Waveguide external cavity narrow linewidth semiconductor lasers

Narrow linewidth light source is a prerequisite for high-performance coherent optical communication and sensing.Waveguide-based external cavity narrow linewidth semiconductor lasers(WEC-NLSLs)have become a competitive and attractive candidate for many coherent applications due to their small size,volume,low energy consumption,low cost and the ability to integrate with other optical components.In this paper,we present an overview of WEC-NLSLs from their required technologies to the state-of-the-art progress.Moreover,we highlight the common problems occurring to current WEC-NLSLs and show the possible approaches to resolving the issues.Finally,we present the possible development directions for the next phase and hope this review will be beneficial to the advancements of WEC-NLSLs.

Broad bandwidth interference filter-stabilized external cavity diode laser with narrow linewidth below 100kHz

Interference filter-stabilized external cavity diode lasers （ECDLs） have properties of simple configurations, high sta- bilities, and narrow linewidths. However, the interference filter used in common ECDL designs requires an ultra-narrow bandwidth （about 0.3 nm） to achieve mode selection, that is considerably expensive and not yet available for a wide range of wavelengths. In this paper, a robust ECDL using an available broad bandwidth （about 4 nm） interference filter as the wavelength discriminator is constructed and tested. The ECDL demonstrated a narrow Lorentzian fitted linewidth of 95 kHz and a spectral purity of 2.9 MHz. The long-term frequency stability of the ECDL reaches 5.59 x 10 12.

Observation of linewidth narrowing due to a spontaneously generated coherence effect

We investigate the resonance fluorescence spectrum of an atomic three-level ladder system driven by two laser fields. We show that such a system emulates to a large degree a V-type atom with parallel dipole moments-the latter being a system that exhibits spontaneously generated coherence and can display ultrasharp spectral lines. We find a suitable energy scheme in a SSRb atom and experimentally observe the narrowing of the central peak in a rubidium atomic beam. The corresponding spectrum can convindngiy demonstrate the existence of spontaneously generated coherence.

Cavity linewidth narrowing with dark-state polaritons

We present a quantum-theoretical treatment of cavity linewidth narrowing with intracavity electromagnetically in- duced transparency （EIT）. By means of intracavity EIT, the photons in the cavity are in the form of cavity polaritons： bright-state polariton and dark-state polariton. Strong coupling of the bright-state polariton to the excited state induces an effect known as vacuum Rabi splitting, whereas the dark-state polariton decoupled from the excited state induces a narrow cavity transmission window. Our analysis would provide a quantum theory of linewidth narrowing with a quantum field pulse.

Output Characteristics of Narrow No-Gain Competition Linewidth Dual-Wavelength Laser at 912 nm and 1064 nm

The output characteristics of a narrow linewidth, no-gain competition, dual-wavelength solid-state laser using an intra-cavity pumped method are reported. This system consists of an intra-cavity pumped Nd:YVO4 laser emitting at 1064 nm, using a 912 nm Nd:GdVO4 laser. A Fabry-Perot etalon is used to compress the linewidth that located at the common cavity of 912 nm and 1064 nm laser. Theoretical analysis and experimental verification were carried out. When the pump power is 32.8 W, the output of 912 nm and 1064 nm theoretical value is 0.036 W and 0.046 W, and the experimental value is 0.017 W and 0.016 W, respectively. The change trend of the theoretical simulated output power value was the same as the actual measured value in the experiment. In addition to this, the experimental measurement shows when the etalon with an angle of 15?, corresponding minimum linewidths were 0.284 nm and 0.627 nm, respectively.

Two-hertz-linewidth Nd:YAG lasers at 1064 nm 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.

High-power,narrow linewidth solid-state deep ultraviolet laser generation at 193 nm by frequency mixing in LBO crystals

A 60-mW solid-state deep ultraviolet(DUV)laser at 193 nm with narrow linewidth is obtained with two stages of sum frequency generation in LBO crystals.The pump lasers,at 258 and 1553 nm,are derived from a homemade Yb-hybrid laser employing fourth-harmonic generation and Er-doped fiber laser,respectively.The Yb-hybrid laser,finally,is power scaling by a 2 mm×2 mm×30 mm Yb:YAG bulk crystal.Accompanied by the generated 220-mW DUV laser at 221 nm,the 193-nm laser delivers an average power of 60 mW with a pulse duration of 4.6 ns,a repetition rate of 6 kHz,and a linewidth of∼640 MHz.To the best of our knowledge,this is the highest power of 193-and 221-nm laser generated by an LBO crystal ever reported as well as the narrowest linewidth of 193-nm laser by it.Remarkably,the conversion efficiency reaches 27%for 221 to 193 nm and 3%for 258 to 193 nm,which are the highest efficiency values reported to date.We demonstrate the huge potential of LBO crystals for producing hundreds of milliwatt or even watt level 193-nm laser,which also paves a brand-new way to generate other DUV laser wavelengths.

