Cavity ring-down measurements in flames using a single-mode tunable laser system

High-resolution pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) of OH in a flame has been demonstrated using a novel single-mode tunable laser (STL). This system operates by pulse amplification of the output of a single-mode diode laser in a modeless dye laser. Ring-down curves obtained using the narrow-bandwidth STL, for both strong and weak transitions, are shown to be well fitted by single exponentials. These results are demonstrated to be in direct contrast with those obtained using a standard dye laser, for which the bandwidth is comparable to the transition linewidths and ring-down curves require multi-exponential fits.Accurate lineshape analysis is thus made possible using the STL, allowing the temperature to be derived from the measured Doppler width. The resulting measurement is in good agreement with the value derived from a Boltzmann plot of data obtained using a conventional laser in a similar flame. The advantages of using the STL system for quantitative CRDS measurements are discussed, together with a suggestion for quantitative measurements of the ASE content of narrowband lasers using CRDS. PACS 82.33.Vx; 42.60.-v; 42.62.Fi     

Cavity-enhanced spectroscopy in optical fibers

Cavity-enhanced methods have been extended to fiber optics by use of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) as reflectors. High-finesse fiber cavities were fabricated from FBGs made in both germanium/boron-co-doped photosensitive fiber and hydrogen-loaded Corning SMF-28 fiber. Optical losses in these cavities were determined from the measured Fabry-Perot transmission spectra and cavity ring-down spectroscopy. For a 10-m-long single-mode fiber cavity, ring-down times in excess of 2 ms were observed at 1563.6 nm, and individual laser pulses were resolved. An evanescent-wave access block was produced within a fiber cavity, and an enhanced sensitivity to optical loss was observed as the external medium's refractive index was altered.     

Continuous-wave mode-locked solid-state lasers with enhanced spatial hole burning

We systematically investigate the difference between both actively and passively mode-locked lasers with Gain-at-the-End (GE) and Gain-in-the-Middle (GM) at the example of Nd:YLF lasers. The GE laser generates pulse widths approximately three times shorter than a comparable GM cavity. This is due to enhanced Spatial Hole Burning (SHB) which effectively flattens the saturated gain and allows for a larger lasing bandwidth compared to a GM cavity. We first investigate enhanced SHB by measuring the cw mode spectrum, where we have observed that the mode spacing in GE cavities depends primarily on the crystal length. This was also confirmed for a Nd:LSB crystal, where the pump absorption length was significantly shorter than the crystal length. In mode-locked operation, pulse widths of 4 ps for passive mode locking and 5 ps for active mode locking are demonstrated with GE cavities, compared to 11 ps for passive and 17 ps for active mode locking with GM cavities. Additionally, the time-bandwidth product for the GE cavity is approximately twice the ideal product for a sech² pulse shape and cannot be improved by dispersion compensation alone, while the GM cavity has nearly ideal time-bandwidth-limited performance. The results for the GM cavity compare well to existing theories taking into account the added effect of pump-power-dependent gain bandwidth which increases the bandwidth of Nd: YLF from 360 to > 500 GHz. In a following paper [1] (called Part II) a rigorous theoretical treatment of the effects due to SHB will be presented.     

Fiber-optic ring-down spectroscopy using a tunable picosecond gain-switched diode laser

Visible and near-infrared laser light pulses were coupled into two different types of optical fiber cavities. One cavity consisted of a short strand of fiber waveguide that contained two identical fiber Bragg gratings. Another cavity was made using a loop of optical fiber. In either cavity ∼40 ps laser pulses, which were generated using a custom-built gain-switched diode laser, circulated for a large number of round trips. The optical loss of either cavity was determined from the ring-down times. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was performed on 200 pL volumes of liquid samples that were injected into the cavities using a 100 μm gap in the fiber loop. A detection limit of 20 ppm of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution, corresponding to a minimum absorptivity of εC<6 cm^-1, was realized. PACS 42.62.Fi; 42.81.-i     

Frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectrometer for high-sensitivity measurements of water vapor concentration

