Stability of an Er-Yb-doped fiber distributed-feedback laser with external reflections

The maximum tolerable amplitude backreflection coefficient r(ext,c) into a fiber distributed-feedback laser before the onset of instability has been investigated. r(ext,c) was found to decrease with increasing external cavity lengths up to ~320 m and to be proportional to the relative linewidth of the relaxation oscillation resonance. The tolerable length of Rayleigh backscattering standard telecom fiber was found to be 135-200 m. An observed degradation in the laser stability and slope efficiency at low pump powers is believed to be due to UV-induced saturable absorbers.     

Long-external-cavity distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth

We report on a simple, compact, and robust 780 nm distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth. An external cavity with optical path length of 3.6 m, implemented with an optical fiber, reduces the laser frequency noise by several orders of magnitude. At frequencies above 100 kHz the frequency noise spectral density is reduced by over 33 dB, resulting in an intrinsic Lorentzian linewidth of 300 Hz. The remaining low-frequency noise is easily removed by stabilization to an external reference cavity. We further characterize the influence of feedback power and current variation on the intrinsic linewidth. The system is suitable for experiments requiring a tunable laser with narrow linewidth and low high-frequency noise, such as coherent optical communication, optical clocks, and cavity QED experiments.     

2 μm单纵模激光频率短期不稳定度的测量

利用光纤延时自拍法对固体激光器输出激光频率的短期不稳定度进行了测量.Tm,Ho:YLF微片激光器具有毫瓦量级的单纵模、窄线宽的输出,实验测量了光纤延时长度为500 m下,积分时间为2 ms,4 ms,40 ms,100ms的拍频信号.利用自拍频法获得了光纤延时长度为100 m,200 m,300 m,400 m,500 m,对应的时间延时长度为0.5μs,1μs,1.5μs,2μs,2.5μs下的输出激光的自拍频信号,得出单频激光器的频率不稳定度为1.48 kHz/μs,最后对激光频率小稳定度与激光线宽的关系进行了讨论.     

利用钟跃迁谱线测量超稳光学参考腔的零温漂点

在87Sr光晶格钟实验系统中,通过将自由运转的698 nm激光频率锁定在由超低膨胀系数的玻璃材料构成的超稳光学参考腔上,从而获得短期频率稳定性较好的超稳窄线宽激光.超稳光学参考腔的腔长稳定性决定了最终激光频率的稳定度.为了降低腔长对温度的敏感性,使激光频率具有更好的稳定度和更小的频率漂移,利用锶原子光晶格钟的钟跃迁谱线,测量了698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统中超稳光学参考腔的零温漂点.通过对钟跃迁谱线中心频率随温度的变化曲线进行二阶多项式拟合,得到698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统的零温漂点为30.63℃.利用锶原子光晶格钟的闭环锁定,测得零温漂点处698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统的线性频率漂移率为0.15 Hz/s,频率不稳定度为1.6×10^–15@3.744 s.     

强反馈光纤光栅外腔半导体激光器

在理论上对强外腔反馈情形的半导体激光器线宽压窄效应进行了分析，对消反膜剩余反射率，外腔反射率，外腔腔长对线宽压缩的影响进行了研究，在实验上采用光纤光栅作为反馈元件，与一端镀有消反膜的１．５μｍ波段的常规多纵模交导体激光器耦合，构成强反馈光纤光栅外腔半导体激光器，得到单频窄线宽的激光输出，静态下边模抑制比大于３０ｄＢ，线宽小于１２０ｋＨｚ。     

Simple and compact 1-Hz laser system via an improved mounting configuration of a reference cavity

We report an improved mounting configuration for a passive optical cavity used for laser frequency stabilization. The associated reduction of the vibration sensitivity of the effective cavity length has led to a simple and compact reference cavity system for laser stabilization at the level of 1 Hz linewidth.     

Measurement of residual phase noise and longitudinal-mode linewidth in a hybridly mode-locked external linear cavity semiconductor laser

We report measurements of the residual phase-noise knee position and longitudinal-mode linewidth of a hybridly mode-locked external linear cavity semiconductor laser as a function of laser cavity length. Excellent agreement between these measurements suggests a direct relationship between rms pulse-to-pulse timing jitter and average longitudinal-mode linewidth. This relationship leads to a fundamental limit in the timing jitter of mode-locked lasers.     

弱耦合光纤光栅外腔半导体激光器

报道作者对单频窄宽光纤光栅外腔半导体激光器的一些研究结果。理论上分析了外腔的引入对激光器的阈值增益和光谱线宽的影响，实验上用自行研制的光纤布拉格反射滤波器（ＦＢＲ）与普通多纵模半导体激光耦合，在１．５５μｍ波段，得到边模抑制比大于２５ｄＢ，线宽小于６０ｋＨｚ的激光输出。     

Numerical analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering in high-power double-clad fiber lasers

A theoretical analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in linear cavity Yb³⁺-doped double-clad fiber lasers is presented by solving the steady-state rate equations with the SBS. The effects of cavity length, fiber core diameter, input mirror reflectivity at Stokes wavelength, Yb³⁺ concentration and laser linewidth on the SBS are discussed. Numerical results show that the SBS threshold power can be improved by shortening the cavity length, using large mode area fiber, reducing the input mirror reflectivity at Stokes wavelength, lowering the Yb³⁺ concentration and broadening the laser linewidth, and the influence of the laser linewidth on the SBS threshold power is more noticeable than other system parameters.     

