Multiple-Scattering-Free Optical Glucose Monitoring Based on Femtosecond Pulse Interferometry

We have designed a novel multiple-scattering-free optical glucose monitoring system based on femtosecond pulse interferometry. The glucose concentration is determined by a time-of-flight method, while multiple-scattering light is rejected by a coherence gate. The resultant accuracy and precision were 94.7 and 24.5 mg/dl, respectively, for physiological-equivalent glucose concentrations in a scattering medium of 1.0% intralipid solution, while the accuracy and precision for a reference sample containing no scattering medium were 65.3 and 23.8 mg/dl, respectively. Comparing these results, we conclude that the proposed method is effective for glucose measurement in a scattering medium.     

钛宝石飞秒激光器用色散补偿Gires-Tournois镜的研究

根据钛宝石飞秒激光器的色散补偿要求设计了单次反射平均补偿量为-60 fs²的GT(Gires-Tournois)镜,采用离子束辅助沉积技术结合光学监控技术制作了器件.用分光光度计对650—950 nm波段薄膜反射率进行测试,结果表明反射率测试曲线与设计曲线十分符合,同时利用白光干涉系统对群延迟色散进行了测试,测试结果与设计符合得很好,实际的色散曲线振荡基本控制在±20 fs²以内.应用该GT镜进行钛宝石飞秒激光系统的色散补偿,取得了很好的锁模效果,得到了29 fs的超短脉冲. 关键词： 色散补偿 钛宝石飞秒激光器 GT镜 离子束辅助沉积     

Elliptically polarized Terahertz emission through four-wave mixing in a two-color filament in air

We diagnosed the polarization characteristics of Terahertz emission from a two-color femtosecond laser filament when the polarizations of ω and 2ω beams are orthogonal. We discovered that the THz pulse is elliptically polarized. The generation mechanism could be through four-wave optical rectification inside the filament zone where the inversion symmetry of air is broken.     

利用棱镜减小自衍射信号光角色散的研究

自衍射效应在飞秒激光领域有非常重要的应用,如提高飞秒脉冲的时域对比度、作为自参考光谱干涉脉冲测量法的参考光、作为频率分辨光学开关法的信号光等.然而,具有较宽光谱带宽的飞秒激光在自衍射效应过程中产生的信号光存在明显的角色散,这给自衍射效应的应用带来不利影响.本文研究发现通过在自衍射效应的一个光路中加入等腰直角棱镜,当到棱镜的入射角为23fi时可以明显地减小飞秒激光脉冲自衍射信号的角色散.这就为以后将自衍射效应更好的应用到飞秒激光脉冲的研究提供了有用的参考.     

超快激光抽运-探测中探针光时间延迟量的 实时测量原理与光学设计

为了在飞秒激光抽运-探测(pump-probe)的超快测量中对探针光时间延迟量进行实时检测与有效控制,提出了一种四路同步移相干涉的光学测量系统.应用琼斯理论对该光学测量系统进行了优化设计与计算,推导出同步移相干涉系统各帧干涉图相应点的光强表达式,确定了相邻干涉图之间的相移步长,并给出了相位延迟量测量的解析表达式.最后,对光学系统在检测中可能存在的误差进行了计算分析,结果表明,系统的设计不仅能满足超快pump-probe精度的基本要求,而且优于目前同步移相干涉测量的光学设计,对于800 nm中心波长的探针光在理论上可达阿秒级的时间分辨率. 关键词： 超快抽运-探测 时间延迟量 同步移相干涉 琼斯矩阵     

Self‐phase‐locked degenerate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on BiB3O6

A self‐phase‐locked degenerate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on the birefringent nonlinear material, bismuth triborate, BiB₃O₆, synchronously‐pumped by a Kerr‐lens‐mode‐locked Ti:sapphire laser at 800 nm is described. By exploiting versatile phase‐matching properties of BiB₃O₆, including large spectral and angular acceptance for parametric generation and low group velocity dispersion in the optical xz plane, stable self‐phase‐locked degenerate OPO operation centered at 1600 nm is demonstrated using collinear type I (e → oo) interaction in a 1.5‐mm crystal at room temperature. The degenerate OPO output spectrum extends over 46 nm (∼5.4 THz) with 190 fs pulse duration for input pump pulses of 155 fs with a bandwidth of 7 nm. Phase coherence between the pump and degenerate output is verified using f‐2f interferometry, and discrete frequency beats caused by different carrier‐envelope‐offset frequencies are measured using radio frequency measurements. Photo shows a 1.5‐mm BiB₃O₆ crystal used as a nonlinear gain medium in a degenerate self‐phase‐locked femtosecond OPO operating at room temperature. The green beam is the result of non‐phase‐matched sum‐frequency mixing between the pump light and the sub‐harmonic OPO field at degeneracy.     

