Strained Chirped Fiber Bragg Gratings Based all-fiber Variable Optical Delay Line for Optical Coherence Tomography

We present the novel all-fiber optical delay line that can be realized by exploiting the fundamental distributive reflection characteristics of a chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBG). With the assist of a strained CFBG and a designed fiber stretcher, the proposed delay line could perform the function (such as attainment of variable large enough optical delay without dispersion mismatch) of the conventional optical delay line within the optical fiber. While the strained CFBG produced 3.1 mm optical delay, the pair of CFBGs in the opposite direction can manage dispersion imbalance of the delay line. The use of the PZT-based fiber stretcher can enable depth scanning at a high repetition rate for real-time imaging. The performance of the delay element is demonstrated with measured experimental results. OCT system embedded with the all-fiber variable optical delay line showed the axial resolution of 100 μm and the dynamic range of 50 dB. The implemented system was used for the imaging of a biomedical sample, which proves the utility of the proposed delay element as a promising alternative of optical delay line.     

Compact optical delay line for long-range scanning

We proposed and demonstrated an optical delay line composed of all reflective components for long-range scanning without walk-off problem. The optical delay line consists of a retro-reflector, an inclined reflection mirror and a scanning mirror. The size of the optical delay line is within 2 cm × 2 cm and the scanning range can reach 2.9 mm when the beam is incident at the pivot of the scanning mirror and the vibration angle of the scanning mirror is 9.6°. The scanning range can be further increased when the pivot of the scanning mirror is laterally deviated from the incident beam. The optical delay line possesses the advantages that it is compact, easy to fabricate and can perform rapid scanning in large scanning range without walk-off problem. The optical delay line was demonstrated with a low-coherence reflectometer where the scanning rate was 400 Hz. A higher scanning rate can be achieved when a scanning component with higher scanning rate is applied.     

Novel Optical Delay Line for Optical Coherence Tomography System

A novel all-fiber optical delay line for an advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is proposed. Using the distributed reflectance characteristic of a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG), the optical delay can be obtained without leaving the fiber that forms the system. The proposed delay line consists of a pair of identical CFBGs. The gratings are cascaded in reverse order to cancel the inherent wavelength dependency of CFBGs. Tunable optical delay is obtained by applying small strain on one of the CFBGs through an attached piezo actuator. The small displacement induced by the piezo actuator is amplified by a factor of up to 100 due to the distributed reflectance characteristic of the CFBGs. This principle and characteristics of the proposed optical delay line are analyzed in detail.     

4通道交叉型二氧化硅光波导延迟线阵列的设计与制备

设计并制备了一种高集成度、低成本、低损耗4通道交叉型二氧化硅光波导延迟线阵列。利用BPM软件对交叉结构光波导延迟线的Y分支的损耗、弯曲损耗进行数值模拟。综合考虑器件尺寸和损耗参数,设计交叉型延迟线结构的弯曲半径最小为1 500 μm,引入优化的锥口Y分支结构和垂直相交波导结构。采用标准半导体制作工艺制备器件,测试得到了器件的红外输出光斑,延迟线延迟时间分别为0、113、226和339 ps。4通道二氧化硅延迟线阵列能实现相邻通道相等的延迟时间间隔,且可通过集成实现延迟时间的增加,同时输出端可以与光纤阵列集成。     

激光诱导Ti等离子体电子温度的实验研究

室温,常压下,利用Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器产生的波长为1 064 nm, 脉宽12 ns,能量分别180, 230和280 mJ的脉冲激光冲击Ti靶,使用中阶梯光栅光谱仪检测了三种激光能量下对应的光谱。调节延时器DG645的延迟时间,检测了延迟0～500 ns时间范围内Ti等离子体对应激光能量下的发射光谱,分析光谱,可以得到了九条不同的的TiⅠ 和TiⅡ等离子体谱线,证明在该实验条件下,Ti靶能够充分吸收能量电离且离子谱线具有不同的演化速率,利用Saha-Boltzmann法计算并分析Ti等离子体电子温度,实验结果表明：相同的延迟时间,激光能量越大,谱线相对强度越大,电子温度越高,谱线相对强度的变化量随激光能量的变化量增大而增大;在延时0～150 ns内,三种激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线的相对强度都随延迟时间的增加而快速下降,其中280 mJ激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线强度下降速率较快;在150～250 ns范围内,电子温度和谱线强度均随延迟时间的增加有一个缓慢的上升,180 mJ激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线强度的上升速率较快。250～500 ns范围内,三种激光能量下的电子温度和谱线强度均随延迟时间的增加而缓慢下降。     

