Quasi-common-path laser feedback interferometry based on frequency shifting and multiplexing

We present a quasi-common-path laser feedback interferometer based on frequency shifting and multiplexing. The interferometer uses two acousto-optic modulators to shift the frequency of the target-generated feedback light by 2 Omega. A properly aligned mirror is inserted into the feedback path to generate a feedback light frequency shifted by Omega. Phase variations of the two quasi-common-path feedback light beams are simultaneously measured through heterodyne demodulation with two different reference signals. Their subtraction accurately reflects the target displacement. Under typical room conditions, the system's short-period resolution is better than 2 nm, and its 3 min displacement accuracy is 8 nm.     

Phase-shifted laser feedback interferometry

We have introduced the techniques of phase-shifting interferometry into a laser feedback interference microscope based on a helium-neon laser. With moderate feedback, multiple reflections between the sample and the laser are shown to be negligible, and the interferometer responds sinusoidally with a well-characterized fringe modulation. One can obtain higher signal-to-noise ratios by determining the number of additional terms required for modeling the effect of multiple reflections on the phase and visibility measurements in the high-feedback regime. Changes in optical path length are determined with nanometer precision without phase averaging or lock-in detection.     

基于激光移频回馈技术远距离振动测量研究

远距离微弱振动信号探测在机械制造、国防军事等领域具有重要意义。针对远距离非合作目标振动测量不足的问题,基于固体微片激光器移频回馈技术,构建远距离振动测量系统,进一步分析系统灵敏度指标,包括工作距离、入射角度以及非配合物体等参数。实验得到:系统对100 m外目标微弱振动信号高质量采集,以硬纸盒作为测量目标时,频率测量误差小于0.1%,在±60°入射角下信噪比仍接近20 dB。此外支持对奶粉袋、泡沫等多种非合作目标振动测量。系统可灵活用于机械振动测量和远程监视等领域,具有较大工程应用推广价值。     

Polarization switching in a quasi-isotropic microchip Nd:YAG laser induced by optical feedback

This paper demonstrates the influence of external optical feedback on the polarization state of longitudinal modes in quasi-isotropic microchip Nd:YAG lasers. Under optical feedback, the polarization state of longitudinal modes in quasi-isotropic lasers relies strongly on the intracavity anisotropy loss and mode competition. When the intracavity anisotropy loss is small, external optical feedback can cause polarization switching and strong mode competition between two orthogonal linearly polarized eigenstates of one laser longitudinal mode, which leads to the distortion of laser intensity modulation waveform. The polarization switching is independent of the initial external cavity length. By increasing the intracavity anisotropy loss, one polarization eigenstate can be suppressed and the laser works in single-polarization state. A theoretical analysis based on the compound cavity model is presented, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The results offer guidance to the development of laser feedback interferometers.     

Non-contact angle measurement based on parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry

We present a novel precise angle measurement scheme based on parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry （PLFI）, which outputs two parallel laser beams and thus their displacement difference reflects the angle variation of the target. Due to its ultrahigh sensitivity to the feedback light, PLFI realizes the direct non-contact measurement of non- cooperative targets. Experimental results show that PLFI has an accuracy of 8＂ within a range of 1400＂. The yaw of a guide is also measured and the experimental results agree with those of the dual-frequency laser interferometer Agilent 5529A.     

A high accuracy image sensor for sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometry

We proposed a high accuracy image sensor technique for sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometer in the field of the surface profile measurements. It solved the problem of the CCD's pixel offset of the same column under two adjacent rows, eliminated the spectral leakage, and reduced the influence of external interference to the measurement accuracy. We measured the surface profile of a glass plate, and its repeatability precision was less than 8 nm and its relative error was 1.15%. The results show that it can be used to measure surface profile with high accuracy and strong anti-interference ability.     

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.     

