Biomedical subjects

Falk Lederer

Publications and source records attributed to Falk Lederer.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Analytical relation between effective mode field area and waveguide dispersion in microstructure fibers.

For optical fibers exhibiting a radially symmetric refractive index profile, there exists an analytical relation that connects waveguide dispersion and the Petermann-II mode field radius. We extend the usefulness of this relation to the nonradially symmetric case of microstructure fibers in the anomalous dispersion regime, yielding a simple relation between dispersion and effective mode field area. Assuming a Gaussian mode distribution, we derive a fundamental upper limit for the effective mode field area that is required to obtain a certain amount of anomalous waveguide dispersion. This relation is demonstrated to show excellent agreement for fiber designs suited for supercontinuum generation and soliton lasers in the near infrared.

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PubMed2006

Correlation between single-cylinder properties and bandgap formation in photonic structures.

The origin of frequency gaps in the dispersion relation of periodic, quasi-periodic, and random photonic structures consisting of different arrangements of dielectric cylinders has been investigated. For TM polarization it was found that the formation and properties of gaps are strongly affected by Mie resonances of a single cylinder. Both the spectral position and size depend on the properties of this single scatterer. In contrast, for TE polarization no correlation between the scattering properties and bandgap formation was found, as Mie resonances are spectrally not well separated. For the inverted structure consisting of air cylinders in a dielectric material, the frequency gaps depend on the spatial arrangement of the cylinders because no pronounced Mie resonances exist in this case.

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PubMed2006

Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling in two-dimensional photonic lattices.

We report on the first experimental observation of photonic Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling in two-dimensional periodic systems. We study the propagation of an optical beam in a square lattice superimposed on a refractive index ramp. We observe oscillations of the beam inside the first Brilloin zone and tunneling of light from the first to the higher-order bands of the lattice band gap spectrum.

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PubMed2006

Visual observation of Zener tunneling.

We experimentally investigate photonic Zener tunneling between the bands of a waveguide array by directly monitoring the propagating light inside this structure. For strong transverse index gradients we observe Zener breakdown as regular outbursts of radiation escaping from the Bloch oscillations. Tunneling to higher order photonic bands and Bloch oscillations in different bands have been detected.

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PubMed2005

Highly localized discrete quadratic solitons.

We observe highly localized solitons in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide arrays close to phase matching for second-harmonic generation. With fundamental and second-harmonic input in one channel the response indicates two distinguishable propagation schemes. Depending on the relative phase between the two input waves, a self-trapped beam emerges, resembling closely either the in- or the out-of-phase quadratic eigenmode of a single waveguide. A stable soliton propagates when the input waves are in phase.

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PubMed2004

Nonlinearity and disorder in fiber arrays.

We experimentally investigate light propagation in a disordered two-dimensional array of mutually coupled optical fibers. In the linear case light either spreads in a diffusive manner or localizes at a few sites. For high excitation power diffusive spreading is arrested by the focusing nonlinearity, i.e., forming a discrete soliton. By contrast, fields, which are localized in the linear regime, can experience both spreading and contraction caused by the nonlinearity.

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PubMed2004

Remote coupling in Bragg fibers.

We propose a remote directional coupler in Bragg fibers that allows for efficient conversion of the fundamental core mode into an annular mode structure over remote distances. We give design guidelines and confirm the results by finite-difference time-domain calculations.

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PubMed2004

Discrete diffraction in two-dimensional arrays of coupled waveguides in silica.

The propagation of light in 5 x 5 and 7 x 7 cubic lattices of evanescently coupled waveguides is investigated for the first time, to the authors' knowledge. The results reveal ideal discrete diffraction and demonstrate the excellent quality of the waveguide arrays, which were manufactured in fused silica by femtosecond-laser-induced refractive-index modifications.

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PubMed2004

Coherent interactions of dissipative spatial solitons.

We report observation of the interaction between two coherent dissipative spatial solitons in a periodically patterned semiconductor optical amplifier with power levels of tens of milliwatts. The interactions are nonlocal and phase dependent and exhibit surprising features, such as soliton birth. The experimental results are in good agreement with the numerical simulations.

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PubMed2003

Discretizing light behaviour in linear and nonlinear waveguide lattices.

Light propagating in linear and nonlinear waveguide lattices exhibits behaviour characteristic of that encountered in discrete systems. The diffraction properties of these systems can be engineered, which opens up new possibilities for controlling the flow of light that would have been otherwise impossible in the bulk: these effects can be exploited to achieve diffraction-free propagation and minimize the power requirements for nonlinear processes. In two-dimensional networks of waveguides, self-localized states--or discrete solitons--can travel along 'wire-like' paths and can be routed to any destination port. Such possibilities may be useful for photonic switching architectures.

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PubMed2003

Stable dissipative solitons in semiconductor optical amplifiers.

We have observed for the first time stable spatial solitons in semiconductor optical amplifiers. Soliton destabilization due to the growth of background noise was suppressed by using patterned electrodes on the device. Numerical simulations fit very well with the experiment results. We show that it is possible to excite these solitons with about 60 mW input power.

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PubMed2003

All-optical switching in quadratically nonlinear waveguide arrays.

We demonstrate a scheme for efficient switching and routing of low-power signals in waveguide arrays with second-order nonlinearity. With control beams the signal can be switched to different output positions and can be simultaneously converted to another wavelength with low cross talk.

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