Characteristics of Multi-Beam Module Using Waveguides for Laser Scanning Optical Systems

A multi-beam module using optical waveguides has been studied for a laser scanning optical system. Laser diodes with a wavelength of 780 nm are assembled on a silicon substrate. The beams emitted from the laser diodes are directly coupled into waveguides. This multi-beam module is assembled on a metal substrate with a photodiode. The photodiode controls the power of each laser diode on the silicon substrate. The multi-beam module is able to increase the output speed of high-density image printings, and the speed for high-speed color printings. We have developed the four-beam module with beam divergence angles of 11 degrees and spatial beam interval of 24 μm. Additional heat sink and optimizing tip-bonding between the laser diode and solder pad on the silicon substrate is useful to stabilize laser power against rising temperature.     

A Novel Fabrication Technique of Long Period Fiber Gratings Using a Holographic Optical Element

We develop a new flexible and precise ultraviolet exposure technique to fabricate a long period fiber grating using a computer-generated holographic optical element (HOE). The HOE can generate a striped beam pattern with about a 300 #x03BC;m period from a KrF excimer laser. This method offers (1) ease in varying the grating period and (2) grating period precision. We achieve a grating period within an accuracy of #x00B1;0.04 #x03BC;m. This means that the peak wavelength can be controlled within an accuracy of #x00B1;0.2nm with an operating wavelength of 1.55 #x03BC;m.This paper was originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication, ODF2000 which was held on November 15-17, 2000 at the International Conference Center, Tokyo, Waseda University, Japan.     

A Practical See-Through Head Mounted Display Using a Holographic Optical Element

This paper describes a practical method for design and fabrication of holographic optical elements (HOEs) as off-axis imaging optics. The authors have designed and fabricated a compact glass-like and see-through display using HOE and a total internal reflection prism. Observers can see through the display because wavelength selectivity of the HOE provides high transparency. Wave front of the HOE is designed by commercial software, though the actual fabrication method is not provided. The authors propose a practical method to fabricate HOEs, which can be applied to a wide range of imaging optics.This paper was originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication, ODF2000 which was held on November 15–17, 2000 at the International Conference Center, Tokyo, Waseda University, Japan.     

高功率高效率光纤耦合半导体激光模块研制

采用光束整形和空间合束的方法,研制出高功率、高效率多阵列光纤耦合半导体激光模块。将波长为976nm连续工作的5个标准半导体阵列,通过对快轴进行准直和快慢轴光束旋转的方式进行光束整形,准直后进行空间合束,经耦合透镜聚焦,耦合入芯径400μm、数值孔径0.22的光纤。测量结果显示:光纤的出光功率最大可达到327 W,光纤耦合效率大于93.6%。     

Design of an Optical Fiber Device for Pumping a Double-Clad Fiber Laser with a Laser Diode Bar

Pumping of a rare-earth-doped double-clad fiber laser with a GaAIAs laser diode bar requires imaging the near field output of a 1 cm long one-dimensional linear array of tens of multi-mode laser diode sources onto a two-dimensional oblong cross section approximately matching the fiber’s first cladding shape. This work describes the design and preliminary implementation of a device (here called a high brightness geometric transformer) that achieves this transformation with minimum brightness loss. This is done by imaging the laser diode bar near field using a fast cylindrical micro-lens onto a linear array of N (≈10) soft-glass, thin-clad rectangular fibers; in turn, the fibers’ output ends are arranged to form a stack that matches the required first cladding shape. For a typical 20W CW, laser diode bar with brightness of 25 mW·μm²·sr^-1, the geometric transformer output brightness is 0.6 mW·μm^-2·sr⁻¹, i.e., there is a ·40 intermediate loss of brightness. If the output of the geometric transformer is used to pump a Nd-doped double-clad fiber laser, an overall brightness gain of ·340 can be achieved.Presented at the International Commission of Optics Topical Meeting, Kyoto, 1994.     

