Coherent ultra-violet to near-infrared generation in silica ridge waveguides

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13922
• Publication Date: 2017-01-09T10:55:03Z
• Authors: Dong Yoon Oh; Ki Youl Yang; Connor Fredrick; Gabriel Ycas; Scott A. Diddams; Kerry J. Vahala
• Keywords: Ultraviolet

Abstract Short duration, intense pulses of light can experience dramatic spectral broadening when propagating through lengths optical fibre. This continuum generation process is caused by a combination nonlinear effects including the formation dispersive waves. Optical analogues Cherenkov radiation, these waves allow pulse to radiate power into distant region. In this work, efficient and coherent wave visible ultraviolet demonstrated in silica waveguides on silicon chip. Unlike fibre broadeners, arrays provide wide range emission wavelength choices single, compact new capability used simplify offset frequency measurements mode-locked comb. The also enable lasers attain unprecedented tunable reach for spectroscopy, bioimaging, tomography metrology.