Closed-loop phase-shifting interferometry with a laser diode

A closed-loop phase-shifting Fizeau-type interferometer at lambda=633 nm was constructed with the direct frequency modulation of laser diodes. The interferometer is servo controlled fully in the phase domain where optical phases are detected by a two-frequency optical heterodyne method. Stepwise phase shifting was accomplished with good stabilization against external disturbances (vibration, air flow, etc.) and laser frequency fluctuations.     

A microchip laser feedback interferometer with nanometer resolution and increased measurement speed based on phase meter

We introduce a new signal processing method based on phase meter into heterodyne microchip Nd:YAG laser feedback interferometer. The nanometer resolution and a higher measurement speed are realized. The factors determining the accuracy are analyzed. The displacements of the Physik Instrumente nanopositioning system and two piezoelectric transducers were measured. Experimental results indicate laser feedback interferometer’s ability of measuring nanoscale displacement and present promising application prospects in noncooperative targets measurement.     

Aberration correction using a multi-segment mirror with feedback interferometry

A novel real-time aberration correction system using feedback interferometry and a multi-segment mirror for the wavefront corrector is described. The result is a simple and high-speed adaptive optics system demonstrating that feedback interferometry may potentially be an alternative method to conventional aberration correction techniques. Its high-speed processing and simplicity makes real-time correction practical. Our results show that the system can respond up to 37 Hz for sinusoidal phase variations with amplitude of one wavelength and improves Strehl ratio significantly.     

Theory of stability and bifurcation in a multi-quantum well laser with opto-electronic delayed feedback

This paper presents an opto-electronic feedback multi-quantum well laser system and outlines our study of the dynamics and bifurcation in a multi-quantum well laser due to the opto-electronic delayed feedback effect. We point out theoretically the conditions of stability and Hopf bifurcation of the laser. The relaxation oscillation frequency of the system is educed to be the function of the feedback level, delayed time and in-current. The route from stability to bifurcation is numerically simulated via varying the delayed time, feedback strength and in-current. The results show that the induced dynamics can be grouped into four distinct types or modes (stable, periodic pulsed, undamped oscillating or beating, and chaos), where the frequency and intensity varying with the delayed time in the two periodic regions are analyzed detailedly to find that the pulsing frequency is reduced with the long delayed time while the pulsing intensity is added with the long delayed time. And the chaotic pulsing frequency is increased with the large in-current. In addition, the carrier transport between the barrier region and the active region can characterize the dynamics in the laser to produce stable, periodic pulsed, beating and chaotic states by altering the carriers transport or escape rate value.     

Airy beams from a microchip laser

It is theoretically shown that an end-pumped microchip laser formed by a thin laser crystal with plane-plane but slightly tilted facets can emit, under appropriate pumping conditions and near a crystal edge, a truncated self-accelerating Airy output beam.     

Real-time nanometer-vibration measurement with a self-mixing microchip solid-state laser

Nanometer vibration analysis of a target has been demonstrated by a self-aligned optical feedback vibrometry technique that uses a laser-diode-pumped microchip solid-state laser. The laser output waveform, which was modulated through interference between a lasing field and an extremely weak (<- 100-dB) frequency-modulated (FM) feedback field, was analyzed by the Hilbert transformation to yield the vibration waveform of the target. Experimental signal characteristics have been reproduced by numerical simulations. Real-time vibration measurement has also been achieved with a simple FM demodulation circuit.     

Soft-x-ray laser interferometry of a plasma with a tabletop laser and a Lloyd's mirror

We report what is believed to be the first demonstration of soft-x-ray interferometry of a plasma with a tabletop soft-x-ray laser. A Lloyd's mirror interferometer was used in combination with a very compact lambda = 46.9 nm capillary-discharge-pumped laser to map the electron density in the cathode region of a pinch plasma.     

