回音壁微腔激光器噪声特性数值模拟研究(特邀)

通过建立包含朗之万噪声源的三模速率方程模型,模拟研究了回音壁模式微腔激光器的噪声特性和线宽特性,特别是注入电流热效应引起的跳模及其对光功率和实现窄线宽的影响.回音壁微腔激光器单模工作时,在大偏置电流下可由低频处的频率噪声得到百kHz以下的激光器线宽;在微腔双模激射状态下,由于模式竞争作用,微腔激光器的相对强度噪声和频率...     

回音壁微腔激光器噪声特性数值模拟研究(特邀)EI北大核心CSCD

通过建立包含朗之万噪声源的三模速率方程模型,模拟研究了回音壁模式微腔激光器的噪声特性和线宽特性,特别是注入电流热效应引起的跳模及其对光功率和实现窄线宽的影响。回音壁微腔激光器单模工作时,在大偏置电流下可由低频处的频率噪声得到百kHz以下的激光器线宽;在微腔双模激射状态下,由于模式竞争作用,微腔激光器的相对强度噪声和频率噪声在低频处都有明显的升高,使得激光器的线宽展宽。此外,还采用快速傅里叶变换的方法由时域信号计算获得激光模式光谱线型,由此得到的激光模式线宽与通过频率噪声谱获得的线宽基本一致。     

面向空间引力波探测的毫赫兹频段低强度噪声单频激光器

低噪声单频激光器是空间引力波探测系统中的核心器件,其噪声性能直接影响空间引力波探测器的灵敏度.本文报道了一种面向空间引力波探测的低噪声单频激光器,利用全保偏光纤结构的功率放大器对低功率、窄线宽、低噪声的非平面环形振荡器输出激光进行放大.为降低激光的强度噪声,比较了不同泵浦源的输出特性,为光纤放大器选用波长锁定的泵浦源,降低泵浦光波长随温度漂移对输出功率的影响,利用光电负反馈控制技术抑制输出激光的强度噪声,结合主动精确控温技术抑制关键器件的热噪声,实现了毫赫兹频段强度噪声的抑制.利用自主搭建的4通道相对强度噪声测量系统,测得反馈控制后的激光器相对强度噪声在1 mHz—1 Hz频段内低于-60 dBc/Hz,在1 mHz和1 Hz处分别为-63.4 dBc/Hz和-105.8 dBc/Hz.研究结果表明,通过放大器泵浦电流的反馈控制和关键器件的温度控制可以有效地抑制激光器在毫赫兹频段的强度噪声,为进一步提高低频段强度噪声性能奠定基础.     

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。     

用速率方程分析垂直腔面发射激光器的噪声

采用一种合理的噪声模拟方法，用速率方程对垂直腔面发射激光器的噪声特性进行了数值分析，在单模情况下计算了器件的自发辐射因子、输出功率、注入电流、阈值电流等参数与相对强度噪声、频率噪声以及线宽等特性的关系，计算结果与实验基本相符，对优化垂直腔面发射激光器的结构设计和应用条件有所裨益. 关键词：     

全频域下窄线宽激光器光谱线宽的分析

窄线宽激光器的线宽表征方式通常采用延时自外差法测量技术。该技术是通过延时光纤差拍产生一个与待测激光线宽相关的洛伦兹频谱,因此该频谱只具有单一的线宽表现形式。为了能够观察到激光器的线宽和频率噪声在其傅里叶频率分布下的完整特性,报道了一种基于β算法计算窄线宽激光器线宽的方法。该方法是结合频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分别诱导不同激光线型的理论,从而确定激光线宽。首先,对β算法的基本原理进行了详细的分析说明。通过基于维纳-辛钦定理,分析了窄线宽激光器不同频率范围内的频率噪声和激光线宽的依赖关系。阐明了在截止频率趋于0和无穷大的两个范围条件时,激光频谱特性从高斯线型向洛伦兹线型演变。同时推导出使两种线型转换的截止频率表达式,并将其转换为频率噪声函数,该函数定义为β分子线。此时频率噪声分量中高斯线型的总和即为激光线宽计算公式;其次,对窄线宽激光器的频率噪声和激光线型进行数值仿真。将通过OEwaves公司的OE4000互相关零差相位/频率噪声自动测试系统测得的频率噪声谱密度,带入β算法理论公式中。结果显示：1/f噪声导致激光呈现高斯线型,线宽随截止频率的增加而增大。而白噪声将导致洛伦兹线型,线宽不再随截止频率而改变。此外,在低频区域,频率噪声电平远大于其傅里叶频率,噪声调制系数较高,该部分噪声可以决定线宽大小。因此,高斯线型区域对应的频率噪声的积分,即为待测激光器的线宽;在高频区域,频率噪声电平与其傅里叶频率相差较小,频率波动较快,噪声对线宽影响可以忽略。并且频率带宽在截止频率范围内,计算的线宽误差较小。最后,实验上运用β算法对RIO公司的1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的频率噪声功率谱密度进行积分计算,成功获得了其不同傅里叶频率分布下对应的激光线宽值。其中β分子线将频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分隔两部分：当频率噪声谱密度大于β分子线时,激光即为高斯线型,线宽随频率积分带宽的增加而减少;而频率噪声谱密度小于β分子线时,激光呈现洛伦兹线型,线宽为定值不再改变。同时为了对β算法进行实验验证,搭建了延迟光纤为50 km、移频频率为60 MHz的延时自外差法测量系统。对注入电流为110 mA的RIO 1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的线宽进行实验测量,测量结果表明激光线宽为1.8 kHz,与上述β算法中2.8 kHz的频率带宽积分结果一致。充分证明了此算法的准确性。β算法可以对任意类型的窄线宽激光器进行线宽表征,对窄线宽激光器的研究具有重要意义。     

