Bistable mirrors for self-pulsing lasers

In this letter it is suggested that self-pulsing lasers can be realized by using optical bistable elements as decoupling mirrors.     

Waveguiding effects in self-pulsing vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Self-pulsing in semiconductor lasers containing a saturable absorber is well documented. We propose an alternative mechanism leading to self-pulsing in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. We specifically consider waveguiding effects and determine the conditions for self-pulsing. Our theoretical and numerical results agree with experimental observations reported by Willemsen et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 77, 3514 (2000)].     

Effect of steady-state conditions on self-pulsing characteristics of Yb-doped cw fiber lasers

Fiber laser resonator configurations have been analyzed theoretically on the basis of steady-state rate equations to optimize the laser conversion efficiency. Evolution of the pump- and signal powers and the saturated gain coefficient along the length of the laser medium has been simulated for high- and low-finesse resonators in forward- and backward pumping schemes. The corresponding fiber laser configurations have been setup to verify the results of simulation. Backward pumping configuration in an Yb-doped fiber laser has been found to be the most efficient, and in this configuration a maximum cw output power of 10.75 W in single transverse mode with an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 62.5% has been achieved. The laser output spectrum was peaked at 1093 nm with full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) line-width of about 9 nm. In the low-finesse resonator configuration, it has been found that experimental observations differ from theoretical simulation results. In this case, output power from both ends ceases to increase linearly beyond 1.8 W, and starts fluctuating due to the onset of strong random self-pulsing phenomenon. Our investigation shows that a non-uniform steady-state gain along the fiber length facilitates the self-pulsing process.     

Weak versus strong harmonic-expansion analyses of self-pulsing lasers: I—the Laser Lorenz model

We apply a simple harmonic expansion method to the single-mode laser equations to analyze their dynamic properties. First, we extend the well-known small signal analysis to predict the transient pulsations of the relaxation oscillations. Such transients are characteristic of the laser signal relaxing towards its long-term solution, at any level of excitation, both beyond and below the instability threshold. Secondly, we extend the method to a strong harmonic expansion to analyze the properties of the long-term solutions. These properties are derived for typical examples, extending well beyond the boundary region of the instability domain, for which the laser field amplitude undergoes regular pulsations around zero-mean values.     

Weak versus strong harmonic-expansion analyses of self-pulsing lasers: II—the inhomogeneously broadened system

A simple harmonic expansion method is applied to investigate some aspects of the dynamic properties of the integro-differential ‘Maxwell-Bloch’ equations that describe the self-pulsing regime of a single-mode inhomogeneously broadened laser. First, we show that the usual small perturbative methods only describe the transient relaxation oscillations, characteristic of the signal relaxing towards its permanent state, either stable or unstable. Second, we show that an adapted strong harmonic expansion analysis applied to the permanent pulsing solutions yields an accurate evaluation of the pulsing frequencies.     

Onset of instabilities in self-pulsing semiconductor lasers with delayed feedback

We consider the deterministic dynamics of a semiconductor laser with saturable absorber that is subject to delayed optical feedback. Alone, both the saturable absorber and delayed feedback cause the CW output to become unstable to periodic output via Hopf bifurcations. We examine the combined effects of these two destabilizing mechanisms to determine new conditions for the Hopf bifurcations. We also describe the transient as the unstable CW output evolves to the oscillatory state. A main result is that the presence of a saturable absorber can increase the sensitivity of the laser to delayed feedback. Received 1st August 2001 and Received in final form 28 November 2001     

Suppression of self-pulsing in Tm:YAlO3 lasers via current feedback

Self-pulsing of continuous-wave Tm:YAlO₃ lasers limits their use for a variety of important applications. We demonstrate for the first time that the pulsing can be suppressed via feedback to the pump diode laser, a technique that is suitable for both external resonator and monolithic lasers. We also show that the optical transfer function of the laser is that of an unstable relaxation oscillator.     

Nonlinear distortions in the current modulation of non-self-pulsing and weakly self-pulsing GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers

Nonlinear distortion characteristics of GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers under analog current modulation were experimentally investigated. In non-self-pulsing lasers, relaxation oscillation (R.O.) plays a heavy role in generating harmonic distortions, in good agreement with theory. Additional distortions generated by microwave mixing in weakly self-pulsing lasers make such lasers unacceptable for wideband analog transmissions unless suitable negative feedback is applied. With such measure taken, both fundamental and the harmonic responses of a self-pulsing laser is indistinguishable from that of a laser with no R.O. resonance.     