We present a portable spectrometer that uses the frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy technique capable of high-precision measurements of trace water vapor concentration. Measuring one of the strongest rovibrational transitions in the ν₁+ν₃ water vapor combination band near ˜ν=7181.156 cm^-1, we compare spectroscopic and thermodynamic determinations of trace water vapor in N₂, and find systematic differences attributable to water vapor background effects and/or uncertainties in line intensities. We also compare the frequency-stabilized ring-down method with other cavity ring-down approaches that are based on unstabilized probe lasers and unstabilized ring-down cavities. We show that for the determination of water vapor concentration, the frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down method has the minimum measurement uncertainty of these techniques. The minimum noise-equivalent absorption coefficient of the spectrometer was 1.2×10^-10 cm^-1 Hz^-1/2, which further corresponds to a minimum detectable water vapor mole fraction equal to 0.7×10^-9 for an absorption spectrum of 10 minutes duration. PACS 33.20.-t; 33.70.Jg; 33.70.Fd; 42.62.Fi     

Fast Fourier transform analysis in cavity ring-down spectroscopy: application to an optical detector for atmospheric NO2

A fast Fourier transform (FFT) method for analysis of ring-down decays from a cavity ring-down (CRD) spectrometer has been tested and compared with alternative fitting methods. The ring-down times derived from the FFT method are obtained with a precision close to that of the Levenberg–Marquardt non-linear least-squares method, but the fitting algorithm is ~100 times faster, allowing real-time fitting of individual ring-down traces on a personal computer. Advantages of the FFT method are discussed, and the method is demonstrated for the measurement of NO₂ partial pressures equivalent to mixing ratios of 150 pptv and above in laboratory air, using a CRD spectrometer based on an external cavity diode laser operating at wavelengths around 410 nm. The absorption by NO₂ is distinguished from other cavity losses either by using synthetic (zero) air reference samples, or by diverting the sampled laboratory airflow through an NO₂ chemical scrubber consisting of hydroxyapatite on a TiO₂ substrate. Typical mixing ratios of NO₂ in the laboratory air are ~25 ppbv.     

Investigation on an evanescent wave fiber-optic absorption sensor based on fiber loop cavity ring-down spectroscopy

An improved ring-down measurement principle for optical waveguides is presented. Fiber loop ring-down spectroscopy allows for measurement of minute optical losses in high-finesse fiber-optic cavities and immunity to the fluctuation of laser source. The evanescent wave absorption losses dependent on the absorption and the refractive index of ambient solution have been theoretically analyzed. The complex refractive index is introduced into our model and extinction coefficient can be calculated accurately through finite element analysis by setting the boundaries of the fiber and the ambient conditions. Using this method, the refractive index of environment can be taken into consideration. Our principle is validated by the highly-sensitive measurement of evanescent wave absorption loss. By chemically processing the surface of sensing segment along an extending ring-down cavity, the concentration of small volume Diethyl Sulphoxide solution where the etched fiber immersed into has been successfully measured and discussed.     

基于Ring-down光学谐振腔的新型瓦斯传感器

提出将光谱吸收型传感技术和Ring-down光学谐振腔理论相结合的设计思路,将吸收光强与气体含量之间的定量关系与Ring-down光学谐振腔理论有机结合起来,设计了基于Ring-down光学谐振腔理论的光学瓦斯(甲烷)气体传感器气体吸收腔,以解决传统瓦斯传感器因为气体的谱宽很窄而难以提高微弱信号检测精度和灵敏度的问题....     

Cavity ring-down technique for measurement of reflectivity of high reflectivity mirrors with high accuracy

A simple, accurate and reliable method for measuring the reflectivity of lasergrade mirrors (R > 99.5%) based on cavity ring-down (CRD) technique has been successfully demonstrated in our laboratory using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. A fast photomultiplier tube with an oscilloscope was used to detect and analyse the CRD signal. The cavity decay times were measured for three cavities formed by a combination of three mirror pairs. The absolute reflectivities R ₁, R ₂, R ₃ were determined to be 99.94%, 99.63%, 99.52% at normal incidence. The reflectivity of mirrors is measured to an accuracy of 0.01%.     

Measurement of multi-exponential optical decay processes by?phase-shift cavity ring-down

Multi-exponential decay waveforms are common occurrences in cavity ring-down spectroscopy and the respective ring-down times are typically obtained by fitting the ring-down waveform to the sum of exponential decay functions. In phase-shift cavity ring-down (CRD) spectroscopy the measurement of a single phase angle will not provide sufficient information and needs to be complemented by either intensity measurements or phase angle measurements at different modulation frequencies. Here, a formalism analogous to that developed for fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy is adapted to the phase-shift CRD technique and is tested for two types of waveguide CRD systems: (1) a single-mode fiber cavity in which light is confined by two identical Fiber Bragg Gratings and (2) a multimode fiber loop. By measuring the phase angle at different modulation frequencies, lifetimes for up to three different decay processes were obtained.     

