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。

Research progress of narrow-linewidth external cavity diode lasers

Narrow-linewidth external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) have the advantages of compact structure, tunable wavelength, andlow noise. They are widely used in quantum precision measurement, optical communication, laser radar, and other fields. In thisarticle, four types of narrow linewidth ECDL using different frequency selection devices are introduced, including grating-ECDL,interference filtering ECDL, waveguide-ECDL, and Faraday laser. The article presents the basic structure and frequency selectionmechanism, advantages and disadvantages of the ECDLs, as well as their international research progress. The first three types of ECDLsuse non-quantum devices for frequency selection, while Faraday lasers utilize the resonant Faraday optical rotation effect for frequencyselection. Therefore, the output wavelength corresponds to the atomic transition line directly and has good robustness against thefluctuations of the diode temperature and current as well. Then, the applications of these ECDLs are introduced, especially their typicalapplications in precision measurement. Finally, the future development of narrow linewidth ECDL is summarized and prospected.