Semiconductor lasers

A review is presented on the achievements and current problems in the physics of semiconductor diode lasers. The topics covered are new heterostructures, ultrathin active layer structures, quantum well structures. Nonlinear effects are discussed caused by a refractive nonlinearity of the medium, including amplitude-phase coupling and nonlinear light scattering on the excess carrier concentration waves.     

Optical fiber telecommunications

Recent progress of optical fiber telecommunication technologies is reviewed from the view points of large capacity systems and subscriber loop systems, as well as associated optical fibers and devices.     

Neodymium lasers with fiber-optic reflectors

The lasingin an Nd:YAG laser with a fiber-optic reflector in the form of a loop was experimentally investigated. Two designs of the laser with a fiber-optic loop reflector were considered. In the laser of the first type the reflector was formed by a fragment of a fiber guide the ends of which were placed in the focal plane of a microscope objective. In the laser of the second type the role of the output mirror was played by a loop-shaped fiber-optic reflector made on the basis of a V-shaped fused three-fiber splitter. It is shown that when such lasers operate in the regime of free-running lasing, in them there takes place the effect of nonlinear conversion of the generated radiation frequency in the Stokes and anti-Stokes regions of the spectrum. Institute of Applied Optics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 11, Belynitskii-Birulya Str., Mogilev, 212793, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 259–262, March–April, 1999.     

Semiconductor lasers for high-speed information technologies

This Review reviews semiconductor lasers with an emphasis on high-speed information technologies. Semiconductor lasers are classified based on their applications in optical communications. Different types of semiconductor lasers are discussed in terms of principle, history, advantages, and limitations.     

Semiconductor lasers and optical feedback

Summary Experimental work and theoretical discussion on microscopic processes and device behaviours are presented. The presence of optical feedback from the environment induces asymmetries in the system affecting practical use. Relevant microscopic mechanisms and their influence on laser system performances are discussed qualitatively and quantitatively. A comparison with standard models is performed. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Semiconductor lasers and Kolmogorov spectra

We make a prima facie case that there could be distinct advantages to exploiting a new class of finite flux equilibrium solutions of the quantum Boltzmann equation in semiconductor lasers.     

Nonlinear-optical modulator for high-power fiber lasers

We propose a novel nonlinear-optical fiber modulator for high-power (>1-W) single-mode fiber lasers. The device is based on transferring the amplitude modulation from a low-power signal at the Stokes frequency onto a high-power beam through stimulated Raman scattering. The efficiency and limitations of the Raman modulator when highly Ge-doped fiber is used is considered. An insertion loss of less than 0.4 dB and an extinction ratio of 20 dB are predicted for modulation of a 10-W single-mode Nd-doped fiber laser.     

Tunable Bragg gratings for fiber lasers

A tuning method of a fiber Bragg grating by the bending compression-tension is considered. With this method, a relative tuning range of the resonance wavelength of the grating of about 5% has been obtained. The changes in the shape of the spectrum and in the grating reflectivity during the tuning process are studied. The reflectivity of the fiber Bragg grating has been found to considerably increase with increasing degree of compression. It is shown that such an increase is caused by compression-induced changes in the refractive index modulation amplitude in the grating. The fiber Bragg grating developed has been applied for tuning the radiation wavelength of an ytterbium fiber laser. The tuning range of the laser has been found to be 45 nm around the central wavelength 1080 nm.     

Fiber-optic sensors based on fiber-optic lasers and microoptomechanical resonance structures

Fiber-optic sensors based on fiber lasers and the light-excited microoptomechanical resonance structures are proposed and experimentally studied. The variants of multichannel measuring systems with frequency division multiplexing are considered. The number of the measurement channels and the needed power of the fiber laser are estimated. It is demonstrated that the frequency deviation of the microcavity can be measured in the limits $ \left| {\frac{{\Delta f}} {f}} \right| $ \left| {\frac{{\Delta f}} {f}} \right| ≤ 0.1 with a relative error of ±2 × 10⁻⁶, which allows the creation of fiber-optic sensors with a measurement dynamic range of up to 2 × 10⁴.     

