Abstract

In several recent experiments^1,2 of femtosecond pulse compression, a severe asymmetry in the pulse spectrum has been observed. This has corresponded to an inability to compress puises down to their Fourier transform limit. We show how the effects of pulse propagation in the optical fiber account for the observed spectral asymmetries and we discuss possible ways to compensate for these effects. A comparison of our numerical calculations with reported experimental results^1,2indicates excellent agreement. We also demonstrate that the chirp existing in the femtosecond pulse becomes nonlinear with time in this regime and, hence, cannot be easily compensated in compression experiments.

© 1986 Optical Society of America