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Irina T. Sorokina

Publications and source records attributed to Irina T. Sorokina.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Energy-selective control of noise-assisted multipulsing by weak optical seeding in the dissipative-soliton-resonance regime

We study pulse-number selection in a stochastic cubic--quintic complex Ginzburg--Landau model of a weakly seeded, normal-dispersion laser in the dissipative-soliton-resonance (DSR) regime. Without noise, a single pulse and pulse pairs persist at the same control parameters, and the total energy of an $N$-pulse state follows a ladder constructed from the single-pulse branch. The final energies of noisy trajectories lie close to the same ladder. Multipulsing therefore does not necessarily lose the single-pulse solution. It can reflect which coexisting state the noisy dynamics reaches. Optical seed injection suppresses energy-dependent multipulsing and, at larger seed power, produces a nonmonotonic DSR energy window. An energy--noise scan shows that energy dominates the multipulse probability, whereas additive noise produces only a modest trend common to all energies, without a noise optimum. The noise-induced formation statistics therefore do not establish canonical stochastic resonance or escape from a pre-existing soliton. Coherent control by a weak monochromatic seed extends predominantly single-pulse operation over a noticeably broader energy window, enhancing dissipative-soliton energy scalability. Within an adiabatic approximation, equal energy sharing among coexisting pulses is stable wherever the single-pulse energy grows less than proportionally with the control energy, as it does over the sampled DSR range. Energy exchange between the pulses then relaxes up to about 200 times more slowly than their total energy.

physics.optics↗

Toward a Thermodynamic Framework for Dissipative Solitons: From Photonics to Turbulence and Bose--Einstein Condensate Analogies

# Abstract Thermodynamic concepts are increasingly used in nonlinear photonics to describe Rayleigh--Jeans thermalization, optical wave turbulence, condensation, negative-temperature states, and statistical mode locking. This raises a broader question: how far can thermodynamic reasoning be extended to localized structures maintained far from equilibrium by a balance of gain, loss, dispersion, and nonlinearity? We address this question using strongly chirped dissipative solitons (DSs) of the complex cubic--quintic Ginzburg--Landau equation (CQGLE) as a model system. Their internal energy flows and separation of correlation scales connect coherent solitary waves with semi-incoherent wave kinetics, driven open systems, and Bose--Einstein-condensation analogies. We review thermodynamic-like descriptions based on spectral entropy, internal energy, effective temperature, and condensation-like spectral restructuring, relating them to dissipative-soliton resonance (DSR), stochastic mode-locking self-start, and redistribution between single- and multipulse attractors. Normal and anomalous group-delay dispersion (NGD and AGD) provide complementary realizations: in NGD, DSR is accompanied by spectral localization, scale separation, and increasing accessibility of multipulse states; in AGD, the spectrum has extended wings and dynamical robustness occupies only part of the existence domain. These results distinguish general features of nonequilibrium state selection from effects tied to a particular localization mechanism. We argue that thermodynamic-like observables are best viewed as coarse-grained structural diagnostics rather than equilibrium state variables, while DSs provide a photonic platform linking nonequilibrium thermodynamics, wave turbulence, driven condensates, and statistical phase-transition concepts.

physics.optics↗

Driven Dissipative Soliton Resonance

We investigate the enhancement of the dissipative soliton energy scalability by the injection of a low-power single-mode seed synchronized with a chirped-pulse oscillator round-trip. It is demonstrated that a threshold-like transition to multiple-pulse generation limits the maximum energies of dissipative solitons, in agreement with the thermodynamic interpretation of a strongly chirped pulse stability. We show that there are ``islands'' of instability within a stability range of energies which result from stochastic resonance between ``internal modes'' of soliton and quantum noise of the ``basin''. The transition to multiple-pulsing can be suppressed in a system driven by a comparatively low-power seed. However, seed power growth increases the mode-locking energy threshold and produces ``islands'' of instability as the dissipative soliton energy rises.

