Optical feedback characteristics in a helium neon laser with a birefringent internal cavity

The output characteristics of optical feedback in a helium neon laser with a birefringent internal cavity are studied systematically in five different regions of the gain curve for the two orthogonally polarized modes. When the laser operates in the two end regions of the laser gain curve, one of the two orthogonally polarized modes will be a leading one in optical feedback. Strong mode competition can be observed. However, when the laser operates in the middle region of the laser gain curve, the two modes can oscillate equally with optical feedback. Besides the intensity of the two polarized lights, the total light intensity is also studied at the same time. M-shaped optical feedback curves are found. Particularly, when the average intensities of the two lights are comparable, the intensity modulation curve of the total light is doubled, which can be used to improve the resolution of an optical feedback system.[第一段]     

腔调谐过程中激光器中两垂直偏振光的回馈特性

腔调谐过程中同时对HeNe激光器进行光回馈，设定回馈镜驱动信号的周期远小于腔调谐信号的周期，此时便获得腔调谐过程中谐振腔中两垂直偏振光的回馈信号. 回馈的形式分为仅垂直光回馈、仅平行光回馈以及两光同时回馈三种情况. 当两光同时回馈时，两模式间的模竞争较弱，两光回馈曲线有一定的相位差，该相位差小于180°，两光总体波动幅度变化趋势相反. 当仅单偏振光回馈时，两模式间的模竞争较强，两光回馈曲线始终反相，而且两光波动幅度变化趋势相同，此时可以将两光强度信号相减以实现成倍提高回馈信号幅度，从而提高系统灵敏度. 尤其仅垂直光回馈时，两光各自光强波动幅值都较大，并且在较大的增益曲线范围内保持光强波动幅值无明显变化，该特性可用于提高回馈系统的抗干扰能力，减少因激光功率漂移而引起的错误计数. 关键词： 自混合干涉 光回馈 模竞争 位移测量     

Self-mixing interference effects in orthogonally polarized dual-frequency Nd:YAG lasers at different feedback levels

The self-mixing interference effects are investigated in birefringence dual-frequency Nd:YAG lasers at different optical feedback levels. For weak feedback level, both of the intensities of the two modes are sinusoidally modulated by external cavity length with a feedback period of half laser wavelength. While these two modes can only coexist in a part of feedback period at moderate feedback level, i.e., one mode reaches its maximum intensity, the other one extinguishes. At high feedback level, complete polarization switching (one mode oscillating, the other one extinguishing) between two polarized modes is observed, and every switching corresponds to quarter-wavelength variation of external cavity length. Furthermore, two feedback schemes, i.e., isotropic optical feedback (IOF) and polarized optical feedback (POF) are taken into account. The theoretical analysis based on a model of two-mode-coupled laser is presented, which is in good agreement with experimental results. Our results can advance the research of self-mixing interferometer of orthogonally polarized dual-frequency lasers.     

Modes competition in a dual modes HeNe laser with optical feedback

The optical feedback characteristics in a short cavity dual modes HeNe laser are studied under different modes strength condition. Modes competition can be obviously observed during optical feedback. The whole laser intensity curve has intensity branches and its leaning direction is related to the moving direction of the external feedback mirror. There are two cross points at different voltage levels between the two orthogonally polarized lights in a period of the optical feedback fringe and the order that the cross points come out is different when the feedback mirror moves at different direction which can be used for direction discrimination. Sometimes there are two peaks of the same size in a period of the optical feedback curve which can be used to improve the resolution of an optical feedback system.     

Differential variation of laser longitudinal mode spacing induced by small intra-cavity phase anisotropies

Intra-cavity phase anisotropy causes each laser longitudinal mode to split into two orthogonally polarized frequencies. When the frequency difference generated by small anisotropy is about 40 MHz or less, only one frequency of the splitting mode oscillates while the other is always in lock-in state due to strong mode competition. In that case the longitudinal mode spacing deviates from its original value. And the spacing of two adjacent longitudinal modes shows differential variations depending on direction of cavity length tuning and mode polarization. In this paper, the relationship between spacing variation and small intra-cavity anisotropy is demonstrated experimentally and theoretically. The equivalent fast axis of anisotropy is determined additionally by its correlation with laser intensity tuning of the two orthogonally polarized components. The novel measurement method is successfully tested in several applications.     

Optical feedback in a Zeeman-birefringence HeNe laser and its application in ranging

The optical feedback characteristics in a Zeeman-birefringence HeNe laser have been studied systematically when the external cavity varies in a large range. The intensity variations of the two orthogonally polarized lights are observed during the laser cavity tuning in the dual frequency laser. When the external cavity length is an integral multiple of the laser cavity length, either polarized light's intensity modulation depth varies not obviously when the laser works in dual modes conditions or single mode condition. But when the external cavity length is far away from an integral multiple of the laser cavity length and the laser works in different dual modes conditions, polarized light's intensity modulation depth varies obviously. This characteristic can guide us to tune the laser to work in single mode condition to improve the sensitivity of the optical system when the system is used for a large displacement measurement. It can also be used for measuring the position of the target mirror. The theoretical analysis is in good agreement with experimental results.     

