Pump Laser Research Articles

Metrology-grade spectroscopy source based on an optical parametric oscillator

Continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are widely tunable and powerful sources of narrow-linewidth radiation. These properties make them suitable for a wide range of spectroscopic studies - but so far not at the metrological level. Indeed, although important technical OPO developments occurred more than two decades ago, and commercial devices have been available for nearly as long, the long-hoped-for the potential of these devices, providing simultaneously ultralow linewidth, ultrahigh frequency stability, ultrahigh frequency accuracy, and wide wavelength coverage has not yet become a reality. Here, we present an OPO metrology system suitable for optical spectroscopy with ultra-high resolution and accuracy in the 2.2 - 3.9 μm range. The system relies on the second-harmonic generation of the idler wave to bridge the gap to the near-infrared regime where frequency combs are readily available. By actively controlling the pump laser frequency, the idler radiation is phase-locked to an optically stabilized frequency comb, enabling a full transfer of the frequency comb’s spectral properties to the idler radiation and measuring the idler frequency with ultra-high precision. We reach fractional line widths and Allan deviations of the idler radiation at the level of 4 × 10−14 and 1 × 10−14, respectively. We also perform a thorough characterization of the stabilized OPO via a comparison with a second, independent optically stabilized frequency comb and thereby determine an overall idler frequency systematic uncertainty of less than 1.2 × 10−14. Sources of residual frequency noise are identified. The system delivered excellent results in high-accuracy spectroscopy.

Multi-octave two-color soliton frequency comb in integrated chalcogenide microresonators.

Mid-infrared (MIR) Kerr microcombs are of significant interest for portable dual-comb spectroscopy and precision molecular sensing due to strong molecular vibrational absorption in the MIR band. However, achieving a compact, octave-spanning MIR Kerr microcomb remains a challenge due to the lack of suitable MIR photonic materials for the core and cladding of integrated devices and appropriate MIR continuous-wave (CW) pump lasers. Here, we propose a novel slot concentric dual-ring (SCDR) microresonator based on an integrated chalcogenide glass chip, which offers excellent transmission performance and flexible dispersion engineering in the MIR band. This device achieves both phase-matching and group velocity matching in two separated anomalous dispersion regions, enabling phase-locked, two-color solitons in the MIR region with a commercial 2-μm CW laser as the pump source. Moreover, the spectral locking of the two-color soliton enhances pump wavelength selectivity, providing precise control over soliton dynamics. By leveraging the dispersion characteristics of the SCDR microresonator, we have demonstrated a multi-octave-spanning, two-color soliton microcomb, covering a spectral range from 1156.07 to 5054.95nm (200 THz) at a -40dB level, highlighting the versatility and broad applicability of our approach. And the proposed multi-octave MIR frequency comb is relevant for applications such as dual-comb spectroscopy and trace-gas sensing.

Ultra‐Broadband Visible‐DUV Supercontinuum Generation by Non‐Resonant Coherent Raman Scattering in Air

AbstractTo date, supercontinuum light in the visible and near‐infrared ranges is readily realizable by the optical Kerr effect through self‐phase modulation of ultrashort laser pulses in transparent media. However, it is still a challenge to extend the supercontinuum spectrum down to the deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) range, which is particularly needed for exploring ultrafast dynamics in chemistry, materials, and biology. Here, an approach of non‐resonant coherent Raman scattering is developed to generate ultra‐broadband visible‐DUV supercontinuum in ambient air with a spectral range spanning over 250 nm and a wavelength down to 220 nm. A rovibrational coherence is established in air molecules by filamentation of a near‐infrared femtosecond 800 nm pulse and two femtosecond Raman laser pulses at 267 and 400 nm are introduced into the coherent media to induce non‐resonant coherent Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman scatterings, which serve as the spectral bridges to link the neighboring Raman pump laser spectra, resulting in ultra‐broadband supercontinuum light. The mechanism is further verified by examining the broadening of picosecond N2+ laser lines with narrow bandwidths (10–30 cm−1), which forms a supercontinuum spectrum spanning over 150 nm. The work provides a viable route for the establishment of coherent DUV supercontinuum in the gas media at designed wavelength ranges.

