All-solid-state tunable continuous-wave ultraviolet source with high spectral purity and frequency stability

We present a novel approach for the generation of higly frequency-stable, widely tunable, single-frequency cw UV light that is suitable for high-resolution spectroscopy. Sum-frequency generation (SFG) of two solid-state sources with a single cavity resonant for both fundamental waves is employed. Using a highly stable, narrow-linewidth frequency-doubled cw Nd:YAG laser as a master laser and slaving to it the SFG cavity and the other fundamental wave from a Ti:sapphire laser, we generate UV radiation of 33-mW output power around 313 nm. Alternatively, we use a diode laser instead of the Ti:sapphire laser and produce an output power of 2.1 mW at 313 nm. With both setups we obtain a continuous tunability of >15 GHz, short-term frequency fluctuations in the submegahertz range, a long-term frequency drift below 100 MHz/h, and stable operation for several hours. The theory of optimized doubly resonant SFG is also given.     

Nano-polymer-dispersed liquid crystal as phase modulator for a tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser at 1.55 mum

We demonstrate what we believe is the first nonmechanical tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser operating in the C band. This was achieved as a result of the combination of an InGaAs quantum well structure with a 6lambda thickness tunable index nano-polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal material. Experimental results exhibited a potential tunable range close to 10 nm, in the preliminary version, and excellent single mode locking due to the side-mode suppression ratio (more than 20 dB) over the whole spectral range. Another decisive advantage, compared to mechanical solutions, was the tuning response time of a few tens of microseconds (>30 micros) to scan the full spectral range (10 nm), making this device appropriate for some access network functions, as well as being robust and low cost. The voltage values are the main limitation to wavelength range extension. We present a first version of the device optically pumped. The next version will be electrically pumped as required for the access network applications targeted here.     

Tunable single longitudinal mode S-band fiber laser using a 3 m length of erbium-doped fiber

In this paper a tunable single-longitudinal mode (SLM), short-wavelength band (S-band) fiber laser using a conventional erbium-doped fiber (EDF) with a length of 3?m and a step index erbium dopant profile as opposed to the commonly used depressed cladding erbium-doped fiber (DC-EDF) is proposed and demonstrated. The proposed SLM fiber laser has a tuning range of 1496 to 1507?nm in a ring configuration using two 0.15?m of EDF which acts as saturable absorbers (SAs). The highest peak power measured is about ?0.6?dBm at a wavelength range of 1502 to 1507?nm. The measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is approximately 74?dB for the same wavelength range. The line-width of the SLM output is measured to be 140?kHz.     

Tunable external-cavity diode laser at 650 nm based on a transmission diffraction grating

A tunable external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) based on a transmission diffraction grating in a Littrow mount has been developed and characterized. A single-transverse-mode diode laser at 650 nm is used in an external-cavity configuration in which the transmission grating is used as a dispersive element to select the single longitudinal mode. The transmission diffraction grating is made with electron-beam lithography. A tunable true single-mode cw output power of >20 mW is obtained from the ECDL. The total wavelength tuning range is 12 nm, and the mode-hop-free continuous tunability is >20 GHz.     

Multiplexed Fiber Bragg Grating Interrogation System Using a Microelectromechanical Fabry–Perot Tunable Filter

This paper describes a fiber Bragg grating strain sensor interrogation system based on a microelectromechanical systems tunable Fabry–Perot filter. The shift in the Bragg wavelength due to strain applied to a sensor fiber is detected by means of a correlation algorithm which was implemented on an embedded digital signal processor. The instrument has a 70 nm tuning range, allowing multiple strain sensors to be multiplexed on the same fiber. The performance of the interrogator was characterized using an optical fiber containing six grating strain sensors embedded in a fiberglass test specimen. The measured root mean square (RMS) strain error was 1.5 microstrain, corresponding to a 1.2 pm RMS error in the estimated wavelength shift. Strain measurements are produced with an update rate of 39 samples/s.      

