Continuous True-Time-Delay System Employing a Novel Tunable Chirped Fiber Grating Delay Line and a Sampled Grating Based Multiwavelength Fiber Laser

A photonics true-time-delay system for phased array antenna beam steering employing a novel tunable chirped fiber grating delay line and a multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber ring laser source based on a sampled grating filter is proposed. The tunable chirped fiber grating, which act as a continuous time-delay element, is achieved by bending a uniform fiber Bragg grating bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. This technique allows the dynamic control of the chirp rate and spectral width of the grating without center wavelength shift. By adjusting the chirp rate of the fiber grating via bend strain, this kind of tunable chirped fiber grating could achieve very low and adjustable delay times, therefore provides higher angle resolution for scanning microwave beam, even the wavelengths of laser source are fixed and un-tunable. The true-time-delay system using proposed tunable chirped fiber grating delay element and sampled grating based laser source is constructed and demonstrated experimentally.     

Status of single-model optical fiber standardization in the electronic industries association (EIA)

This paper introduces and analyzes revolutionary laser system architecture capable of dramatically reducing the complexity of laser systems while simultaneously increasing capability. The architecture includes three major subsystems. The first is a phased array of laser sources. In this article, we discuss diode-pumped fiber lasers as the elements of the phased array, although other waveguide lasers can also be considered. The second provides wavefront control and electronics beam steering, as described in an IEEE Proceedings article on “Optical Phased Array Technology” [1]. The third is subaperture receiver technology. Combining these three technologies into a new laser systems architecture results in a system that has graceful degradation, can steer to as wide an angle as individual optical phased array subapertures, and can be scaled to high power and large apertures through phasing of a number of subapertures. Diode-pumped fiber lasers are appealing as laser sources because they are electrically pumped, efficient, relatively simple, and scalable to significant power levels (over 100 Watts has been demonstrated from a single diode-pumped fiber laser) [2]. The fiber laser design also lends itself to integration into a phased array. Fiber lasers have been phased. Initial phasing demonstrations have been at low power and were conducted by taking a single source, dividing it into multiple fibers, then phasing them together. To develop this technology further we need to use independent fiber lasers or fiber amplifiers, seeded by a common source, and to increase laser power. As we increase laser power, we will have to learn to cope with nonlinearities in the laser amplifiers. Optical Phased Array technology has demonstrated steering over a 90-degree field of regard [4], although this approach used additional optical components. If we use straightforward optical phased array beam steering without additional optics we can steer with high efficiency to about one-third λ/d, where d is the smallest individually addressable element. The one-third factor depends on the efficiency threshold. For example, if we use 1.5 μm light, and 5 μm center-to-center spacing, we can steer with high efficiency to about ±6 degrees, or a field of regard of 12 degrees. Last, we need to develop a subaperture receive technology. This can be a pupil plane receiver, an image plane receiver, or some combination of the approaches. When we have matured each individual technology and combined them into new laser systems architectures, we will have the ability to build simpler and more capable laser systems. The vision for an integrated, phased array laser concept is to enable a new class of laser systems with significant advantages, including high-efficiency, all-electric laser source; all waveguide beam transport; wavefront control at the sub-aperture level (enabling wavefront compensation, conformal apertures, and wide-angle electronic beam steering); random access beam pointing over wide angles; multiple simultaneous beam generation and control; and graceful degradation.     

A Fiber Optic Non- Contact Accelerometer

A novel non-contact fiber optic accelerometer is presented. Two laser beams that have passed through two different lengths of feed fibers are launched to the same moving target. The frequency of each beam is Doppler shifted by movement of the target. The frequency shift of the laser beam corresponds to the velocity of the target at the time of launch. The difference in launching time due to the difference in feed fiber lengths samples the velocities of the target at times spaced by the differential arrival times of the laser beams. Two return passes of the reflected light are also made different so that the light passed through the shorter feed fiber is steered to the longer return fiber by means of a combination of A/4 plate and polarization beam splitter (PBS). This arrangement of equalizing the total paths relieved a stringent requirement of the coherency of the laser. Two reflected light beams are mixed and the beat frequency corresponds to the difference in the Doppler shift frequency at two different times of arrival of the launcher. An accelerometer based upon this principle was constructed and its performance was examined using a sinusoidally vibrating hydrophone as a target. Features of such an accelerometer are reduction in the coherency requirements of the light source and simpler amplification of the signal using heterodyne detection.On leave of absence from Department of Optical Engineering, Zhejiang University, HangZhou, China 310027     