Efficient Thermo-Optic Switching and Modulating in Nonlocal Metasurfaces.

High-Q optical resonances in nonlocal metasurfaces, benefiting from significantly enhanced light/matter interactions, feature strong responses even under a weak external stimulus. In this work, we leverage the high-Q resonances of quasi-guided modes (QGMs) supported by a photonic crystal slab (PCS) structure to achieve efficient optical switching/modulation. The QGMs with an experimentally measured Q-factor of ∼2200 are realized by shifting every second column of air holes in a rectangular lattice within a silicon slab. At a weak illumination intensity of less than 4.0 W/cm2 from a 532 nm continuous-wave pump laser, the QGM resonance around 1550 nm experiences a pronounced spectral shift, with modulation depth exceeding 55%. This is attributed to the thermo-optic response caused by photothermal heating of the metasurface triggered by the absorption of the pump laser in silicon, which is further verified by the electrical heating approach. Our reported results showcase a simple yet effective way of tailoring light propagation in nonlocal metasurfaces.

Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency based laser lock to Zeeman sublevels with 0.6GHz scanning range.

We propose a technique for frequency locking a laser to the Zeeman sublevel transitions between the 5P3/2 intermediate and 32D5/2 Rydberg states in 87Rb. This method allows for continuous frequency tuning over 0.6GHz by varying an applied external magnetic field. In the presence of the applied field, the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectrum of an atomic vapor splits via the Zeeman effect according to the strength of the magnetic field and the polarization of the pump and probe lasers. We show that the 480nm pump laser, responsible for transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the intermediate state and the Rydberg state, can be locked to the Zeeman-split EIT peaks. The short-term frequency stability of the laser lock is 0.15MHz, and the long-term stability is within 0.5MHz. The linewidth of the laser lock is ∼0.8 and ∼1.8MHz in the presence and absence of the external magnetic field, respectively. In addition, we show that in the absence of an applied magnetic field and adequate shielding, the frequency shift of the lock point has a peak-to-peak variation of 1.6MHz depending on the polarization of the pump field, while when locked to Zeeman sublevels, this variation is reduced to 0.6MHz. The proposed technique is useful for research involving Rydberg atoms, where large continuous tuning of the laser frequency with stable locking is required.

Nd3+-doped B2O3-SiO2-AlF3-NaF-CaF2 glass ceramics for 1.06 μm emission

Trivalent neodymium (Nd3+) doped transparent oxyfluoroborosilicate glass and glass ceramics (GCs) comprising CaF2 nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated via melt quench route followed by two step heat treatment process. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic studies confirm the presence of CaF2 NPs. The GC environment for efficient luminescence was obtained at a heat treatment of 450 °C/1 h. The wavelength of pumping laser source was optimized as 808 nm by studying the luminescence properties at different excitations. The Nd3+ ions exhibit their characteristic emission transitions with peak maxima at around 0.89 μm (4F3/2 → 4I9/2), 1.06 μm (4F3/2 → 4I11/2) and 1.32 μm (4F3/2 → 4I13/2). The Nd3+ concentration was also optimized as 1.0 mol% for strong emission up on 808 nm pumping. Various spectroscopic, radiative and laser characteristic parameters were determined using Judd-Ofelt theory. The luminescence decay of 4F3/2 state was studied controlling the excitation and emission wavelengths at 808 and 1060 nm, respectively. The reasons for quenching in luminescence were discussed with suitable illustrations. The experimentally observed results confirm that the GC sample obtained at 450 °C/1 h heat treatment was highly appropriate to design 1.06 μm fiber lasers and optical amplifiers.

