Dynamic light scattering in localized coherence volumes

We introduce a novel light-scattering technique for investigating the dynamics of random media with a broad range of optical densities. By use of the spatial coherence properties of a single-mode optical fiber and the temporal coherence of a broadband source, the measurement volume is isolated at the end of the optical waveguide. Optical mixing between the fluctuating scattered light and the Fresnel-reflected field at the fiber-medium interface is analyzed directly in the frequency domain. The unique characteristics of this new technique are discussed in the context of simultaneous measurement of average scatterer size and concentration in dense colloidal suspensions.     

共路径光相干成像系统光纤探头的研究

本文提出了基于楔形光纤以及端面成角度光纤的共路径光相干成像系统探头,实现背向散射信号在其端部的共路径相位干涉,从而获得待测件断面成像信息.首先,建立了共路径光相干成像系统光路及探头相位干涉的理论模型,分析了各光纤探头尺寸与干涉信号强度、系统性能的关系.其次,分别设计出楔形光纤、端面成角光纤探头,开展了共路径光路干涉实验,搭建了工作波长为1 550 nm的共路径光路测试系统.然后,根据不同待测样品的散射率,设计并研制了不同角度的楔形光纤探头,分析了不同尺寸的光纤探头对系统性能的影响,针对不同样品开展了固定探头探测实验.实验结果表明,楔形光纤端部可直接对输出光聚焦,照射在被测样品上,且其端面成一定角度时,可调节输出分光比,实现对参考信号的调节,提高了系统信噪比.为进一步开展共路径光相干成像系统的研究奠定了基础.     

孪生光束干涉法测量光源的空间相干性

定量测定光源空间相干性在部分相干光成像, 非相干全息术及光信息处理领域具有重要的研究价值. 本文基于三角全息干涉光路提出了一种测量光源空间相干性的新方法. 利用三角干涉全息光路系统中分束镜产生的孪生光束进行干涉获得干涉图, 通过调整光源中心位置在写入平面内偏离光轴的量, 改变两孪生光束空间分离量的大小, 采集对应的一系列干涉图, 计算干涉图样的对比度, 从而对光源照明空间的波前上一系列不同距离的点对之间的空间复相干度进行测量. 实验系统光路配置较为简单且不需要使用特殊加工的光学元件. 针对一个准单色的扩展光源设计并进行实验, 结果表明利用文中提出的方法可以准确的测量光源的空间相干性, 实验结果相对于理论计算值的误差仅为3.8%. 关键词： 相干性 全息干涉 干涉仪 光学应用     

Coherent optical phase transfer over a 32-km fiber with 1 s instability at 10{-17}

The phase coherence of an ultrastable optical frequency reference is fully maintained over actively stabilized fiber networks of lengths exceeding 30 km. For a 7-km link installed in an urban environment, the transfer instability is 6 x 10{-18} at 1 s. The excess phase noise of 0.15 rad, integrated from 8 mHz to 25 MHz, yields a total timing jitter of 0.085 fs. A 32-km link achieves similar performance. Using frequency combs at each end of the coherent-transfer fiber link, a heterodyne beat between two independent ultrastable lasers, separated by 3.5 km and 163 THz, achieves a 1-Hz linewidth.     

High angle phase modulated low coherence interferometry for path length resolved Doppler measurements of multiply scattered light

We describe an improved method for coherence domain path length resolved measurements of multiply scattered photons in turbid media. An electro-optic phase modulator sinusoidally modulates the phase in the reference arm of a low coherence fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, at a high phase modulation angle. For dynamic turbid media this results in Doppler broadened phase modulation interference peaks at the modulation frequency and its multiples. The signal to noise ratio is increased by almost one order or magnitude for large modulation angles and the shape of the spectral peaks resulting from the interference of Doppler shifted sample waves and reference light is not changed. The path length dependent Doppler broadening is compared with the theoretical predictions in the single scattered and diffusive regimes. The experimentally measured optical path lengths are validated with the Monte Carlo technique.     

Full Bandwidth Measurement of Supercontinuum Spectral Phase Coherence in Long Pulse Regime

Abstract

This article reports that spectral phase coherence in the supercontinuum in long pulse regime can be measured simply and effectively by using an interference technique with the help of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. It is also demonstrated that chromatic dispersion on the fringe visibility of interference spectral patterns is overcome in the setup. The technique is applied to characterize supercontinuum spectral phase coherence in a highly non-linear optical fiber with different input conditions: unseeded, coherent seeded, and incoherent seeded picosecond pumps. The results confirm the phase coherence characteristic predicted theoretically in previous studies.     

