A slow-light laser radar system with two-dimensional scanning

We propose a multi-aperture slow-light laser radar with two-dimensional scanning. We demonstrate experimentally that we can use two independent slow-light mechanisms, namely dispersive delay and stimulated Brillouin scattering, to dynamically compensate the group delay mismatch among different apertures, while we use optical phase locking to control the relative phases of the optical signals emitted from different apertures, as the system steers the beam in two dimensions.     

Design of a tunable time-delay element using multiple gain lines for increased fractional delay with high data fidelity

A slow-light medium based on multiple, closely spaced gain lines is studied. The spacings and relative strengths of the gain lines are optimized by using the criteria of gain penalty and eye-opening penalty to maximize the fractional delay defined in terms of the best decision time for random pulse trains. Both numerical calculations and experiments show that an optimal design of a triple-gain-line medium can achieve a maximal fractional delay about twice that which can be obtained with a single-gain-line medium, at three times higher modulation bandwidth, while high data fidelity is still maintained.     

Laser beam alignment by fast feedback control of both linear and angular drifts

A new way to enhance the directional stability of laser beams with alternating intensity by fast feedback control of both linear and angular drifts has been proposed for alignment of laser beams at higher accuracy. Both linear and angular drifts of laser beams, processed through light intensity modulation and primary alignment using single-mode optical fiber (SMOF), are separated using light path arrangement and detected using phase-lock technique, and are controlled using fast feedback control mechanisms according to their detected magnitudes, so that both linear and angular drifts are suppressed to enhance the directional stability of the emitting laser beams. Theoretical analyses and preliminary experimental results indicate that the approach proposed can be used to achieve an alignment accuracy of more than 10⁻⁸ rad.     

腔调谐过程中激光器中两垂直偏振光的回馈特性

腔调谐过程中同时对HeNe激光器进行光回馈，设定回馈镜驱动信号的周期远小于腔调谐信号的周期，此时便获得腔调谐过程中谐振腔中两垂直偏振光的回馈信号. 回馈的形式分为仅垂直光回馈、仅平行光回馈以及两光同时回馈三种情况. 当两光同时回馈时，两模式间的模竞争较弱，两光回馈曲线有一定的相位差，该相位差小于180°，两光总体波动幅度变化趋势相反. 当仅单偏振光回馈时，两模式间的模竞争较强，两光回馈曲线始终反相，而且两光波动幅度变化趋势相同，此时可以将两光强度信号相减以实现成倍提高回馈信号幅度，从而提高系统灵敏度. 尤其仅垂直光回馈时，两光各自光强波动幅值都较大，并且在较大的增益曲线范围内保持光强波动幅值无明显变化，该特性可用于提高回馈系统的抗干扰能力，减少因激光功率漂移而引起的错误计数. 关键词： 自混合干涉 光回馈 模竞争 位移测量     

Tunable all-optical delays via Brillouin slow light in an optical fiber

We demonstrate a technique for generating tunable all-optical delays in room temperature single-mode optical fibers at telecommunication wavelengths using the stimulated Brillouin scattering process. This technique makes use of the rapid variation of the refractive index that occurs in the vicinity of the Brillouin gain feature. The wavelength at which the induced delay occurs is broadly tunable by controlling the wavelength of the laser pumping the process, and the magnitude of the delay can be tuned continuously by as much as 25 ns by adjusting the intensity of the pump field. The technique can be applied to pulses as short as 15 ns. This scheme represents an important first step towards implementing slow-light techniques for various applications including buffering in telecommunication systems.     

Slow-light delay enhancement in small-core pure silica photonic crystal fiber based on Brillouin scattering

We demonstrate that we realize large-delay slow light based on stimulated Brillouin scattering in a short length of our fabricated small-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The cavity effect from the partially reflective splices in the end of the PCF enhances slow-light delay significantly. Our experiments show that large slow-light delay can be easily realized in a very short length of the PCF with a moderate pump power. Up to a one-half pulse-width delay is achieved in only 50 m of PCF in a single pump segment.     

Femtosecond time-resolved laser-induced desorption of positive ions from MgO

We have used the pump-probe technique to measure the photostimulated positive ion yield as a function of time delay between two sub-threshold femtosecond laser pulses. We find that the ion yield from UV femtosecond irradiated MgO depends critically on the laser pulse delay, (t, in two-pulse experiments. In single-pulse experiments, excitation of MgO produces a variety of ions including Mg⁺, MgO⁺, and a significant yield of H⁺. In contrast, if the femtosecond laser pulse is split into two sub-threshold beams and then recombined with a variable time delay, the ion yield may be drastically altered depending on the delay between pulses. The Mg⁺ desorption yield displays three distinct lifetimes and persists for laser delays of over 100 ps. A pulse delay of only (t=500 fs nearly eliminates ion desorption except for Mg⁺. The use of a pair of delayed femtosecond laser pulses can thus control the species of the desorbed ion. The mechanism for femtosecond laser desorption is clearly different from nanosecond laser desorption. We hypothesize that the creation of electron-hole pairs by nonresonant two-photon excitation contributes to the ultrafast desorption mechanism.     

