Computational Nonlinear Optics

The Computational Nonlinear Optics group, headed by Dr Peter Horak, is interested in the theoretical and numerical investigation of a wide range of photonics systems. On all projects we collaborate closely with other research groups, and the cross-fertilisation of our modelling work and corresponding experiments is a main driving force in our research.

Our main partner groups within the ORC are:

• Microstructured Fibre
• Optical Fibre Nanowires and Related Devices
• Physical Optics
• Advanced Fibre Technologies and Applications

Nonlinear Fibre Optics

The main focus of our current research is in the area of nonlinear optics in microstructured holey fibres. We investigate their unique capability to modify the nonlinear propagation of short laser pulses with the aim to understand and exploit pulse shaping techniques in space, time, and frequency. We use computer simulations as well as approximate analytical models to study a range of applications such as supercontinuum (white light) generation, soliton pulse compression, and RGB generation.

Nanofibre Resonators and Applications

Optical fibres can be tapered into ultrathin wires with submicron diameters. Light is still guided by such nanofibres but a large fraction of the power is concentrated outside the material in the surrounding air. We are currently investigating how this large coupling of light to the environment can be further increased by bending the nanowire into a microcoil resonator for applications in sensing.

Quantum Optics

Miniaturisation of magnetic traps for dilute atomic gases at micro-Kelvin temperatures has recently led to the development of “atom chips”. We are investigating further integration of these devices with micro-optical elements for controlled atom-light interaction on a single-quantum level. This technology could eventually lead to integrated atomic clocks, atom interferometers, and quantum information processors.

Noise Suppression in Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We recently developed a numerical model to describe the nonlinear propagation of incoherent light (exhibiting large intensity fluctuations) in saturated semiconductor optical amplifiers. Our simulations allowed us to interpret various experimental observations and led us to propose improved designs for cheap WDM optical communication systems.

A selection of our group's publications:

S. Helsby, C. Corbari, M. Ibsen, P. Horak, and P. G. Kazansky, Fiber Bragg gratings for atom chips, Phys. Rev. A 75, 013618 (2007)

F. Xu, P. Horak, and G. Brambilla, Conical and biconical ultra-high-Q optical-fibre nanowire microcoil resonator, Appl. Opt. 46, 570 (2007)

M. L. V. Tse, P. Horak, J. H. V. Price, F. Poletti, F. He, and D. J. Richardson, Pulse compression at 1.06um in dispersion-decreasing holey fibers, Opt. Lett. 31, 3504 (2006)

M. L. V. Tse, P. Horak, F. Poletti, N. G. R. Broderick, J. H. V. Price, J. R. Hayes, and D. J. Richardson, Supercontinuum generation at 1.06um in holey fibers with dispersion flattened profiles, Opt. Express 14, 4445 (2006)

A. D. McCoy, P. Horak, B. C. Thomsen, M. Ibsen, and D. J. Richardson, Noise suppression of incoherent light using a gain-saturated SOA: Implications for spectrum-sliced WDM systems, J. Lightwave Technol. 23, 2399 (2005)

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