Acoustically Induced Fiber Grating Research Articles

Mode-modulation-induced high power dual-wavelength generation in a random distributed feedback Raman fiber laser.

An all-fiberized random distributed feedback Raman fiber laser (RRFL) with mode-modulation-induced wavelength manipulation and dual-wavelength generation has been demonstrated, where an electrically controlled intra-cavity acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG) is employed to adjust the input modal content at the signal wavelength. The wavelength agility of both the Raman effect and the Rayleigh backscattering in RRFL benefits on broadband laser output in case of broadband pumping. The feedback modal content at different wavelengths can be adjusted by AIFG, and then the output spectral manipulation can be ultimately manifested through the mode competition in RRFL. Under the efficient mode modulation, the output spectrum can be continuously tuned from 1124.3 nm to 1133.8 nm with single wavelength, while ulteriorly the dual-wavelength spectrum can be formed at 1124.1 nm and 1134.7 nm with a signal-noise-ratio of 45 dB. Throughout, the power is beyond 47 W with good stability and repeatability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dual-wavelength fiber laser based on mode modulation and the highest output power ever reported for an all-fiberized continuous wave dual-wavelength fiber laser.

Programmable high-order mode control method based on acoustically induced fiber grating.

We demonstrate a programmable high-order mode control method that can be implemented in high-power fiber lasers. 2 W average-power mode-locked pulses are obtained based on a mode-locked fiber laser working in dissipative soliton resonance regime. The fundamental mode (LP01) is fully or partially converted to the high-order modes (LP11a/b) via an acoustically-induced fiber grating. The mode-superposition fields are recorded using an optical 4f system, and mode components are subsequently analyzed by a mode decomposition algorithm. Our experiments suggest that the mode patterns are stable and dynamically switchable. The method is expected to possess good application value in optical tweezers, fiber communication, laser material processing and other research fields.

High-power fiber laser with real-time mode switchability

A hundred-watt-level spatial mode switchable all-fiber laser is demonstrated based on a master oscillator power amplifier scheme. The performance of the amplifier with two seed lasers, i.e., with the acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG) mode converter inside and outside the seed laser cavity, is investigated. Real-time mode switching with millisecond scale switching time between the LP01 and LP11 modes while operating in full power (>100 W) is realized through an AIFG driven by radio frequency modulation. This work could provide a good reference for realizing high-power agile mode switchable fiber lasers for practical applications.

3 W average-power high-order mode pulse in dissipative soliton resonance mode-locked fiber laser

Abstract Recently high-order modes (HOMs) lasers have been extensively investigated due to their potential applications in mode-division multiplexing. In this paper, we present two schemes of generating HOMs from the mode-locked fiber lasers (MLFLs) in the dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) regime. Watt-level HOM outputs are implemented through intra-cavity mode conversion. 3 W average-power HOMs with an efficiency slope of 25% can be obtained based on an MLFL in the DSR regime, which is achieved by incorporating a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) and a dual-resonant acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG), respectively. Their different spectrum responses enable flexible mode conversion in the MLFLs. Both fiber mode converters are exploited to show their robust capability of efficient mode manipulation. The MLFL with an LPFG inserted in the cavity can achieve wide-bandwidth intra-cavity optical vortex beams (OVBs) near the dispersion turning around point because of the pulses of the fundamental mode and high-order vortex eigenmodes oscillating in the cavity with the same group velocity to form spatiotemporal mode locking. The MLFL based on a dual-resonant AIFG can perform the function of fast switching (∼0.3 ms) in LP01, LP11a, and LP11b modes with a high modal purity of 96%. These different modes with high-energy pulses can be flexibly switched with programmable radio frequency modulation. Furthermore, a quarter-wave plate and a polarizer are employed at the output of fiber laser to realize the controllability of the mode field, which is possible to generate a controllable mode field of OVBs based on the first-order Poincaré sphere. This control method can be integrated with the MLFLs to extend the flexibility of high-power HOMs generation.

Dynamic vortex mode-switchable erbium-doped Brillouin laser pumped by high-order mode.

We experimentally demonstrated that the transversal vortex modes of an all-fiber erbium-doped Brillouin laser can be dynamically switched by using the high-order mode (HOM) of Brillouin pump (BP), which is used to achieve the oscillation of HOM inside the ring cavity. Core-mode conversion in a few-mode fiber (FMF) between the fundamental mode and HOM is obtained by cascading an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG) and a mode selection coupler (MSC) operating at the same wavelength region. Through frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation of the AIFG signal, the output transversal modes can be switched dynamically between LP01 and vortex modes, and the measured purities of output HOM are more than 82%. Moreover, the output Brillouin wavelength can also be tuned via altering the input wavelength of BP and the resonant response of AIFG. We have achieved HOM Brillouin-shifted laser output within the wavelength band from 1545-1560 nm. The output linewidth of the proposed Brillouin laser is less than 4 kHz.