分数自成像平面波导的光束组束

研究了激光束在分数自成像平面波导中的传输特性,提出了利用分数自成像平面波导进行光束组束的技术方案,讨论了激光束之间相位失配对光束组束的影响,并对两个输出平均功率为300W的板条激光器的光束组束进行了数值实验模拟.结果表明,分数自成像平面波导的光束组束可以有效地改善多个激光器组束后的光束质量因子M²,从而提高激光输出的亮度;而且这种组束方法对激光束之间相位失配的敏感度明显降低. 关键词： 分数自成像 平面波导 组束 光束质量     

Bragg reflection waveguide: Anti-mirror reflection and light slowdown

The effect of the light group velocity reduction in dielectric Bragg reflection waveguide structures (SiO₂/TiO₂) in the vicinity of the cutoff frequency is studied experimentally. The effect of anti-mirror reflection specific to Bragg reflection waveguides is described and employed to detect slow light. Experiments were performed using Ti:sapphire laser pulses ∼100 fs in length. The group index n _g ∼ 30 with a fractional pulse delay (normalized to the pulse width) of ∼10 is demonstrated. The problems and prospects of the implementation of slow-light devices based on Bragg reflection waveguide structures are discussed.     

延时反馈半导体激光器双劈控制混沌方法研究

提出延时反馈半导体激光器双劈控制混沌方法,建立有劈控制的激光动力学物理模型.通过调节激光器外腔光路中的光器件劈去控制反馈光光程,改变了反馈光的延时时间和反馈强度,在物理上实现了延时时间和反馈强度的双参数混沌控制.数值结果证明该方法可以控制激光混沌到周期态,能使激光器输出光脉冲平均功率增加. 关键词： 混沌 控制 劈 双参数     

Manipulation of slow light with orbital angular momentum in cold atomic gases

We study the propagation of a weak pulse of slow light in a cloud of cold atoms controlled by two additional laser beams of larger intensity in a tripod configuration of the light-matter coupling. We consider a case where one of the control beams has an optical vortex and thus has a zero intensity at the center. The presence of the second control beams restores adiabaticity in the propagation of the probe beam. This makes it possible to exchange the optical vortex between the control and probe fields during the storage. We analyze conditions for the vortex of the control beam to be transferred efficiently to the restored probe beam.     

Shaping super-Gaussian beam through digital micro-mirror device

We have set up a novel system for shaping the Gaussian laser beams into super-Gaussian beams.The digital micro-mirror device(DMD)is able to modulate the laser light spatially through binary-amplitude modulation mechanism.With DMD,the irradiance of the laser beam can be redistributed flexibly and various beams with different intensity distribution can be produced.A super-Gaussian beam has been successfully shaped from the Gaussian beam with the use of DMD.This technique will be widely applied in lithography,quantum emulation and holographic optical tweezers which require precise control of beam profile.     

BBO晶体中级联非线性效应的实验研究

采用800 nm和400 nm两束飞秒激光脉冲在BBO晶体中同时满足相位匹配条件,产生差频、和频及其级联效应.实验运用了中心波长800 nm、重复频率10 Hz、脉宽60 fs及光斑直径7 mm的钛蓝宝石再生放大飞秒激光,输出约为10 mJ的能量以7:3分束.其中7 mJ光脉冲用一块非线性晶体BBO倍频至400 nm获得1.45 mJ能量,然后与另一束800 nm的3 mJ基频激光以非共线方式注入到另一块BBO中,在兼顾和频与差频的相位匹配条件下,即晶体对于和频与差频相位匹配状态同时存在少量失谐时,会同时产生267 nm与800 nm的和频与差频效应,新产生光波与原入射激光脉冲又经过进一步非线性混频作用,最终得到多达10余束可见、紫外的一维列阵.分析了此级联非线性效应的产生机理并讨论了入射光强度,啁啾,延迟等因素对级联效果的影响.     

Dynamic optical manipulation with a higher-order fractional bessel beam generated from a spatial light modulator

Higher-order Bessel beams have been demonstrated to have the ability to trap and rotate low- and high-index particles simultaneously [Phys. Rev. A 66, 063402 (2002)]. The rotation and trapping is caused by the presence of orbital angular momentum arising from its azimuthal phase variation (that changes at integer multiples of 2pi) and the concentric rings of the Bessel mode. We demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge a branch from the family of higher-order Bessel beams that has fractional azimuthal variation at its beam axis. This new family of laser beams has the ability to perform dynamic optical manipulation with dynamic control of a spatial light modulator. Furthermore, we take the opportunity to explore the propagation characteristics of higher-order Bessel beams for which the azimuthal phase changes at noninteger multiples of 2pi.     

