Partial scanning frequency division multiplexing for interrogation of low-reflective fiber Bragg grating-based sensor array

Interrogation using partial spectrum scanning for a low-reflective fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensor array is proposed. The sensor head is a Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) consisting of low-reflective fiber Bragg gratings. An FPI consisting of low-reflective FBGs (FBG-FPI) has a spectrum with a sinusoidal structure with a period determined by the length of the FBG-FPI. Multiple point sensing is possible by installing multiple low-reflective FBG-FPIs on one fiber and analyzing the reflection spectrum of that fiber by the frequency division multiplexing method. A coherent wavelength-swept light source is necessary to acquire the reflection spectrum; however, but the sweep speed of a commercially available wavelength-swept light source that satisfies the condition is only approximately several tens of hertz. Therefore, we propose to conduct a wavelength sweep by injection current modulation of a laser diode. Wavelength sweeping with a modulated laser diode allows fast sweeping at 100 Hz or more, and the sweep range is as narrow as several hundred picometers. Reading only a part of the reflection spectrum of a low-reflective FBG-FPI sensor array using a modulated laser diode enables high-speed multipoint measurement through frequency analysis. Theoretical requirements for successful interrogation using the partial reflection spectrum are shown. A demonstration experiment to simultaneously measure strain applied to two low-reflective FBG-FPI sensors with a measurement time of 10 ms is reported.     

Characterization of probe lasers for thin-film optical measurements

The peak-power-density stability and beam-wander precision of a probe laser are important factors affecting the inspection results in precise thin-film optical measurements. These factors are also key to evaluating a probe laser for in-line long-time operation of precise thin-film optical measurements. The peak-power density and beam wander of liner helium–neon (He–Ne) lasers, random He–Ne lasers, and diode lasers as functions of time are investigated experimentally using a beam profiler. It is found that the linear polarized He–Ne laser is considered to be a promising candidate for a probe laser employed in precise thin-film optical measurements due to better peak-power-density stability and beam-wander precision. Both the peak-power-density stability and beam-wander precision of He–Ne lasers are usually better than that of diode lasers, but an adequate warm-up of He–Ne laser for 30 min is required before thin-film optical measurements are made. After 12 h operation, the linear polarized He–Ne laser is suitable for precise thin-film optical measurements because both the peak-power-density stability and the beam-wander precision reach the minimum level. A cost-effective system composed of two linear polarized He–Ne lasers for long-term operation is proposed. This system can operate for around 0.5–1.2 years in precise thin-film optical measurements under the normal operating life of a He–Ne laser by switching the probe laser every 18 h.     

Direct measurement on transparent plates by using Fizeau interferometry

It is shown that Fizeau interferometry provides an accurate optical method to measure the refractive index and wedge angle of transparent plates used as optical components in different experiments. A near IR external cavity diode laser having spectral resolution up to 10⁻⁷ has been employed to measure the refractive index of the test plates by introducing amplitude modulation technique in the detection system of our phase shifting Fizeau interferometry. Detection of spatial fringes has been performed to find out the wedge angles of the plates by using a He–Ne laser along with the CCD-image sensor.     

Electrooptic reflection with surface plasmons

Electrooptic reflection with surface plasmons is studied both experimentally and theoretically. An attenuated total reflection (ATR) geometry is used in which a quartz electrooptic crystal onto which a thin Ag film has been evaporated is contacted to the hypotenuse face of a high-index prism. Modulation in the ATR of an He–Ne beam near the angle for surface plasmon excitation is observed when a low-frequency electric field is applied to the quartz crystal. Experiments have been done with both single and multiple boundary surface waves. The angular spectra show phase reversal structure due to the interference of the modulated reflected wave with the ATR wave. The modulated reflectance is calculated directly from a well-known solution to the boundary value problem in nonlinear optics. Good quantitative agreement with the observations is obtained.     

Low-frequency modulation of 0.6328 μm He–Ne laser by transverse magnetic field intensity

Effect of transverse magnetic field on 0.6328 μm He–Ne laser light polarized parallel and perpendicular to transverse magnetic field has been studied in this paper. Low-frequency modulation of two kinds of polarized laser light is completed and low-frequency modulation of polarization degree is put forward.     

An application of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Ceramic to opto-electronic devices

A lead-zirconate-titanate ceramic is used in an electrically controllable diffraction (ECD) grating for reflection of parallel polarized light. The ECD grating used consists of a PZT ceramic with ten pairs of interdigital electrodes having 400 μm period on its surface. The characteristics of the grating and its application to an optical modulator are demonstrated experimentllly with a He−Ne 0.63 μm laser, obtaining a modulation of 60% with the applied peak voltage of 60 V at 24 kHz signal for the incident angle of 60°.     

