Single mode operation of a narrow bandwidth dye laser using a single prism, grazing incidence grating long cavity

The single mode pulsed dye laser is an attractive tool for many spectroscopic applications. Long cavity tunable dye lasers generally operate in multi-longitudinal modes within the bandwidth of gain profile. Single longitudinal mode oscillation can be obtained by either making the cavity short enough or introducing an additional loss mechanism, in which all modes but one have a gain less than their loss. A new technique to achieve single mode operation in a long cavity dye laser, based on Rhodamine 6G dye in ethanol and ethylene glycol solution, pumped by a high repetition rate copper vapor laser, is reported. This laser, which operates in three modes in grazing incidence grating configuration (cavity length of 16 cm), has been made to lase in single mode by increasing the loss in the resonator through beam walk-off.     

Analysis of the spectral linewidth of three-cavity semiconductor laser diodes

The spectral linewidth for a semiconductor laser diode coupled to two external cavities (known as a three-cavity laser diode) is studied in the article. A closed-form expression for the linewidth of this laser is derived by analyzing the number of photons in the laser cavity. It is found that, because of the optical feedback provided by the external cavities, the photon lifetime becomes longer than that of a solitary Fabry-Perot (FP) laser, hence reducing the value of the spectral linewidth. Our theoretical investigations reveal that the linewidth of a three-cavity laser can be reduced further by using external mirrors with high reflectivities and using anti-refection (AR) coatings on the laser diode facets. We have also studied the effects of uncertainties in the linewidth enhancement factor a due to optical feedback and found that such uncertainties have negligible effects on the validity of our results.     

双微环谐振腔耦合的双波长半导体激光器（英）

提出一种新颖的单片集成双微环耦合的双波长半导体激光器结构。集成于激光腔内的2个微环谐振腔作为模式选择滤波器,通过游标效应选择谐振模式,同时还可作为等效的反射镜面以形成行波腔。这种无需解理的行波激光腔代替了需要解理面的法布里-珀罗驻波腔。理论仿真表明,跟驻波腔结构相比,行波腔双微环激光器结构简单,可获得约34 mA的较低的阈值电流和大于31 dB的边模抑制比。合理地控制有源区的增益峰值和谐振模式分布,该激光器能提供一致性和稳定性较好的双波长激光输出。     

基于自制超稳定F-P腔压窄632.8nm外腔半导体激光线宽的实验研究

窄线宽激光由于其具有单色性好、稳定度高、相干长度长等优点,广泛应用于光电检测领域,包括相干通信、精密测量、光学频率标准、吸收光谱计量以及光与物质相互作用研究等。目前频率稳定的氦氖激光器线宽可以达到MHz量级,分布反馈式（DFB）光纤激光器线宽可达kHz量级,DFB半导体激光器线宽可以达到MHz量级,然而光栅反馈半导体激光器可以实现百kHz量级线宽的输出。为了进一步压窄各类激光器线宽,需要通过反馈控制技术来锁定激光到某一频率参考。该研究将自行设计的超稳腔作为频率参考,实现了632.8 nm外腔半导体激光器（ECDL）线宽的有效压窄。本窄线宽激光产生系统的研制包括超稳腔设计、光路设计、ECDL频率控制以及系统集成。超稳腔采用两镜法布里-珀罗腔（F-P腔）结构,腔体是膨胀系数约为10-6 K-1的微晶玻璃,腔镜为一对反射率达99.988 5%(±0.003 5%）的平面镜和凹面镜。为进一步减小外界环境对F-P腔腔长的影响,需要对腔体进行温度控制,本系统采用四片总功率为96 W的半导体制冷片以及水冷散热设计。同时为了降低声音和空气流动对腔模频率的影响,将F-P腔置于真空度为10-5 torr的真空室中;另外为了有效隔振,腔体与真空室用硅橡胶材料隔离。该系统采用的ECDL为德国Toptica公司的DL pro系列激光器,其具有压电陶瓷（PZT）和电流调制两个频率控制端,响应带宽分别为1 kHz和100 MHz。激光器的频率控制采用了Pound-Drever-Hall （PDH）锁频技术,18 MHz的调制频率加载到激光器的电流调制端,通过对F-P腔的反射信号进行解调获得误差信号,通过两路反馈控制,实现了近1 MHz的锁定带宽。通过对系统的不断优化,最后将自由运转状态下约300 kHz的激光线宽压窄到了10 kHz量级,并且系统运行稳定,连续12小时锁定的频率漂移量约为30 MHz。该研究研制的632.8 nm窄线宽激光源不仅可以应用到吸收光谱计量领域,同时也可以在光学面型精密测量领域发挥重要作用。     

