Experimental characterization of an Yb-doped fiber ring laser with frequency-shifted feedback

We present experimental characteristics of an Yb³⁺-doped fiber ring laser operating with frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) through an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and seeded by both a stationary continuous-wave (CW) laser and spontaneous emission. We show the spectrum and output characteristics for operations with several effective gain bandwidths, as established by Fabry-Perot etalons inside the cavity. Observation using a high finesse Fabry-Perot interferometer shows that, as expected from earlier work, although the spectrum of the FSF laser without seeding is continuous, when seeded by a CW-laser the spectrum consists of a comb of discrete modes, each offset from the seed by an integer number of AOM frequency shifts. The experimental results are in excellent quantitative agreement with the theory developed earlier [L. Yatsenko, B.W. Shore, K. Bergmann, Opt. Commun. 236 (2004) 183].     

An all-fiber frequency-shifted feedback laser for optical ranging; signal variation with distance

A recent paper [L.P. Yatsenko et al., Opt. Commun. 242 (2004) 581] provided a first-principles prediction for the optical ranging signals obtained when using a frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) laser system, seeded by a phase-modulated laser. Such a system has many useful advantages over other alternative FSF laser techniques. We report here experimental verification of that theory, specifically the variation of the amplitude modulation signal with both distance and modulation index of the seed laser. We describe the operation of an all-fiber FSF laser that uses an Er³⁺-doped active fiber as the gain medium. To improve the signal and minimize the noise we seed the FSF laser with a phase-modulated (PM) laser; the measurement of distance derives from a measurement of amplitude modulation within a narrow frequency interval. We demonstrate that the resulting system is capable of fast and precise measurements. With the bandwidth limitations of our current system we achieved an accuracy better than 0.1 mm. Although measurements based on interferometry offer the potential for much greater accuracy under carefully controlled conditions, the present method does not suffer from the presence of a material-dependent phase shift at the surface of the measured object.     

Coherence in the output spectrum of frequency shifted feedback lasers

We present a detailed theoretical analysis, using correlation functions, of the coherence properties of the output from a frequency shifted feedback (FSF) laser seeded simultaneously by an external seed laser and by spontaneous emission (SE). We show that the output of a FSF laser is a cyclostationary process, for which the second-order correlation function is not stationary, but periodic. However, a period-averaged correlation function can be used to analyze the optical spectrum. From the fourth-order correlation function of the output of a Michelson interferometer we obtain the essential characteristics of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum, needed for describing the use of the FSF laser for optical-ranging metrology. We show that, even for a FSF laser seeded by SE, the RF spectrum comprises a sequence of doublets, whose separation gives directly a measure of the length difference between the interferometer arms. This doublet structure is a result of the correlation of interference terms of individual components of the cyclostationary stochastic process. It is not seen in the optical spectrum of the FSF laser but is observable in the RF spectrum. We analyze the competition between SE and continuous wave (CW) seeding to obtain an analytical expression for the ratio of power in the discrete CW signal to the background continuum spectrum from SE. We show that, unlike mode competition in conventional lasers, where there occurs exponential selectivity, here there is a balance between the two fields; the power in the fields is related linearly, rather than exponentially, to the control parameters.     

Narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from a frequency-shifted feedback Ti:sapphire laser seeded by a phase-modulated single-frequency fiber laser

Frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) lasers have emerged as powerful tools for precision distance metrology. At the output of a Michelson interferometer, the detected rf spectra of the FSF laser light contain a length-dependent heterodyne beat signal whose linewidth ultimately limits the achievable accuracy of length measurements. Here, we demonstrate a narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from an FSF Ti:sapphire ring laser seeded by a phase-modulated, ultra-low-phase-noise, single-frequency fiber laser. We experimentally investigate the influence of the seed laser linewidth on the resulting width and shape of the length-dependent rf beat signal. An ultranarrow heterodyne beat linewidth of <20 Hz is observed.     

