Self-coupled optical pickup

When a double- or multi-heterostructure GaAlAs laser is irradiated by its own output laser beam, an oscillatory shift of about 25 MHz is observed in the electric conductivity of the laser. When the pumping current is clamped, the shift in the voltage across the laser electrodes amounts to the order of a millivolt at a return ratio of about 10%. This suggests an availability of the laser as an optical pickup in some types of optical memory playback systems.     

Coherent interference induced transparency in self-coupled optical waveguide-based resonators

We propose a self-coupled optical waveguide (SCOW)-based resonator to generate an optical resonance analogous to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The EIT-like effect is formed by the coherent interference between two resonance paths inherent to the SCOW resonator. For cascaded SCOW resonators, the spectrum they produce is significantly affected by the phase shift between them, with the EIT-like peak flattened or split as the two extreme cases. We also investigate the dispersion characteristics of an infinite array of SCOW resonators and show that the dispersion relation and group index in the EIT subband can be greatly changed by a small phase shift between the SCOW resonators.     

Development of optical pickup for mini disc drives

In order to miniaturize optical disc drives, it is important to miniaturize and thin the optical pickup. We have developed two new optical parts: the hologram laser and the actuator. By optimizing the hologram pattern of the hologram laser, optical path length is shortened. The frequency characteristics of the actuator have been stabilized by improving the damping characteristics. Thus, we have developed a compact optical pickup for Mini Disc drives, and the pickup shows high performance when it reads out an optical disc.     

Fabrication and verification for the small-form-factor holographic optical pickup

In this investigation, a small-form-factor (SFF) pickup head with a holographic optical element (HOE) is fabricated. The system employs a finite-conjugate object lens to focus a light beam. A holographic optical element is used to simplify the optical configuration. It provides a better means of alignment of fabrication and reduces the size of system relative to reflective light route. Micro prisms are fastened with HOE and a silicon substrate, laser diode and photodiode are integrated into the optical system. The pickup head system based on discrete components and a flip chip bonder with highly accurate alignment was to integrate it. The micro holographic optical pickup head is fabricated and tested. Experimental results including the spot diameter and the focusing error signal (FES), demonstrate that the optical system is a feasible.     

Laser optical feedback tomography

We describe a new method for imaging in three-dimensional turbid media, laser optical feedback tomography. This technique is based on the resonant sensitivity of a short-cavity laser to frequency-shifted optical feedback from ballistic photons retrodiffused from the medium. The advantage of the method is that the detector is the laser source itself, which provides optical amplification with self-aligned spatial and temporal coherent detection.     

Acousto-optic laser optical feedback imaging

We present a photon noise and diffraction-limited imaging method combining an imaging laser and ultrasonic waves. The laser optical feedback imaging (LOFI) technique is an ultrasensitive imaging method for imaging objects through or embedded within a scattering medium. However, LOFI performances are dramatically limited by parasitic optical feedback occurring in the experimental setup. In this Letter, we have tagged the ballistic photons by an acousto-optic effect in order to filter the parasitic feedback effect and to reach the theoretical and ultimate sensitivity of the LOFI technique. We present the principle and the experimental setup of the acousto-optic laser optical feedback imaging technique, and we demonstrate the suppression of the parasitic feedback.     

具光反馈功能的星模拟器设计

为满足天文导航设备星敏感器内场高精度检测和标校的实际工程需要,设计了一种结构简单并且具有光反馈功能的新型高精度单星模拟器。选用发光二极管作为光源,采用先聚焦再准直的方法实现模拟星光的平行输出。星模拟器的光反馈系统可以在输出光强发生变化的时候自动调节星光光源的发光强度,从而使星模拟器的输出光强在相当长的时间段内保持稳定。星模拟器输出光束的平行度达到8,输出光束的均匀性达到80 %,在连续工作至少8 h的情况下输出光束的稳定性达到89 %。相对稳定的输出光强减少了星模拟器因为模拟的星等发生变化而产生的影响,提高了星敏感器检测和标定的精度。     

Semiconductor lasers and optical feedback

Summary Experimental work and theoretical discussion on microscopic processes and device behaviours are presented. The presence of optical feedback from the environment induces asymmetries in the system affecting practical use. Relevant microscopic mechanisms and their influence on laser system performances are discussed qualitatively and quantitatively. A comparison with standard models is performed. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

光学头二维力矩器的三自由度动力学模型研究

力矩器多维运动间的串扰和耦合是影响其动态特性和光斑质量的关键因素。针对力矩器单自由度简谐振动模型的不足,利用拉格朗日第二类方程,建立了二维力矩器的三自由度动力学模型,描述了力矩器聚焦和循迹有效运动、聚焦和循迹运动间的耦合作用以及扭转串扰运动特性,反映了力矩器四个关键点的不一致对其动态特性的定量影响。模型与实验结果对比表明,各自由度误差均小于5%,模型具有实用性,对力矩器的设计开发和串扰抑制具有理论指导作用。     

Smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback

A smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback is described and demonstrated. The scheme uses the reflectance of an external scene as part of the positive feedback loop and uses the nonlinear characteristics of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser to obtain bistability and hysteresis. As a result, the continuous reflectance variation of the scene is mapped to a digital output with increased noise immunity for each pixel of the array.     