Photonic Scattering on a Trimer with <Emphasis Type="Italic">PT</Emphasis>-Symmetry

We analyze photonic scattering on a trimer with PT symmetry, where the photon propagates in an array of cavities. In the system, a passive and an active cavity couple to another cavity without loss and gain simultaneously, which is in the middle of the cavity array. Such three cavities can be regarded as the scattering target coupling to the unlimited number of cavities from two directions respectively. Our approach is to use the Schrödinger equation to calculate the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient, and then let photonic transmission spreads from gain or loss cavity. It shows that the scattering of the photon is closely associated with the PT symmetric characteristic of the dynamics of the system. The atom’s modulation on the photonic transmission is also investigated. We found that the scattering center can behave as a photonic switch, which could be used potentially to control the photonic transmission.     

阈值电路特性对腔衰荡光谱测量影响的实验研究

腔衰荡光谱技术(cavity ring-down spectroscopy, CRDS)是一种高灵敏的激光吸收光谱技术,被广泛应用于镜片反射率测量、光谱分析以及痕量气体检测等研究领域。首先从理论上描述了CRDS技术的实验原理,然后基于555定时器自行设计了一种可应用于CRDS技术的阈值电路,并通过实验进行了验证。为了优化阈值电路的性能,研究了不同输入阻抗及容抗下阈值电路对衰荡事件测量的影响。通过直接接入不同值的电容与电阻,发现输入电容越大,输入阻抗越小,对衰荡事件的测量影响越大,尤其当阈值电路输入电阻小于50 Ω时,衰荡事件的线型严重扭曲。对不同输入电阻与输入电容时C₂H₂气体在6 531.780 5 cm-1处的吸收信号进行了采集与分析,发现输入电容与输入电阻的改变对测量结果有很大的影响,得到的吸收信号会失真,甚至无法进行拟合。最终给出了阈值电路的最佳设计方案,在阈值电路的设计中选取的输入阻抗越大越好,最小要在100 Ω以上,选取的容抗越小越好,最好低于1 nF,同时要保证阈值电路的时间常数远小于衰荡时间。该研究对于CRDS技术应用过程中阈值电路的设计具有重要的参考价值。     

衰荡腔测量中的腔参数选择

 基于谐振腔失调灵敏度参量随腔长的变化关系,提出了一种衰荡腔,它是由共焦腔将腔长缩短为原来的0.73得到的稳定腔。根据光束传输规律和失调腔矩阵方法,以及光腔衰荡法测量原理和曲线拟合方法,建立了腔长、腔镜角度失调下光腔衰荡法的反射率测量模型。通过数值模拟,研究了这种稳定衰荡腔中,腔微小失调对反射率测量结果的影响,并与相同失调情况下共焦衰荡腔的测量结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,这种稳定腔用作衰荡腔,测量结果受腔镜角度失调影响较大,而受腔长失调影响小;其长度较短,便于工程应用;衍射损耗较小,测量精度高。     

光腔衰荡法测量高反射率的实验研究

基于光腔衰荡光谱技术,建立了以共焦腔为衰荡腔的单波长反射率测量装置,该装置可用于精密测量全固体激光器高反射率腔镜的反射率,检测得到了高反腔镜在946nm的反射率。实验测得平凹镜和平面镜衰荡时间的平均值分别为1．624μs和821ns,平凹镜的反射率为99．794％,相对误差精确到10^-5;平面反射镜的反射率为99．800％,相对误差精确到10^-4。结果表明,光腔衰荡法可用于高反射率腔镜反射率的测量,与分光光度计测得的结果相比,具有非常高的测量精度。     

腔衰荡光谱技术中衰荡时间的准确快速提取

对NO₃腔衰荡光谱(cavity ring-down spectroscopy,CRDS)探测系统中衰荡时间的准确提取方法进行了研究。对衰荡时间有效快速的提取可以提高CRDS测量的精度和速度。选取了五种常用的提取衰荡时间的拟合方法,分别为快速傅里叶变换法、离散傅里叶变换法、线性回归总和法、列文伯格-马夸尔特算法和最小二乘法。采用以上五种算法对带有不同大小白噪声的模拟衰荡信号进行拟合,并从受噪声影响情况、拟合准确性和精度、拟合速率,三个方面对五种算法的拟合结果进行对比和分析,结果表明列文伯格-马夸尔特算法和线性回归总和法准确度高、抗噪能力强,但列文伯格-马夸尔特算法拟合速率相对较慢。选取衰荡时间的5～10倍为衰荡信号的最佳拟合波形长度,此时五种算法拟合结果的标准偏差最小。采用外部调制二极管激光器及高反腔搭建CRDS探测系统,针对0.2%噪声的实验条件,选取线性回归总和法和列文伯格-马夸尔特算法对实际测量的实验数据进行处理。实验表明,线性回归总和法拟合准确度和精度与列文伯格-马夸尔特算法相似,但拟合速率比列文伯格-马夸尔特算法快约5倍。实验结果与模拟分析相吻合,表明线性回归总和法为适合我们实验条件的最佳拟合方法。     

