Fabrication of hollow optical waveguides in fused silica by three-dimensional femtosecond laser micromachining

We report on the fabrication of hollow optical waveguides in fused silica using femtosecond laser micromachining. We show that in such hollow waveguides, high-intensity femtosecond laser beams can be guided with low optical loss. Our technique, which was established earlier for fabrication of optofluidic structures in glass, can ensure a high smoothness at the inner surfaces of the hollow waveguides and provide the unique capability of fabrication of hollow waveguides with complex geometries and configurations. A transmission of ∼90% at 633 nm wavelength is obtained for a 62-mm-long hollow waveguide with an inner diameter of ∼250 μm. In addition, nonlinear propagation of femtosecond laser pulses in the hollow waveguide is demonstrated, showing that the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond pulses can be broadened from ∼27.2 to ∼55.7 nm.     

Light slowdown in Bragg waveguide

A Bragg waveguide is analyzed from the viewpoint of obtaining slow light. It is shown that, for this system, a complete mathematical analysis of the pulse propagation with allowance for leakage is possible. Calculations are presented that show that, in a TiO₂/SiO₂-based Bragg waveguide, one can obtain a group index of ∼1000 with a spatial decay length of ∼3 mm for a nanosecond-scale pulse. Distortion of the pulse due to the group index dispersion proves to be acceptable, in this case, for the pulse propagation length of about 3 mm, which corresponds to the fractional pulse delay ∼10. We also analyze the propagation of the light pulse in the Bragg waveguide with a quantum well inside and show possibility of obtaining a group index of ∼10000.     

Reduced depth polarizer for integrated optics

Taking advantage of the different cut-off thickness of the two fundamental modes in an optical waveguide, a polarizing structure has been realized. It consists of a narrow stripe (∼100 μm) of reduced diffusion depth in an ion-exchanged waveguide. The TE₀-mode passes the polarizer with negligible losses, whereas the TM₀-mode is forced to couple out into the substrate. The extinction ratio is better than −16 dB.     

Power and radiance scaling of a 946 nm Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser

We present a diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser operating on neodymium’s quasi-four-level transition at a wavelength of 946 nm. Two modes of operation are described: a high-power multi-mode monolithic cavity generating 105 for 210 W of incident pump power with a slope efficiency of ∼54%, and secondly, a high-radiance configuration employing an external stable resonator producing a maximum output power of 29.2 for 86.5 W of incident pump-power, with a slope efficiency of 33%. The output beam quality values of the external cavity were M² of 3.2 by 2.4, leading to a maximum radiance of 0.43 GW cm⁻² sr⁻¹.     

Multi-layer cladding leaky planar waveguide for high-power applications

We design a multi-layer cladding large-core planar waveguide that supports a single guided mode. The waveguide works on the principle of higher-order mode discrimination. The cladding of the waveguide is formed by alternate low- and high- index regions, which helps leaking out of higher-order modes while retaining the fundamental mode over the entire length of the waveguide. The structure is analyzed by the transfer-matrix method and the leakage losses of the modes have been calculated. We show that a waveguide formed in silica with numerical aperture 0.24 and core width 10 μm can be designed to exhibit single-mode operation at 1550-nm wavelength. Such a structure should find applications in high-power planar waveguide lasers and amplifiers.     

Fiber-optic ring-down spectroscopy using a tunable picosecond gain-switched diode laser

Visible and near-infrared laser light pulses were coupled into two different types of optical fiber cavities. One cavity consisted of a short strand of fiber waveguide that contained two identical fiber Bragg gratings. Another cavity was made using a loop of optical fiber. In either cavity ∼40 ps laser pulses, which were generated using a custom-built gain-switched diode laser, circulated for a large number of round trips. The optical loss of either cavity was determined from the ring-down times. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was performed on 200 pL volumes of liquid samples that were injected into the cavities using a 100 μm gap in the fiber loop. A detection limit of 20 ppm of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution, corresponding to a minimum absorptivity of εC<6 cm^-1, was realized. PACS 42.62.Fi; 42.81.-i     

Tunable dual-wavelength fiber laser based on a polarization-maintaining fiber Bragg grating and a Hi-Bi fiber optical loop mirror

We demonstrate experimentally the operation of a linear cavity dual-wavelength fiber laser using a polarization maintaining fiber Bragg grating (PM-FBG) as an end mirror that defines two closely spaced laser emission lines. The PM-FBG is also used to tune the laser wavelengths. The total tuning range is ∼8 nm. The laser operates in a stable dual-wavelength mode for an appropriate adjustment of the cavity losses for the generated wavelengths. The high birefringence (Hi-Bi) fiber optical loop mirror (FOLM) is used as a tunable spectral filter to adjust the losses. The FOLM adjustment was performed by the temperature control of the Hi-Bi fiber.     