多模Ar^＋激光时间相干性与输出功率的关系

本文就多纵模Ar~+激光时间相干性(即相干长度)与输出功率的关系进行了实验观测,得到了相干长度与输出功率关系近似为双曲线函数的实验结果,并根据简单的Smith模型,对多纵模激光的时间相干性与输出功率进行了理论分析与数值计算.研究结果表明,理论与实验结果基本吻合.     

Relationship between coherence length and output power of a multi-longitudinal-mode Ar+ laser

The relationship between the temporal coherence (i.e., the coherence length) and the output power of a multi-longitudinal-mode Ar⁺ laser operated near the threshold current is studied. The experimental measurements show that the coherence length is a hyperbola as a function of the output power. A simple model of the multimode equal-amplitude power spectrum is employed in the theoretical analysis. Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained. It is shown that for a multi-longitudinal-mode Ar⁺ laser, the product of coherence length and the output power is almost a constant. Mailing address: Department of Physics, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, People's Republic of China     

Dual-core ytterbium fiber amplifier for high-power 1060 nm swept source multichannel optical coherence tomography imaging

A novel (to our knowledge) dual-core ytterbium (Yb(3+)) doped fiber, as an optically pumped amplifier, boosts the output power from a 1060 nm swept source laser beyond 250 mW, while providing a wavelength tuning range of 93 nm, for optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The design of the dual-core Yb-doped fiber amplifier and its multiple wavelength optical pumping scheme to optimize output bandwidth are discussed. Use of the dual-core fiber amplifier showed no appreciable degradation to the coherence length of the seed laser. The signal intensity improvement of this amplifier is demonstrated on a multichannel in vivo OCT imaging system at 1060 nm.     

半导体光放大光纤环形激光器的偏振混沌与相干性

研究了基于半导体光放大器(SOA)的光纤环形激光器的偏振混沌光的特性及其相干性。实验采集激光器的输出功率和偏振度,得到了基于半导体光放大器的光纤环形激光器的输出从自发辐射到受激辐射、再到偏振态混沌激光辐射的演化过程。利用马赫-曾德尔(M-Z)干涉仪验证了混沌激光的相干性,并发现混沌干涉只有零级。测量不同光程差时干涉仪的输出功率,计算相应的干涉条纹可见度,进一步算得混沌激光的相干时间约为40 ps。这一结果与根据光谱计算的该混沌激光的相干时间43 ps基本一致。实验还测得该混沌激光的相干性与半导体光放大器的电流无关。并指出了混沌激光相干应用于低相干光源探测领域的灵敏度和分辨力优势。     

High accuracy ranging with Yb-doped fiber-ring frequency-shifted feedback laser with phase-modulated seed

This paper demonstrates that a frequency-shifted feedback laser, when seeded by a phase-modulated narrow-band radiation field, is a powerful tool for distance measurements to accuracy better than 10 μm and resolution better than 100 μm, for distances of a few meters. In such measurements the unknown distance forms one arm of a Michelson interferometer, in which the intensity of the output signal is modulated at the phase-modulation frequency of the seed. The amplitude of the output-signal modulation exhibits a resonance for every distinct signal delay, i.e. for each distinct distance within the laser spot on the target. The use of a phase-modulated input seed allows one to use a very narrow-bandwidth filter when measuring the return signal. The results reported in this paper are in excellent agreement with previous theoretical predictions [L. Yatsenko et al., Opt. Commun. 242 (2004) 581] for the resolution limit and high signal-to-noise ratio for this new technique.     

Application of longitudinal multimode laser coherence properties to increase the holographic depth of field

It has been shown that the temporal coherence of a non-mode-locked laser is periodic in 2L/c. It has also been demonstrated that the limitations imposed on the depth of field in holography by the laser coherence properties may easily be overcome by illuminating the object with multiple beams. In such a system each object beam should travel the same distance to the holographic plate as the reference beam, or a multiple of 2L farther. For large objects (which would have large depths of field) multiple beam illumination is necessary anyway, to ensure uniform illumination of the object. In fact the limiting factor with regard to the size of an object and the depth of field should be the laser's power and not its coherence length. An advantage in this method of overcoming conventional limitations is that there is no reduction in the laser's output power as is involved in some other methods of coherence length improvement.     

