Quantitative Moisture Measurement with a Cavity Ring-down Spectrometer using Telecom Diode Lasers

Moisture measurement is of great needs in semiconductor industry, combustion diagnosis, meteorology, and atmospheric studies. We present an optical hygrometer based on cavity ring-down spectroscopy （CRDS）. By using different absorption lines of H20 in the 1.56 and 1.36 gm regions, we are able to determine the relative concentration （mole fraction） of water vapor from a few percent down to the 10-12 level. The quantitative accuracy is examined by comparing the CRDS hygrometer with a commercial chilled-mirror dew-point meter. The high sensitivity of the CRDS instrument allows a water detection limit of 8 pptv.

Injection-seeded single frequency 2.05μm output by ring cavity optical parametric oscillator

An injection-seeded single-resonant optical parametric oscillator（SROPO） with single frequency nanosecond pulsed 2.05 μm wavelength output is presented. Based on two potassium titanyl phosphate crystals and pumped by a 1064 nm single frequency laser pulse, injection seeding is performed successfully by using the ramp-hold-fire technique in a ring cavity with a bow-tie configuration. The SROPO provides 2.65 m J single frequency signal pulse output with a 17.6 ns pulse duration at a 20 Hz repetition rate. A near-diffraction-limited beam is achieved with a beam quality factor M^2 of about 1.2. The spectrum linewidth of the signal pulse is around 26.4 MHz,which is almost the Fourier-transform-limited value.

High power dual-wavelength tunable fiber laser in linear and ring cavity configurations

We describe and compare the performances of two crucial configurations for a tunable dual-wavelength fiber laser, namely, the linear and ring configurations. The performances of these two cavities and the tunability in the dual-wavelength output varied from 0.8 to 11.9 nm are characterized. The ring cavity provides a better performance, achieving an average output power of 0.5 dBm, with a power fluctuation of only 1.1 dB and a signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） of 66 dB. Moreover, the ring cavity has minimal or no background amplified spontaneous emission （ASE）.

Cavity Ring Down Laser Absorption Spectroscopy of Nil

The absorption spectrum of NiI between 445 and 510 nm has been investigated using the technique of laser vaporization/reaction with free jet expansion and cavity ring down laser absorption spectroscopy. Two new transitions namely,[21.3]^2△5/2-X^2△5/2 and [21.9]^2Ⅱ3/2-X^2△5/2 systems were identified and studied. Spectra of both ^58NiI and ^60NiI isotopic molecules were observed. Equilibrium molecular constants for both electronic states are reported and the equilibrium bond length for the [21.3]^2△5/2 state and the[21.9]^2Ⅱ3/2 state was respectively determined to be 2.431 and 2.481 A.

Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+) Co-Doped Fiber Ring and Line Laser

Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped fiber of 2 m long is used as the laser gain medium. Two fiber lasers with different structures have been set up, one is the line cavity fiber laser with the dielectric mirror being replaced by an all-fiber reflecting mirror,the other is the ring cavity all-fiber laser. Both set-ups have achieved lasing operation at the wavelength of 1.53 μm. Pumped by the 1 064 nm light from all-solid-state Nd ∶YAG laser, the two fiber lasers at 1 530 nm are operational. Their output powers are 7.8 mW and 2 mW with 130 mW and 160 mW pump powers.

Absolute density measurement of nitrogen dioxide with cavity-enhanced laser-induced fluorescence

The absolute number density of nitrogen dioxide（NO2） seeded in argon is measured with cavity-enhanced laserinduced fluorescence（CELIF） through using a pulsed laser beam for the first time. The cavity ring down（CRD） signal is acquired simultaneously and used for normalizing the LIF signal and determining the relationship between the measured CELIF signal and the NO2 number density. The minimum detectable NO2 density down to（3.6±0.1）10^8 cm^-3 is measured in 60 s of acquisition time by the CELIF method. The minimum absorption coefficient is measured to be（2.0±0.1）10^-9 cm^-1, corresponding to a noise equivalent absorption sensitivity of（2.2±0.1）10^9 cm.^-1Hz^-1/2. The experimental system demonstrated here can be further improved in its sensitivity and used for environmental monitoring of outdoor NO2 pollution.

Fiber Cavity Ring Down and Gain Amplification Effect

The effect of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier （EDFA） placed inside the fiber ring of a cavity ring down （CRD） configuration is studied. The limitations and advantages of this configuration are discussed, and the study of the ring-down time as a function of the current applied and gain to the EDFA is also presented. In this case, the power fluctuations in the output signal are strongly dependent on the cavity ring-down time with the EDFA gain.

Spin-orbit Splitting and Lifetime Broadening in the A2△ Electronic State of l-C5H

Optical absorption bands at -18772 and -18807 cm-1, previously assigned to A2A-X2H electronic origin band transitions of the linear carbon-chain radicals CsH and CsD, respectively, have been reinvestigated. The spectra have been recorded in direct absorption applying cavity ring-down spectroscopy to a supersonically expanding acetylene/helium plasma. The improved spectra allow deducing a l-CsH upper state spin-orbit coupling constant X=-0.7（3） cm-1 and a A2A lifetime of 1.65=0.3 ps.