High beam quality by SBS phase conjugation of a single rod Nd-amplifier up to 140 W average output power

For pumping XUV plasma light sources with solid-state lasers and also for micromaterial processing, high beam quality and output power as well as simplicity of the pump lasers are crucial. The beam quality of high-power solid-state lasers can be significantly improved using phase-conjugating mirrors based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Hence, SBS phase conjugation may prove one of the key technologies in this field. We describe a single-rod neodymium amplifier with 140 W average output power and nearly diffraction-limited beam. Because of automatic compensation of the thermal lensing by SBS phase conjugation, the output power can be tuned without changing the beam profile.     

利用单模光纤中SBS效应进行被动调Q的掺铒光纤激光器研究

分析了利用光纤中的受激布里渊散射(SBS)相位共轭效应进行激光腔内调Q,产生ns量级脉冲激光的原理,并对利用该效应产生的激光脉冲波形和脉冲形成过程进行了数值模拟,得到的脉冲波形与SBS相位共轭反射率随时间变化曲线基本一致,表明利用光纤中的SBS相位共轭作用调Q具有可行性。据此,对采用单模光纤(SMF)作为SBS池的掺Er3＋调Q光纤激光器进行实验研究,当单模光纤长度为1.5 m时,在45 mW的抽运光功率下得到脉宽约2.6 ns,脉冲周期58.23 ns,平均功率7.35 mW的激光脉冲。进一步的研究表明：激光器中相位共轭镜的形成与SBS介质长度有关,SBS介质过长,斯托克斯线之间无固定的相位关系,不能形成相干叠加,SBS相位共轭腔不能形成; SBS介质过短,腔内正交偏振模光子寿命的改变使脉冲出现双峰现象。脉冲形成后其属性只与SBS动态属性有关。     

相位调制信号对窄线宽光纤放大器线宽特性和受激布里渊散射阈值的影响

高功率窄线宽光纤放大器的输出功率主要受限于受激布里渊散射(SBS)效应,通过相位调制进行线宽展宽可以有效抑制SBS效应.基于窄线宽光纤放大器中的SBS动力学模型,研究了正弦信号、白噪声信号和伪随机编码信号(PRBS)对窄线宽光纤放大器光谱特性与SBS阈值的影响.研究发现,采用不同信号进行相位调制时,调制频率和调制深度等参数对调制后激光光谱的谱线间隔、谱线数目与光谱平整度的影响存在较大差异,进而影响放大器的线宽特性和SBS阈值.通过对比分析,给出了调制信号的类型选择和参数优化原则,能够为窄线宽光纤放大器的相位调制系统设计提供参考.     

基于光纤中SBS相位共轭的自调Q光纤激光器

分析了利用光纤中的受激布里渊散射(stimulated Brillouin scattering,SBS)相位共轭效应进行激光腔内调Q,产生ns量级脉冲激光的原理,并对利用该效应产生的激光脉冲波形和脉冲形成过程进行了数值模拟,得到的脉冲波形与SBS相位共轭反射率随时间变化曲线基本一致,表明利用光纤中的SBS相位共轭作用调Q具有可行性.据此,对采用单模光纤(single-mode fiber,SMF)作为SBS池的Er³⁺掺杂调Q光纤激光器进行实验研究.当单模光纤长度为1.5 m时,在45 mW的光抽运功率下得到脉宽约2.6ns,脉冲周期58.23ns,平均功率7.35mW的激光脉冲.进一步的研究表明:激光器中相位共轭镜的形成与SBS介质长度有关,SBS介质过长,斯托克斯线之间无固定的相位关系,不能形成相干叠加,SBS相位共轭腔不能形成;SBS介质过短,腔内正交偏振模光子寿命的改变使脉冲出现双峰现象.脉冲形成后其属性只与SBS动态属性有关.     

