Review of low timing jitter mode-locked fiber lasers and applications in dual-comb absolute distance measurement

Passively mode-locked fiber lasers emit femtosecond pulse trains with excellent short-term stability. The quantum-limited timing jitter of a free running femtosecond erbium-doped fiber laser working at room temperature is considerably below one femtosecond at high Fourier frequency. The ultrashort pulse train with ultralow timing jitter enables absolute time-of-flight measurements based on a dual-comb implementation, which is typically composed of a pair of optical frequency combs generated by femtosecond lasers. Dead-zone-free absolute distance measurement with sub-micrometer precision and kHz update rate has been routinely achieved with a dual-comb configuration, which is promising for a number of precision manufacturing applications, from large step-structure measurements prevalent in microelectronic profilometry to three coordinate measurements in large-scale aerospace manufacturing and shipbuilding. In this paper, we first review the sub-femtosecond precision timing jitter characterization methods and approaches for ultralow timing jitter mode-locked fiber laser design. Then, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art dual-comb absolute ranging technology in terms of working principles, experimental implementations, and measurement precisions. Finally, we discuss the impact of quantum-limited timing jitter on the dual-comb ranging precision at a high update rate. The route to highprecision dual-comb range finder design based on ultralow jitter femtosecond fiber lasers is proposed.

Dual-Comb Ranging

Absolute distance measurement is a fundamental technique in mobile and large-scale dimensional metrology.Dual-comb ranging is emerging as a powerful tool that exploits phase resolution and frequency accuracy for high-precision and fast-rate distance measurement.Using two coherent frequency combs,dual-comb ranging allows time and phase response to be measured rapidly.It breaks through the limitations related to the responsive bandwidth,ambiguity range,and dynamic measurement characteristics of conventional ranging tools.This review introduces dual-comb ranging and summarizes the key techniques for realizing this ranging tool.As optical frequency comb technology progresses,dualcomb ranging shows promise for various professional applications.

Digitally calibrated broadband dual-comb gases absorption spectral measurements

From the perspective of error compensation in the sampling process, a digital calibration algorithm was studied for the processing of spectral data in dual-comb spectroscopy. In this algorithm, dynamic adaptation to phase fluctuations maintained constant measurement results of spectral line positions and intensities. A mode-resolved broadband absorption spectrum was obtained over the full-spectral range of the comb with a Hertz linewidth of radio frequency comb mode.The measured spectrum spanned over 10 THz, which covered the multiplexed absorption regions of mixed gases, such as CO2 and N2 O. The calibrated interferograms were also capable of direct coherent averaging in the time domain. The transmittance obtained deviated from the theoretical calculation by no more than 2% in the whole spectral span.

Dual-comb soliton rains based on polarization multiplexing in a single-walled carbon nanotube mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser

We experimentally demonstrate tunable dual-comb soliton rains in a polarization multiplexing fiber laser based on a singlewalled carbon nanotube.The repetition frequency difference of dual-comb pulses is about 39 Hz,with a maximum extinction ratio of 29 dB.With suitable polarization states,one of the dual-comb pulses switches into soliton rain sequence with chirped isolating soliton trains.The signal-to-noise ratio reaches 61 dB,which is 11 dB higher than that of the normal dual-comb pulses.The intervals between chirped isolating solitons are distributed progressively,and the number of isolating solitons can be flexibly tuned from 2 to 11 by adjusting polarization state or pump power.Our work will provide support for further understanding of interaction dynamics of solitons and give a new route to the application of precision measurement.

The development and application of dual-comb spectroscopy in analytical chemistry

Analytical chemistry plays an important role in the qualitive and quantitative analysis for molecules in the various circumstances,especially for the high-resolution analysis.The dual-comb spectroscopy(DCS)technology with the characteristics of high resolution,high sensitivity and instantaneous sampling exhibited a great potential in high-resolution in-situ spectral methods and has been active in the fields of spatial ranging,air composition analysis,reaction monitoring and so on.In this review,we will summarize the principle of DCS according to the different wavelength coverage and overview the applications of DCS in analytical chemistry.

Optical frequency comb technology: from ground to space

Optical frequency combs,as powerful tools for precision spectroscopy and research into optical frequency standards,have driven continuous progress and significant breakthroughs in applications such as time-frequency transfer,measurement of fundamental physical constants,and high-precision ranging,achieving a series of milestone results in ground-based environments.With the continuous maturation and evolution of femtosecond lasers and related technologies,optical frequency combs are moving from ground-based applications to astronomical and space-based applications,playing an increasingly important role in atomic clocks,exoplanet observations,gravitational wave measurements,and other areas.This paper,focusing on astronomical and space-based applications,reviews research progress on astronomical frequency combs,optical clock time-frequency networks,gravitational waves,dark matter measurement,dual-comb large-scale absolute ranging,and high-resolution atmospheric spectroscopy.With enhanced performance and their gradual application in the field of space-based research,optical frequency combs will undoubtedly provide more powerful support for astronomical science and cosmic exploration in the future.

