Modulation-free optical locking of an external-cavity diode laser to a filter cavity

Optical locking to a filter cavity is an effective method to eliminate the limitations of an external-cavity diode laser, such as broad spontaneous emission backgrounds and frequency jitters. Stable operation of the optical locking requires simultaneous control of the feedback phase and the diode-laser frequency. Frequency dither is usually used to extract the two error signals, but this causes extra frequency modulation in the output beam. A modulation-free method for deriving the error signals by modulating the laser-cavity coupling strength is demonstrated with a violet diode laser. A modulation-free linewidth upper limit of about 7 kHz for a 1 s measurement is realized by the method.     

基于自制超稳定F-P腔压窄632.8nm外腔半导体激光线宽的实验研究

窄线宽激光由于其具有单色性好、稳定度高、相干长度长等优点,广泛应用于光电检测领域,包括相干通信、精密测量、光学频率标准、吸收光谱计量以及光与物质相互作用研究等.目前频率稳定的氦氖激光器线宽可以达到M Hz量级,分布反馈式(DFB)光纤激光器线宽可达kHz量级,DFB半导体激光器线宽可以达到M Hz量级,然而光栅反馈半导...     

2 μm semiconductor disk laser with a heterodyne linewidth below 10 kHz

We demonstrate a 2 μm semiconductor disk laser emitting in a single longitudinal mode with a linewidth in the <10 kHz range. A heterodyne detection scheme was used for precise linewidth measurements. In these experiments, the output beams of two identical laser cavities were superposed in order to generate a beat note signal on a photodiode. In the absence of active frequency stabilization, a linewidth of 45 kHz was measured at an output power of 100 mW. When using a frequency stabilization consisting of a feedback loop with a Fabry-Perot interferometer as wavelength reference, the linewidth could be further reduced to 9 kHz.     

全频域下窄线宽激光器光谱线宽的分析

窄线宽激光器的线宽表征方式通常采用延时自外差法测量技术。该技术是通过延时光纤差拍产生一个与待测激光线宽相关的洛伦兹频谱,因此该频谱只具有单一的线宽表现形式。为了能够观察到激光器的线宽和频率噪声在其傅里叶频率分布下的完整特性,报道了一种基于β算法计算窄线宽激光器线宽的方法。该方法是结合频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分别诱导不同激光线型的理论,从而确定激光线宽。首先,对β算法的基本原理进行了详细的分析说明。通过基于维纳-辛钦定理,分析了窄线宽激光器不同频率范围内的频率噪声和激光线宽的依赖关系。阐明了在截止频率趋于0和无穷大的两个范围条件时,激光频谱特性从高斯线型向洛伦兹线型演变。同时推导出使两种线型转换的截止频率表达式,并将其转换为频率噪声函数,该函数定义为β分子线。此时频率噪声分量中高斯线型的总和即为激光线宽计算公式;其次,对窄线宽激光器的频率噪声和激光线型进行数值仿真。将通过OEwaves公司的OE4000互相关零差相位/频率噪声自动测试系统测得的频率噪声谱密度,带入β算法理论公式中。结果显示：1/f噪声导致激光呈现高斯线型,线宽随截止频率的增加而增大。而白噪声将导致洛伦兹线型,线宽不再随截止频率而改变。此外,在低频区域,频率噪声电平远大于其傅里叶频率,噪声调制系数较高,该部分噪声可以决定线宽大小。因此,高斯线型区域对应的频率噪声的积分,即为待测激光器的线宽;在高频区域,频率噪声电平与其傅里叶频率相差较小,频率波动较快,噪声对线宽影响可以忽略。并且频率带宽在截止频率范围内,计算的线宽误差较小。最后,实验上运用β算法对RIO公司的1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的频率噪声功率谱密度进行积分计算,成功获得了其不同傅里叶频率分布下对应的激光线宽值。其中β分子线将频率噪声中的白噪声和1/f噪声分隔两部分：当频率噪声谱密度大于β分子线时,激光即为高斯线型,线宽随频率积分带宽的增加而减少;而频率噪声谱密度小于β分子线时,激光呈现洛伦兹线型,线宽为定值不再改变。同时为了对β算法进行实验验证,搭建了延迟光纤为50 km、移频频率为60 MHz的延时自外差法测量系统。对注入电流为110 mA的RIO 1 550 nm低噪声窄线宽激光器的线宽进行实验测量,测量结果表明激光线宽为1.8 kHz,与上述β算法中2.8 kHz的频率带宽积分结果一致。充分证明了此算法的准确性。β算法可以对任意类型的窄线宽激光器进行线宽表征,对窄线宽激光器的研究具有重要意义。     

Frequency stability and reproducibility of iodine stabilised He-Ne laser at 633 nm

The frequency of a 633 nm He-Ne laser is stabilised on a hyperfine-structure-component of natural iodine vapour. The third harmonic component of an applied modulation frequency is detected and a servosystem is used to lock the laser frequency to the zero-crossing of the third harmonic component. The stability and the reproducibility of the laser are determined by beat frequency experiment.     

