Enhancing the sensitivity of fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers using slow and fast light

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the sensitivity of a fiber Mach-Zehnder (M-Z) interferometer can be enhanced by coupling fiber ring resonators with it. The experimental results agree well with theoretical predications that combining slow light with fast light will further increase the sensitivity of a fiber M-Z interferometer.     

高灵敏度色散型慢光干涉仪的仿真研究

设计了一种基于慢光介质色散特性的新型干涉装置,研究其物理过程,证明利用慢光介质可以有效提高干涉仪的光谱灵敏度,并且光谱灵敏度与慢光介质的群折射率成正比。同时,进一步具体分析慢光介质GaAs的色散特性,给出研究色散型慢光干涉仪的一般性方法,并证明使用慢光介质GaAs在近红外区域可以提高光谱灵敏度2倍左右。     

基于Ⅲ-Ⅴ与Ⅱ-Ⅵ族半导体材料色散特性的高灵敏度慢光干涉仪

分析了Ⅲ-Ⅴ与Ⅱ-Ⅵ族半导体材料的光学特性,证明半导体慢光介质不但可以提高干涉仪的光谱灵敏度,而且可以获得远大于气体慢光介质的工作光谱范围.实验证明,基于慢光介质GaAs的干涉仪光谱灵敏度相对于传统的干涉仪提高约3.2倍. 关键词： 干涉仪 非线性光学 Ⅲ-Ⅴ与Ⅱ-Ⅵ族半导体材料     

Slow light using wave mixing in liquid crystal light valve

By performing optical two-wave mixing in a liquid crystal light valve, we are able to slow down optical pulses to group velocities as slow as a few tenths of mm/s, corresponding to a very large group index. We present experiment and model of the slow light process occurring in liquid crystal light valves. The large group index corresponds to having a large sensitivity for phase variations, a property that can be used to increase the sensitivity of Fourier transform interferometer. We show that when a liquid crystal light valve is inserted in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, the effect of frequency perturbations at the input of the system is amplified by a factor related to the group delay.     

Biconical-taper-assisted fiber interferometer with modes coupling enhancement for high-sensitive curvature measurement

A modal interferometer based on multimode–singlemode–multimode fiber structure built with a biconical taper for fiber curvature measurement is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Due to the tapered singlemode fiber acting as a high-efficient mode power converter to enhance the modes coupling, curvature sensor with improved sensitivity is achieved by monitoring the defined fringe visibility of the interference spectrum. The measuring range can be tuned by changing the waist diameter of the fiber taper. Meanwhile, the sensor shows an intrinsic ability to overcome the influence of temperature cross-sensitivity and the power fluctuation of light source. The advantages of easy fabrication, high-quality spectrum with improved sensitivity, and small hysteresis will provide great potential for practical applications of the sensor.     

Slow and fast light: basic concepts and recent advancements based on nonlinear wave‐mixing processes

After a review of the basic concepts of slow and fast light, recent advancements based on nonlinear wave‐mixing processes are described. As a nonlinear medium, the authors focus on a liquid crystal light valve showing that it allows obtaining a large control of the group delay, with a maximum fractional delay of 1, and a deceleration of light pulses down to group velocities as small as 0.2 mm/s. A theoretical model accompanies the observations and accounts for them in the general framework of two‐wave mixing in the light valve. At the end, a high‐sensitivity interferometer is presented as an example of slow light applications.     

Slow Light by Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Waveguides

A simple and effective way to measure the group velocity ofphotonic crystal waveguides （PCWGs） is developed by using a fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A PCWG with perfect air-bridge structure is fabricated and slow light with group velocity slower than c/80 is demonstrated.     

The measurement of sucrose concentration by two-tapered all-fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer employing different coupling structures and manufacture processes

The sucrose concentration measurement and characteristics of light coupling taper structure on sensitivity with various fabrication processes of taper structure for all-fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (AFMZI) are presented. Using fusion splicer with electrical discharge, the standard single-mode fiber is employed to be fabricated as conical coupling/decoupling taper structure. The basic two fabrication processes are designed as single fusion-stretching (SFS), multiple fusions without stretching (MF). The third advanced process is composed of SFS and multiple fusions without stretching processes, and called multiple fusions with single stretching (MFSS). Various types of coupling/decoupling taper structures were fabricated based on the three kinds of fabrication processes. The effects of geometry shape including taper waist, taper angle, and sensing length on sensing sensitivity of AFMZIs are estimated. The modifications of fiber core and cladding induced by thermal effect affect the refractive index distributions and shapes of taper structure. The effects of refractive index changes of fiber core and cladding on sensing sensitivity are also discussed. The AFMZI was tested by measuring aqueous sucrose solution of refractive index unit (RIU) from 1.333 to 1.420 RIU. The optical spectrums are measured by a spectrometer. The spectrum dip shifts and sensing sensitivity was measured and calculated, respectively. As shown in results, sensing sensitivities of AFMZIs of taper structure fabricated by MFSS and multiple fusions without stretching processing are generally higher than SFS. The reasons could be aimed on materials modification through thermal effect on blurring fiber core-cladding interface and proper taper angle of taper structure. The more homogeneous refractive index distribution on fiber core-cladding interface, the more detecting light power decoupled through core-cladding interface to interact with exterior environment and enhance the sensing sensitivity. Similarly, an appropriate taper angle also provides a better coupling/decoupling performance. The optimal sensitivities relative to low refractive index, high refractive index, and full refractive index range are 87.62, 133.55, and 104.20 nm/RIU, respectively, and the corresponding sensing length are 30, 50, and 30 mm, respectively, with taper angle of 25° and taper waist of 40 μm.     

