Wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier

A single-pass optical parametric amplifier is provided. The single-pass optical parametric amplifier comprises a light source emitting a fundamental wave having a wavelength range; a nonlinear material, which the fundamental wave passes therethrough to form a second harmonic generation wave having a light path; a supercontinuum generator extending the wavelength range of the fundamental wave to form a supercontinuum generation seed; and an optical parametric wavelength transformer transforming the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave into a signal wave and an idler wave.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier, and more particularly to a wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier by using the single pulse laser providing the pump and seed, which are required in the optical parametric amplification at the same time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tunable ultrafast light sources are important for various spectroscopic and microscopic applications, such as the pump-probe spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), and multiphoton microscopy/spectroscopy. Many previous applications were based on a Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. However, the tuning range of a Ti:sapphire laser is limited to around 700 nm-1000 nm because of the laser gain bandwidth of the Ti:sapphire crystal. To extend the wavelength range of an ultrafast laser, supercontinuum generation (SCG) or optical parametric amplification (OPA) has been adopted.

The so called supercontinuum is a light source with an extra-wide bandwidth, and SCG is capable of extending input laser wavelengths into both shorter and longer wavelength directions about hundreds of nm. Thus, the purpose of extending the wavelength range is realized. However, as a result of extending of the wavelength, the pulse energy spreading in each wavelength range will be reduced in a corresponding way. Nevertheless, inasmuch as SCG redistributes the pump power into a wide wavelength range, the power density of SCG is typically less than 1 mW/nm. In addition, the strong chromatic dispersion in the fibers significantly lengthens the pulses, and subsequently degrades the applicability of the SCG because of the reduced peak power and poor temporal characteristics.

Both energy conservation and phase-matching condition have to be fulfilled when a shorter-wavelength pump wave is down-converted into a signal and an idler wave simultaneously. If a seed having the same wavelength with the signal or the idler is provided, the probability of conversion would be raised higher due to being excited, and thus the density of the output signal and idler were amplified. Since the wavelengths of the output signal and idler are different from that of the pump, thus the wavelengths can be extended, and the wavelengths are adjusted by changing the conditions of phase-matching condition. Generally speaking, it is hard to find a seed which is continuously tunable from ultraviolet to near-infrared, so the systems designed by the principle of optical parametric amplification are most likely complex and huge. In the conventional implementation, the conversion efficiency of such system is still low, and thus a high-energy, low-repetition rate pump source or an oscillator cavity is required to improve the conversion efficiency, in which the signal and the idler vibrate back and forth due to resonance to accumulate profits and reduce the pump threshold in the optical parametric conversion process.

In the above-mentioned methods, regardless of raising laser energy, lowering the repetition rate or setting the oscillator cavity, not only the high cost and complex system are problems, but also for some industries, the low repetition rate is insufficient to handle the requirements in use. However if not so, the conversion efficiency can not be raised effectively. It is in a dilemma for a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier is provided. The particular design in the present invention not only solves the problems described above, but also is easy to be implemented. Thus, the present invention has the utility for the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier is provided. The single-pass optical parametric amplifier comprises a light source emitting a fundamental wave having a wavelength range; a nonlinear material, which the fundamental wave passes therethrough to form a second harmonic generation wave having a light path; a supercontinuum generator extending the wavelength range of the fundamental wave to form a supercontinuum generation seed; and an optical parametric wavelength transformer transforming the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave into a signal wave and an idler wave.

Preferably, the single-pass optical parametric amplifier further comprises a dichroic mirror separating the fundamental wave and the second harmonic generation wave; and a translational stage controlling the light path of the second harmonic generation wave.

Preferably, the single-pass optical parametric amplifier further comprises a cold mirror making the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave proceed in an identical path to pass through the optical parametric wavelength transformer; and a temperature controller controlling a temperature of the optical parametric wavelength transformer.

Preferably, the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave pass through the optical parametric wavelength transformer at the same time, and the signal wave and the idler wave are amplified.

Preferably, the supercontinuum generation seed has a wavelength range covering at least one of wavelengths of the signal wave and the idler wave.

Preferably, the light source is a single mode-locked Yb:fiber laser device having 50 MHz repetition rate, 5 W average power and 1 ps pulse width.

Preferably, the nonlinear material comprises LiB3O5(LBO).

Preferably, the supercontinuum generator comprises a photonic crystal fiber.

Preferably, the optical parametric wavelength transformer comprises a nonlinear crystal which comprises magnesium oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) crystal.

Preferably, the supercontinuum generation seed has a wavelength range between 550 nm to 1900 nm.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for transforming a laser wave is provided. The method comprises steps of providing the laser wave having a fundamental wave having a wavelength range; generating a second harmonic generation wave based on the fundamental wave; extending the wavelength range of the fundamental wave to form a supercontinuum generation seed; and transforming the second harmonic generation wave and the supercontinuum generation seed into a signal wave and an idler wave.

Preferably, the method further comprises a step after the step of generating a second harmonic generation wave: separating the fundamental wave and the second harmonic generation wave.

Preferably, the second harmonic generation wave and the supercontinuum generation seed are transformed into a signal wave and an idler wave via a way of quasi-phase-matching.

Preferably, the laser wave is a single mode-locked Yb:fiber laser having 50 MHz repetition rate, 5 W average power and 1 ps pulse width.

Preferably, generating the second harmonic generation wave is via frequency doubling the fundamental wave.

