Fine frequency tuning of a high power CO2 laser and its application to optically-pumped molecular lasers

We describe a novel technique for shifting the output frequency of a high power TEA CO₂ laser. The performance of a 16 μm laser is shown to be greatly improved when optically pumped by this tunable source.     

Optically stabilized tunable diode-laser system for saturation spectroscopy

We present an optically stabilized lead-salt diode-laser system which is the nucleus of a very-high-resolution instrument for sub-Doppler molecular spectroscopy in the mid-infrared. By application of external optical feedback, we have narrowed the diode-laser linewidth by two orders of magnitude, yielding a spectral width of less than 200 kHz. The diode- laser frequency is stabilized and controlled via the external reflector by variable-frequency offset-locking the diode-laser to a CO laser frequency. This substantial improvement in the spectral properties enabled us to perform a Lamb-dip experiment on a carbonyl sulfide (OCS) absorption line near 1985 cm^–1. We were able to detect a saturated dispersion signal at low pressure (5 Pa) with a signal-to-noise ratio of several thousand. The present paper describes the unique features of the optically stabilized tunable diode-laser system and its use as a spectroscopic tool for sub-Doppler applications.     

Diode-pumped nonresonant continuous-wave Raman laser in H2 with resonant optical feedback stabilization

We demonstrate a nonresonant cw Raman laser pumped by an optically locked diode laser at 790 nm that produces cw Stokes (1178-nm) and coherent anti-Stokes (595-nm) emission. Considering the modest pump powers, relative low cost, and predicted spectral purity, we expect that frequency downconversion of tunable diode lasers through stimulated Raman scattering will provide an attractive source for remote sensing, spectroscopic, and atomic physics applications. The Stokes laser threshold is 240+/-19muW pump power, and emission is observed over a roughly 10-nm range by adjustment of the optical locking feedback phase. Photon-conversion efficiency rises throughout the pump-power region, with a peak value of 15+/-2% .     

Efficient generation of FIR radiation by optical pumping of D2 18O

In this paper we show that D₂ ¹⁸O vapour, optically pumped with a continuously tunable high pressure CO₂ laser, is an excellent source for far infrared radiation. Both high photon conversion coefficients and broad Raman gain regions were found for a large number of new laser transitions spread over the frequency range from 25 cm^–1 to 240 cm^–1. We demonstrate that these Raman gain regions can be used to generate far infrared laser pulses with high intensity and durations of about 100 ps.     

High-sensitivity intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy with vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

We report the demonstration of high-sensitivity intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy with multiple-quantum-well vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers (VECSEL's). A detection limit of 3x10(-10) cm (-1) has been achieved. The spectrotemporal dynamics of a VECSEL in the 1030-nm wavelength region has been studied. The laser was operating cw at room temperature, with a baseline signal-to-noise ratio as high as 400. The laser was optically pumped with a threshold as low as 80 mW and was broadly tunable over a spectral range of ~75 nm .     

Coherent transverse speckle dynamics in the case of probing of stationary bulk scattering media by a laser with frequency deviation

A coherent transverse dynamics of scattered speckle fields that arises upon propagation of tunable laser radiation through stationary optically inhomogeneous bulk media has been discovered. The dynamic photochromic speckle effect can be observed experimentally if the deviation of the laser radiation frequency is comparable with or greater than the effective phase delays arising upon scattering of waves in a random or partly organized medium. It was found experimentally that, with an increase in the frequency tuning range of a probing laser diode (λ = 650 nm) or a compact YAG:Nd laser (λ = 532 μm), which can reach hundreds of gigahertz for multiply scattering bulk media from several millimeters to two centimeters thick (fluoroplastic phantoms), the two-dimensional correlation coefficient of speckle structures decreased monotonically, and the characteristic drop for thicker structures was observed at smaller frequency detunings.     

Alkali lasers for magnetic resonance imaging

Spin-polarized nuclei of such gases as ³He and ¹²⁹Xe are successfully used for magnetic resonance imaging of lungs and other organs of human body. To produce large numbers of spin-polarized nuclei required for this medical application, a high power narrowband tunable laser source is required. Diode pumped alkali lasers, developed during last several years can be an ideal source for this application. In this paper we present our latest achievements in diode pumped alkali lasers development. We describe optically pumped Cs laser tunable in the range of 14 GHz and operating in single transverse mode with a linewidth less than 3 MHz. We also present continuous wave diode pumped Rb and Cs lasers with output power 17 W and 20 W.     

