Optical parametric generation with two pairs of gain bands based on a photonic crystal fiber

An optical parametric amplifier with two pairs of gain bands is demonstrated based on a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) pumped with a Ti: sapphire pulse laser. A photonic crystal fiber with two zero-dispersion wavelengths is designed and fabricated, which can be expected to support phase matched wavelengths at the visible and infrared bands. The influences of the pump power and the pump wavelength on the phase-matching contours are investigated in detail. It predicts that two pairs of parametric gain bands can appear. In experiment, it benefits from the high peak pump power of the Ti: sapphire pulse laser, two pairs of parametric gain bands are observed. The signal band extends to the mid-infrared region of 2190 nm, and the idler band extends down to the ultraviolet region of 300 nm. The characteristics of the parametric gain bands agree well with the simulations.