Generation and optical parametric amplification of picosecond supercontinuum

We have demonstrated the output characteristics of optical parametric amplification (OPA) seeded by a supercontinuum (SC) generated in deionized water excited by 1064 nm. The SC spectrum (from 426 to 943 nm) overlaps well with the tuning range of a 355 nm pumped OPA for both the signal and idler. The tunable range covers from 430 to 2035 nm, with a maximum overall energy conversion efficiency of 32% in the OPA stage. A FWHM bandwidth of 54 nm near the degeneracy point from 658 to 760 nm can be generated by using a collinear OPA. Chirping of the SC pulses is also investigated with the OPA technique. The time delay between the 430 nm component and the 567 nm component of the generated SC due to chirp is measured to be -10.72 ps, increasing almost linearly with the wavelength.     

Measurement of absolute distance employing a tunable CW dye laser

With a tunable CW dye laser oscillating in a single longitudinal mode, measurement of an absolute distance is demonstrated with the method of excess fractions. Five beams which have different wavelengths are emitted sequentially from the dye laser, and the interferometric phase is measured for each wavelength. An interferometric order number for a wavelength can be calculated from values of wavelengths and phases. Then a precise value of length is obtained. This method is similar to measuring distances by using group delay as used in VLBI and microwave ranging. The measured accuracy was within ±8.8 nm between 0 and 10 mm (at an absolute distance of 0.1-10.1 mm)     

Nonmechanical transverse scanning laser Doppler velocimeter using wavelength change

A transverse scanning laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) that does not require any moving mechanism in its sensor probe is proposed, and the scanning function is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. In the proposed scanning LDV, the measurement position is transversely scanned on the basis of a wavelength change induced by a tunable laser and a combination of a grating and a Dove prism. To demonstrate the scanning function in the transverse direction, an experiment was carried out using a setup of the sensor probe consisting of bulk optical components. The experimental results indicate that a transverse scanning function was successfully obtained. The scanning range in the vertical direction is estimated to be 11.3 mm over wavelengths of 1520 to 1570 nm.     

Effect of UV radiation on the relaxation characteristics of ferroelectric thin-film capacitors

The effect of UV radiation with a wavelength near the fundamental absorption edge on the relaxation characteristics of ferroelectric capacitors based on thin (Ba,Sr)TiO₃ (BSTO) films has been studied. The absorption spectra of BSTO films with thicknesses up to 1 μm obtained by RF magnetron sputtering on sapphire substrates have been measured in a 300–600 nm wavelength range, the UV radiation penetration depth in this material was determined, and the optical bandgap width was evaluated. It is established that UV irradiation leads to a significant decrease in the relaxation time of the residual capacitance of BSTO-film-based structures. A minimum relaxation time is achieved upon the irradiation in a 350–360 nm wavelength interval.     

Tunable laser diode system for noninvasive blood glucose measurements

Optical sensing of glucose would allow more frequent monitoring and tighter glucose control for people with diabetes. The key to a successful optical noninvasive measurement of glucose is the collection of an optical spectrum with a very high signal-to-noise ratio in a spectral region with significant glucose absorption. Unfortunately, the optical throughput of skin is low due to absorption and scattering. To overcome these difficulties, we have developed a high-brightness tunable laser system for measurements in the 2.0-2.5 microm wavelength range. The system is based on a 2.3 microm wavelength, strained quantum-well laser diode incorporating GaInAsSb wells and AlGaAsSb barrier and cladding layers. Wavelength control is provided by coupling the laser diode to an external cavity that includes an acousto-optic tunable filter. Tuning ranges of greater than 110 nm have been obtained. Because the tunable filter has no moving parts, scans can be completed very quickly, typically in less than 10 ms. We describe the performance of the present laser system and avenues for extending the tuning range beyond 400 nm.     

Absolute Emission Spectra from Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Vegetative Cells in Solution

Spectrally resolved emission (270-560 nm) from dilute suspensions of washed Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were measured by use of tunable laser excitation between 270 and 300 nm. Integrated absolute emission cross sections increase with decreasing excitation wavelength and range from 1.8 x 10(-12) to 6.0 x 10(-11) cm(2)/(particle sr). An emission band near 340 nm dominates all observed spectra. At each excitation wavelength spectrally resolved emissions from the E. coli and B. subtilis suspensions are indistinguishable.     