To narrow laser linewidth by utilizing dispersion characteristics of Gires-Tournois etalon

A longer laser resonator length is benefit for laser linewidth, but harmful for single-frequency operation. A novel way is suggested to narrow the bandwidth of a Fabry-Perot （FP） cavity through increasing the derivative of one round-trip phase shift with respect to the frequency. It can be implemented by replacing one of two FP mirrors with a Gires-Tournois etalon （GTE）, called FPCT, as a dispersion element. FPGT resonator has additional axial modes due to the GTE reflection phase shift. Theoretical analyses show that the bandwidth of additional axial modes can be 1% of that of a conventional FP cavity. A distributed feedback （DFB） laser diode can employ FPGT resonator to achieve ultra-narrow linewidth laser. It is shown that the effect of refractivity fluctuation in the gain medium on the linewidth is little, and kilohertz linewidth is achievable for such a device.     

一种提取光反馈混沌激光器时延信息的谱分析方法

鉴于时延信息严重威胁着混沌通信的保密性,提出了一种利用频谱仪直接确定激光器时延信息的新方法。通过记录和观察信号的频谱,发现其频谱受到了时延信息的调制;进一步对频谱作逆傅里叶变换,即可直接获取光反馈混沌激光器的时延信息。实验中对腔长L=11.02 m的单反馈和腔长近似相等(L1=11.02 m, L2=11.25 m)或腔长成整数比(L1=11.02 m, L2=22.03 m) 的双反馈情形进行了研究。分析结果表明:在两外腔长度近似相等的情况下,2个外腔长度信息不能被隐藏;当反馈外腔长度成整数比时可以从频谱中提取出半导体激光器的反馈延迟时间。     

Mode selectivity of multisegment composite-cavity semiconductor lasers

The single longitudinal mode (SLM) characteristics of narrow linewidth long-external-cavity semiconductor lasers has been improved significantly by using a multisegment composite-cavity configuration. In this paper, the mode selectivities of two-segment, three-segment and four-segment cavity semiconductor lasers have been analysed and compared. In experiments, a four-segment composite cavity laser exhibits SLM oscillation with side-mode suppression ratio of 30 dB even for total external cavity length of 75 cm. The oscillation linewidth is less than 200 kHz.     

Single-longitudinal-mode erbium-doped fiber laser with the fiber-Bragg-grating-based asymmetric two-cavity structure

We present a simple and stable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) erbium-doped fiber linear-type laser. It consists of three FBGs directly written in a photosensitive erbium-doped fiber (PEDF) to form asymmetric two cavities with different cavity lengths, which can effectively increase the longitudinal mode spacing and suppress mode hopping, experimentally compared with symmetric two cavities and single-cavity structures. The stable SLM operation is conveniently achieved without accurate control of cavity length, and the laser linewidth of less than 5 kHz is acquired.     

双包层光纤光栅选频双包层光纤激光器

双包层光纤激光器中多采用法布里珀罗(F-P)线形腔结构,谐振腔为一只二向色镜和光纤端面菲涅耳反射镜(反射率约为4％)构成,这属于一种有缺陷的腔结构,其稳定性不好,产生激光的波长很难得到有效控制,后腔镜不能精确选择激光器的输出波长,激光器的输出谱线较宽。在某些对激光波长有明确要求的应用中,该结构会受到限制。采用布拉格光纤光栅作腔镜,利用其窄带滤波特性,可以得到窄线宽的激光输出,目前报道的作为腔镜的布拉格光纤光栅为在单包层光敏光纤上制作而成,然后分别将不同反射率的光纤光栅与双包层增益光纤熔接,这给腔镜与双包层光纤之间带来很大的耦合损耗,影响了激光器的功率输出。该文报道了用相位掩模法在双包层光纤芯上写入了布拉格光纤光栅,并把此光纤光栅做为后腔镜．对长度为10m、20m的D形掺Yb^3 双包层光纤激光器进行实验研究,在1058nm附近得到稳定的窄线宽激光输出,3dB带宽为0．329nm。激光器最大输出功率为570mW。最后对实验结果进行了理论分析。     

Optimization of 780?nm DFB diode lasers for high-power narrow linewidth emission

We demonstrate the realization of narrow linewidth, high-power ridge waveguide DFB diode lasers emitting near 780?nm. The effects of the coupling coefficient, the laser chip length, and the fabrication process onto the spectral linewidth are discussed. By optimizing both the cavity length and the coupling coefficient, we achieve an intrinsic spectral linewidth as small as 35?kHz at an output power of 270?mW.     