Bit-rate Flexible Picosecond Pulse Width Conversion with All-optical Mono-stable Multivibrator Laser Diode

An optical mono-stable multivibrator laser diode (MM-LD) is realized by using a multi-electrode distributed feedback laser diode. All-optical pulse-width conversion of ultra-short pulses to non-return-to-zero (NRZ) is achieved using an MM-LD. The MM-LD is adopted for a wide range of bit-rates between 2-10 Gbit/s by tuning the DC bias. Data format transformation from 10-Gbit/s return-to-zero optical signals to NRZ optical-signals is achieved with error free operation. Converted optical signals, which have a narrower spectral bandwidth and lower peak power than when input, are transmitted using a 1.3-μm zero dispersion fiber (1.3Aλ₀-SMF).     

Analysis of Near-Field Intensity Distributions of High-Compression Talbot Array Illuminators Using Rigorous Diffraction Theory

The technology nowadays employed in the field of binary optics allows a relatively easy fabrication of grating structures down to the wavelength region. The analysis of light propagation through such grating structures requires the use of rigorous diffraction theories such as the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA), in order to take proper account of polarization effects in the electric and magnetic field and the thickness of the grating. In this paper, we examine the near-field intensity distributions and associated illumination efficiencies of Talbot array illuminators (TAIL#x0027;s) with compression ratios of 8 and 16 using RCWA. The high illumination efficiency observed close to the grating surface is expected to bring about new applications of TAIL#x0027;s in the field of super-resolution and near-field optics.This paper was originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication, ODF2000 which was held on November 15-17, 2000 at the International Conference Center, Tokyo, Waseda University, Japan.     

Tapered diode lasers and laser modules near 635nm with efficient fiber coupling for flying-spot display applications

Flying-spot displays require light sources in the red, green and blue with a high optical output power and nearly diffraction limited beams. In this paper we present experimental results of red-emitting, AlGaInP based, tapered diode lasers and their integration into diode laser modules. The laser modules emit a collimated, almost diffraction limited beam with an optical output power as high as 1W at a wavelength close to 635 nm. The tapered laser chips were designed with emphasis on achieving a good beam quality in vertical and lateral directions of a collimated beam. To test the suitability for flying-spot display applications, we performed fiber coupling experiments with a low mode number optical fiber with an etendue as low as 6 × 10^?6 mm² sr. A maximum transmission of 70% of the launched power behind the uncoated fiber as well as a usable power in excess of 580mW were measured.     

Batch Assembly Micro-Ball Lens Array for Si-Based Optical Coupling Platform in Free Space

The paper presents novel concepts of batch fabrication of micro-ball lens array technology integrated on the silicon-based wafer which can improve the appropriate distance for optical fiber coupling. The silicon-based optical coupling platform consists of a self-parking framework (including flat-topped mesa and intersection of two v-grooves) and micro-ball lens array for optical fiber coupling purposes. The structure of optical coupling platform is able to improve the distance between fiber and micro-ball lens and to increase coupling efficiency. Optical measurement reveals an insertion loss below 2.5 dB with wavelength 635 nm in singlemode fiber. The micro-ball lens array is batch fabricated by polymeric material and thick photoresist, and then bonded onto a flat-topped mesa that adjoins to the v-groove. The corner compensation offers a method to fabricate the flat-topped mesa in the intersection of two v-grooves. This fabrication process not only provides accurate coupling distance between fibers and micro-ball lens, but also reduces micro-assembly cost.This paper was originally presented at the 2001 International Conference (2^nd Joint OSJ-SPIE Conference) on Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology, ICOSN 2001 which was held June 6-8, 2001 at the Pacifico-Yokohama Conference Center, Yokohama, Japan.     

Laser diode interferometer used for measuring displacements in large range with a nanometer accuracy

In this paper, the displacement of an object is measured with a photothermal phase-modulating laser diode interferometer. A feedback control system is designed to reduce the measurement errors caused by the fluctuations in the optical wavelength of the laser diode and the vibrations of the optical components in the interferometer. A new method is proposed to enlarge the measuring range of displacement. Using this method, the measuring range is enlarged from half wavelength to nearly 125 μm and the measurement accuracy is about 1 nm. The simulation and experimental results have shown the usefulness of the method and the feedback control system.     