Sensitive absorption spectroscopy by use of an asymmetric multiple-quantum-well diode laser in an external cavity

We have developed a broadly tunable diode laser system by employing custom-designed asymmetric multiple-quantum-well (AMQW) InGaAsP lasers in an external cavity configuration. Feedback is provided by a diffractive optical element with high coupling efficiency and wavelength selectivity, allowing for single-mode tuning of the output wavelength by varying the external cavity length. This tunable laser system was used experimentally to perform absorption spectroscopy on weak CO(2) lines over a broad wavelength region in the near infrared. An experimental tuning range of 80 nm has been observed for a laser cavity length of 600 mum, which is double the tuning range found with conventional, uncoated quantum-well lasers. We achieved a detection sensitivity of 5 x 10(-6) at 95% confidence over the wavelength range of 1.54-1.62 mum by employing a second-harmonic detection technique. The theoretical predictions of a broad gain profile from an ambipolar rate equation model are found to correspond to the experimentally observed increased tunability of the uncoated AMQW lasers.     

Incident-angle-modulated molecular plasmonic switches: a case of weak exciton-plasmon coupling

We have designed an angularly tunable plasmonic system that consists of Au nanodisks in combination with molecules of photoswitchable resonance, spiropyran, to gain new insights into weak exciton-plasmon couplings. In the weak exciton-plasmon coupling regime, switching molecular resonance can induce localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak shifts due to the change in the refractive index of the molecular materials. On the basis of the angle-resolved spectroscopic study of the nanodisk-spiropyran system both with and without UV irradiation, we reveal an unusual "zigzag" curve for the LSPR peak shifts (due to the photoswitching of the molecular resonance) as a function of the original LSPR peak wavelength. A further theoretical analysis attributes the "zigzag" curve to two significant competing effects that depend on the incident angle of the probe light: plasmon-enhanced molecular resonance absorption and LSPR sensitivity to the surroundings' refractive index.     

太阳光下可调谐激光脉冲的波长和入射方向的实时测试和系统研究

提出了在恶劣环境条件下,应用衍射光栅测量宽波长范围可调谐脉冲激光波长和入射方向的实时测试方法,并设计了实验系统,在该实验系统中,光电传感器采用了ATMEL公司的50 MHz线阵探测器,由高速度数字信号处理器TMS320VC5509处理该传感器获得的信号,获得入射激光的波长和入射方向,实验结果表明,该系统能达到10ns的波长分辩率和1(°)的角度分辩率;该测试方法可用在相干探测激光告警接收机中.     

The growth of nanoscale ZnO films by pulsed-spray evaporation chemical vapor deposition and their structural, electric and optical properties

Great interest in nanoscale thin films (sub-100 nm) has been stimulated by the developing demands of functional devices. In this paper, nanoscale zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on glass substrates at 300 °C by pulsed-spray evaporation chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron micrographs indicate uniform surface morphologies composed of nanometer-sized spherical particles. The growth kinetics and growth mode are studied and the relationship between the film thickness and the electric properties with respect to the growth mode is interpreted. X-ray diffraction shows that all ZnO films grown by this process were crystallized in a hexagonal structure and highly oriented with their c-axes perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. Optical measurements show transparencies above 85% in the visible spectral range for all films. The absorbance in the UV spectral range respects well the Beer-Lambert law, enabling an accurate optical thickness measurement, and the absorption coefficient was measured for a selected wavelength. The measured band gap energies exhibit an almost constant value of 3.41 eV for all films with different thicknesses, which attributed to the thickness-independent crystallite size.     

Wide wavelength range tunable guided-mode resonance filter based on incident angle rotation

A wide wavelength range tunable guided-mode resonance filter (GMRF) with high peak efficiencies, narrow linewidths, and low sidebands is experimentally demonstrated. The resonance wavelength can be tuned under TM polarized light illumination by rotating the angle of incidence. The GMRF composed of a one-dimensional grating layer and two waveguide layers on a glass substrate is designed with rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The grating structure of the GMRF is patterned by interference lithography with two ultraviolet laser beams. The reflection colours of fabricated GMRF can be shifted from blue to red by rotating the angle of incidence. The measured full width at half-maximums of the reflection peaks located at 450.6, 500.9, 551.0, 601.1, and 651.3?nm are 3.1, 3.9, 4.3, 3.8, and 4.1?nm, respectively. The corresponding sidebands of measured spectra are below 0.2. Compared with previous experimental studies on tunable structures, the narrow linewidths and low sidebands of the proposed GMRF are remarkably improved.     