A high polarization microchip green laser with dual Nd:YVO4 crystal

A high polarization Nd:YVO₄/KTP laser with dual crossed gain crystal is reported. Using two optical axis orthogonal Nd:YVO₄ crystal as gain medium, eliminating the depolarization effect of single Nd:YVO₄ crystal, the high polarization green laser is obtained. With 1.8 W diode laser pump power the output power of TEM₀₀ green laser is 366 mW, the light–light conversion efficiency is up to 20.3%, and the polarization ratio is 110:1. This laser has the advantages of being simple and easily attainable at a low cost, and it is suitable for batch production.     

Spontaneous transverse patterns in a microchip laser with a frequency-degenerate resonator

We experimentally observe the formation of high-order transverse patterns in a microchip laser with a high degree of frequency degeneracy. With a doughnut pump profile the spontaneous transverse patterns are well localized in the Lissajous trajectories. The observed transverse patterns are reconstructed with a high degree of accuracy by use of the coherent state of quantum theory. The accurate reconstruction suggests that laser resonators can be designed to obtain a more thorough understanding of the quantum-classical connection.     

Injection locking properties of a microchip laser

An injected microchip laser is theoretically studied, with the use of two models: in the first model, which is traditional, the field is represented by a single frequency component in the slowly-varying envelope approximation. In the second model, referred to as the Fabry-Perot model, two field components are considered which are respectively centered around the frequency of an eigenmode of the injected laser and the frequency of the injected field. Computation of locking ranges, bistability do mains are performed and the results compared. They show not only an improved precision of the second model but also a necessity to use it to describe some effects such as the bistable domains in the limits of the locking domains. Received: 1st April 1998 / Accepted: 21 August 1998     

Sub-nanosecond microchip laser with intracavity Raman conversion

Efficient sub-nanosecond pulse operation of microchip lasers with intracavity Raman conversion and pulse compression is presented for the first time. The microchip lasers were composed of Nd:LSB or Nd:YAG laser crystals, Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber, and Ba(NO₃)₂ Raman medium. The pulse duration obtained at the Stokes wavelength (1196 nm) was as short as 118 ps. Optical conversion efficiency of laser-diode pump power to the Stokes power of 8% was reached. Pulse energy and peak power of Stokes emission were 1.2 μJ and 5.4 kW, correspondingly. Numerical calculations are in good agreement with obtained experimental results. Received: 20 December 2002 / Revised version: 6 March 2003 / Published online: 5 May 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +1-716/645-6945, E-mail: ankuzmin@acsu.buffalo.edu RID="**" ID="**"Present address: University at Buffalo, SUNY, The Institute for Lasers, Photonics, and Biophotonics, 458 NSC, Buffalo, NY 14 260-3000, USA     

Time-average holographic interferometry with a sinusoidally modulated laser diode

Laser diodes have the features of a single-mode operation and a frequency tunability. Holographic interferometry is described for investigating the vibrating amplitude and phase with a frequency-modulated laser diode. Sinusoidal wavelength change by varying laser injection current produces the sinusoidal phase modulation of relative phase difference between the reference and vibrating object paths. Holograms are made by time-average exposure of three-type recording modes with a laser diode. The phase of vibrating object is extracted from the measurements of Bessel-type fringe irradiances in three kinds of time-average holographic reconstruction. Experimental results of phase and amplitude for a vibrating cantilever object are shown.     

高稳定性低噪声的561 nm黄光激光器

鉴于目前561 nm激光器噪声较大,影响其实用性,提出一种高稳定性低噪声的561 nm黄光激光器。利用Nd:YAG晶体得到1 123 nm基频光,通过LBO晶体腔内倍频得到561 nm输出。理论分析了1 112 nm、1 116 nm与1 123 nm波长的阈值泵浦功率,提出1 123 nm的单波长振荡条件,确定谐振腔镀膜要求。根据理论计算,设计了合理的谐振腔膜系,通过抑制1 112 nm与1 116 nm谱线在谐振腔内的振荡实现1 123 nm谱线的单波长振荡。在泵浦功率为5 W时,实现了561 nm激光单波长输出,输出功率达到107 mW,功率不稳定性达到0.7%,噪声为1.2%。