双光梳测距技术的空间应用与试验设计

双光梳测距技术具有测量精度高、测速快、非模糊范围大和可现场溯源的优势,在航天工程中具有广阔的应用前景,如航天器交会对接、卫星编队飞行、大型展开机构定位等。在货运飞船与空间站交会对接的任务场景下,提出了一种双光梳高精度测距技术空间应用与试验方案,介绍了双光梳测距技术的基本原理,对试验系统进行了架构设计,实现在400 m范围内对空间动态合作目标优于100μm测距精度、1 kHz测量带宽。进一步针对测距系统的关键参数进行了设计与仿真,对系统的空间环境适应性进行了分析,结果表明测距系统最大可实现19.5 m/s相对运动速度下的高精度测距,满足搭载任务场景需求,为下一步双光梳测距技术的在轨试验与航天工程化应用提供了技术参考。

Adaptive cavity-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy

Resolution and bandwidth are critical for cavity-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy(CE-DCS). Here, we pioneer an adaptive approach in CE-DCS to improve the broadband as well as the resolution. Postcorrections to dualcomb interferograms adaptively compensate the relative phase jitters of the optical frequency combs and result in both a mode-resolved spectral resolution and a signal-to-noise ratio of 440:1 in 1 s. Meanwhile, an adaptive combcavity locking scheme exploits more than 90% of the comb modes, covering 340 cm-1(10 THz) at 6450 cm-1. For a single dual-comb interferogram, more than 40,000 comb teeth spaced by 250 MHz are measured in less than7.5 ms, contributing to a noise equivalent absorption per spectral element of 2 × 10-10 cm-1·Hz-1∕2. This adaptive cavity-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy technique provides an attractive spectroscopic tool that may be utilized in trace-gas sensing, breath and cancer analysis, and engine combustion diagnosis.

Adaptive-sampling near-Doppler-limited terahertz dual-comb spectroscopy with a free-running single-cavity fiber laser

Dual-comb spectroscopy(DCS)is an emerging spectroscopic tool with the potential to simultaneously achieve a broad spectral coverage and ultrahigh spectral resolution with rapid data acquisition.However,the need for two independently stabilized ultrafast lasers significantly hampers the potential application of DCS.We demonstrate mode-resolved DCS in the THz region based on a free-running singlecavity dual-comb fiber laser with the adaptive sampling method.While the use of a free-running single-cavity dual-comb fiber laser eliminates the need for two mode-locked lasers and their frequency control,the adaptive sampling method strongly prevents the degradation of spectroscopic performance caused by the residual timing jitter in the free-running dual-comb laser.Doppler-limit-approaching absorption features with linewidths down to 25 MHz are investigated for low-pressure acetonitrile/air mixed gas by comb-mode-resolved THz spectroscopy.The successful demonstration clearly indicates its great potential for the realization of lowcomplexity,Doppler-limited THz spectroscopy instrumentation.

一种基于双光源和偏振技术的平坦光频梳产生方案

为了提高光频梳(OFC)平坦度及梳线数量,提出了一种基于双光源和偏振技术的平坦OFC产生方案。该方案首先通过调整光相位调制器(O-PM)调制指数实现除主载波外8根平坦梳线,再利用偏振技术改变主载波处的峰值功率,产生平坦OFC。仿真结果表明:当O-PM调制指数设定为2.62时,即射频信号E_(1)(t)的幅度E_(1)达到1.67 V时,能够生成除中心载波外的8根梳线平坦梳线;在偏振控制器偏振角度φ为29.8°、线偏振器偏振角度α为45°的条件下,该方案能够生成梳线数量为10、平坦度达到0.01 dB、边模抑制比为6.15 dB的高平坦OFC;与单一光源相比,双光源线宽的变化对平坦度的影响更小。

全保偏飞秒光纤激光器异步锁定技术研究

基于全保偏掺铒光纤激光器、锁相环系统和太赫兹测距光路搭建了一套太赫兹双光梳测距系统。所采用的全保偏掺铒光纤激光器重复频率为79.261 MHz。利用压电陶瓷(piezoelectric ceramics,PZT)和步进电机(stepper motor,SM)双级反馈控制的方案,实现了重复频率锁定和重复频率1.54 MHz可调。使用频率计数器对双光梳重复频率锁定效果进行监测,重复频率锁定的峰峰值抖动为±1.5 mHz,抖动标准差为0.4 mHz。将双光梳重频差设置在10 Hz,10 min内重复频率差最大抖动为3 mHz,标准差为0.6 mHz。进一步将异步采样双光梳系统应用于太赫兹测距,测量移动距离的误差为3µm。该系统具有锁定精度高,稳定性强等优势,有望应用于生物无损检测和工业精密加工中。