低噪声光纤激光器的实验研究

光传感和光通信领域的迅速发展迫切需要相位噪声和强度噪声都很低的激光光源,为满足这一需求,设计出一种新型低噪声光纤激光器。激光器采用复合腔结构,以掺铒光纤作为工作物质,通过在未被抽运的掺铒光纤中形成的瞬态自写入光纤光栅的窄带滤波特性进行选模和压窄线宽,产生稳定的单频激光输出;经过光路改进,激光输出光谱信噪比优于62 dB;利用光电负反馈电路,弛豫振荡峰下降了约25 dB,低频段强度噪声也大为改善,有效地抑制了光源的强度噪声。激光器的输出光功率大于1 dBm,线宽小于1 kHz,边模抑制比超过50 dB。优异的低噪声特性使得该激光器在光传感和光通信领域具有重要的应用价值。     

超短时延测量DFB激光器的动态线宽

激光器调谐过程中的动态线宽是非常重要的参数, 然而, 当前各种测量方法得到的都是激光器稳定状态下的静态线宽. 本文提出一种对干涉拍信号进行基于局部均值分解的时频分析进而获取激光动态线宽的方法, 通过仿真信号验证了这种时频分析方法提取瞬时相位噪声的有效性; 构建实验系统, 利用10cm路径差产生约0.5ns的超短时延, 提取相位噪声的时频分布, 首次得到了分布反馈半导体激光器在脉冲工作模式下的动态线宽. 关键词： 超短时延 动态线宽 局部均值分解 时频分布     

基于自外差结构的窄线宽激光器频率漂移及噪声测试北大核心CSCD

窄线宽激光器在光学传感领域取得广泛应用,激光器的频率漂移和噪声大小直接影响光学传感器测量精度,采用自外差拍频方法对窄线宽光纤激光器和半导体激光器的频率漂移和噪声特性进行了初步测量。进行了频率漂移测量理论计算,仿真分析了延时光纤长度与频率漂移大小对应关系,确立了延时外差光纤长度;搭建了基于自外差结构的窄线宽激光器频率漂移测试装置,对测试装置组成进行了叙述;基于该测试装置进行了窄线宽激光器的频率漂移和噪声测试,测试表明光纤激光器和半导体激光器均存在明显的频率漂移,漂移速度大约2MHz/10s,光纤激光器的频率噪声要明显低于半导体激光器,与两型激光器的频率噪声测试结果吻合,提出的激光器频率漂移和噪声测试装置,为激光器频率漂移和噪声优选对比提供了一种方便、快捷的测试方法。     

