Thesis consists of introduction, followed by five main chapters and conclusions. Introduction is devoted to the explanation of filamentation process. The mechanisms responsible for filament generation and evolution are explained first and various models of the filamentation are presented as well. The second chapter is devoted to the study on supercontinuum spectrum dependence on the initial pulse diameter. The chapter 4 is devoted to the study of the filamentation in scattering medium, and covers the performed experiment, explanation of new developed numerical scheme, and finally comparison of the numerical and experimental results. The chapter 5 describes the multifilamentation with elliptical beam. The role of the four wave mixing to the filaments periodicity is briefly explained. The periodicity dependence on the wave of intensity as well the evolution of multifilamentation is shown. Three dimensional study of the modulation instability during multifilamentation process is also presented in chapter 5. The last chapter 6 is devoted to the origin of the rogue wave statistics in supercontinuum generation, and comparison of the numeric results with experimental. At the end (chapter 7) the main conclusions of the current work are presented. / Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, penki pagrindiniai skyriai ir išvados. Įvade aiškinamas sudėtingas šviesos gijų formavimosi procesas. Paaiškinami fizikiniai reiškiniai, lemiantys šviesos gijų generacijos bei evoliucijos ypatybes, supažindinama su įvairiais šviesos gijų susidarymo ir sklidimo modeliais. Antrajame skyriuje nagrinėjama pradinio pluošto diametro įtaka superkontinuumo spektrui. Trečias skyrius, skirtas šviesos gijų generacijos sklaidančioje terpėje tyrimui, apima atlikto eksperimento bei sukurtos naujos skaitmeninio modeliavimo schemos pristatymą, ir, galiausiai, skaitmeninio modeliavimo ir eksperimentinių rezultatų palyginimą. Ketvirtame skyriuje nagrinėjama daugelio gijų generacija elipsiniais pluoštais. Trumpai paaiškinta kaskadinio keturbangio maišymo įtaka šviesos gijų periodiškumui. Ištirta šviesos gijų periodo priklausomybė nuo bangos intensyvumo, ir atskleista daugelio gijų generacijos dinamika. Moduliacinio nestabilumo analizė ir jos įtaka taip pat pateikiama ketvirtame skyriuje. Penktajame skyriuje nagrinėjama ekstremalių įvykių tūrinėje Kerro terpėje atsiradimas. Palyginami plataus spektro generacijos kompiuterinio modeliavimo ir eksperimento metu surinkti statistiniai duomenys. Pabaigoje pateikti pagrindiniai darbo rezultatai ir išvados.

Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, penki pagrindiniai skyriai ir išvados. Įvade aiškinamas sudėtingas šviesos gijų formavimosi procesas. Paaiškinami fizikiniai reiškiniai, lemiantys šviesos gijų generacijos bei evoliucijos ypatybes, supažindinama su įvairiais šviesos gijų susidarymo ir sklidimo modeliais. Antrajame skyriuje nagrinėjama pradinio pluošto diametro įtaka superkontinuumo spektrui. Trečias skyrius, skirtas šviesos gijų generacijos sklaidančioje terpėje tyrimui, apima atlikto eksperimento bei sukurtos naujos skaitmeninio modeliavimo schemos pristatymą, ir, galiausiai, skaitmeninio modeliavimo ir eksperimentinių rezultatų palyginimą. Ketvirtame skyriuje nagrinėjama daugelio gijų generacija elipsiniais pluoštais. Trumpai paaiškinta kaskadinio keturbangio maišymo įtaka šviesos gijų periodiškumui. Ištirta šviesos gijų periodo priklausomybė nuo bangos intensyvumo, ir atskleista daugelio gijų generacijos dinamika. Moduliacinio nestabilumo analizė ir jos įtaka taip pat pateikiama ketvirtame skyriuje. Penktajame skyriuje nagrinėjama ekstremalių įvykių tūrinėje Kerro terpėje atsiradimas. Palyginami plataus spektro generacijos kompiuterinio modeliavimo ir eksperimento metu surinkti statistiniai duomenys. Pabaigoje pateikti pagrindiniai darbo rezultatai ir išvados. / Thesis consists of introduction, followed by five main chapters and conclusions. Introduction is devoted to the explanation of filamentation process. The mechanisms responsible for filament generation and evolution are explained first and various models of the filamentation are presented as well. The second chapter is devoted to the study on supercontinuum spectrum dependence on the initial pulse diameter. The chapter 4 is devoted to the study of the filamentation in scattering medium, and covers the performed experiment, explanation of new developed numerical scheme, and finally comparison of the numerical and experimental results. The chapter 5 describes the multifilamentation with elliptical beam. The role of the four wave mixing to the filaments periodicity is briefly explained. The periodicity dependence on the wave of intensity as well the evolution of multifilamentation is shown. Three dimensional study of the modulation instability during multifilamentation process is also presented in chapter 5. The last chapter 6 is devoted to the origin of the rogue wave statistics in supercontinuum generation, and comparison of the numeric results with experimental. At the end (chapter 7) the main conclusions of the current work are presented.