Brillouin-Raman comb fiber laser with cooperative Rayleigh scattering in a linear cavity

We demonstrate a multiple-wavelength Brillouin comb laser with cooperative Rayleigh scattering that uses Raman amplification in dispersion-compensating fiber. The laser resonator is a linear cavity formed by reflector at each end of the dispersion-compensating fiber to improve the reflectivity of the Brillouin Stokes comb. Multiple Brillouin Stokes generation has been improved in terms of optical signal-to-noise ratio and power-level fluctuation between neighboring channels. Furthermore, the linewidth of the Brillouin Stokes is uniform within the laser output bandwidth.     

微机械FP腔可调谐滤波器在WDM系统中的串扰分析

介绍了一种以FP谐振腔为基础,用于波分复用系统的MOEMS器件-电控可调谐FP光滤波器.器件采用微电子机械加工技术研制.研究了FP型解复用器在密集波分复用系统中引入的信道间串扰对系统的影响,并分别讨论了激光器线宽、滤波器带宽、信道间距对串扰的影响.在信道间隔为100GHz,激光器线宽为5GHz,串扰可达到-21dB左右.     

Axial mode locking in a harmonic-multiplying, inverted gyrotwystron

When in microwave sources, an open waveguide operating at frequencies close to cutoff is used as a resonator, a number of modes with the same transverse structure, but different axial distribution can be excited by an electron beam. The width of the resonance curves of these modes broadens as the number of axial variations grows. This leads to overlapping of these curves at large axial indexes. As a result, phase locking of such modes may occur. A theory describing axial mode locking in gyrodevices is developed. The results of theoretical analysis are compared to a harmonic-multiplying, inverted gyrotwystron experiment. It is shown that such phase-locked operation in a set of modes with overlapping resonance curves can significantly enlarge the bandwidth of gyrodevices. Furthermore, this technique may be broadly applicable to other devices, which employ cavities with overlapping modes     

A model describing the single and multiple line spectra of tunable microcrystal lasers

A theoretical model is derived by which the occurrence of the single and multiple emission line spectra of tunable microcrystal lasers is described. These spectra in general exhibit several emission lines, arising from the Stark-split atomic levels of the lasing ions in the crystal field. The model is based on the shift of the resonator frequencies due to the thermally induced shift of the optical resonator length and demonstrates that the coincidence of the resonator frequencies with the laser gain lines leads to the emission of single or multiple line spectra of microcrystal lasers. These spectra can be described by the model. The model is given as a set of criteria. In this way not only can predictions of the single emission-line tuning range be made but also resonator lengths can be optimized in order to obtain a maximum tuning range. Furthermore, Q-switched operation can be achieved for specific parameters by periodically shifting the resonator frequencies. The linewidth of the gain used in this model depends on the laser threshold and is folded with the thermal shift of the atomic transitions. Therefore the centre wavelength of the gain is assumed to be constant. The advantage is that this experimentally relevant linewidth can be measured easily with microcrystal lasers themselves, whereas spectroscopic data do not take laser threshold behaviour into account. It is shown that the results of the model are in good agreement with experimental data measured for two different Nd: YAG crystals. Simply by inserting other material and laser parameters, the model can easily be applied to other laser crystals and other wavelengths.     

Linewidth and relative intensity noise measurements of longitudinal modes in ultrahigh-speed mode-locked laser diodes

The longitudinal linewidth and corresponding relative intensity noise (RIN) of 10- and 40-GHz mode-locked laser diodes are measured for the first time to our knowledge. It is shown that the cavity Q value is a dominant parameter of the linewidth. It is also shown that the linewidth of the individual modes is almost constant. This means that the phase noise of each mode is almost the same in the mode-locked condition. The RIN value is larger for modes that are distant from the center longitudinal mode. This mode dependence is a consequence of the mode partition noise.     