Comparison of gold and silver dispersion laws suitable for FDTD simulations

We report optical planar waveguide formation and modal characterization in β-BaB₂O₄ crystals by Cu²⁺-ion implantation at an energy of 3.0 MeV and doses of ∼ 10¹⁴ ions/cm². The prism-coupling method was used to investigate the dark-mode property at wavelengths of 633 nm and 1539 nm. The refractive-index profile of the waveguide was reconstructed by an effective refractive index method. The modal analysis indicates that the fields of TM modes can be well restricted in the guiding region, which means the formation of a non-leaky waveguide in the crystal. The results show that the β-BaB₂O₄ waveguides may be used in the application of high efficiency frequency conversion. PACS 61.80.Jh; 42.70.Mp; 42.65.Wi     

Room-temperature continuous wave laser oscillations in Nd:YAG ceramic waveguides produced by carbon ion implantation

We report on the generation of continuous wave lasers at a wavelength of ∼1064 nm in a Nd:YAG ceramic waveguide at room temperature. The waveguide was fabricated by using 6 MeV carbon ion implantation at a fluence of 3×10¹⁴ ions/cm². Laser operation has been realized with a slope efficiency as high as ∼11%. The pump threshold of an 808-nm laser beam for the waveguide laser oscillation is 19.5 mW.     

A multimode model of a waveguide laser cavity with mirrors of arbitrary radius of curvature

A multimode model is developed to determine optical losses in a waveguide laser cavity of cylindrical symmetry with mirrors of arbitrary radius of curvature. Within the framework of the model, it is possible to vary the parameters of the resonator: waveguide length, distance between the waveguide and mirrors, radius of curvature of the mirrors in a wide range taking account of mutual conversion of up to 10 waveguide modes and 20 modes of free space. The model was applied successfully to determine the optimal geometry of a semiconfocal cavity. A. N. Sevchenko Scientific-Research Institute of Physical Problems, 7 Kurchatov Str., Minsk, 220064, Belarus; e-mail: v.saetchnikov@rfe.bsu.unibel.by. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 6, pp. 779–783, November–December, 1999.     

Continuous-wave cavity-ringdown detection of stimulated Raman gain spectra

Cavity ringdown (CRD) spectroscopy, with its high sensitivity, provides a novel way to perform continuous-wave (cw) stimulated Raman gain (SRG) spectroscopy, rather than by conventional optically detected coherent Raman techniques. Tunable cw laser light at ∼1544 nm is used to probe ringdown decay from a rapidly-swept, high-finesse optical cavity containing a gas-phase sample of interest and itself located inside the cavity of a cw single-longitudinal-mode Nd:YAG ring laser operating at ∼1064.4 nm. This approach is used to measure cw SRG spectra of the ν ₁ fundamental rovibrational Raman band of methane gas at ∼2916.5 cm⁻¹. The resulting SRG-CRD resonances have ringdown times longer than in the off-resonance case, in contrast to the usual shorter ringdown times arising from absorption and other loss processes. Previously reported noise-equivalent sensitivities have been substantially improved, by using a second ringdown cavity to facilitate subtraction of infrared-absorption background signals. Moreover, by employing a ringdown cavity in the form of a ring, the SRG-pump and CRD-detected Stokes beams can co-propagate uni-directionally, which significantly reduces Doppler broadening.     

Ti:sapphire rib channel waveguide fabricated by reactive ion etching of a planar waveguide

We report, to our knowledge, the first active channel waveguide in Ti:sapphire. We have created ∼1.4-μm high ribs in a ∼10-μm thick Ti:sapphire planar waveguide by reactive ion etching. Following excitation by an Ar-ion laser, the rib structure showed channel-waveguide fluorescence emission. The mode profiles and the beam-parameter values (M²) were measured. The coupling efficiency of fluorescence emission into a single-mode fiber was an order of magnitude higher than for fluorescence from unstructured planar regions of the waveguide. Such devices are of interest as low-threshold tunable lasers and as broadband light sources in low-coherence interferometry. Received: 22 December 2002 / Revised version: 30 March 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

Development of an open-path incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced spectroscopy based instrument for simultaneous measurement of HONO and NO2 in ambient air

We report on the development of an optical instrument based on incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS) for simultaneous open-path measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in ambient air using a UV light emitting diode operating at ∼366 nm. Detection limits of ∼430 pptv for HONO and ∼1 ppbv for NO₂ were achieved with an optimum acquisition time of 90 s, determined by an Allan variance analysis. Based on a 1.85 m long high optical finesse open-path cavity, the effective optical path length of 2.8 km was realized in aerosol-free samples or in an urban environment at modest aerosol levels. Such a kilometer long optical absorption is comparable to that achieved in the well established differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technology while keeping the instrument very compact. Open-path detection configuration allows one to avoid absorption cell wall losses and sampling induced artifacts. The demonstrated sensitivity and specificity shows high potential of this cost-effective and compact infrastructure for future field applications with high spatial resolution.     