physics.optics↗

Energy Scalability Limits of Dissipative Solitons

In this study, we apply a thermodynamical approach to elucidate the primary constraints on the energy scaling of dissipative solitons (DS). We rely on the adiabatic theory of strongly chirped DS and define the DS energy scaling in terms of dissipative soliton resonance (DSR). Three main experimentally verifiable signatures identify a transition to DSR: i) growth of a Lorentzian spike at the centrum of the DS spectrum, which resembles a spectral condensation in Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), ii) saturation of the spectrum broadening, and iii) asymptotical DS stretching. We connect the DSR breakup with three critical factors: i) decoupling of two correlation scales inherent in strongly chirped DS, ii) resulting rise of the DS entropy with energy, which provokes its disintegration, and iii) transition to a nonequilibrium phase, which is characterized by negative temperature. The breakup results in multiple stable DSs with lower energy. Theoretical results are in good qualitative agreement with the experimental data from a Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr$^{2+}$:ZnS chirped-pulse oscillator (CPO) that paves the way for optimizing high-energy femtosecond pulse generation in solid-state CPO and all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers.

physics.optics↗

Chirped pulse waveguide amplifier

We introduce a single-mode Cr:ZnS crystalline waveguide ultrafast amplifier that provides a high gain of 5.5 dB/cm and 2.35 W of average output power. The depressed-cladding buried waveguide is produced by an ultrafast laser writing procedure, which allows a high degree of flexibility in fabrication when the geometry, size, and even effective index can be modified along the waveguide. An analytical model that includes both, pump and pulse propagation, allows calculation and optimization of the waveguide design. In a CPA arrangement with a volume Bragg grating-based stretcher/compressor, we demonstrate a broadband 34-mm long amplifier in a polycrystalline Cr:ZnS with a single-pass gain factor of 75 (5.5 dB/cm) and a high average output power up to 2.35 W.

physics.optics↗

Dissipative spatiotemporal soliton in a driven waveguide laser

A distributed Kerr-lens mode locking regime can be realized in a waveguide laser by spatial profiling of the pump beam, thus creating a spatio-temporal soliton. Additional slow temporal modulation of the pump source stabilizes the spatio-temporal solution in a broad range of parameters, which are defined by the dynamic gain saturation. We choose a Cr:ZnS waveguide laser as a practical example, but such a regime is feasible in various waveguide and fiber oscillators. A far-reaching analogy with Bose-Einstein condensates allows using this approach to stabilization of the weakly dissipative BECs.

physics.optics↗

Coherent laser cooling with trains of ultrashort laser pulses

We propose to extend coherent laser cooling from narrow-band to broad-band transitions by using trains of ultrashort broadband pulses. We study analytically two possible methods to reduce the momentum spread of a distribution by several units of photon momentum in a single spontaneous emission lifetime. We report on numerical simulations of one-dimensional laser cooling of a two-level system with realistic parameters. The technique introduced here is of high interest for efficient laser cooling of fast species with short lifetime such as positronium.

physics.optics↗

Thermodynamics of Dissipative Solitons

We establish a close analogy between the thermodynamics of the nonlinear systems far from equilibrium and the dissipative solitons. Unlike the solitons in the Hamiltonian systems, their dissipative counterpart looks like an aggregation of bounded quasi-particles interacting on the short range, obeying the Rayleigh-Jeans distribution, and possessing a temperature, entropy, and other thermodynamic characteristics. This ensemble is confined by a collective potential, which defines its negative chemical potential. Such a dissipative soliton represents a strongly chirped pulse generated by a mode-locked laser with the advantage of being energy scalable by the analogy with the Bose-Einstein condensation from an incoherent ``basin.'' We demonstrate the main limits of the dissipative soliton energy scaling which result from the loss of internal soliton coherency and the thermalization due to nontriviality of a ``free energy landscape.''

nlin.PS↗

A route to high peak power and energy scaling in the mid-IR chirped-pulse oscillator-amplifier laser systems

