Shot-noise-limited operation of a monomode high-cavity-finesse semiconductor laser for microwave photonics applications

Shot-noise-limited laser operation over a wide spectral bandwidth is demonstrated by using a semiconductor active medium inserted into a high-Q external cavity. This approach ensures, with a compact design, a sufficiently long photon lifetime to reach the oscillation-relaxation-free class A regime. The laser relative intensity noise is limited to the shot-noise relative floor, -156 dB/Hz for a 1 mA detected photocurrent, over the 100 MHz to 18 GHz bandwidth. The optimization of the laser cavity is discussed, and convenient shot-noise-limited operation is shown to be a trade-off between the cavity length and laser mode filtering.     

滤波对8字腔掺铒光纤激光器锁模运转的影响

构建了基于损耗非对称非线性光学环镜的8字腔掺铒光纤锁模激光器,并讨论了腔内滤波带宽对腔内脉冲演化和激光器输出特性的影响.在非线性光学环镜中引入双向输出耦合器,耦合器和传输光纤位置的不对称产生非互易性,实现锁模运转.利用自制的可调谐滤波器实验研究了滤波带宽对激光器的影响.当滤波带宽为2.1 nm时,腔内脉冲的演化过程受滤波和孤子效应的共同作用,激光器顺时针和逆时针输出脉冲半高全宽分别为583.7fs和2.94 ps.随着滤波带宽增大,滤波的作用逐渐减弱,激光器两路输出脉冲参数逐渐接近,并接近傅里叶变换极限脉冲.当滤波带宽较大时,腔内脉冲的演化过程受增益谱和孤子效应的共同作用,激光器顺时针和逆时针输出脉冲均为变换极限脉冲,半高全宽约为440 fs.通过调节滤波器中心波长实现了对激光器输出脉冲光谱的连续调谐,调节范围大于30 nm.     

Pulse shortening and quality improvement based on spectral filtering in a stretched-pulse mode-locked fiber laser with large third-order dispersion

We demonstrate a passively mode-locked ring fiber laser operating in the stretched-pulse regime. The ring cavity model is constructed with standard single-mode fiber and dispersion delay line for dispersion management. Here, all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fiber is used as the dispersion delay line and provides laser gain simultaneously. As the all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fiber has large third-order dispersion, it is necessary to study its impact on the stretched-pulse operation. The presence of the third-order dispersion reduces pulse quality because of the relatively small group velocity dispersion. To improve the pulse quality, a spectral filter is employed in the model. The simulation results show that spectral filtering could improve the pulse quality and shorten the pulse duration. Meanwhile, the optimum filter bandwidth is studied.     

利用光谱滤波器实现自启动的全光纤超短脉冲掺Yb3+光纤激光器

讨论了利用光谱滤波器实现自启动的被动锁模掺Yb³⁺光纤环形激光器的锁模机理,并研制出全光纤结构超短脉冲掺Yb³⁺光纤环形激光器.使用980 nm二极管激光器作为抽运源,高掺杂浓度掺Yb³⁺光纤作为增益介质.在净群速度色散为正的环形腔中加入光谱滤波器,抑制Yb³⁺离子在1030 nm强发射峰的同时,通过对啁啾脉冲的光谱滤波实现脉冲压缩.光谱滤波器与光纤非线性偏振旋转效应相结合,实现了激光器在1053 nm可自启动、十分稳定的锁模运转.激光器锁模阈值功率300 mW,平均斜率效率18.3%,最大输出功率53.07 mW,对应最大输出脉冲能量3.2 nJ.锁模光脉冲中心波长1053.6 nm,3 dB带宽10.84 nm,重复频率16.45 MHz.锁模脉冲宽度为皮秒量级,经腔外光栅对压缩至188 fs. 关键词： 3+光纤激光器')" href="#">掺Yb³⁺光纤激光器 自启动锁模 全光纤     

Spectral dynamics of an all solid-state frequency-shifted feedback laser

A frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) laser has multi frequency components with simultaneous linear chirping in its oscillation spectrum even though the gain medium is homogeneously broadened. The spectral intensity and its bandwidth were analyzed by the proposed spectral dynamics model based on the regenerative amplification of the continuously chirped comb components with phase shift according to each round trip in the cavity. The spectral intensity peaks at an instantaneous frequency which depends on the net gain in the cavity and the gain bandwidth of atomic transition. The oscillation bandwidth is defined as the product of the saturation-broadened bandwidth and the total resonant modes contributing to the FSF operation.     

