覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳

飞秒光学频率梳波长覆盖范围向可见光波长扩展对于碘稳频激光的绝对频率测量以及光钟研究中钟激光的绝对频率测量都具有十分重要的意义. 本文在自行研制掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳的基础上, 采用放大-倍频-扩谱的方案, 实现了激光输出波长向可见光波长的扩展. 掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳输出的一部分光激光脉冲, 功率约为8 mW, 首先经掺Er光纤放大器将功率提高到531 mW, 此后利用MgO: PPLN晶体倍频, 倍频后激光的功率为170 mW, 倍频效率为32%, 脉冲宽度为85 fs. 倍频后的激光通过光子晶体光纤进行光谱展宽. 通过优化入射光偏振状态可以实现波长覆盖500-1000 nm, 输出功率为85 mW, 耦合效率为50%. 采用小型化碘稳频532 nm Nd: YAG激光器输出激光与光学频率梳光谱展宽后的激光进行拍频可以获得30 dB的拍频信号. 覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳为可见光范围内激光的绝对频率测量提供了技术手段.     

光纤飞秒光学频率梳的研制及绝对光学频率测量

实验利用商品光纤飞秒激光器,自行构建了一套完整的光学频率梳系统,并获得了约30 dB信噪比的系统频移(f_ceo)信号.实现了光频梳重复频率(f_rep)信号及系统频移(f_ceo)信号的高稳定度锁定,并通过实验验证了光频梳锁定的跟踪精度.基于此稳定光频梳完成了对1064 nm碘稳频Nd:YAG固体激光器的绝对频率测量.实验结果表明,f_rep的跟踪精度在100 s取样时间时优于3.7×10^-14,测量得到的1064 nm激光器绝对频率为:281630111757362 Hz.这一测量结果与国际计量委员会(CIPM)给出的国际推荐值符合到不确定度之内. 关键词： 光纤光频梳 稳频 锁相技术 光学频率计量     

级联掺Yb增益光纤提高拍频信号信噪比的实验研究

飞秒光学频率梳的出现使对未知激光的绝对频率测量成为可能,极大地简化了激光绝对频率的量值溯源和比对工作.为了保证测量数值的准确性,飞秒光学频率梳与未知激光的拍频信号fb的信噪比要求大于30 d B.针对碘稳频532 nm激光绝对频率测量的特定需求,以532 nm激光的基频光1064 nm激光的绝对频率测量为着眼点,本文采用303 MHz重复频率的掺Er光纤光学频率梳,首先通过激光放大和光谱展宽技术使光谱覆盖到1μm波段,然后采用级联掺Yb增益光纤技术,将扩谱后1μm波段的激光功率进行放大,提高了掺Er光纤光学频率梳扩谱后1μm波长附近的激光强度.采用碘稳频532 nm激光的基频光作为待测光源与飞秒光学频率梳进行拍频.实验表明,与未经过光谱增强的激光相比,光谱增强后的激光与1064 nm激光拍频信号的信噪比提高了5 d B,保持在35 d B附近.该技术有效地缓解了采用掺Er光纤光梳测量1064 nm激光绝对频率时对直接扩谱所获得的1μm波长激光的强度要求.     

掺Er光纤飞秒激光器载波包络位相偏移的探测

本文介绍了基于掺Er光纤飞秒激光器光学频率梳中光学部分的研制. 实验上采用重复频率为230 MHz的掺Er光纤飞秒激光器,通过放大、光谱展宽以及单臂f—2f系统,在优化及分析相关参数影响的基础上,获得了~30 dB信噪比f₀的输出,为光纤光学频率梳的建立奠定了基础. 关键词： 掺Er光纤激光器 光学频率计量 光纤光学频率梳 光谱展宽     

面向Li原子D1线频率测量应用的掺铒飞秒光纤光梳系统

报道了自主研制的面向Li原子D1线频率测量应用的掺铒飞秒光纤光学频率梳,包括飞秒激光源,频率探测及控制单元,光谱展宽及拍频单元.光纤光梳系统中飞秒激光光源是一套基于非线性偏振旋转锁模机制的掺铒飞秒光纤激光器,重复频率为196.5MHz,中心波长为1 572nm.利用f-2f法探测载波包络相移频率,获得信噪比约为40dB的信号(分辨率带宽300kHz).改变飞秒激光光源泵浦控制载波包络相移频率、频率稳定度是3.74×10-18/τ1/2;通过电光晶体和压电陶瓷改变飞秒激光光源腔长来控制重复频率frep、频率稳定度是1.75×10-13/τ1/2.利用高非线性光纤和倍频晶体将光纤光梳直接输出光谱由1 520～1 607nm扩展到671nm,获得了单模功率为208nW的光信号.与671nm单频激光拍频产生约为60dB(分辨率带宽1Hz)信号,满足Li原子D1线频率测量实验的需求.     