The paper introduces a new route towards the ultrafast high laser peak power and energy scaling in a hybrid mid-IR chirped pulse oscillator-amplifier (CPO-CPA) system, without sacrificing neither the pulse duration nor energy. The method is based on using a CPO as a seed source allowing the beneficial implementation of a dissipative soliton (DS) energy scaling approach, coupled with a universal CPA technique. The key is avoiding a destructive nonlinearity in the final stages of an amplifier and compressor elements by using a chirped high-fidelity pulse from CPO. Our main intention is to realize this approach in a Cr2+:ZnS-based CPO as a source of energy-scalable DSs with well-controllable phase characteristics for a single-pass Cr2+:ZnS amplifier. A qualitative comparison of experimental and theoretical results provides a road map for the development and energy scaling of the hybrid CPO-CPA laser systems, without compromising pulse duration. The suggested technique opens up a route towards extremely intense ultra-short pulses and frequency combs from the multi-pass CPO-CPA laser systems that are particularly interesting for real-life applications in the mid-IR spectral range from 1 to 20 um.

physics.optics↗

At the threshold of distributed Kerr-lens mode-locking in a Cr:ZnS waveguide laser

We demonstrate feasibility of spatiotemporal mode-locking in a mid-IR Cr:ZnS waveguide laser based on the nonlinear spatial mode coupling. The experiment shows efficient power scaling with the excitation of intra-mode beatings, causing a pronounced Q-switching which could cause a nonlinear mode-coupling. We suggest that a particularly high nonlinearity in Cr:ZnS combined with multimode waveguide leads to a soft aperture induced by a pump beam. The latter provides an effective spatial mode control in a nonlinear multimode waveguide and, thereby, opening the way to the birth of a spatiotemporal dissipative soliton, or light bullet, formation. Thus, forming the basis for the future distributed Kerr-Lens Mode Locking in the energy-scalable solid-state waveguide (or yet unrealized fiber) laser.

physics.optics↗

Nonlinearity and wavelength control in ultrashort-pulse subsurface material processing

The pronounced dependence of the nonlinear parameters of both dielectric and semiconductor materials on the wavelength, and the nonlinear interaction between the ultra-short laser pulse and the material requires precise control of the wavelength of the pulse, in addition to the precise control of the pulse energy, pulse duration and focusing optics. This becomes particularly important for fine sub-wavelength single pulse sub-surface processing. Based on two different numerical models and taking Si as example material, we investigate the spatio-temporal behavior of a pulse propagating through the material while covering a broad range of parameters. The wavelength-dependence of material processing depends on the different contributions of two- and tree-photon absorption in combination with the Kerr effect which results in a particularly sharp nonlinear peak at ~2100 nm. We could show that in silicon this makes processing preferable close to this wavelength. The impact of the nonlinear nonparaxial propagation effects on spatio-temporal beam structure is also investigated. It could be shown that with increasing wavelength and large focusing angles the aberrations at the focal spot can be reduced, and thereby cleaner and more precise processing can be achieved. Finally, we could show that the optimum energy transfer from the pulse to the material is within a narrow window of pulse durations between 600 to 900 fs.

physics.optics↗

Sub-surface modifications in silicon with ultrashort pulsed lasers above 2 microns

Nonlinear optical phenomena in silicon such as self-focusing and multi-photon absorption are strongly dependent on the wavelength, energy and duration of the exciting pulse. Thus, a pronounced wavelength dependence of the sub-surface modifications with ultra-short pulsed lasers exists, especially for wavelengths > 2 $μ$m. This wavelength dependence is investigated for wavelengths in the range of 1950-2400 nm, at a pulse duration between 0.5-10 ps and the pulse energy varying from 1 $μ$J to 1 mJ. Numerical and experimental analyses have been performed on both the surface and sub-surface of Si wafers processed with fibre-based lasers built in-house that operate in this wavelength range. The results have been compared to the literature data at 1550 nm. The analysis carried out has shown that due to a dip in the nonlinear absorption spectrum and a peak in the spectrum of the third-order non-linearity, the wavelengths between 2000 - 2200 nm are more favourable for creating sub-surface modifications in silicon. This is the case even though those wavelengths do not allow as tight a focusing as those at 1550 nm in the linear regime. This problem is compensated by an increased self-focusing due to the nonlinear Kerr-effect around 2100 nm at high light intensities, characteristic for ultra-short pulses.