腔外多普勒频率调制激光稳频方法的研究

利用腔外气体吸收池内的SF_6分子饱和吸收线作为参考频率,并通过振动腔外反射镜使进入吸收池的激光的频率受到多普勒调制,实现了对CO_2激光10P(16)和10P(18)支线频率的闭环锁定,最大频率漂移约为7kHz.该法得到的稳频激光输出不仅无寄生频率调制和幅度调制,并且可将激光频率锁定在独立的分子吸收线中心.     

可调谐半导体激光器的瞬时光谱测量方法研究

可调谐半导体激光器在调谐过程中的瞬时光谱特性,如瞬时的波长、调谐率、功率、线型和线宽等参数影响着以激光器为光源的光学测量和光相干通信系统的精度。然而,能够同时测量这些瞬变参数的技术至今未见报道。提出了一个基于时频分析的测量半导体激光器在调谐过程中瞬时光谱参数的方法,利用一个短时延外差测量系统,利用激光器瞬时光谱参数与差拍信号瞬时参数的关系,最终获得了半导体激光器在连续电流调谐过程中的瞬时光谱。测量系统采用了10 cm光程差的Mach-Zehnder干涉仪,调谐电流是幅度为20~120 mA、频率是1 kHz的锯齿波,差拍信号可视为直流信号、载波信号与噪声的叠加,按照短时延相干光测量原理,差拍信号中的直流分量幅度的大小反映了激光器输出光信号的功率;载波信号是一种多项式相位信号,由其频率可以推算激光器输出光谱的中心频率或波长;噪声信号则与激光器输出光谱的线型和线宽相关,通过对噪声信号进行时频分析,可以获知激光器在连续电流调谐过程中每一时刻或每个电流下的瞬时线型、线宽。采用了趋势局部均值分解方法对差拍信号进行了准确分离,并对分离信号分别进行处理,同时获知了半导体激光器在调谐过程中的瞬时输出光功率、光波长、调谐率及线型、线宽。在去掉弛豫部分后截取的整周期差拍信号对应的调谐电流60~115 mA变化范围内,半导体激光器(FRL15DDR0A31-18950, Furukawa)瞬时输出光功率变化范围是5.16~10.6 mW,瞬时光波长变化范围为1 579.2~1 579.6 nm;激光器的瞬时调谐率在0.004 8~0.011 5 nm·mA-1范围内单调变化;线宽是852.55~954.95 kHz,呈非线性随机分布。基于短时延、局部均值分解和时频分析方法的瞬时光谱参数测量系统可以准确得到各瞬时光谱参数,测量结果与激光器的静特性相符,且测量系统结构简单,使我们更深入地理解激光器的工作原理,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Laser frequency stabilization by means of optical self-heterodyne beat-frequency control

We propose and demonstrate a novel frequency-stabilization scheme that provides linewidth narrowing and at the same time is compatible with high-speed frequency agility. The method relies on sensing and control of a heterodyne beat signal derived from a fiber interferometer and functions in the absence of a fixed reference frequency. Our demonstration utilizes a short-external-cavity diode laser equipped with an intracavity electro-optic crystal for frequency correction. The stabilization method is shown to suppress impressed laser frequency modulation by nearly 2 orders of magnitude. Without further modification of our scheme we also demonstrate laser frequency tuning control.     

95 GHz millimeter wave signal generation using an arrayed waveguide grating dual wavelength semiconductor laser

We report the generation of a 95?GHz carrier frequency by optical heterodyning of two wavelengths from adjacent channels from an arrayed waveguide grating-based multiwavelength laser. The extended cavity structure of the device provides low phase noise and narrow optical linewidth, further enhanced by the intracavity filter effect of the arrayed waveguide grating. We demonstrate that the generated RF beat note, at 95?GHz, has a -3 dB linewidth of 250?kHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the narrowest RF linewidth generated from a free-running dual-wavelength semiconductor laser. The device is realized as a photonic integrated circuit using active-passive integration technology, and fabricated on a multiproject wafer run, constituting a novel approach for a compact, low-cost dual-wavelength heterodyne source.     

