基于电控光学采样的飞秒激光距离测量系统

基于电控光学采样原理开展了飞秒激光飞行时间绝对距离测量的实验研究。电控光学采样技术使用两台重复频率锁相的飞秒激光器,分别作为信号激光器和本地振荡器。在本地振荡器的谐振腔内插入电光调制器并施加方波调制,实现了可控、高效的等效时间采样,采样速度由电光调制器的调制频率决定。基于这一采样原理开展脉冲飞行时间绝对距离测量实验。选用一对重复频率约为158 MHz的被动锁模光纤激光器作为光源,对固定目标进行单次测量的最大更新速率可达到200 kHz,经过4100次单次测量平均后,测距精度可达到16.7 nm。在此基础上,测量了硅基微机械器件中深度约为67.6μm的微槽。     

飞秒脉冲非对称互相关绝对测距

光学频率梳是一种重复频率与偏置频率锁定的新型光源,在频域上为频率间隔稳定的频率梳齿,在时域上为相对距离稳定的飞秒脉冲激光.光学频率梳在测距中的应用广泛,能够实现远距离高精度的测量.本实验使用飞秒激光脉冲作为光源,基于谐振腔扫描光学采样测距原理得到非对称的互相关干涉条纹,实现了远距离高精度的绝对测距.非对称互相关条纹可通过色散补偿与调节光学频率梳的重复频率得到,并通过得到的非对称的互相关干涉条纹对测距结果进行补偿.实验结果表明测距系统能够实现在50 m范围内误差为2 μm的绝对测距,测量相对误差为1.9×10^-7.     

级联掺Yb增益光纤提高拍频信号信噪比的实验研究

飞秒光学频率梳的出现使对未知激光的绝对频率测量成为可能,极大地简化了激光绝对频率的量值溯源和比对工作.为了保证测量数值的准确性,飞秒光学频率梳与未知激光的拍频信号fb的信噪比要求大于30 d B.针对碘稳频532 nm激光绝对频率测量的特定需求,以532 nm激光的基频光1064 nm激光的绝对频率测量为着眼点,本文采用303 MHz重复频率的掺Er光纤光学频率梳,首先通过激光放大和光谱展宽技术使光谱覆盖到1μm波段,然后采用级联掺Yb增益光纤技术,将扩谱后1μm波段的激光功率进行放大,提高了掺Er光纤光学频率梳扩谱后1μm波长附近的激光强度.采用碘稳频532 nm激光的基频光作为待测光源与飞秒光学频率梳进行拍频.实验表明,与未经过光谱增强的激光相比,光谱增强后的激光与1064 nm激光拍频信号的信噪比提高了5 d B,保持在35 d B附近.该技术有效地缓解了采用掺Er光纤光梳测量1064 nm激光绝对频率时对直接扩谱所获得的1μm波长激光的强度要求.     

光学频率梳啁啾干涉实现绝对距离测量

本文提出一种基于光学频率梳的啁啾脉冲干涉绝对距离测量的方法.通过一对衍射光栅啁啾参考脉冲,分析参考脉冲和测量脉冲的干涉光谱,得到脉冲的中心频率偏移量,从而解算出被测距离.文中详细分析了脉冲啁啾原理和啁啾脉冲干涉测距原理,以及影响测距范围的因素并给出仿真.搭建了改进的Michelson干涉结构,实验得出测距范围受啁啾参数的影响,并与理论分析吻合;在地下长导轨上,进行大范围测距实验.实验结果表明当,在65 m范围内,测量结果与参考测距仪相比,测距精度为33μm,相对精度达到5.1×10~(-7).此外,根据理论分析,通过实验优化了实验装置的测量不确定度.     

覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳

飞秒光学频率梳波长覆盖范围向可见光波长扩展对于碘稳频激光的绝对频率测量以及光钟研究中钟激光的绝对频率测量都具有十分重要的意义. 本文在自行研制掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳的基础上, 采用放大-倍频-扩谱的方案, 实现了激光输出波长向可见光波长的扩展. 掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳输出的一部分光激光脉冲, 功率约为8 mW, 首先经掺Er光纤放大器将功率提高到531 mW, 此后利用MgO: PPLN晶体倍频, 倍频后激光的功率为170 mW, 倍频效率为32%, 脉冲宽度为85 fs. 倍频后的激光通过光子晶体光纤进行光谱展宽. 通过优化入射光偏振状态可以实现波长覆盖500-1000 nm, 输出功率为85 mW, 耦合效率为50%. 采用小型化碘稳频532 nm Nd: YAG激光器输出激光与光学频率梳光谱展宽后的激光进行拍频可以获得30 dB的拍频信号. 覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳为可见光范围内激光的绝对频率测量提供了技术手段.     

