Subfemtosecond synchronization of microwave oscillators with mode-locked Er-fiber lasers

We synchronize an 8.06 GHz microwave signal from a voltage-controlled oscillator with an optical pulse train from a 77.5 MHz mode-locked Er-fiber laser using a fiber-based optical-microwave phase detector. The residual phase noise between the optical pulse train and the synchronized microwave signal is -133 dBc/Hz (-154 dBc/Hz) at 1 Hz (5 kHz) offset frequency, which results in 838 as integrated rms timing jitter [1 Hz-1 MHz]. The long-term residual phase drift is 847 as (rms) measured over 2 h, which reaches 4×10(-19) fractional frequency instability at 1800 s averaging time. This method has a potential to provide both subfemtosecond-level short-term phase noise and long-term phase stability in microwave extraction from mode-locked fiber lasers.     

Experimental investigation of relative intensity noise in Brillouin fiber ring lasers for microwave photonics applications

Intensity noise characteristics of a single-mode Brillouin fiber ring laser are experimentally analyzed from 100 kHz up to 18 GHz. The Stokes wave is shown to be shot-noise limited to -155 dB/Hz for a 1 mA detected photocurrent over the whole spectral range 100 MHz-18 GHz. The pump-to-Stokes noise filtering efficiency is evaluated by artificially increasing the pump intensity noise. It evidences that a shot-noise-limited Brillouin laser could be realized by using a narrow-linewidth semiconductor laser pump, for stringent microwave photonics applications.     

Miniature photonic-crystal hydrophone optimized for ocean acoustics

This work reports on an optical hydrophone that is insensitive to hydrostatic pressure, yet capable of measuring acoustic pressures as low as the background noise in the ocean in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The miniature hydrophone consists of a Fabry-Perot interferometer made of a photonic-crystal reflector interrogated with a single-mode fiber and is compatible with existing fiber-optic technologies. Three sensors with different acoustic power ranges placed within a sub-wavelength sized hydrophone head allow a high dynamic range in the excess of 160 dB with a low harmonic distortion of better than -30 dB. A method for suppressing cross-coupling between sensors in the same hydrophone head is also proposed. A prototype was fabricated, assembled, and tested. The sensitivity was measured from 100 Hz to 100 kHz, demonstrating a sound-pressure-equivalent noise spectral density down to 12 μPa/Hz(1/2), a flatband wider than 10 kHz, and very low distortion.     

Long-external-cavity distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth

We report on a simple, compact, and robust 780 nm distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth. An external cavity with optical path length of 3.6 m, implemented with an optical fiber, reduces the laser frequency noise by several orders of magnitude. At frequencies above 100 kHz the frequency noise spectral density is reduced by over 33 dB, resulting in an intrinsic Lorentzian linewidth of 300 Hz. The remaining low-frequency noise is easily removed by stabilization to an external reference cavity. We further characterize the influence of feedback power and current variation on the intrinsic linewidth. The system is suitable for experiments requiring a tunable laser with narrow linewidth and low high-frequency noise, such as coherent optical communication, optical clocks, and cavity QED experiments.     

Laser frequency modulation noise measurement by recirculating delayed self-heterodyne method

I propose and demonstrate the use of the recirculating delayed self-heterodyne (DSH) method for measuring FM noise power spectral densities (PSDs), which are the most fundamental measure characterizing the spectral purity of laser sources. By analyzing the DSH beat signals with 1, 10, and 160?km delays, the FM noise PSD of a narrow-linewidth fiber laser is evaluated for Fourier frequency range between 10?Hz and 100?kHz, which exhibits flicker noise as the dominant contribution.     

Ultralow phase noise microwave generation with an Er:fiber-based optical frequency divider

We present an optical frequency divider based on a 200 MHz repetition rate Er:fiber mode-locked laser that, when locked to a stable optical frequency reference, generates microwave signals with absolute phase noise that is equal to or better than cryogenic microwave oscillators. At 1 Hz offset from a 10 GHz carrier, the phase noise is below -100 dBc/Hz, limited by the optical reference. For offset frequencies >10 kHz, the phase noise is shot noise limited at -145 dBc/Hz. An analysis of the contribution of the residual noise from the Er:fiber optical frequency divider is also presented.     