Method for creating hollow light beams with local intensity minima and possibilities for their application

We propose and experimentally realize methods for forming light beams with local spatial intensity minima of different types (hollow light beams), based on application of specially shaped linear optics phase elements. The fields with local intensity minima, obtained as a result of phase conversion, are comparable with respect to transverse dimensions, power, and intensity gradient to the initial gaussian beam focused by means of a spherical lens. The optical layouts were assembled using photostable optical elements and therefore make it possible to create high-power laser fields suitable not only for manipulation of microparticles but also for laser machining of materials, in particular laser welding of metals. Using a phase element with planar symmetry, we can select the optimal laser beam profile that will ensure no burning on the line of contact between the ends of the parts to be welded for high penetration and will make it possible to achieve the maximum possible strength of the weld joint for a specified laser radiation power.     

利用激光感应瞬态光栅技术测量超短激光脉冲宽度

描述了利用激光感应瞬态光栅技术测量超短脉冲激光的脉冲宽度和相干时间的方法，来自同一光源的两束激光在非线性介质中相干形成积分光栅，测量光栅自衍射强度与两束光脉冲之间的延迟时间关系，利用相干光束的四阶相干函数关系，可以求出光源的脉冲宽度和相干时间。     

A particle timing laser velocity meter

A fluid velocity meter is described; this operates by measuring the time taken for individual dust particles carried in the flow to travel between two points in space. A laser is used to produce two light beams parallel to one another and approximately normal to the flow direction. These beams are focused to two point or line foci in the region of interest: these foci are separated by a distance of the order of 1 mm in the flow direction. A particle crossing both foci in succession gives two scattered light pulses, and the time interval between these is measured by an oscilloscope or digital chronometer. The particles are natural dust particles occurring in the laboratory air or tap water. As in Doppler and fringe anemometers, the advantage of the laser is its spatial coherence: it enables extreme intensity to be obtained in small, well-defined regions. The instrument might be described as a fringe anemometer in which all the light is concentrated into the two end fringes, the others being eliminated.     

Sluggish light for radio-frequency true-time-delay applications with a large time-bandwidth product

A new radio-frequency (RF) photonic technique for achieving large RF time delays has been experimentally demonstrated using femtosecond pulses modulated by an acousto-optic tunable filter in a frequency-mapped and Doppler-shifted modulation scheme. A short optical delay line with length of 240 mum produces nearly 3 micros RF time delay after optical heterodyne detection, resulting in an effective slow-light velocity of 86 m/s. A delay-to-pulse-width ratio of 20 based on this technique has been observed, with a larger fractional delay foreseeable.     

Effects of light quenching on the emission spectra and intensity decays of fluorophore mixtures

We examined a series of fluorophore mixtures to determine the wavelength selectivity of light quenching and the effects of light quenching on the emission spectra and intensity decays. Light quenching can be accomplished using a single excitation pulse train and quenching wavelength (one-beam) or with longer-wavelength quenching pulses time-delayed relative to the excitation pulses (two-beam). Both one-beam and two-beam light quenching were found to alter the intensity decays of the mixtures. The frequency-domain intensity decay data were analyzed to reveal the fractional intensity of each fluorophore in the mixture and the effects of light quenching on the fractional contribution of each fluorophore to the total intensity. Fluorophores were selected to provide a range of decay times and emission wavelengths. The extent of quenching in the mixtures was dependent on which fluorophore had the higher radiative decay rate and emission intensity at the quenching wavelength. A general theory is presented which describes the intensity decays in terms of the extent of quenching of each fluorophore and the time delay between excitation and quenching pulses. The effects of light quenching on the fractional intensities of each fluorophore in the mixture, recovered from the intensity decay analysis, were found to be in quantitative agreement with that predicted from steady-state measurements of light quenching and from the spectral properties of the fluorophores. The data on light quenching of mixtures demonstrate that light quenching may be used for selective quenching of fluorophores and thus of potential value for studies of multichromophoric systems.     

Effective control over the dual-color emitted light waves from one-dimensional random media pumped by Femtosecond-Lasing Pulses

The spectral property of dual-color random laser is investigated by simultaneously solving Maxwell’s equations and rate equations of electronic population in which the pumping rate is described by a time function with duration of hundreds of femtoseconds. Results show that the delay time and peak intensity of the emitted light depends strongly on the pumping process. An effective optimization method is proposed to exercise control over the dual-color laser emission from the dye solution with scattering nano-particles. It is demonstrated numerically that the controllable single mode operation of a dual-color random laser by choosing the proper pump profile and pumping region. The present work enriches the knowledge about random lasers and offers more guidance for relevant experiments.