Non-linear propagation characteristics of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves

A pair of semi-linear partial differential equations governing the slow variation in the fundamental and the third harmonic amplitudes of a quasi-monochromatic finite-amplitude Bleustein-Gulyaev (BG) wave on a crystal belonging to either the 6 mm or the 4 mm symmetry class is derived by using an extension of the method of multiple scales. The analysis of the exact solution of these equations in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions reveals the existence of growth-decay cycles in the amplitude variation of the various harmonics, as in the case of non-linear Rayleigh waves.     

Suppression of self-pulsing in an erbium-doped fiber laser

We propose a scheme whereby the self-pulsation that commonly occurs in an erbium-doped fiber laser can be suppressed. The scheme consists of the addition of a low-power laser as an auxiliary pump. The required auxiliary pump power is only a few percent of the output lasing power. There is reasonable agreement between experimental and theoretical results.     

Graded index profiles and loss-induced single-mode characteristics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with petal-shape holey structure

The 850-nm oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with petal-shape holey structures are presented.An area-weighted average refractive index model is given to analyse their effective index profiles,and the graded index distribution in the holey region is demonstrated.The index step between the optical aperture and the holey region is obtained which is related merely to the etching depth.Four types of holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with different parameters are fabricated as well as the conventional oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.Compared with the conventional oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser without etched holes,the holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser possesses an improved beam quality due to its graded index distribution,but has a lower output power,higher threshold current and lower slope efficiency.With the hole number increased,the holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser can realize the single-mode operation throughout the entire current range,and reduces the beam divergence further.The loss mechanism is used to explain the single-mode characteristic,and the reduced beam divergence is attributed to the shallow etching.High coupling efficiency of 86% to a multi-mode fibre is achieved for the single-mode device in the experiment.     

Threshold characteristics of microcavity semiconductor lasers

The influence of spontaneous emission coupling on the threshold characteristics of microcavity semiconductor lasers is studied using explicit algebraic expressions for the pump rate dependence of photon and carrier numbers. It is shown that fractional spontaneous emission coupling in practical microcavity laser structures imposes limitations on thresholdless lasing operation.     

掺镱光纤激光器自脉冲与自脉冲内的自锁模研究

采用单端连续抽运方式, 对自由运转的双包层掺镱光纤激光器的输出特性进行了详细的实验研究. 实验中不但观察到了自脉冲, 而且首次在自由运转的光纤激光器中观察到自锁模现象, 对它们产生的物理机理进行了相应的理论分析. 分析表明: 增益光纤的弱(未) 抽运部分对信号光的吸收导致光纤激光器内自脉冲的出现, 轴向模之间的拍频和自相位调制导致自锁模现象的出现, 而受激拉曼散射、 受激布里渊散射等非线性效应使它们进一步增强. 当抽运光功率略高于阈值时, 自脉冲宽度比较宽, 随抽运光功率增加自脉冲的脉宽变窄; 自脉冲包络面内的自锁模脉冲的宽度随抽运光功率增加也变窄, 进一步增加抽运光功率, 自脉冲和自脉冲包络面内的自锁模现象消失. 实验测得自锁模脉冲的间隔为224 ns, 最大(小) 自锁模脉冲的半高全宽约为35.0 ns (6.3 ns); 测得信号光的中心波长为1090 nm, 谱线半高全宽的最大(小) 值约为7.05 nm (2.01 nm).     

Radial characteristics of the stimulated emission of copper-vapor lasers

Copper-vapor lasers are currently under investigation with the definite aim of increasing the efficiency and mean power of such lasers. One way of doing this is to increase the repetition frequency of the pulse discharge and increase the volume of the active medium. However, if the interval between the pulses is reduced, cumulative effects begin to play a part in determining the state of the active medium before a new pulse. The main such effects are evidently the accumulation of heat, electrons, and metastable atoms. Ultimately, they reduce the pulse power and mean power of the laser. The reduction is characterized by the fact that the power of the laser emission decreases primarily in the center of the tube, and the transverse structure of the beam acquires an annular shape. Moreover, with increasing diameter of the working channel, these features are manifested at lower repetition frequencies. [1]. The present paper gives experimental data on this phenomenon and an attempt to explain it on the basis of the radial characteristics of the active medium.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 38–43, October, 1980.