Fundamental frequency noise properties of extended cavity erbium fiber lasers

A multimode linear cavity and a single-mode unidirectional ring cavity fiber laser with meter-long cavity lengths are shown to exhibit frequency noise limited by fundamental thermodynamic noise from 100?Hz to 100?kHz. Their measured spectra agree closely with theoretically derived thermodynamic noise and the characteristic dependence of the frequency noise power spectrum on the inverse of the cavity length is observed. The unidirectional ring laser exhibits a frequency noise of 2?Hz/Hz(1/2) at 1?kHz, one of the lowest published values to date from a free-running laser. The multimode linear cavity laser is shown to be a suitable candidate for thermal-noise-limited, meter-long fiber laser strain sensors with a strain resolution of 14?f?/Hz(1/2) at 1?kHz.     

Phase-noise properties of an ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

Phase noise is a critical issue for the sensitivity of the interferometric gravitational-wave detector Laser Interferometer Space Antenna that requires laser sources with 1 W of output power. A low-power seed laser with a subsequent fiber amplifier is in discussion, and we report on spectrally resolved phase-noise measurements of an ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier emitting 1 W of output power from 10 mW of seed power. Phase-noise measurements for Fourier frequencies from 10(-4) Hz to 100 kHz show 60 rad/Hz0.5 at 10(-4) Hz and 0.2 mrad/Hz0.5 at 1 kHz. This measured excess phase noise is orders of magnitude below the free-running phase noise of nonplanar ring oscillators.     

400 mW ultrashort cavity low-noise single-frequency Yb³⁺-doped phosphate fiber laser

A compact, low-noise, single-frequency fiber laser by using a newly developed Yb3? heavily doped single-mode phosphate glass fiber has been demonstrated. Over 400 mW stable continuous wave single transverse and longitudinal mode laser at 1.06 μm was achieved from a 0.8 cm long active fiber. The measured slope efficiency and estimated quantum efficiency of laser emission are 72.7% and 93%, respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio is higher than 72 dB, and the linewidth of the fiber laser is less than 7 kHz, while the measured relative intensity noise is less than -130 dB/Hz at frequencies of over 1.5 MHz.     

Optical-fiber pulse rate multiplier for ultralow phase-noise signal generation

In this Letter we report on an all optical-fiber approach to the synthesis of ultralow-noise microwave signals by photodetection of femtosecond laser pulses. We use a cascade of Mach-Zehnder fiber interferometers to realize stable and efficient repetition rate multiplication. This technique increases the signal level of the photodetected microwave signal by close to 18 dB. That in turn allows us to demonstrate a residual phase-noise level of -118 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz and -160 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz from a 12 GHz signal. The residual noise floor of the fiber multiplier and photodetection system alone is around -164 dBc/Hz at the same offset frequency, which is very close to the fundamental shot-noise floor.     

低噪声光纤激光器的实验研究

光传感和光通信领域的迅速发展迫切需要相位噪声和强度噪声都很低的激光光源,为满足这一需求,设计出一种新型低噪声光纤激光器。激光器采用复合腔结构,以掺铒光纤作为工作物质,通过在未被抽运的掺铒光纤中形成的瞬态自写入光纤光栅的窄带滤波特性进行选模和压窄线宽,产生稳定的单频激光输出;经过光路改进,激光输出光谱信噪比优于62 dB;利用光电负反馈电路,弛豫振荡峰下降了约25 dB,低频段强度噪声也大为改善,有效地抑制了光源的强度噪声。激光器的输出光功率大于1 dBm,线宽小于1 kHz,边模抑制比超过50 dB。优异的低噪声特性使得该激光器在光传感和光通信领域具有重要的应用价值。     

Noise characteristics of a high-power ytterbium-doped fibre amplifier at 1083 nm

Experimental results are reported for the noise characteristics of an Yb-doped fibre amplifier pumped at 975 nm, used as a booster of a low-noise narrow-linewidth single-frequency 1083-nm wavelength laser diode. The maximum output power of the amplifier is 1.2 W with a gain larger than 30 dB. An increase of the intensity-noise spectral density relative to the signal, by approximately 6.5 dB, is introduced by the amplification process, due to signal-amplified spontaneous-emission (ASE) beat noise. A remarkable increase of the noise level with decreasing frequency is observed below ≈35 kHz, probably due to technical noise of the amplifier pump diodes. The spectral broadening due to amplifier phase noise was measured to be less than 300 Hz with a 5-kHz-linewidth Nd:YAG laser and that for the 300-kHz-linewidth diode laser at 1083 nm is therefore expected to be in the same range. Received: 5 October 1999 / Revised version: 2 December 1999 / Published online: 24 March 2000     

一种光纤光栅水听器灵敏度校准技术研究

为了校准光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度,开展了光纤光栅水听器灵敏度校准技术研究.本文首先介绍了光纤光栅水听器的工作原理;其次,采用可调谐激光器和带工作点控制的强度调制法,实现了光纤光栅水听器的信号解调和稳态测量;在此基础上,利用比较法建立了一种光纤光栅水听器校准系统,校准频率范围为20 Hz～10 kHz;最后,在该频率范围内对采用等效相移布喇格光栅研制的一只光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度进行了校准,对系统的测量不确定度进行了估算.结果表明,该系统可准确校准光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度,扩展不确定度为0.9 dB(k＝2).     