Semiconductor disk lasers for the generation of visible and ultraviolet radiation

Recent developments in semiconductor disk lasers (SDLs) generating visible or ultraviolet light are reviewed. After an introduction on potential applications, we discuss how the combination of vertical‐emitting semiconductor GaAs‐based structures and intra‐cavity nonlinear conversion techniques can be successfully exploited to uniquely meet demands for continuous‐wave radiation in the visible and ultraviolet spectral range. To do so, an overview of the device operating principles and performance is presented highlighting the underlying material considerations, semiconductor structural designs, thermal management techniques and suitable cavity configurations. This summary is completed by a presentation of new developments in the field, with a particular focus on the trends towards miniaturization.     

Semiconductor amplifiers and lasers with tapered gain regions

Semiconductor amplifiers and lasers with tapered gain regions provide the highest-brightness all-semiconductor sources of near infrared continuous wave (CW) power and have many useful applications. Simple models of these devices are described. Their applications, device performance and brightness limitations are reviewed.

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A non-fused fiber coupler for side-pumping of double-clad fiber lasers

A non-fused fiber coupler is demonstrated for side-pumping of the double-clad fiber (DCF) lasers by adhesive techniques. The fiber coupler is fabricated by adhering an angularly polished single-clad fiber (SCF) to the inner cladding of the DCF. The pumping light is launched from the SCF by total inner reflection. Coupling coefficient as a function of coupling angle, bend distance, and backward scattering is investigated. The field distribution in DCF is also discussed.     

Tunable fiber Bragg gratings for application in tunable fiber lasers

The resonance wavelength of the fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is tuned using two methods. Tunable FBGs are used as the selecting elements in the cavities of tunable lasers. An ytterbium-doped fiber laser with a wavelength tuning range of 1063–1108 nm and an output power of 6 W, a Raman fiber laser with a wavelength tuning range of 1252–1303 nm and an output power of 3 W, and an erbium-doped fiber laser with a wavelength tuning range of 1530–1580 nm are realized, and their characteristics are studied.     

一种求解级联拉曼光纤激光器的方法

 根据适应度函数的具体情况改进了微粒群算法,与基本微粒群算法相比,其复杂函数的寻优能力得到了提高。利用改进的微粒群算法对不同结构的拉曼光纤激光器理论模型对应的适应度函数进行了算法测试,保证适应度函数精度(10^-5)的情况下,计算时间不超过15 s。与Newton-Raphson打靶算法配合时,有效地缩短计算时间、提高打靶算法稳定性和计算精度。最后,利用该算法数值分析了二阶掺磷拉曼光纤激光器输出端反射率、光纤长度和泵浦功率对输出功率的影响。     

一种求解级联拉曼光纤激光器的方法

根据适应度函数的具体情况改进了微粒群算法,与基本微粒群算法相比,其复杂函数的寻优能力得到了提高。利用改进的微粒群算法对不同结构的拉曼光纤激光器理论模型对应的适应度函数进行了算法测试,保证适应度函数精度(10-5)的情况下,计算时间不超过15 s。与Newton-Raphson打靶算法配合时,有效地缩短计算时间、提高打靶算法稳定性和计算精度。最后,利用该算法数值分析了二阶掺磷拉曼光纤激光器输出端反射率、光纤长度和泵浦功率对输出功率的影响。     

High power fiber lasers

In this review article, the development of the double cladding optical fiber for high power fiber lasers is reviewed. The main technology for high power fiber lasers, including laser diode beam shaping, fiber laser pumping techniques, and amplification systems, are discussed in detail. 1050 W CW output and 133 W pulsed output are obtained in Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, China. Finally, the applications of fiber lasers in industry are also reviewed.     

Vector soliton fiber lasers

We show by simulations that a nonlinear optical loop mirror with birefringent fiber can have intensity-dependent transmission of vector soliton pulses with a 50/50 coupler. Using this result we propose two mode-locked laser cavity designs.     

Yb-Bi pulsed fiber lasers

A new type of pulsed fiber laser is suggested and developed - Yb-Bi lasers. In such lasers the Yb fiber laser is Q-switched by use of a saturable absorber, a Bi-doped fiber placed in its own resonator, and pulsed lasing is obtained in both fiber lasers. Continous-wave diode-clad pumping of the Yb-Bi lasers at a 975 nm wavelength with power up to 16.5 W results in pulsed laser action in a spectral diapason of 1050-1200 nm with a maximum pulse energy of up to 100 microJ, an average power up to 7.5 W, and a repetition rate up to 100 kHz.