ULTRAFAST OPTICAL SWITCHING BY USE OF FULLY PHASE-MATCHED CASCADED 2ND-ORDER NONLINEARITIES IN A POLARIZATION-GATE GEOMETRY

Authors
KRUMBUGEL MA SWEETSER JN FITTINGHOFF DN DELONG KW TREBINO R
Citation
Ma. Krumbugel et al., ULTRAFAST OPTICAL SWITCHING BY USE OF FULLY PHASE-MATCHED CASCADED 2ND-ORDER NONLINEARITIES IN A POLARIZATION-GATE GEOMETRY, Optics letters, 22(4), 1997, pp. 245-247
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
Optics letters → ACNP
ISSN journal
01469592
Volume
22
Issue
4
Year of publication
1997
Pages
245 - 247
Database
ISI
SICI code
0146-9592(1997)22:4<245:UOSBUO>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
We show that cascaded second-order nonlinear-optical processes can occ ur in a convenient polarization-gate beam geometry. Our arrangement us es type II phase matching, and both individual second-order processes (upconversion and downconversion) are simultaneously phase matched. Th is geometry can be applied to efficient ultrafast optical switching. W ith a beta-barium berate crystal and lightly focused 250-fs, 7.3-mu J pulses, we achieve a switching efficiency of 15% and an on-off ratio o f 3 x 10(4) on a pulse-length-limited time scale. (C) 1997 Optical Soc iety of America.