基于光频调节的干涉型光纤水听器相位补偿检测方法

提出了一种基于光源频率调节的干涉型光纤水听器主动相位补偿的信号检测方法。详细介绍了该方法的基本检测原理,对信号解调误差进行了理论分析与仿真。为了验证该方法的可行性,搭建了实验系统,并编写了实时的信号采集、处理程序,对某一干涉型光纤水听器的声压灵敏度进行了测试。在频带20 Hz-1.3 kHz上,平均声压灵敏度为-162.2 dB(0 dB=1 rad/μPa),波动小于±0.8 dB,与采用相位载波调制解调方法测量的结果基本吻合。实验结果证明该方法是有效的。由于传感部分不含有源器件,便于实现全光纤化,且解调算法简单、检测频带宽,该方法能被广泛应用到各种干涉型光纤传感器的信号检测当中。     

全频域下窄线宽激光器光谱线宽的分析

窄线宽激光器的线宽表征方式通常采用延时自外差法测量技术。该技术是通过延时光纤差拍产生一个与待测激光线宽相关的洛伦兹频谱,因此该频谱只具有单一的线宽表现形式。为了能够观察到激光器的线宽和频率噪声在其傅里叶频率分布下的完整特性,报道了一种基于β算法计算窄线宽激光器线宽的方法。该方法是结合频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分别诱导不同激光线型的理论,从而确定激光线宽。首先,对β算法的基本原理进行了详细的分析说明。通过基于维纳-辛钦定理,分析了窄线宽激光器不同频率范围内的频率噪声和激光线宽的依赖关系。阐明了在截止频率趋于0和无穷大的两个范围条件时,激光频谱特性从高斯线型向洛伦兹线型演变。同时推导出使两种线型转换的截止频率表达式,并将其转换为频率噪声函数,该函数定义为β分子线。此时频率噪声分量中高斯线型的总和即为激光线宽计算公式;其次,对窄线宽激光器的频率噪声和激光线型进行数值仿真。将通过OEwaves公司的OE4000互相关零差相位/频率噪声自动测试系统测得的频率噪声谱密度,带入β算法理论公式中。结果显示：1/f噪声导致激光呈现高斯线型,线宽随截止频率的增加而增大。而白噪声将导致洛伦兹线型,线宽不再随截止频率而改变。此外,在低频区域,频率噪声电平远大于其傅里叶频率,噪声调制系数较高,该部分噪声可以决定线宽大小。因此,高斯线型区域对应的频率噪声的积分,即为待测激光器的线宽;在高频区域,频率噪声电平与其傅里叶频率相差较小,频率波动较快,噪声对线宽影响可以忽略。并且频率带宽在截止频率范围内,计算的线宽误差较小。最后,实验上运用β算法对RIO公司的1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的频率噪声功率谱密度进行积分计算,成功获得了其不同傅里叶频率分布下对应的激光线宽值。其中β分子线将频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分隔两部分：当频率噪声谱密度大于β分子线时,激光即为高斯线型,线宽随频率积分带宽的增加而减少;而频率噪声谱密度小于β分子线时,激光呈现洛伦兹线型,线宽为定值不再改变。同时为了对β算法进行实验验证,搭建了延迟光纤为50 km、移频频率为60 MHz的延时自外差法测量系统。对注入电流为110 mA的RIO 1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的线宽进行实验测量,测量结果表明激光线宽为1.8 kHz,与上述β算法中2.8 kHz的频率带宽积分结果一致。充分证明了此算法的准确性。β算法可以对任意类型的窄线宽激光器进行线宽表征,对窄线宽激光器的研究具有重要意义。     

20 Hz~10 kHz光纤水听器相移灵敏度校准

利用相位生成载波解调技术精确测量光纤水听器的光相移量,在20 Hz~10 kHz频率范围实现了光纤水听器探头相移灵敏度的校准.20 Hz~1.25 kHz频段采用驻波管比较法进行校准,1.25 kHz~10 kHz频段采用自由场脉冲比较法进行校准.利用本文建立的校准系统,对TMD 35#光纤水听器的相移灵敏度进行校准,校准结果表明,两种方法测得的相移灵敏度具有很好的一致性,在1.25 kHz频率点的相移灵敏度值偏差为0.8 dB.不确定度分析表明,该校准系统的扩展不确定度(k=2)为0.9 dB.     