915 nm pumping kilowatt fiber oscillator with high optical-to-optical efficiency

We demonstrate an all-fiber oscillator with high optical-to-optical efficiency using laser diodes working at 915nm as the pump sources to reduce the demand for thermal management. When the output power of the bidirectional pumped oscillator is 1.16kW, the optical-to-optical efficiency is as high as 75.4%. In this working state, the output characteristics of the oscillator are observed. The Raman suppression ratio is 41.23dB and the beam quality factor Mx2 = 1.14, My2 = 1.29. Analyzing the time trajectory of the highest power output, there are no significant characteristic peaks in the time domain signal and the frequency domain signal, which indicates that the oscillator has good stability.Improving the output characteristics of the 915nm pumping lasers has a positive significance for the application of non-strict ambient temperature control.

Two types of stimulated emission in HPHT diamond with a high concentration of NV centers

The paper presents the results of experimental observation of two types of stimulated emission (SE) under pulsed laser pumping at 532 nm in diamond with NV centers. A comprehensive spectroscopic characterization of multisectorial HPHT diamond plate was performed. At low pumping power, the stimulated emission from NV¯ centers was recorded as a broad (≥80 nm wide) band with a maximum at 706 nm in the {111} and {311} sectors of the diamond plate. As the pump power increased in the {111} sector, narrow-band stimulated emission (<10 nm wide) was detected, with a maximum at 716 nm and a luminescence impulse duration of 1.5–3 ns. As the pump density increased, a fine structure in the spectrum of narrow-band stimulated emission was revealed for the first time. The concentration of NV¯ centers in the {111} and {311} growth sectors was ≈10 ppm. However, there were considerable differences in the concentrations of C (35 and 3.5 ppm) and C+ centers (6.1 and 3.2 ppm, respectively). It was demonstrated that the presence of a high concentration of NV¯ centers is not the only necessary condition for the initiation of narrow-band SE in the 710–720 nm range. In the {311} sector, lighting at 360, 405, and 488 nm reduced the concentration of NV¯ centers by 15 % while increasing the concentration of C+ centers in the {311} sector. This effect is weak in the {111} sector. The authors suggested a model for narrow-band SE at the transition Valence Band → C+ with charge-state conversion of C↔C+ and NV0↔NV¯ centers. Further research on the dynamic processes is required in order to a detailed understanding of the operation of NV centers in diamond during SE generation.

Synthesizing gas-filled anti-resonant hollow-core fiber Raman lines enables access to the molecular fingerprint region

The synthesis of multiple narrow optical spectral lines, precisely and independently tuned across the near- to mid-infrared region, is a pivotal research area that enables selective and real-time detection of trace gas species within complex gas mixtures. However, existing methods for developing such light sources suffer from limited flexibility and very low pulse energy, particularly in the mid-infrared domain. Here, we introduce a concept that is based on the combination of an appropriate design of near-infrared fiber laser pump and cascaded configuration of gas-filled anti-resonant hollow-core fiber technology. This concept enables the synthesis of multiple independently tunable spectral lines, with >1 μJ high pulse energies and a few nanoseconds pulse width in the near- and mid-infrared regions. The number and wavelengths of the generated spectral lines can be dynamically reconfigured. A proof-of-concept laser beam synthesized of two narrow spectral lines at 3.99 µm and 4.25 µm wavelengths is demonstrated and combined with photoacoustic modality for real-time SO2 and CO2 detection. The proposed concept also constitutes a promising way for infrared multispectral microscopic imaging.