<p>All-optical devices have attracted many research interests due to their ultimately low heat dissipation compared to conventional devices based on electric-optical conversion. With recent advances in nonlinear optics, it is now possible to design the optical properties of a medium via all-optical nonlinear effects in a table-top device or even on a chip.</p><p>In this thesis, I realize all-optical control of the optical group velocity using the nonlinear process of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in optical fibers. The SBS-based techniques generally require very low pump power and offer a wide transparent window and a large tunable range. Moreover, my invention of the arbitrary SBS resonance tailoring technique enables engineering of the optical properties to optimize desired function performance,</p><p>which has made the SBS techniques particularly widely adapted for</p><p>various applications.</p><p>I demonstrate theoretically and experimentally how the all-optical</p><p>control of group velocity is achieved using SBS in optical fibers.</p><p>Particularly, I demonstrate that the frequency dependence of the</p><p>wavevector experienced by the signal beam can be tailored using</p><p>multi-line and broadband pump beams in the SBS process. Based on the theoretical framework, I engineer the spectral profile</p><p> to achieve two different application goals: a uniform low group velocity (slow light) within a broadband spectrum, and a group velocity with a linear dependence on the frequency detuning (group velocity dispersion or GVD).</p><p>In the broadband SBS slow light experiment, I develop a novel noise current modulation method that arbitrarily tailors the spectrum of a diode laser. Applying this method, I obtain a 5-GHz broadband SBS gain with optimized flat-topped profile, in comparison to the ~40 MHz natural linewidth of the SBS resonance. Based on the broadband SBS resonance, I build a 5-GHz optical buffer and use this optical buffer to delay a return-to-zero data sequence of rate 2.5 GHz (pulse width 200 ps). The fast noise modulation method significantly stabilizes the SBS gain and improves the signal fidelity. I obtain a tunable delay up to one pulse-width with a peak signal-to-noise ratio of 7. I also find that SBS slow light performance can be improved by avoiding competing nonlinear effects. A gain-bandwidth product of 344 dB.GHz is obtained in our system with a highly-nonlinear optical fiber.</p><p>Besides the slow light applications, I realize that group velocity dispersion is also optically controlled via the SBS process. In the very recent GVD experiment, I use a dual-line SBS resonance and obtain a tunable GVD parameter of 7.5 ns$^2$/m, which is 10$^9$ times larger than the value found in a single-mode fiber. The large GVD system is used to disperse an optical pulse with a pulse width of 28 ns, which is beyond the capability for current dispersion techniques working in the picosecond and sub picosecond region. The SBS-based all-optical control of GVD is also widely tunable and can</p><p>be applied to any wavelength within the transparent window of the</p><p>optical fiber. I expect many future extensions following this work</p><p>on the SBS-based all-optical GVD control using the readily developed SBS tailoring techniques.</p><p>Finally, I extend the basic theory of backwards SBS to describe the forward SBS observed in a highly nonlinear fiber, where asymmetric forward SBS resonances are observed at the gigahertz range. An especially large gain coefficient of 34.7 W$^{-1}$ is observed at the resonance frequency of 933.8 MHz. This is due to good overlap between the optical wave and the high order guided radial acoustic wave. The interplay from the competing process known as the Kerr effect is also accounted for in the theory.</p> / Dissertation

I present a detailed study of many-body effects associated with the interband 1s transition and intraband 1s-2p transition in two- and three-dimensional photo-excited semiconductors. I employ a previously developed excitonic model to treat effects of exchange and phase space filling. I extend the scope of the model to include static free-carrier screening. I also develop a factorization scheme to obtain a consistent set of excitonic dynamical equations. The exciton transition energies are renormalized by many-body interactions, and the excitonic dynamical equations provide simple expressions for the individual contributions of screening, phase space filling and exchange. The effects of exchange and phase space filling are quantified by a set of excitonic coefficients. I first calculate these coefficients analytically by omitting screening effects. In contrast, the screened coefficients involve multi-dimensional integrals which must be evaluated numerically. I present a detailed discussion of the numerical methods used to evaluate these integrals, which include a novel algorithm for segmenting multi-dimensional integration regions. The excitonic model correctly predicts the blue shift and bleaching of the 1s exciton resonance due to exchange and phase space filling. Free-carrier screening is found to enhance these effects by lowering the exciton binding energy. In contrast, the effects of free-carrier screening on the 1s-2p transition energy are more subtle. In the absence of free-carrier screening, exchange and phase space filling lead to a blue shift of the transition energy. However, screening decreases the 1s binding energy faster than the 2p binding energy, which in turn decreases the transition energy. Thus, screening effects oppose exchange and phase space filling, and the overall magnitude and sign of the 1s-2p transition energy shift depends on the free-carrier density. Specifically, for low-moderate excitation densities exchange and phase space filling can be dominated by screening, leading to a net red shift of the transition energy. The results for two- and three-dimensional systems are qualitatively similar, although the magnitudes of the shifts are much smaller in three dimensions. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2011-05-31 15:58:27.222

No description available.

