Abstract: A phonon-mediated upconversion method includes exciting a Raman phonon in a crystal by illuminating the crystal with a number of pump beams each having a same pump frequency equal to one half of a phonon frequency of the Raman phonon. The method also includes generating an upconverted beam by illuminating the crystal with at least one of the number of pump beams while the Raman phonon is at least partially excited. The upconverted beam has an upconverted frequency that is three times the pump frequency.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device is disclosed that includes one or more input ports structured to receive a pumping light at a pumping wavelength and a signal light at a signal wavelength, and one or more output ports structured to output light including an amplified signal light at the signal wavelength and a second harmonic idler light. The device includes a nonlinear optical material to mix the pumping light and the signal light and to cause nonlinear conversion of the pumping light into the amplified signal light and generate an idler light at an idler wavelength. The nonlinear optical material is further structured to convert the idler light into the second harmonic idler light which eliminates the idler light at the one or more output ports and prevents back-conversion of the amplified signal light and idler light to the pumping wavelength.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device is disclosed that includes one or more input ports structured to receive a pumping light at a pumping wavelength and a signal light at a signal wavelength, and one or more output ports structured to output light including an amplified signal light at the signal wavelength and a second harmonic idler light. The device includes a nonlinear optical material to mix the pumping light and the signal light and to cause nonlinear conversion of the pumping light into the amplified signal light and generate an idler light at an idler wavelength. The nonlinear optical material is further structured to convert the idler light into the second harmonic idler light which eliminates the idler light at the one or more output ports and prevents back-conversion of the amplified signal light and idler light to the pumping wavelength.

Abstract: The technology disclosed in this patent document can be used to implement an optical device for generating broadband optical pulses, including an optical waveguide having different waveguide structures at different locations along the optical waveguide and with varying dimensions or pressure gradient that change adiabatically along the different locations to enable non-linear four wave mixing over a broad spectral range.

Abstract: The technology disclosed in this patent document can be used to implement an optical device for generating broadband optical pulses, including an optical waveguide having different waveguide structures at different locations along the optical waveguide and with varying dimensions or pressure gradient that change adiabatically along the different locations to enable non-linear four wave mixing over a broad spectral range.

Abstract: Seed light pulses and pump light pulses are generated; the seed light pulses are preferably chirped; and both are directed into an enhancement cavity at a full repetition rate. The enhancement cavity defines a closed optical path that contains a nonlinear medium that provides phase matching at a wavelength different from both the central seed wavelength and the central pump wavelength. The generation of the pump light pulses and the seed light pulses are synchronized to pass the seed light pulses through the nonlinear medium simultaneously with the pump light pulses to parametrically amplify the seed light pulses in the nonlinear medium to produce an amplified signal pulse and idler pulse. Increased conversion with low average pump power can be achieved, as well as gain bandwidth enhancement approaching octave-spanning levels.

Abstract: Seed light pulses and pump light pulses are generated; the seed light pulses are preferably chirped; and both are directed into an enhancement cavity at a full repetition rate. The enhancement cavity defines a closed optical path that contains a nonlinear medium that provides phase matching at a wavelength different from both the central seed wavelength and the central pump wavelength. The generation of the pump light pulses and the seed light pulses are synchronized to pass the seed light pulses through the nonlinear medium simultaneously with the pump light pulses to parametrically amplify the seed light pulses in the nonlinear medium to produce an amplified signal pulse and idler pulse. Increased conversion with low average pump power can be achieved, as well as gain bandwidth enhancement approaching octave-spanning levels.