A clock network for geodesy and fundamental science.

Leveraging the unrivalled performance of optical clocks as key tools for geo-science, for astronomy and for fundamental physics beyond the standard model requires comparing the frequency of distant optical clocks faithfully. Here, we report on the comparison and agreement of two strontium optical clocks at an uncertainty of 5 × 10(-17) via a newly established phase-coherent frequency link connecting Paris and Braunschweig using 1,415 km of telecom fibre. The remote comparison is limited only by the instability and uncertainty of the strontium lattice clocks themselves, with negligible contributions from the optical frequency transfer.

Cascaded optical fiber link using the internet network for remote clocks comparison.

We report a cascaded optical link of 1100 km for ultra-stable frequency distribution over an Internet fiber network. The link is composed of four spans for which the propagation noise is actively compensated. The robustness and the performance of the link are ensured by five fully automated optoelectronic stations, two of them at the link ends, and three deployed on the field and connecting the spans.

Spectral properties of molecular iodine in absorption cells filled to specified saturation pressure.

We present the results of measurement and evaluation of spectral properties of iodine absorption cells filled at certain saturation pressure. A set of cells made of borosilicate glass instead of common fused silica was tested for their spectral properties in greater detail with special care for the long-term development of the absorption media purity. The results were compared with standard fused silica cells and the high quality of iodine was verified.

Optical phase locking of two infrared continuous wave lasers separated by 100 THz.

We report on phase locking of two continuous wave IR laser sources separated by 100 THz emitting around 1029 and 1544 nm, respectively. Our approach uses three independent harmonic generation processes of the IR laser frequencies in periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 crystals to generate second and third harmonics of those two IR sources. The beat note between the two independent green radiations generated around 515 nm is used to phase lock one IR laser to the other, with tunable radio frequency offset.

Lasers for coherent optical satellite links with large dynamics.

We present the experimental realization of a laser system for ground-to-satellite optical Doppler ranging at the atmospheric turbulence limit. Such a system needs to display good frequency stability (a few parts in 10) while allowing large and well-controlled frequency sweeps of ±12  GHz at rates exceeding 100  MHz/s. Furthermore it needs to be sufficiently compact and robust for transportation to different astronomical observation sites, where it is to be interfaced with satellite ranging telescopes.

Active waveguides written by femtosecond laser irradiation in an erbium-doped phospho-tellurite glass.

We report on fs-laser micromachining of active waveguides in a new erbium-doped phospho-tellurite glass by means of a compact cavity-dumped Yb-based writing system. The spectroscopic properties of the glass were investigated, and the fs-laser written waveguides were characterized in terms of passive as well as active performance. In particular, internal gain was demonstrated in the whole C+L band of optical communications (1530- 1610 nm).

Supercontinuum generation in an ultrafast laser inscribed chalcogenide glass waveguide.

The authors report supercontinuum generation in an ultrafast laser inscribed chalcogenide glass waveguide. The waveguides were fabricated using a Yb:glass cavity-dumped femtosecond oscillator with 600- kHz repetition rate. The waveguides were pumped using an optical parametric amplifier tuned to 1500 nm with a bandwidth of 100 nm.

Femtosecond laser inscription of optical waveguides in Bismuth ion doped glass.

We report on the fabrication of high quality embedded channel waveguides inside Bi-doped silicate glass using femtosecond waveguide inscription. Waveguides are fabricated using both single and multi-scan fabrication techniques. Refractive index modifications of up to Deltan = 4.

Imaging of Bloch oscillations in erbium-doped curved waveguide arrays.

We report a direct observation of Bloch-like dynamics of light in curved waveguide arrays manufactured in Er:Yb-doped phosphate glass by femtosecond laser writing. The green upconversion fluorescence emitted by excited erbium ions is exploited to image the flow of the guided pump light at approximately 980 nm along the array. Direct and clear evidence of periodic light breathing for single-waveguide excitation, closely related to Bloch oscillations, is reported.

C-band waveguide amplifier produced by femtosecond laser writing.

An optical waveguide amplifier fabricated on erbium-ytterbium-doped phosphate glass by direct femtosecond laser writing is demonstrated. The waveguides are manufactured using 1040-nm radiation from a diode-pumped cavity-dumped Yb:KYW oscillator, operating at a 885 kHz repetition rate, with a 350 fs pulse duration. Peak internal gain of 9.

Optical properties of waveguides written by a 26 MHz stretched cavity Ti:sapphire femtosecond oscillator.

We report on the fabrication, by a 26 MHz stretched-cavity femtosecond Ti:sapphire oscillator, of optical waveguides in different glass substrates, and their optical characterization. Operation of these waveguides in the telecom range at 1.55 microm is demonstrated.

Er:Yb-doped waveguide laser fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses.

Laser action is demonstrated in a 20-mm-long waveguide fabricated on an Er:Yb-doped phosphate glass by femtosecond laser pulses. An output power of 1.7 mW with approximately 300 mW of pump power coupled into the waveguide is obtained at 1533.

Optical waveguide writing with a diode-pumped femtosecond oscillator.

Optical waveguide writing is demonstrated by means of a diode-pumped cavity-dumped Yb:glass femtosecond laser oscillator with a pulse energy of 270 nJ at a 166-kHz repetition rate. Waveguides realized on an Er:Yb-doped phosphate glass are almost perfectly mode matched to standard single-mode fibers at 1.55 microm and show a 1.