In 1995 Braun and co-workers reported the observation of self-channeling of femtosecond laser pulses over 20 m in air. This first observation of femtosecond filament triggered a series of studies, which discovered an exciting physics beyond the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with transparent dielectric media. This dissertation aims at comprehensive study of transient spatiotemporal phenomena (space-time transformations, pulse splitting and compression, filament propagation dynamics, supercontinuum generation and multiple filamentation) that take place during self-focusing of intense femtosecond laser pulses in various self-action regimes in transparent dielectric media with instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Various nonlinear optics diagnostic methods (three dimensional mapping, auto- and cross-correlation measurements, frequency resolved optical gating measurements), spatially resolved frequency spectra measurements, statistical analysis of spectral intensities and energies, numerical simulations were employed. The dissertation addresses important issues regarding complete physical understanding of the evolution cycle of femtosecond filaments in normally dispersive media, physical nature of spatiotemporal light bullets generated by filamentation in the anomalous group velocity regime, detailed statistical aspects of supercontinuum generation, and spatiotemporal characterization of multiple filaments. Analysed factors are useful for practical applications when... [to full text] / Ultratrumpiesiems šviesos impulsams sklindant skaidriose terpėse dėl jų saviveikos gali formuotis ypatingi šviesos dariniai – šviesos gijos, kurios pirmą kartą stebėtos 1995 m. Braun ir kt. Pirmuosius šviesos gijų stebėjimus sekė eilė tyrimų, kurie atskleidė įdomius femtosekundinių lazerinių impulsų saviveikos reiškinius, kartais apimančius platesnes netiesinės optikos tyrimų sritis. Šios disertacijos tikslas – išsamiai ištirti dinaminius erdvėlaikinius reiškinius (šviesos gijų sklidimą, erdvėlaikines transformacijas, impulsų skilimą ir spūdą, superkontinuumo generaciją ir daugelio šviesos gijų atsiradimą) įvairiuose intensyvių femtosekundinių lazerio impulsų saviveikos režimuose skaidriose dielektrinėse terpėse su momentiniu Kero netiesiškumu. Tyrimams naudoti įvairūs netiesinės optikos metodai (trimatė lazerinė tomografija, auto- ir kryžminės koreliacijos matavimai, dažninės skyros optinės sklendės autokoreliaciniai matavimai), erdvinės-dažninės skyros spektrų matavimas, statistinė spektrinių, energijos matavimų analizė, skaitmeninis modeliavimas. Atliktų tyrimų visuma išplečia esamas žinias apie femtosekundinių šviesos impulsų saviveiką ir netiesinių optinių sistemų dinamiką normalios ir anomalios grupinių greičių dispersijos atvejais, vedančią prie nestabilumo ir ekstremalių optinių įvykių žadinimo. Kita vertus, ištirti veiksniai naudingi praktiniuose taikymuose, kai siekiama formuoti tvarkias erdvines-laikines struktūras, žadinti ekstremalias optines bangas arba... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Ultratrumpiesiems šviesos impulsams sklindant skaidriose terpėse dėl jų saviveikos gali formuotis ypatingi šviesos dariniai – šviesos gijos, kurios pirmą kartą stebėtos 1995 m. Braun ir kt. Pirmuosius šviesos gijų stebėjimus sekė eilė tyrimų, kurie atskleidė įdomius femtosekundinių lazerinių impulsų saviveikos reiškinius, kartais apimančius platesnes netiesinės optikos tyrimų sritis. Šios disertacijos tikslas – išsamiai ištirti dinaminius erdvėlaikinius reiškinius (šviesos gijų sklidimą, erdvėlaikines transformacijas, impulsų skilimą ir spūdą, superkontinuumo generaciją ir daugelio šviesos gijų atsiradimą) įvairiuose intensyvių femtosekundinių lazerio impulsų saviveikos režimuose skaidriose dielektrinėse terpėse su momentiniu Kero netiesiškumu. Tyrimams naudoti įvairūs netiesinės optikos metodai (trimatė lazerinė tomografija, auto- ir kryžminės koreliacijos matavimai, dažninės skyros optinės sklendės autokoreliaciniai matavimai), erdvinės-dažninės skyros spektrų matavimas, statistinė spektrinių, energijos matavimų analizė, skaitmeninis modeliavimas. Atliktų tyrimų visuma išplečia esamas žinias apie femtosekundinių šviesos impulsų saviveiką ir netiesinių optinių sistemų dinamiką normalios ir anomalios grupinių greičių dispersijos atvejais, vedančią prie nestabilumo ir ekstremalių optinių įvykių žadinimo. Kita vertus, ištirti veiksniai naudingi praktiniuose taikymuose, kai siekiama formuoti tvarkias erdvines-laikines struktūras, žadinti ekstremalias optines bangas arba... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In 1995 Braun and co-workers reported the observation of self-channeling of femtosecond laser pulses over 20 m in air. This first observation of femtosecond filament triggered a series of studies, which discovered an exciting physics beyond the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with transparent dielectric media. This dissertation aims at comprehensive study of transient spatiotemporal phenomena (space-time transformations, pulse splitting and compression, filament propagation dynamics, supercontinuum generation and multiple filamentation) that take place during self-focusing of intense femtosecond laser pulses in various self-action regimes in transparent dielectric media with instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Various nonlinear optics diagnostic methods (three dimensional mapping, auto- and cross-correlation measurements, frequency resolved optical gating measurements), spatially resolved frequency spectra measurements, statistical analysis of spectral intensities and energies, numerical simulations were employed. The dissertation addresses important issues regarding complete physical understanding of the evolution cycle of femtosecond filaments in normally dispersive media, physical nature of spatiotemporal light bullets generated by filamentation in the anomalous group velocity regime, detailed statistical aspects of supercontinuum generation, and spatiotemporal characterization of multiple filaments. Analysed factors are useful for practical applications when... [to full text]