飞秒光梳和碘稳频532nm Nd:YAG激光频率的测量

报道了中国计量科学研究院研制的基于掺钛蓝宝石(Ti:Sapphire)锁模飞秒脉冲激光器的飞秒光学频率梳装置，并利用此装置测量了碘稳频532nm(¹²⁷I₂R(56)32-10) Nd∶YAG固体激光器的频率，结果为 563260223512991±20Hz,相对不确定度为3.6×10^-14.这一数值是直接溯源到铯原子微波频率基准的光学频率测量结果.     

飞秒钛宝石光学频率梳的精密锁定

经相位锁定后的飞秒钛宝石光学频率梳已经广泛用于绝对光频的测量，这是光频标领域一个革命性的突破.在自建的90MHz飞秒钛宝石激光器的基础上首先采用光子晶体光纤将其光谱展宽到一个光倍频程，接着利用锁相环技术分别将重复频率和载波包络频移同时高精度地锁定到一台稳定度为6×10^－14的Cs钟上，进而得到了稳定度相同的飞秒光学频率梳.     

PPLN晶体差频测量飞秒激光脉冲的载波包络相移

在飞秒激光频率梳系统中，通常采用自参考技术测量飞秒激光脉冲的载波包络相移，但该技术需要采用光子晶体光纤进行光谱扩展从而增加了系统的不稳定性，这种技术已经制约了高稳定度的飞秒激光频率梳的发展.采用PPLN晶体差频法测量了宽谱钛宝石振荡器输出的7fs激光脉冲的载波包络频移，得到了大于30dB的拍频信号，为研制无光纤的新一代高稳定度光学频率梳奠定了基础.     

飞秒频率梳和单频激光干涉光谱的实验研究

本文研究了光学频率梳输出的整形后飞秒脉冲激光和单频激光的干涉光谱。实验中光学频率梳和单频激光干涉的信号包括直流项、光学频率梳输出的脉冲激光相邻模式之间的干涉项和光学频率梳脉冲激光与单频激光之间的干涉项。实验上研究了光学频率梳脉冲激光与单频激光干涉信号间距和单频激光频率的关系,提供了一种快速直接测量单频激光频率的有效方法。研究了光学频率梳输出的飞秒脉冲光经过铷泡后与单频激光干涉信号和单频激光频率的关系,获得铷原子吸收光谱。该研究工作对于原子分子高精密光谱测量具有一定的意义。     

掺镱硼酸钙氧钇飞秒激光器及在拉锥光纤中产生跨倍频程超连续光

跨倍频程超连续光谱的产生是光学频率梳系统中测量载波包络相移频率的关键.本文采用拉锥单模光纤作为非线性光谱展宽介质, 将半导体激光(LD)抽运的掺镱硼酸钙氧钇(Yb:YCOB)振荡器输出的飞秒激光耦合到该拉锥光纤中, 通过飞秒激光在光纤中发生的相位调制、四波混频等非线性效应将光谱展宽至超过倍频程的范围.振荡器输出的飞秒激光脉冲宽度为130 fs, 中心波长为1052 nm, 重复频率为76.8 MHz, 平均功率为620 mW, 耦合进单模拉锥光纤后获得了光谱覆盖范围从550 nm至1350 nm的跨倍频程超连续光谱, 最大输出平均功率为323 mW, 耦合效率达到52%.为进一步实现全固态飞秒激光光学频率梳提供了重要基础.     

基于飞秒光学频率梳的大尺寸精密测距综述

飞秒光学频率梳的出现对时间频率技术和光谱学技术产生了深远重大的影响,由此衍生的飞秒光学频率梳绝对测距技术以其快速、大尺寸、高精度等优点已成为国际研究热点,并有望直接应用于大装备制造、激光雷达和卫星编队飞行等大尺寸精密测距。在简要阐述飞秒光学频率梳的原理特性及主要应用的基础上,围绕光梳测距的发展历程及前沿方向,着重介绍了飞秒光梳精密测距近两年来的最新研究进展,并对该技术进行了总结和展望。     

Precise determination of characteristic laser frequencies by an Er-doped fiber optical frequency comb

Femtosecond optical frequency combs correlate the microwave and optical frequencies accurately and coherently. Therefore, any optical frequency in visible to near-infrared region can be directly traced to a microwave frequency. As a result, the length unit "meter" is directly related to the time unit "second". This paper validates the capability of the national wavelength standards based on a home-made Er-doped fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb to measure the laser frequencies ranging from visible to near-infrared region. Optical frequency conversion in the femtosecond optical frequency comb is achieved by combining spectral broadening in a highly nonlinear fiber with a single-point frequency-doubling scheme. The signal-to-noise ratio of the beat notes between the femtosecond optical frequency comb and the lasers at 633, 698, 729, 780, 1064, and 1542 nm is better than 30 dB. The frequency instability of the above lasers is evaluated by using a hydrogen clock signal with a instability of better than 1×10^-13 at 1-s averaging time. The measurement is further validated by measuring the absolute optical frequency of an iodine-stabilized 532-nm laser and an acetylene-stabilized 1542-nm laser. The results are within the uncertainty range of the international recommended values. Our results demonstrate the accurate optical frequency measurement of lasers at different frequencies using the femtosecond optical frequency comb, which is not only important for the precise and accurate traceability and calibration of the laser frequencies, but also provides technical support for establishing the national wavelength standards based on the femtosecond optical frequency comb.     