光波导输入的双通道同步定标虚拟成像相位阵列光谱仪

激光频率梳定标的虚拟成像相位阵列光谱仪有潜力同时实现超高光谱分辨率与波长定标精度,对于天文光谱探测有重要意义。然而,现有的研究工作中,虚拟成像相位阵列光谱仪采用常规的双通道光纤输入模式,在受环境干扰时,两个通道的同步性较差,相对漂移严重,从而降低了光谱仪的重复性定标精度。为解决该问题,提出一种以光波导作为输入器件的双通道虚拟成像相位阵列光谱仪,利用波导通道之间相对稳定的特性,实现更高水平的同步定标精度。通过对不同环境下光谱仪的稳定性进行研究得出,在相似的测试条件下,波导输入的虚拟成像相位阵列光谱仪的重复性定标精度明显优于光纤输入时的定标表现。

基于Yb:CALGO晶体激光器的偏振复用

基于大增益带宽和高热导率晶体的偏振复用激光技术可以提高双频激光器和双光梳激光器在输出光谱范围和功率方面的性能。本文提出一种基于Yb:CALGO晶体的偏振复用激光器。将两片与光轴成45°角切割的双折射晶体放置在增益晶体的前后两侧形成三明治结构,利用双折射晶体的偏振特性使腔内激光形成只在三明治结构部分具备空间分离其余部分共线的偏振方向互相垂直的两种模式。同时,这种三明治结构既能使单束泵浦光能够自动分离为两束空间分离匹配的泵浦光,也可以使腔内增益晶体放置在腔内模式腰斑位置处,与泵浦光达到更好的模式匹配,提高光泵浦效率。最终测得的激光输出功率达到瓦量级并且斜率效率超过30%。在腔内加入标准具后,实现了频差为太赫兹量级的稳定双频激光运转。

基于双光梳的激光吸收谱真空分压力测量技术研究

为了提高真空分压力测量的准确度和灵敏度,弥补传统测量方法的固有缺陷,真空分压力将结合理想气体定律,使用气体密度来表征。利用气体分子的红外吸收光谱,通过双光梳光谱技术测量其对特定波长光的吸收可实现对混合气体中目标气体密度的精确测量,进而反演出真空分压力。研建了基于电光双光梳的真空分压力测量系统,结合双光梳外差光谱技术与腔增强光谱技术,实现了非侵入、大动态、高速度的真空分压力测量。实验对CO_(2),CO,N_(2)三元混合气体中CO_(2)与CO的真空分压力进行了测量,其相对误差分别为2.84%和2.77%。通过不确定度分析得出,吸收线强度误差是真空分压力测量中最主要的不确定度分量。

100 km光纤链路中小于100 fs分辨力的双光梳钟差测量实验研究

为了解决远距离光纤链路两端测量钟差限制在ps量级的问题,运用线性光学采样法测量钟差的基本理论,利用双光梳线性光学采样法完成了100 km光纤链路两端的钟差测量实验研究。通过梳齿压缩和色散补偿技术实现了光梳梳齿线宽和远距离光纤链路净色散量的优化,突破了高精度读取干涉花样中心时刻的难点,最终实现了高分辨力的钟差测量。通过时间间隔计数器与线性光学采样法测量光纤链路时延对比实验和100 km光纤链路钟差测量实验证明:基于线性光学采样法测量的钟差小于100 fs,能够有效满足高精度时间同步系统的要求。本研究为促进精密导航、高速通信和精准授时等领域的发展起到重要作用。

基于双波长激光器的集成化中红外双光梳系统(特邀)

中红外双光梳光谱检测系统因其高分辨、高灵敏、快速测量的特性为极低浓度气体的标定带来了革新技术。本文用单腔双波长激光器输出的异步双波长脉冲替代两台锁模激光器,结合非线性差频技术,发展了集成实用化的中红外双光梳系统。共腔产生的1034 nm与1039 nm双波长脉冲序列,其重复频率差约为1.18 kHz,且因共模噪声被抑制,脉冲间的相对稳定性较高。利用级联放大器将种子脉冲光功率提升至1.1 W后,与2 W的1549.315 nm的连续激光非线性差频,将激光器输出波段拓展至中红外。产生的中红外激光功率可达3.5 mW,光谱覆盖范围超过50 nm。对中红外双光梳的相干性进行测量,与1μm的底层双光梳相比,中红外双光梳拍频梳齿频率间隔、信噪比、线宽等无明显劣化,可为复杂环境下的痕量分析提供可行方案。

