Wavelength blending with reduced speckle and improved color for laser projection

In this paper, a theoretical model was established to study speckle reduction using the wavelength blending technique with multiple lasers for the first time. An optimized power ratio of two lasers was then obtained using the theoretical model. A diode pumped solid state (DPSS) laser at 532 nm and a semiconductor laser diode (LD) at 520 nm were used to verify the simulated results. A speckle reduction system which utilizes wavelength blending was also proposed and demonstrated. Using wavelength blending, this system has a lower speckle as compared with one in which only one wavelength is used, and an improved green primary color (with respect to the Rec. 2020 standard) as compared with the one that only semiconductor LD is employed.     

Watt-level red-emitting diode lasers and modules for display applications

Red-emitting lasers for display applications require high output powers and a high visibility. We demonstrate diode lasers and modules in the red spectral range based on AlGaInP with optical output powers up to 1 W and a nearly diffraction limited beam. These high-luminance light sources based on tapered lasers are well suited for laser TVs and projectors for virtual reality simulators based on the flying spot technology. Additionally, we developed diode lasers with internal distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) surface gratings. These DBR tapered lasers and master-oscillator power-amplifiers based on DBR ridge-waveguide lasers and tapered amplifiers feature high power, single mode emission with coherence lengths up to several meters, which are suitable for the next-generation 3D displays based on holography.     

Analytical and experimental studies on the diode-pumped,simultaneously Q-switched and mode-locked c-cut Nd:GdVO<Subscript> 4</Subscript>/KTP green laser with LT-GaAs absorber

A diode-pumped passively Q-switched mode-locked (QML) intracavity frequency doubled c-cut Nd:GdVO₄/KTP green laser with a LT-GaAs saturable absorber is presented. More than 90% modulation depth for the mode-locked green pulses has been achieved. Using the hyperbolic secant function methods, a developed rate equation model for Q-switched and mode-locked lasers considering the Gaussian spatial distribution of the intracavity photon intensity, the influences of continuous pump rate, the upper state lifetime of the active medium, and the excited-state lifetime of the saturable absorber, was proposed. With this developed model, the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental results and the width of the mode-locked green pulse was estimated to be about 380 ps.     

Verification of speckle contrast measurement interrelation with observation distance

The speckle contrasts of two types of laser projectors were measured at various observation distances and observation lens pinhole diameters using a quantitative measurement technique. We found that the speckle contrast as a function of the observation numerical aperture varies with the projection architecture. In a full-frame projector, it is proportional to the numerical aperture, but it is proportional to its square root in a raster-scanned projector. The difference in speckle contrast as a function of the numerical aperture was analyzed based on Goodman’s speckle theory. The obtained results were found to be very useful and applicable for speckle evaluation and display qualifications in an arbitrary observer’s position.     

Speckle shearography using a multiband light source

Applications for optical metrology usually use lasers as light sources, because of the excellent spatial and temporal coherence of the emitted light. By comparison, the demands of speckle shearography concerning the coherence of the light source are low. This enables certain white-light sources to be an option.

In this paper, the feasibility of low coherence shearography is shown. For this purpose an experimental setup is designed, composed of a mercury arc lamp, a spatial filter and a Michelson interferometer. With respect to speckle shearography, important characteristics of the light source are described and the mercury arc lamp is shown to be suitable. Finally, some experimental investigations of an object under load are presented.     

Polydispersed Powders (Nd3+:YVO4) for Ultra Efficient Random Lasers

Random lasers hold the potential for cheap, coherent light sources that can be miniaturized and molded into any shape with several other added benefits such as speckle‐free imaging; however, they require improvements specifically in terms of efficiency. This paper details for the first time a strategy for increasing the efficiency of a random laser that consists in using smaller particles, trapped between large particles to serve as absorption and gain centers whereas the large particles control mainly the light diffusion into the sample. Measurements of backscattering cone, sample absorption, reflection, and laser emission are used to determine the samples' transport mean free path, fill fractions, laser efficiency, and the average photon path lengths inside the scattering medium for backscattered pump photons. A record slope efficiency of 50% is reached by optimizing pump photon diffusion and absorption in a powder pellet composed by a polydispersed particle size distribution (smaller particles between bigger ones) from a grinded and sieved 1.33 mol% yttrium vanadate doped with neodymium crystal with mean particle size of 54 µ m.     

A compact free space quantum key distribution system capable of daylight operation

A free space quantum key distribution system has been demonstrated. Consideration has been given to factors such as field of view and spectral width, to cut down the deleterious effect from background light levels. Suitable optical sources such as lasers and RCLEDs have been investigated as well as optimal wavelength choices, always with a view to building a compact and robust system. The implementation of background reduction measures resulted in a system capable of operating in daylight conditions. An autonomous system was left running and generating shared key material continuously for over 7 days.     