Impact of spectral filtering on a weak breathing laser based on AS-Yb-PBGF with large net normal dispersion cavity

We have investigated numerically the effects of the spectral filtering on the temporal and spectral properties of the pulse with large net normal cavity dispersion in a weak breathing passively mode-locked ring laser based on all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fiber (AS-Yb-PBGF), which gives the laser gain and anomalous dispersion simultaneously. The specific range of spectral filter bandwidth is indispensable for obtaining high-peak-power pulse in a given highly chirped pulse laser system under a fixed pump level. The shortening of the pulse durations and the shaving of the sharp peaks at the steep edges of the spectrum by the spectral filter are demonstrated. Moreover, the advantage of the weak breathing fiber laser by introducing the AS-Yb-PBGF for scaling up the peak power and shortening the pulse width is investigated, and the effect of third-order dispersion induced by AS-Yb-PBGF on the pulse shape is also discussed.     

Single-transverse-mode output from a fiber laser based on multimode interference

An alternative original approach to achieve single-transverse-mode laser emissions from multimode (MM) active fibers is demonstrated. The fiber cavity is constructed by simply splicing a conventional passive single-mode fiber (SMF-28) onto a few centimeters-long active MM fiber section whose length is precisely controlled. Owing to the self-imaging property of multimode interference (MMI) in the MM fiber, diffraction-limited laser output is obtained from the end of the SMF-28, and the MMI fiber laser is nearly as efficient as the corresponding MM fiber laser. Moreover, because of the spectral filtering effect during in-phase MMI, the bandwidth of the MMI fiber laser is below 0.5 nm.     

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。     

High-resolution cavity-tuned ringdown spectrometer using a narrow-bandwidth pulsed laser source

A novel method of cavity ringdown spectroscopy is proposed to achieve high spectral resolution with tunable narrow bandwidth pulsed lasers. We demonstrate a cavity-tuned ringdown configuration in which only a single cavity mode is kept excited near the carrier frequency of a narrow bandwidth pulse laser. This is done simply by making a cavity resonance actively track the frequency reference served by the cw injection seed of the pulsed laser source. We present the servo mechanism used in the cavity resonance tracking, reliable procedures for transverse mode matching, and the evidence of single longitudinal mode excitation. The spectrometer performance is tested to record weak molecular overtone features of acetylene around the wavelength of 570 nm, showing cavity tracking stability within 5-MHz uncertainty which overcomes the bandwidth limit of pulsed laser sources itself. PACS 42.62.Fi; 42.60.Da; 33.20.Kf     

Frequency-narrowed external-cavity broad-area-diode for rubidium laser pumping

Using an external cavity with holographic grating, we demonstrate the spectral narrowing of a high power broad-area-diode with a single emitter. The spectral bandwidth of less than 15 GHz is obtained with output power exceeding 10 W and external cavity efficiency exceeding 60%. Absorption of 98% of the laser radiation by a 25-mm rubidium vapor cell filled with 600-torr ethane at a temperature of 368 K is acquired, which demonstrates the availability of this pump source for efficient rubidium laser pumping.     

Laser systems specialized for laser spectroscopy at storage rings

Laser spectroscopy at storage rings often suffers from a limited resolution due to Doppler-broadened resonances. Broadening is caused by the velocity spread of the ions stored in the beam. In the following, the present status of our work on laser systems specialized on the specific needs of laser spectroscopy at storage rings is reported. Two pulsed laser systems were developed. One is a dye laser whose spectral bandwidth can be switched by inserting different Littrow-prisms into the resonator. An increase in bandwidth up to a factor of 45 was achieved. This laser was used for fast qualitative scans and high resolution measurements. The other laser system is a Nd : YAG laser pumped optical parametric oscillator. It is a tunable laser system covering the spectral range from 410 to 4000 nm. Furthermore, a continuous wave laser with a frequency shifted feedback cavity is described. It shows broadband emission with an adjustable bandwidth of up to 4.5 GHz. This laser can be advantageous for laser cooling of ion beams. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

窄线宽、高光束质量的外腔双反馈激光二极管阵列(英文)

设计了一种离轴双反馈外腔能够有效地改善激光二极管阵列的线宽和光束质量。闪耀光栅和高反镜之间形成了一个共振腔。通过调整光栅和高反镜之间的倾角可以选定一个空间模在共振腔中放大。将一个半波片插入外腔中的光栅反馈支路,来控制反馈光的数量,激光从光栅反馈支路输出。运用这项技术,在工作电流16 A,可以把激光二极管阵列的输出线宽压缩到0.15 nm,光束束宽积减小到283 mm.mrad。由于光栅的锁定作用,中心波长几乎不随温度的变化而改变。在工作电流17A时,输出激光的功率为2.44 W,斜率效率为0.5 W/A。     

All-fiber normal-dispersion mode-locked laser with gain filter

An all-fiber normal-dispersion mode locked laser is presented. No additional spectral filter components are involved in the cavity. Spectral filtering is achieved through gain narrowing by three segments of gain fibers with different lengths. The performances of the fiber lasers with and without gain narrowing are discussed. A stable mode locked pulse train is observed in the cavity with gain filtering with pulse duration of 72 ps. The gain filtering effect is discussed theoretically.     

