Wavelength Selective Element Research Articles

Mode-Controlled Tapered Lasers Based on Quantum Dots

Wavelength control of tapered quantum dot (QD) lasers was achieved by adding a distributed Bragg reflector as wavelength-selective element to the devices. The Bragg wavelength of around 920 nm is matched to the gain of the single layer of InGaAs QDs that is used as active material. Devices with 1.4-mm-long tapers have reached output powers of over 1 W, and over 2 W were obtained from lasers with 3-mm-long tapers. The emission of the devices is restricted to a very narrow spectral range, with side-mode suppression ratios of over 40 dB.

Development of multi-wavelength microsphere fibre laser system for potential sensor applications

A multi-wavelength microsphere laser system, using a chirped fibre Bragg grating and a microsphere resonator as wavelength-selective elements and a high dopant erbium doped fibre as the gain material, has been successfully demonstrated. The multi-wavelength generation of the laser system arises from both the microsphere whispering gallery mode selection and from the additional Raman scattering inside the microsphere cavity when the erbium laser is operating at resonance with the whispering gallery modes. Through an appropriate design and fabrication of a microsphere and of a fibre taper, a selective multi-wavelength fibre laser has been realized when the pump power is above threshold required. The laser output lines created have shown much narrower linewidths than those from conventional fibre lasers and these characteristics are particularly suitable for the range of sensor applications envisaged in the work.

Widely Tunable Micro-Mechanical External-Cavity Diode Laser Emitting Around 2.1 $\mu$m

A widely tunable (Deltalambda/lambda = 7%) micro-mechanical external cavity GaSb-based diode laser (muECL) emitting around 2.1 mum is presented. A micro-machined grating with a rectangular grating profile, which can be tilted electrostatically, is employed as wavelength selective element within the external cavity using a Littrow configuration. An optimized grating profile leads to a high diffraction efficiency in the -1st diffraction order and therefore to a broad tuning range of 152 nm. The maximum output power of the fiber coupled muECL system varied only moderately between 22 and 10 mW across the tuning range.

A novel ultra-high speed camera for digital image processing applications

Multi-channel gated-intensified cameras are commonly used for capturing images at ultra-high frame rates. The use of image intensifiers reduces the image resolution and increases the error in applications requiring high-quality images, such as digital image correlation. We report the development of a new type of non-intensified multi-channel camera system that permits recording of image sequences at ultra-high frame rates at the native resolution afforded by the imaging optics and the cameras used. This camera system is based upon the concept of using a sequence of short-duration light pulses of different wavelengths for illumination and using wavelength selective elements in the imaging system to route each particular wavelength of light to a particular camera. As such, the duration of the light pulses controls the exposure time and the timing of the light pulses controls the interframe time. A prototype camera system built according to this concept comprises four dual-frame cameras synchronized with four dual-cavity pulsed lasers producing 5 ns pulses in four different wavelengths. The prototype is capable of recording four-frame full-resolution image sequences at frame rates up to 200 MHz and eight-frame image sequences at frame rates up to 8 MHz. This system is built around a stereo microscope to capture stereoscopic image sequences usable for 3D digital image correlation. The camera system is used for imaging the chip–workpiece interface area during high speed machining, and the images are used to map the strain rate in the primary shear zone.

High-power linearly-polarized operation of a cladding-pumped Yb fibre laser using a volume Bragg grating for wavelength selection

In this work a volume Bragg grating is used as a wavelength selective element in a high-power cladding-pumped Yb-doped silica fiber laser. The laser produced 138 W of linearly-polarized single-spatial-mode output at 1066 nm with a relatively narrow linewidth of 0.2 nm for approximately 202 W of launched pump power at 976 nm. The beam propagation factor (M(2)) for the output beam was determined to be 1.07. Thermal limitations of volume Bragg gratings are discussed in the context of power scaling for fiber lasers.

73-nm tuning of a double-clad Yb3+-doped fiber laser based on a hybrid array

We report on a wide wavelength tuning in a double-clad ytterbium-doped fiber laser. The laser cavity consists of an array of broadband high-reflection fiber Bragg gratings and a bulk grating as the output coupler and wavelength selection element. The proposed fiber laser configuration combines a low intracavity loss of the fiber Bragg grating mirrors with a wide wavelength tuning of the bulk gratings. We demonstrate a >70-nm wavelength tuning range, limited only by the available fiber Bragg gratings.

