Ultrahigh-Frequency Short Pulse Generation based on All-Optical Semiconductor Gating

We have been exploring ultrahigh-frequency, short pulse generation based on a new nonlinear optical mechanism, which differs significantly from the conventional mode-locking, and its high-precision control techniques. As has originally been proposed by this author and his coworkers in 2000-2001, the optical center frequency, the pulse width, and the repetition frequency of the generated pulse train are independently controllable, respectively, by tuning the optical frequency of the seed cw light, the timing width of the all-optical semiconductor gate (DISC), and the harmonic cavity frequency of the oscillator, in principle.

Ultrahigh-Frequency Short Pulse Generation based on All-Optical Semiconductor Gating Department of Electronic Engineering Associated Professor Yoshiyasu Ueno ueno@ee.uec.ac.jp http://www.ultrafast.ee.uec.ac.jp/
	DISC-Loop-type ring oscillator
We have been exploring ultrahigh-frequency, short pulse generation based on a new nonlinear optical mechanism, which differs significantly from the conventional mode-locking, and its high-precision control techniques. As has originally been proposed by this author and his coworkers in 2000-2001, the optical center frequency, the pulse width, and the repetition frequency of the generated pulse train are independently controllable, respectively, by tuning the optical frequency of the seed cw light, the timing width of the all-optical semiconductor gate (DISC), and the harmonic cavity frequency of the oscillator, in principle.

To date, a 10-GHz, 5-ps pulse train has been observed (Fig. (c)). Regarding the DISC-type all-optical gate that was separately proposed by this author and his coworkers, a 168-GHz, 1.5-ps-wide gate window has been demonstrated. The DISC-loop-oscillator mechanism will offer a brand-new option in the fields of high-precision optical metrology.