Locking of the longitudinal modes of an SBS-laser oscillator by optical feedback

The use of a nonlinear mirror on the basis of the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) as part of a resonator in a laser oscillator leads to the generation of bandwidth due to the shift in frequency that is connected with the reflection at the SBS-mirror. Another effect of the nonlinear SBS-reflection is a passive Q-switch, which leads to a generation of pulses with durations of approximately 100 ns. An almost perfect locking of the longitudinal modes is observed if an additional external resonator is applied and certain resonance criteria are obeyed. This locking of the longitudinal modes surfaces as a splitting of the Q-switch pulses into trains of pulses with subnanosecond duration. PACS 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Gd; 42.65.Es     

束变换环孔激光谐振腔的设计与分析

分析了束变换环孔激光谐振腔的特点和优势,给出了这种复杂激光谐振腔的设计原理。对采用该方法设计的激光谐振腔空腔模式进行了计算和分析,并使用自行编写的三维光线追迹程序对这种腔的稳定性也进行了研究。结果表明这种谐振腔输出光场分布合理,相传均匀,远场分布接近衍射极限,并且这种腔对于扰动在一定范围内具有抑制能力,是一种研究价值很高的非稳腔。此外针对该腔提出的设计及模式计算方法对其他复杂腔型也具有一定的参考价值。     

Spectral dynamics of an all solid-state frequency-shifted feedback laser

A frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) laser has multi frequency components with simultaneous linear chirping in its oscillation spectrum even though the gain medium is homogeneously broadened. The spectral intensity and its bandwidth were analyzed by the proposed spectral dynamics model based on the regenerative amplification of the continuously chirped comb components with phase shift according to each round trip in the cavity. The spectral intensity peaks at an instantaneous frequency which depends on the net gain in the cavity and the gain bandwidth of atomic transition. The oscillation bandwidth is defined as the product of the saturation-broadened bandwidth and the total resonant modes contributing to the FSF operation.     

A pulsed dye laser with grazing incidence and folded cavity

A novel design of a transversally pumped pulsed dye laser resonator using grazing incidence in a folded astigmatic cavity is described. The stability conditions, beam waist and output divergence of the oscillating mode are derived from the ray transfer matrix for this cavity. A diffraction limited gaussian beam is obtained. The linewidth can be adjusted down to 610 MHz without using any intracavity etalon.     

双包层光纤光栅选频双包层光纤激光器

双包层光纤激光器中多采用法布里珀罗(F-P)线形腔结构,谐振腔为一只二向色镜和光纤端面菲涅耳反射镜(反射率约为4％)构成,这属于一种有缺陷的腔结构,其稳定性不好,产生激光的波长很难得到有效控制,后腔镜不能精确选择激光器的输出波长,激光器的输出谱线较宽。在某些对激光波长有明确要求的应用中,该结构会受到限制。采用布拉格光纤光栅作腔镜,利用其窄带滤波特性,可以得到窄线宽的激光输出,目前报道的作为腔镜的布拉格光纤光栅为在单包层光敏光纤上制作而成,然后分别将不同反射率的光纤光栅与双包层增益光纤熔接,这给腔镜与双包层光纤之间带来很大的耦合损耗,影响了激光器的功率输出。该文报道了用相位掩模法在双包层光纤芯上写入了布拉格光纤光栅,并把此光纤光栅做为后腔镜．对长度为10m、20m的D形掺Yb^3 双包层光纤激光器进行实验研究,在1058nm附近得到稳定的窄线宽激光输出,3dB带宽为0．329nm。激光器最大输出功率为570mW。最后对实验结果进行了理论分析。     

Axial mode tuning of a single frequency Yb:YAG thin disk laser

We describe an arrangement for an Yb:YAG thin disk laser, which enables narrow bandwidth operation in single-frequency mode at freely selectable wavelengths within the broad tuning range of the laser. This is facilitated by a combination of a double-stage birefringent filter and an etalon inside the laser cavity. We investigate the wavelength selection characteristics of the single elements as well as their combination. A simple procedure is implemented for a computer-based automation of wavelength tuning. The reflectivity of the partially reflecting resonator mirror is optimised, and the laser pump power is adapted for best tuning performance. Single-frequency emission is achieved in a frequency range of 9.75 THz (wavelength range 1020 nm to 1055 nm). Each axial laser mode in this range can be selected individually. The axial mode separation of 0.47 GHz corresponds to wavelength steps of 1.7 pm at 1030 nm. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Lh     

Injection-locked range and linewidth measurements at different seed-laser linewidths using a Fabry–Pérot laser-diode

In this paper we experimentally examine the dependence of the injection-locked range magnitude of a Fabry–Pérot (FP) laser on the linewidth of a seed laser. We measure the enhancement of the incident-power-dependent injection-locked range when changing the seed-light linewidth in three different ranges, starting with tens of GHz, then hundreds of MHz, and up to a few hundred kHz. We notice the progressive shrinkage of the locking range with an increase in the linewidth of the seed source. Simultaneously, the linewidth of a FP laser was measured and the cancellation of multiple longitudinal operating modes as well as a great reduction of linewidth are observed with a self-homodyne measurement.     