Synchronization and bidirectional communication without delay line using strong mutually coupled semiconductor lasers

This paper numerically demonstrates synchronization and bidirectional communication without delay line by using two semiconductor lasers with strong mutual injection in a face-to-face configuration.These results show that both of the two lasers' outputs synchronize with their input chaotic carriers.In addition,simulations demonstrate that this kind of synchronization can be used to realize bidirectional communications without delay line.Further studies indicate that within a small deviation in message amplitudes of two sides (±6%),the message can be extracted with signal-noise-ratio more than 10 dB;and the signal-noise-ratio is extremely sensitive to the message rates mismatch of two sides,which may be used as a key of bidirectional communication.     

Delay-gain decoupling in Brillouin-assisted slow light

In Brillouin-assisted slow-light the induced delay is always linked to a particular gain; i.e., the delay is directly proportional to the gain expressed in decibels. However, for certain applications this may be restrictive, and techniques to decouple gain and delay are thus of considerable practical interest. We propose a way to effectively decouple these two parameters that, subject to inherent physical constraints, can be used to obtain a delay line capable of providing arbitrary gain (or alternatively an amplifier that can provide arbitrary delay for a fixed gain). The decoupling mechanism relies upon operating the amplifier in the pump-depletion regime. Other advantages of this approach, as well as its limitations in the context of slow-light, are discussed.     

Tunable and broadband microwave frequency combs based on a semiconductor laser with incoherent optical feedback

Based on a semiconductor laser(SL) with incoherent optical feedback, a novel all-optical scheme for generating tunable and broadband microwave frequency combs(MFCs) is proposed and investigated numerically. The results show that, under suitable operation parameters, the SL with incoherent optical feedback can be driven to operate at a regular pulsing state, and the generated MFCs have bandwidths broader than 40 GHz within a 10 d B amplitude variation. For a fixed bias current, the line spacing(or repetition frequency) of the MFCs can be easily tuned by varying the feedback delay time and the feedback strength, and the tuning range of the line spacing increases with the increase in the bias current. The linewidth of the MFCs is sensitive to the variation of the feedback delay time and the feedback strength, and a linewidth of tens of KHz can be achieved through finely adjusting the feedback delay time and the feedback strength. In addition,mappings of amplitude variation, repetition frequency, and linewidth of MFCs in the parameter space of the feedback delay time and the feedback strength are presented.     

Instantaneous frequency measurement using two parallel I/Q modulators based on optical power monitoring

A scheme for instantaneous frequency measurement(IFM)using two parallel I/Q modulators based on optical power monitoring is proposed.The amplitude comparison function(ACF)can be constructed to establish the relationship between the frequency of radio frequency(RF)signal and the power ratio of two optical signals output by two I/Q modulators.The frequency of RF signal can be derived by measuring the optical power of the optical signals output by two I/Q modulators.The measurement range and measurement error can be adjusted by controlling the delay amount of the electrical delay line.The feasibility of the scheme is verified,and the corresponding measurement range and measurement error of the system under different delay amounts of the electrical delay line are given.Compared with previous IFM schemes,the structure of this scheme is simple.Polarization devices,a photodetector and an electrical power meter are not used,which reduces the impact of the environmental disturbance on the system and the cost of the system.In simulation,the measurement range can reach 0 GHz-24.5 GHz by adjusting the delay amount of the electrical delay lineτ=20 ps.The measurement error of the scheme is better at low frequency,and the measurement error of low frequency 0 GHz-9.6 GHz can reach-0.1 GHz to+0.05 GHz.     

