Tuning of fiber lasers by use of a single-mode biconic fiber taper

We report a novel scheme to build a compact, tunable fiber laser. The tuning mechanism is based on the transmission property of a single-mode biconic fiber taper. While pulling the taper, we observe oscillations in the transmitted optical power that are due primarily to interference between a pair of excited modes within the tapered region, which are eventually coupled into the unstretched single-mode fiber at the end of the taper. A similar mechanism causes the modulation of the transmitted optical spectrum after the taper has been pulled and stabilized. It is this spectral modulation by the taper that is exploited here to control the wavelength of a fiber laser. The modulation can be adjusted by stretching the taper, thus enabling the tuning of the laser wavelength. We have built a 32 mW Er-doped tunable ring fiber laser with a continuous tuning range of over 20 nm and a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 45 dB over the entire tuning range; our output power is limited only by the available pump power.     

Fabrication of fiber-embedded multi-core photonic crystal fibers

A novel fabrication method of multi-core photonic crystal fibers is proposed on the basis of a fiber-embedded technique. A taper tower is used to modify the structures of the fiber preform, and four steps of fiber fabrication and different structures of fiber samples are given. The mode structures and beating characteristics of a photonic crystal fiber sample with two successive cores are investigated in detail with the help of a supercontinuum light source, a charge-coupled device （CCD） camera, and an optical spectrum analyzer. The test results show a clear beating phenomenon between two orthotropic polarization modes with a 2.8-nm peak interval in wavelength.     

在色散渐减光子晶体光纤中产生超连续谱的实验研究

本文利用非线性偏振锁模激光器产生的重复频率50 MHz, 脉宽为1.8 ps的脉冲分别抽运外径均匀和色散渐减两种高非线性光子晶体光纤, 在三阶非线性效应 (自相位调制、交叉相位调制、四波混频和受激拉曼散效应等) 和色散共同作用下得到扩展至蓝光部分的超连续谱. 模拟了光谱在色散渐减光纤和均匀光纤中的展宽过程, 通过对比均匀光纤发现色散渐减光纤在调控色散, 加强拉曼孤子和色散波的群速度匹配条件, 产生超带宽光谱方面具有很大优势. 实验利用20 m长的色散渐减光纤, 得到了406.1至671.8 nm的可见光波段增强的较为平坦的超连续谱. 关键词： 超连续谱 色散渐减光子晶体光纤 群速度匹配 非线性效应     

高功率超短脉冲激光系统中光谱增益窄化补偿的调制函数

 设计了一种与高功率超短脉冲激光放大过程中获得的总增益、增益介质的带宽、激光带宽、脉冲中心波长等参数相关的调制函数,对激光放大过程中的光谱增益窄化进行补偿。此调制函数的优越性在于,对不同性能的激光系统,无需改变调制函数的形式就能适用。通过数值模拟的方法,讨论了在不同增益介质带宽、激光带宽、脉冲中心波长下的补偿效果。此调制函数在高功率超短脉冲激光系统中有良好的应用前景。     

Experimental investigation of the spectro-temporal dynamics of the light pulses of Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers and nanosecond optical parametric oscillators

We report an experimental investigation of the spectro-temporal dynamics of the pulse formation in Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers and in nanosecond optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). The temporal evolution of the spectral intensity distribution of the light pulses was measured with a 1-m Czerny–Turner spectrometer in combination with a fast streak camera. This detection system allows the analysis of temporal changes in the spectrum of single nanosecond pulses. The measurements were performed for a flashlamp-pumped, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and for an unseeded as well as for a seeded singly-resonant nanosecond OPO. The laser output spectrum varies strongly from pulse to pulse and even within a single pulse due to mode beating. In an unseeded OPO, individual spectral modes start to oscillate statistically from the parametric noise for pump powers close to the OPO threshold. With increasing pump power a strong modulation in the spectral formation of the pulse is observed, resulting from a strong interaction of parametric conversion and back conversion of signal and idler radiation into pump radiation. By means of injection seeding, the starting condition was controlled for a single mode. Due to the seed radiation, the seeded mode starts sooner than the unseeded modes. These are suppressed completely in the case of sufficient seed power and moderate pump power. The observations are in good agreement with results of corresponding numerical simulations. PACS 42.65.Sf, 42.65.Yj     