Micromechanical and microfluidic devices incorporating resonant metallic gratings fabricated using nanoimprint lithography

Optical filters based on resonant gratings have spectral characteristics that are lithographically defined. Nanoimprint lithography is a relatively new method for producing large area gratings with sub-micron features. Computational modeling using rigorous coupled-wave analysis allows gratings to be designed to yield sharp reflectance maxima and minima. Combining these gratings with microfluidic channels and micromechanical actuators produced using micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology forms the basis for producing tunable filters and other wavelength selective elements. These devices achieve tunable optical characteristics by varying the index of refraction on the surface of the grating. Coating the grating surface with water creates a 33% change in the resonant wavelength whereas bringing a grating into contact with a quartz surface shifts the resonant wavelength from 558 nm to 879 nm, a fractional change of 58%. The reflectivity at a single wavelength can be varied by approximately a factor of three. Future applications of these devices may include tunable filters or optical modulators.

Optical interleavers based on two-dimensional photonic crystals

An ultrasmall device size optical interleaver based on directional coupler waveguides in two-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) is proposed. The numerical results show that the proposed PCs waveguide structure could really function as an interleaver with the central wavelength 1550 nm and the channel spacing 0.8 nm (frequency spacing of 100 GHz) of the dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) specification. It can be widely used as the wavelength selective element for multiplexer-demultiplexer to lower or raise channel densities in DWDM optical fiber communication systems.

Compact Wavelength-Selective Functions in Silicon-on-Insulator Photonic Wires

We present a number of compact wavelength-selective elements implemented in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic wires. These include arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), Mach-Zehnder lattice filters (MZLFs), and ring resonators. The circuits were fabricated with deep UV lithography. We also address the sensitivity of photonic wires to phase noise by selectively broadening the waveguides, and demonstrate this in a compact AWG with -20 dB crosstalk and an insertion loss of 2.2 dB for the center channels

Solid Photonic Bandgap Fibres and Applications

We report on the development of optical fibres which guide light in a solid core using a photonic bandgap effect. The photonic bandgap cladding consists of a two-dimensional array of isolated high-index regions in a lower-index matrix, with a relatively low index contrast. The core is one or more unit cells of the matrix material without the inclusions. The frequency bands for photonic bandgap guidance can be predicted by considering the cut-off frequencies of the guided modes of the high-index rods in the cladding using the weakly-guiding approximation. We demonstrate the basic properties of such fibres and their use as a wavelength-selective element in a fibre laser cavity.

Chirp control and broadband wavelength-tuning of 40-GHz monolithic actively mode-locked laser diode module with an external CW light injection

Chirp control behaviors of a 40-GHz monolithic actively mode-locked laser diode (MLLD) with an external continuous wave (CW) light injection were experimentally investigated in detail. Large frequency chirping of the Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot-type MLLD was found to be reduced by the CW light input with sufficient power. Broad-band wavelength tuning over 60 nm was also successfully achieved using the external CW light as a wavelength-selection element. Optical short pulses shorter than 4 ps were generated leaving small frequency chirping, low timing jitters less of than 0.2 ps, and low relative intensity noise values of less than -130 dB/Hz over the whole tuning range from 1530 to 1592 nm, almost covering both the C and the L bands in the wavelength region of optical communication systems.

High-power efficient tunable Nd:GdVO_4 laser at 1083 nm

An efficient tunable diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser at 1083 nm has been constructed by suppressing the higher gain transition near 1063 nm. With 12.5 W diode pump power, the free-running output power centered about 1083 nm was up to 3.4 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 30.1%. When a simple uncoated etalon was used as a wavelength-selective element, the output power at each helium transition was higher than 2.5 W.

Fiber-Bragg-grating force sensor based on a wavelength-switching actively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser

A fiber-Bragg-grating (FBG) transverse-force sensor based on a wavelength-switching actively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser is proposed, in which a FBG is used as both the sensing element and the wavelength-selection element of the laser. When a force is applied to the FBG, the induced birefringence in the FBG causes the laser to emit pulses at two close wavelengths, whose separation is proportional to the applied force. To suppress the interference between the two wavelengths, the laser is made to emit at the two wavelengths alternately by use of a polarization-switching technique. The wavelength separation is converted into a time difference by transmission of the laser pulses through a dispersive single-mode fiber, so the wavelength measurement is replaced by the less-expensive time measurement. The output of the sensor is insensitive to temperature and axial strain changes along the FBG. To interrogate similar FBG sensing elements connected in series it is necessary only to change the modulating frequency of an electro-optic modulator to select the corresponding laser cavity. The practicability of this approach was demonstrated experimentally with two multiplexed sensing elements.

