染料掺杂聚合物分散胆甾相液晶薄膜激光特性研究

采用激光染料DCM、向列相液晶TEB30A、手性剂S-811、聚乙烯醇(PVA), 通过微胶囊法制备了聚合物分散胆甾相液晶薄膜, 测量激光辐射谱, 研究了其激光辐射机理和温度调谐特性. 利用正交偏光显微镜观察器件织构, 看到液晶微滴分散均匀, 尺寸较大, 约为80 μm, 并且微滴中液晶分子呈现平面态排列织构. 以532 nm的Nd:YAG固体激光器作为抽运源, 测得在634.5 nm和680.2 nm波长处出现了尖锐的激光辐射峰, 线宽分别约为0.25 nm, 0.29 nm. 并与染料掺杂胆甾相液晶激光器件进行比较. 升高器件温度, 其输出激光波长蓝移, 获得666.7 nm至643.9 nm共22.8 nm的调谐范围. 由实验结果分析得出, 激光辐射机理为光子禁带末端激光, 出射波长分别对应光子禁带的两个边沿.     

基于透射式液晶/聚合物光栅的分布反馈式激光器的研究

本文研究了染料掺杂透射式液晶/聚合物光栅的制备以及基于透射式液晶/聚合物光栅的分布反馈式激光器的激光特性.实验选取DCM作为激光染料,制备了周期为586 nm的掺杂DCM的透射式液晶/聚合物光栅;使用532 nm输出的Nd ∶YAG倍频脉冲激光器作为抽运光源对染料掺杂液晶/聚合物光栅进行侧面抽运,得到了中心波长为603 nm的窄线宽、低阈值激光输出.激光线宽为1.4 nm、阈值能量约为17.3 μJ,与之前国外的报道相比,阈值能量有了很大幅度的降低. 关键词： 液晶/聚合物光栅 分布反馈式激光器 阈值 线宽     

楔形盒染料掺杂胆甾相液晶激光器研究

设计制作了楔形盒掺杂激光染料PM580的胆甾相液晶器件, 研究了激光辐射行为. 在楔形液晶盒中出现了一系列与楔棱平行的向错线和不同规则形状的晶畴, 胆甾相液晶形成了平面态排列. 采用固体Nd:YAG倍频532 nm 波长激光作为抽运光, 获得调谐精度约1 nm, 调谐范围约17 nm的一维波长可调谐激光器. 楔形盒中, 液晶扭曲力与取向膜表面锚定力相互平衡的过程中胆甾相液晶螺距伸张, 光子禁带位置移动, 从而调谐光子禁带边沿出射激光波长. 关键词： 胆甾相液晶 楔形盒 激光辐射     

光子晶体液晶光纤随机激光研究

将掺杂激光染料DCM的手性向列相液晶注入全反射型光子晶体光纤微孔中,研究了激光辐射行为。采用固体Nd∶YAG倍频532 nm激光作为抽运光,室温下,在各个方向上均能探测到随机激光辐射谱。当抽运光的入射方向与样品轴向成30°,光纤光谱仪沿样品轴向方向以及垂直样品轴向方向探测时,在600~650 nm范围内不同波段测得多个离散的尖锐随机激光辐射峰,其线宽约为0.2~0.3 nm。当加热样品至各向同性温度时,激光辐射峰消失。光子晶体光纤的微孔中,作为较强散射介质的手性向列相液晶在不同温度下呈现不同分子取向和折射率分布,这是随机激光产生和关闭的根本原因。     

电场作用下染料掺杂手性向列相液晶器件激光辐射谱研究

研究了电场作用下染料掺杂手性向列相液晶器件激光辐射谱。设计了两种电极结构,分别对正性和负性液晶器件施加横向和纵向电场,采用532 nm的Nd∶YAG脉冲固体激光器泵浦样品。对正性液晶器件施加电场,在 630～660 nm范围获得多波长的激光输出。对负性液晶激光器件施加电场,获得调谐范围为18.5 nm的激光输出。由器件织构和光子禁带的变化,进行了深入的分析。正性液晶器件,在电场力矩与扭曲力矩相互竞争过程中,引起液晶的流动,光子禁带上下浮动,因此不仅在禁带边沿,禁带内也出现激光辐射。而负性液晶器件随着电场强度增大,液晶螺距收缩,禁带蓝移,输出激光波长从681.0 nm蓝移到662.5 nm,出射激光波长为光子禁带边沿处。负性液晶器件在电场作用下的稳定性较好。     