Experimental study of coherence vortices: local properties of phase singularities in a spatial coherence function

By controlling the irradiance of an extended quasimonochromatic, spatially incoherent source, an optical field is generated that exhibits spatial coherence with phase singularities, called coherence vortices. A simple optical geometry for direct visualization of coherence vortices is proposed, and the local properties and the spatial evolution of coherence vortex are experimentally investigated. To our knowledge, this is the first direct and quantitative experimental measurement of a generic coherence vortex.     

Multiplexed Optical Fiber Interferometric Sensor System by Synthesis of Optical Coherence Function with Phase Generated Carrier

A novel system for multiplexed optical fiber interferometric sensors is proposed applying the synthesis of optical coherence function with phase generated carriers. The ideal parameters of the laser diode frequency modulation for the phase generated carrier with the synthesis of the optical coherence function are discussed. A basic experimental setup including two interferometric sensors is constructed. The results show that the phase signal from the two sensors can successfully be demultiplexed by scanning the synthesized coherence peak.     

主动相位偏置折叠型萨尼亚克光纤传感阵列时分复用技术

针对折叠结构萨尼亚克(Sagnac)光纤传感阵列存在噪声光与信号光混叠的问题,提出了一种主动相位偏置时分复用方案.在传统梯形结构传感阵列的基础上,通过调整总线光纤的长度关系和附加延迟光纤的方法,使噪声光和信号光依次交替返回而不会发生混叠.进一步分析表明,通过调整延迟光纤环的长度,可以使输入光脉冲的重复频率达到标准时分复用系统重复频率的二分之一.整个阵列的相位偏置由一个与输入光脉冲同步的相位调制信号驱动集成光学芯片实现.实验演示了一个两基元的传感阵列,最小时间间隔为331.25 ns,输入光脉冲重复频率可达754.727 kHz,在5 kHz处相位灵敏度为7.3μrad√(Hz),探头间串扰约为-51.75 dB.     

用于实现散射介质中时间反演的数字相位共轭的相干性

抑制散射介质对光的散射,调控光在散射介质中的传输,是光通信、生物光子学、光镊等领域的重要课题.设计并实现了基于宽谱光源和数字相位共轭的可调控光在散射介质中传输的时间反演实验系统.实验获取了不同相干长度下物光和参考光束之间的光程差与干涉图样、相位图及时间反演信号之间的关系,分析了光源相干性对调控光在散射介质中传输的影响.实验结果表明,基于宽谱光源的相干特性和数字相位共轭技术,通过调节光程差能选择性获取同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光束的相对相位,再利用空间光调制器对参考光束进行调控,实现光束的反向传播,从而选择性实现对同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光的时间反演.     

Significance and measurability of the phase of a spatially coherent optical field

In usual measurements of the phase of an optical field it is generally assumed that the field is monochromatic. In reality this assumption is never justified. The distinction between monochromaticity and complete spatial coherence is first discussed, and it is then shown that with every spatially coherent field (e.g., a laser mode) one can associate a monochromatic wave that, in a well-defined sense, represents the average behavior of the field. Its phase can be measured by standard interferometric techniques and also by techniques developed in recent years for the measurement of the spectral degree of coherence of fields of arbitrary states of coherence.     

Passive combination of multiple beams in an optical fiber via stimulated Brillouin scattering

We demonstrate passive combination of multiple beams in an optical fiber via stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Four off-axis beams are combined in a long multimode optical fiber using a novel all-optical mount. The combined beam has the high spatial coherence properties of the LP(01) mode owing to the beam cleanup properties of SBS. The threshold for SBS when off-axis pumps are used is shown to be a factor of 13 times higher than for on-axis pump beams. We propose this method would improve the brightness of an array of fiber amplifiers.     

Attenuation and modal dispersion models for spatially multiplexed co-propagating helical optical channels in step index fibers

Spatial reuse of optical frequencies has been shown to be possible through a novel spatial domain multiplexing (SDM) technique that uses spatial multiplexer at the input end to launch multiple channels of the same wavelength inside a single strand of carrier fiber and then employs spatial filtering methods to de-multiplex the different optical channels at the output end. The individual SDM channels are confined to dedicated spatial locations inside the fiber while traversing through it owing to helical propagation of light. This presents attenuation and dispersion models of such a system. Experimentally obtained beam profile and resultant crosstalk of two such spatially multiplexed co-propagating SDM channels of the same wavelength over standard step index multimode optical fibers are also presented.     

用非球面透镜制作光纤约1:1空间耦合器

针对光纤的泵浦耦合问题,对由两片非球面透镜组成的接近1:1光纤间空间耦合器进行了计算和实验验证.利用高斯光束的变化规律对光路进行了分析研究,并根据二极管输出光相干性不好的特点,对非球面透镜进行了光路追迹的模拟计算.研究发现,在泵浦光波长等因素发生变化时,利用椭球面透镜组成的耦合系统较双曲面透镜有更高的稳定性.实验中选用符合计算结果要求的非球面透镜组成耦合装置,利用一台二极管激光器(尾纤输出端面直径约200 μm,N.A.约0.2)泵浦一段芯径约200 μm(N.A.约0.42)的多模光纤,耦合装置的透过率约95%,在光纤端面有反射的条件下约90%的泵浦光耦合进光纤.     