Assessing the potential accuracy of a small-sized goniometer with extended dynamic range based on nuclear magnetic resonance

This paper evaluates potential accuracy characteristics of a small-sized goniometer based on nuclear magnetic resonance with an extended dynamic range. This required constructing a model of goniometer errors, estimating its accuracy based on this model, and formulating practical recommendations for the design of such a device based on the accuracy assessment. To evaluate the accuracy of a nuclear goniometer, a theoretical model was built that makes it possible to determine the optimal operating parameters of the cell gas mixture, the ranges of their permissible changes, the sensitivity of the goniometer, and the dependence of its characteristics on external and internal factors. In particular, the dependence of output signal of the device on the parameters of gas mixture and optical pumping has been determined. For a goniometer with a cell volume of 8 cm3, the optimum temperature is 130 °C, and the optimum intensity of the pumping radiation is 5 mW. The dependence of output signal on the measured angle of rotation was also established, as well as the noise and error dependence of the device on the permissible values of its parameters. Based on the model built, parameters of a goniometer with a cell volume of 8 cm3 were determined; the maximum angular sensitivity of such a goniometer with complete suppression of technical noise is δφsen=1.0 arcsec. The greatest contribution to the angle measurement error is from the instability of pumping power Ip (ΔIp/Ip=0.05) – 85 %, magnetic field B0 (ΔB0/B0=10-8) – 13 %, temperature T (ΔT/T=0,1) – 2 %. The goniometer under consideration corresponds to the medium accuracy class, δφtot≥10 arcsec. It could be used in optical manufacturing for operational control, calibration, and certification of optical products. To improve the angular accuracy of the goniometer, it is necessary to increase the stability of the laser pumping intensity

Ultrafast Modulation of a Nonlocal Semiconductor Metasurface under Spatially Selective Optical Pumping.

Time-varying optical metasurfaces have attracted significant research attention for their ability to dynamically modulate the spectral characteristics of light and achieve effects not possible in static systems. Nonlocal metasurfaces, with their spatially extended resonant modes, have the potential to further expand these capabilities by enabling spatially selective modulation. Here, we experimentally explore the application of spatially structured femtosecond laser pumping to modulate a leaky guided mode in a semiconductor metasurface. Using angle-resolved transient transmission spectroscopy, we study the dynamic response of the system across a range of wavelengths and angles of incidence, observing frequency and momentum conversion. When the pumping location is varied, this technique allows for reconstructing the temporal dynamics of the probe pulse propagating in the metasurface mode. Our results not only demonstrate a versatile toolkit for spatiotemporal light control but also provide fundamental insight into the excitation of spatially extended modes in nonlocal metasurfaces.

Ultraviolet spectral broadening by stimulated rotational Raman scattering on nitrogen pumped with signal laser injection

We present experimental results on kilojoule ultraviolet laser output with 1% spectral broadening. Through stimulated rotational Raman scattering (SRRS) with signal laser injection, we achieve effective spectral broadening in short-range propagation, with good retention of the original near-field distribution and time waveform. Theoretical calculations show that 2% bandwidth spectral broadening can be achieved by injecting 20 kW/cm2 signal light at 2.2 GW/cm2 flux of the pump laser. In addition, high-frequency modulation in the near field can be effectively avoided through replacement of the original random noise signal light by the controllable signal light. The SRRS in the atmospheric environment excited with signal laser injection can provide wide-band light output with controllable beam quality without long-distance propagation, representing an important potential route to realization of broadband laser drivers.

Fiber-optic radio frequency transfer with enhanced frequency stability using fiber Brillouin amplifiers

The frequency stability of long-distance two-way fiber-optic radio frequency (RF) transfer is directly affected by the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of optical amplifiers. In this paper, we have proposed a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS)-based optical amplification scheme with high OSNR for two-way fiber-optic RF frequency transfer over single mode fibers (SMF). At the remote and local site, the modulated carrier transferred from the opposite was amplified and then frequency upshifted by Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) for pump generation. This approach can avoid the use of additional pump lasers and phase-locked loops for wavelength stabilization of the pump. The pump was injected into the fiber link and counter-propagated with the signal to amplify the modulated carrier. A 2.2 GHz RF signal transfer with the proposed SBS-based optical amplification schemes was demonstrated over a 100 km fiber link. The experimental results illustrated that the OSNR was increased by 35 dB and 32 dB at the local site and the remote site, respectively, compared to the results obtained with erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA)-based optical amplification. Benefiting from improved OSNR, the frequency stability was increased by more than one order of magnitude below 1000 s averaging time, and the phase noise was reduced to the noise floor below 0.1 Hz offset frequency. The proposed optical signal amplification approach has a potential application for transferring atomic clocks over long-haul fiber links.