Long-external-cavity distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth

We report on a simple, compact, and robust 780 nm distributed Bragg reflector laser with subkilohertz intrinsic linewidth. An external cavity with optical path length of 3.6 m, implemented with an optical fiber, reduces the laser frequency noise by several orders of magnitude. At frequencies above 100 kHz the frequency noise spectral density is reduced by over 33 dB, resulting in an intrinsic Lorentzian linewidth of 300 Hz. The remaining low-frequency noise is easily removed by stabilization to an external reference cavity. We further characterize the influence of feedback power and current variation on the intrinsic linewidth. The system is suitable for experiments requiring a tunable laser with narrow linewidth and low high-frequency noise, such as coherent optical communication, optical clocks, and cavity QED experiments.     

Frequency modulated and polarization maintaining fiber laser with narrow linewidth

A novel configuration of fiber laser with frequency modulation is presented. Frequency modulation, stable polarization state and narrow linewidth are realized by using the waveguide phase modulator, polarization maintaining devices and saturable absorber. It is shown that the laser output reaches 23 mW, linewidth is less than 1 kHz, polarization extinction ratio is higher than 20 dB and maximum value of frequency deviation can reach 7.5 MHz.     

激光二极管相对于铯饱和吸收D2线的无调制扰动三次谐波锁频

将频率调制加在声光调制器上 ,用三次谐波探测法获得了铯原子D2 线的三阶微分饱和光谱。采用这种激光器无调制扰动方案结合三次谐波锁频技术 ,实现了 85 2nm的分布布拉格反射器半导体激光器相对于 6S1/2 F =4- 6P3 /2 F′ =5超精细跃线的频率锁定。由锁定后的频率误差信号估算 ,10s内激光频率起伏小于± 35 0kHz ,相对频率稳定度约 1× 10 -9。这种无调制扰动方案可以消除一般的饱和吸收稳频方法中由于直接对激光器进行频率调制而带来的额外频率噪声 ;三次谐波锁频技术的应用 ,还可有效地降低铯原子饱和吸收谱中剩余多普勒背景的影响     

Narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from a frequency-shifted feedback Ti:sapphire laser seeded by a phase-modulated single-frequency fiber laser

Frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) lasers have emerged as powerful tools for precision distance metrology. At the output of a Michelson interferometer, the detected rf spectra of the FSF laser light contain a length-dependent heterodyne beat signal whose linewidth ultimately limits the achievable accuracy of length measurements. Here, we demonstrate a narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from an FSF Ti:sapphire ring laser seeded by a phase-modulated, ultra-low-phase-noise, single-frequency fiber laser. We experimentally investigate the influence of the seed laser linewidth on the resulting width and shape of the length-dependent rf beat signal. An ultranarrow heterodyne beat linewidth of <20 Hz is observed.     

Noise properties of an optical frequency comb from a SESAM-mode-locked 1.5-μm solid-state laser stabilized to the 10?13 level

We present a detailed investigation of the noise properties of an optical frequency comb generated from a femtosecond diode-pumped solid-state laser operating in the 1.5-??m spectral region. The stabilization of the passively mode-locked Er:Yb:glass laser oscillator, referred to as ERGO, is achieved using pump power modulation for the control of the carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency and by adjusting the laser cavity length for the control of the repetition rate. The stability and the noise of the ERGO comb are characterized in free-running and in phase-locked operation by measuring the noise properties of the CEO, of the repetition rate, and of a comb line at 1558?nm. The comb line is analyzed from the heterodyne beat signal with a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow-linewidth laser using a frequency discriminator. Two different schemes to stabilize the comb to a radio-frequency (RF) reference are compared. The comb properties (phase noise, frequency stability) are limited in both cases by the RF oscillator used to stabilize the repetition rate, while the contribution of the CEO is negligible at all Fourier frequencies, as a consequence of the low-noise characteristics of the CEO-beat. A?linewidth of ??150?kHz and a fractional frequency instability of 4.2×10^?13 at 1?s are obtained for an optical comb line at 1558?nm. Improved performance is obtained by stabilizing the comb to an optical reference, which is a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow linewidth laser at 1558?nm. The fractional frequency stability of 8×10^?14 at 1?s, measured in preliminary experiments, is limited by the reference oscillator used in the frequency comparison.     