漂移量反馈控制式激光准直方法

提出一种集光纤准直与光束漂移量反馈控制准直技术于一体的激光光束准直方法 ,它是在单模光纤对激光器出射光束漂移量进行初级准直的基础上 ,进一步对光束的漂移量进行反馈控制 ,进而提高出射光束的方向稳定性。准直系统中利用漂移量分离光路和光电检测系统对光束的平漂量和角漂量进行了分离检测 ,并各自构成相应的光束空间平漂量反馈控制系统和光束空间角漂量反馈控制系统 ,减小了平漂量和角漂量反馈控制中的相互耦合。引入单模光纤使激光器与光束漂移量反馈控制准直系统相隔离 ,减小了激光管热源温度变化等因素对准直系统的影响 ,同时还便于准直系统使用中的安装布置。上述方法的应用 ,提高了准直精度及准直效率。实验表明目前该方法准直精度可达 0 .7× 10 -7rad。     

Externally-modulated high-power fiber grating ring laser for digital transmission

We have constructed a low-cost, double-cavity erbium-doped fiber ring laser with a fiber Bragg grating and a 2×2 coupler. A high output power of 8.7 dBm and a signal-to-noise-floor ratio of 43 dB were demonstrated. This fiber grating ring laser is used as the light source for the 2.488 Gb/s transmission experiment through a 100 km single mode fiber. To our knowledge, this is the first time a fiber grating ring laser is being used as an externally modulated source for digital transmission.     

1018 nm短波长掺镱光纤激光高功率自组织相干合成

搭建了两台高功率、低量子损耗的1018 nm短波长掺镱光纤激光器,进行了全光纤结构下两路光纤激光器的相干合成实验。获得了功率为55 W、合成效率为90.2%的相干输出,这是当前严格单模1018 nm光纤激光器的最高功率水平。同时,验证了Michelson腔自组织相干合成技术能够实现光纤激光器的高功率单模输出。     

Random fiber laser operating at 1,115 nm

We experimentally demonstrate a random fiber laser operating at 1,115 nm using a LD-pumped Yb-doped fiber laser as the pump source. We achieve about 270 mW lasing output in a 50 km standard communication optical fiber with slope efficiency more than 28 %. A new wavelength is provided for the application of random distributed feedback fiber lasers as light sources.     

Wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating

A novel wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and erbium–ytterbium co-doped fibers is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The strain-induced chirped FBG, which acts as a partial-reflecting mirror, is achieved by bending a uniform FBG bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. A single wavelength lasing with a maximum wavelength tuning range of 17 nm has been achieved experimentally.     

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.     

基于Wollaston棱镜的大角度液晶光束偏转系统

设计了一种能够应用于空间光通信的大角度高精度光束偏转系统。系统采用液晶空间光调制器(LCSLM)实现小角度光束偏转,采用多Wollaston棱镜级联实现角度放大。介绍了LCSLM和Wollaston棱镜的光束偏转原理,并对大角度高精度光束偏转系统进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明系统能够实现角度范围为±13.25°的光束偏转。国内首次提出运用Wollaston棱镜来实现大角度的光束偏转。     

利用频谱组束获取双光谱光源的实验研究

 针对激光多光谱探测对多色激光光源的需求,提出利用外腔频谱组束技术获取多光谱激光探测光源的方法。报道了外腔2个大模面积双包层Er3+/Yb3+共掺光纤激光器频谱组束的实验结果,获得了一种3dB线宽分别为29.3nm和11.52nm的可调谐双光谱激光探测光源。实验结果和理论分析表明：外腔频谱组束技术是一种获得多光谱激光光源的可行方法。     