Unique applications of Terahertz radiation in various fields such as biology and medical sciences, remote sensing, and chemical detection have motivated researchers to develop compact and coherent sources for this least touched region of electromagnetic spectrum. Of the many techniques for generating terahertz signals, difference- frequency generation (DFG) in various crystals is one of the mostly explored methods. Various phase matching methodologies, including phase matching in bulk crystals based on birefringence, and quasi-phase matching have been proposed for this purpose. Although GaAs has an order of magnitude higher second-order nonlinear coefficient in comparison with other crystals, it is one of the least employed crystals for DFG due to phase-matching difficulties. First, it does not provide birefringence in the bulk crystal for birefringence phase matching. Second, GaAs quasi-phase matching has been shown only in few works because patterning the nonlinear susceptibilities in semiconductors is not easily achieved. In this thesis, integration of a GaAs optical waveguide and a terahertz waveguide is proposed as a wide-band phase matching technique for DFG to generate high power coherent terahertz radiation. Using waveguides for both optical and terahertz waves allows for tailoring the phase matching and increasing the interaction length to get high conversion efficiency. Using pump wavelengths between 1.5-1.6 um, where low cost and high optical powers are available, we obtained phase matching for terahertz generation in the range of 0-3.5 THz. We exploit the differences between the GaAs dielectric constant in optical and terahertz range, a high second order nonlinear coefficient, and low terahertz absorption. Simulation results show the appropriate behavior of the proposed devices for both optical and terahertz waves. The proposed waveguide phase matching can be useful for other types of devices using similar nonlinear phenomena, such as coherent detection, electro-optic modulation, and ultra-short pulse generation.

The work presented in this thesis describes an investigation into the properties and behaviour of a new class of nonlinear optical organic chromophores. This study contributes to the optimisation of nonlinear optical molecules through an improved understanding of the relationships between the molecular nonlinear optical properties and the measured macroscopic quantities. A series of highly dipolar non-linear optical chromophores with absorption typically in the range of 350-500 nm have been synthesised by the reactions of amines with tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). One of the advantages of these materials is the large molecular figure of merit (μβ where μ is the molecular dipole moment and P is the second order polarisability), which theoretically allows large nonlinear optical coefficients to be obtained. The molecular dipole moments of these chromophores were determined both experimentally and theoretically, and were found to agree. The nonlinear optical properties of these compounds in solution were studied using an electric field induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) technique. The measurements of μβ at 1064 nm and 1907 nm in chloroform and acetone are presented. Moderate μβ values were obtained but β is found to be unexpectedly small in chloroform and shows unusual dispersion characteristics in this solvent compared to acetone. Further concentration investigations revealed features that suggest the presence of aggregates within solution. Optical spectroscopy measurements provide evidence of new species whose presence and conformation were found to be solvent-dependent. The results of this work highlight the need for an entire concentration range to be studied if accurate determination of molecular properties of highly dipolar molecules is required. Guest-host polymer films of these materials have been corona poled using a constant current corona triode. Detailed characterisation studies of the second order nonlinearities using second harmonic generation (SHG) were compared to a less dipolar molecule. These investigations showed that the highly dipolar TCNQ derivatives show severe aggregation within the polymer films. The magnitude of the SHG that can be obtained from such systems is therefore limited by this aggregation.

No description available.