Talbot effect under illumination of double femtosecond laser pulses

The Talbot effect under illumination of double femtosecond laser pulses has been reported. Spectrums of double femtosecond laser pulses with phase differences are quite different from that of one single femtosecond laser pulse. Therefore, the Talbot images of the double femtosecond laser pulses with phase differences are different from that of one single femtosecond laser pulse. Specifically, for the phase difference corresponding to π, the Talbot image shows the largest difference from that of one single pulse. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The behaviors of Talbot images under double femtosecond laser pulses illumination cannot be obtained under one femtosecond laser pulse, monochromatic or polychromatic light illumination. Therefore, it is a new interesting optical phenomenon for the Talbot effect which should have potential applications.     

Spectral filtering of femtosecond laser pulses by interference filters

Phase properties of optical thin film interference filters are discussed from the aspect of their usage for phase-error free wavelength separation of broadband femtosecond laser pulses. It is shown that both transmissive or reflective interference filters with high contrast ratios exhibit high cubic phase shifts on transmission or reflection, respectively, causing intolerable distortion in the temporal pulse shape. We show, however, that high efficiency wavelength separation of broadband femtosecond laser pulses can be achieved by using low contrast, properly designed reflective optical interference filters directly built into the cavity of the broad spectrum, femtosecond pulse lasers or parametric oscillators. For demonstrative purposes, we implemented the idea for a Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser, and obtained two-color, inherently synchronized, unchirped, femtosecond pulse outputs from a single laser oscillator.     

Optical properties of a waveguide written inside a LiTaO3 crystal by irradiation with focused femtosecond laser pulses

Optical waveguides were fabricated by modifying the optical properties inside a LiTaO₃ crystal by irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses, and the performance and optical properties of the waveguide were investigated. On the basis of near-field pattern of the light guided through the waveguides, the optimum writing conditions such as the pulse energy and the pulse duration were determined. The waveguide written inside a LiTaO₃ crystal had a strong polarization dependence of guided light. Observation by a polarized microscope suggested that the stress distribution around the photoexcited region should be responsible for the polarization dependence of guided light. In addition, the second harmonic generation from a laser beam passing through the waveguide was observed, which suggests that the ferroelectric properties of LiTaO₃ were preserved after the photoexcitation.     

Optical second harmonic generation and its photoinduced dynamics in ferroelectric semiconductor Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>6</Subscript>

By means of optical pump–probe technique, the ultrafast dynamics of nonlinear optical response of the ferroelectric semiconductor Sn₂P₂S₆ crystal excited with a femtosecond laser pulse has been investigated. It has been shown that, under the action of femtosecond pulses, change in optical second harmonic generation occurs in the sample, which can be due to screening of existing electric polarization.     

Fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering imaging

We demonstrate a two-color, fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) imaging. The wavelength-tunable picosecond pump is generated by nonlinear spectral compression of a prechirped femtosecond pulse from a mode-locked titanium:sapphire (Ti:S) laser. The 1064?nm picosecond Stokes pulse is generated by an all-fiber time-lens source that is synchronized to the Ti:S laser. The pump and Stokes beams are combined in an optical fiber coupler, which serves not only as the delivery fiber but also as the nonlinear medium for spectral compression of the femtosecond pulse. CRS imaging of mouse skin is performed to demonstrate the practicality of this source.     

基于瞬态光栅频率分辨光学开关法测量飞秒脉冲的研究

超宽光谱的飞秒脉冲测量一直是超快激光领域的重要研究方向之一.常规的飞秒脉冲自相关方法是通过测量自相关倍频信号来获得,而倍频信号具有波长选择性,不同中心波长的飞秒脉冲测量需要更换不同的倍频晶体,十分不方便.因此,提出了一种改进型的瞬态光栅频率分辨光学开关(TG-FROG)方法用于测量飞秒脉冲.该方法结合四波混频和频率分辨光学开关方法,其基本过程是将待测脉冲分为三束,其中两束脉冲经过精密的延时控制并聚焦在光学介质上达到时空重合,利用三阶非线性效应产生稳定的瞬态光栅作为开关光;另一束脉冲作为探测光与产生的瞬态光栅进行相互作用产生一个信号光,使用光谱仪对该信号光的光谱与延迟时间进行测量,并通过反演迭代算法处理而获取待测飞秒脉冲的光谱与电场信息.该方法只需要待测光的功率密度达到三阶非线性效应就可以实现测量,因此可以应用于任意中心波长的飞秒脉冲测量.利用该方法对中心波长分别为800 nm, 400 nm的飞秒脉冲,以及超连续亚10 fs的周期量级超宽光谱飞秒脉冲进行了测量,并与常规的干涉自相关仪器测量结果进行了比较,所得测量结果基本一致.实验结果表明,建立的基于TG-FROG方法对不同中心波长,不同脉冲宽度的飞秒脉冲测量是十分有效的.     

Refractive index measurement by spectrally resolved interferometry using a femtosecond pulse laser

We describe a measurement method of refractive indices by way of spectrally resolved interferometry using a femtosecond pulse laser. The method is dispersion insensitive and requires no prior precise knowledge of the geometrical thickness of the specimen. Not only the group but also the phase refractive index can be determined over the wide spectral range covered by the optical comb of the femtosecond pulse laser in use.     