Rydberg原子的电磁诱导透明光谱的噪声转移特性

基于马赫-曾德尔干涉仪和平衡零拍探测技术研究了Cs原子6S_1/2↔6P_3/2↔62D_5/2Rydberg态阶梯型三能级系统电磁诱导透明效应中耦合光场的噪声向探测光场相位噪声的转移特性.实验中探测光频率锁定在Cs原子6S_1/2↔6P_3/2态共振跃迁线上,通过扫描6P_3/2到62D_5/2态跃迁的耦合光频率,测量了Rydberg态电磁诱导透明光谱.利用探测光经过声光调制器后的一级衍射光实现了马赫-曾德尔干涉仪的相位锁定,测量了不同锁定相位情况下的电磁诱导透明光谱,实验结果与阶梯型三能级系统的理论计算结果符合得很好.在此基础上详细研究了耦合光频率共振在6P_3/2到62D_5/2态跃迁线上时,耦合光频率噪声向探测光相位噪声的转移特性,发现耦合光频率噪声转移效率在高频处显示出较明显的抑制.同时观察到耦合光在不同失谐情况时,随着耦合光功率的改变,探测光相位噪声的变化特征表现出明显差异.     

Slow light transmission in a photonic crystal power splitter with parallel outputs

In this paper, we investigate coupling of light to slow modes in a photonic crystal power splitter composed of a Y-junction and two 60° bends. First, a combination of two cascaded bends which is commonly used in integrated photonic crystal circuits is studied in slow light frequency regime. We propose a structure that its transmission spectrum covers the high group-index frequencies near the band edge. Also, by structural modifications, high transmission near to 95% is achieved in slow light bandwidth. Next, we study the complete structure of a photonic crystal power splitter with parallel outputs based on a Y-junction integrated with two 60° bends. Using modified bends and reducing sharpness of Y-junction, the efficiency of splitting increases in both high and low group-index frequency bands. The optimized structure has an average efficiency of 82% in slow mode regime. This structure can be used in photonic crystal based slow light devices, such as Mach-Zehnder interferometers.     

点衍射干涉检测技术

本文介绍了点衍射干涉仪不同发展阶段的特点和应用。点衍射干涉仪由波长量级的针孔产生高质量的球面波作为参考波前,能够得到衍射极限性能的分辨率。按照不同的光路特点,点衍射干涉仪可分为点衍射共路干涉和点衍射非共路干涉两种结构,主要应用于高精度波前检测和面形检测。共路干涉结构简单紧凑,对环境振动不敏感,对光源相干度要求不高,可利用光束偏振态及光栅衍射分束的特性对传统点衍射板进行改造,在全共路点衍射干涉仪中引入时间相位调制技术和干涉对比度可调技术,可进一步提高波前检测精度。采用反射式针孔和各种光纤结构发展了非共路点衍射干涉仪,实现了大口径、高精度球面反射镜面形的测量。本文重点阐述了用于极紫外光刻投影物镜中高精度球面反射镜面形检测的反射式针孔点衍射干涉仪,并展望了点衍射检测技术在生物检测等领域的应用前景和发展趋势。     

基于小波降噪的偏振耦合检测分析

理论分析了基于白光干涉的保偏光纤偏振模式耦合检测原理,并以迈克尔逊干涉仪对保偏光纤的偏振耦合的耦合强度和耦合点的位置进行了测试.由于机械式扫描干涉仪和信号处理电路会受到环境干扰和各种噪声的影响,限制了系统偏振耦合检测的灵敏度,应用小波变换对检测信号进行了分析,采用软阈值方法降噪处理,有效地去除了各种干扰和噪声,提高了干...     

Modulated optical lattice as an atomic fabry-perot interferometer

We propose to engineer the atomic band structure in optical lattices in order to design a Fabry-Perot interferometer with large mode spacing and strong nonlinear coupling to be employed in atom optics. The use of an optical lattice allows for a significant reduction of the atomic effective mass, while the slow modulation of its parameters spatially confines the matter waves on a length scale of a few dozen optical wavelengths. As a consequence, the mode spacing in such a cavity would be as high as one-tenth of the recoil energy, allowing for a very efficient filter action, while the nonlinear coupling due to interatomic interactions could lead to bistability and limiting effects in the transmission of the atomic beam.     