Stimulated Brillouin scattering limited intensity-dependent four-wave mixing between pump and signal in a non-zero dispersion shifted fiber

The intensity-dependent four-wave mixing (FWM) efficiency is derived by the nonlinear Schrodinger equations including the self phase modulation and cross phase modulation between the two Fabry–Perot modes of a pump and a single-wavelength signal. The maximum FWM for mixing the pump with signal in non-zero dispersion shifted fiber is explained as the minimum phase mismatch for FWM due to equal group delay for the pump and signal. It was also found that the experimental measurements for the generated FWM power are limited by the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold. Under the SBS threshold, the experimental results are still coincided well with the theoretical calculations of the FWM generated power ratio to have the difference of 0.12 dB for the input signal power of 12 mW.     

1.06kW 13GHz线宽全光纤激光器

分析了高功率光纤激光器中受激布里渊散射(SBS)效应的抑制方法。研究表明,利用宽带噪声源高速相位调制展宽光谱的方法对于抑制SBS十分有效,可实现kW级用于光谱组束的数10GHz高功率光纤激光子束。通过理论计算线宽与SBS阈值的关系,并分析噪声相位调制各参数对SBS阈值提升的影响,优化了光纤激光器设计参数。通过宽带噪声高速相位调制的方法,展宽单频种子源线宽至13GHz,通过两级预放大至10 W后,使用20/400μm掺Yb光纤最终实现了中心波长1064nm、线宽13GHz、最高功率1.06kW的激光输出,光束质量M21.2,光-光转换效率86%,实验过程未观测到模式不稳定性现象。进一步扩宽噪声源频带,加大调制深度,有望实现更高功率的窄线宽光纤激光输出。     

Full investigation of the backscattering in resonator fiber optic gyro

Resonator Fiber optic gyro (RFOG) is a high accuracy inertial rotation sensor based on the Sagnac effect. The optical fiber ring resonator (OFRR) is the key rotation sensing element. The backscattering characteristics of the OFRR are fully investigated. The Rayleigh backscattering dominates the backscattering spectrum with the input power below the threshold. High carrier suppression is crucial to reduce this Rayleigh backscattering error. Being different from the intrinsic Rayleigh scattering of the fiber, the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the OFRR should be avoided. This is because the finesse and the resonance notch depth of the OFRR decrease for the pump depletion through the SBS process. The shot noise limited sensitivity (SLS) of the RFOG is improved by increasing the input power. Through analysis, it is found that the threshold input power is improved after phase modulation. The SLS of the RFOG is analyzed at different modulation parameters and its relevant SBS threshold. Accordingly, the optimized modulation frequency and the corresponding maximum input power are all obtained. A simple method of testing the frequency shift in the SBS is also proposed. In this method, the central frequency of the laser source is locked to the resonance frequency of the OFRR in one direction. A steady SBS light is observed and its frequency shift is measured together.     

光纤中受激Brillouin散射动态弛豫振荡特性及其抑制方法

为了避免在高功率光纤放大器和光纤相位共轭镜等实际应用中因受激Brillouin散射（SBS）造成的光纤损伤,根据描述SBS动态弛豫振荡特性的振幅耦合方程,利用有限差分的数值模拟方法研究了光纤中SBS的动态弛豫振荡特性,并对其抑制进行了初步探讨.得到了光纤中SBS弛豫振荡在不同的脉冲上升时间的时空三维图;同时利用方波和脉冲光作抽运光进行了相应实验研究,实验结果与理论模拟结果符合很好.结果表明,增大抽运光脉冲上升时间可以有效抑制因SBS而产生的弛豫振荡,进而避免因其造成的光纤损伤. 关键词： 受激Brillouin散射 动态弛豫振荡特性 有限差分法     

Instability of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in a Fiber Ring Resonator

We investigate theoretically the instability of transient stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a high- finesse fiber ring resonator consisting of a fiber ring and directional coupler. Unlike many reports to date, the linear phase detuning of the cavity is taken into account. It is found that SBS instabilities including the self-pulsing and chaotic behavior can occur even if the length of the fiber resonator is very short. SBS instabilities depend strongly on the linear phase detuning, the input power, and the coupling coefficient of the coupler.     

