Diffractive beam splitter characterization via a power-recycled interferometer

We used the high-precision laser interferometer technique of power recycling to characterize the optical loss of an all-reflective grating beam splitter. This beam splitter was used to set up a Michelson interferometer with a power-recycling resonator with a finesse of 883. Analyzing the results obtained, we determined the beam splitter's total optical loss to be (0.193+/-0.019)%. Low loss all-reflective beam splitters might find application in future high-power laser interferometers for the detection of gravitational waves.     

Demonstration of a recombined Fabry-Perot-Michelson interferometer with suspended mirrors

We describe preliminary experimental results concerning the operation of a 3 m arm-length Michelson interferometer with two Fabry-Perot cavities whose mirrors and beam splitter are suspended independently by wires. The reflected light beams from the two Fabry-Perot cavities are recombined to obtain interference at a photo-detector; this scheme is necessary for future power-recycled laser interferometers used to detect gravitational waves. The fundamental properties of the interferometer are presented, including the power spectral density of the displacement noise.     

软X射线双频光栅剪切干涉法研究

本文中设计了一种利用软X射线双频光栅作为剪切干涉元件的剪切系统, 使剪切干涉法在软X射线波段得到了应用. 介绍了软X射线双频光栅的结构及衍射特性, 在同步辐射光束线对双频光栅的效率分布进行了测试实验, 两个剪切级次的效率比值高于75%, 干扰级次效率低于5%. 利用软X射线双频光栅为剪切干涉光学元件, 对待测靶进行了静态检测, 得到了对比度高, 稳定的干涉条纹, 验证了该方法在软X射线等离子体密度诊断中的可行性. 关键词： 双频光栅 剪切干涉仪 软X射线 等离子体诊断     

Analysis on the laser beam pointing instability induced fringe shift and contrast dilution from different interferometers used for writing fiber Bragg grating

This paper presents an analysis on the effect of laser beam pointing instability on the fringe shift and hence the contrast dilution of superposed fringes from two beam interferometers. The interferometers analyzed are those commonly used in writing fiber Bragg grating (FBG) such as phase mask, bi-prism and phase mask based Talbot/Holographic type. The beam pointing instability is incorporated as slight change in the angle between two interfering beams. The relative immunity of different interferometers to laser beam pointing is discussed vs location of FBG writing plane from the beam splitter. The effect of the beam pointing was minimum in proximity FBG writing by phase mask. The effect, in terms of fringes contrast dilution, was worst in case of large length interferometers e.g. phase mask based-Talbot interferometer. For intermediate length prism interferometers, the effect was moderate. For a given length interferometer, the fringe shift was directly proportional to beam pointing angle and inversely proportional to fringe separation. Theoretical analysis is verified experimentally by studying the fringe instability of interference pattern formed by a bi-prism of angle 2^o with the copper vapour laser (CVL, λ = 510 nm) beams of different beam pointing instabilities.     

Thermodynamic phase noise in fibre interferometers

Phase noise due to thermodynamic fluctuations in the optical path length is evaluated in this paper for basic fibre interferometers. In Mach-Zehnder and Michelson interferometers, where the temperature phase fluctuation (TPF) is that intrinsic to the fibre, this noise has been reported to be comparable to shot noise and a possible limit to sensor sensitivity in practical cases. We show that in Sagnac interferometers, used in fibre gyro and in Faraday current sensors, the TPF noise is decreased with respect to that intrinsic to the fiber because propagation in the same optical path leads to a correlation of the phase fluctuations. In addition, we show that in Fabry-Perot and ring resonators, as multiple reflections increase the effective path length, TPF noise is enhanced and can be dominant over shot noise even for moderate fibre lengths.     

Input-output relations for a three-port grating coupled Fabry-Perot cavity

We analyze an optical three-port reflection grating by means of a scattering matrix formalism. Amplitude and phase relations among the three ports, i.e., the three orders of diffraction, are derived. Such a grating can be used as an all-reflective, low-loss coupler to Fabry-Perot cavities. We derive the input-output relations of a three-port grating coupled cavity and find distinct properties that are not present in two-port coupled cavities. The cavity relations further reveal that the three-port coupler can be designed such that the additional cavity port interferes destructively. In this case the all-reflective, low-loss, single-end Fabry-Perot cavity becomes equivalent to a standard transmissive, two-port coupled cavity.     

