Stabilization of continuum generation from normally dispersive nonlinear optical fibers for a tunable broad bandwidth source for optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Continuum generation from normally dispersive ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fibers deteriorates in relatively short times, limiting its application as a practical optical source for high-resolution optical coherence tomography. We find that reversible light-induced structural modification of fiber optic materials, rather than permanent optical damage, is responsible for this deterioration. By examining how the optical properties of corresponding light-induced waveguides depend on pumping wavelength, we isolate a waveguide that is beneficial for stable continuum generation. The performance deterioration due to the formation of other waveguides can be reversed by overwriting them with this particular waveguide.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

Localized waveguide formation in germanosilicate fiber transmitting femtosecond IR pulses

Haohua Tu, Yee Lin Koh, Daniel L. Marks, and Stephen A. Boppart
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 25(2) 274-278 (2008)

Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in chalcogenide fibers with high laser damage threshold

Mingjie Zhang, Lei Li, Tongtong Li, Fang Wang, Kangzhen Tian, Haizheng Tao, Xian Feng, Anping Yang, and Zhiyong Yang
Opt. Express 27(20) 29287-29296 (2019)

Supercontinuum generation by nanosecond dual-wavelength pumping in microstructured optical fibers

E. Räikkönen, G. Genty, O. Kimmelma, M. Kaivola, K. P. Hansen, and S. C. Buchter
Opt. Express 14(17) 7914-7923 (2006)

Ultrabroadband supercontinuum generation in a CMOS-compatible platform

R. Halir, Y. Okawachi, J. S. Levy, M. A. Foster, M. Lipson, and A. L. Gaeta
Opt. Lett. 37(10) 1685-1687 (2012)

Continuum generation in a novel photonic crystal fiber for ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography at 800 nm and 1300 nm

Aaron D. Aguirre, Norihiko Nishizawa, James G. Fujimoto, Wolfgang Seitz, Max Lederer, and Daniel Kopf
Opt. Express 14(3) 1145-1160 (2006)