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Full field characterization is an important issue for ultrafast optoelectronics. By suitable nonlinear constrain, several approaches, such as FROG, SPIDERS, MIIPS and so on, have been developed for providing detail information of optical pulses. However, phase matching bandwidth of nonlinear material limit the functionality for broadband signal. In this thesis, linear approach without limitation of phase matching bandwidth is proposed. Theoretically, we successfully demonstrated the feasibility of proposed method. We analyzed the limitation and discussed the pulse compression power with the proposed method. Besides, we also proposed experimental method for this method.

This thesis describes the process of developing a robust phase measurement technique with which to analyse semiconductor based devices intended for use in optoelectronic/all optical networks. The devices measured are prospective dispersion compensators, based either on planar photonic crystal waveguides or coupled microcavities connected by ridge waveguide. The technique was validated by measuring the phase transfer function of a Fabry Perot etalon. This demonstrated that even when detecting low optical powers (sub μW), accurate measurement of phase could quickly be carried out over a significant spectral range (~10nm). Comparison of experimental data taken from the prospective dispersion compensators with theory showed excellent agreement, which provided qualitative (cavity spacing and reflectivity) and quantitative (loss) measures of device performance. The phase measurement technique has been designed to be capable of measuring other classes of device also, including active devices such as semiconductor optical amplifiers. This suggests the phase measurement technique may be valuable in analysing the variation of dispersion as a function of applied bias, peak power or temperature for a variety of devices.

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[pt] Este trabalho apresenta alguns estudos experimentais sobre a geração de pulsos óticos curtos com lasers semicondutores e a deteção desses pulsos. Descreve-se inicialmente a geração de pulsos elétricos curtos com geradores a transistor avalanche e chaves fotocondutivas. Foi desenvolvido um modelo de circuito equivalente para lasers multi-modos, que permite simular com precisão a resposta ótica do dispositivo para diferentes condições de alimentação. Foram também desenvolvidos transformadores de impedância de larga banda passante. Linhas de transmissão de diversos tipos e substratos de diferentes constantes dielétricas foram empregados. Comprovou-se experimentalmente a melhoria da resposta ótica do laser a pulsos curtos de corrente com o uso desses transformadores, comparada com os arranjos convencionais. Mostrou-se também experimentalmente que os transformadores aqui desenvolvidos proporcionam um aumento significativo na largura de banda de sistemas de fotodetetores rápidos. São apresentados resultados experimentais de geração de pulsos óticos curtos com lasers semicondutores, usando-se as técnicas de mode-locking e chaveamento de ganho. Finalmente são sugeridas algumas técnicas alternativas para a medição indireta dos pulsos gerados pelo processo de mode-locking, e são mostrados alguns resultados preliminares. / [en] This work presents experimental studies on the generation of short duration optical pulses with semiconductor lasers and the detection of these pulses. The generation of high- speed electrical pulses with avalanche transistors and photoconductive switches is described. An equivalent circuit model for multimode lasers was developed, which permits simulating accurately the optical response of the devide under various bias conditions. Impedance transformers of large bandwidth were also developed. Transmission lines of several types and substrates with various dielectric constants were employed. A significant improvement of the optical response of the laser to short duration current pulses was experimentally observed with the use of the transformers, compared to conventional arrangements. It was also observed a significant increase in the bandwith of high- speed photodiode systems. Results are describe on the generation of short duration optical pulses with semiconductor lasers, using the techniques of mode-locking and gain switching. Finally, alternative high-speed techniques are suggested for the measurement of the pulses generated by mode-locking, and preliminary results are presented.

Bulk laser-induced breakdown and self-focusing in single samples of fused quartz and NaCl were examined using picosecond optical pulses at 1.0 ym and 0.5 ym. The results of three separate but related experiments are reported. First the nonlinear index of refraction, n2, of each of the test materials is measured near the respective damage thresholds of the samples. The values of 1*2 were determined by detecting beam distortions in the far field, transmitted laser beam profile caused by the irradiance dependent index of refraction. The experimental traces were compared to theoretical beam profiles generated by a nonlinear propagation code and n2 was extracted from the resulting fits.

[pt] Neste trabalho, descreve-se a geração de pulsos ópticos curtos com diferentes taxas de repetição, para aplicações em sistemas de transmissão de sólitons. Para isto foi desenvolvido um laser a fibra em anel operando na terceira janela de comunicações ópticas (em 1.55 mm), capaz de gerar pulsos curtos, utilizando a técnica de mode-locking ativo. Na configuração empregada o modulador de Mach- Zehnder, normalmente usado, foi substituído por um laser DFB, funcionando como modulador de intensidade e, ao mesmo tempo, como filtro óptico sintonizável. O laser semicondutor tem seu ganho chaveado através de modulação direta, levando a cavidade e operar no regime de mode- locking harmônico. Uma sintonia contínua de comprimentos de onda pode ser obtida, simplesmente, variando-se a temperatura do diodo laser. Foram analisados aspectos como estabilidade, duração e pureza espectral dos pulsos ópticos emitidos por essa fonte, bem como sua faixa de sintonia de comprimentos de onda e possíveis taxas de repetição. Os pulsos ópticos gerados foram transmitidos através de enlaces ópticos com fibra óptica convencional, comprovando-se a propagação de sólitons. / [en] In this dissertation, it is depicted short optical pulses generation with different repetition rates, for soliton based transmission systems applications. In order to accomplish that, a fiber laser operating at the third window of the optical communication (1.55 um) was developed, capable of generate short pulses, through the active mode-locking technique. Within the current configuration, the Mach-Zehnder modulator, usually employed, was replaced by a DFB laser, running as both an intensity modulator and tunable optical filter. The semiconductor laser was gain switched through direct modulation, leading the cavity to operate on harmonic mode- locking scheme. A continuous wavelength tuning could be achieved by changing the temperature of the diode laser. Several aspects were analyzed, such as stability, duration and spectral purity of the optical pulses generated by this source. The wavelength tuning range and its possible repetition rates were also investigated. The optical pulses were transmitted through standard optical fiber links, demonstrating the propagation of solitons.