The dependence on optical energy of terahertz emission from air plasma induced by two-color femtosecond laser-pulses

The generation of terahertz （THz） emission from air plasma induced by two-color femtosecond laser pulses is studied on the basis of a transient photocurrent model. While the gas is ionized by the two-color femtosecond laser-pulses com- posed of the fundamental and its second harmonic, a non-vanishing directional photoelectron current emerges, radiating a THz electromagnetic pulse. The gas ionization processes at three different laser-pulse energies are simulated, and the corresponding THz waveforms and spectra are plotted. The results demonstrate that, by keeping the laser-pulse width and the relative phase between two pulses invariant when the laser energy is at a moderate value, the emitted THz fields are significantly enhanced with a near-linear dependence on the optical energy.     

Femtosecond pump and probe measurement of all-optical modulation based on intersubband transition in n-doped quantum wells

An all-optical modulation of interband-resonant light (near-infrared signal light: 800 nm) by intersubband-resonant light (mid-infrared control light: 4–7 μm) in n-doped AlGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells is investigated by two-color femtosecond pump–probe experiments at room temperature. The modulation of the near-infrared signal light with an ultrafast recovery as short as 1 ps is successfully observed when the quantum wells are pumped by the mid-infrared control light pulse (4 fJ/μm²). The dependence of the modulation depth on the wavelength of the control light is also measured, which is shown to be consistent with the intersubband absorption spectrum of the quantum wells. The results indicate that the utilization of the intersubband transition is promising for the ultrafast all-optical modulation and switching.     

Time-domain interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction by use of an acousto-optic programmable filter and a two-photon detector

We introduce a new approach to the characterization of femtosecond optical pulses based on a remarkably simple setup combining a two-photon detector and a pulse shaper consisting of a longitudinal acousto-optic programmable filter. The operation of this setup is demonstrated through the use of a new version of spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction based on time-domain instead of on frequency-domain interferometry.     

Light field characteristics of reflective thin-films irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

The formation of interference field in optical thin-films is a process of unsteady state when irradiated by femtosecond pulses. Based on the methods of plane-wave decomposition and the using of thin-film characteristic matrix, the model is presented focusing on the issues of mirror reflectance and internal light field in femtosecond timescale. The numerical results reveal that with the decrease of the pulse width a reduction of reflection performance occurs. In addition, the traditional approach that simplifies the incident femtosecond pulse to monochromatic continuous wave cannot get the exact value of the light field magnitude and the temporal profile of ultrashort laser pulse should be taken into account to reach more accurate results.     

Optical parametric chirped pulse amplification based on photonic crystal fibre

A compact two-stage optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier based on photonic crystal fibre is demonstrated.A 1064-nm soliton pulse is obtained in a home-made photonic crystal fibre (PCF) with femtosecond pulse pumping and then amplified to 2 mJ in an Nd:YAG regenerative amplifier.After the amplified pulses pass through the LBO crystal,the 532-nm double-frequency light with an energy of 0.8 mJ and a duration of over 100 ps at 10-Hz repetition rate is generated as a pump source in the following two-stage optical parametric amplification (OPA).The 850-nm chirped signal light gain from the stretcher is 1.5×10 4 in the first-stage OPA while it is 120 in the second-stage OPA.The total signal gain of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) can reach 1.8×10 6.     

覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳

飞秒光学频率梳波长覆盖范围向可见光波长扩展对于碘稳频激光的绝对频率测量以及光钟研究中钟激光的绝对频率测量都具有十分重要的意义. 本文在自行研制掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳的基础上, 采用放大-倍频-扩谱的方案, 实现了激光输出波长向可见光波长的扩展. 掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳输出的一部分光激光脉冲, 功率约为8 mW, 首先经掺Er光纤放大器将功率提高到531 mW, 此后利用MgO: PPLN晶体倍频, 倍频后激光的功率为170 mW, 倍频效率为32%, 脉冲宽度为85 fs. 倍频后的激光通过光子晶体光纤进行光谱展宽. 通过优化入射光偏振状态可以实现波长覆盖500-1000 nm, 输出功率为85 mW, 耦合效率为50%. 采用小型化碘稳频532 nm Nd: YAG激光器输出激光与光学频率梳光谱展宽后的激光进行拍频可以获得30 dB的拍频信号. 覆盖可见光波长的掺Er光纤飞秒光学频率梳为可见光范围内激光的绝对频率测量提供了技术手段.     

飞秒光孤立波解传输的稳定性分析

针对高阶非线性薛定谔方程任意参量下的飞秒光孤立波解，用数值演化方法考察了该光脉冲在受到各种初始扰动时的稳定性。结果表明：当飞秒光脉冲受到振幅及波形扰动时可以稳定传输，对于随机噪声及啁啾的扰动，在一定范围内也可传输，这有可能为进一步实现飞秒光脉冲在光纤中的无畸变传输提供一定的理论依据。