Experimental determination of optical constants of MgF2 and AlF3 thin films in the vacuum ultra-violet wavelength region (60-124 nm), and its application to optical designs

The investigation of some solar radiations of interest for astrophysicists requires optics in the 80-130 nm vacuum ultra-violet spectral range (VUV). In this domain, where both transmittance and reflectance of most materials are very low, the measurement of optical constants is specifically difficult, and optical data are consequently often either inexistent or uncertain. Reliable modelling of optical components for VUV, like polarizing multi-layered mirrors, necessitates prior measurement of complex indices of the thin films involved in the coating. Fluorides like MgF₂ or AlF₃ are among the rare materials capable to contribute to multi-layer mirrors in the VUV.We have determined optical constants of thin films of these two materials by using a two media reflectance method at normal incidence and a graphical determination particularly suited to this VUV region, which we presented in a previous paper. Optical constants are determined in the range 60-124 nm with 2 nm step, and are compared to existing data. On the basis of these measured indices, polarizing mirrors for λ₁ = 121.6 nm or λ₂ = 103.2 nm have been modelled and fabricated. Their reflectance measured versus incidence angle by using monochromatized synchrotron radiation at the above wavelengths is found in agreement with the calculated predictions.     

Experimental determination and comparison of rain attenuation in free space optic link operating at 532 nm and 655 nm wavelength

The demand for high data rate, security and reliable communication is driving the development of free space optic communication (FSO) technology. The atmospheric effects such as scintillation, absorption and scattering severely affect the availability and range of the FSO system. The atmospheric rain absorbs and scatters the laser beam energy resulting in attenuation of the propagating signal. Initial development of FSO technology primarily used wavelength from infrared spectrum. In the recent years, the interest in visible light carrier for FSO applications is consistently increasing. In this paper, the effect of rain over two optical wavelengths from the visible spectrum i.e. 532 nm and 655 nm has been experimentally evaluated and results for the specific rain attenuation at 532 nm and 655 nm wavelengths have been compared.     

Breakdown limits of optical multimode fibers for the application of nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm and 1064 nm wavelength

For many applications, optical multimode fibers are used for the transmission of powerful laser radiation. High light throughput and damage resistance are desirable. Laser-induced breakdown at the end faces of fibers can limit their performance. Therefore, the determination of laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT) at the surface of fibers is essential.Nanosecond (1064 nm and 532 nm wavelength) single-shot LIDT were measured according to the relevant standard on SiO₂ glass preforms (Suprasil F300) as basic materials of the corresponding fibers. For 10 kinds of fused silica fibers (FiberTech) with core diameters between 180 μm and 600 μm, an illumination approach utilizing a stepwise increase of the laser fluence on a single spot was used. For both wavelengths, the LIDT values (0% damage probability) obtained by means of the two methods were compared. The influence of surface preparation (polishing) on damage resistance was investigated. For equal surface finishing, a correlation between drawing speed of the fibers and their surface LIDT values was found. In addition to the surface measurements, bulk LIDT were determined for the preform material.     

A 1 × 4 polarization and wavelength independent optical power splitter based on a novel wide-angle low-loss Y-junction

A 1 × 4 polarization and wavelength independent optical power splitter is reported. This device is based on a novel wide-angle low-loss Y-junction structure which can give a theoretical TE junction excess loss of 0.26 dB at a branching angle of 16°. To the best of our knowledge, it is so far the lowest reported loss at such a large angle. The detailed design of the device and its fabrication are described. Our experimental results show the measured TE excess loss to be 1.2 dB and TM excess loss 1.8 dB for the whole splitter over the wavelength between 1.47 μm and 1.57 μm.     

Semiconductor optical amplifier based swept wavelength source at 1060 nm using a scanning Fabry-Perot filter and an YDFA-based booster amplifier

We demonstrate a tuneable laser operating in the 1-1.1 μm wavelength region with a tuning range of 43 nm (FWHM), an output power of 19 mW and coherence length of 14 mm. The source is based on a master laser consisting of a cavity tuned ring configuration with a fibre Fabry-Perot filter used as a tuning element and a semiconductor amplifier as gain medium. The output of the master laser is subsequently power boosted using an Ytterbium doped fibre amplifier (YDFA). In addition to providing a power boost, we demonstrate that by tailoring the gain spectrum of the YDFA it is possible to increase the FWHM scanning range by 7 nm compared to that of the master laser.     