Amplitude-modulation-free optoelectronic frequency control of laser diodes

A novel method is described for fast frequency modulation or frequency control of diode lasers that avoids problems associated with bias current modulation, namely, amplitude modulation and thermal phase delays. The method is based on amplitude-modulated, noninterfering control light with a wavelength near the transparency region of the laser diode, which specifically modifies the spectral gain profile to yield a constant gain but a controllable refractive index at the lasing wavelength. This permits amplitude-modulation-free frequency modulation at modulation frequencies up to the relaxation oscillation frequency. A phase lock between the emissions of two extended-cavity diode lasers that could not be achieved with bias current modulation was achieved by this method.     

准连续光抽运光子晶体光纤产生超连续谱中的调制不稳定性(英文)

报道了应用准连续光抽运光子晶体光纤产生超连续谱时的一种现象,并根据调制不稳定和数值解薛定谔方程证明此现象为调制不稳定性.在实验中发现有两个波峰,与中心波长之间的距离分别为27 .08 nm和32 .72 nm,经过对比和分析数值结算和实验结果非常吻合,说明调制不稳定性在准连续光抽运光子晶体光纤产生超连续谱过程中起着重要的作用.     

Mathematical modeling of random coupling between polarization modes in single-mode optical fibers: VIII. Zero drift in a fiber ring interferometer with a white light source

Different schemes of fiber ring interferometers (FRIs) with a broadband nonmonochromatic radiation source manufactured on the basis of air-silica microstructured single-mode optical fibers (SMOFs) are considered. This source is close in spectral characteristics to a white light source, because the width of its emission spectrum is comparable to the mean wavelength. It is shown that an increase in the width of the spectrum of the radiation source can lead to either a substantial decrease or an increase in the zero drift, depending on the radiation polarization at the FRI entrance. The latter fact has defied explanation within simple phenomenological models of random coupling between polarization modes in SMOFs of an FRI circuit. The observed increase in the zero drift of the FRI can be explained in terms of the dependence of the parameter of polarization conservation (the parameter h) on the light wavelength for highly anisotropic SMOFs. This dependence is weak for nonmonochromatic radiation sources with a relatively small spectral width, for example, superluminescent diodes, which are traditionally used in FRIs. In contrast, for substantially more broadband radiation sources (including air-silica SMOFs), the above dependence is well pronounced and can lead to a number of undesirable effects in FRIs. Different variants of the FRI design are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the zero drift can be noticeably decreased with an increase in the width of the spectrum of the radiation source for an arbitrary radiation polarization at the entrance of an FRI with a depolarizer of nonmonochromatic radiation and a circuit fabricated from a weakly anisotropic SMOF, for which the parameter h does not depend on the light wavelength. The numerical estimates are obtained.     

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.     

光纤熔锥耦合器的声光调制特性

对光纤熔锥方向耦合器的声光强度调特性进行了实验研究,得到了工作波长为1310nm、声波频率为20.19kHz,电驱动功率为2.6mW,插入损耗为0.5dB,调制深度为64％的声光强度调制特性。     

InAs–GaAs self-assembled quantum dot lasers: physical processes and device characteristics

The gain characteristics of InAs–GaAs self-assembled quantum dot lasers are studied using two complementary techniques. The modal gain is derived from a measurement of the normal incidence, inter-band photoconductivity. For a device containing a single layer of dots the maximum modal gain of the ground state transition is found to be insufficient for lasing action. As a consequence lasing occurs for excited state transitions, which have a larger oscillator strength, with the precise transition being dependent upon the device cavity length. The second technique uses the Hakki–Paoli method to determine the spectral and current dependence of the gain. A quasi-periodic modulation of the below threshold gain is observed. This modulation is shown to be responsible for the form of the lasing spectra, which consist of groups of lasing modes separated by non-lasing spectral regions. Possible mechanisms for this behaviour are discussed.     

Compact and broadband waveguide taper based on partial bandgap photonic crystals

Partial bandgap characteristics of parallelogram lattice photonic crystals are proposed to suppress the radiation modes in a compact dielectric waveguide taper so as to obtain high transmittance in a large wavelength range. Band structure of the photonic crystals shows that there exists a partial bandgap, The photonie crystals with partial bandgap are then used as the cladding of a waveguide taper to reduce the radiation loss efficiently. In comparison with the conventional dielectric taper and the complete bandgap photonic crystal taper, the partial bandgap photonic crystal taper has a high transmittance of above 85% with a wide band of 170 nm.     