基于WGM微腔自注入锁定压窄线宽技术研究

回音壁模式(whispering gallerymode,WGM)微腔具有超高Q值和极小的模式体积,并且还存在一种弱后向瑞利散射。利用WGM微腔的该反馈机制,可以实现激光线宽几个数量级的压缩,基于此设计了一种窄线宽激光器。利用数值仿真分析了自注入锁定过程中的光学行为,具体而言分析了系统中相位、失谐、后向散射、耦合效率的变化对系统性能的影响。同时并使用半导体激光器进行了验证实验,半导体激光器中心波长为1552.126nm,实验中将7 MHz线宽激光输出压窄至500kHz。基于该方案实现的窄线宽激光器具有轻量化、便捷性高、性能稳定等诸多优点。因而,这种窄线宽激光器在激光干涉测量、激光陀螺、激光测距等领域具有潜在的应用价值。

基于多纵模振荡种子源的高功率窄线宽光纤激光器关键技术分析及研究现状

基于多纵模振荡种子源的窄线宽光纤激光器具有光路简单、结构紧凑、可靠性高、成本低等特点,在实际工程应用以及在空间受限的载荷平台上有着显著优势,是高功率光谱合成的理想子束模块。受自脉冲效应的影响,多纵模振荡种子源的时域特性较差,导致放大过程中会产生较强的光谱展宽与受激拉曼散射效应。这限制了其输出功率的进一步提升并降低了其光谱纯度。本文首先介绍了4种常见的窄线宽种子源,并重点分析了多纵模振荡种子源中自脉冲效应产生的机理及抑制方法,对优化多纵模振荡种子源和放大器的关键技术进行了详细介绍,归纳总结了近几年的技术突破与研究成果,对未来的发展方向进行了展望分析。本文研究对基于多纵模振荡种子源的窄线宽激光器的功率提升和光谱优化提供一定思路。

基于保偏布喇格光栅的窄线宽半导体激光器

为了研制面向量子精密测量应用的近红外波段光纤光栅外腔半导体激光器,采用独立设计的高偏振依赖增益芯片和双折射光纤布喇格光栅,通过法布里-珀罗等效谐振腔模型,系统分析了光栅反射率、外腔和芯片长度对激光线宽的影响。结果表明,所研制激光器实现了54.46 mW的输出功率、58.88 dB的边模抑制比和24.46 dB的偏振消光比,利用延迟自外差拍频方法测得的洛伦兹线宽低至2.69 kHz。此研究为独立设计制备分立器件的单频窄线宽外腔半导体激光器提供参考,有望应用于雷达成像、陀螺仪、磁力仪和原子钟等量子精密测量领域。

高功率线偏振窄线宽光纤激光器TMI抑制

高功率线偏振窄线宽光纤激器在功率光谱合成、相干探测等方面具有广泛的应用前景。在高功率线偏振窄线宽光纤激光器中,模式不稳定(TMI)效应是限制其功率提升的主要因素之一。本文分析了TMI效应对高功率线偏振窄线宽光纤激光器输出功率的影响,提出了TMI效应的抑制方法。文章采用长波泵浦技术,输出功率100 mW的单频激光器作为种子源,相位调制器将种子源线宽展宽至25 GHz,经三级放大,最终实现了线宽25 GHz、功率2.2 kW、中心波长1064 nm、消光比98%的线偏振窄线宽激光输出,光束质量M_(x)^(2)=1.2、M_(y)^(2)=1.21。分析了泵浦波长对TMI效应的影响:由于光线芯径较小(20μm),增益光纤对泵浦光吸收系数较高(1.8 dB/m@976 nm),纤芯温度较高,加上泵浦光量子亏损引入的热,导致纤芯折射率发生变化,较低功率下发生TMI效应,当泵浦波长向长波偏移时,泵浦光的量子亏损降低,同时泵浦吸收系数也降低,无论在光纤全长、还是单位长度上的热分布均减小,增大了TMI阈值,提升了线偏振窄线宽光纤激光器的输出功率。