偏振方向对阵列光束远场能量分布的影响

为了研究相干合成系统发光单元的偏振方向对相干合成远场光强分布的影响,以1维线性分布的阵列为例,利用傅里叶方法分析得到了单个发光单元的偏振方向偏离时相干合成的远场光强的解析表达式。数值计算结果表明:光源偏振方向的偏离使得远场中心光斑的峰值光强减小,光强的最小值不再为零,次瓣所包含的能量增大,但图样仍成对称性分布。对于5个单元合成系统,当单个发光单元偏振方向偏离π/2时,峰值光强减小到原来的68%左右。     

光纤耦合激光束输出光空间分布及其影响因素分析

通过分析光纤出射端面的光强分布,研究了光纤传输过程中激光二极管出射光束进入光纤时的指向角对出射端面光场分布的影响.提出一种影响光纤输出端光场的新因素,对数值孔径和光纤芯径两个影响因素进行了补充.在光纤传输过程中,将激光二极管出射的光束等效为大量光线,在二极管输出光的位置以及空间分布确定的情况下,使用光线追迹方法依次分析了单束和多束光的指向角以及光纤长度对出射面光强分布的影响.结果显示:单束入射光指向角的偏差会引起光纤输出端面光强极值位置的偏移,多束的情况可以导致光纤输出端光强呈现明显的环状分布,得出了入射光束指向角的偏差是影响光纤出射面光强分布和峰值位置的重要因素的结论,而光纤长度的变化对上述分布状况同样存在影响.     

Design Criterion for Micro-Machine Scanner Optical Switch Based on Beam Steering Angle Error Analysis

The micro-machine scanner optical switch is gaining attention for its ability to switch over 100 ports. A beam steering error for devices using tilted mirrors or a moving lens is analyzed and schemes to overcome the limit are reported. The channel number is limited by the achievable beam steering error. A device with several hundred ports is possible with the beam steering error under 1#x0025;. Optimized focal length or fiber mode divergence angle is beneficial for increasing the channel number. To minimize the thermal expansion effect, large focal length is required indicating need for a compensation scheme to attain larger channel number. A new type of scanning optics is proposed to overcome the limit set by the beam steering error, and a new switch network described can further expand the channel number.This paper was originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication, ODF2000 which was held on November 15-17, 2000 at the International Conference Center, Tokyo, Waseda University, Japan.     

Optical True Time Delay for Phased Array Antennas Composed of 2×2 Optical MEMS Switches and Fiber Delay Lines

We proposed an optical true time delay (TTD) for phased array antennas (PAAs) composed of 2×2 optical MEMS switches, single-mode fiber delay lines, and a fixed wavelength laser diode. A 3-bit TTD for 10 GHz PAAs was implemented with a time delay error less than ± 0.2 ps.     

Bach Fabrication of Microlens at the end of Optical Fiber using Self-photolithgraphy and Etching Techniques

This paper describes a simple batch process for fabrication of microlens and microlens array at the end of an optical fiber or an optical fiber bundle using self-photolithography and etching techniques. A photoresist micro-cylinder was exactly formed at the core of the fiber end by exposing an UV light from the other end of the fiber and conventional development, rinse processes. A photoresist microlens was formed by thermal reflowing of the fiber at 170°C for 1 h. A measurement of transmissivity showed that the fabricated photoresist microlens is applicable for a wavelength that is longer than 450 nm. Alternatively, a glass microlens was fabricated at the core of the fiber by dry etching with an SF₆ gas using the photoresist microlens as a mask. The focusing of the lensed fiber was confirmed and simulation work showed that the lensed fiber could focus the light with a beam spot of 2 μm, numerical aperture (NA) of 0.285 and a depth of focus of 16 μm.     

