Diffractive optics for spectral control of the supercontinuum generated in sapphire with femtosecond pulses

Opt Express. 2011 Mar 14;19(6):4977-84. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.004977.

Abstract

We propose the use of kinoform diffractive lenses to focus near infrared femtosecond pulses in sapphire crystals for supercontinuum generation. It is shown that a strongly peaked structure appears in the blue region of the supercontinuum spectra. The central wavelength of this peak can be easily controlled by simply changing the lens-crystal distance. Moreover, when compared with the supercontinuum generated with a refractive lens in analogous conditions, the spectral extension of the so-generated continuum is larger. Our results were corroborated for sapphire plates with different thicknesses as well as in other transparent dielectrics such as fused silica.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't