Mode-locking of diode laser-pumped solid-state lasers

Mode-locked diode-pumped solid state lasers have become important sources for efficient and reliable short pulse generation. We review techniques for active mode-locking of diode-pumped lasers, highlighting techniques which have produced much shorter pulse durations than previous technologies and extended operating repetition rates to the several gigahertz regime. To achieve even shorter pulse durations a series of nonlinear passive mode-locking techniques have been developed. Self-starting additive pulse mode-locking, resonant passive mode-locking and self-mode-locking of diode-pumped solid-state lasers are described.     

Laser speckle reduction using motionless image conduits

We have demonstrated a speckle reduction method using motionless image conduits (MICs). Different experimental conditions by introducing the high-coherence HeNe laser and the low-coherence laser diode (LD) as the illumination light sources, by employing the straight MIC and the curved MIC as the speckle reduction components, and by recording speckle images without (objective speckle) and with (subjective speckle) the imaging lens mounted on the CCD camera are conducted, respectively. The most efficient speckle reduction condition is found by the combination of using the LD and the curved MIC, where the objective speckle contrast ratio is reduced from 0.7378 to 0.1725. Experimental results are discussed, and the causes for these speckle reduction efficiency changes are given.     

象平面散斑场相位差的统计性质

运用弱散射体产生的部分显现散斑场相位差自由标准偏差的近似表达式,计算和分析了由单会聚透镜成象产生的象平面部分显现高斯散斑场相位差的自由统计性质.     

Ultrabroadband Er:fiber lasers

The state of the art of ultrafast Er:fiber technology is reviewed. Such lasers are increasingly used for generation of ultrabroadband and widely tunable pulse trains. Er:fiber sources prove to be flexible, compact and robust with important applications in fundamental and interdisciplinary sciences. After a short overview of different oscillator and amplifier designs the discussion focuses on coherent and tailored supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear germanosilicate fibers. This approach enables a tuning range spanning from the visible to the mid infrared, synthesis of single‐cycle light pulses and passive locking of the carrier‐envelope phase.     

Studies on the statistical properties of phase difference of speckle fields

According to the relations between the phase and the complex speckle amplitude, a phase angle is constructed to estimate the free standard deviation of phase difference of speckle fields. The relative accurate amending expression of evaluating the free standard deviation of phase difference is derived for the Gaussian speckle fields. The statistical properties of phase difference are studied for the Gaussian speckle fields of diffraction fields. The theoretical values of the free standard deviation of phase difference for the case of fully developed speckle fields are compared with the numerical values of the free standard deviation which are calculated from the Gaussian theory of the fully developed speckle fields.     

Theoretical and experimental studies on the self-Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/KTP green laser

A diode-pumped self-Q-switched and mode-locked intracavity frequency doubled Nd:GdVO₄/KTP green laser is presented. The self mode-locking is self-starting and stable. About 100% modulation depth for the self-mode-locked green pulses has been achieved. We propose a developed rate equation model for self-Q-switched and mode-locked lasers, using the hyperbolic secant function methods and the theory of Kerr-lens mode-locking. This will consider the cascading of second-order nonlinearities of KTP crystal, the third-order nonlinearity of the laser medium, influences of the continuous pump rate, and the stimulated radiation lifetime of the active medium. With the model developed, theoretical calculations are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results. The width of the mode-locked green pulse is estimated to be about 120 ps. PACS 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Gd; 42.65.Hw     

Electrical Scanning Probe Microscopy: Investigating the Inner Workings of Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices

Semiconductor electronic and optoelectronic devices such as transistors, lasers, modulators, and detectors are critical to the contemporary computing and communications infrastructure. These devices have been optimized for efficiency in power consumption and speed of response. There are gaps in the detailed understanding of the internal operation of these devices. Experimental electrical and optical methods have allowed comprehensive elaboration of input–output characteristics, but do not give spatially resolved information about currents, carriers, and potentials on the nanometer scale relevant to quantum heterostructure device operation. In response, electrical scanning probe techniques have been developed and deployed to observe experimentally, with nanometric spatial resolution, two-dimensional profiles of the electrical resistance, capacitance, potential, and free carrier distribution, within actively driven devices. Experimental configurations for the most prevalent electrical probing techniques based on atomic force microscopy are illustrated with considerations for practical implementation. Interpretation of the measured quantities are presented and calibrated, demonstrating that internal quantities of device operation can be uncovered. Several application areas are examined: spreading resistance and capacitance characterization of free carriers in III-V device structures; acquisition of electric potential and field distributions of semiconductor lasers, nanocrystals, and thin films; scanning voltage analysis on diode lasers—the direct observation of the internal manifestations of current blocking breakdown in a buried heterostructure laser, the effect of current spreading inside actively biased ridge waveguide lasers, anomalously high series resistance encountered in ridge lasers—as well as in CMOS transistors; and free-carrier measurement of working lasers with scanning differential spreading techniques. Applications to emerging fields of nanotechnology and nanoelectronics are suggested.     

A ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator encoded with orthogonal arrays and its optimized design for laser speckle reduction

In laser projectors, speckle reduction can be achieved by projecting a changing binary phase diffuser onto the screen. Here, we sequentially encoded a commercialized ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator (FLC-SLM) with the rows of a two-level orthogonal array of order sixty-four, thus obtaining a changing binary phase diffuser. With the help of this binary phase diffuser, the subjective speckle contrast ratio on the screen is reduced from C_b=0.71 to C_a=0.1. Based on the experimental results, a simplified transparent FLC-SLM design is first proposed. This newly designed FLC-SLM has two phase modulation depths and can be driven with the passive matrix addressing scheme. Therefore, the control electronics of the proposed FLC-SLM can be significantly simplified compared to the currently used one.     

第四代光源

 第四代光源（X射线激光）是继第三代同步辐射光源以后,人们正在探索之中的新一代光源,它在亮度、相干性和时间结构上都大大优于第三代同步辐射光源。从目前发展的趋势来看,新一代的短脉冲、高亮度、可调的相干X射线光源将是基于自放大自发辐射原理的高增益自由电子激光（SASE FEL）。综述了第四代光源的由来、它和SASE的关系, 它的优异特性、发展现状以及应用前景。     

运动变形表面在相干光照明下的自由空间散斑位移分布

物体表面在一束相干光照明下的空间散斑位移场分布对于分析物体表面状态及位移、变形等信息具有重要意义。本文应用散斑场的相关方法与散斑相移技术得到了物体表面位移及变形参量与自由空间衍射场散斑位移的一般关系,给出了这种一般关系的简化与分离条件,并对物体平移、转动及热加载条件下的蜂窝结构进行了实验。     

Speckle characteristics of a broad-area VCSEL in the incoherent emission regime

We present a technique to reduce the speckle contrast of a NIR broad-area VCSEL based on the spatially incoherent emission regime that can be obtained when using the proper driving conditions. We evaluate the efficiency of this technique to reduce the speckle contrast by comparing it with the speckle characteristics in multimode emission under cw operation. Depending on the illumination setup, the incoherent emission regime can lead to a strongly reduced speckle contrast down to 1.3%. This is in agreement with estimates of the expected speckle contrast reduction when three contrast reducing effects are taken into account. These low contrast values make the investigated sources attractive for several applications that suffer from speckle noise.     

Functional organic single crystals for solid‐state laser applications

Because of long‐range order and high chemical purity, organic crystals have exhibit unique properties and attracted a lot of interest for application in solid‐state lasers. As optical gain materials, they exhibit high stimulated emission cross section and broad tunable wavelength emission as similar to their amorphous counterpart; moreover, high purity and high order give them superior properties such as low scattering trap densities, high thermal stability, as well as highly polarized emission. As electronic materials, they are potentially able to support high current densities, thus making it possible to realize current driven lasers. This paper mainly describes recent research progress in organic semiconductor laser crystals. The building molecules, crystal growth methods, as well as their stimulated emission characteristics related with crystal structures are introduced; in addition, the current state‐of‐the‐art in the field of crystal laser devices is reviewed. Furthermore, recent advances of crystal lasers at the nanoscale and single crystal light‐emitting transistors (LETs) are presented. Finally, an outlook and personal view is provided on the further developments of laser crystals and their applications.     

Lasers as Light Sources for Analytical Atomic Spectrometry

Abstract

Lasers have advantages compared to conventional light sources, which include high power, a monochromatic emission profile, stability, and rapid tuning across an atomic line. These advantages have resulted in superior analytical figures of merit and methods of background correction compared to conventional light sources. The most widely used lasers for atomic spectrometry include dye laser systems, optical parametric oscillator systems, and diode lasers. Three principal techniques employ lasers as light sources. Laser‐excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LEAFS) involves the use of laser light to excite atoms that emit fluorescence and serves as the analytical signal. Laser‐enhanced ionization (LEI) involves laser excitation of atoms to an excited state energy level at which collisional ionization occurs at a higher rate than from the ground state. Diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry (DLAAS) employs a DL as a source to excite atoms in an atom cell from the ground state to an excited state. The analytical signal is involves the ratio of the incident and transmitted beams. Recent applications of these techniques are discussed, including practical applications, hyphenated techniques employing laser‐induced plasmas, and work to characterize fundamental spectroscopic parameters.