光谱线宽与中心波长可同时调谐的高功率光纤激光实现3 kW输出

光谱灵活可调的高功率光纤激光在光谱合束、光声光谱检测和非线性频率变换等方面具有独特优势,近年来受到国内外研究人员的广泛关注。基于光谱灵活可调的超荧光光纤种子源,通过主振荡功率放大器结构实现了光谱中心波长1065～1085 nm可调谐、3 dB线宽2.4～13.8 nm可调谐的3 kW光纤激光输出。     

同带抽运高效率光纤放大器

以光纤光栅为谐振腔搭建了波长为1020 nm的光纤激光器,并通过两级级联放大获得了590 mW的最大输出功率. 利用获得的波长为1020 nm的激光进行了波长为1064 nm种子光同带抽运放大,实验研究了不同增益光纤长度时放大器的输出功率和转换效率. 当增益光纤长度为8.5 m时,放大器最大输出功率为385 mW,斜率效率为81%. 进行了波长为976 nm的半导体激光器直接抽运波长为1064 nm种子光的实验. 在增益光纤长度最优时,其斜率效率为56.4%. 实验结果表明,同带抽运方式比传统抽运方式具有更高的转换效率. 研究结果可为波长为1020 nm的激光高功率放大和波长为1064 nm的光纤激光高功率同带抽运放大提供一定的参考. 关键词： 同带抽运 光纤放大器 斜率效率     

用大芯径石英玻璃光纤传输兆瓦级高能激光脉冲及其在双波长LA-LIBS技术中的应用

为了解决单脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术在元素分析时空间分辨本领与分析灵敏度之间的矛盾,本文利用一台双波长输出的Nd∶YAG激光器开展了双波长激光剥离-激光诱导击穿光谱(LA-LIBS)技术的研究。其中532 nm的二倍频激光用于剥离样品;1 064 nm的基频激光通过大芯径石英玻璃光纤传输并实现一定的延时后用于击穿被剥离的样品。两束激光采用正交几何配置以实现高空间分辨高灵敏的元素分析。实验研究了1 064 nm激光到光纤的耦合、光纤输出后的准直以及再聚焦时的一些关键技术问题。研究并得出了四种不同光纤对激光能量的传输能力。选择利用芯径为800 μm,数值孔径为0.39、长50 m的石英玻璃光纤成功传输了15 mJ的调Q激光脉冲并实现了250 ns的延时。并在此基础上开展了铜合金样品的双波长LA-LIBS分析,实验验证了基于一台Nd∶YAG激光器开展双波长LA-LIBS研究的可行性。该技术只需要一台激光器就可以完成相应的光谱分析,具有系统结构简单,便于小型化等优点,适合对不同样品开展原位的高空间分辨高灵敏的元素显微分析。     

Generation and detection of optical vortices using all fiber-optic system

We demonstrate simultaneous generation, propagation and detection of optical vortices using all fiber-optic system. A fiber-optic Y-coupler was used for generating spherical and doughnut beams, simultaneously. Gaussian (TEM₀₀) beam emitted from CW red He-Ne laser is coupled into the fiber coupler and is converted into vortex beam via second arm of fiber which propagates with azimuthal phase dependence having well defined orbital angular momentum. The phase structure of vortex beam was detected by interfering both the beams using simple fiber-optic interferometer. The present all fiber-optic system might find application for detecting, sensing physical parameters and is simple and cost effective for generating and detecting optical vortices.     

