven dissipative systems: a Kerr cavity realization

We present a general approach to excite robust dissipative three-dimensional and high-order solitons and breathers in passively driven nonlinear cavities. Our findings are illustrated in the paradigmatic example provided by an optical Kerr cavity with diffraction and anomalous dispersion, with the addition of an attractive three-dimensional parabolic potential. The potential breaks the translational symmetry along all directions, and impacts the system in a qualitatively unexpected manner: three-dimensional solitons, or light-bullets, are the only existing and stable states for a given set of parameters. This property is extremely rare, if not unknown, in passive nonlinear physical systems. As a result, the excitation of the cavity with any input field leads to the deterministic formation of a target soliton or breather, with a spatiotemporal profile that unambiguously corresponds to the given cavity and pumping conditions. In addition, the tuning of the potential width along the temporal direction results in the existence of a plethora of stable asymmetric solitons. Our results may provide a solid route towards the observation of dissipative light bullets and three-dimensional breathers

Observation of 2D Spatiotemporal Rogue Events in a Quadratic Nonlinear Medium

International audienceWe experimentally demonstrate 2D quadratic extreme events, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Besides the spontaneous formation of self-guided bicolor solitary waves, ultrafast spatial switching, cascaded events and pulse reshaping are observed

Quasi-soliton spatial autoguidé en milieu non linéaire quadratique

Nous démontrons ici des phénomènes d’autoguidage optique existant dans les milieux à non-linéarités quadratiques. En plus de la formation puis disparition d’un phénomène auto confiné, nous observons des effets de commutation ultrarapide et de démultiplication spatiale, ainsi qu’une restructuration temporelle suivie d’élargissements spectraux

Soliton channels in space-division multiplexed systems

We numerically investigate the transmission of independent soliton channels in space-division multiplexed systems based on graded-index fiber. The inability of picosecond pulses to generate a multimode soliton, including different mode groups, is demonstrated; this property is the basis for generating independent soliton channels, one for each modal group, experiencing elastic collisions

Quasi-soliton spatial autoguidé en milieu non lineaire quadratique

International audienceNous démontrons ici des phénomènes d'autoguidage optique existant dans les milieux à non-linéarités quadratiques. En plus de la formation puis disparition d'un phénomène auto confiné, nous observons des effets de commutation ultrarapide et de démultiplication spatiale, ainsi qu'une restructuration temporelle suivie d'élargissements spectraux

Versatile supercontinuum generation by using χ(2) and χ(3) nonlinearities in PPLN crystal for direct CARS measurement

In this study, we report on experiments of spatio-temporal nonlinear frequency conversion in a periodically poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN) crystal designed for second-harmonic generation (SHG). We demonstrated a novel supercontinuum source based on the mixing of second and third-order nonlinearities. We could adjust the ((2), (3)) nonlinearities by controlling the input laser polarization orientation, the pulse duration and the PPLN crystal temperature. We obtained an ultra-broadband spectrum, ranging from visible to infrared domains, by pumping a 20-mm-long PPLN crystal with a 3 ps pulse at 1030 nm. This broadband pulse was used to achieve direct multiplex Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (M-CARS) imaging, without the need for any optical delay line to temporally synchronize the pump and the Stokes waves. Simultaneous vibrational signatures ranging from -3200 cm-1 to -500 cm-1 were obtained. Several filters were placed on the broadband supercontinuum path, to shape the output spectrum between 1030 nm and 1650 nm, before sending it into the microscope. The output spectral analysis allows for the demonstration of multimodal imaging, by using SHG, M-CARS and multiphoton fluorescence processes

Spatial beam self-cleaning in multimode fibers: the role of light polarization

Since its first demonstration, spatial beam self-cleaning has been targeted as a breakthrough nonlinear effect, for its potential of extending to multimode fibers different technologies based on singlemode fibers, such as fiber lasers and endoscopes. To date, most of the theoretical descriptions of beam self-cleaning are based on scalar models. Whereas, in experiments the analysis of the polarization state of self-cleaned beams is often neglected. Here, we fill this gap between theory and experiments, by demonstrating that a self-cleaned beam eventually loses its degree of polarization, as long as linearly polarized light of enough power is injected at the fiber input. Our results are cast in the framework of a thermodynamic description of nonlinear beam propagation in multimode fibers, providing the first experimental proof of the applicability of scalar theories for the description of the spatial beam self-cleaning effect