Comment on "Optical-fiber-based Mueller optical coherence tomography"

We comment on the recent Letter by Jiao et al. [Opt. Lett. 28, 1206 (2003)] in which a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system was presented. Interrogating a sample with two orthogonal incident polarization states cannot always recover birefringence correctly. A previously presented fiber-based polarization-sensitive system was inaccurately characterized, and its method of eliminating the polarization distortion caused by single-mode optical fiber was presented earlier by Saxer et al. [Opt. Lett. 25, 1355 (2000)].     

Optimum "balanced codes" for optical sequence-inversed-keying direct-sequence code-division multiplexing networks

When sequence-inversed-keying, direct-sequence, code-division multiplexing as a multiplexing technology for optical fiber serial networks is applied, only one code is needed to address the individual nodes. We describe research on optimum "balanced codes." The surpassing 6 dB improvement in comparison with standard pseudonoise codes will be discussed in depth.     

基于全保偏八字腔结构锁模的光纤激光器及其功率放大

采用包层泵浦的全保偏八字腔结构搭建了一种脉宽可调的掺镱锁模光纤激光器,实现了中心波长为1 064nm、重复频率为4.683 MHz、脉冲宽度可调范围为0.8~5ns、对应平均功率范围为74.8~429.7mW的耗散孤子共振方波脉冲输出.腔内无需偏振控制器,仅通过调节泵浦输入即可实现锁模状态的自启动,并能够长时间保持稳定,在剧烈振动条件下亦不会失锁.采用两级光纤放大器进行功率放大,实现了100 W的平均功率输出,峰值功率高达26.68kW.     

"Negative" backaction noise in interferometric detection of a microlever

Interferometric detection of mirror displacements is intrinsically limited by laser shot noise. In practice, however, it is often limited by thermal noise. Here we report on an experiment performed at the liquid helium temperature to overcome the thermal noise limitation and investigate the effect of classical laser noise on a microlever that forms a Fabry-Perot cavity with an optical fiber. The spectral noise densities show a region of "negative" contribution of the backaction noise close to the resonance frequency. We interpret this noise reduction as a coherent coupling of the microlever to the laser intensity noise. This optomechanical effect could be used to improve the detection sensitivity as discussed in proposals going beyond the standard quantum limit.     

质子辐照对国产“一”字型保偏光纤损伤效应研究

航天器在空间环境中运行时,会受到质子的辐照,光纤环作为航天器上光纤陀螺的重要组成部件受辐照影响 最为严重.为了研究国产“一”字型保偏光纤因质子辐照导致辐照诱导损耗的变化规律及其辐照损伤机理, 选择质子能量为5 MeV和10 MeV,光源波长为1310 nm,原位测量了光纤传输功率变化情况,计算出辐照诱导损耗. 利用SRIM软件,模拟能量分别为5 MeV和10 MeV质子辐照在光纤中的电离和位移损伤分布.借助X 射线光电子能谱仪分析辐照前后O 1s和Si 2p解析谱,借助傅里叶变换红外光谱仪观察光纤辐照前后光谱变化情况研究发现,在波长为1310 nm处, 光纤的辐照诱导损耗随着质子注量的增加而增长,主要原因是由于光纤纤芯中Si-OH的浓度增加所导致. 而且能量为5 MeV质子辐照造成光纤的辐照诱导损耗比10 MeV严重,这是因为5 MeV质子在光纤纤芯处造成的 位移和电离损伤均比10 MeV严重,即产生的Si-OH数量多.     

Comment on "passively Q-switched fiber laser that uses saturable Raman gain"

Recently, an interesting pulsing behavior of a fiber laser with intracavity Raman conversion was reported [Y. Zhao and S. D. Jackson, Opt. Lett.31, 751 (2006)]. The pulsing has been interpreted as passive Q switching, but this interpretation needs to be revised. An alternative explanation predicts transient phenomena, which do not lead to a regular pulse train.     

Optical fiber-based photomechanical gene transfer system for in vivo application

We developed an optical-fiber-based photomechanical gene transfer system for endoscopic or catheter-based application. A fiber tip with a laser-absorbing film covered with a transparent plastic disk for plasma confinement was attached to a quartz fiber; the film was irradiated with nanosecond laser pulses transmitted through the fiber to generate photomechanical waves (PMWs). Characteristics of PMWs emitted from the fiber tip were examined to confirm the necessary conditions for gene transfer. We then attempted to transfer reporter genes to the rat skin as a test tissue in vivo with the fiber system, and the results showed significantly high protein levels and spatially selective pinpoint gene expressions in the tissue.     

Mode-locking of fiber lasers induced by residual polarization dependent loss of cavity components

We found experimentally that under strong pumping, mode locking could self-start in a fiber laser even without inserting a polarizer or a mode locker in the cavity. It was identified that the mode locking was caused by the large residual polarization dependent loss (PDL) of a cavity component. We have experimentally determined the strength of PDL in our fiber lasers. Our results show that in order to exclude the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) mode locking effect in a fiber laser one has to carefully select the intracavity components.     

Heat dissipative solitons in optical fibers

We propose a one-dimensional model governing the propagation of heat waves in an optical fiber (the “fiber fuse”). The model has solutions in the form of high temperature localized waves moving towards the input end of the fiber, fueled by the laser power. These waves can be ignited by local heating at any point along the fiber. The effect of such a wave is irreversible damage to the fiber core. The phenomenon was observed earlier by Hand and Russell, when locally heating a fiber through which CW light of modest intensity was propagating. This induced self-destruction of the optical fiber core.     