Alignment-free He–Ne laser with folded cavity

To solve out of operation induced by the disarrangement of cavity mirrors in half intra-cavity He–Ne lasers, a new structure of alignment-free He–Ne laser with folded cavity is invented. A corner cube prism (CCP) is used to structure a folded cavity. This novel laser can work conveniently without any adjustment. Both intensity curves of solid and hollow CCPs are studied, which indicate that it is a finely robust and stabile, and has a large changeable range (approximately, 60 mm) of cavity length. Bright prospect in applications improving the nanometer laser ruler invented by our group before is also shown.     

Measurement of far-infrared optical constants by ATR

Using an optically-pumped far-infrared laser as a light source, the far-infrared optical constants of liquid acetonitrile, methanol, dichloromethane, and chlorobenzene were obtained by measuring the attenuated total reflections of light for two mutually perpendicular polarizations. The ATR prism of hyper-pure silicon was made asymmetric to avoid the effect of the multiple reflection inside the prism.     

Output response in orthogonal directions of a He–Ne laser caused by birefringent-external-cavity feedback

The output responses of phase, amplitude, and polarization of light intensity of a He–Ne laser with the birefringent external cavity are presented. All phenomena are observed in two orthogonal directions related to the birefringent element’s orientation, and are studied under weak optical feedback. Experiments are carried out in five available detecting positions. It is found that laser intensities are modulated in the two orthogonal directions simultaneously, with a phase difference dominated by the phase retardation of the birefringence element. The modulation amplitudes are different in the two directions. A special polarization phenomenon is also observed and discussed. This research may provide a potential novel measuring principle for transparent birefringent materials.     

Enhanced applications of speaker-modulated helium–neon laser beam

Wide range of applications using He–Ne laser were carried out employing speaker for vibration modulation. The very simple method was achieved by gluing a mirror to the diaphragm of an ordinary miniature speaker. The technique allows many of the applications that depend on laser absorption coincidences to be performed by a He–Ne laser enhancing by the range of applications in which it can be used and avoiding the complications and expenses needed for sophisticated equipment. Speaker modulation was found efficient and comparable to mechanical chopper modulation. The method is sensitive enough to determine minute changes in index of refraction or transparent material thickness change and suitable for odor emission monitor.     

Polarization‐resolved high‐resolution Raman spectroscopy with a light‐emitting diode

We demonstrate the use of a light‐emitting diode (LED) based experimental setup for collecting polarization‐resolved Raman spectra with good spectral resolution. The combination of a commercial red LED (630 nm), a 1‐nm bandwidth laser‐line filter, and a polarizing prism is used as a light source. Polarization‐resolved spectra in dimethyl sulfoxide are recorded and compared with the corresponding laser‐Raman spectra. The LED‐excited spectra exhibit a resolution slightly lower than those in the laser case but still close to the resolution of the spectrometer. All relevant spectral features of dimethyl sulfoxide including the symmetric and antisymmetric stretching modes of the CSC moiety are resolved with the experimental setup providing a spectral resolution of approximately 20 cm⁻¹. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biostimulation of HeLa cells by low-intensity visible light

Summary The action of low-intensity red light with λ=633 nm (a He−Ne laser, a filament lamp with light filters a dye-laser pumped by a Cu laser) on the intensity of nucleic-acid synthesis in HeLa cells 1.5 hours after irradiation has been studied. It has been shown that the DNA synthesis is stimulated similarly after irradiation both by the He−Ne laser and by an ordinary source. The RNA synthesis intensity does not alter in both cases. A high-repetition-rate radiation at λ=633 nm acts in the opposite manner: it stimulates the RNA synthesis and the DNA synthesis remains constant. The action spectra of the DNA and RNA synthesis stimulation by continuous light in the range (570÷693) nm are presented.

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Riassunto è stata studiata l'azione della luce rossa a bassa intensità con λ=633nm (un laser a He−Ne, una lampadina a filamento con filtri per la luce, un laser a colorante pompato da un laser a Cu) sull'intensità della sintesi degli acidi nucleici in cellule HeLa un'ora e mezzo dopo irradiazione. Si è mostrato che la sintesi del DNA è stimolata in modo simile dopo irradiazione sia con laser a He−Ne che da una sorgente ordinaria. La sintesi del RNA non è alterata in entrambi i casi. Una radiazione ad alta frequenza di ripetizione a λ=633 nm agisce in maniera opposta: stimola la sintesi del RNA, mentre la sintesi del DNA resta costante. Si forniscono gli spettri d'azione della sintesi di DNA ed RNA mediante luce continua nell'intervallo da 570 a 693 nm.

     

A fiber bragg grating acceleration sensor interrogated by a DFB laser diode

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensor interrogated by a DFB laser diode is demonstrated; the sensor is fabricated by packaging a FBG on to a cantilever; the interrogation scheme takes advantage of the intensity modulation of the narrow spectral bandwidth light of a distributed feedback laser diode, when the reflection spectrum curve of a FBG moves due to the strain which is applied on the sensor. The sensor’s response to the frequency and acceleration is measured by the experiment, and the factors which have an impact on the sensor’s sensitivity are also discussed.     