High frequency tunable continuous wave ESR spectroscopy

We describe the ESR spectrometer we developed. Our aim was twofold: i) to reach the highest possible frequency and ii) to devise a frequency tunable spectrometer. The tunable source is an optically pumped far infrared laser which has been used from 160 GHz up to 525 GHz with magnetic fields of up to 19 T. We present measurements performed in semiconductor physics and in molecular chemical physics. These measurements allowed us to distinguish electric dipolar transitions from magnetic dipolar transitions. The increase ing-factor resolution was used to discriminate between entities withg-factors differing by a few 10^?5. This property together with the study of the line-width frequency dependence was used in geophysics. We studied the spin relaxation mechanisms of the model system Phosphorus doped Silicon. The variation of the spin relaxation time with temperature shows the importance of two-phonon mechanisms. High frequency tunable ESR makes possible the study of compounds with large zero field splitting which are ESR silent at standard frequencies.     

Optically tunable chromatic dispersion controller with coupled-cavity etalon structure

We propose and demonstrate a novel optically tunable dynamic dispersion-compensation device with coupled-cavity etalon structure. Experimentally, it was achieved with an all-fiber coupled-cavity etalon made in an Er/Yb codoped fiber pumped by a 980-nm laser diode. The dispersion was tuned from -300 to +400 ps/nm in the experiment. The potential advantages of such optically tunable dispersion compensators include fast response time and remotely controllable operation.     

Stimulated terahertz stokes emission of silicon crystals doped with antimony donors

Stimulated Stokes emission has been observed from silicon crystals doped by antimony donors when optically excited by radiation from a tunable infrared free electron laser. The photon energy of the emission is equal to the pump photon energy reduced by the energy of the intervalley transverse acoustic (TA) g phonon in silicon (approximately 2.92 THz). The emission frequency covers the range of 4.6-5.8 THz. The laser process occurs due to a resonant coupling of the 1s(E) and 1s(A1) donor states (separation approximately 2.97 THz) via the g-TA phonon, which conserves momentum and energy within a single impurity center.     

Ultrafine optical-frequency tunable Brillouin fiber laser based on fiber strain

We present an ultrafine tunable single-frequency Brillouin fiber laser in which the fiber Brillouin gain also acts as a high-precision tunable filter. Controlling the strain on the fiber, the Stokes frequency shift may be precisely changed, and thus the lasing frequency can be tuned. Assisted by the frequency pulling effect, this method provides continuous ultrafine tuning ability for ~30% of the free spectral range without mode hopping, and can cover 271 MHz. The experiments showed that the laser achieves tuning step of 60 kHz.     

Optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate driven by a diode-pumped Q-switched erbium fiber laser

We describe what is to our knowledge the first nanosecond periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) driven by a fiber laser. The source was frequency doubled by a PPLN sample before pumping a second, 20-mm-long, PPLN crystal. The OPO threshold was <10muJ, with pump depletions of as much as 45% and a tunable signal range of 945-1450 nm (1690-4450-nm idler range). We demonstrated 130-nm signal tuning by varying the pump wavelength and doubling crystal's temperature. Also, we achieved 15-nm tuning with all crystals at a constant temperature. The results demonstrate the potential of the fiber laser:PPLN combination for practical, versatile, and tunable sources.     

Wideband frequency tunable optoelectronic oscillator based on a dispersion compensated microwave photonic filter

A wideband tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) based on a dispersion compensated phase modulated microwave photonics filter (MPF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The MPF, consisting of a tunable laser source (TLS), a phase modulator, a fiber Bragg grating Fabry–Perot filter and a photodetector, is used as the oscillating mode selection device. Dual-loop configuration is employed to make sure the OEO operates at a single oscillating mode. Theoretically analysis is carried out to demonstrate the tuning range limitation due to the phase-modulation to intensity-modulation conversion caused by long single mode fiber (SMF). To overcome this disadvantage and expand the signal tuning range, a dispersion compensation fiber is introduced followed by the SMF to compensate the fiber dispersion. By simply adjusting the wavelength of the TLS, an ultra-wideband tunable microwave signal with the frequency tuning range from 2 to 44 GHz is obtained. The phase noise is also investigated and measured to be less than ? 110 dBc/Hz at an offset of 10 kHz within the whole frequency range.     