Stationary-fiber rotary probe with unobstructed 360° view for optical coherence tomography

A side-scanning fiber probe is a critical component for optical coherence tomography in medical imaging and diagnosis. We propose and fabricate an on-axis rotating probe that performs in situ, circumferential scanning that is shadow-free (not susceptible to shadow effects caused by the motor's wires). A miniature motor that incorporates a bored-out shaft for the optical fiber is located at the distal end of the probe, which results in a more stable and uniform circumferential scan, free from wire-shadow interference effects. More importantly, this design, novel to our knowledge, compared to other probes avoids the insertion losses introduced by optical coupling components and the multitude of optical interfaces, which is very important for sensing weak signals backscattered from structures deep in the tissue.     

用非球面透镜制作光纤约1∶1空间耦合器

针对光纤的泵浦耦合问题,对由两片非球面透镜组成的接近1∶1光纤间空间耦合器进行了计算和实验验证.利用高斯光束的变化规律对光路进行了分析研究,并根据二极管输出光相干性不好的特点,对非球面透镜进行了光路追迹的模拟计算.研究发现,在泵浦光波长等因素发生变化时,利用椭球面透镜组成的耦合系统较双曲面透镜有更高的稳定性.实验中选用符合计算结果要求的非球面透镜组成耦合装置,利用一台二极管激光器(尾纤输出端面直径约200μm,N.A.约0.2)泵浦一段芯径约200μm(N.A.约0.42)的多模光纤,耦合装置的透过率约95%,在光纤端面有反射的条件下约90%的泵浦光耦合进光纤.     

Group index of the human cornea at 1.3-microm wavelength obtained in vitro by optical coherence domain reflectometry

The group index of the cornea, rather than the phase refractive index, is required for thickness calculations with optical coherence tomography. Recent advances with high-speed optical coherence tomography at 1.3 microm make index measurement at this wavelength of great interest. Group indices of three human corneas from an eye bank were measured in vitro with optical coherence domain reflectometry. Measurements were made in a calibrated cuvette filled with a preservation medium to maintain proper corneal hydration. Group indices were calculated from the optical path lengths measured. The corneal group index was 1.389 +/- 0.004 (average +/- standard deviation). The average group index of a balanced salt solution, an approximation to aqueous humor, was 1.343 +/- 0.001.     

Spatial coherence properties of light from optical fibres

The mutual intensity of the optical field in the Fraunhofer diffraction region produced from the end of an optical fibre under illumination of a coherent beam, is theoretically analysed by using an optical fibre-end source model. In this source model, the optical field at the end of the fibre is expressed as an aggregation of independent plane waves with random directions and phases, because the guided modes propagating through the fibre may be regarded as a stochastic process. It is found that the optical field in the diffraction region from the multimode optical fibre is not homogeneous butquasi homogeneous in a statistical sense. The spatial coherence properties in the field are discussed in connection with theV number (the normalized frequency) of the fibre and in comparison with those in the field produced from an incoherent source obeying the van Cittert-Zernike theorem.     

Measurement for Scattering Media by Synthesis of Optical Coherence Function with Super-Structure Grating Distributed Bragg Reflector Laser Diode

The application of the technique of synthesis of optical coherence function for detection in scattering media is investigated. By modulating the optical frequency, the technique synthesizes the coherence function into a delta-function-like peak at an arbitrary location, and thus can select interferometrically the information at that location. The location is adjustable by the modulation parameter or additional phase modulation. A multi-section super-structure grating distributed Bragg reflector laser diode (SSG-DBR-LD) of THz-order tunable range is employed to enhance the spatial resolution for suppressing the multiple scattering from locations other than that detected. In a preliminary experimental demonstration, a reflectometry of 550 μm spatial resolution was achieved and was used to detect scattering media.     

Ultrafast breathinglike oscillation in the exciton density of ZnSe quantum wells

The spatial density profile of a low-density exciton ensemble in ZnSe quantum wells shows a breathinglike oscillation on a 30-ps time scale. This breathing results from the emission of the first acoustic phonon at the end of the quasiballistic transport phase of the excitons which reverses their direction of propagation. Since the scattering destroys the phase of the excitonic wave function, one can deduce simultaneously the coherence length and the coherence time of excitonic transport by evaluation of the oscillation measured from a single experiment. The breathing, which can be modeled by Monte Carlo simulations, is quenched for rising lattice temperature, i.e., increasing phonon absorption, and in samples with significant disorder. These results were obtained by time-resolved nanophotoluminescence with 5 ps and 250 nm temporal and spatial resolution, respectively.