Influence of a single quantum dot state on the characteristics of a microdisk laser

We report a quantum dot microcavity laser with a cw sub-microW lasing threshold, where a significant reduction of the lasing threshold is observed when a single quantum dot (QD) state is aligned with a cavity mode. The quality factor exceeds 15,000 before the system lases. When no QD states are resonant, below threshold the cavity mode initially degrades with increasing pump power, after which saturation occurs and then the cavity mode recovers. We associate the initial cavity mode spoiling with QD state broadening that occurs with increasing pump power.     

Stable room-temperature multi-wavelength lasing oscillations in a Brillouin–Raman fiber ring laser

A stable room-temperature multi-wavelength Brillouin–Raman fiber laser with a ring cavity configuration was proposed and experimentally investigated. An obvious suppressant effect for unstable mode hopping of multi-wavelength lasing oscillations induced by deeply saturated effect was observed in the ring cavity configuration. Stable room-temperature multi-wavelength lasing oscillations with more than 30 lasing lines and wavelength spacing of 0.076 nm were obtained with only 250 mW Raman pump power and a section of high nonlinear fiber with a length of 1.5 km. The lasing output is so stable that the maximum power fluctuations for the foremost three Stokes lines over more than 20 min of observation were less than 0.30 dB. The lasing stability of the laser was also compared with a linear cavity configuration with the same gain components and pump conditions. While using the linear laser cavity configuration, obvious mode hopping was observed. The minimum value of the maximum power fluctuations at all lasing lines over more than 10 min of observation was more than 0.90 dB.     

Global rate equation description of a laser

The global integro-differential rate equations describing a multimode laser are analyzed. Expressions for the relaxation oscillation frequencies and their damping rates in the single-mode and two-mode regimes are obtained without specifying either the cavity geometry or the longitudinal pump profile. On the same level of generality, we prove the existence of universal relations relating the peaks of the power spectra in the two-mode regime. For a Fabry-Perot with arbitrary longitudinal pump profile, series expansions of all the physical functions are derived in powers of the pump moments. These moments are averages of the pump profile over cavity modes at linear combinations of the lasing frequencies and their harmonics. These results apply to end-pumped and/or partially filled lasers. For a single mode Fabry-Perot laser, we prove that the contribution to the steady state intensity from the lasing mode varies from 75% close to the lasing threshold to zero at high intensity. The remainder comes from the harmonics of the lasing mode. Analyzing the steady state single mode intensity equation in terms of the pump gratings, we prove that close to the lasing threshold only the space average of the pump and its grating oscillating at twice the lasing wave number do not vanish. This provides a hint towards the justification of the usual modal rate equations which retain only these two functions in the dynamical evolution of a laser. For a Fabry-Perot with constant pump profile, an exact expression for the upper boundary of the stable single mode regime is derived. In that two-mode regime, we prove that there is a critical value of the pump at which the ratio of the two relaxation oscillation frequencies is 2, leading to an internal resonance.     

Stable gain-switched 845 nm pulse generation by a weak 1550 nm seed laser

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of stable gain-switched 845 nm pulse generation (Er(3+): (4)S(3/2)->(4)I(13/2) transition) by a weak modulated 1550 nm seed laser, from an Er(3+)-doped fluoride fiber pumped by a cw 974 nm laser diode. When the pump power of the 974 nm laser diode is set to a certain value, the injection of a weak (<1 mW) modulated 1550 nm seed laser into the 845 nm lasing cavity can depopulate the lower state (4)I(13/2) of 845 nm lasing, switch the gain to regulate the conventionally chaotic spiking, and generate stable synchronous 845 nm pulse trains with the repetition rate up to 100 kHz.     

Single polarization, single transverse mode, and widely tunable narrow-linewidth laser from a multimode vertical cavity surface-emitting laser by use of a coupled cavity

A simple method for achieving a widely tunable narrow-linewidth, single polarization state and single transverse mode lasing oscillation from a commercially available multimode vertical cavity surface-emitting laser by use of a coupled cavity is reported. The laser has a wavelength tuning range of more than 5 nm along 850 nm, a side-mode suppression ratio of approximately 15 dB, and an output power of approximately 0.3 mW from a 50-microm multimode optical fiber at a bias current of 15 mA. The laser was operated in a single state of polarization lasing oscillation without any polarization switching.     