梳状电极胆甾相液晶激光器的激光辐射谱

设计制作了梳状电极染料掺杂胆甾相液晶激光器件,研究了外加电压下的激光辐射谱。器件的下基板ITO电极刻蚀成梳状条形电极,电极宽度约2 mm,相邻电极间距分别约为1,3,5 mm。上基板无ITO电极。上下基板取向膜平行摩擦取向处理,使胆甾相液晶平面态排列。以532 nm的Nd∶YAG激光器作为泵浦光源,测量器件激光辐射谱。改变外加电压0~100 V,3个区域均出现了多模输出。在1 mm电极间距区域,可获得633.65~621.52 nm（12 nm）和683.15~664.35 nm（18 nm）的可调谐波长范围;在电极间距3,5 mm区域,辐射激光波长变化微小。在外加电压作用下,液晶分子均匀的螺旋周期排列受到扰动,液晶分子层螺旋轴倾斜,各个液晶畴的螺旋轴取向不一致,使有效螺距值缩短并有所浮动,引起出射激光波长蓝移和多模输出。利用光子态密度理论数值模拟了激光辐射谱。当有效螺距为倾斜角的函数时,随着倾斜角增大出射激光波长蓝移。     

基于液晶/聚合物光栅的高转化效率有机半导体激光器

采用有机半导体发光材料聚[2-甲氧基-5-(2-乙基己氧基)-1,4-苯乙炔]作为增益介质,低官能度光敏单体制备的液晶/聚合物光栅作为外部反馈谐振腔,制备出参数可独立控制的分离式结构的有机半导体激光器.液晶/聚合物光栅中液晶分子的取向影响光栅折射率调制量,从而影响光栅的反馈能力,最终影响激光器出射激光的性能.通过研究发现决定液晶分子取向的主要有两种与光栅周期有关的作用力,利用这一原理制备不同周期的光栅,光栅周期小于450 nm时,相分离出的液晶分子取向由光栅矢量方向变为光栅沟槽方向,此时光栅的折射率调制量增加,光反馈能力增强.采用周期为395 nm的液晶/聚合物光栅制备二级布拉格散射的有机半导体激光器,相较于大周期光栅(593 nm)制备的激光器,激光阈值由0.70μJ/pulse降低至0.18μJ/pulse,转化效率由2.5%提高到6.4%,且出射激光垂直于基板表面发射,有利于后续的处理及应用.     

基于聚合物支撑形貌液晶/聚合物光栅的低阈值分布反馈式激光器

利用低光强曝光进行全息液晶/聚合物光栅(HPDLC)的制备,获得了内部无液晶微滴具有聚合物支撑形貌的低散射透射光栅结构.分别研究了染料PM567,DCM,DCJTI的放大的自发辐射(ASE)阈值及相对出射光强等性质,得到三种染料中DCJIT的ASE阈值最低,相对出射光强最高,表明DCJTI更适于制备低阈值、高转化效率激光器.分别采用这三种染料制备基于聚合物支撑形貌光栅的分布反馈式激光器,通过改变光栅周期得到不同出射波长的激光.其中,以DCJTI为工作物质,得到中心波长为648 nm,阈值为0.65μJ/pulse,转化效率为1.6%,线宽为0.3 nm的高性能激光.与国内外同类激光器相比,在阈值、转化效率、线宽三个方面均有不同程度的提高.     

基于侧边抛磨光纤的表面布拉格光栅温度传感器

为了实现在侧边抛磨光纤（SPF）上制作布拉格光栅结构并提高器件设计灵活性,利用重铬酸盐明胶（DCG）作为光刻材料,提出一种新型的光纤表面布拉格光栅制作方法并对该器件温度传感特性进行研究。使用轮式抛磨系统制作SPF,并在SPF侧抛面上旋涂DCG,通过干涉光束曝光显影制作表面布拉格光栅。光谱测量表明:带有布拉格光栅的侧边抛磨光纤在1 480.2 nm处有透射谷,在相应位置反射谱有明显反射峰,其调制幅度达到15.9 dB,这是由于表面光栅的布拉格反射所致。温度传感实验表明,该布拉格反射峰的温度灵敏度为17.84 pm/℃。这种器件已在光纤传感和光纤滤波器等方面获得应用。     

高度方向性多光束有机激光

采用DFB分布反馈结构的有机激光由于其自身优点备受关注,而利用高阶布拉格反馈的多光束有机激光及其原理鲜有报道。不同于以往的低阶布拉格反馈形成单波导或单光束激光,本文通过在平面有机半导体波导引入高阶布拉格反馈分别制备了红色和蓝色多束有机激光器。利用四阶布拉格反馈和PVK：DCJTI薄膜实现三光束红光激光器,出射角度为±53°和0.5°。利用五阶布拉格反馈和PS：DSA-ph薄膜实现四光束蓝光激光器,出射角度为±18°和±75°。融合平面波导与光栅耦合的机理,研究了高阶布拉格光栅反馈与器件特性之间的关系。结果表明,理论计算的光束耦合角度和实际测试相符,结果在一定程度上为多光束有机激光器件的设计提供了参考。     

Random lasing from dye-doped chiral nematic liquid crystals in oriented and non-oriented cells

