Effect of velocity fluctuations in the surface acoustic wave on functional characteristics of waveguide acoustooptic devices for real-time data processing

The characteristics of the basic acoustooptic devices (time-integrating correlator and broadband spectrum analyzer of radio signals) in which the acoustooptic chip is fabricated at a Y-cut lithium niobate substrate are studied in the presence of a relatively small velocity fluctuation of the surface acoustic wave. The main parameters of the device are scaled in accordance with its relative variations.     

Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry for differential mode delay analysis of an optical fiber

We propose a novel mode analysis and differential mode delay measurement method for an optical fiber using Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry. A spectral interferometer based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup was used with a broadband source and an optical spectrum analyzer to detect relative temporal delays between the guided modes of a few-mode optical fiber by analyzing spectral interference signals. We have shown that experimental results of the proposed method agree well with those results obtained by using a conventional time-domain measurement method. We have demonstrated that this new mode analysis technique has high sensitivity (<60 dB) and very good resolution (<1 ps/m).     

Log-frequency variable resolution optical spectrum analysis using holographic mapping techniques

A frequency-variant optical spectrum analyzer for one-dimensional signals is described. The configuration considered provides a log-frequency display of signal spectral content. A special refractive or holographic optical element is used to perform the basic frequency scale warping; modifications provide for frequency dependent resolution of the output spectral display. System operation is analyzed and experimental results presented.     

Ultra-wideband spectral analysis using S2 technology

This paper outlines the efforts to develop an ultra-wideband spectrum analyzer that takes advantage of the broad spectral response and fine spectral resolution (∼25 kHz) of spatial-spectral (S2) materials. The S2 material can process the full spectrum of broadband microwave transmissions, with adjustable time apertures (down to 100 μs) and fast update rates (up to 1 kHz). A cryogenically cooled Tm:YAG crystal that operates on microwave signals modulated onto a stabilized optical carrier at 793 nm is used as the core for the spectrum analyzer. Efforts to develop novel component technologies that enhance the performance of the system and meet the application requirements are discussed, including an end-to-end device model for parameter optimization. We discuss the characterization of new ultra-wide bandwidth S2 materials. Detection and post-processing module development including the implementation of a novel spectral recovery algorithm using field programmable gate array technology (FPGA) is also discussed.     

Optical-gyroscope application of efficient crossed-channel acoustooptic devices

An acoustooptic (AO) deflector/modulator using a single-mode crossed-channel waveguide of 2n type and an interdigital transducer is fabricated in aY-Z LiNbO₃ substrate. This module has shown a high diffraction efficiency. A 50% diffraction efficiency and a bandwidth of 13.4 MHz were obtained with 0.13 W of surface-acoustic wave power centered at 320MHz. Since the cross section of the channel waveguide and that of the optical fiber are comparable, the interfacting of the resultant acoustooptic devices with fiber optical systems would greatly simplified. In addition, the frequency-shifted optical beam can be conveniently used as a reference signal or local oscillator in heterodyne detection. Consequently, this cross-channel acoustooptic device should find a variety of applications in realizing an integrated-optics module with a 50–50% power slit, optical communication, and an optical fiber system. One of those applications, optical gyroscopes, is proposed by using this kind of crossed-channel AO device.     

Rapid and accurate chromatic dispersion measurement of fiber using asymmetric Sagnac interferometer

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an advanced method for chromatic dispersion measurement of fiber. This technique is based on spectral interferometry by using an asymmetric Sagnac loop and broadband optical source. The chromatic dispersion can be directly obtained from the spectral interferogram seen from an optical spectral analyzer. This method is rapid (<1?s), accurate, simple, low cost, and can provide a large dispersion measurement range.     

集成光学声光可调谐光谱仪的特性分析

提出了一种以集成光学声光可调谐滤波器作为分光元件的新型光谱仪 ,并详细介绍了这种光谱仪的具体特性。通过对这种光谱仪的特征方程、点扩展函数以及色散本领的详细分析 ,指出该光谱仪的分辨本领与器件的声光作用长度成正比 ,也与它的级联级数的平方根成正比。因此增加器件的声光作用长度比增加它的级联级数能更有效地提高光谱分辨率。另外还指出 ,准共线声光耦合是抑制侧瓣、提高分辨本领的有效途径。测试表明 ,当声光相互作用长度L =2 5mm ,声波导和光波导的夹角θ=0 .4 2°时 ,在中心频率 174MHz附近可获得带宽 1.4 4nm ,一级侧瓣 - 13.2dB ,模式转换效率大于 99%的结果。     

Wideband versatile radio-frequency spectrum analyzer

Operation of a wideband, versatile optical spectrum analyzer for radio-frequency (RF) signals is demonstrated. The device is based on spectral hole burning (SHB). The demonstration features 2.3-GHz instantaneous bandwidth, 500-kHz resolution, and a 32-dB dynamic range. A true RF signal, transferred to the optical carrier with the help of a Mach-Zehnder modulator, is analyzed with optical carrier suppression and zooming capabilities. This is to the authors' knowledge the largest instantaneous bandwidth ever demonstrated for a SHB-based processor in rare-earth-doped crystals.     