A stable dual-wavelength fiber laser with tunable wavelength spacing using a polarization-maintaining linear cavity

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a stable dual-wavelength erbium-doped polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber laser with tunable wavelength spacing using an all-PM linear cavity that makes use of two reflection peaks from the PM fiber Bragg grating (PM-FBG). Experimental results show stable dual lasing lines with a wavelength separation of ∼0.22 nm and a large optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of over 40 dB under room temperature. By applying axial strain to the PM-FBG, the center wavelengths of the two lasing lines can be tuned over several nanometers and the wavelength separation between the lasing lines can also be tuned to as small as 0.05 nm, which, to our knowledge, is the smallest wavelength spacing ever obtained from a stable room-temperature dual-wavelength fiber laser. The proposed laser configuration has the advantages of simple structure, low loss, stable dual-wavelength operation and a very small lasing linewidth of ∼5 kHz . PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.81.-i; 42.81.Gs     

Effect of inter-level relaxation and cavity length on double-state lasing performance of quantum dot lasers

Double-state lasing phenomena are easily observed in self-assembled quantum dot (QD) lasers. The effect of inter-level relaxation rate and cavity length on the double-state lasing performance of QD lasers is investigated on the basis of a rate equation model. Calculated results show that, for a certain cavity length, the ground state (GS) lasing threshold current increases almost linearly with the inter-level relaxation lifetime. However, as the relaxation rate becomes slower, the ratio of excited state (ES) lasing threshold current over the GS one decreases, showing an evident exponential behavior. A relatively feasible method to estimate the inter-level relaxation lifetime, which is difficult to measure directly, is provided. In addition, fast inter-level relaxation is favorable for the GS single-mode lasing, and leads to lower wetting layer (WL) carrier occupation probability and higher QD GS capture efficiency and external differential quantum efficiency. Besides, the double-state lasing effect strongly depends on the cavity length.     

Effect of inter-level relaxation and cavity length on double-state lasing performance of quantum dot lasers

Double-state lasing phenomena are easily observed in self-assembled quantum dot (QD) lasers. The effect of inter-level relaxation rate and cavity length on the double-state lasing performance of QD lasers is investigated on the basis of a rate equation model. Calculated results show that, for a certain cavity length, the ground state (GS) lasing threshold current increases almost linearly with the inter-level relaxation lifetime. However, as the relaxation rate becomes slower, the ratio of excited state (ES) lasing threshold current over the GS one decreases, showing an evident exponential behavior. A relatively feasible method to estimate the inter-level relaxation lifetime, which is difficult to measure directly, is provided. In addition, fast inter-level relaxation is favorable for the GS single-mode lasing, and leads to lower wetting layer (WL) carrier occupation probability and higher QD GS capture efficiency and external differential quantum efficiency. Besides, the double-state lasing effect strongly depends on the cavity length.     

Multiwavelength fiber ring lasing by use of a semiconductor optical amplifier

A multiwavelength fiber ring laser obtained by use of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with a simple laser cavity configuration is reported. A Fabry-Perot filter was used in the fiber laser ring cavity to achieve more than 50 simultaneous wavelength lasing oscillations with a frequency separation of 50 GHz. The resulting stable broadband multiwavelength lasing operation was attributed to broadband and flat gain of the SOA, which has a gain flatness of 0.8 dB for more than 20 nm. The laser has a total output power of -3 dBm and a signal-to-spontaneous-noise ratio of 30 dB.     

Multiwavelength Raman fiber lasers with equalized peak power using a sampled chirped fiber Bragg grating

Two novel multiwavelength Raman fiber lasers using a ring cavity and a linear cavity are proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Both laser configurations include a sampled chirped fiber Bragg grating used in the reflection mode. By adjusting the polarization controller (PC) in the cavities, up to ten stable lasing wavelengths with 0.8 nm spacing and equalized peak power are achieved at room temperature. It is observed that the output spectrum depends upon which port of the grating is connected to the cavity. These two fiber ring lasers offer advantages such as, stable room temperature operation, simple structure, low loss, multiwavelength lasing lines with moderate output power. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.55.Ye; 42.81.-i     

Dual-Wavelength Erbium Fiber Laser in a Simple Ring Cavity

Abstract

By controlling the cavity loss of the modes using a variable optical attenuator, specific intensities of distributed modes can be fed back into the erbium-doped fiber to produce signals without mode competition, thus resulting in stable lasing as a means to overcome mode competition in a homogenous gain medium. Two lasing signals were obtained with peak powers of approximately ?3.475 dBm and ?4.386 dBm for wavelengths of 1,540 nm and 1,548 nm, respectively, with a side mode suppression ratio of more than 43 dB.     