Role of spurious reflections in ring-down spectroscopy

Spurious coherent reflections from optical elements that re-enter an exit port of a two-mirror ring-down cavity can significantly change the effective reflectivity of the cavity mirrors, thus altering the cavity decay time. For a 25-cm-long Fabry-Perot cavity with a decay constant of 40 mus , we find that a specular reflection of only 10(-4) of the transmitted ring-down power that is mode matched back toward the cavity could change the decay time by as much as +/-0.4 mus , depending on the phase of the returning reflection. The perturbation of the decay time is proportional to the electric field, so a decrease in the spurious reflected power of 100 times will result in a perturbation that is only 10 times smaller. We demonstrate the effect with a cw system by purposely introducing a spurious reflection.     

High-sensitivity pressure sensors based on mechanically induced long-period fiber gratings and fiber loop ring-down

A transverse pressure sensor with high-sensitivity based on a mechanically induced long-period fiber grating (MLPFG) and fiber loop ring-down technique is presented. When a MLPFG is spliced into a fiber loop, an extra loss is introduced, which leads to a decrease of the ring-down time. The results demonstrate that the difference between the reciprocals of the ring-down time with and without pressure increases exponentially with increasing the pressure in the range of 0-23.4 MPa. This sensor shows good repeatability, and the least detectable pressure is only 0.0068 MPa which is about 18 times less than detecting the output light intensity directly.     

Off-axis re-entrant cavity ring-down spectroscopy with a mid-infrared continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate an off-axis cavity ring-down spectroscopy system, which uses a mid-infrared continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator as a light source. Off-axis injection with re-entrant configuration of the ring-down cavity is used to achieve high spectral resolution while maintaining high measurement speed. This makes the setup suitable for sensitive molecular spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region, particularly for studies that require high temporal resolution. Formaldehyde (H₂CO) absorption spectrum at 3.4 µm is measured using the off-axis re-entrant cavity ring-down spectrometer.     

A novel fiber optic ring-down interferometer for sensing

A ring-down interferometer (RDI) based on a modified Mach–Zehnder structure by incorporating a pair of mirrors with very high reflectivity into each of its two arms, respectively is proposed in this paper. Launching a coherent light pulse into the interferometer, in each arm, pulse ring-down occurs between its two mirrors and outputs a chain of pulses. The two chains of pulses from the two arms combine and interfere pulse by pulse at the detector and the difference of the light phase between the two arms will be enlarged linearly in proportion to the times of ring-down.     

Ultrasound line-by-line scanning method of spatial–temporal active cavitation mapping for high-intensity focused ultrasound

This paper presented an ultrasound line-by-line scanning method of spatial–temporal active cavitation mapping applicable in a liquid or liquid filled tissue cavities exposed by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Scattered signals from cavitation bubbles were obtained in a scan line immediately after one HIFU exposure, and then there was a waiting time of 2 s long enough to make the liquid back to the original state. As this pattern extended, an image was built up by sequentially measuring a series of such lines. The acquisition of the beamformed radiofrequency (RF) signals for a scan line was synchronized with HIFU exposure. The duration of HIFU exposure, as well as the delay of the interrogating pulse relative to the moment while HIFU was turned off, could vary from microseconds to seconds. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated in tap-water and a tap-water filled cavity in the tissue-mimicking gelatin–agar phantom as capable of observing temporal evolutions of cavitation bubble cloud with temporal resolution of several microseconds, lateral and axial resolution of 0.50 mm and 0.29 mm respectively. The dissolution process of cavitation bubble cloud and spatial distribution affected by cavitation previously generated were also investigated. Although the application is limited by the requirement for a gassy fluid (e.g. tap water, etc.) that allows replenishment of nuclei between HIFU exposures, the technique may be a useful tool in spatial–temporal cavitation mapping for HIFU with high precision and resolution, providing a reference for clinical therapy.