Elastic constants determination by direct measurement of the beat wavelength between A0 and S0 Lamb modes with pulsed TV holography

A whole-field optical technique of high sensitivity, namely pulsed TV holography with phase evaluation by the Spatial Fourier Transform Method, is applied to the acquisition of instantaneous displacement fields of ultrasonic Lamb waves in aluminium plates a few millimetres thick. Two Lamb modes, the A0 and S0 ones, are simultaneously generated in the plate, producing a clear beating. Several values of the beat wavelength, corresponding to different excitation frequencies, are obtained by direct measurement of the distance between nodes in the wave field. The obtained values are fitted to the theoretical Rayleigh–Lamb frequency spectrum in order to determine the elastic constants of the plate material. We conclude that it is necessary to know the value of another parameter to univocally solve the problem, and so the bulk longitudinal wave velocity is measured by the pulse-echo method. Then the Poisson's ratio is obtained and, from these two parameters, the Young's modulus can also be determined.     

Diode laser spectroscopic measurements and theoretical calculations of line parameters of nitrogen-broadened water vapor overtone transitions in the 818-834 nm wavelength region

Nitrogen-broadened water vapor line parameters of the (2 1 1) ← (0 0 0) overtone band transitions in the 818-834 nm wavelength region are measured by using a tunable diode laser spectrometer. Water vapor is kept at its saturated vapor pressure at room temperature within a sample cell. Use of a balanced detector and a lock-in amplifier helps to increase the detection efficiency and the signal-to-noise ratio. The collisional broadening coefficients are extracted from the fitting of the experimental data by using a standard Voigt line profile. Collisional half-widths of water vapor lines perturbed by nitrogen are evaluated using the complex-valued implementation of the Robert-Bonamy (CRB) formalism. The rotational wave functions and the energy eigenvalues in the (2 1 1) vibrational state of water molecule are assumed on the basis of symmetry properties. Hence the outcome of this work also tests the validity of the theoretical approximations. The experimental data are compared with the corresponding theoretical values and the possible causes of deviation between the two have also been discussed.     

A simple scanning semiconductor diode laser source and its application in wavelength modulation spectroscopy around 825 nm

A very simple and inexpensive tunable semiconductor diode laser controller is designed for stable operation of the diode laser. The diode laser controller is stable within +/−8 μA and +/−10 mK, respectively. The noise spectrum of the current controller is studied by FFT analysis. We have used our home-made diode laser system in a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer (TDLAS) to probe weak overtone transitions of water vapour molecule. The diode laser wavelength is coarsely tuned by changing the operating temperature to probe (2, 1, 1)←(0, 0, 0) band overtone transitions of water vapour within 818–835 nm. To demonstrate line shape study, seven transitions are scanned by ramping the drive current of the diode laser (at constant operating temperature) under different perturber (laboratory air) pressures within the sample cell. A balanced detector and a lock-in amplifier are used for phase sensitive detection purpose. Small current modulation amplitude, balanced detection and proper adjustment of the lock-in amplifier help to obtain a S/N ratio ranging from 100 to 7 using a small sample path length of 1.5 m. Experimentally obtained derivative spectrum is numerically integrated to reveal the original line shape and fitted with a nonlinear least squares fitting program to extract air broadening coefficients and line strength parameters. The spectroscopic line parameters are compared with the results from HITRAN database.     

2 W/nm peak-power all-fiber supercontinuum source and its application to the characterization of periodically poled non-linear crystals

We demonstrate a uniform high spectral brightness and peak power density all-fiber supercontinuum source. The source consists of a nanosecond Ytterbium fiber laser and an optimal length PCF producing a continuum with a peak power density of 2 W/nm and less than 5 dB of spectral variation between 590 and 1500 nm. The Watt level per nm peak power density enables the use of such sources for the characterization of non-linear materials. Application of the source is demonstrated with the characterization of several periodically poled crystals.