Extreme-ultraviolet radiation filtering by freestanding transmission gratings

Measurement of energetic neutral atoms fluxes in space requires efficient suppression of exceptionally strong background extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and UV radiation. Diffraction filters make it possible to separate (transmit) charged and neutral particles from the background radiation (which would be suppressed). Recently developed freestanding transmission gratings look especially promising for implementation in a new family of diffraction EUV/UV filters. The first results of our experimental study of filtering properties of freestanding transmission gratings with a period of 200 nm are presented. The grating transmission was measured in the 52-131-nm wavelength range, and grating polarization properties were determined at 58.4 nm. It is shown that transmission gratings can be used efficiently as filters and polarizers in the EUV/UV spectral range.     

Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposite Thin Films for Repeatable and Multicolor Photochromic Applications on Flexible Substrates

It is reported on a reactive magnetron sputtering‐based deposition method to synthesize, at room temperature, photochromic nanocomposite thin films consisting of Ag nanoparticles sandwiched between nanoporous TiO₂ layers. The fabrication process is compatible with large‐scale production and functional flexible substrates. It is shown that when TiO₂ is deposited in the metallic mode, the formation of Ag metal nanoparticles induces localized surface plasmon resonances in the visible range and therefore the as‐deposited samples are colored. In contrast, when TiO₂ is deposited in the compound mode, the trilayer samples are colorless because silver oxidizes during TiO₂ deposition. It is demonstrated that the colorless samples can be colored under ultraviolet (UV) laser exposure at 244 nm due to the reduction of oxidized silver and the formation of metallic Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, irradiation at 647 nm wavelength of colored samples (as‐prepared or after UV exposure) gives rise to changes in the particle morphology that strongly modifies the film absorbance and results in a color transition from blue to orange. The choice of the irradiation wavelength allows controlling the color saturation of the sample up to the complete discoloration by using a visible laser at 488 nm. All these photochromic mechanisms are repeatable during cyclic processes.     

Tunable high-power narrow-spectrum external-cavity diode laser at 675 nm as a pump source for UV generation

High-power narrow-spectrum diode laser systems based on tapered gain media in an external cavity are demonstrated at 675 nm. Two 2 mm long amplifiers are used, one with a 500 μm long ridge-waveguide section (device A), the other with a 750 μm long ridge-waveguide section (device B). Laser system A based on device A is tunable from 663 to 684 nm with output power higher than 0.55 W in the tuning range; as high as 1.25 W output power is obtained at 675.34 nm. The emission spectral bandwidth is less than 0.05 nm throughout the tuning range, and the beam quality factor M(2) is 2.07 at an output power of 1.0 W. Laser system B based on device B is tunable from 666 to 685 nm. As high as 1.05 W output power is obtained around 675.67 nm. The emission spectral bandwidth is less than 0.07 nm throughout the tuning range, and the beam quality factor M(2) is 1.13 at an output power of 0.93 W. Laser system B is used as a pump source for the generation of 337.6 nm UV light by single-pass frequency doubling in a bismuth triborate (BIBO) crystal. An output power of 109 μW UV light, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 0.026% W(-1), is attained.     

Programmable select multiwavelength gigahertz Raman soliton pulse generation

The generation of programmable multiwavelength pulses based on the self-frequency shift of a Raman soliton is demonstrated. The approach produces tunable multiwavelength picosecond pulses. Only select multiwavelength signals with a tuning range of approximately 50 nm are generated with a repetition rate of 9.95 GHz at each wavelength channel. A bit error rate (BER) of better than 1 x 10(-9) was successfully obtained for all the measured multiwavelength Raman soliton pulses. Furthermore, it was found that the signal has an excellent relative intensity noise (RIN) of better than -135.5 dBc/Hz. The BER and RIN measurements show that the frequency-shifted Raman soliton pulses are promising for use in measurement systems, optical gating, signal processing, and wavelength routing optical packet networks with the ability to provide 1:1 communication and 1:N multicasting.