机械抖动激光陀螺的高分辨率信号处理

 机械抖动激光陀螺（MDRLG）信号是两路相位差为π/2的正弦拍频信号,一般采用4倍频鉴相输出计数脉冲,利用FIR滤波和抖动剥除等方法解调抖动信号,从而得到外界输入的角速度信息。高速采集MDRLG信号,并细分为相位依次相差π/16的16路信号,实现MDRLG的8倍频、16倍频和32倍频鉴相输出。输出角速率的均方差随着倍频数的提高而减小,信号处理的分辨率得到提高。实验测试和Allan方差分析表明：32倍频时的量化误差Q从4倍频鉴相时的0.327″减小到0.170″,增加MDRLG信号鉴相的倍频数可以减小量化误差。在对MDRLG信号进行抖动剥除解调时,由于量化误差是主要误差源之一,高分辨率信号处理能够有效提高MDRLG角速度测量的精度。     

Modulation frequency dependence of actively mode-locked oscillation of A He-Ne 3.39 μm laser

The dependence of mode-locked oscillation of homogeneous lasers on the modulation frequency of locking signal is studied. An experiment using a He-Ne 3.39 μm laser and applying intracavity phase (FM) modulation was performed on the frequency range of 40 MHz to 1.20 GHz. The oscillation bandwidth was observed to be nearly proportion to $\text{√}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ and ?_m (?_m: modulation frequency) for the modulation frequency range of ?_m<Δ? and ?_m>Δ? (Δ?: linewidth), respectively. The possibility to generate ultra-short pulses by using larger modulation frequency than the linewidth is also discussed. For 1.20 GHz modulation frequency, the pulsewidth was estimated to be about 70 ps from the observed power spectrum, while the reciprocal of the linewidth was about 3 ns.     

激光调制参数对光纤环型谐振腔光谱特性影响

谐振光学环型腔作为光学陀螺的核心敏感单元,其光学调制谱和与之对应的鉴频曲线的特性成为提高光学陀螺系统检测灵敏度的关键。为了研究光学陀螺的调制和鉴频谱线特性,优化陀螺性能,设计并搭建了实验测试系统,光纤环形谐振腔采用分光比为50∶50、直径17 cm的保偏光纤,总长2.2 m。使用直流高压放大器扫描窄线宽激光器（线宽小于1 kHz）的压电转化模块,扫描频率和电压分别选取20 Hz和1 V,使用模拟比例积分电路进行锁频并反馈给激光器的压电转化模块,使激光器的输出频率跟踪谐振腔实时变化。研究分析了光纤环型谐振腔在两种情况下所对应的透射谱和鉴频曲线:第一种情况为调制电压分别为2 V和4 V,对应调制频率从100 kHz到4 MHz变化;第二种情况为当调制频率为900 kHz,调制电压从2 V到10 V变化。通过实验,得到了不同调制参数下光学陀螺谱线的谐振深度、半高全宽、线性带宽、动态范围、品质因数、标度因数以及对应的锁频精度七种物理量的详细变化情况,并进一步得到了静态测试条件下三种陀螺的最佳调制频率及与之所匹配的调制电压。为进一步研究激光调制对光纤环型谐振腔光谱的影响提供指导。     

Frequency stabilization of blue extended cavity diode lasers by external cavity optical feedback

Optical feedback from a high-finesse V-resonator, developed for this study, results in efficient coupling with an extended cavity diode laser, stabilizing its emission frequency and strongly decreasing the laser linewidth. This in turn enhances resonator output power, thus increasing the signal-to-noise ratio when used for the detection of gas phase species by absorption spectroscopy. This effect was directly measured by heterodyning two extended cavity diode lasers at a wavelength of 409 nm with and without the influence of optical feedback from a high-finesse V-resonator. The heterodyne signal of freely running lasers is composed of a set of sharp peaks whose envelope shows a width on the order of 4.5 MHz at a sweep rate of 80 MHz/0.8 s, leading to a laser linewidth of 3 MHz. Optical feedback from the high-finesse V-resonator reduces the heterodyne signal to a single peak with a mean width of 10 kHz, leading to a laser linewidth of 7 kHz. This is the lowest value of linewidth, reported thus far, for diode lasers operating in this wavelength region.     

Two-hertz-linewidth Nd:YAG lasers at 1064nm stabilized to vertically mounted ultra-stable cavities

Two Nd：YAG lasers operating at 1064 nm are separately servo-locked to two vertically mounted ultra-stable cavities. The optical heterodyne beat between two cavity-stabilized lasers shows that the linewidth of each laser reaches 2 Hz and the average frequency drift reduces to less than 1 Hz/s.     

用于光频传递的通信波段窄线宽激光器研制及应用

通信波段窄线宽激光器在基于光纤的光学频率传递中有着重要应用. 本文报道了1550 nm超窄线宽光纤激光器的研制及其在光学频率传递中的初步应用结果. 利用一台激光光源, 分别锁定到两个参考腔上(精细度分别为344000和296000), 锁定后经拍频比对测得单台激光线宽优于1.9 Hz, 秒级频率稳定度为1.7×10^-14, 优于国内同类报道. 将研制的超窄线宽激光器用于光纤光学频率传递, 在50 km光纤盘上实现了 7.5×10^-17/s的传递稳定度, 较采用商用光纤激光器提高了3.2倍.