片状放大器中片间空气间隔对小尺度自聚焦的影响

从非线性Schr?dinger方程出发，根据线性的近似分析方法，通过把介质片厚度和片间空气间隔转化为线性与非线性传输距离比讨论了系统B积分值和空气间隔对非线性增益谱的影响.着重分析了激光介质片数以及B积分值和非线性增长率之间的关系，并讨论了增长率随B积分值与片数的变化规律.其他参量不变的情况下，片间空气间隔的增大，使增益谱向长波方向移动，而介质片数则对增益谱的最高增益和谱线位置都有影响.同时，对这一现象做了无空气间隔的等效模拟.     

The influence of the carrier-dependent shifts of the longitudinal modes and the gain profile on the emission characteristics of a pulsed Al x Ga1−x As double heterostructure laser

The wavelength of the longitudinal modes of a stripe geometry DH laser excited by current pulses is shifted according to the variation of the optical power. The magnitude of the spectral shift and the different form of these patterns are due to the mutual influence of individual modes. The time-varying carrier concentration gives rise to a time-dependent (effective) refractive index which alters the resonance condition for the modes. The spectral broadening of the modes, spanning nearly one mode separation, is due to the spectral shift of the modes which in turn depend on the variation of the emitted power. The longitudinal modes are sequentially excited because the gain profile changes its wavelength position with varying carrier concentration.     

Fiber supercontinuum generators with an extended set of controlled parameters in real time scale

Different methods for controlling the radiation parameters of supercontinuum (SC) are analyzed. In particular, the possibility of varying the SC spectral power density due to variations in the pulse repetition rate and radiation wavelength of the pumping laser, the increase in the SC degree of coherence due to the choice of the optimal phase modulation of pumping pulses, and the variations in the SC pulse repetition rate in the two-wave pumping scheme due to the variations in the frequency difference are considered. A new method for controlling the spectrum width and the spectral power density level of the SC generated upon continuous excitation using an additional noise pumping component is proposed.     

Multimode modeling of digital modulation in nearly single-mode semiconductor lasers

We present multimode modeling of the digitalmodulation characteristics of nearly single-mode semiconductor lasers. The model takes into account the mechanisms of spectral suppression of modal gain; namely, symmetric and asymmetric gain suppressions. The digital modulation performance of the laser is quantitatively examined in terms of the turn-on jitter, on-off ratio and a Q-factor. We study the effect of the modulation parameters on the modulation characteristics of the laser. We also clarify the effect of the asymmetric gain suppression on the modulated signals of the oscillating modes. In addition, we examine the validity of modeling the digital modulation of the laser via a single-mode rate equation model. We show that the modulation characteristics improve with an increase in the bias and/or modulation current or with a decrease in the bit rate due to reduction in the bit-pattern effect. The asymmetric gain suppression does not affect the characteristics of the total laser signal, however it enhances the modulation of the nearest modes on the long-wavelength side of the gain spectrum.     

顶部反射镜对GaN基共振腔发光二极管性能的影响研究

本文在Ga N基共振腔发光二极管(RCLED)顶部设计制备了高反膜结构分布式布拉格反射镜(DBR)和滤波器结构DBR,对比分析了两种反射镜的反射率曲线特征以及对应的RCLED器件的光输出纵模模式、光谱线宽和输出光强等性能差异,详细研究了顶部反射镜的光反射特性对RCLED器件输出光谱性能的影响机理.研究结果表明,顶部反射镜是RCLED的重要组成部分,其反射率曲线特征决定器件的光输出性能.常规高反膜结构DBR顶部反射镜的反射率曲线具有较宽的高反射带,将其作为顶部反射镜可有效压窄RCLED发光纵模线宽,但是发光光谱仍呈现多纵模光输出特征.滤波器结构DBR顶部反射镜的反射率曲线在中心波长处具有较窄的透光凹带,利用透光凹带对输出光的调制作用,器件可实现单纵模光输出,在光通信、光纤传感等领域展示了广阔的应用前景.通过进一步设计RCLED顶部反射镜结构,可以改变其反射率曲线特性,进而优化RCLED器件的输出光谱特性,以满足器件在多个领域的应用需求.     