被动锁模染料激光器光脉冲成形研究

本文考虑了被动锁模染料激光器光脉冲成形机理:饱和增益、饱和吸收、群速弥散(GVD)、自相位调制(SPM)以及光谱滤波和线性损耗等因素,建立计算机模型,模拟光脉冲在腔内的形成,得到与实验一致的结果。     

Pulse Evolution Characteristics in Self-Similar Mode-locked Fibre Laser

A self-similar mode locked fibre laser is studied based on a numerical model. By introducing a dimensionless factor k to characterize the pulse shape, the self-similar pulse evolution, formation and the temporal and spectral shape changes due to the elements in the cavity are investigated throughout the laser cavity. The results show that in the self-similar mode locked fibre laser, self-similar pulse is first formed in the single-mode fibre, which is then amplified in the gain fibre. Gain bandwidth has a small influence on pulse shape, so high energy self-similar pulse can be obtained after amplification. Because net cavity dispersion directly influences the pulse width as well as peak power after compression by a pair of gratings, which can determine the pulse self-similar evolution, it is very important to control the net cavity dispersion to a certain range to obtain self-similar pulses.     

利用共振无源腔分析和抑制飞秒脉冲激光噪声的理论和实验研究

理论分析了共振无源腔对飞秒脉冲激光的强度和相位噪声的转化模型,分析表明,通过测量无源腔透射场或者反射场相对于输入场强度噪声的变化,可以间接得到输入场飞秒脉冲激光的相位噪声.在此基础上设计了精细度约为1500、自由光谱区为75 MHz的八镜环形共振无源腔,并测量了钛宝石锁模激光经过该共振无源腔后透射场和反射场强度噪声的变化.实验观察到,飞秒脉冲激光经过无源腔透射后,强度噪声特性得到较好改善,在探测频率2 MHz附近达到散粒噪声极限.同时,结合共振无源腔对激光强度和相位噪声的转化模型,间接给出了钛宝石锁模激光的相位噪声及无源腔对相位噪声的有效抑制作用.     

A broadband external cavity tunable InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser by utilizing only the ground state emission

A broadband external cavity tunable laser is realized by using a broad-emitting spectral InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) gain device. A tuning range of 69 nm with a central wavelength of 1056 nm, is achieved at a bias of 1.25 kA/cm2 only by utilizing the light emission from the ground state of QDs. This large tunable range only covers the QD ground-state emission and is related to the inhomogeneous size distribution of QDs. No excited state contributes to the tuning bandwidth. The application of the QD gain device to the external cavity tunable laser shows its immense potential in broadening the tuning bandwidth. By the external cavity feedback, the threshold current density can be reduced remarkably compared with the free-running QD gain device.     

一种基于矩形腔的MIM波导滤波器的滤波特性研究（英文）

理论提出并研究了一种基于矩形腔的窄带金属-介质-金属波导滤波器.建立滤波器内电场的传递矩阵模型,研究了矩形微腔与直通波导间耦合特性对器件滤波特性的影响.同时,研究了耦合长度、矩形微腔腔长、传输损耗等因素对滤波带宽的影响.研究结果表明,对于不同的矩形微腔腔长,存在一个可使器件滤波带宽达到最窄的耦合系数.此外,当微腔腔长越长且传输损耗越小时,滤波带宽也将越窄.该研究为表面等离子体波导的研究与设计提供了一定的参考.     

Dye laser pumped, continuous-wave KTP optical parametric oscillators

4 (KTP) optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) with pump and idler resonant cavities. With a linear two-mirror cavity the pump power at threshold was 70 mW. The single-frequency signal and idler output wavelengths were tuned in the range of 1025 to 1040 nm and 1250 to 1380 nm by tuning the dye laser in the range of 565 to 588 nm. With a dual three-mirror cavity the threshold was 135 mW. Pumped by 500 mW of 578 nm radiation the 1040 nm single-frequency signal wave output power was 84 mW. Power and frequency stable operation with a spectral bandwidth of less than 9 MHz was obtained by piezo-electrically locking the length of the pump resonant cavity to the dye laser wavelength. Similar performance was achieved by placing the idler resonant OPO inside the resonator of the dye laser. With this system power stable and single-frequency operation was achieved with a spectral bandwidth of less than 11 MHz for the idler wave. Received: 3 February 1998/Revised version: 9 March 1998     

喇曼自由电子激光振荡器

本文报道喇曼自由电子激光振荡器的研究结果。脉冲加速器电子束能量０．４ＭｅＶ，束流８００Ａ。采用满足布喇格条件的分布反馈谐振腔，取代传统的激光器反射镜。理论上进行了分析和设计，采用正弦形波结构选择振荡模式。喇曼自由电子激光振荡器实验表明，输出光谱显著变窄。频率分布半高宽度，超辐射下范围为７．５ｍｍ～９．２ｍｍ，分布腔下范围为８．６ｍｍ～８．９ｍｍ。