Preferably, the supercontinuum generation seed has a wavelength range covering at least one of wavelengths of the signal wave and the idler wave.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a single-pass optical parametric amplifier is provided. The single-pass optical parametric amplifier comprises a laser providing a fundamental wave having a wavelength range and a second harmonic generation wave; a supercontinuum generator extending the wavelength range of the fundamental wave to form a supercontinuum generation seed; and an optical parametric wavelength transformer transforming the supercontinuum generation seed and the harmonic generation wave.

Preferably, the single-pass optical parametric amplifier further comprises a dichroic mirror separating the fundamental wave and the second harmonic generation wave; and a cold mirror making the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave proceed in an identical path to pass through the optical parametric wavelength transformer.

Preferably, the single-pass optical parametric amplifier further comprises a nonlinear material, which the fundamental wave passes therethrough to form a second harmonic generation wave due to frequency doubling and the nonlinear material comprises LiB3O5(LBO).

Preferably, the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave are transformed into a signal wave and an idler wave via the optical parametric wavelength transformer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer toFIG. 1, which shows the configuration of the single-pass optical parametric amplifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The laser10is a device of a single mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser (mode-locked Yb:fiber laser), which can emit a laser light with 1 ps pulse width, 1040 nm central wavelength, 5 W average energy, 50 MHz repetition rate and 100 nJ pulse energy. The laser light has a fundamental wave101which passes through a nonlinear material11. Under type I noncritical phase-matching, a 520 nm second harmonic generation wave102is formed due to frequency doubling. The repetition rate of the second harmonic generation wave102is 50 MHz, the same as that of the fundamental wave101. The pulse energy is 10 nJ. In this embodiment, the nonlinear material11uses a LiB3O5(LBO) nonlinear optical crystal.

After the laser light passes through the nonlinear material11, the second harmonic generation wave102is still mixed with the fundamental wave101. When both of them pass through the dichroic mirror, the second harmonic generation wave102is separated from the fundamental wave101. Next, the fundamental wave101passes through a supercontinuum generator13, which is a photonic crystal fiber. After the fundamental wave101is coupled with the supercontinuum generator13, the mechanism of the supercontinuum generation is formed, which substantially extends the wavelength range of the fundamental wave101to be a supercontinuum generation seed103. The extended wavelength range of the fundamental wave101is between 550 nm to 1900 nm.

In another side, the optical path of the second harmonic generation wave102is adjusted via a translational stage14. Since the wavelength of the fundamental wave101is different from that of the second harmonic generation wave102, and mediums for them to pass through in paths are different too, the optical path difference between the fundamental wave101and the second harmonic generation wave102may be generated. In order that the pulses in two waves can enter an optical crystal at the same time, the optical path difference in the present system is adjusted via the translational stage14.

Then, the supercontinuum generation seed103and the second harmonic generation wave102passing through the translational stage14flock together at a cold mirror15to make both of them back to an identical optical path to pass through a multi-channel magnesium oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) crystal, which can be viewed as an optical parametric wavelength transformer16. After the second harmonic generation wave102serving as a pump enters the optical parametric wavelength transformer16, it would be transformed into a signal104and an idler105whose wavelengths, 800 nm and 1600 nm respectively, are different from that of the harmonic generation wave102. At this time, the supercontinuum generation seed103serves as a seed. As a result of the principle of optical parametric amplification, the intensity of the signal104and the idler105can be amplified. Besides, due to the characteristic of the periodically poled crystal, the supercontinuum generation seed103and the harmonic generation wave102pass through the optical parametric wavelength transformer16via a way of quasi-phase-matching. This raises the conversion efficiency significantly.

Additionally, being a seed in the present invention, the supercontinuum generation seed103is generated from the fundamental wave101after supercontinuum generation, and the wavelength range thereof is extended to 550 nm to 1900 nm, covering the wavelength ranges of the signal104and the idler105. In other words, the supercontinuum generation seed103provides an effect of double seed for the signal104and the idler105respectively. Hence, the conversion efficiency of the optical parametric amplification can be greatly enhanced.

Since the purpose of the present invention is to provide a wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier by using the single pulse laser to provide the pump and seed required in the optical parametric amplification, the output wavelength can be adjusted through changing the conditions of quasi-phase-matching of the pump, signal and idler. In other words, by choosing the channels of different grating periods in the periodically poled crystal to provide the pump input, the wavelengths of the transformed signal104and idler105can be adjusted accordingly. Besides, the crystal temperature of the wavelength transformer16itself can be controlled in a range of 30-200° C. via a temperature controller17. Therefore, accurate and detailed adjustment of the wavelength can be achieved. In the wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier of the present invention, the adjustable wavelength range covers 700 nm to 1900 nm.

Moreover, since the laser of the present invention comes from a single laser, thus after providing the pump and seed required in the optical parametric amplification respectively, the condition of timing jitter between the pump and seed can be avoided. This can improve the stability of the system effectively. Basically, according to the system design of the present invention, under the conditions of not requiring the optical oscillator, the pulse repetition rate of up to 50 MHz, and only 10 nJ of the pulse energy of the second harmonic generation wave102serving as the pump, the conversion efficiency can reach 50%. Accordingly, the present invention is advanced and outstanding.

The optical materials used in the present invention basically are not limited to the crystal, laser or optical device mentioned in this embodiment. This embodiment is only an example of implementation; other materials having the same effect could also be substituted for the above-mentioned materials.

Based on the above, the present invention not only provides a wavelength tunable laser device having a large wavelength range, but under the conditions of not requiring the optical oscillator and saving the cost, the problem of low conversion efficiency resulting from the low pulse energy in the prior art can be effectively solved. Besides, the conditions of the time difference and instability conventionally generated from optical parametric amplification can also be avoided. Therefore, the present invention effectively solves the problems and drawbacks in the prior art, and thus it fits the demand of the industry and is industrially valuable.