基于无源三环复合子腔的2050 nm波段单纵模掺铥光纤激光器EI北大核心CSCD

提出了一种在2050 nm波段的基于新型无源三环复合子腔的单纵模掺铥光纤激光器。对所提出的新型复合三环子腔滤波器进行了详细的理论分析,可以通过调整其有效自由光谱范围和透射带宽实现超窄带滤波,从而确保激光器的单纵模运行。所搭建激光器的输出波长为2048.48 nm,光信噪比为70 dB,100 min内的波长和功率波动分别小于0.02 nm和0.453 dB。实验结果表明,激光器可以工作在稳定的单纵模输出状态。该激光器有望用于自由空间光通信或用作多普勒激光雷达的高功率光纤激光器的种子源。     

The steady state of two quantum dots in a cavity

The steady state of two quantum dots (QDs) resonantly coupled to a cavity mode is investigated under two pumping configurations: when the QDs are indistinguishable for the excitation, we find that as a result of the efficient singlet state population, the cavity emission is suppressed. On the other hand, the storage of photons is strongly enhanced when the dots are pumped independently. The system is found to be suitable for entanglement in the first case and for lasing in the second.     

利用倾斜光纤光栅的可开关双波长光纤激光器

报导了一种在四波混频作用下利用倾斜光纤布拉格光栅进行波长选择的可开关双波长掺铒光纤激光器。通过将倾斜光纤光栅与单模光纤进行横向错位焊接,使光栅的反向LP01和LP11两个模式具有相近的有效反射率,从而可以用来进行激光器的双波长选择。接入腔内的一段高非线性光子晶体光纤引入的四波混频效应克服了模式竞争,使得双波长激光在室温下稳定振荡。腔内起偏器和偏振控制器的联合作用可产生依赖于波长的损耗,以补偿光纤光栅两反射峰峰值的大小差异。基于以上原理,通过调节腔内的偏振态,该激光器实现了室温下稳定的双波长输出,也实现了在两波长之间的转换。两波长激光均有超过45 dB的信噪比,最大的功率波动为0.8 dB     

Composite cavity semiconductor fiber ring laser

A passive subring cavity that served as mode selector was inserted into a semiconductor fiber ring laser to generate a stable lasing spectrum. A narrow linewidth of less than 10 kHz with unidirectional operation in the composite cavity ring laser was achieved. Tuning over a range of 20 nm was obtained by application of 0-30 V dc to a piezoelectric transducer in the subring cavity.     

Mode instabilities in a homogeneously broadened ring laser

A nonperturbative theory of a homogeneously broadened ring laser is presented after incorporating spatial hole-burning effects arising due to mutual interference of two counterpropagating cavity modes. It is shown that under suitable conditions the continuous-wave unidirectional lasing mode becomes unstable due to Hopf bifurcations. The time-periodic state associated with these bifurcations corresponds to self-induced pulsations either in one direction or in both directions.     

Multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser employing a nonlinear optical loop mirror

A stable and broad bandwidth multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser is proposed and demonstrated successfully. A nonlinear optical loop mirror which induces wavelength-dependent cavity loss and behaves as an amplitude equalizer is employed to ensure stable room-temperature multiwavelength operation. Up to 50 wavelengths lasing oscillations with wavelength spacing of 0.8 nm within a 3-dB spectral range of 1562-1605 nm has been achieved. The measured power fluctuation of each wavelength is about 0.1 dB within a 2-h period.     

Multiwavelength pulse generation in semiconductor-fiber ring laser using a sampled fiber grating

A novel multiwavelength scheme has been demonstrated using a sampled fiber grating in semiconductor-fiber ring laser. By using semiconductor optical amplifier as an inhomogeneously broadened gain medium, three wavelength channels of 10 GHz are simultaneously generated. The number of the lasing channels can be changed through the polarization state adjustment in the cavity.     

Raman lasing with a cold atom gain medium in a high-finesse optical cavity

We demonstrate a Raman laser using cold (87)Rb atoms as the gain medium in a high-finesse optical cavity. We observe robust continuous wave lasing in the atypical regime where single atoms can considerably affect the cavity field. Consequently, we discover unusual lasing threshold behavior in the system causing jumps in lasing power, and propose a model to explain the effect. We also measure the intermode laser linewidth, and observe values as low as 80 Hz. The tunable gain properties of this laser suggest multiple directions for future research.     

Cavity-Free Lasing and 2D Plasma Oscillations in Optically Excited InGaN Heterostructures

We demonstrate lasing emission of optically excited InGaN LD structures without intentional resonant cavity formation. We observe the equal mode-spacing character of this effect in the back-scattering geometry after exceeding the threshold excitation intensity. The homogeneity of the effect and stable mode spacing exclude participation of defects or wafer edges in lasing. We propose a lasing mechanism based on optically excited 2D electron–hole plasma oscillations, which act as a dynamical grating and resonantly couple the lasing modes separated by the plasma frequency, similar to the case of DFB lasers. The observed anomalous mode spacing is determined by the eigenfrequency of the plasma oscillations.