光纤端面随机激光器

Optical fiber facet-based random lasers

作为一种从概念到原理都有别于传统激光器的新型激光器件,随机激光器由于其独特的光场特性,加之结构简、制备易、成本低等特点在成像、传感和光子芯片等领域具有广泛的应用前景.随机激光器是利用无序结构提供光学反馈的一类激光器,其内在无序化决定了随机激光的诸多发射特性,如空间相干性低、发射波长和方向随机等.对于不少应用来说,方向性非常重要.将随机激光器与光纤相结合,能够优化随机激光输出方向性,同时也是将随机激光微型化和集成化的重要思路.本文介绍了随机激光的基本概念、典型特征、调控手段等,重点总结了光纤端面随机激光器的设计思路、制备方法、发射特性,列举了其在成像和传感领域的应用实例,最后对该类随机激光器的发展趋势进行了展望.

As a new type of optical devices,random lasers are unique in concept and principle.Due to the unique characteristics of optical field,simple structure,easy preparation and low cost,random lasers have wide application prospects in fields of imaging,sensing,and photonic chips.The optical feedback in the random laser is provided by the multiple scattering in the disordered gain medium.The inner disorder determines many emission characteristics of random lasers,such as low spatial coherence,random emission wavelength and direction.The output directivity of random lasing is an important factor in many applications,which can be optimized by transferring the random laser on fiber facet.Meanwhile,the random laser on fiber facet is of benefit to miniaturization and integration of random lasers.In this review,a brief introduction is given about the basic concept,typical characteristics and control methods of random lasers.Importantly,focusing on optical fiber facet-based random lasers,we emphatically summarized the design ideas,preparation methods,emission characteristics,and application in imaging/sensing.Besides,the development trend of optical fiber facet-based random lasers is prospected.