不同功率密度1064 nm激光辐照下小鼠皮肤热损伤研究

通过实验和理论分析研究1064 nm激光不同输出功率对小鼠皮肤的热损伤规律。利用皮肤镜与光学相干断层成像(OCT)评估小鼠皮肤组织热损伤程度;参考Arrhenius热损伤方程进行理论分析,并与实验结果对比。结果显示,当激光连续辐照时间为400 ms时,激光输出功率密度小于958 W/cm²时,激光辐照处泛红;激光输出功率密度为958～1160 W/cm²时,损伤呈白色水疱状;激光输出功率密度为1160～1370 W/cm²时,损伤呈浅坑状焦黄斑,损伤斑周围伴一圈鼓起的白色皮肤水疱;激光的功率密度在1370～2190 W/cm²,损伤呈红色坑状斑,损伤斑周围伴黑黄色焦痂。     

A hologram of large field depth

A hologram of an object with field depth greatly exceeding the coherence length has been made with an ordinary gas laser, taking account of the reoccurence of the temporal coherence and its stability dependence on operating time. Only one object beam is used for a number of seperate exposures, so that the full output power is used.     

Master-equation for the statistical operator of solid state laser

In extension of a preceding paper we derive a masterequation for the complete statistical operator of a laser model. The whole system containing atoms, field and several thermal reservoirs, the latter providing loss effects and pumping, is treated quantummechanically. The masterequation is at first solved in the selfconsistent field approximation (SCFA). The results essentially confirm those given by quasiclassical theories, including the coherence properties of the lightmode (comp. (4)). Secondly, an approximate treatment is given of particle-field correlations which go beyond the SCFA and therefore beyond the quasiclassical approach. It is shown explicitly that such correlation effects influence the coherence behavior of the lightfield, i.e. we get a further small deviation from the pure Glauber state.     

Phase-noise-compensated optical frequency domain reflectometry with measurement range beyond laser coherence length realized using concatenative reference method

A novel type of optical frequency domain reflectometry with a measurement range much longer than the laser coherence length is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. To reduce the influence of laser phase noise, the measurement signal is compensated by using reference signals generated from a single auxiliary interferometer supported by a newly proposed compensation process. The compensation is accomplished numerically with a computer for each section of the delay fiber length in an auxiliary interferometer after only one data acquisition. By using the proposed technique, it is confirmed experimentally that the laser phase noise is well compensated even beyond the coherence length.     

Simple method for estimating shape functions of optical spectra

A simple method for estimating shape functions of optical spectra is proposed, based on the numerical correlation with an assumed optical spectrum composed of a central main rectangular component and two right-angled triangular wings on either side of the main component. The degrees of correlation between observed and assumed spectra were examined using spectral and coherence widths of those spectra and pulsewidths of Fourier-transform-limited pulses calculated from those spectra. By using this method, shape functions of output spectra from superluminescent diodes and a self-pulsating laser diode were evaluated in detail over a relatively wide injection current range beyond their rated currents.     

Electromagnetic fields that remain totally polarized under propagation

It is remarked that, in general, a totally polarized field becomes partially polarized at the output of an optical system, even though the field propagates through non-polarizing devices. Two kinds of fields are shown in the present work, which maintain the totally-polarized character at the output of any (deterministic) non-polarizing first-order optical system. This property is satisfied by uniformly totally polarized beams and also by those fields whose electromagnetic degree of coherence [T. Setälä, J. Tervo, A.T. Friberg, Opt. Lett. 29 (2004) 328.] equals 1.     

Research for Signal Power Spectrum Distribution in Laser Doppler Rotational Speed Measurement

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