基于异向传输线的亚波长谐振腔设计

 提出了一种新型的谐振腔，该谐振腔的谐振条件与普通谐振腔不同，其两个端面的总相移不必是180°的正整数倍。这种谐振腔由异向传输线和右手传输线两种不同性质的传输线级联构成，它利用耦合腔链作为异向传输线实现负相移，同轴波导作为右手传输线实现正相移，使谐振腔两个端面的总相移为零，满足谐振腔的谐振条件。由于它与传统谐振腔谐振条件不同，理论证明这种谐振腔的长度可远远小于传统谐振腔，设计实例的仿真结果表明这种新型谐振腔的长度最短仅为传统谐振腔的1/7。     

Rotational symmetry breaking in small-area circular vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We investigate theoretically the dynamics of three low-order transverse modes in a small-area vertical cavity surface emitting laser. We demonstrate the spontaneous breaking of axial symmetry of the transverse field distribution in such a device. In particular, we show that if the linewidth enhancement factor is sufficiently large dynamical regimes with broken axial symmetry can exist up to very high diffusion coefficients ~ 10 μm²/ns.     

掺Er光纤飞秒激光器中电光晶体对激光器参数的影响

由于受增益介质上能级寿命的影响,掺Er光纤光梳的梳齿线宽一般在百kHz量级.为了实现光梳梳齿线宽的压窄,一种有效的方法是在激光器中增加快速响应的电光晶体,使光纤光梳的伺服锁定带宽提高到百kHz以上,为光纤光梳的快速伺服锁定提供反馈机构.这其中,高品质的飞秒激光器是核心.基于此,本文主要研究了掺Er光纤飞秒激光器中电光晶体对激光器参数的影响.通过计算电光晶体的折射率、色散、相位延迟等参数,分析了电光晶体对激光器参数的影响,并在实验上获得了电光晶体电压对激光器重复频率和载波包络偏移频率的影响,进而通过电光晶体实现了对光纤光梳重复频率和载波包络偏移频率的锁定.通过锁定光纤飞秒激光器与窄线宽激光器的拍频信号,验证了电光晶体的引入使激光器的伺服锁定带宽提高到了236 kHz,为窄线宽飞秒光学频率梳的建立提供了技术基础.     

A nonlinear theory of laser noise and coherence. I

We consider the interaction of a set of atoms at random lattice sites with a decaying resonator mode. The optical transition is supposed to possess a homogeneously broadened Lorentzian line. The pumping is taken into account explicitly as a stochastic process. After elimination of the atomic coordinates a second order nonlinear differential equation for the light amplitude is found. In between excitation collisions this equation can be solved exactly if the resonator width is large as compared to all other frequency differences. In contrast to linear theories there exists a marked threshold. Below it the amplitude decreases after each excitation exponentially and the linewidth turns out to be identical with those of previous authors (for instanceWagner andBirnbaum), if specialized to large cavity width. Above the threshold the light amplitude converges towards a stable value, whereas the phase undergoes some kind of undamped diffusion process. We then consider the general case with arbitrary cavity width. If the general equation of motion of the light amplitude is interpreted as that of a particle moving in two dimensions, it becomes clear that also in this case the amplitude oscillates above threshold around a stable value which is identical with that determined in previous papers byHaken andSauermann neglecting laser noise. This stable value may, however, undergo shifts, if there are slow systematic changes of the cavity width, inversion etc. On the other hand the phase still fluctuates in an undamped way. After splitting off the phase factor the equations can be linearized and solved explicitly. With these solutions simple examples of correlation functions are calculated in a semiclassical way, thus yielding expressions for the line width above threshold. The results can also be used to evaluate from first principles correlation functions for different laser beams. As an example the complex degree of mutual coherence of two laser beams is determined. It vanishes if one of the lasers is still below threshold and its value is close to unity well above threshold for observation times small compared to the inverse laser linewidth.