用于可移动量子重力仪的光纤拉曼激光源研究

基于两个窄线宽光纤激光器和自制的锁相控制系统,研制了一个低相位噪声窄线宽拉曼光纤激光源,建立了拉曼光纤激光系统的相位噪声模型,研究了拍频光功率、不同频率参考源对拉曼激光相位噪声的影响。实验结果表明,该拉曼光纤激光源在10 Hz~1 MHz范围内相位噪声功率谱密度可达到^(-11)8 dBc/√Hz,相应的相位噪声为22.7 mrad,将其应用到重力仪中获得的重力测量灵敏度为10.93μGal/√Hz。对拉曼激光源进行连续3 h的相位噪声稳定性测试和连续25 min的频率稳定性测试,得到的相位噪声标准差为0.734 mrad,相应的重力灵敏度标准差仅为0.349μGal/√Hz。当积分时间为1 s时,相位锁定时频率稳定度为2.675×10^(-11),验证了该激光源具有低相位噪声和高稳定性。利用相位噪声模型得到的理论结果与实验结果一致,证实了理论模型的正确性。

基于光学反馈频率锁定的窄线宽稳定中红外激光产生技术研究

中红外精密激光光谱技术在痕量气体检测、基本物理常数测定等领域都有重要应用,然而由于缺乏窄线宽、稳定的中红外光源,很难实现中红外精密光谱测量.本文介绍了一种基于光学反馈频率锁定的窄线宽稳定中红外激光产生技术,分析了光学反馈实现激光到F-P腔锁定的可行性,利用一个高精细度中红外超稳F-P腔作为频率参考,基于光学反馈技术实现了量子级联激光器到该超稳腔的锁定.经过评估得到激光器线宽被压窄到1.1 Hz,压窄激光线宽的同时稳定了激光频率,将激光器的长期漂移控制在20 kHz/12 h.其中,为了获取长时间稳定的光学反馈,基于PDH技术获取了误差信号,用于对反馈相位的实时伺服控制.

光纤布拉格光栅长外腔反馈半导体激光器特性研究

窄线宽激光器是光谱学和精密计量学等实验的基本组成部分。由于半导体激光器对外部光学反馈十分敏感,所以可以利用光反馈的高带宽抑制半导体激光器的相位噪声,进而压窄线宽。本文采用光纤布拉格光栅作为反馈元件,搭建了长外腔反馈回路。为了降低外界环境温度起伏和气流扰动的影响,对反馈光路的光纤控温,使得1小时内最大温度起伏从0.039℃降低到0.003℃。此外,测试了反馈带宽对激光线宽的影响,尽管实验所用光纤布拉格光栅的带宽远大于自由运转的激光线宽,但仍然可以观察到激光线宽被压窄,且光纤光栅的带宽越小,激光线宽越窄。对于此现象,分析认为在反馈回路中应该存在一种负反馈机制,可以将激光线宽稳定到反馈光谱的某个斜率处,所以光纤光栅的反馈带宽越窄,反馈光谱的斜率越大,反馈越灵敏。通过调整光纤光栅的反馈功率在0~1 mW范围内改变,观察到当反射功率为0.8 mW时,光反馈将激光线宽从自由运转的100.5 kHz压窄到最窄的11.5 kHz,0.2 kHz~2 MHz范围内的相位噪声降低约20 dB。

自注入锁定激光器的频率热调谐方法改进

为了提高自注入锁定激光器的频率连续可调谐范围,对法布里-珀罗(FP)微腔在频率热调谐过程中注入锁定相位的变化关系进行研究。在传统频率热调谐的基础上,对自注入锁定激光器频率和相位等参数特性进行研究,提出一种在频率热调谐时加入自注入锁定相位补偿和DFB芯片电流补偿的改进算法,并在一台基于FP微腔自注入锁定激光器上对此算法进行验证实验。这台激光器的波长为1550 nm,3 dB线宽为785 Hz,通过一对加热电阻对FP微腔进行频率热调谐。实验结果表明:激光器硬件部分未作任何修改的情况下,改进后的算法在激光器原有驱动控制电路的单片机程序中实现了6 GHz的频率连续调谐范围。该工作为自注入锁定激光器提供一种简单高效且稳定性好的频率调谐方案,具有较高的实用性和市场前景。

窄线宽外腔半导体激光器研究进展

窄线宽外腔半导体激光器具有结构简单、可调谐、噪声低等优势,广泛应用于量子精密测量、光通信、激光雷达等领域。根据外腔选频器件的不同,本文主要介绍光栅型激光器、干涉滤光型激光器、波导型激光器和法拉第激光器四类外腔半导体激光器,分析各类激光器的基本结构与选频机制、介绍各自的优缺点以及国内外研究进展。其中,前三类激光器采用非量子器件进行频率选择,而法拉第激光器利用共振法拉第旋光效应选频,输出波长直接对应原子跃迁谱线,对激光二极管的电流与温度变化具有良好的鲁棒性。随后介绍外腔半导体激光器的应用情况,尤其是在精密测量领域中的典型应用。最后总结并展望窄线宽外腔半导体激光器的未来发展方向。