Photon-induced switching and tunneling phenomena in a YBCO thin film junction

In the persistent photoconductivity (PPC) phenomenon, illumination of a YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5 thin film junction with a 1mW He−Ne laser leads to the decrease of the critical voltage (similar to the threshold voltage). The decrease of the critical voltage was reversed by illumination with incandescent light. The critical voltage across the junction was experimentally decreased and increased by alternating illumination between He−Ne laser and incandescent light. We also observed visible quenching of the photo-induced state using a 5mW He−Ne laser. Finally, the threshold behavior of the junction was destroyed by illuminating it with incandescent light.     

Fast interrogation using sinusoidally current modulated laser diodes for fiber Fabry–Perot interferometric sensor consisting of fiber Bragg gratings

A fast interrogation method using a sinusoidal modulated laser diode for a fiber Fabry–Perot interferometric sensor consisting of Bragg gratings (FBG–FPI) is proposed.. The FBG–FPI has sharp transmittance peaks in the reflection band of the FBGs. Wavelength sweep produced by current modulation of a laser diode can be used to detect the peak position. This enables high-resolution strain or temperature measurement. To precisely control the current, the current modulation is realized using a laser diode controller (LDC) with external modulation function. In the modulation by a sawtooth wave, the possible speed of wavelength sweeping is limited to 100 kHz or less due to the bandwidth limitation of an LDC and thermal effect in a laser diodeUsing a sinusoidal wave as a modulation waveform enables wavelength sweeping at speeds exceeding 100 kHz. The modulation characteristics of the laser wavelength is evaluated experimentally and the operating wavelength is monitored using an asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The resolution of 0.2 fm/\(\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\) and measurement time of 1 \(\upmu\)s were experimentally demonstrated in the present sensor.     

Optical phase conjugation and double-exposure phase-conjugate interferometry in dye-doped thin film using He–Ne laser

We have experimentally demonstrated optical phase conjugation and double-exposure phase-conjugate interferometry in a methyl green dye-doped gelatin film via degenerate four-wave mixing using a low-power He–Ne laser for the first time. The origin of phase conjugation associated with this dye-doped film is discussed. A phase-conjugate reflectivity of 0.13% is obtained with a He–Ne laser of total power 35 mW. PACS 42.65.Hw; 42.65.-k; 42.40.-i     

Broadband amplitude-modulated laser source with high output power for FM/cw lidar transmitter

We are building a long-range FM/cw nonscanning imaging lidar breadboard. This lidar system achieves ranging based on a frequency modulation/continuous wave (FM/cw) technique, implemented by an amplitude modulated mid-IR diode laser transmitter with a linear frequency modulation (LFM) of the subcarrier. Firstly, various schemes of light beam modulation are analyzed. Secondly, we put forward a laser modulation scheme whose core was formed by a 1.55 μm electro-absorption modulated laser diode (EML) and an erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier (EDFA), then a corresponding experimental system architecture and components for light beam modulation and detection are established. Finally, a corresponding experiment of laser beam modulation is completed for the first time. In our experiment, the EML amplitude is modulated by a 200 MHz to 800 MHz LFM signal, whose amplitude value is 2.05 V. The average output power of the modulated laser obtained in the experiment is 10 W, peak power is 16.4 W, and the average modulation depth is 78%. The results of tests predict that this laser modulation scheme is likely to improve the imaging range of the FM/cw lidar.     

Laser computed tomography of opaque industrial products measured by coherent detection imaging method

The coherent detection imaging method with a low-power He–Ne laser as the source is used to obtain transillumination laser computed tomographic and two-dimensional (2D) images of opaque industrial products such as fluorescent lamps and electric light bulbs. This method is principally based on the optical heterodyne detection technique that has the highest sensitivity along with excellent selectivity in terms of coherence, polarization and high directionality. Structures of the filament and electrode enclosed in the opaque glass were clearly identified with submillimeter resolution.     

Development of an optical time scale

A time standard based on the use of an optical oscillation period of a frequencystable He–Ne laser as a time scale is first described. We obtained highly frequency-stable oscillations in the SHF range that were locked to the oscillations of a He–Ne laser stabilized to an absorption resonance in methane at 3.39 m. A direct comparison of frequency stabilities of a rubidium standard and He–Ne/CH₄ laser has been made. The absolute measurement of the frequency of the He–Ne/CH₄ laser we performed gave a new value of frequency.This work was reported at the 3rd Frequency Standards and Metrology Symposium     

An Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm for digital hologram generation using phase-only information and its implementation in a fixed-point digital signal processor

An Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA) for digital hologram generation from a digital image using phase-only information is described in this paper. The algorithm is implemented in a Texas Instruments TMS320C64x fixed point digital signal processor (DSP). The holograms are reconstructed in real time using a liquid crystal display system and a He–Ne laser. The ideas described in this paper can be extended to digital hologram generation of three-dimensional objects and their reconstruction in real time using liquid crystal spatial light modulators, which could be a way for 3D-display systems.