Optical time-domain reflectometry for distributed sensing of the structural strain and deformation

A unique structure of microbend optical fiber sensor (MOFS) for measuring tensile and compressive strain is described in this paper. The average measuring sensitivity for tensile strain is 35μ using 3 MOFS arrays. The repeatability and stability of MFOS are better than 18μ. The loss sensitivity of single-mode (SM) fiber and multi-mode (MM) fiber used in MOFS, as well as the relationship between the pulse width of diode laser and loss sensitivity are also studied in this paper. From these studies, some conclusions have been obtained. They are (1) the loss sensitivity and repeatability of SM fiber are better when compared to MM fiber in MOFS, and (2) the variation of pulse width of laser would only influent the signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range, but has no contribution to loss sensitivity. Experimental results also show that loss of SM fiber highly depends on the wavelength of laser, but MM fiber has no such property. The loss of SM fiber between the wavelength of 1550 and 1310 nm is about the ratio of 6.5. Therefore, the experiments reported in this paper used a wavelength of 1310 nm to measure tensile strain and 1550 nm to measure compressive strain based on the above property of SM fiber, without changing the configuration of MOFS.     

Characterization of a high-power tapered semiconductor amplifier system

We have characterized a semiconductor amplifier laser system which provides up to 200 mW output after a single-mode optical fiber at 780 nm wavelength. The system is based on a tapered semiconductor gain element, which amplifies the output of a narrow-linewidth diode laser. Gain and saturation are discussed as a function of operating temperature and injection current. The spectral properties of the amplifier are investigated with a grating spectrometer. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) causes a spectral background with a width of 4 nm FWHM. The ASE background was suppressed to below our detection limit by a proper choice of operating current and temperature and by sending the light through a single-mode optical fiber. The final ASE spectral density was less than 0.1 nW/MHz, i.e. less than 0.2% of the optical power. Related to an optical transition linewidth of Γ/2π=6 MHz for rubidium, this gives a background suppression of better than -82 dB. An indication of the beam quality is provided by the fiber coupling efficiency of up to 59%. The application of the amplifier system as a laser source for atom-optical experiments is discussed. Received: 8 May 2000 / Revised version: 21 September 2000 / Published online: 7 February 2001     

基于光束填充的多单管半导体激光器光纤耦合

为了进一步提高多单管半导体激光器的输出功率,通过对常见的阶梯型多单管半导体阵列进行分析,提出在光斑尺寸较小的慢轴方向对光束进行填充,在同样的耦合条件下,使更多的激光能量耦合进光纤中,实现更高功率的输出。文中使用光参数积作为评价光束质量的指标,论证了慢轴光束填充的可行性,利用ZEMAX仿真软件对8路常见阶梯型多单管半导体阵列和12路填充阵列进行对比仿真,在不影响耦合效率的前提下,实现了将12路波长为860 nm、输出功率3 W的单管半导体激光器耦合进芯径105 μm、数值孔径0.22的光纤中,光纤输出功率为33.4 W,光纤耦合效率为92.78%。仿真结果表明,对慢轴方向进行光束填充可以在一定程度上提高多单管半导体激光的功率输出。     

Spectral beam combining of a broad-stripe diode laser array in an external cavity

The outputs from an 11-element, linear diode laser array with broad stripes have been beam combined into a single beam with a beam quality of ~20x diffraction limited in the plane of the junction. This beam combining was achieved by use of a common external cavity containing a grating, which simultaneously forces each array element to operate at a different, but controlled, wavelength and forces the beams from all the elements to overlap and propagate in the same direction. The power in the combined beam was 50% of the output from the bare laser array.     

Selection of suitable pump diode laser parameters and their effects on efficiency and optimum length of Yb-doped double clad fiber lasers

The effects of diode laser pump parameters on the fiber laser performance are investigated numerically and experimentally. According to our simulation results, the wide spectrum pump diode laser centered at 976 nm wavelength will reduce the fiber laser optical efficiency and increase the optimal fiber length. The effect of pump wavelength on the fiber laser optical efficiency and the output power stability has also been studied. 976 nm pump wavelength is more efficient but the output power at this wavelength is more dependent on the pump wavelength tolerance. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical ones.