A coherent optical feedback system for optical information processing

A unique optical feedback system for coherent optical data processing is described. With the introduction of feedback, the well-known transfer function for feedback systems is obtained in two dimensions. Operational details of the optical feedback system are given. Experimental results of system applications in image restoration, contrast control and analog computation are presented. Work was performed while the authors were at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. Portions of this work have been presented in the 1973 Fall Meeting of the Optical Society of America, Rochester, New York. Work supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center.     

Mixed-mode oscillations and slow manifolds in the self-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo system

We investigate the organization of mixed-mode oscillations in the self-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo system. These types of oscillations can be explained as a combination of relaxation oscillations and small-amplitude oscillations controlled by canard solutions that are associated with a folded singularity on a critical manifold. The self-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo system has a cubic critical manifold for a range of parameters, and an associated folded singularity of node-type. Hence, there exist corresponding attracting and repelling slow manifolds that intersect in canard solutions. We present a general technique for the computation of two-dimensional slow manifolds (smooth surfaces). It is based on a boundary value problem approach where the manifolds are computed as one-parameter families of orbit segments. Visualization of the computed surfaces gives unprecedented insight into the geometry of the system. In particular, our techniques allow us to find and visualize canard solutions as the intersection curves of the attracting and repelling slow manifolds.     

High-frequency optical signal generation in a semiconductor laser by incoherent optical feedback

This work examines the feasibility of using incoherent optical feedback to generate high-frequency optical signals in a semiconductor laser. At a roundtrip feedback distance of 30 cm, a signal appears at around 1 GHz while the laser output is kept in single longitudinal mode and single polarization. The proposed method does not use any external modulation or saturable absorber. Some of the signal's properties are discussed as well.     

Self-organization in semiconductor lasers with ultrashort optical feedback

The dynamical behavior of a single-mode laser subject to optical feedback is investigated in the limit, when the delay time is much shorter than the period of the relaxation oscillations. Use of an integrated distributed feedback device allows us to control the feedback phase. We observe two kinds of Hopf bifurcations associated with regular self-pulsations of different frequencies.     

Strong optical feedback in birefringent dual frequency laser

Strong optical feedback in a birefringent dual frequency He--Ne laser with a high reflectivity feedback mirror has been investigated for the first time. The output characteristics of two orthogonally polarized modes are demonstrated in two different optical feedback cases: one is for both modes being fed back and the other is for only one of the modes being fed back. Strong mode competition can be observed between the two modes with strong optical feedback. And when one mode's intensity is near its maximum, the other mode is nearly extinguished. When both modes are fed back into the laser cavity, the mode competition is stronger than when only one mode is fed back. The difference in initial intensity between the two orthogonally polarized modes plays an important role in the mode competition, which has been experimentally and theoretically demonstrated.     

The use of feedback in optical information processing

The use of feedback techniques in optical information processing systems is growing rapidly. This review describes methods by which feedback has been produced, and discusses their applications to processing problems. The methods are classified according to the coherence length of the light source used, ranging from long (single axial mode lasers) through medium (multimode lasers) to short (incoherent light sources). Particular attention is paid to their potential for complex feedback, and for nonlinear and space-variant processing. The temporal characteristics of the systems and the means by which gain can be introduced into the feedback loop are considered. A current bibliography is given.     

Quantum limits of feedback cooling in optical lattices

A quantum-mechanical analysis of feedback cooling [see Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 153002 (2005)] of atoms trapped in a far-off-resonant optical lattice is presented. The model considered is valid for ultralow energies of atoms, thus, allowing for the study of an ultimate cooling limit. The influence of the measurement-induced noise and feedback-induced atom-atom correlations on the cooling efficiency is discussed. It is shown that there are regimes where the quantum noise can be effectively compensated for.     

激光回馈效应及其传感应用研究的进展

对基于激光回馈效应的传感应用研究进展进行了综述。由于激光回馈引起激光器功率波动一个条纹对应外部反射镜移动半个光波波长,功率波动深度与传统双光束干涉系统相当,基于该现象的激光回馈干涉仪与传统的干涉仪相比具有相同的相位灵敏度。但其结构简单、紧凑、易准直的特点,引起了国内外科研者浓厚的兴趣,开发了很多全新概念、经济实用的精密测量仪器。对激光回馈效应在位移测量、速度测量、振动测量、距离测量、角度测量和形貌测量中的原理进行了介绍,同时对各传感应用系统进行了评述。     

Study and design of a low cost optical pickup based on double FBGs

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) pickup exploiting Intensity Modulation-Direct Detection (IM-DD) interrogation system was put forward in this paper. The feasibility of detecting the vibration of the guitar was revealed by FFT analysis. There was certain correlation between the FBG pickup and the magnetic pickup. A high signal-to-noise ratio (42.85 dB) was obtained. The FBG pickup has a frequency response range (0–3000 Hz) that is comparable to the reference pickup. The results indicated that the proposed pickup is effective to pick up the vibration. A simple structure design and low-cost interrogation system set-ups were proposed.