Fiber Fabry-Perot Cavity Using Sagnac Loop with Phase-Shift Grating

Fiber Fabry-Perot cavity using Sagnac loop with phase-shift grating is investigated. Various interference patterns corresponding to the different fiber Fabry-Perot cavities are obtained, and their potential applications in multiwavelength fiber laser source are discussed.     

A Sagnac-Michelson fibre optic interferometer: Signal processing for disturbance localization

We present numerical and experimental results on a new generation fibre optic perimeter sensor based on a Sagnac and Michelson interferometers configuration. In particular, an original signal processing scheme is presented. The sensor can detect a potential intruder and determine its position along a protected zone. We propose a localization method that offers the inherent properties of both interferometers. After demodulation of the signals from both interferometers, the obtained amplitude characteristic of the Sagnac interferometer depends on a position of a disturbance along the interferometer, while amplitude characteristic of the Michelson interferometer does not depend on this position. So, quotient of both demodulated characteristics makes it possible to localize the disturbance. During investigations of a laboratory model of the sensor, it was possible to detect the position of the disturbance with a resolution of about 40 m along the 6-km-long sensor.     

Three-port beam splitters-combiners for interferometer applications

We derive generic phase and amplitude coupling relations for beam splitters-combiners that couple a single port with three output ports or input ports, respectively. We apply the coupling relations to a reflection grating that serves as a coupler to a single-ended Fabry-Perot ring cavity. In the impedance-matched case such an interferometer can act as an all-reflective ring mode cleaner. It is further shown that in the highly undercoupled case almost complete separation of carrier power and phase signal from a cavity strain can be achieved.     

Optimization of parameters and the ultimate sensitivity of interferometric detectors of gravitational waves

The signal-to-shot-noise ratio is calculated for three types of laser interferometers used in gravitational wave detectors: for two types of Fabry-Perot interferometers (with direct reading of the output signal and with the modulation technique used for outcoupling the signal) and for the Michelson interferometer with Fabry-Perot arms. It is shown that the signal-to-noise ratio can be substantially increased by using “supermirrors” with losses of the order of 10 ^?6. It is very important, in this case, to properly choose the mirror transmittance, because, otherwise, the sensitivity inevitably decreases by orders of magnitude and the requirements of lasers become more stringent. The efforts to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by increasing the power are limited either by an insufficient laser power or by the overheating of interferometer mirrors. Our estimates show that the present-day technical level with laser power of about 1 W provides sufficient sensitivity for detecting gravitational waves.     

High power TEA CO2 laser tuned by a holographic grating

Wavelength tuning of a TEA CO₂ laser by means of a holographic grating with sinusoidal profile is reported for the first time. The grating with 136 lines/mm had an optimized efficiency according to the gain of the laser. The laser beam was coupled out through the zeroth grating order.     

激光双频率外差法精密位移测量研究

基于激光干涉的测量技术目前已在观测测量中被广泛应用,测量设备也向着便携化、智能化和集成化的方向发展。目前的激光干涉测量设备大多是利用迈克尔逊干涉仪的原理,然而,该方法通常是将干涉信息在空间域上进行处理,对实验平台搭建和测量环境的要求也较为苛刻,在工业生产环境中运用时易受工业设备位移时产生的高频震动影响。因此,提出一种基于激光双外差干涉的位移量精密测量系统,利用两组激光外差信号来构成两组干涉仪,探测器接收到回波拍频信号后进行时间域的平均与频域解调,提高测量系统的鲁棒性,使得测量系统的准确度达到0.01 mm。     

Interferometry with Ca atoms

Separated field excitation of a calcium atomic beam using four traveling laser fields represents two distinct atom interferometers utilizing the internal degrees of freedom of the atoms. Phase shifts between the atomic partial waves have been realized by phase shifts of the laser wave fields, by the ac-Stark shift, and by rotation of the interferometer (Sagnac effect). One particular interferometer can be selected by interaction of the atomic waves with extra laser fields. We furthermore report on the preparation of a laser cooled and deflected calcium atomic beam that can be utilized to largely increase the sensitivity of the interferometer.     