三种半导体阵列光谱组束结构的输出特性

基于光谱光束组合技术,利用光栅的衍射和外腔的反馈,并通过加入光束整形系统,将标准的半导体激光阵列的发光单元锁定在窄线宽的不同波长上,以近似平行光束沿组合方向输出,以实现半导体激光阵列输出光束质量的改善和线宽的压窄。实验中采用发光单元宽度100μm,周期500μm,由19个单元构成的标准阵列,分别对快、慢轴准直后光谱组束、光束整形后光谱组束和线宽压窄外腔组束进行了实验验证,实现了组合光束与单个发光单元近似的光束质量,同时得到了较窄的线宽输出,并对实验结果进行了分析。     

基于自制超稳定F-P腔压窄632.8nm外腔半导体激光线宽的实验研究

窄线宽激光由于其具有单色性好、稳定度高、相干长度长等优点,广泛应用于光电检测领域,包括相干通信、精密测量、光学频率标准、吸收光谱计量以及光与物质相互作用研究等。目前频率稳定的氦氖激光器线宽可以达到MHz量级,分布反馈式（DFB）光纤激光器线宽可达kHz量级,DFB半导体激光器线宽可以达到MHz量级,然而光栅反馈半导体激光器可以实现百kHz量级线宽的输出。为了进一步压窄各类激光器线宽,需要通过反馈控制技术来锁定激光到某一频率参考。该研究将自行设计的超稳腔作为频率参考,实现了632.8 nm外腔半导体激光器（ECDL）线宽的有效压窄。本窄线宽激光产生系统的研制包括超稳腔设计、光路设计、ECDL频率控制以及系统集成。超稳腔采用两镜法布里-珀罗腔（F-P腔）结构,腔体是膨胀系数约为10-6 K-1的微晶玻璃,腔镜为一对反射率达99.988 5%(±0.003 5%）的平面镜和凹面镜。为进一步减小外界环境对F-P腔腔长的影响,需要对腔体进行温度控制,本系统采用四片总功率为96 W的半导体制冷片以及水冷散热设计。同时为了降低声音和空气流动对腔模频率的影响,将F-P腔置于真空度为10-5 torr的真空室中;另外为了有效隔振,腔体与真空室用硅橡胶材料隔离。该系统采用的ECDL为德国Toptica公司的DL pro系列激光器,其具有压电陶瓷（PZT）和电流调制两个频率控制端,响应带宽分别为1 kHz和100 MHz。激光器的频率控制采用了Pound-Drever-Hall （PDH）锁频技术,18 MHz的调制频率加载到激光器的电流调制端,通过对F-P腔的反射信号进行解调获得误差信号,通过两路反馈控制,实现了近1 MHz的锁定带宽。通过对系统的不断优化,最后将自由运转状态下约300 kHz的激光线宽压窄到了10 kHz量级,并且系统运行稳定,连续12小时锁定的频率漂移量约为30 MHz。该研究研制的632.8 nm窄线宽激光源不仅可以应用到吸收光谱计量领域,同时也可以在光学面型精密测量领域发挥重要作用。     

半导体泵浦铷蒸气激光器出光实验

针对中心波长780 nm的商用连续波半导体激光器,使用斩波器将连续激光变为脉冲输出形式,用2400 line/mm的平面全息光栅搭建Littrow外腔将线宽压窄至0.2 nm以下。采用透镜组对线宽压窄后的半导体激光进行光束整形,半导体激光经线宽压窄和光束整形后,经透镜聚焦进长约8 mm的铷蒸气泡进行半导体泵浦碱金属激光实验。首次出光得到17.5 mW的基模线偏振铷激光;在最新的改进实验中,半导体泵浦铷激光输出功率已达到2.8 W。     

F-P腔不同扫频段透射谱锁频精度实验

针对窄线宽激光器输出谱线窄,难以被锁定的情况,利用F-P腔特有极窄线宽、高精细度特性对激光器谱线线宽实施压窄及频率锁定。通过设计实验方案并搭建锁频测试平台,利用F-P腔外部光反馈将窄线宽半导体激光器线宽压窄来提高锁频精度。通过监测正弦波调制下F-P腔对于4种不同直流电压下激光PZT扫频段的透射谱线,并对其分别进行解调和锁频精度测试,得到直流高压放大器电压为73 V时对窄线宽激光器进行扫频,激光器反馈锁频精度最高可达1.5 MHz。     

850 nm centered wavelength-swept laser based on a wavelength selection galvo filter

A wavelength-swept laser is constructed using a free space external cavity configuration coupled with a fiberbased ring cavity at the 850 nm region. The external cavity filter employs a galvo-mirror scanner with a diffraction grating for wavelength selection. The filter is connected to a ring cavity through an optical circulator.The ring cavity contains a broadband semiconductor optical amplifier with a high optical output. The performance of this laser is demonstrated with broad bandwidths and narrow linewidths. The 3 dB linewidth and the bandwidth of this source are 0.05 nm(~20 GHz) and 48 nm, respectively. The maximum output power is 26 m W at 160 m A current.