A birefringent cavity He－Ne laser and optical feedback

Strong modes competition makes only one of o-light and e-light oscillate in a birefringent dual-frequency laser when the angle between the crystalline axis and the laser beam is nearly zero. When the oscillated mode is in a different part of the gain curve, the detected intensity curves of o-light and e-light are quite different in the existence of optical feedback. The curves are divided into five cases. Three cases of the experimental results can be used for direction discrimination. The polarization characteristics of the birefringent cavity He－Ne laser are also discussed without optical feedback.     

External optical feedback effects in a frequency locking dual frequency laser

We present a systematic study of external optical feedback effects on the output characteristics of the two orthogonally polarized modes in a frequency locking dual frequency laser. Accompanied by the change of the external cavity length, the length of the resonance cavity is changed very slowly to set the oscillating modes sweeping across the laser gain curve. Comprehensive results are obtained and a strong mode competition is observed. Particularly, when the laser runs in the middle region of the gain curve, which mode can oscillate is determined by the movement direction of the external feedback mirror. Based on the phenomenon, a displacement sensor with directional discrimination is proposed and its capability is also discussed.     

Polarization switching in a quasi-isotropic microchip Nd:YAG laser induced by optical feedback

This paper demonstrates the influence of external optical feedback on the polarization state of longitudinal modes in quasi-isotropic microchip Nd:YAG lasers. Under optical feedback, the polarization state of longitudinal modes in quasi-isotropic lasers relies strongly on the intracavity anisotropy loss and mode competition. When the intracavity anisotropy loss is small, external optical feedback can cause polarization switching and strong mode competition between two orthogonal linearly polarized eigenstates of one laser longitudinal mode, which leads to the distortion of laser intensity modulation waveform. The polarization switching is independent of the initial external cavity length. By increasing the intracavity anisotropy loss, one polarization eigenstate can be suppressed and the laser works in single-polarization state. A theoretical analysis based on the compound cavity model is presented, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The results offer guidance to the development of laser feedback interferometers.     

Optical feedback characteristics in a dual-frequency laser during laser cavity tuning

The optical feedback characteristics in a Zeeman-birefringence dual-frequency laser are studied during the laser cavity tuning in three different kinds of optical feedback conditions: (i) only // -light is fed back; (ii) only ⊥-light is fed back; (iii) both lights are fed back.A compact displacement sensor is designed using the experimental result that there is a nearly 90 degrees phase delay between the two lights' cosine optical feedback signals when both lights are fed back into the laser cavity.The priority order that the two lights' intensity curves appear can be used for direction discrimination. The resolution of the displacement sensor is at least 79 nm, and the sensor can discriminate the target's moving direction easily.     

双频激光回馈位移测量研究

提出了一种基于双频激光回馈效应的位移测量系统，并在理论和实验两方面进行了研究.实验中对激光器输出功率变化进行了探测，同时对两正交偏振光的光强变化进行了探测.研究发现当被测物体移动时，激光器输出功率受到调制，物体每移动半个光波长时，回馈信号为调制深度相等的两峰，系统分辨率提高了一倍，达到四分之一光波长.当物体运动方向改变时，两正交偏振光的光强变化顺序也随之改变，可以实现物体位移方向的判断.理论分析及模拟结果与实验结果相符合.研究表明该位移传感系统具有结构简单、分辨率高、可判向、测量范围大、可工作于强回馈区等优点. 关键词： 激光回馈 位移传感 自混合干涉 双频激光器     

Influence of polarization mode competition on the synchronization of two unidirectionally coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We analyze theoretically the effect of polarization mode competition on the synchronization of two unidirectionally coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Chaos in the master laser is induced by delayed optical feedback, and the slave laser is subject to isotropic optical injection from the master VCSEL. We show that the synchronization quality can be enhanced when the chaotic regime in the master VCSEL involves both fundamental orthogonal linearly polarized modes.     

Single high-order round-trip feedback effects in orthogonally polarized dual frequency laser

We present the effects of single high-order round-trip feedback in orthogonally polarized dual frequency laser. The high quality intensity fringes of two orthogonally polarized lights are obtained, which are cosine-like. The fringe frequency of a single high-order round-trip feedback is five times that of the conventional optical feedback. Even higher frequencies are possible with this setup. Particularly, there is a phase difference between two orthogonal polarized lights in single high-order round-trip feedback and the phase difference is determined by the feedback order, the length of the external cavity, and the frequency difference of the two orthogonal polarized lights. A theoretical analysis based on a compound cavity model of a dual frequency laser agrees well with the experimental results. These results provide a potential application in precision measurement with both directional discrimination and high optical resolution.     

A novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO4 laser

We presented a novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO₄ laser. Two pieces of a-cut grown-together composite YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ crystals were placed in the resonant cavity with the c-axis of the two crystals orthogonally. The polarization and power performance of the orthogonally polarized laser were investigated. A 26.2-W orthogonally linearly polarized laser was obtained. The power ratio between the two orthogonally polarized lasers was varied with the pump power caused by the polarized mode coupling. The longitudinal modes competition and the corresponding variable optical beats were also observed from the orthogonally polarized laser. We also adjusted the crystals with their c-axis parallele to each other, and a 40.7-W linearly polarized TEM₀₀ laser was obtained, and the beam quality factors were M²_x=1.37 and M²_y=1.25.     

Self-mixing laser Doppler velocimetry with a dual-polarization Yb:Er glass laser

Self-mixing laser Doppler velocimetry using a dual-polarization Yb:Er-doped phosphate glass laser is investigated. The two orthogonally polarized eigenstates emitted simultaneously by the laser oscillator are employed to perform a heterodyne detection, allowing a complete characterization of the lateral sidebands generated via the optical feedback around the beating peak. Two different experimental set-ups have been implemented: (i) direct feedback on one of the two modes or (ii) crosstalk between the two modes via a non-reciprocal Faraday element. The results are analysed and applications to velocity measurements are discussed. Finally, some considerations of the noise correlated in phase and in opposite phase on the two polarization states are also discussed. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Rn; 42.81.Pa     

光电负反馈下单向耦合注入垂直腔表面发射激光器的混沌同步特性研究

基于自旋反转模型（SFM）,对光电负反馈下单向耦合注入垂直腔表面发射激光器（VCSEL）的混沌同步特性进行了数值仿真和理论分析.研究结果表明：随着反馈强度的增加,激光器输出功率呈现两个不同的混沌区域.在单一偏振模区域,能实现很好的同步性,但接近两模共存时,同步质量急剧下降;在两模共存区域,偏振模的连续性差,同步质量不理想.两模共存时的同步质量比单一偏振模差的这一特性,与已报道的基于光反馈的情景相反.产生这一特殊现象的原因是光电负反馈诱发了偏振模竞争效应.此外,还发现内部参数的变化对两个混沌区域的选取有较大 关键词： 线性偏振模 光电负反馈 垂直腔表面发射激光器（VCSEL） 混沌同步     

Intensity modulation characters of orthogonally polarized HeNe lasers with different optical feedback level

This paper demonstrates the intensity modulation characters of orthogonally polarized HeNe lasers with different optical feedback level generated by the variable reflectivity of external reflector. The modulation depths of the orthogonally polarized frequencies are increased when the optical feedback level becomes strong. It also observes that the modulation amplitudes are different for different external cavity length. Based on the vectorial extension of Lamb＇s semi-classical theory, it finds that the calculations are consistent with the experimental results.     

腔内波片产生的Nd∶YAG激光纵模分裂规律研究

简要介绍了激光纵模分裂的基本原理，研究了腔内含有1个和2个1/4波片时产生Nd∶YAG激光纵模分裂的规律。实验结果表明：在1064nm Nd∶YAG激光的腔内放置一个1/4波片时，每一激光纵模分裂为2个正交的线偏振模，在波片表面垂直于激光光线的条件下，纵模分裂量（即频率差或波长差）恰好等于激光纵模间隔的一半；当在Nd∶YAG激光腔内沿垂直光线方向平行放置2个1/4波片时，也能产生纵模分裂现象，其纵模分裂量取决于2波片快（慢）轴之间的夹角。在0°～ 90°范围内调节角度，可使纵模分裂量在一个激光纵模间隔内线性调谐。实验结果与理论分析相吻合。     

激光器内腔频差对双折射外腔激光回馈系统输出影响的理论及实验研究

玻璃材料的内应力关系及所在系统的稳定性、安全性和可靠性,是精密加工领域的重要问题.基于双折射外腔激光回馈效应的应力测量技术以其先进新颖的测量原理受到普遍关注.传统理论普遍认为双折射回馈系统中激光器的输出相位仅由外腔相位延迟决定,而将测量误差归因于外腔镜的非线性运动.本文结合正交偏振激光原理和三镜腔等效模型,测量了激光器的内腔双折射引起的频差大小,进行了频率调谐回馈实验,并根据结论计算了内腔频差对外腔相位延迟测量结果的影响,发现激光器的输出相位由外腔相位延迟、内腔频差、外腔长度共同决定.本文总结了内腔和外腔各向异性共同作用下激光器正交偏振态的相位特性,补充了激光回馈的物理内容,对于应力-双折射、位移、距离等重要参量的精确测量,都具有重要指导意义.     

Intensity tuning characteristics of double-mode He--Ne laser with optical feedback

This paper investigates the intensity tuning characteristics of a double longitudinal modes He--Ne laser subjected to optical feedback. The intensity undulations of the total light and the two modes are observed for different external cavity length. Two modulations of the internal cavity length are performed. One is only for the internal cavity length being modulated and the other is for both the internal and the external cavity length being modulated. The undulation frequency of the total light is found to be determined by the ratio of external cavity length to internal cavity length in both modulations. When the external cavity length is integral times of the internal cavity length, the fringe frequency of the total light could be seven or even more times of that in conventional optical feedback. A simple theoretical analysis is presented, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The potential use of the experimental results is also discussed.