一种时间分辨激光诱导击穿光谱的测量方法

激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)是一种动态光谱。时间分辨LIBS光谱测量是研究激光诱导等离子体演化和谱线自吸收的重要技术。结合激光诱导击穿光谱测量的时序特性,提出一种利用常规性能光谱探测设备获得微秒级时间分辨LIBS光谱的测量方法。通过控制毫秒级光谱探测设备的积分延迟时间,获得不同延时下的LIBS光谱信号,对所得光谱进行处理得到相应特征谱线拟合强度,将所测的特征谱线强度按照一定的时间间隔进行差分,得到差值即为差分间隔时间内特征谱线的积分强度。采用差分时间间隔应大于系统最差时序精度,同时优选无重叠干扰和背底连续的谱线信号进行分析。以等离子体产生后持续时间为横坐标,计算所得谱线差值强度为纵坐标,即可获得特征谱线的强度演化曲线。通过实验验证,使用积分时间为毫秒量级光谱仪和时序精度为0.021微秒控制系统,该方法可以实现微秒量级时间分辨LIBS光谱测量,可用于表征LIBS光谱特征谱线演化过程,降低了LIBS光谱时间分辨测量系统成本。     

100ns高温超导延迟线

介绍了所设计的100ns高温超导延迟线。采用的基片直径为2英寸的铝酸镧,双面溅射高温超导YBCO薄膜,制备了实际的电路,通过级联的方式,获得了长延时的结果。实测结果显示:在65K下,此高温超导延迟线在1.5~6.5GHz的频率范围内,延时100ns以上,插入损耗小于7.6dB,驻波比优于1.5。良好的驻波性能(反射波损耗)使得这种延迟线能够与其它组件级联起来而不会使系统的性能降低。     

Tunable Chirped Fiber Grating Based Variable Time-Delay Network for Phased-Array Antenna Beamforming

In this paper, we present a photonics continuous beamforming system for optically controlled phased-array antenna based on a tunable fiber ring laser source and a novel variable true-time delay network consisting of one single-mode fiber delay line and four tunable chirped grating delay lines. The chirp rate of each chirped grating is tuned by bending a uniform fiber Bragg grating (FBG) bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. This kind of variable true-time delay network can provide five-channel time-delayed signals that can be fed to an antenna array to achieve continuously beam scanning. The proposed true-time-delay unit with 5-element phased array steerer is suitable for phased-array antenna beamforming at frequencies up to 12 GHz.     

Compact photonic delay line constructed by holographic optical elements

To fully support phased-array antenna and other applications, a 3-range (long time, moderate time, and short time) delay line structures with holographic optical elements is proposed. Flexibility, light-weight, on-axis coupling, easy alignment, easy fabrication, and compactness are their advantages. When use holographic optical elements to build the photonic delay line system, all of the delay and non-delay paths in these three photonic delay lines are setting in a compact structure. They do not need any extra components, such as mirrors and optical paths in free space, and can bear stronger vibration. Therefore, the holographic optical elements are more suitable to design the photonic delay lines. In these three structures, their losses and crosstalk s are balanced. All of delay and non-delay cases in these three delay line structures, their crosstalk, signal-to-noise ratio, and loss are 1/81,000, 59.1 dB, and 3.2 dB, respectively. Finally, to support complete applications, a polarization independent photonic delay line system with holographic optical elements is proposed, too.     

Integrated-optic variable delay line and its application to a low-coherence reflectometer

We propose a large-scale variable delay line based on planar light-wave circuit technology and its application as a reference arm in an optical low-coherence reflectometer. This variable delay line is composed of 16 asymmetrical delay arm pairs sandwiched between 2 optical switches, which select the path for a needed delay. This configuration enables us to eliminate the need for a moving part in the reflectometer. We can scan the reference arm over a length of 262.1 mm with a step of less than 1.0 microm in air and achieve reflectometer sensitivity of about -47 dB.     

传输线中脉冲信号反射波的测量和应用

将高频单脉冲信号输入同轴电缆，借助数字存储示波器记录输入、输出端的波形和相对延时，可以测量传输线的电缆长度和衰减系数，同时观察脉冲波形因色散引起的畸变．     

Amplification of optical delay by use of matched linearly chirped fiber Bragg gratings

We describe the use of a matched linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) pair as a key element in an adjustable optical delay line. This delay line has the unique property that the achievable optical group delay is orders of magnitude greater (factor of 10(2) in our experiment) than the actual physical displacement. We demonstrate operation of such an optical delay line over a delay range of 3.5 mm using a pair of matched 1300-nm chirped FBGs with a bandwidth of 20 nm each.     

