M.Sc. Riccardo Pennetta

Dispersion tuning in sub-micron tapers for third-harmonic and photon triplet generation

Jonas Hammer, Andrea Cavanna, Riccardo Pennetta, Maria Chekhova, Philip Russell, Nicolas Joly

Precise control of the dispersion landscape is of crucial importance if optical fibers are to be successfully used for the generation of three-photon states of light—the inverse of third-harmonic generation (THG). Here we report gas-tuning of intermodal phase-matched THG in sub-micron-diameter tapered optical fiber. By adjusting the pressure of the surrounding argon gas up to 50 bars, intermodally phase-matched third-harmonic light can be generated for pump wavelengths within a 15 nm range around 1.38 μm. We also measure the infrared fluorescence generated in the fiber when pumped in the visible and estimate that the accidental coincidence rate in this signal is lower than the predicted detection rate of photon triplets

Flying particle microlaser and temperature sensor in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

Richard Zeltner, Riccardo Pennetta, Shangran Xie, Philip Russell

Whispering-gallery mode (WGM) resonators combine small optical mode volumes with narrow resonance linewidths, making them exciting platforms for a variety of applications. Here we report a flying WGM microlaser, realized by optically trapping a dye-doped microparticle within a liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) using a CW laser and then pumping it with a pulsed excitation laser whose wavelength matches the absorption band of the dye. The laser emits into core-guided modes that can be detected at the endfaces of the HC-PCF. Using radiation forces, the microlaser can be freely propelled along the HC-PCF over multi-centimeter distances—orders of magnitude farther than in previous experiments where tweezers and fiber traps were used. The system can be used to measure temperature with high spatial resolution, by exploiting the temperature-dependent frequency shift of the lasing modes, and may also permit precise delivery of light to remote locations.

Broadband, Lensless, and Optomechanically Stabilized Coupling into Microfluidic Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber Using Glass Nanospike

Richard Zeltner, Shangran Xie, Riccardo Pennetta, Philip St J. Russell

We report a novel technique for launching broadband laser light into liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF). It uniquely offers self alignment and self-stabilization via optomechanical trapping of a,fused silica nanospike, fabricated by thermally tapering and chemically etching a single mode fiber into a tip diameter of 350 nm. We show that a trapping laser, deliirering similar to 300 mW at 1064 nm, can be used to optically align and stably maintain the iianospike at the core center. Once this is done, a weak broadband supercontinuum signal (similar to 575-1064 nm) can be efficiently and close to achromatically launched in the HC-PCF. The system is robust against liquid-flow in either direction inside the HC-PCF, and the Fresnel back-reflections are reduced to negligible levels compared to free-space launching or butt-coupling. The results are of potential relevance for any application where the efficient delivery of broadband light into liquid-core waveguides is desired.

Fresnel-Reflection-Free Self-Aligning Nanospike Interface between a Step-Index Fiber and a Hollow-Core Photonic-Crystal-Fiber Gas Cell

Riccardo Pennetta, Shangran Xie, Frances Lenahan, Manoj Mridha, David Novoa, Philip St. J. Russell

We report a fully integrated interface delivering efficient, reflection-free, single-mode, and self-aligned coupling between a step-index fiber and a gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. The device offers a universal solution for interfacing solid and hollow cores and can be sealed to allow operation either evacuated or at high pressure. Stimulated Raman scattering and molecular modulation of light are demonstrated in a H-2-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber using the device.

Tapered Glass-Fiber Microspike: High-Q Flexural Wave Resonator and Optically Driven Knudsen Pump

Riccardo Pennetta, Shangran Xie, Philip St. J. Russell

Self-alignment of glass fiber nanospike by optomechanical back-action in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

S. Xie, Riccardo Pennetta, P. St J. Russell

A topic of great current interest is the harnessing and enhancement of optical tweezer forces for trapping small objects of different sizes and shapes at relatively small powers. Here we demonstrate the stable trapping, inside the core of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF), of a mechanically compliant fused silica nanospike, formed by tapering a single-mode fiber (SMF). The nanospike is subwavelength in diameter over its similar to W50 mu m insertion length in the HC-PCF. Laser light, launched into the SMF core, adiabatically evolves into a mode that extends strongly into the space surrounding the nanospike. It then senses the presence of the hollow core, and the resulting optomechanical action and back-action results in a strong trapping force at the core center. The system permits lens-less, reflection-free, self-stabilized, and self-aligned coupling from SMF to HC-PCF with a demonstrated efficiency of 87.8%. The unique configuration also provides an elegant means of investigating optomechanical effects in optical tweezers, especially at very low pressures. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America