可调谐半导体激光器的瞬时光谱测量方法研究

可调谐半导体激光器在调谐过程中的瞬时光谱特性,如瞬时的波长、调谐率、功率、线型和线宽等参数影响着以激光器为光源的光学测量和光相干通信系统的精度。然而,能够同时测量这些瞬变参数的技术至今未见报道。提出了一个基于时频分析的测量半导体激光器在调谐过程中瞬时光谱参数的方法,利用一个短时延外差测量系统,利用激光器瞬时光谱参数与差拍信号瞬时参数的关系,最终获得了半导体激光器在连续电流调谐过程中的瞬时光谱。测量系统采用了10 cm光程差的Mach-Zehnder干涉仪,调谐电流是幅度为20~120 mA、频率是1 kHz的锯齿波,差拍信号可视为直流信号、载波信号与噪声的叠加,按照短时延相干光测量原理,差拍信号中的直流分量幅度的大小反映了激光器输出光信号的功率;载波信号是一种多项式相位信号,由其频率可以推算激光器输出光谱的中心频率或波长;噪声信号则与激光器输出光谱的线型和线宽相关,通过对噪声信号进行时频分析,可以获知激光器在连续电流调谐过程中每一时刻或每个电流下的瞬时线型、线宽。采用了趋势局部均值分解方法对差拍信号进行了准确分离,并对分离信号分别进行处理,同时获知了半导体激光器在调谐过程中的瞬时输出光功率、光波长、调谐率及线型、线宽。在去掉弛豫部分后截取的整周期差拍信号对应的调谐电流60~115 mA变化范围内,半导体激光器(FRL15DDR0A31-18950, Furukawa)瞬时输出光功率变化范围是5.16~10.6 mW,瞬时光波长变化范围为1 579.2~1 579.6 nm;激光器的瞬时调谐率在0.004 8~0.011 5 nm·mA-1范围内单调变化;线宽是852.55~954.95 kHz,呈非线性随机分布。基于短时延、局部均值分解和时频分析方法的瞬时光谱参数测量系统可以准确得到各瞬时光谱参数,测量结果与激光器的静特性相符,且测量系统结构简单,使我们更深入地理解激光器的工作原理,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Control and active stabilization of the linewidth of an ECDL

The linewidth of a polarization-locked external cavity diode laser (ECDL) is explored employing heterodyne as well as self-heterodyne measurements. We use a model capable of providing the individual contributions of white, pink and red noise to the overall linewidth to analyze the measured beat spectra. These spectra are obtained while tuning the external cavity as well as a function of pump current and feedback level. By virtue of our locking technique, we find that the linewidth can be adjusted and minimized by simply altering the setpoint of the closed-loop control. This control of the linewidth is applicable for any ECDL using polarization locking. For our particular ECDL, we are able to tune the overall linewidth from ??8?kHz to 20?kHz. Moreover, we achieve a lower white noise level of the ECDL compared to a free running one.     

Widely tunable continuous-wave Raman laser in diatomic hydrogen pumped by an external-cavity diode laser

What is to the authors' knowledge the first experimental demonstration of a nonresonant cw Raman laser pumped by a tunable external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) is presented. The ECDL is phase-frequency locked to a high-finesse Raman laser cavity containing diatomic hydrogen (H(2)) by the Pound-Drever-Hall locking technique. The Stokes lasing threshold occurs at a pump power of 400 +/- 30 muW, and a maximum photon conversion efficiency of 12.0 +/- 1.3% is achieved at 1.6 mW of pump power. A 40-nm tuning range of the cw Stokes emission, 1174-1214 nm, is obtained by tuning of the wavelength of the ECDL pump source.     

High repetition-rate wavelength tuning of an extended cavity diode laser for gas phase sensing

A method for rapid wavelength tuning of an extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) is presented providing for high resolution, narrow bandwidth output over limited spectral regions. The method permits tuning over isolated spectroscopic features at repetition rates of tens of kHz, greatly exceeding conventional ECDL tuning speeds. In this paper we present high repetition rate laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy of the 5²P_1/2 to 6²S_1/2 transition in indium at 410 nm, to demonstrate the technique. The presented ECDL design is very easy to implement, cheap and robust, as it employs no moving parts and can be used over all wavelength regions where FP diode lasers are available. This extends the usefulness of standard FP diode lasers to high speed sensing applications. Advantages and disadvantages of the technique are discussed. PACS 42.55.Px; 42.60.Fc; 42.62.Fi; 32.50.+d     

A 1550-nm linearly tunable CW single-mode external cavity diode laser based on a single-cavity all-dielectric thin-film Fabry–Pérot filter

A 1550-nm linearly tunable CW single-mode external cavity diode laser (ECDL) based on a single-cavity all-dielectric thin-film Fabry–Pérot filter (s-AFPF) is proposed and realized in this paper. Its internal optical components as well as their operation mechanisms are introduced first, and then its longitudinal mode output characteristic is theoretically analyzed. Afterwards, we set up the experimental platform for the output characteristic measurement of this tunable ECDL; under different experimental conditions, we execute accurate and real-time measurements for the output central wavelength, output optical power, output longitudinal mode distribution, and the line-width of the tunable ECDL in its tuning process. By summing up the optimal experimental condition from the measured data, we obtain the optimal tunable relevant parameters ECDL of the tunable ECDL has a linear mode-hop-free wavelength tuning region of 1547.203 nm-1552.426 nm, a stable output optical power in the range of 40 μW-50 μW, and a stable output longitudinal mode distribution of a single longitudinal mode with a line-width in the range of 100 MHz-150 MHz. This tunable ECDL can be used in environmental gas monitoring, atomic and molecular laser spectroscopy research, precise measurements, and so on.     