Photorefractive shooting stars

Under certain conditions the direction of a beam diffracted from a photorefractive grating wanders as the grating decays. This phenomenon is due to competition between the original grating and those formed spontaneously by the Fabry-Perot modes produced by the crystal's surfaces.     

非相干光纤激光组束中光栅衍射效率的研究

提高非相干光纤激光组束的组束功率,需要增大光栅对组束激光的衍射效率。通过理论分析和数值仿真,结果表明对中心激光入射角偏移及组束光角偏移的精确控制是提高光栅衍射效率的光健,高的衍射效率对应较大的光栅周期和较小的光栅厚度。对于中心激光入射波长1060nm,应选择光栅频率200~400mm-1,对应的光栅厚度2~4mm。     

Efficient single-mode operation of a standing-wave dye laser

The selection of a single longitudinal mode of a dye laser can be achieved with double or triple Michelson reflectors instead of Fabry-Perot etalons inside the laser cavity. These systems can be adapted to commercial multimode dye lasers. They provide a high efficiency and a good geometrical quality of the output beam. With a 7 watt pump power (λ=514.5 nm line of the Ar⁺ laser), a tunable output power of 1 watt was obtained at the peak of R6G, in the main output beam; the total single-mode power, including the auxiliary output beams, exceeded 1.4 watt. These results correspond to efficiencies of 14% and 20%, respectively (24% and 30% slope efficiencies). We discuss in the text why these efficiencies are comparable to those of ring lasers. In the infrared, with a 4.5 watt pump power (red lines of a Kr⁺ laser), 250 mW of single-mode output power in the main output beam was obtained at 780 nm with Oxazine 750.     

70mm×70mm光束取样光栅性能测试研究

介绍了一种用于惯性约束聚变研究的光束取样光栅的研制情况,光栅尺寸为70mm?0mm。利用星光II高功率固体激光装置实验平台对光栅的性能参数进行了实验测试,实验结果表明:光栅的三倍频激光取样效率为5.6?光束取样角为13.2。     

基于拉锥光纤布拉格光栅的法布里-珀罗应变传感器的仿真研究

为解决干涉型光纤应变传感器自由光谱范围较小或干涉条纹精细度较低等问题，提出了一种基于单拉锥光纤布拉格光栅的法布里-珀罗腔的应变传感结构及其改进方案。利用啁啾光纤布拉格光栅不同位置反射不同波长的特性，形成腔长随波长连续变化的法布里-珀罗腔，得到了无穷大的自由光谱范围且谐振谷精细度高。数值计算结果表明，应变传感灵敏度与拉锥光纤的腰区直径和栅区长度正相关。在0～300 με范围内，当腰区直径为光纤直径的3/25，栅区长度为30 mm时，应变传感灵敏度为7.05 pm/με。该结果对其他干涉型传感结构的设计具有一定的参考价值。     

利用全光纤结构Michelson腔实现两路高功率双包层光纤激光器相干合成

Michelson腔技术是实现激光相干合成的有效方案. 利用Michelson腔技术, 实现了全光纤结构下的两路光纤激光器的相干合成, 获得了功率为11.75 W, 效率为95.76%的相干输出. 实验研究了相干合成效率与激光腔长差的关系以及抽运对称性对相干合成效率的影响. 实验表明相干合成效率极易受激光腔长差的影响, 不同腔长差下相干合成效率差异可达18%以上, 且存在最佳腔长差; 抽运对称性对相干合成效率的影响在2%以内.     

Wavelength-tunable erbium fiber ring laser in single-frequency operation utilizing Fabry-Perot laser with Sagnac cavity

We propose and demonstrate experimentally a stabilized and wavelength-selective erbium-doped fiber ring laser in single-longitudinal-mode operation with Fabry-Perot laser diode (FP-LD) and using a tunable bandpass filter (TBF) inside and outside a Sagnac ring cavity. The side-mode suppression ratios of 21 dB and 36.5 dB and the output power of -3.6 dB m and -8.7 dB m in the wavelengths of 1524.45-1562.35 nm and 1531.07-1562.35 nm with the tuning step of 1.4 nm can be achieved when the TBF outside and inside Sagnac loop, respectively. The output wavelength variation of zero and the output power fluctuation of <0.1 dB are also obtained. Moreover, the transmission efficiency of the ring laser has also been performed experimentally under a 1.25, 2.5 and 10 Gb/s external modulation, respectively.