Simple wavelength-to-phase mapping FBG's interrogation method

In this work, an interrogation method for FBG sensors is presented based on a wavelength-to-time transformation procedure. The proposed scheme uses an externally modulated broadband source, an optical circulator and three Bragg gratings fixed in three different fiber branches, one acting as sensor (FBG_S) and others two (FBG₁ and FBG₂) acting as wavelength calibration devices. Spectral positions of the reflectivity maximum of FBG_1,2 are slightly different and fixed while FBG_S spectral position lies in the reflection spectral range of FBG_1,2. Moreover, an optical time delay between the reflections of both calibration gratings is introduced including a path length greater in one of the branches. Reflections from both gratings are added by employing a 50/50 coupler. By this set-up, a phase sensible detection technique is generated allowing to reach a sensitivity of up to 660°/nm in the performed experiments. A theoretical analysis of the device performance was carried out showing good agreement with the experimental results. This system combines low cost and high flexibility to be customized in a particular application.     

Antiresonant guiding optofluidic biosensor

We propose a novel optofluidic biosensor in which detection is based on a shift in the transmission spectrum due to the contrast in refractive index between the carrier fluid and the target biomaterial. The sensor can function using focused illumination without the need for fiber or waveguide coupled input/output signals. We study the spectral response of the sensor using 2D full-wave time-harmonic field analysis and perform parametric analysis of detection sensitivity as a function of material and device parameters. Our analysis demonstrates that detectible shifts in the transmission spectrum can be achieved with nanoscale accumulation of biomaterial within the sensor. We show that the transmission minima and detection sensitivity can be estimated using analytical expressions based on a 1D antiresonant waveguide model.     

一种基于电光调制光频梳光谱干涉的绝对测距方法

提出了一种基于电光调制光学频率梳的光谱干涉测距方法.理论分析了电光调制光学频率梳的数学模型和光谱扩展原理,并分析得出了光谱干涉测距方法的非模糊范围和分辨力的影响因素.在实验中,使用三只级联的电光相位调制器调制单频连续波激光生成了40多阶高功率梳齿状边带,并通过单模光纤和高非线性光纤对电光调制器输出的激光进行光谱扩展,得到重复频率为10 GHz,光谱宽度达30 nm的光学频率梳.将该光频梳作为光谱干涉测距装置的光源,可以实现无"死区"的绝对距离测量.另外,使用等频率间隔重采样和二次方程脉冲峰值拟合算法对测量结果进行数据处理,可以修正系统误差,提升测距精度.实验结果表明,在1 m的测量范围内,使用该装置可以在任意位置达到±15μm以内的绝对测距精度.     

光波导脉冲耦合器研究

提出并实验了一种新的波导型脉冲耦合器的构成和动作机理,将光阻断效应表现的光粒子性和分支波导模式耦合表现的光波动性在光波导载体上有机结合起来,用全光学方式实现了输入作用电脉冲与输出同步电脉冲之间的脉冲耦合动力学过程.     

Surface acoustic wave distribution and acoustooptic interactions in silica waveguide Bragg devices

The efficiency of acoustooptic interaction in single-mode strip silica waveguide is analyzed theoretically for the first time by determining the overlap integral between the optical and acoustic field distributions. The results show that there is a good overlap of the optical and SAW fields in the low SAW frequency range. At high acoustic frequencies, the overlap integral decreases with increasing acoustic frequency. At 216 MHz, the maximum of 0.8544 for the overlap integral is obtained provided that the H/Λ equals 0.02.     

Phase resolved near-field imaging of propagating waves in infrared tapered slot antennas

Tapered slot antennas (TSAs) consist of a planar non-resonant structure which couples incident radiation to a propagating waveguide mode. They are commonly used at microwave and radio frequencies because they are fundamentally broadband and have small profiles. Because of their planar layout and broadband response they have recently been scaled to infrared frequencies where they have advantages for sensing and energy harvesting. We use scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) to study the mode transformation of two types of TSA operating in the thermal infrared (λ₀ = 10.6 μm) with respect to electric field amplitude and phase. The results agree well with simulation showing both the phase reversal across the tapered slot and the traveling of wave fronts along the tapered slot, yet they also reveal high sensitivity of device performance to inhomogeneities in the geometry or illumination. This study will aid future design and analysis of practical non-resonant antennas operating at optical and infrared frequencies.     