基于二次强度调制的激光测距系统

本文提出的二次强度调制测距系统可以实现绝对距离的测量,其利用马赫曾德尔强度调制器代替二次偏振调制测距中的电光相位调制器,通过对信号的光强进行二次调制来进行测距.相比于二次偏振调制测距,二次强度调制测距无需考虑测距系统中的偏振态问题,简化了系统结构,提高了系统的稳定性.经过相关理论推导以及实验验证:二次强度调制测距系统的输出光强与调制频率成余弦关系,并且可以直接测量调制器到目标物体之间的绝对距离,系统的频率稳定度、相对测距精度皆达到10^–7量级.本文提出的测距系统量程达到100 m,相对测距精度稳定在10^–7量级.采用摇摆法快速测距,避免了直接扫频寻找光强极小值点对应的频率,数据刷新率达到2 kHz.二次强度调制测距系统测距速度快,同时兼顾了较大的量程与较好的测距精度,系统结构简单,易于搭建,具有广阔的应用前景.     

用于神光Ⅲ原型装置精密物理实验的时标激光系统

用与大型激光装置输出主激光脉冲同步的梳状脉冲作为时间标尺,标定强激光与靶丸作用的过程,对强场物理实验测量及模拟实现精密化具有重要的意义.报道了一种电光调制结合光学方法产生与主激光精确同步的多频率时标激光脉冲的光纤系统.采用电光调制产生150 ps快光脉冲,通过光纤堆积产生1053 nm的基频梳状脉冲信号,经过放大和倍频输出527和351 nm的绿光及紫外倍频梳状脉冲激光. 系统可稳定地为神光Ⅲ原型装置提供精密物理实验所必需的各种频率的时标激光,并且可根据物理实验需要灵活地调整梳状脉冲间隔和幅度,具有很好的适应性. 关键词： 激光聚变驱动器 时标光 光纤激光系统     

一种光学频率梳绝对测距的新方法

采用光学频率梳的高精度绝对距离测量技术在航空航天、科学研究和工业生产等领域都发挥着重要作用.提出一种利用光学频率梳技术,通过检测光强实现绝对距离测量的新方法,研究了光学频率梳发出脉冲的时间相干性,分析了光强与被测距离之间的关系、干涉条纹峰值点位置与被测距离之间的关系.建立了基于Michelson干涉原理的测距系统,通过测量光强信息得到被测距离.以高精度纳米位移平台的位移量作为长度基准进行了绝对测距实验,在每个被测距离点都重复进行了10次实验,将10次实验测得的光强值取平均后用于距离的计算.实验结果表明,该方法可以实现绝对距离测量,在10μm测量范围内,最大误差为47 nm.因此,该方法可以应用于大尺寸高精度的绝对距离测量.     

光学频率梳基于光谱干涉实现绝对距离测量

详细分析了光学频率梳光谱干涉的原理, 建立了较全面的光谱干涉的数学模型, 为实现绝对距离测量提供理论分析基础. 基于光谱干涉, 指出通过光谱干涉条纹的振荡频率, 即一次傅里叶变换, 可以实现绝对距离测量, 数值模拟结果表明, 最大测量误差为1.5 nm; 提出了一种等效的多波长并行零差干涉的方法, 分析了多波长并行零差干涉法的测距原理. 数值模拟结果表明, 多波长并行零差干涉法的最大误差为8.7 nm; 通过脉冲啁啾实现绝对测距, 分析了基于脉冲啁啾实现绝对测距的原理, 数值模拟结果表明, 最大测距误差为5.3 nm.     

基于多光子脉冲内干涉相位扫描法对飞秒激光脉冲进行相位测量和补偿的研究

研制了一套基于多光子脉冲内干涉相位扫描方法的可以同时对飞秒激光脉冲进行相位测量和补偿的实验系统装置.实验中,通过自主研发的LabVIEW程序控制液晶空间光调制器和光纤光谱仪,对待测飞秒激光脉冲施加相位扫描,并同时记录受到调制的飞秒激光脉冲的倍频光谱,得到了多光子脉冲内干涉相位扫描(MIIPS)轨迹图.通过MIIPS轨迹图的三次测量和迭代运算,还原出了经过预先啁啾调制的中心波长约为810 nm、重复频率为1 kHz的飞秒激光脉冲的光谱相位,测量精度在0.1 rad以内.根据测量结果,利用液晶空间光调制器对该飞秒激光脉冲进行相位补偿,得到了近似傅里叶变换极限的飞秒激光脉冲.这一装置将在多光子显微成像、脉冲整形、飞秒激光光谱学等众多领域发挥重要作用.     