Self-grown fiber fabrication by two-photon photopolymerization

We demonstrate a new fiber growth mechanism in a photocurable resin by ultrafast laser illumination. A high-repetition rate (∼1 MHz) ultrafast laser beam at the wavelength of ∼523 nm was focused into an ultraviolet photocurable resin to trigger two-photon photopolymerization process. Time-resolved shadowgraphs and scattered light imaging revealed that the curing commenced in the neighborhood of the geometric focal point of the laser beam and that the fiber growth progressed mostly towards the laser source. The cured fiber was thinner and longer than the profile of the focused laser beam, facilitated by nonlinear propagation and absorption of the ultra-fast laser beam. The achieved aspect ratio of the fiber was higher than 180 with ∼10 μm mean diameter, and the average growth rate was up to ∼2 mm/s.     

用于不锈钢薄板切割的直接半导体激光源

针对高功率半导体激光器存在的光束质量差、单元功率低的缺点,利用合束技术来提高激光功率及光束质量,配合QBH光纤前端帽优化聚焦镜以实现高效耦合。采用11个条宽5.4 mm的迷你线阵合束,通过光束整形、空间合束、偏振合束和波长合束,聚焦耦合进200μm/0.2光纤。在50 A电流下,实现连续386 W输出,功率密度为1.23 MW/cm2,电光效率为43.6%。在200 W的功率下,该激光器可以切割厚度为1 mm的不锈钢薄板。     

固体激光器与光纤激光器对光子晶体光纤棒耦合的分析与对比

耦合效率的高低与耦合后光斑的好坏直接影响着光子晶体光纤棒的放大效果,因此需要对种子光的耦合效果进行研究,选择合适的激光器作为种子源。本文对光子晶体光纤棒在固体激光器与光纤激光器两种情况下的耦合效率进行了理论分析;模拟计算了两种激光器情况下耦合效率的变化规律以及对准误差对耦合效率的影响;选择合适的透镜或透镜组,使用两种激光器对光子晶体光纤棒进行了耦合实验;对比两种激光器的耦合效果可知:固体激光器的耦合效率最高只能达到62.4%,而光纤激光器的耦合效率可以达到80%以上;在光纤激光器耦合情况下,对不同功率注入时耦合效率,以及耦合后光斑进行了实验分析。得到的实验结果对后续光纤棒的放大实验具有指导作用。     

Fabrication of a quartz optical fiber tip for dental treatment with Nd:YAG laser—Proposal of a new process with TiO2 powder

In dental treatment with Nd:YAG laser beam, a quartz optical fiber is generally used to transmit the laser beam, which is irradiated to the hard and soft tissues for a caries treatment and a periodontal tissue excision. Since a normal optical fiber, which the laser beam comes out from the tip of the fiber, has difficulty irradiating to a narrow space and an inner root canal uniformly, it is effective to use a processed optical fiber tip from which is obtained a diffused and circumferential laser beam. In this paper, a new process to obtain these laser beams with TiO₂ powder is proposed, and the characteristics and the performances of the processed optical fiber were investigated. An experimental instrument was developed to measure the energy partition radiated from the processed fiber tip, and the ratio of a straight beam, a sideways beam and heat generated by the absorption of the laser beam was measured in each condition. As a result, the ratio of an energy partition was controllable by changing the incidence parameter to process the fiber tip, and the processed fiber tip corresponding to the clinical purpose could be obtained. The parameters which affected the processability of the fiber tip were processing time and incidence laser energy. The prepared cavity with processed fiber on the enamel was influenced by a straight beam, and the removal of enamel to the depth direction was controllable by using the processed fiber.     

Photonics True-Time-Delay Unit for Phased-Array Antenna Using Multiwavelength Fiber Laser Based on a Sagnac Interferemetric Filter

A photonics true-time-delay system for phased array beamforming using a chirped grating-based time-delay element and a novel multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber ring laser source employing a Sagnac filtering mirror is proposed. The Sagnac filtering mirror consists of a polarization maintaining directional coupler and two pieces of polarization maintaining fibers. The lasing wavelength and number are determined by properly adjusting the polarization controller within the unidirectional ring cavity and are very stable. A chirped-grating-based true-time-delay system using the proposed laser source is constructed and demonstrated experimentally.