No Arabic abstract
Recent advances in deep learning have been providing non-intuitive solutions to various inverse problems in optics. At the intersection of machine learning and optics, diffractive networks merge wave-optics with deep learning to design task-specific elements to all-optically perform various tasks such as object classification and machine vision. Here, we present a diffractive network, which is used to shape an arbitrary broadband pulse into a desired optical waveform, forming a compact pulse engineering system. We experimentally demonstrate the synthesis of square pulses with different temporal-widths by manufacturing passive diffractive layers that collectively control both the spectral amplitude and the phase of an input terahertz pulse. Our results constitute the first demonstration of direct pulse shaping in terahertz spectrum, where a complex-valued spectral modulation function directly acts on terahertz frequencies. Furthermore, a Lego-like physical transfer learning approach is presented to illustrate pulse-width tunability by replacing part of an existing network with newly trained diffractive layers, demonstrating its modularity. This learning-based diffractive pulse engineering framework can find broad applications in e.g., communications, ultra-fast imaging and spectroscopy.
Attosecond pulses are fundamental for the investigation of valence and core-electron dynamics on their natural timescale. At present the reproducible generation and characterisation of attosecond waveforms has been demonstrated only through the process of high-order harmonic generation. Several methods for the shaping of attosecond waveforms have been proposed, including metallic filters, multilayer mirrors and manipulation of the driving field. However, none of these approaches allow for the flexible manipulation of the temporal characteristics of the attosecond waveforms, and they suffer from the low conversion efficiency of the high-order harmonic generation process. Free Electron Lasers, on the contrary, deliver femtosecond, extreme ultraviolet and X-ray pulses with energies ranging from tens of $mathrm{mu}$J to a few mJ. Recent experiments have shown that they can generate sub-fs spikes, but with temporal characteristics that change shot-to-shot. Here we show the first demonstration of reproducible generation of high energy ($mathrm{mu}$J level) attosecond waveforms using a seeded Free Electron Laser. We demonstrate amplitude and phase manipulation of the harmonic components of an attosecond pulse train in combination with a novel approach for its temporal reconstruction. The results presented here open the way to perform attosecond time-resolved experiments with Free Electron Lasers.
Transparent materials do not absorb light but have profound influence on the phase evolution of transmitted radiation. One consequence is chromatic dispersion, i.e., light of different frequencies travels at different velocities, causing ultrashort laser pulses to elongate in time while propagating. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrathin nanostructured coatings that resolve this challenge: we tailor the dispersion of silicon nanopillar arrays such that they temporally reshape pulses upon transmission using slow light effects and act as ultrashort laser pulse compressors. The coatings induce anomalous group delay dispersion in the visible to near-infrared spectral region around 800 nm wavelength over an 80 nm bandwidth. We characterize the arrays performance in the spectral domain via white light interferometry and directly demonstrate the temporal compression of femtosecond laser pulses. Applying these coatings to conventional optics renders them ultrashort pulse compatible and suitable for a wide range of applications.
We use a supervised machine-learning model based on a neural network to predict the temporal and spectral intensity profiles of the pulses that form upon nonlinear propagation in optical fibers with both normal and anomalous second-order dispersion. We also show that the model is able to retrieve the parameters of the nonlinear propagation from the pulses observed at the output of the fiber. Various initial pulse shapes as well as initially chirped pulses are investigated.
The temporal-mode (TM) basis is a prime candidate to perform high-dimensional quantum encoding. Quantum frequency conversion has been employed as a tool to perform tomographic analysis and manipulation of ultrafast states of quantum light necessary to implement a TM-based encoding protocol. While demultiplexing of such states of light has been demonstrated in the Quantum Pulse Gate (QPG), a multiplexing device is needed to complete an experimental framework for TM encoding. In this work we demonstrate the reverse process of the QPG. A dispersion-engineered difference frequency generation in non-linear optical waveguides is employed to imprint the pulse shape of the pump pulse onto the output. This transformation is unitary and can be more efficient than classical pulse shaping methods. We experimentally study the process by shaping the first five orders of Hermite-Gauss modes of various bandwidths. Finally, we establish and model the limits of practical, reliable shaping operation.
This paper describes the demonstration of linearly polarized picosecond pulse shaping with variable profiles including symmetric and non-symmetric intensity distributions. Important characteristics such as stability and transmission were studied, resulting in highly reliable performance of this fan-type birefringent shaping system. This variable temporal shaping technique is applicable over a wide range of laser parameters and may lead to new opportunities for many potential applications. A new double-pass variable temporal shaping method that significantly reduces the required crystal quantity is also proposed in this paper.