Widely tunable continuous-wave visible and mid-infrared light generation based on a dual-wavelength switchable and tunable random Raman fiber laser

Abstract

Nonlinear frequency conversion of wavelength agile and high-power random fiber lasers can provide a promising way to generate continuous-wave (CW) visible and mid-infrared (MIR) light with unique properties such as the continuous modeless spectrum, low temporal/spatial coherence, and high temporal stability. Here, we report a dual-wavelength switchable and tunable random Raman fiber laser (RRFL) based on a phosphosilicate fiber that has two Raman gain peaks for the first time and demonstrate its superior capability to generate widely tunable CW visible and mid-infrared light via nonlinear frequency conversions. By using the combination of a tunable pump and two tunable gratings in Littrow configuration that can provide separated point feedback for the two Stokes wavelengths corresponding to silica- and phosphorus-related Raman peaks, the spectrum of an RRFL can be flexibly manipulated for the aim of nonlinear frequency conversions, including single-wavelength tunable emission at the 1.1 μm or 1.2 μm band for second-harmonic generation (SHG), dual-wavelength simultaneously tunable emission at the 1.1 μm and 1.2 μm bands for the sum-frequency generation (SFG), and dual-wavelength separation tunable emission for difference-frequency generation (DFG). As a result, with the combination of SHG and SFG in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal array, we experimentally demonstrate the broadest tuning range (560–630 nm) of visible light generated from an RRFL, to the best of our knowledge. The tunable MIR light in the range of 10.7–12.3 μm is also demonstrated through DFG of an RRFL operating in separation tunable dual-wavelength emission mode in a BaGa4Se7 (BGSe) crystal, which is the first realization of >10  μm CW DFG in the BGSe crystal. We believe the developed dual-wavelength switchable and tunable RRFL can provide a new compact, robust, and cost-effective platform to realize broadly tunable light in both the visible and MIR regions, which can also find potential applications in imaging, sensing, and temporal ghost imaging in various spectral bands.