High spectral resolution analysis of tunable narrowband resonant grating waveguide structures

A high spectral resolution analysis of narrowband reflection filters based on resonant grating waveguide structures is presented. A tunable high-performance dye laser with ∼ 0.15 cm^-1 line width and a beam analyzing system consisting of three simultaneously controlled CCD cameras were used to investigate grating waveguide resonances at wavelengths in the 694 nm and 633 nm ranges. A reflectivity of ∼ 91% and a line width of ∼ 0.55 nm were measured and theoretically modeled for a resonant reflection filter specifically designed for the ruby laser wavelength 694.2 nm. For a second grating waveguide structure, designed for the helium-neon laser emission wavelength 632.8 nm, we observed a thermal shift of its spectral resonance position of several nanometers, when increasing the sample temperature by some degrees. An inverse thermal shift was observed when the structure was subsequently cooled down to room temperature. Our results suggest implementation of grating waveguide devices combining a narrow line width with a tunability of the resonant response into innovative concepts for reflection filter and sensor applications. PACS 42.62.-b; 42.79.Dj; 42.79.Gn     

Entanglement generation in a two-mode single-atom laser

We present a method of generating two-mode single atom laser based on the nonresonant interaction of a three-level Λ type atom in a two-mode cavity with three strong classical driving fields. An analytical solution for this effective dynamics under the presence of the cavity losses is obtained, which allow us to analyze the entanglement properties and the photon statistics of the two cavity modes exactly. It is also shown that the possible generation of the two-mode entangled coherent states in the transient regime after the atomic measurement.     

Microwave energy channeling in plasma waveguides created by a high-power UV laser in the atmosphere

The grazing mode of microwave propagation in a hollow plasma waveguide formed by ionization of atmospheric air with a small easily ionized additive by strong UV pulses of the Garpun KrF laser (λ = 248 nm, the pulse duration and energy are ∼70 ns and ∼50 J) was experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The annular laser beam produced a hollow tube ∼10 cm in diameter with an electron density of ∼10¹² cm⁻³ in a plasma wall ∼1 cm thick, over whichmicrowave radiation with λ _mw ∼ 8 mm was transmitted to a distance of 60 m. Themicrowave signal transmitted by the waveguide was amplified by a factor of 6 in comparison with propagation in free space.     

Optical waveguide writing inside Foturan glass with femtosecond laser pulses

We investigated the femtosecond laser writing of optical waveguides inside Foturan glass at various pulse energies and focusing depths. An optimal waveguide fabricated solely by femtosecond laser irradiation showed a refractive index modulation of ∼1.7×10^-3 and a minimum transmission loss of ∼0.80 dB/cm. This type of waveguide had lower transmission loss than those fabricated by a hybrid process of femtosecond laser exposure and following thermal treatment. An optical splitter was also fabricated at high pulse energy. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.82.Et; 42.70.Gi     

Influence of focusing depth on the microfabrication of waveguides inside silica glass by femtosecond laser direct writing

We studied the influence of focusing depth on the index change threshold and damage threshold of silica glass irradiated by a focused 120 fs laser beam. Both thresholds increased with the focusing depth. The aspect ratio of the waveguide cross section can be selected by changing the focusing depth. A 5 mm long waveguide was written at the depth of 2100 μm, which was single mode at 632.8 nm and exhibited propagation loss of 0.56 dB/cm. The refractive index change was calculated to be ∼2.47×10^-3. The influence of the focusing depth should be considered in multi-layer devices as shown in the fabrication of a 3×3 waveguide array. PACS 42.62.-b; 42.82.Et; 81.05.Kf     

Surface vibrations and the nature of the adsorption state: C2H2 on Pt(111)

Molecular vibrations of C₂H₂ and C₂D₂ adsorbed on Pt(111) at 140 K and ∼300K have been measured by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The comparison of C₂H₂ and C₂D₂ spectra allows an unambiguous assignment of the observed losses to the excitation of C−H bending, C−H stretching, and C−C stretching modes of nondissociatively adsorbed acetylene. From the relative intensities of losses the hybridisation state is determined to be nearsp ². The C−C stretching frequency indicates a C−C bond order of ∼1.8.     

A Decoherence-Reduction Scheme by Waveguides in Quantum Information Processing

Based on the result of cavity quantum electrodynamics, we suggest a method, in which the Fabry-Perot cavity or the confocal cavity is replaced by a waveguide with the size comparable to the wavelength of the photon, to reduce decoherence caused by spontaneous emission in quantum information processing, especially in the realization of quantum computation. Since a waveguide has a lowest cutoff frequency while a Fabry-Perot cavity or a confocal cavity has none, the spontaneous emission of excited atoms will be forbidden in an ideal waveguide with an appropriate size. To avoid the influence of the non-ideal conducting walls on the atom in a realistic waveguide, which will lead to decoherence, we suggest that the waveguide should be coated by a thin film of transparent insulating medium. In our method, the quantum information is represented by a multi-level atom or molecule; any two of its levels can be used to represent a qubit in principle. Our method greatly extends the choice of the material to be used in the realization of quantum computation, and it can be used in most schemes to reduce the decoherence caused by spontaneous emission.