Analysis of bottlenecks in DWDM fiber optic communication system

This paper deals with the limiting factors like Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and Four Wave Mixing (FWM) in DWDM Fiber Optic Communication. The variation of SBS threshold power level for the spectral width of the source is analyzed and it is found that addition of spectral width in the source lowers the SBS effect. By reducing the SBS effect, we could transmit more optical power in a single channel and maintain high OSNR. Similarly the effect of phase mismatching (dispersion) and wavelength spacing on both FWM and SRS are analyzed. This work aims at finding the optimal value of spectral width, dispersion and channel spacing, thereby exploring the possibilities of increasing the overall capacity of the fiber optic trunk line.     

Fiber phase conjugators at 1064-nm, 532-nm, and 355-nm wavelengths

Undoped multimode quartz fibers can be used as effective phase conjugators with high fidelity and reflectivity for improving the beam quality of lasers with high average power. Such phase conjugators based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in undoped multimode quartz fibers with a core diameter of 100 microm and a length of more than 2 m were characterized at wavelengths of 1064, 532, and 355 nm. The power thresholds at these three wavelengths are 6.4, 3.3, and 3 kW, respectively, and the maximum SBS reflectivity is more than 50% in all cases, without a significant depolarization owing to the fiber. Direct measurement of the far-field fidelity, i.e., the phase-conjugated part of the reflected light in the far field at 1064 nm, results in a fidelity of more than 90%.     

200 Hz高重复频率SBS脉宽压缩实验研究

受激布里渊散射(SBS)脉宽压缩是实现高峰值功率、短脉冲激光输出的重要途径之一,然而,目前SBS脉宽压缩仅限于1~10 Hz低重复频率激光器,限制了高重频短脉冲激光器在激光雷达、空间碎片探测以及目标成像等领域的应用。基于此,开展了高重复频率下的SBS脉宽压缩实验研究。设计搭建了高重复频率的主振荡放大激光器,开展了SBS二次级联脉宽压缩和SBS振荡放大双池脉宽压缩实验。通过SBS二次级联压缩实现了脉冲宽度从~32 ns压缩到~1.9 ns,脉宽压缩比达16倍;而通过SBS振荡放大双池结构实现了脉冲宽度从~4 ns压缩到376 ps,脉宽压缩比达10倍。实验结果表明,采用该超净封闭型SBS相位共轭镜,在Stokes光输出能量达50 m J时,无光学击穿现象,实现了在200 Hz高重复频率下的SBS脉宽压缩。     

Pulsed solid-state laser system with fiber phase conjugation and 315 W average output power

Solid-state laser sources with high average output power and high beam quality are required for numerous applications in industry and science. To improve the beam quality, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) mirrors based on optical phase conjugation are used to compensate for phase distortions in master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) systems. SBS phase conjugation in commercially available silica optical fibers facilitates the construction of high-power solid-state laser systems with high beam quality. Here we present a flash lamp-pumped, passively Q-switched Nd:YAP system which delivers an average output power of 315 W with M²=2.6 at a wavelength of 1.08 μm. Received: 11 July 2001 / Revised version: 28 September 2001 / Published online: 23 November 2001     

Phase conjugating mirror combining a fused silica rod and a fiber

A phase conjugating mirror combining a fused silica rod and an optical fiber is presented. This configuration combines a large diameter fused silica rod with a high laser damage threshold and an optical fiber with a low stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold. The composed SBS generator-amplifier construction, similar to the two-cell type makes a forced SBS process, in which the Stokes beam reflected by the fiber is injected into the fused silica rod. Using this combined phase conjugating mirror in a laser-diode-pumped laser master oscillator power amplifier system, we obtained 42% SBS reflectivity at most at 100 Hz repetition rate. At the same time, the inverse beam quality parameter M(2) is reduced from 3 to 1.6, while at 400 Hz repetition rate, M(2) is reduced from 4 to 1.7.     