All-fiber wavelength-tunable bandpass filter based on core-mode conversion for mode-locked laser

We propose an all-fiber configuration of tunable bandpass filter (TBPF), consisting of a mode selective coupler (MSC) and an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG). Either the MSC or the AIFG can act as high-order mode converters in a few-mode fiber. The working wavelengths of the MSC and the AIFG are chosen to achieve complete conversion cycle between the core-mode linearly polarized (LP01) mode and the LP11 mode. The tunability of the TBPF is achieved by changing the frequency of the radio frequency signal. An all-fiber tunable ring laser based on the TBPF is used to generate a stable continuous-wave laser with 3-dB bandwidth of around 0.8 nm. The tunable wavelength ranges from 1530 to 1580 nm. Furthermore, the TBPF is introduced into the cavity of a mode-locked fiber laser. Wavelength-tunable mode locking pulses are obtained at central wavelengths from 1530 to 1560 nm.

Fast Spectral Characterization of Optical Passive Devices Based on Dissipative Soliton Fiber Laser Assisted Dispersive Fourier Transform

Fast controllable optical passive devices containing intricate couplings of multiple physical fields, for instance, magneto-, electro-, and acousto-optic interactions, are frequently used as critical regulation tools in diverse optical systems. Their unpredictable transient spectral properties under high-speed modulation strongly influence the operational performance of the whole system, but are exhibited very little in conventional spectroscopies due to slow scans with a frame rate of the order of a kilohertz. Here, a dissipative soliton fiber laser assisted dispersive Fourier transform is built to achieve ultrafast spectroscopic characterization. An acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG), as one typical case of a fast-response device, is studied under driving signals in frequency-switch and frequency-sweep modes. The experimental results reveal the continuous wavelength-sweeping property of the AIFG. Its transmission spectrum for a driving-frequency chirp is destroyed when the sweep time approaches the transit time of the acoustic wave in the grating region. This work opens up an avenue for the measurement of transient physical characteristics of passive devices, such as spectral aberration, transit time, and operational bandwidth.

A Lower Frequency Shift Based on Mode Conversion for Optical Heterodyne Micro-Vibration Measurement

We experimentally obtain a lower frequency shift based on mode conversion by using a mode-selective coupler (MSC) and an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG) for optical heterodyne micro-vibration measurement. Through efficient conversion between LP11 and LP01 core modes in a few-mode fiber, a mode conversion frequency shifter (MCFS) can be achieved and the magnitude of frequency shift is several hundred kHz, which is generally challenging for traditional bulk acousto-optic frequency shifter. Moreover, the signal-to-signal beating interference (SSBI) can be eliminated by using the MCFS without requirement of guard band. The scheme of optical heterodyne micro-vibration measurement based on the MCFS has a high-quality signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over 85 dB. An all-fiber Bragg grating (FBG) scheme is also designed to improve the measurement sensitivity of heterodyne detection, which has a measurable vibration frequency range of 1 Hz to 300 kHz and minimal detectable amplitude of 0.019 nm. The all-fiber MCFS has the advantages of compactness, easy integration and can be applied directly to satellite ground station and laser feedback tomography.

All-Fiber Method for Real-Time Transverse-Mode Switching of Ultrashort Pulse

We demonstrate a real-time transverse-mode switching of ultrafast pulse via a cascading mode conversion. The cascading all-fiber mode converter is comprised of a mode-selective coupler (MSC) and an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG), which functions as a broadband and controllable beam shaper, and offers a real-time mode switching between LP11 and LP21 modes with $\sim ~190~\mu \text{s}$ switching time. Such a transverse mode-switchable all-fiber laser presents a pulse duration of 1.4 ps and flexible transverse-mode switching. We believe that this compact and robust all-fiber laser source would find promising applications in the field of ultrafast optics and structured light microscope.