Active control of the volume acquisition noise in functional magnetic resonance imaging: method and psychoacoustical evaluation.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides a noninvasive tool for observing correlates of neural activity in the brain while a subject listens to sound. However, intense acoustic noise is generated in the process of capturing MR images. This noise stimulates the auditory nervous system, limiting the dynamic range available for displaying stimulus-driven activity. The noise is potentially damaging to hearing and is distracting for the subject. In an active noise control (ANC) system, a reference sample of a noise is processed to form a sound which adds destructively with the noise at the listener's ear. We describe an implementation of ANC in the electromagnetically hostile and physically compact MRI scanning environment. First, a prototype system was evaluated psychoacoustically in the laboratory, using the electrical drive to a noise-generating loudspeaker as the reference. This system produced 10-20 dB of subjective noise-reduction between 250 Hz and 1 kHz, and smaller amounts at higher frequencies. The system was modified to operate in a real MR scanner where the reference was obtained by recording the acoustic scanner noise. Objective reduction by 30-40 dB of the most intense component in scanner noises was realized between 500 Hz and 3500 Hz, and subjective reduction of 12 dB and 5 dB in tests at frequencies of 600 Hz and at 1.9 kHz, respectively. Although the benefit of ANC is limited by transmission paths to the cochlea other than air-conduction routes from the auditory meatus, ANC achieves worthwhile attenuation even in the frequency range of maximum bone conduction (1.5-2 kHz). ANC should, therefore, be generally useful during auditory fMRI.     

一种光纤光栅水听器灵敏度校准技术研究

为了校准光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度,开展了光纤光栅水听器灵敏度校准技术研究.本文首先介绍了光纤光栅水听器的工作原理;其次,采用可调谐激光器和带工作点控制的强度调制法,实现了光纤光栅水听器的信号解调和稳态测量;在此基础上,利用比较法建立了一种光纤光栅水听器校准系统,校准频率范围为20 Hz~10 kHz;最后,在该频率范围内对采用等效相移布喇格光栅研制的一只光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度进行了校准,对系统的测量不确定度进行了估算.结果表明,该系统可准确校准光纤光栅水听器的灵敏度,扩展不确定度为0.9 dB(k=2).     

基于噪声免疫腔增强光外差分子光谱技术实现光纤激光器到1530.58 nmNH_3亚多普勒饱和光谱的频率锁定

噪声免疫腔增强光外差分子光谱技术(NICE-OHMS)由于结合了频率调制光谱与腔增强光谱两种技术,不仅可以将激光耦合到高精细度谐振腔大幅提高腔内功率,还可以实现低气压样品气体的高灵敏测量,因此基于该技术可以实现分子吸收线的饱和,获得亚多普勒光谱,从而能作为激光频率锁定的参考.本文基于光纤激光器的NICE-OHMS技术,将光纤激光器频率锁定到NH3的亚多普勒吸收线上.首先分析了基于Pound-Drever-Hall和DeVoe-Brewer技术实现激光到腔模和调制频率到腔自由光谱区频率锁定的性能,之后在腔内气压为70 mTorr条件下,测量了半高全宽为2.05 MHz的NH3亚多普勒信号,最后将1.53μm的光纤激光器频率锁定到该亚多普勒吸收线上,相对频率偏差为16.3 kHz,阿伦方差结果显示,136 s积分时间下频率稳定度达到1.6×10~(-12).     

20～1250Hz光纤激光加速度传感系统设计

为了实现高灵敏度、宽频响应的光纤型加速度传感器,以光纤激光器作为加速度传感器的传感元件,建立了光纤激光加速度传感系统,并对该系统的传感原理、灵敏度和谐振频率等性能进行了分析和实验。采用竖直式加速度传感器结构,结构中的传感组件主要由质量块和中空的细钢管组成,光纤激光器受预应力作用后粘接在钢管内部,在加速度作用下,钢管产生的应变引起光纤激光器的应变和折射率发生改变,导致光纤激光器的出射波长随之发生改变,然后使用干涉解调技术检测出波长的动态变化,即可获得波长中包含的加速度振幅和频率信息。实验结果表明,在20~1 250 Hz频段内,竖直式光纤激光加速度传感器的灵敏度约为-126.2 d B[参考值1 rad/(μm/s~2)],频响曲线的波动幅度在±1.9 d B范围内,加速度响应动态范围为77.46~170.26 d B[500 Hz频点,参考值1μm/(s~2·Hz1/2)],加速度分辨率优于0.01 m/s~2。