Improved output energy characteristic of optical limiting based on double stimulated Brillouin scattering

In order to improve the optical limiting performance based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), a method based on double SBS is proposed in this paper. The dependence of the output energy of optical limiting based on double SBS on the pump energy is numerically simulated, and experimentally validated with an Nd:YAG seed-injected laser. The results indicate that only the first SBS optical limiting works in the case of low pump energy. However, as the pump energy increases, the second SBS process can be activated if the transmitted power of the first SBS is still above the SBS threshold. Therefore, the output energy characteristic of optical limiting based on double SBS is much better than that based on single SBS. Owing to the sub-nanosecond response time and a high power threshold, the SBS optical limiting can provide protection in high power laser systems.     

S波段光纤拉曼放大器中级联受激布里渊散射串扰的实验研究

研究了光纤激光器前向抽运的S波段分布式光纤拉曼放大器中级联的受激布里渊散射(SBS)串扰现象。用窄光谱带宽(<100MHz)的可调谐激光二极管作为信号源,通过S波段分布式光纤拉曼放大器,当被放大的信号功率超过单模光纤受激布里渊散射的阈值时,出现了前向受激布里渊散射,这是传导声波布里渊散射在光纤放大器中放大的现象。随着拉曼放大器抽运功率的提高,在斯托克斯区,出现了两阶受激布里渊散射线,在实验中观测到偶数阶的受激布里渊散射谱线功率大于奇数阶的布里渊一瑞利散射线。当进一步增加拉曼放大器的抽运功率,出现了前向级联的多阶受激布里渊散射现象,拉曼放大器的增益下降,被放大的信号功率转换为受激布里渊散射,噪声变大。受激布里渊散射的串扰破坏了拉曼放大器的特性,使拉曼放大器无法在密集波分复用光纤传输系统中使用,因此需要严格地控制入纤的信号功率和放大器的抽运功率。在实验中还观测到在光纤拉曼放大器中被放大的信号光和受激布里渊散射线两侧的伴线。     

Improved output power performance of a phase conjugated laser oscillator

A method for increasing the output power of a phase conjugated oscillator (PCO) by using two stimulated-Brillouin-scattering (SBS) cells is described. The average power has been more than doubled and the peak power has been increased by twenty times compared to the single-SBS-cell PCO. Near unity beam quality has been measured.     

窄线宽脉冲光纤激光的自相位调制预补偿研究

自相位调制(SPM)效应会展宽窄线宽脉冲光纤激光的光谱宽度,降低其相干性.通过相位调制对SPM引起的非线性相移进行预补偿,能够使脉冲激光在光纤中进行放大和传输后保持种子激光的光谱特性.基于三波耦合方程开展数值仿真,研究了在对SPM进行"欠补偿","完全补偿"和"过补偿"的情况下,SPM预补偿对受激布里渊散射阈值和激光光谱特性的影响.开展了SPM预补偿实验研究,将脉冲激光的光谱宽度从1.4 GHz压缩到120 MHz.研究内容可以为窄线宽脉冲光纤激光系统的设计搭建提供参考.     

用SF6气体作SBS相位共轭镜的激光谐振腔

利用高压SF_6气体中的受激布里渊散射作相位共轭镜,将其用于Nd:YAG激光谐振腔,得到了能量在100mJ左右的脉冲激光输出.与利用液体介质的受激布里渊散射相位共轭腔的激光输出相比,其光斑的空间模式大大改善,基本达到TEM_(00)模,功率密度在150MW/cm~2输出能量的稳定性也有所提高.     

Suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering with phase modulator in soliton pulse compression

A phase modulator is employed in the scheme of soliton pulse compression with dispersion shifted fiber （DSF）. Stimulated Brillouin scattering （SBS） effect, as a negative influence here, can be dramatically suppressed after optical phase modulation. The experimental result shows that the launched power required for high-order soliton pulse compression has been significantly increased by 11 dB under the condition of 100-MHz phase modulation. Accordingly, the experiment of picosecond pulse compression generated from electro-absorption sampling window （EASW） has also been implemented.