Ultrabroadband flattop wavelength conversion based on cascaded sum frequency generation and difference frequency generation using pump detuning in quasi-phase-matched lithium niobate waveguides

Abstract

Flattop wavelength conversion over a 70 nm bandwidth in a 45-mm-long periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide based on nonlinear cascaded sum frequency generation (SFG) and difference frequency generation processes using two separated wavelengths, is realized. A 2 dB peak-to-peak ripple over the conversion bandwidth in the C band is observed when the two pumps are fixed for perfectly phase-matched SFG conversion; this is significantly reduced to 0.5 dB by slight detuning of one of the pumps to a longer wavelength. We also demonstrate multichannel broadcasting using two pumps to convert one signal wavelength to three idlers. Using the aperiodically poled lithium niobate waveguide increases the idler separation.