Highly efficient plasmonic nanofocusing on a metallized fiber tip with internal illumination of the radial vector mode using an acousto-optic coupling approach

Abstract Tip-based plasmonic nanofocusing, which delivers light into a nanoscale region and achieves localized electromagnetic (EM) field enhancement beyond the diffraction limit, is highly desired for light-matter interaction-based super-resolution imaging. Here, we present the plasmonic nanofocusing at the apex of a silver (Ag)-coated fiber tip with the internal illumination of a radial vector mode (RVM) generated directly in an optical fiber based on an acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG). As illustrated by theoretical calculation, a picture of the nanofocusing plasmonic tip given by analyzing the mode conversion process that the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode excited via the radial polarization optical mode can propagate to the apex of the plasmonic tip for nanofocusing because it is not cut off as the tip radius decreases; while the SPP mode which transited from the linear polarization optical mode cannot propagate to the tip apex for nanofocusing because it is cut off as the tip radius decreases. The electric field intensity enhancement factor | E apex 2 | / | E input 2 | $|{\rm{E}}_{{\rm{apex}}}^{\rm{2}}|/|{\rm{E}}_{{\rm{input}}}^{\rm{2}}|$ of a plasmonic tip with a tip radius of 20 nm was calculated to be ~2 × 103. Furthermore, the electric field enhancement characteristic at the tip apex was also experimentally verified by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Raman scattering intensity was observed to be ~15 times as strong as that with internal illumination using the linear polarization mode (LPM), revealing their significantly different nanofocusing characteristics. A Raman sensitivity of 10−14 m was achieved for the target analyte of malachite green (MG), denoting significant electric field enhancement and effective plasmonic nanofocusing. The energy conversion efficiency of the radial polarization optical mode to the corresponding SPP mode at the tip apex was measured to be ~17%. This light delivery technique can be potentially further exploited in near-field microscopy with improved resolution and conversion efficiency.

Generation of Cylindrical Vector Beams and Optical Vortex in a Solid-Core Ring Fiber Based on an Acoustically Induced Fiber Grating

We present a method for achieving the cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) and optical vortex generation in a solid-core ring fiber (SCRF) by using an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG). Theoretical analysis shows that the SCRF can introduce a refractive index difference of ~10-5 between the first group of adjacent high-order degenerate vector modes. In the experiment, the transmission spectra of AIFG constructed with the SCRF depicts three separate resonance peaks with 3-dB bandwidth and resonance wavelength interval of 0.16 and 2.5 nm, respectively, revealing that the high-order degenerate vector modes have been effectively separated. On the basis of the separation of the degenerate vector mode, the CVBs and the ±1-order optical vortex are further experimentally generated at three separate wavelengths using the AIFG.

All-fiber cylindrical vector beams laser based on an acoustically-induced fiber grating

We presented a method to construct an all-fiber laser by using an acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG) in two-mode fiber (TMF) within the laser cavity to generate cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) in communication band. Based on the polarization dependent vector mode coupling characteristic of an AIFG, the CVBs were generated by respectively coupling and modes to TM01 and TE01 modes, which have radial and azimuthal polarizations characteristics, respectively. The output of the all-fiber laser could be adjusted from a linearly-polarized Gaussian mode to a radially or an azimuthally polarized vector mode through a polarization controller to adjust the linear polarization direction of the input mode of and an acoustic flexural wave applied on TMF. This work provides a method for generating CVBs with convenient mode conversion characteristics.

Enhanced selfintegration algorithm for fiber torsion sensor based acoustically-induced fiber grating

Mechanical parameter monitoring based on optical mode detection benefits from its low cross sensitivity and inexpensive instrument. The key to improving detection accuracy is to generate high-quality detection light and use efficient algorithms. We present a strain-independent torsion sensor based on acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG) in the dual-mode fiber (DMF) and use the enhanced self-integration algorithm to improve the sensing accuracy. By tuning the radio frequency of driving signal, the LP11 mode generated by the AIFG can be exploited to measure the dynamic torsion variations. Without the complex device such as fiber interferometers and photonic crystal fibers (PCFs), the simple structure built by mode converter and charge coupled device (CCD) can track the dynamic variations and has less cross sensitivity of strain along the transmission direction. The AIFG driven by a radio frequency as a mode converter at specific wavelength does not participate in sensing but generates the high-purity LP11 mode that accounts for more than 90% of total power. With the twist from the rotator stage, the DMF keeps rotating and CCD records the spatial distribution of mode profiles. The features of optical mode is enhanced based on matrix analysis and then the relationship between twist angle and mode features is obtained. Based on image processing, the dynamic variation of spatial beam detected by CCD can be easily tracked and quantified. In experiment, the rotation angle can be obtained by calculating the feature value of the optical mode. Our image detection algorithm is specially designed for the optical fiber mode. Compared with traditional image recognition based on feature learning, it is simple and fast because it is needless to use image segmentation and stochastic processing. Through a series of experiments on angle rotation and parallel strain, we verify the correctness of the enhanced self-integration model and analyse the computational uncertainties that influence the stability of experiment. In the 0 to 180 measurement range, the maximum range of measurement error is less than 11%. When the axial strain is between 100 and 1500 , the sensor is strain-independent. Thus, it is verified that the torsion sensor based on AIFG has high sensitivity and can overcome the cross sensitivity of strain along a certain direction. The pertinent results have significant guidance in designing the multi-parameter sensor. The optical mode detection, instead of the traditional spectrum measurement, enables the whole structure to have the potential to be rebuilt by inexpensive devices that work in visible wavelengths.