The effect of magnetic nanofilm morphology on spintronic terahertz emission performance

Femtosecond laser-driven spintronic terahertz (THz) emitters based on magnetic nanofilms are poised to be the next-generation mainstream THz radiation devices due to their low cost, high performance, ultra-broadband, and easy integration. The radiation performance of spintronic THz emitters is related to the material characteristics, heterostructure interfaces, pump laser, and magnetic field intensity. Additionally, the THz emission performance is greatly reliant on the material surface morphology. Here, we employed ultrafast THz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy with nanoscale spatial resolution to obtain the static THz scattering nano-imaging of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic heterostructures (W/Co20Fe60B20/IrMn3). We established the relationship between surface morphology and THz scattering intensity. Utilizing laser-induced THz emission technology, we achieve injection and detection of nanoscale ultrafast spin current without the external magnetic field. The strong consistency of the THz emission nanoscopy with the atomic force microscopy topography demonstrates that the sample surface morphology is critical to the THz radiation performance. This study serves as a valuable reference for the further optimization of spintronic THz emitters and promotes the development of high-performance, strong-field spintronic THz sources.

Qubit analog with polariton superfluid in an annular trap.

We report on the experimental realization and characterization of a qubit analog with semiconductor exciton-polaritons. In our system, a polaritonic condensate is confined by a spatially patterned pump laser in an annular trap that supports energy-degenerate vortex states of the polariton superfluid. Using temporal interference measurements, we observe coherent oscillations between a pair of counter-circulating vortex states coupled by elastic scattering of polaritons off the laser-imprinted potential. The qubit basis states correspond to the symmetric and antisymmetric superpositions of the two vortex states. By engineering the potential, we tune the coupling and coherent oscillations between the two circulating current states, control the energies of the qubit basis states, and initialize the qubit in the desired state. The dynamics of the system is accurately reproduced by our theoretical two-state model, and we discuss potential avenues to implement quantum gates and algorithms with polaritonic qubits analogous to quantum computation with standard qubits.

Chaos and regularities in cavity assisted two-channel nonlinear coupler

This paper presents a study of the dynamical behavior in a cavity-assisted two-channel Kerr nonlinear directional coupler. Applying a deterministic periodic laser pump to a two-channel coupled system led to a range of dynamic behaviors, encompassing periodicity, quasiperiodicity, chaoticity and hyperchaoticity. This is confirmed by the exploration of the Lyapunov exponents, Poincaré sections and bifurcation diagrams for resonance and low cavity detuning. For low cavity detuning, chaos arises when the laser pump’s amplitude is large. This is due to higher interactions between photons and the cavity, resulting in more photons inside and higher nonlinearity. On the other hand, the reduced interactions in high cavity detuning displayed regular behavior which is explained qualitatively.

High beam quality and high peak power 1.6 µm deuterium Raman laser.

In this work, a 1.67 µm laser was generated in the pressurized deuterium pumped by a pulsed 1064 nm laser via the stimulated vibration + rotation Raman scattering (SV-RRS). By the optimization of the deuterium pressure, focal length, and polarization of the pump laser, a 66.2 mJ Raman laser was achieved with the configuration of 1.7 MPa deuterium pressure, 2245 mm focal length, and 220 mJ circularly polarized pump laser. Correspondingly, the photon conversion efficiency was 47.8%, the energy conversion efficiency was 30.5%, the pulse width was 5.4 ns, and the maximum peak power was 12.3 MW. In addition, SV-RRS was found to improve beam quality significantly: from Mx 2 = 2.67 and My 2 = 3.07 for the pump laser to Mx 2 = 1.42 and My 2 = 1.53 for the 1.67 µm Raman laser.