基于电荷耦合器件的数字光谱分析仪的研究

光谱仪器是光学仪器中一种重要的组成类型。主要研究和搭建了基于电荷耦合器件(CCD)的数字光谱分析仪,将光学系统、CCD、数据采集卡和光谱分析软件组成完整的数字光谱分析系统,实现了系统的数字化、自动化、小型化和便携化。设计了光谱分析软件以实现光谱信号的采集、显示、处理、寻峰、标定和存取,开发了光谱分析类库（SAL）,提高了软件的可移植性,简化了后继软件开发。使用标准汞灯对数字光谱分析仪进行了标定,并使用激光笔发出的红光对软件的正确性进行了验证。该系统主要适用于现场远距离军用目标的实时探测,同时也可兼顾民用。实验结果表明,该数字光谱分析仪有较好的准确性及可重复性。     

Time-resolved spectral analysis of transient processes in Fabry-Perot interferometers

Parameters of a spectrochronograph that represents a Fabry-Perot interferometer combined with a spatial-time analyzer (a streak camera) are analyzed. Using numerical simulation, time scans of interferograms for bandwidth-limited and phase-modulated pulsed optical signals are obtained. The conditions are determined under which a Fabry-Perot interferometer represents a high-accuracy instrument for measuring the timeresolved spectral dynamics of short optical signals. In particular, an adequate representation of relatively smooth and monotone changes in amplitude and phase characteristics of an optical signal in a spectrochronograph requires that the mode lifetime in a Fabry-Perot interferometer be matched to the time scale of changes in the spectral structure of a pulse being studied. The character of distortions formed in the time-resolved spectral patterns in the case where these conditions are not fulfilled is qualitatively determined, and quantitative estimates of the distortions are presented. The results of the analysis and the numerical calculations show that a spectrochronogram obtained using a Fabry-Perot interferometer and a time analyzer (a streak camera) with parameters corresponding to the criteria formulated in the paper enable one to obtain information on the initial amplitude-phase pattern of a light pulse.     

Side-polished fiber based gain-flattening filter for erbium doped fiber amplifiers

A simple and accurate novel normal mode analysis has been developed to take into account the effect of the non-uniform depth of polishing in the study of the transmission characteristics of optical waveguide devices based on loading of a side-polished fiber half-coupler with a multimode planar waveguide. We apply the same to design and fabricate a gain-flattening filter suitable for fiber amplifiers. The wavelength dependent filtering action of the overall device could demonstrate flattening of an EDFA gain spectrum within ±0.7 dB over a bandwidth of 30 nm in the C-band. Results obtained by the present analysis agree very well with our experimental results. This present analysis should be very useful in the accurate design and analysis of any SPF-MMOW device/component including side-polished fiber based sensors.     

Dynamics of an optical signal in a multimode waveguide structure

A mathematical model of linear dynamic distortions of average signal power in a planar optical waveguide stemming from the intermodal coupling and dispersion of waveguide modes caused by macroscopic bends and irregularities of the optical waveguide surface has been developed on the basis of pulse intermodal scattering matrix. It is shown that the elements of this matrix are determined at a waveguide segment whose length greatly exceeds the correlation scale of the field of irregularities but is much smaller than the normalization length of waveguide modes and are described by rectangular functions with a duration proportional to the relative velocity of the corresponding modes. The dependences of the pulse intermodal scattering matrix on the intensities of absorption, Rayleigh scattering, and optical signal scattering from waveguide irregularities have been established. It is shown that, at waveguide lengths exceeding the normalization length, the optical signal shape becomes almost stable and can be expressed in terms of the pulse characteristic of an integrating circuit. It has been established that irregularities of the film in a bent optical waveguide lead not only to additional attenuation but also to enhancement of multimode distortion. A matrix method is proposed for taking into account these distortions, which is based on the effect of equalization (scrambling) of the signal energy over the spectrum of the bent waveguide modes. The model developed was used to process the experimental data on the dynamics of a signal in a weakly guiding multimode polymer optical fiber in order to estimate the parameters of attenuation and irregularities of the waveguide surface.     

Extracting the interference components of normal modes in shallow water waveguide using singular value decomposition method

The normal mode interference characteristic in shallow water waveguide is a valuable topic in the fields of underwater acoustic.A method for extracting the interference components of normal modes from broadband acoustic propagation data recorded by a single hydrophone without any prior information is present in this paper.First,a Hermitian matrix is formed by the power spectral density.Second,a singular value decomposition(SVD) is performed on the Hermitian matrix to obtain the orthonormal eigenvectors,which are proportional to the interference components of normal modes.The fundamental equations of the new extracting method are derived based on normal mode and waveguide invariant theory.And the validity of the present method is verified by the numerical simulation and experimental results.In addition,the extracted results of normal-mode interference components are intended to be used for passive ranging of broadband sources.     

Optical waveguide double-ring sensor using intensity interrogation with a low-cost broadband source

A highly sensitive optical waveguide sensor based on simple intensity interrogation with a broadband light source is proposed and investigated. It consists of two cascaded microring resonators with the same or slightly different free spectral ranges. The variation of the refractive index of the analyte sample results in a large shift in the envelope function of the transmission peaks of the sensor, and, consequently, a large change in the transmitted power. The low-cost sensing scheme can achieve an ultrahigh sensitivity of 2 × 10? dB/RIU. Experimental results on the intensity interrogated double-ring sensor using a broadband source are presented, demonstrating its operation principle and potential for low-cost practical applications.