光梳光谱技术在六氟化硫分解产物检测中的应用

随着电力系统向高压、大容量、信息技术应用等方向发展,电力设备的高效运维对于保障电力系统安全运行和经济平稳增长具有重大意义。对六氟化硫气体分解产物的检测是电气绝缘设备检漏及判断故障类型的有效手段。基于光学频率梳的双光梳光谱检测技术具有高分辨、高精度、宽光谱、高速动态等优势,有望在电力设备漏气故障检修中,为判断特征气体种类及定量分析提供可靠手段。搭建了基于两台集成掺铒光纤光梳的双光梳光谱检测装置。通过精密频率控制及精细温控,光梳重复频率抖动从18.37 Hz降低至607.72μHz,光梳梳齿稳定度控制在10^(-12)。装置具有长时间稳定和小型化集成的特点,对外界环境干扰免疫性强,在室外环境运行两小时,光梳的重复频率及载波包络相位信号仍能保持相位锁定,两台光梳相干性无明显劣化。在光谱检测方面,结合使用超灵敏多通气室,对CO与CO_(2)混气进行了测量,在ms量级时间内实现了1540~1590 nm波段内CO和CO_(2)吸收峰的同时成谱检测,光谱分辨率达1 pm。分别以CO和CO_(2)在1585.47、1581.946 nm和1580.5、1579.575 nm的特征吸收峰为例,通过洛伦兹数据拟合反演出相应分子数密度。CO和CO_(2)的气体分子数密度的多峰测量不确定度分别为0.32%与0.24%,较单峰测量结果(2%)降低了近1个量级。该研究推进了双光梳光谱技术及系统在电力设备漏气故障特征气体非接触实时检测中的应用。传统接触式检测存在检测气体种类单一、积分时间长、难以做到长期在线实时监测的缺点,而双光梳光谱检测能够在ms量级对多组分气体的多峰非接触式同时成谱检测,在缩短检测时间的同时提高了检测精度,为电力设备漏气故障的及时排查及故障类型的诊断提供了有效途径。

单腔双光梳拍频信号包络提取方法

对单腔双光梳拍频信号的包络提取方法进行了实验研究。在单个光纤激光器中引入具有强双折射的保偏光纤,使脉冲沿偏振正交的两个方向进行复用传输和锁模。精细调节腔内偏振态,实现了重频差在337 Hz~2.33 kHz范围内连续可调的双光梳生成。通过激光器腔外偏振态调节和偏振分束,获得了消光比分别为28.5 dB和38.2 dB的两路光频梳。两路光频梳经过异步采样后,采用所设计的包络检波电路对拍频信号的包络进行提取,与采用基于样条插值和希尔伯特变换的包络提取算法计算结果相比,所提取的包络峰值位置基本保持一致,验证了该方法的可行性。双光梳拍频信号包络提取实验研究可以快速实时提取包络形状和包络峰值位置,可进一步应用于包络信号触发和精密测距等领域。

双光梳光谱测量技术

双光梳光谱技术是一种先进的精密光谱测量技术,具有高分辨力、高频率精度、快速测量和宽带光谱覆盖等优点,已在光谱激光雷达、温室气体监测、燃烧诊断等测量领域中广泛应用。关于双光梳光谱的新原理、新方案和新技术不断涌现,因此有必要对其发展现状进行梳理和总结。本文详细地阐述了双光梳光谱技术的原理和性能指标,分析对比了光频参考、电光调制、单腔双光梳和光调制四种典型双光梳光谱测量系统的实验方案和优势,同时具体分析了双光梳光谱技术在工作波段拓展方向的发展现状,最后对双光梳光谱系统的发展趋势和应用前景进行了总结和展望,为双光梳光谱技术在全波段光谱测量和多场景应用中的进一步提升提供参考。

片上孤子光学频率梳集成与测试研究

光学频率梳由一系列等间距分布的相干激光组成,作为高精度频率标准可以实现气体吸收光谱的超精细扫描,在光谱分析、燃烧诊断等领域有重要应用。基于克尔效应的微环谐振腔,具备尺寸小、重量轻、功耗低等优点,有望成为新一代集成光源。开展了片上孤子光学频率梳集成与测试研究,实现了孤子光学频率梳的集成封装,试验观测到了孤子的演化过程,实现了宽带孤子光频梳波长范围大于100 nm,重复频率大于49 GHz。同时,基于双微环谐振腔构建了双梳系统,重频差14.69 MHz,实现了C2H2吸收光谱的精细扫描。