10 GHz, 2.4 ps pulse generation using a single-stage dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator

This Letter reports on picosecond pulse generation at a repetition of 10 GHz by using a single-stage electro-optic LiNbO(3) Mach-Zehnder modulator, stressing the simplicity of its setup. It is analytically and experimentally proved that dual-arm modulation with in-phase sinusoidal signals having slightly different amplitudes generated a highly coherent optical comb with a great spectral flatness and a parabolic phase relationship in its spectrum. The generated comb was Fourier synthesized and shaped into an ultrashort pulse train with an optical bandpass filter and a dispersive fiber. The pulse source was highly stable, exhibiting an ultralow timing jitter of less than 130 fs.     

High repetition rate electro-optical-Q-switched intracavity optical parametric oscillator

A high repetition rate electro-optical-Q-switched intracavity optical parametric oscillator (IOPO) is realized by using two RbTiOPO₄ (RTP) crystals as electro-optic (EO) modulator. Three repetitions of the EO modulator ( f _p = 15, 20, and 30 kHz) were applied in the experiment. The pulse width can be minimized to 7ns when the input energy is 24.4 J at three modulating repetitions. The peak power of the signal light increases with reducing the pulse repetition rate. By considering the gradual loss from the delayed switched time of the EO switch, the coupled rate equations of IOPO under the assumption of the uniform distributions of the intracavity photon densities are given and the numerical solution of the equations fits the experimental data well.     

Highly sensitive direct characterization of femtosecond pulses by electro-optic spectral shearing interferometry

We report what is to our knowledge the first experimental demonstration of spectral shearing interferometry by use of an electro-optic temporal phase modulator to generate the spectral shear. This approach achieves far better sensitivity than nonlinear optical pulse characterization techniques, including other versions of spectral shearing interferometry. Temporal phase modulation is conceptually simple and is implemented easily with telecommunication components. The technique is versatile, and a wide range of pulse durations can be measured with minimal changes in the setup. We demonstrate the accurate characterization of a 156-MHz train of 1540-nm pulses with durations ranging from 750 fs to more than 30 ps after various amounts of chirping, at average powers below 1 microW.     

Generation of flat optical frequency comb by fiber loop modulation

We propose a novel flat optical frequency comb generation system that employs fiber loop modulation and experimentally demonstrate its operation. Generally, when an external laser beam is injected into a fiber loop system including an optical modulator and an amplifying medium, multiple sidebands are generated exponentially. On the other hand, the fiber loop starts mode-locked oscillation at a center frequency to maximize the round-trip gain in the fiber loop from the seeds of the injected laser sidebands. By locking the sidebands from fiber loop modulation with the mode-locked oscillation in the fiber loop, the synchronous spectrum between the mode-locked oscillation and the sidebands can be shaped into a flat spectrum. Thus, a flat optical frequency comb with a flatness of about ±1 dB is obtained in the spectral bandwidth of about 1 THz.     

单腔双光梳激光器及其光谱学应用研究进展

光频梳因频率等间隔、波长稳定、谱线线宽窄以及谱宽大等特性,在高精度测量和计量中具有广泛的应用。其中,双光梳快速测量包括光谱测量、绝对测距、三维成像和超快异步光学采样等已成为研究热点之一。近年来,基于自由运行的单腔双光梳激光器的双梳光谱学系统由于具有结构简单、测量范围大和精度高等优点而备受关注。首先从时域和频域介绍了光频梳的特性和应用,尤其介绍了双光梳测量的优势,相较目前主流的稳频稳相锁模激光器、电光调制等双光梳光源实现方案,单腔双光梳激光器方案有望避免采用复杂的电子控制系统,简化双光梳光源的结构、体积和成本。因此,重点介绍了波长复用、偏振复用、空间复用和脉冲波形复用的单腔双光梳光纤激光器实现技术,并对其基本原理、性能参数和当前研究的进展以及目前发展中仍然存在的问题进行了分析;同时对保偏光纤双光梳激光器的研究现状及其性能进行了总结。接着,重点介绍了双梳光谱学的测量原理,回顾了现有光谱扩展技术,并详细介绍了基于自由运行的单腔双光梳激光器的双梳光谱学应用案例,包括掺铒光纤激光器所在的近红外波段以及其扩展到中红外和太赫兹波段的光谱探测。最后,总结了目前的单腔双光梳激光器的主要发展趋势,包括进一步提高单腔型双光梳激光腔的重频稳定性、降低共模噪声、探索单腔双光梳系统在中红外以及太赫兹波段的应用,推动单腔双光梳锁模光纤激光器的实用化。     