A high temperature sensor based on a peanut-shape structure Michelson interferometer

A fiber temperature sensor with high sensitivity based on a Michelson interferometer is realized by fusion-splicing a peanut-shape structure in single-mode fiber (SMF). The theory and experimental results show that the peanut-shape structure can couple the light energy of the core mode into the cladding and re-couple the light in the cladding into the core. A high-quality interference spectrum with a fringe visibility of about 18 dB is observed. Experimental demonstration shows that the device can be heated up to 900 °C with a sensitivity of about ∼0.096 nm/°C. The device has the advantages of low-cost, high sensitivity and easy fabrication, which makes it attractive for sensing applications.     

高双折射光纤中模式耦合空间分布的干涉测量法

本文应用干涉技术测量高双折射偏振保持光纤中模式耦合点的空间分布，测量系统由采用宽带来半导体激光器作为光源的调制迈克尔逊干涉仪组成，通过光程扫描方法探测沿高双折射光纤分布的模式的耦合点。     

Sensitivity of interferometers under conditions of intense illumination, field mismatch, and light scattering in the mirrors

The problem of ultimate sensitivity of the Fabry-Perot reflection interferometer (RI), which is used for measuring ultrasmall displacements, is considered. The sensitivity depends on the shot noise and is restricted, with the available light power margin, by the power that can be released inside the RI due to the light absorption in the mirrors. In addition, the sensitivity is affected by a mismatch between the RI and light source fields (leading to an excess shot noise) and by the light scattering in the mirrors (a favorable factor reducing the RI heating for specified total losses). An expression for the sensitivity is derived that takes into account the above factors and involves the power P _int released inside the interferometer. This makes it possible to optimize the RI parameters by minimizing P _int and maximizing the sensitivity.     

双量子点Aharonov-Bohm干涉系统输运性质的大偏离分析

由于电子的多体关联和量子相干性的联合作用, 双量子点Aharonov-Bohm 干涉系统中的电子输运过程隐含 内在的快、慢两条通道, 且通道之间的有效耦合强度可以通过磁通调控. 但是, 这一非平庸的内在性质, 在通常的稳态输运电流中不能得以反映. 本文利用在研究非平衡动力学相变中所发展的大偏离方法, 对该输运系统中的电子动力学路径做大偏离统计分析. 结果显示, 以上内在性质将诱导出路径空间中清晰的动力学相变行为.     

Large area light-pulse atom interferometry

We report the experimental demonstration of a large area atom interferometer based on extended sequences of light pulses. We characterize the interferometer through measurement of the acceleration due to gravity and demonstrate a threefold enhancement in intrinsic acceleration sensitivity. The technique is applicable to many atom interferometer configurations, including those used for measurement of rotations, gravity gradients, and Planck's over 2pi/m.     

Observable frequency shifts via spin-rotation coupling

The phase perturbation arising from spin-rotation coupling is developed as a natural extension of the celebrated Sagnac effect. Experimental evidence in support of this phase shift, however, has yet to be realized due to the exceptional sensitivity required. We draw attention to the relevance of a series of experiments establishing that circularly polarized light, upon passing through a rotating half-wave plate, is changed in frequency by twice the rotation rate. These experiments may be interpreted as demonstrating the role of spin-rotation coupling in inducing this frequency shift, thus providing direct empirical verification of the coupling of the photon helicity to rotation. A neutron interferometry experiment is proposed which would be sensitive to an analogous frequency shift for fermions. In this arrangement, polarized neutrons enter an interferometer containing two spin flippers, one of which is rotating while the other is held stationary. An observable beating in the transmitted neutron beam intensity is predicted.     

Temporally Correlated Narrowband Biphoton Interference Based on Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

Since early 1990s, Mach–Zehnder interferometer has been used to investigate the interference of biphoton wave packets. Due to subpicosecond time coherence of biphoton generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion process, some physical processes are ignored in the interferometer, most likely the biphoton time‐domain interference. Here, the two‐photon interference phenomenon based on the Mach–Zehnder interferometer is theoretically studied, where the correlated photon pairs are produced by the four‐wave mixing in atomic system. In particular, the quantum interference effect to effectively control the coherent time of two‐photon by adjusting the input delay is used. In the damped Rabi oscillation regime, two‐photon bunching and antibunching effects are observed. In addition, in the group‐delay regime, the interference between biphoton precursor, slow‐light wave packets and also in between the precursor and the slow‐light wave packets is observed, which had never been reported before. These results may have potential applications in the fields of biphoton shaping and quantum information processing.