physics.optics↗

Supercontinua for high resolution absorption multiplex infrared spectroscopy

Supercontinua generated in highly non-linear fibers by ultrashort-pulse lasers can be used for high resolution Fourier transform absorption spectroscopy. The practical advantages of these bright ultrabroadband light sources for spectroscopy are reported in the near-infrared region. A Cr^4+:YAG femtosecond laser broadened by an extruded soft-glass photonic crystal fiber, emitting from 1200 to 2200 nm and from 675 to 950 nm, provides a spectral radiance being 1x10^5 times higher than that of a 3000 K blackbody and 10^2 times higher than that of a synchrotron radiation. The C_2H_2 and NH_3 overtone spectra are recorded using this source within a few seconds.

physics.optics↗

Infrared frequency combs and supercontinua for multiplex high sensitivity spectroscopy

An infrared high-brightness light source based on supercontinuum generation through a SF6 photonic crystal fiber seeded by a Cr^4+:YAG femtosecond oscillator is developed for high resolution multiplex spectroscopy in the 1.5 $μ$m region. Moreover, a multiplex high resolution approach based on a Cr^4+:YAG frequency comb enables to probe large spectral domains, with simultaneous sensitive measurement of the absorption and the dispersion associated with all individual spectral features.

physics.optics↗

Sensitive multiplex spectroscopy in the molecular fingerprint 2.4 $μ$m region with a Cr^{2+}:ZnSe femtosecond laser

An ultrashort-pulse Cr^{2+}:ZnSe laser is a novel broadband source for sensitive high resolution molecular spectroscopy. A 130-fs pulse allows covering of up to 380 cm^-1 spectral domain around 2.4 $μ$m which is analyzed simultaneously with a 0.12 cm^-1 (3.6 GHz) resolution by a Fourier-transform spectrometer. Recorded in 13 s, from 70-cm length absorption around 4150 cm^-1, acetylene and ammonia spectra exhibit a 3800 signal-to-noise ratio and a 2.4*10^-7 cm^-1*Hz^-1/2 noise equivalent absorption coefficient at one second averaging per spectral element, suggesting a 0.2 ppbv detection level for HF molecule. With the widely practiced classical tungsten lamp source instead of the laser, identical spectra would have taken more than one hour.

physics.optics↗

N_2O weak lines observed between 3900 and 4050 cm^-1 from long path absorption spectra

Previously unobserved nitrous oxide transitions around 2.5 $μ$m are measured by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) analyzed by time-resolved Fourier transform (TRFT) spectrometer. With an accuracy of the order of 10^-3 cm^-1, measured positions of 1637 assigned weak transitions are provided. They belong to 42 vibrational transitions, among which 33 are observed for the first time. These data are believed to be useful in particular to monitoring atmosphere purposes.

physics.chem-ph↗

Acetylene weak bands at 2.5 $μ$m from intracavity Cr2+:ZnSe laser absorption observed with time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy

The spectral dynamics of a mid-infrared multimode Cr^2+:ZnSe laser located in a vacuum sealed chamber containing acetylene at low pressure is analyzed by a stepping-mode high-resolution time-resolved Fourier transform interferometer. Doppler-limited absorption spectra of C_2H_2 in natural isotopic abundance are recorded around 4000 cm^-1 with kilometric absorption path lengths and sensitivities better than 3 10^-8 cm-1. Two cold bands are newly identified and assigned to the n_1+n_4^1 and n_3+n_5^1 transitions of ^12C^13CH_2. The n_1+n_5^1 band of ^12C_2HD and fourteen ^12C_2H_2 bands are observed, among which for the first time n_2+2n_4^2+n_5^-1.

physics.chem-ph↗

Time-resolved Fourier transform intracavity spectroscopy with a Cr2+:ZnSe laser

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) with an evacuated Cr2+: ZnSe laser is performed with a high-resolution time-resolved Fourier transform interferometer with a minimum detectable absorption coefficient equal to 4 10-9 cm-1 Hz-1/2 in the 2.5$μ$m region. This represents the extreme limit presently reached in the infrared by ICLAS with Doppler limited resolution. The broad gain band of the crystal allows a spectral coverage at most equal to 125 nm, wide enough to see entire vibration bands. Weak CO2 bands observed up to now only in the Venus atmosphere are recorded for the first time in a laboratory. H2O detection limit down to 0.9 ppbv is also demonstrated.

physics.optics↗