Tunable carbon monoxide overtone laser sideband system for precision spectroscopy from 2.6 to 4.1 microm

We report a source of tunable laser radiation for high-precision molecular spectroscopy in the 2.6- 4.1-microm spectral region. Laser light from a CO overtone laser is mixed with microwaves, generating tunable sidebands of ~1 mW of power. We achieve very high absolute frequency accuracy by frequency-offset locking the CO laser to a CO(2) laser secondary frequency standard. The uncertainty of the laser frequency is less than 30 kHz (Dnu/nu=3x10(-10)) , and the laser linewidth is of the order of 100 kHz. This tunable and ultrastable laser system is suitable for very accurate molecular spectroscopy and metrology in a most interesting wavelength region. We demonstrate an application of the system to saturated-absorption spectroscopy of a rovibrational transition of carbonyl sulfide.     

A tunable frequency-decuple optoelectronic oscillator based on frequency comb and stimulated Brillouin scattering

An optically tunable frequency-decuple optoelectronic oscillator based on optical frequency comb (OFC) and stimulated Brillouin scattering has been proposed and theoretically analyzed. In the proposed structure, the OFC is generated using a cascaded Mach–Zehnder modulator and a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DPMZM), and multi-pump lights could be obtained instead of one pump. A quintuple Brillouin frequency shift oscillation signal generated by using Brillouin gain-loss compensation principle and carrier phase-shifted double sideband modulation is realized by using the DPMZM to double the oscillation frequency. As a consequence, a decuple frequency shift microwave signal is achieved. Profit from the wavelength-dependent nature of Brillouin frequency shift, a frequency-decuple signal at 10 \(f_{b}\) which could be tunable from 87.9750 to 94.4750 GHz by simply tuning the wavelength of the tunable laser source is obtained in theory.     

Tunable optical frequency comb with a crystalline whispering gallery mode resonator

We report on the experimental demonstration of a tunable monolithic optical frequency comb generator. The device is based on four-wave mixing in a crystalline calcium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonator. The frequency spacing of the comb is given by an integer number of the free spectral range of the resonator. We select the desired number by tuning the frequency of the pumping laser with respect to the corresponding resonator mode. We also observe a rich variety of optical combs and high-frequency hyperparametric oscillation, depending on the experimental conditions. A potential application of the comb for generating tunable narrow band frequency microwave signals is demonstrated.     

Efficient single-mode Brillouin fiber laser for low-noise optical carrier reduction of microwave signals

We experimentally demonstrate efficient optical carrier reduction of microwave signals with a single-mode 1.5-microm wavelength Brillouin all-fiber ring laser. Because of the tunable optical coupling, the lasing threshold of the short-length (20-m) fiber cavity is lower than 5 mW, and high conversion efficiencies (up to 60%) are obtained at any pump power up to approximately 200 mW. Using the single-mode Stokes beam as a seed for the stimulated Brillouin scattering process allows up to 40-dB optical carrier depletion with almost no added noise for an optically carried microwave signal at 6 GHz. In addition, using this resonator, we provide evidence of generation of high-spectral-purity beatnotes.     

Narrow-line phase-locked quantum cascade laser in the 9.2 microm range

We report the operation of a 50 mW continuous-wave quantum cascade laser (QCL) in the 9.2 microm range, phase locked to a single-mode CO(2) laser with a tunable frequency offset. The wide free-running emission spectrum of the QCL (3-5 MHz) is strongly narrowed down to the kilohertz range, making it suitable for high-resolution molecular spectroscopy.     

Diode-pumped Birefringent Tunable Nd: YAG Laser with Large Frequency Difference

A dual-frequency Nd: YAG laser which can output two frequencies with frequency difference of more than 5 gigaherz is developed. By inserting and moving an intracavity quartz crystal wedge in diode pumped Nd:YAG laser, It can be obtained and tuned frequency difference in a wide frequency range. The stabilization of frequency difference in free state is much better than that of birefringent dual-frequency He-Ne lasers at similar laboratory conditions. With such a large tunable frequency difference i.e. short synthetic wavelength, the laser may be used as the light source of absolute distance interferometers. In our experiment, the methods for tuning frequency difference by rotating and applying a tunable force on the intracavity quartz plate are also studied.     

可调波长半导体激光法布里-珀罗干涉仪

为了对激光十涉仪、高精度位移传感器等测量系统进行纳米级精度的非线性误差校准,需进一步提高中国计量科学研究院与清华大学合作研制的差拍F-P 干涉仪的线性度、稳定性及测量范围.在合理分析空气折射率变化及He-Ne激光器纵模调谐范围等因素对测量的影响基础上,设计并制作了密封干涉光路的真宅系统,并用调谐范围较大的半导体激光器作为工作激光器.实验结果表明,系统在大于1/4波长的行程范围内的线性度有明显的提高,最大非线性误差由8.93 nm减小至1.19 nm.