Efficient phase noise suppression of an external-cavity diode-laser by optical filtering and resonant optical feedback

We experimentally demonstrated that the excess phase noise of an external cavity diode laser (ECDL) can be efficiently suppressed by optical filtering and resonant optical feedback techniques. A suppression of more than 40?dB phase noise was obtained for the first time using these methods. It made that the phase noise of the ECDL reached shot noise level from 15?MHz. This opens a new way to reduce the phase noise of diode lasers.     

Diode laser using narrow bandwidth interference filter at 852 nm and its application in Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter

We demonstrate an 852-nm external cavity diode laser(ECDL) system whose wavelength is mainly determined by an interference filter instead of other wavelength selective elements. The Lorentzian linewidth measured by the heterodyne beating between two identical lasers is 28.3 k Hz. Moreover, we test the application of the ECDL in the Faraday atomic filter.Besides saturated absorption spectrum, the transmission spectrum of the Faraday atomic filter at 852 nm is measured by using the ECDL. This interference filter ECDL method can also be extended to other wavelengths and widen the application range of diode laser.     

1560nm激光经PPLN和PPKTP晶体准相位匹配倍频研究

将1560nm光栅反馈复合腔半导体激光器产生的连续激光注入掺铒光纤放大器,放大至约5 W,分别采用周期极化铌酸锂(PPLN)和周期极化磷酸氧钛钾(PPKTP)晶体单次穿过进行准相位匹配倍频,对应获得约336mW和210mW的780nm激光输出,倍频效率约为7%和4.4%。通过监视倍频光纵模,显示其具有良好的单频输出特性。此外,还扫描测得了Rb原子D2线的吸收光谱,表明780nm激光的频率调谐范围大于10GHz。采用无调制偏振光谱技术将1560nm半导体激光器频率锁定至87 Rb 5S1/2(Fg=2)-5P3/2(Fe=3)超精细跃迁线上。相对于自由运转450s内1560nm激光频率起伏约4MHz,锁定后可将残余频率起伏压低至1.5MHz左右。     

Frequency-stabilized high-power violet laser diode with an ytterbium hollow-cathode lamp

We have demonstrated in an ytterbium laser cooling and trapping experiment a high-power violet extendedcavity diode laser (ECDL) stabilized to the Yb resonant transition at 398.9 nm in an Yb hollow-cathode lamp. A frequency-dispersion signal, which we obtained by applying a modulation-free dichroic-atomic-vapor laser lock technique, allowed us to stabilize the violet ECDL at a frequency stability below 1 MHz at 1-s average time and a useful output power of 15 mW.     

Diode laser spectrometer for high-resolution spectroscopy in the visible range

A high-resolution diode laser spectrometer operating at 657 nm is described. To achieve a narrow linewidth and a high power, a master-slave laser system is employed. The master laser is an extended cavity diode laser whose linewidth is reduced to less than 100 Hz by the FM sideband technique. The slave laser is an AR-coated diode laser and characteristics of injection locking are experimentally studied. The injection current of the slave laser is utilized to stabilize the output power or to produce pulsed output. Using this spectrometer, we probed the intercombination line of Ca and observed high-contrast optical Ramsey fringes with a linewidth of 10 kHz. A velocity-selective Ramsey fringe is also observed in the pulse-mode operation.     

Grating-Stabilized External Cavity Diode Lasers for Raman Spectroscopy—A Review

Abstract: Conventional Raman techniques require a continuous-wave laser with stabilized wavelength, narrow line width, and sufficient output power. Due to their miniature size and low cost, diode lasers are good choice as light sources for Raman spectroscopy, especially when compact and portable instruments are needed. However, a solitary multimode diode laser has certain drawbacks that limit its use for Raman application. To circumvent these drawbacks, an external cavity can be coupled to the active gain medium of the diode to enhance the laser performance. A grating-based external cavity allows the laser to operate in a single longitudinal mode with greatly reduced line width and stabilized wavelength. This article examines the fundamentals of semiconductor lasers to show the necessity of operating diode lasers in an external cavity for Raman applications. Two feedback grating-based external cavity diode laser (ECDL) designs, viz. Littrow and Littman-Metcalf configurations, are explained. Historic and recent progress in the development of ECDL devices is reported. An updated summary of ECDL-equipped Raman systems applied to fields such as in vivo biomedical studies and in situ process/quality control is provided. Topics on mode-hop-free continuous scanning, wavelength stabilization, and dealing with ambient conditions are discussed.