面向小型化窄线宽激光的光学锁定硬件系统研究

研制小型化、数字化、高带宽的光学锁相控制系统是实现面向实际应用的小型化窄线宽激光光源的关键。但目前的通用及专用型系统存在着诸如依靠商业平台、带宽不足、集成化程度不高等问题。研究研制的数字伺服系统基于现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)以及高速模数转换器(ADC)与数模转换器(DAC),实现数字综合器、调制器、鉴相器、滤波器以及伺服控制单元,成功研制高速、可重构、双通路的光学锁相环集成硬件平台,系统开环带宽为2.63MHz。与具有高品质因子特性的回音壁模式(WGM)光学微腔相结合,通过相位调制光外差稳频方法(PDH)实现积分线宽为20Hz的窄线宽激光,光学闭环反馈带宽达到450M。该系统具有良好的通用性与扩展性,可以适用于各种原子分子光谱以及光学频率的伺服锁定。

基于MEMS反射镜的窄线宽外腔可调谐半导体激光器

基于大转角的电磁式MEMS反射镜和闪耀光栅作为外腔调谐元件,设计了Littman-Metcalf结构的外腔半导体可调谐激光器,MEMS反射镜可准确控制偏转角度,2 h内角度复位调谐波长漂移小于20 pm,该可调谐激光器实现了1435.81~1555.83 nm(120.02 nm)的稳定的波长调谐,全波段波长调谐过程中激光器边模抑制比大于30 dB,相同调谐电流下,激光器波长控制误差小于20 pm。注入电流350 mA时,外腔激光器输出功率达25.89 mW,最小阈值电流68 mA。利用延迟自外差法测得可调谐激光器的线宽优于69 kHz。该研究成果有望在激光雷达、相干激光通信、光学传感器及计量检测等诸多领域发挥重要作用。

基于双F-P标准具的宽调谐窄线宽Tm:YAP脉冲激光器

设计了一种宽调谐、窄线宽、高重频的Tm:YAP脉冲激光器。采用三个切轴方向的Tm:YAP晶体作为增益介质,通过0.5 mmYAG材质F-P标准具和0.025 mm熔石英材质F-P标准具,激光器分别实现了49 nm、44 nm、51 nm波长连续调谐,具体分别为1 951~2 000 nm、1 932~1 976 nm、1 943~1 994 nm。同时测得激光线宽均在0.4 nm左右。声光调Q 10 kHz脉冲重复频率下,分别实现了最大平均功率5.08 W、6.29 W、4.83 W的脉冲激光输出。对比发现,b轴Tm:YAP激光器的平均功率最大,测得最大平均功率下的脉宽为65.7 ns,光束质量因子M2在x方向上为1.84,y方向上为1.93。结果表明b轴Tm:YAP晶体具有宽调谐、窄线宽、高功率、大能量激光的潜力。

Widely-wavelength-tunable brillouin fiber laser with improved optical signal-to-noise ratio based on parity-time symmetric and saturable absorption effect

A widely-wavelength-tunable Brillouin fiber laser(BFL)with improved optical signal-to-noise ratio(OSNR)based on parity-time(PT)symmetric and saturable absorption(SA)effect is present.This novel BFL realizes PT symmetry and SA effect through polarization-maintaining erbium-doped fiber(PM-EDF)Sagnac loop,which is composed of a PM-EDF,a coupler and two polarization controllers(PCs).By using the inherent birefringence characteristic of PM-EDF,two feedback loops in orthogonal polarization state are formed when the Strokes signal in injected.One of these loops provides gain in the clockwise direction with in the Sagnac loop,while the other loop generates loss in the counterclockwise direction.By adjusting the PCs to control the polarization state of the PM-EDF,a single-longitudinal-mode(SLM)BFL can be achieved,as the PT symmetry is broken when the SA participating stimulated Brillouin scattering(SBS)gain and loss are well-matched and the gain surpasses the coupling coefficient.Compared to previous BFLs,the proposed BFL has a more streamlined structure and a wider wavelength tunable range,at the same time,it is not being limited by the bandwidth of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier while still maintaining narrow linewidth SLM output.Additionally,thanks to SA effect of the PM-EDF,the PT symmetric SBS gain contract is enhanced,resulting in a higher optical signal-to-noise(OSNR).The experimental results show that the laser has a wide tunable range of 1526.088 nm to 1565.498 nm,an improved OSNR of 77 dB,and a fine linewidth as small as 140.5 Hz.