Fiber-Bragg-grating force sensor based on a wavelength-switched self-seeded Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot laser diode

We demonstrate a simple fiber-optic sensor for the measurement of transverse force, where a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is used as a sensing element as well as a wavelength-selection element for a self-seeded Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot laser diode (FP-LD). When a transverse force is applied on the FBG, the birefringence induced in the fiber causes the FP-LD to emit short pulses at two close wavelengths. The wavelength separation of the pulses is converted into a time difference between the two pulse trains by using a dispersive single-mode fiber, so that wavelength measurement is replaced by the much less expensive time-difference measurement. To extend the measurement range, the laser is made to emit at the two wavelengths alternately by using a polarization-switching technique. The sensor also allows compensation for any isotropic drift on the Bragg wavelength of the FBG.

Design of a digitally tunable optical filter system for wavelength-selective-switching - based optical networks

What is believed to be a novel design of a digitally tunable optical filter system for wavelength-selective-switching-based optical networks is demonstrated. It uses two-by-two wavelength-selection elements and semiconductor optical amplifiers. The system can be expanded to provide selection of more channels by simply inserting one additional semiconductor optical amplifier for every new set of four channels and one wavelength-selection element per channel.

Bulk micromachining of a MEMS tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer: effect of residual silicon on device performance

A broadband tunable filter for the infrared spectral region is desired for use as a wavelength selective element in a miniature absorption spectrometer. We present the design, fabrication, packaging, and characterization of a bulk micromachined Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) for meeting this need. A novel approach to fabricate a MEMS-based tunable resonant cavity using two separate wafers bonded using a "lock-and-key" spacer design is outlined, with the goal of realizing electrostatically actuated membranes from films predeposited on base substrates. This ability could enable the pursuit of MEMS devices without in-house chemical vapor deposition (CVD) capability, after overcoming the shortcomings of bulk micromachining. The FPI device was designed with a planar structure comprising two face-to-face bonded chips of overall lateral dimension 10×10 mm with deflection regions of 2×2 mm. The device employs electrostatic actuation to tune the output wavelength, for which finite element modeling predicted low (<1 V) actuation voltages for movement of the membrane. Experimental results from device testing (mechanical) were found to differ from the theoretical predictions, primarily due to fabrication issues. Specifically, the device performance was found to be greatly influenced by the amount of residual silicon on the wafer chip following inductively coupled plasma (ICP) backside etching, with high voltages (~30 times higher than modeled) required for actuation of the device. Through a combination of modeling and experimental measurements, it is demonstrated that the ability to produce MEMS devices by releasing membranes from films predeposited on substrates is highly susceptible to error in etching and packaging.

Widely tunable dual-wavelength optical short pulse generation in a self-seeding scheme

Two gain-switched Fabry–Pérot laser diodes have been used in a self-seeding scheme for widely tunable dual-wavelength optical short pulse generation. The wavelengths and their spacing can be tuned in a flexible manner by adjustment of the wavelength-selective elements that consist of a fiber Bragg grating and a tunable optical filter. The side-mode suppression ratio of the output pulses achieved is better than 26 dB over a wavelength-tuning area of approximately 30 nm.

Excitation-emission fluorimeter based on linear interference filters.

We describe the design, properties, and performance of an excitation-emission (EE) fluorimeter that enables spectral characterization of an object simultaneously with respect to both its excitation and its emission properties. Such devices require two wavelength-selecting elements, one in the optical path of the excitation broadband light to obtain tunable excitation and the other to analyze the resulting fluorescence. Existing EE instruments are usually implemented with two monochromators. The key feature of our EE fluorimeter is that it employs lightweight and compact linear interference filters (LIFs) as the wavelength-selection elements. The spectral tuning of both the excitation and the detection LIFs is achieved by their mechanical shift relative to each other by use of two computer-controlled linear step motors. The performance of the LIF-based EE fluorimeter is demonstrated with the fluorescent spectra of various dyes and their mixtures.

Multiwavelength Tunable Fiber Ring Laser Based on Sampled Chirp Fiber Bragg Grating

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel configuration of a multiwavelength tunable fiber ring laser with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing. Wavelength tuning is achieved by tuning the strain gradient of a sampled chirp fiber Bragg grating (SCFBG), which is integrated in the laser cavity. To achieve equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing, the SCFBG is surface-mounted at a slant onto one lateral side of a plate so that each wavelength-selective element of the SCFBG will experience an equal strain increment when an external force is applied to the plate. We experimentally obtain seven lasing wavelengths with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing.

Tunable and wavelength selective pin photodiode

A tunable and wavelength selective pin photodiode with a full-width half-maximum of less than 0.2 nm and a free spectral range of 44 nm is presented. The structure is the first realisation of a two-chip solution of a wavelength selective Fabry-Perot element based on a micromachined tunable membrane chip and a pin photodiode chip.