Dissection of dispersed off‐resonant femtosecond degenerate four‐wave mixing of O2

Simultaneous time and frequency detection in off‐resonant femtosecond degenerate four‐wave mixing (fs‐DFWM) experiments displays spectral features that are covered in standard, nondispersed, frequency‐integrated measurements. The application of laser fields with finite bandwidths, narrower than or comparable to the rotational Raman bands, affects the observed coherent signals. Information available from such experiments is split between the time and frequency domains and an improved measurement necessitates a combined detection. Rotational recurrences of oxygen (O₂), measured by dispersed fs‐DFWM at room temperature, exhibit spectral characteristics, using 800‐nm laser pulses with ∼100 fs duration. Analysis of the detected signals in both dimensions incorporating temporal and spectral trends can assist in the extraction and interpretation of chemicophysical quantities from the experiment. The dispersed recurrent signals are in accordance with simulations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

光梳主动滤波放大实现锶原子光钟二级冷却光源

提出一种结合注入锁定技术的主动滤波放大方法,将光梳直接注入锁定至光栅外腔半导体激光器,产生窄线宽激光光源,该光源可以用于锶原子光钟二级冷却.实验中,将中心波长为689 nm,带宽为10 nm的光梳种子光源注入689 nm光栅式外腔半导体激光器,通过半导体增益光谱与半导体光栅外腔,从飞秒光梳的多个纵模梳齿中挑选出一个纵模模式来进行增益放大,再通过模式竞争,实现单纵模连续光输出;同时,光梳的重复频率锁定在线宽为赫兹量级的698 nm超稳激光光源上,因此,注入锁定后输出的窄线宽激光也继承了超稳激光光源的光谱特性.利用得到的输出功率为12 mW的689 nm窄线宽激光光源实现了88Sr原子光钟的二级冷却过程,最终获得温度为3μK,原子数约为5×10~6的冷原子团.该方法可拓展至原子光钟其他光源的获得,从而实现原子光钟的集成化和小型化.     

Hyperfine structure and absolute frequency measurements of <Superscript>127</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">I</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> transitions with monolithic Nd:YAG 561-nm lasers

The precision hyperfine structures of the ¹²⁷ I ₂ transitions at 561.4 nm are measured by the heterodyne beat between two home-made ¹²⁷ I ₂-stabilized Nd:YAG lasers. The theoretical distributions of the observed transitions’ hyperfine sublevels are used to identify the two transitions. High-accuracy hyperfine constants are obtained by fitting the measured hyperfine splittings to the four-term Hamiltonian, which includes the electric quadruple, spin-rotation, tensor spin–spin and scalar spin–spin interactions. The absolute frequencies of the observed four transitions are measured by an optical frequency comb based on a mode-locked erbium-fiber laser.     

掺Er光纤飞秒激光器中高信噪比载波包络位相偏移频率获取的实验研究

在实验上分析了掺Er光纤光学频率梳中激光器与一级放大器之间光纤长度、 光纤扰动以及放大器抽运功率对倍频程光谱和载波包络位相偏移频率(f₀)信噪比的影响. 通过系统优化, 实现了40 dB信噪比的f₀输出, 为f₀的长期锁定和光纤光学频率梳的实现提供了技术保障.     

Self‐phase‐locked degenerate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on BiB3O6

A self‐phase‐locked degenerate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on the birefringent nonlinear material, bismuth triborate, BiB₃O₆, synchronously‐pumped by a Kerr‐lens‐mode‐locked Ti:sapphire laser at 800 nm is described. By exploiting versatile phase‐matching properties of BiB₃O₆, including large spectral and angular acceptance for parametric generation and low group velocity dispersion in the optical xz plane, stable self‐phase‐locked degenerate OPO operation centered at 1600 nm is demonstrated using collinear type I (e → oo) interaction in a 1.5‐mm crystal at room temperature. The degenerate OPO output spectrum extends over 46 nm (∼5.4 THz) with 190 fs pulse duration for input pump pulses of 155 fs with a bandwidth of 7 nm. Phase coherence between the pump and degenerate output is verified using f‐2f interferometry, and discrete frequency beats caused by different carrier‐envelope‐offset frequencies are measured using radio frequency measurements. Photo shows a 1.5‐mm BiB₃O₆ crystal used as a nonlinear gain medium in a degenerate self‐phase‐locked femtosecond OPO operating at room temperature. The green beam is the result of non‐phase‐matched sum‐frequency mixing between the pump light and the sub‐harmonic OPO field at degeneracy.