基于飞秒光梳多路同步锁相的多波长干涉实时绝对测距及其非模糊度量程分析

飞秒光梳被广泛用于时间频率技术和精密光谱测量,由其时频特性所衍生的绝对测距技术以可溯源、大尺寸、高精度等优点有望成为未来长度计量的最重要手段.本文提出了一种基于飞秒光梳多路同步锁相的多波长干涉实时绝对测距方法,使多个连续波激光器通过光学锁相环技术同步锁定到飞秒光梳梳模上,通过多路同步相位测量和小数重合算法最终实现绝对距离测量.所提测量方法不仅能保留传统激光干涉测距的高分辨力和精度,而且可溯源至时间频率基准,对高精度长度测量、尤其是对物理复现“米”的定义具有重要计量意义.测距实验证明,四波长干涉测距的非模糊度量程达到44.6 mm,折射率波动导致非模糊度量程变化为纳米量级;多波长干涉测距的非模糊度量程也受制于空气折射率的测量误差,多波长干涉绝对测距的非模糊度量程在实验室环境下可达数米、甚至几十米,并通过2米线性位移实验证明了多波长绝对测距的大量程和线性测量性能.     

Highly selective terahertz optical frequency comb generator

Using a 10.5-GHz resonant electro-optic modulator placed inside a resonant optical cavity, we generated an optical frequency comb with a span wider than 3 THz. The optical resonator consists of three mirrors, with the output coupler being a thin Fabry-Perot cavity with a free spectral range of 2 THz and a finesse of 400. Tuning this filter cavity onto resonance with a particular high-order sideband permits efficient output coupling of the desired sideband power from the comb generator, while keeping all other sidebands inside for continued comb generation. This spectrally pure output light was then heterodyne detected by another laser with a frequency offset of the order of 1 THz.     

Full phase stabilization of a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb via high-bandwidth transducers

We present full phase stabilization of an amplified Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb using an intracavity electro-optic modulator and an acousto-optic modulator. These transducers provide high servo bandwidths of 580 kHz and 250 kHz for f(rep) and f(ceo), producing a robust and low phase noise fiber frequency comb. The comb was self-referenced with an f-2f interferometer and phase locked to an ultrastable optical reference used for the JILA Sr optical clock at 698 nm, exhibiting 0.21 rad and 0.47 rad of integrated phase errors (over 1 mHz-1 MHz), respectively. Alternatively, the comb was locked to two optical references at 698 nm and 1064 nm, obtaining 0.43 rad and 0.14 rad of integrated phase errors, respectively.     

420-MHz Cr:forsterite femtosecond ring laser and continuum generation in the 1-2-micrometre range

We demonstrate a chromium-doped forsterite femtosecond ring laser that generates 30-fs pulses at a 420-MHz repetition rate with nearly 500 mW of average power. The compact solid-state design and broad spectral output make this laser attractive for telecommunications applications in the 1.3-1.5-micrometre region. Additional spectral broadening of the laser output in highly nonlinear optical fiber leads to octave-spanning spectra ranging from 1.06 to 2.17 micrometre. The octave is reached at a level of 18 dB below the peak. The underlying optical frequency comb can be linked to existing optical frequency standards.     

High-resolution spectroscopy using interleaved 100 GHz optical frequency comb scanned by phase modulator

A high-resolution spectroscopy technique is proposed with an optical phase modulator combined with an interleaved optical frequency comb. The optical phase modulator and a frequency-locked laser light guarantee a spectral resolution less than 1 MHz on an absolute frequency axis. A wide measurement frequency range was realized using a 25 GHz optical frequency comb lying over a 4 THz frequency region. An extraction of single tooth intensity from the comb was realized by a heterodyne technique with a frequency-tunable laser used as a local oscillator. Also, the 25 GHz optical frequency comb was interleaved to generate four 100-GHz combs for removing the crosstalk from the 25 GHz neighboring sidebands in the teeth. This proposed spectroscopy technique was experimentally demonstrated with a resonator of less than 1 MHz linewidth and a H¹³C¹⁴N gas cell. Thus, a measurement frequency range higher than 4 THz (1530 nm-1560 nm) was confirmed with an effective spectral resolution 100 kHz order. In addition, the characteristics of the proposed system were compared with those of the previous system with a single-sideband (SSB) optical modulator.