Single-mode operation of a coiled multimode fiber amplifier

We report a new approach to obtaining single-transverse-mode operation of a multimode fiber amplifier in which the gain fiber is coiled to induce significant bend loss for all but the lowest-order mode. We demonstrated this method by constructing a coiled amplifier using Yb-doped, double-clad fiber with a core diameter of 25 microm and a numerical aperture of ~0.1 (V approximately 7.4) . When the amplifier was operated as an amplified-spontaneous-emission source, the output beam had an M(2) value of 1.09 +/- 0.09 ; when seeded at 1064 nm, the slope efficiency was similar to that of an uncoiled amplifier. This technique will permit scaling of pulsed fiber lasers and amplifiers to significantly higher pulse energies and peak powers and cw fiber sources to higher average powers while maintaining excellent beam quality.     

Raman effects in a highly nonlinear holey fiber: amplification and modulation

We experimentally demonstrate that a short length of highly nonlinear holey fiber (HF) can be used for strong L(+) -band (1610-1640-nm) Raman amplification and ultrafast signal modulation. We use a pure silica HF with an effective area of just 2.85mum(2) at 1550 nm, which yields an effective nonlinearity ~15 times higher than in conventional silica dispersion-shifted fiber. Using a 75-m length of this fiber, we obtained internal Raman gains of more than 42 dB and a noise figure of ~6 dB under a forward single-pump scheme, and the Raman gain coefficient was experimentally estimated to be 7.6 chi 10(-14)m/W . Also, an 11-dB signal extinction ratio in a Raman-induced all-optical modulation experiment was achieved with the same fiber.     

Modeling the evolution of spatial beam parameters in parabolic index fibers

We analyze the evolution of beam quality when propagating through a parabolic index (PI) fiber. The deterioration in beam quality is expressed in terms of the fiber parameters, and a methodology for minimizing the deterioration is presented. The fiber optimization procedure is evaluated numerically for an application where the PI fiber is used to deliver the signal produced by a tapered fiber-bundle beam combiner. It was demonstrated that delivery with no beam quality deterioration can be achieved with proper fiber design.     

Specific mode output from multimode fiber oscillators by designing rare earth doping profiles

Based on rate equations, a theoretical model of a fiber oscillator with a multimode gain fiber was built. We studied the effect of the rare earth doping profile in the core on the output characteristics of the multimode fiber oscillator. The results indicated that a pure fundamental mode can be obtained by partly doping the core of the large mode area （LMA） ytterbium doped fiber （YDF） in the fiber laser. Furthermore, a sole specific high-order mode can also be implemented by tailoring the rare earth doping profile according to the simulations. The mode coupling effect was also taken into account in the model. In spite of the mode coupling effect, the specific mode was able to dominate in the output of the fiber laser by utilizing the designed LMA YDF.     

Optical characterization of quantum dots entrained in microstructured optical fibers

We present a study of the basic optical properties of colloidal CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots entrained in a microstructured optical fiber. Quantum dots suspended in heptane were pulled into the holes surrounding the solid core of a microstructured optical fiber of the holey fiber class via capillary action and are found to remain in the fiber. In this experiment, a laser coupled into the fiber photoexcited quantum dots along the length of the fiber. Quantum dot emission was observed to couple into the fiber core and propagate along the fiber. To investigate the use of such a system in fiber-based light generation or amplification, a second laser overlapping the low-energy portion of the quantum dot emission was simultaneously coupled into the fiber. We observed apparent amplification of this light when photoexciting the quantum dots well above their bandedge.     

CO(2) laser writing of long-period fiber gratings in optical fibers under tension

We demonstrate experimentally that the efficiency of writing a long-period fiber grating in a single-mode fiber by CO(2) laser pulses increases significantly with the axial stress applied along the fiber. We attribute the enhancement in writing efficiency to the generation of nonuniform inelastic frozen-in strains across the fiber under tension by CO(2) laser heating. Controlling the axial stress distribution along a fiber during the CO(2) laser writing process thus provides an additional degree of freedom for control of the grating characteristics.     

Fluoride glass Raman fiber laser at 2185 nm

We report on the first Raman laser based on a fluoride glass optical fiber. The Raman fiber laser was pumped by a 9.6?WTm3+:silica CW fiber laser operating at a wavelength of 1940?nm. A maximum output power of 580?mW was measured at 2185.1?nm, corresponding to a frequency shift of 579?cm(-1) (17.37?THz). We observed a threshold power of 3.8?W and a low power slope efficiency of 29% with respect to the launched pump power. Using those results and the known fiber parameters, we estimated a Raman gain peak value of 3.52*10(-14)?m/W, which is lower than the previously reported values.     

Erbium-ytterbium co-doped multi-wavelength double-clad fiber laser around 1612 nm

We report an erbium-ytterbium (Er/Yb) co-doped multi-wavelength laser operation around 1612 nm. The fiber laser was constructed in a figure-of-eight configuration and using a piece of polarization-maintaining (PM) Er/Yb double clad fiber as the gain medium. The oscillation laser lines around 1612 nm could be controlled by carefully adjusting the polarization controllers in the cavity, which might result in single line, dual line or triple line fiber laser operation. The line space was measured about 3.3 nm (±0.2 nm) which was believed to be strongly dependent on the length of the PM Er/Yb co-doped double-clad fiber.     

Stable high-power continuous-wave Yb(3+)-doped silica fiber laser utilizing a point-by-point inscribed fiber Bragg grating

We report on a narrowband 5 W cw fiber laser incorporating a point-by-point fiber Bragg grating inscribed into the core of a Yb(3+)-doped double-clad fiber. The laser featured excellent long-term wavelength and power stability (0.3%), as well as a very narrow (15 pm) linewidth, when passive temperature stabilization of the grating was implemented.