[pt] Neste trabalho descreve-se a geração de pulsos ópticos curtos estáveis, com durações na faixa de alguns psicossegundos, e diversas taxas de repetição. Para isto foi construído um laser a fibra dopada com érbio, na configuração em anel e operando nos regimes de mode- locking ativo harmônico e racional (MLEFL). As características temporal e espectral dos pulsos são estudadas. Os pulsos de saída apresentam potência de pico elevada e são limitados pela transformada, ou seja, na forma de sólitons. Esses pulsos são extremamente adequados para sistemas de comunicações solitônicos. Os lasers a fibra dopada com érbio operando no regime de mode-locking ativo (MLEFL), têm-se mostrado como um dos candidatos mais promissores para os sistemas solitônicos. Isto se deve ao fato desses dispositivos além de produzirem pulsos ultracurtos e com as características necessárias a esses sistemas, eles apresentam alta potência de saída e possibilitam a variação da taxa de repetição. Para a montagem desses lasers de forma razoavelmente compacta são utilizados componentes ópticos, tais como controladores de polarização, filtros e moduladores, em versões integradas (pigtailed) e já disponíveis comercialmente. / [en] This work describes a simple and stable harmonically mode- locked erbium-doped fiber ring laser, that produces high power, ~ 1 ps transform-limited sech optical pulses. Pulse trains with different high repetition rates were obtained using harmonic mode-locking and rational harmonic mode- locking techniques. The temporal and spectral characteristics of the pulses are studied. The pulses are extremely appropriate for soliton based systems communications. Actively mode-locked erbium doped fiber ring lasers (MLEFL), have attracted much attention and are one of most promising candidates for soliton systems. This is due to some characteristics which are very convenient for high capacity optical systems: they can produce very short transform limited optical pulses at gigahertz rates. Such lasers also present high output powers, long term stability and can be easily tuned to operate in a wide region of wavelengths.

The invention of chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) in 1985 led to a tremendous increase in obtainable laser pulse peak intensities. Since then, several table-top, Ti:sapphire-based CPA systems exceeding the 100 TW-level with more than 10 W average power have been developed and several systems are now commercially available. Over the last decade, the complementary technology of optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) has improved in its performance to a competitive level. OPCPA allows direct amplification of an almost-octave spanning bandwidth supporting few-cycle pulse durations at center wavelengths ranging from the visible to the mid-IR. The current record in peak power from a table-top OPCPA is 16 TW and the current record average power is 22 W. High energy, few-cycle pulses with stabilized carrierenvelope phase (CEP) are desired for applications such as high-harmonic generation (HHG) enabling attoscience and the generation keV-photon bursts. This dissertation conceptually, numerically and experimentally describes essential aspects of few-cycle OPCPA, and the associated pump beam generation. The main part of the conducted research was directed towards the few-cycle OPCPA facility developed in the Laser Plasma Laboratory at CREOL (University of Central Florida, USA) termed HERACLES. This facility was designed to generate few-cycle pulses in the visible with mJ-level pulse energy, W-level average power and more than 100 GW peak power. Major parts of the implementation of the HERACLES facility are presented. The pump generation beam of the HERACLES system has been improved in terms of pulse energy, average power and stability over the last years. It is based on diode-pumped, solid-state amplifiers with picosecond duration and experimental investigations are presented in detail. A iii robust system has been implemented producing mJ-level pulse energies with ~100 ps pulse duration at kHz repetition rates. Scaling of this system to high power (>30 W) and high peak power (50-MW-level) as well as ultra-high pulse energy (>160 mJ) is presented. The latter investigation resulted in the design of an ultra-high energy system for OPCPA pumping. Following this, a new OPCPA facility was designed termed PhaSTHEUS, which is anticipated to reach ultra-high intensities. Another research effort was conducted at CELIA (Univeristé de Bordeaux 1, France) and aimed towards a previously unexplored operational regime of OPCPA with ultra-high repetition rates (10 MHz) and high average power. A supercontinuum seed beam generation has been established with an output ranging from 1.3 to 1.9 µm and few ps duration. The pump beam generation has been implemented based on rod-type fiber amplifiers producing more than 37 W average power and 370 kW peak power. The utility of this system as an OPCPA pump laser is presented along with the OPA design. The discussed systems operate in radically different regimes in terms of peak power, average power, and repetition rate. The anticipated OPCPA systems with few-cycle duration enable a wide range of novel experimental studies in attoscience, ultrafast materials processing, filamentation, LIBS and coherent control