Unified analytical theory of nonlinear optical diffraction by nonlinear gratings

When a pump laser shines upon a periodically poled lithium niobate (LN) thin plate nonlinear grating, second-harmonic generation (SHG) and its nonlinear diffraction occurs, with the nonlinear Raman–Nath diffraction (NRND), nonlinear Bragg diffraction (NBD), and nonlinear Cerenkov radiation (NCR) being several prominent examples. In this work we build and present a unified analytical theory to solve SHG for the NRND, NCR, and NBD processes from LN domains, domain walls, and defects. We find that the critical physical entity that governs the nonlinear diffraction is the effective nonlinear coefficient for each Fourier wave component. The analytical theory has a great generality and applicability scope. It allows us to retrieve and analyze everything about the dependence of SHG nonlinear diffraction on a series of physical and geometrical parameters such as the pump laser intensity, polarization, incidence polar and azimuthal angles, the LN thin plate thickness and its crystalline orientation, LN domain size and pitch, domain wall thickness and crystalline configuration, defect size and crystalline configuration, and the SHG diffraction beam angle and polarization. The analytical theory also enables us to analyze deeply the similarities and differences of the three nonlinear diffraction processes NRND, NCR, and NBD, build a smooth and broad connection bridge among these three processes, and construct a unified physical picture to understand, describe, and exploit these three processes of seemingly big difference. Besides, the analytical theory can be applicable to handle nonlinear diffraction by domains, domain walls, and defects in other more complicated 2D and 3D nonlinear gratings made from LN and other nonlinear crystals. Finally, the analytical theory can help to build a bridge connecting the extrinsic SHG nonlinear diffraction properties with the intrinsic domain poling and inversion material and physical properties of LN and other nonlinear crystals and explore novel nonlinear optical devices and technologies.

High-pulse-energy ultrafast 3 µm laser generation through OPG/DFG in PPMgLN

Abstract We report high-pulse-energy ultrafast 3 µm laser generation through optical parametric generation/difference frequency generation (OPG/DFG) in periodically poled magnesium-oxide-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN). A commercial 1030 nm femtosecond laser is applied as the pump light and a homemade broadband nanosecond pulse laser around 1580 nm is used as the signal light in DFG. The broadband 1580 nm laser has a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) structure with a directly modulated superluminescent light-emitting diode (SLED) as the pulse seed and three stages of Er/Yb fiber amplifiers to lift its average power. A portion of the 1030 nm output pulse is converted to an electronic pulse via a pin detector, which is used as the trigger signal of the SLED driving circuit to ensure synchronization between the signal and the 1030 nm pump pulse. When injecting 2.12 W pump light into the PPMgLN, a broadband mid-infrared (MIR) output of 280 mW can be achieved directly through OPG with a center wavelength around 2.94 μm, a pulse width of 1.38 ps and a pulse repetition frequency of 500 kHz. The corresponding MIR pulse energy is 0.56 µJ. When injecting 2.62 W signal light simultaneously, a MIR output of 300 mW is achieved through the DFG process at the same pulse repetition frequency, corresponding to a pulse energy of 0.6 µJ. The conversion efficiency of the ultrafast pump laser to MIR reaches 14.1%. This high-pulse-energy 3 μm ultrafast laser has great prospects for applications in biological tissue ablation.

Modeling of rare-earth-doped double-clad fiber laser based on rate equations with spatially averaged parameters

A mathematical model of a rare-earth doped double-clad fiber laser based on rate equations with spatially averaged parameters laser has been developed. Analytical expressions for the threshold absorbed pump power, slope efficiency and laser output power have been obtained for the CW regime. It has been shown that the results of output power calculations using the analytical model for CW double-clad ytterbium and neodymium doped lasers are in a good agreement with the results obtained using numerical models described in literature. A quantitative criterion for the applicability of the presented analytical model for calculating the parameters of double-clad fiber lasers has been proposed. The applicability of the proposed model to describe the transient stage of the operation of a fiber laser under continuous pumping has been demonstrated.