title: Optimal frequency conversion in the nonlinear stage of modulation instability.
abstract: We investigate multi-wave mixing associated with the strongly pump depleted regime of induced modulation instability (MI) in optical fibers. For a complete transfer of pump power into the sideband modes, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that it is necessary to use a much lower seeding modulation frequency than the peak MI gain value. Our experiment shows that, at such optimal modulation frequency, a record 95 % of the output pump power is frequency converted into the comb of sidebands, in good quantitative agreement with analytical predictions based on the simplest exact breather solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger ¨ equation.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bendahmane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kudlinski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szriftgiser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wabnitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trillo