Recording of dynamic gratings in the nonlinear optical coating of a planar waveguide

The possibility of controlled energy exchange between interfering waveguide modes in a singlemode planar waveguide with a nonlinear optical coating is analyzed. As the coating, a suspension of bacteriorhodopsin D96N was used, which makes it possible to realize two spectrally separated mechanisms of recording and controlling dynamic gratings, i.e., the spatial modulation of the trans-cis excitation rate and the spatial modulation of the cis-trans relaxation rate. The method of phase-modulated beams was used to implement the energy exchange. The dynamic gratings in the coating were recorded by using both radiation with a wavelength within the absorption band of the trans state (630 nm) and radiation with a wavelength within the absorption band of the cis state (440 nm). Efficient control of the energy exchange between the waveguide modes by means of uniform exposure of their interference region to radiation with another wavelength was observed. A completely integral geometrical layout for optically controlled energy exchange was realized. The results obtained are compared with known data on energy exchange between beams in the bulk of a similar nonlinear medium.     

Generation of doublet spectral lines at self-seeded X-ray FELs

Self-seeding schemes, consisting of two undulators with a monochromator in between, aim to reduce the bandwidth of SASE X-ray FELs. We recently proposed to use a new method of monochromatization exploiting a single crystal in Bragg transmission geometry for self-seeding in the hard X-ray range. The obvious and technically possible extension is to use such kind of monochromator setup with two (or more) crystals arranged in a series to spectrally filter the SASE radiation at two (or more) closely-spaced wavelengths within the FEL gain band. This allows for the production of doublet (or multiplet) spectral lines. Exploitations of such mode of operation involve any situation where there is a large change in cross-section over a narrow wavelength range. In this paper we consider the simultaneous operation of the LCLS hard X-ray FEL at two closely spaced wavelengths. We present simulation results for the LCLS baseline, and we show that this method can produce fully coherent radiation shared between two longitudinal modes. Mode spacing can be easily tuned within the FEL gain band, i.e. within 10 eV. An interesting aspect of the proposed scheme is a way of modulating the electron bunch at optical frequencies without a seed quantum laser. In fact, the XFEL output intensity contains an oscillating “mode-beat” component whose frequency is related to the frequency difference between the pair of longitudinal modes considered. Thus, at saturation one obtains FEL-induced modulations of energy loss and energy spread in the electron bunch at optical frequency. These modulations can be converted into density modulation at the same optical frequency with the help of a weak chicane installed behind the baseline undulator. Powerful coherent radiation can then be generated with the help of an optical transition radiation (OTR) station, which have important applications. In this paper we briefly consider how the doublet structure of the XFEL generation spectra can be monitored by an optical spectrometer. Furthermore, the OTR coherent radiation pulse is naturally synchronized with the X-ray pulses, and can be used for timing the XFEL to high power conventional lasers with femtosecond accuracy for pump-probe applications.     

基于铌酸锂双折射晶体的皮秒拍瓦激光系统光谱整形

为补偿皮秒拍瓦激光系统中钕玻璃宽带放大引起的增益窄化,提出了一种基于铌酸锂双折射晶体的高能量光谱整形方法.在相同强度调制下,对比了BBO、铌酸锂和石英3种晶体,针对1053 nm激光,选用了高双折射率、大口径且不易潮解的铌酸锂作为整形晶体.理论分析了晶体厚度、倾斜角、面内旋转角对强度调制的影响,发现它们分别决定调制的带宽、中心波长及深度.并对整形过程中晶体引入的光谱相位进行了分析,发现各阶色散量随晶体厚度、倾斜角、面内旋转角变化的规律,因此可通过上述参数控制各阶色散量.在此基础上,开展了中心波长为1053 nm、带宽为10 nm、调制深度为80%的光谱整形实验和相位测量实验,实验与理论分析相一致.针对神光Ⅱ皮秒拍瓦激光系统,利用上述整形方案,国内首次实现了1700 J, 6 nm (FWHM)的高能宽带激光输出,有效补偿了增益窄化.研究结果对国内基于钕玻璃放大系统的宽频带激光装置的工程研制具有重要意义.