Tunable-wavelength picosecond vortex generation in fiber and its application in frequency-doubled vortex

We present a method for tunable-wavelength picosecond vortex pulse generation by using an acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG). The AIFG-driven mode conversion characteristic was activated via a shear-mode piezoelectric transducer that excels in excitation efficiency of acoustic flexural wave and mechanical stability. The linearly-polarized ±1-order picosecond vortex pulse was experimentally generated via AIFG with a uniform coupling efficiency of ∼98.4% from the fundamental mode to the ±1-order vortex mode within the wavelength range 1540 nm ∼ 1560 nm. The topological charge and the linearly-polarized characteristic of the picosecond vortex pulse were verified by examination of the off-axial interference and the polarization angle-dependent intensity, respectively. Furthermore, the picosecond vortex pulse with wavelength tunability was input to a nonlinear BBO crystal to generate a frequency-doubled ±2-order vortex in the wavelength range 770 nm ∼ 780 nm. This technology provides a convenient apparatus for generating a picosecond vortex pulse and the frequency-doubled vortex with wavelength tunability.

Strain-independent fiber torsion and displacement sensor based on acoustically-induced fiber grating

We present a strain-independent torsion and displacement fiber sensor using acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG) in dual-mode fiber (DMF). By tuning the radio frequency of driving signal, LP01 and LP11 modes generated by the AIFG can be exploited to measure the dynamic displacement and torsion variations, respectively. Both the twist angle and the twist direction can be monitored via image detection facility at the end of DMF. Between torsion angles of −80° and 80°, the highest twist sensitivity reaches 15pixel/°. The average displacement sensitivity is 5pixel/µm within the recorded two-dimensional movement of 100um×80um. The stable property of sensor is verified when the strain is varied from 100με to 1500με.

Generation of femtosecond optical vortex pulse in fiber based on an acoustically induced fiber grating.

We proposed a method for generation of a femtosecond optical vortex pulse in a two-mode fiber based on an acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG) driven by a radio frequency source. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrated that the left- and right-handed circular polarization fundamental modes of the femtosecond optical pulse could be converted to the linearly polarized ±1-order optical vortex modes through the AIFG with the mode conversion efficiency of ∼95%. The off-axial interference experiment and the polarization angle-dependent intensity examination were performed to verify the topological charge and the polarization state of the femtosecond optical vortex, respectively.

High-order optical vortex generation in a few-mode fiber via cascaded acoustically driven vector mode conversion.

We propose a method to generate the high-order optical vortex in a few-mode fiber via cascaded acoustically driven vector mode conversion. Theoretical analysis showed that the vector mode conversion induced by the acoustically induced fiber grating (AIFG) could occur between two HE modes with adjacent azimuthal numbers. In the experiment conducted at 532 nm, two AIFGs were simultaneously induced in the same segment of the fiber by a radio frequency source containing two different frequency components. One AIFG was used to convert the left- and right-handed circular polarization fundamental modes to the ±1-order vortex modes, which were then further converted to the ±2-order vortex modes by the other AIFG. The topological charges of the vortex modes were verified using both coaxial and off-axial interference methods, showing typical signature patterns of spiral forms and forklike fringes, respectively.

Optical vortex generation with wavelength tunability based on an acoustically-induced fiber grating.

We presented a method to actualize the optical vortex generation with wavelength tunability via an acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG) driven by a radio frequency source. The circular polarization fundamental mode could be converted to the first-order optical vortex through the AIFG, and its topological charges were verified by the spiral pattern of coaxial interference between the first-order optical vortex and a Gaussian-reference beam. A spectral tuning range from 1540 nm to 1560 nm was demonstrated with a wavelength tunability slope of 4.65 nm/kHz. The mode conversion efficiency was 95% within the whole tuning spectral range.