Efficient amplification of a broad-band optical signal through stimulated Kerr scattering in a CS/sub 2/ liquid-core fiber system

Based on the mechanism of stimulated Kerr scattering of anisotropic molecules in a transparent liquid, a broad-band ( approximately 200 AA) ASE (amplified spontaneous emission) signal from a pulsed dye laser amplifier can be significantly amplified by passing through a 2.5 m long CS/sub 2/ liquid-core hollow fiber system. This system is pumped by ultrashort laser pulses with a pulse duration of 4 or 0.5 ps. The measured amplification factor of the ASE signal after passing through the fiber system can be up to 5*10/sup 4/ in the case of 4 ps pump laser pulses, and 4*10/sup 5/ in the case of 0.5 ps pump pulses. The gain saturation and spatially cascaded effect of the stimulated scattering processes become predominant when the pump intensity level is very high (I/sub 0/>or=3 approximately 4 GW/cm/sup 2/).<
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