These are the experimental results describing random lasing in dye-doped chiral nematic liquid crystals. A novel random lasing emission is studied in this article based on the helical domains of dye-doped chiral nematic liquid crystals in oriented and non-oriented cells. Under frequency doubled 532 nm Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) laser-pumped optical excitation, we carefully observed and analysed random lasing from dye-doped chiral nematic liquid crystals with wavelength ranges from 600 nm to 620 nm. In addition, the line-width of multi-mode peaks is less than 0.2 nm. The difference between the two random lasing behaviours in the oriented and non-oriented cells arises from the fact that random lasing appearing in the oriented cell results from stronger multiple scattering of light generated by the spiral domains of the liquid crystal molecules. Furthermore, chiral nematic liquid crystal micro-domains with different orientations can induce variation of the diffusion constant, thereby resulting in a decrease or increase in the lasing intensity of the random lasers, and an increase or decrease in their energy thresholds. In addition, a detailed comparison of the two experimental results is also presented in the article, showing the dependence of the lasing threshold and the number of lasing modes on the transport mean free path, the excited area, and the sample size. This process allows us to obtain a random laser by changing the structure of the sample, realising tunable random lasers at low cost.     

Two-photon fabrication of organic solid-state distributed feedback lasers in rhodamine 6G doped SU-8

We report the fabrication of distributed feedback lasers in Rhodamin 6G doped SU-8 by direct femtosecond laser writing. The devices are fabricated by point-by-point exposure and consist of a core layer with a low-order Bragg grating on the surface. A quarter-wavelength phase shift is introduced in the middle of the grating section to obtain single-mode emission. Lasing at different wavelengths is demonstrated by changing the grating pitch. Spectral emission, threshold and lifetime characterization is performed by pumping the laser with a pulsed, frequency double Nd:YAG laser.     

Near-infrared luminescence emitted by an electrically switched liquid crystal cell

Switching of near-infrared emission was observed for liquid crystal (LC) cells filled with a chiral nematic liquid-crystal mixture (mixture of E7 and cholesteryl nonanoate) doped with luminescent neodymium(III) or ytterbium(III) β-diketonate complexes. The operating principle of the LC cell is based on an electrically induced phase transition from a chiral nematic to a nematic phase. The chiral nematic phase scatters the excitation light more strongly, resulting in more efficient light absorption and intenser photoluminescence.     

Tunable narrow linewidth laser output from PM567 doped nematic liquid crystal under holographic pumping

LC cell injected the mixture of dye pyrromethene 567 (PM567) and nematic liquid crystal (NLC) by capillary action was prepared. Holographic pumping with a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 1 Hz, 10 ns) to form gain distributed feedback in the cell, tunable laser output from the cell was investigated. Through changing the intersection angles of the two coherent light beams from 46° to 50°, the tuning range we obtained is about 37 nm (550–587 nm). Additionally, the FWHM of the laser under such experimental setup was less than 0.1 nm even without the resonant cavity, and the threshold of the laser was about 26 μJ, which was very low as we known.     

Wavelength stabilization of a 980-nm semiconductor laser module stabilized with high-power uncooled dual FBG

An optimized dual fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed for 980-nm semiconductor lasers without thermoelectric coolers to restrict temperature-induced wavelength shift.The mathematical model of the temperature-induced wavelength shift of the laser with the dual FBG is built using the external cavity feedback rate equations.The external cavity parameters are optimized for achieving the stability mode-locking laser output.The spectral characteristics of the dual FBG stabilized laser are measured to range from 0 to 70 °C.The side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) is more than 45 dB,while the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) is less than 1 nm.The peak wavelength shift is less than 0.1 nm.The dual FBG wavelength shift proportional coefficient is between 0.1086 and 0.4342.     

Light-controlled helical pitch and dynamic gratings

A chiral nematic liquid crystal (LC) with a photo-sensitive chiral agent is employed for a light-controlled modulation of optical activity and used as a model substance for a dynamic diffraction grating recording. The described liquid crystalline system has shown a strong nonlinear response with effective parameter of cubic nonlinearity being much greater of that characteristic of the orientational nonlinearity of LC. A simple mathematical model of light diffraction on the grating of modulated optical activity was developed. Calculated values of intensities and polarisation states of diffracting beams have shown very good agreement with the experimental data. LC systems with light-controlled chirality could be promising media for nonlinear optical applications or all-optical switching devices.     

Optically switchable, polarization-independent holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) gratings

An optically switchable, polarization-independent holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) transmission grating is demonstrated by adding azobenzene-LC and chiral molecules into the H-PDLC formulation. The optical switchable mechanism is from the trans-cis photoisomerization of the doped azobenzene-LC, which modulates the refractive index of the LC rich area. The dependence of the diffraction efficiency of the H-DPLC grating without chiral molecules on light polarization suggests that the orientation of LC directors within the droplet is ellipsoidal and uniaxial. However, the addition of chiral molecules into the H-PDLC formulation helps the formation of isotropic and non-uniaxial LC directors within the droplets. The polarization properties of the grating are investigated and analyzed by the coupled and modified coupled wave theory with a model of sinusoidal dielectric modulation. The results show that the addition of chiral molecules changes the LC phase from nematic to chiral-nematic, where the grating efficiency, which is modulated by the photoinduced phase transition, is independent of the polarization of incident light. Our findings may help improve optical systems that utilize non-polarized light.