Design of a continuously tunable delay line using vectorial modulational instability and chromatic dispersion in optical fibers

We design an all-optical tunable delay line based on both dispersive and wavelength conversion stages involving modulational instability of a two-frequency pump field propagating in a highly birefringent fiber. More precisely, we numerically show that, by varying the frequency separation between the two orthogonally polarized pump waves, we achieve a controllable and continuous delay of hundreds of picoseconds for signal pulse durations from picoseconds to nanoseconds, without pulse distortion and with only small peak power fluctuations. The proposed method does not require any tunable bandpass filter and can be applied to delay digital data streams at tens of Gbit/s depending on the pump power level.     

Ultrafast control of coherent population transfer with a train of femtosecond pulse pairs

We investigate the ultrafast control of coherent population transfer in a Λ-type three-level system with a train of pump-Stokes femtosecond pulse pairs, where the pulse sequences can be produced either by optical delay line or by pulse shaping with sinusoidal phase modulation. It is shown that when the pump and Stokes pulses in each pair are applied in the counterintuitive order, similar to that in the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage technique, due to temporal quantum interference (besides optical interference in the case of overlapped subpulses), ultrafast control of coherent population transfer can be achieved by scanning the inter-pair time delay or by changing the sinusoidal phase modulation parameters. This method has potential applications in ultrafast control of chemical reactions and quantum information processing.     

采用光纤光栅级联结构实现光纤延迟线

在使用光纤光栅实现皮秒级别时延的基础上,提出一种光纤光栅与单模光纤相结合的微秒级别级联结构,该结构可以实现中心波长1 550～1 553 nm范围内,间距为1 nm的窄波长反射型时延线,共1, 1.5, 2和2.5μs四种不同的时延。将单波长反射的啁啾布拉格光纤光栅与103 m单模光纤连接构成延迟单元,再利用光环形器将4个延迟单元级联并使用内半径为3 cm的光纤绕线盘,将四种延时单元的传输光纤进行整合。借助光纤光栅的反射镜作用,控制不同波长光信号通过不同的传输距离,从而达到时延目的。本文通过对啁啾布拉格光纤光栅的反射谱进行仿真分析,发现相邻反射谱的旁瓣会出现交叠现象,因此使用六个切趾函数对旁瓣滤除。结果显示：不同切趾函数的滤除效果也不同,能够完全滤除旁瓣并且对反射谱包络影响最小的是柯西切趾函数,经柯西切趾后能使不同波长光信号在对应中心波长1 nm范围内反射率达到1,而其他位置均为0。由于使用光纤绕线盘整合延迟单元传输光纤会产生一定损耗,因此对弯曲损耗进行仿真分析,结果表明：弯曲半径相同时,损耗与工作波长成正比;工作波长相同时,弯曲损耗与弯曲半径成反比。当弯曲半径大于2.9 cm时,弯曲...     

Spectroscopic measurements and terahertz imaging of the cornea using a rapid scanning terahertz time domain spectrometer

Spectroscopic measurements and terahertz imaging of the cornea are carried out by using a rapid scanning terahertz time domain spectroscopy(THz-TDS) system.A voice coil motor stage based optical delay line(VCM-ODL) is developed to provide a rather simple and robust structure with both the high scanning speed and the large delay length.The developed system is used for THz spectroscopic measurements and imaging of the corneal tissue with different amounts of water content,and the measurement results show the consistence with the reported results,in which the measurement time using VCM-ODL is a factor of 360 shorter than the traditional motorized optical delay line(MDL).With reducing the water content a monotonic decrease of the complex permittivity of the cornea is observed.The two-term Debye relaxation model is employed to explain our experimental results,revealing that the fast relaxation time of a dehydrated cornea is much larger than that of a hydrated cornea and its dielectric behavior can be affected by the presence of the biological macromolecules.These results demonstrate that our THz spectrometer may be a promising candidate for tissue hydration sensing and practical application of THz technology.