Distortion of beam shape by a rotating double-prism wide-angle laser beam scanner

We describe the rigorous results of a wide-angle laser beam scanner, obtained with the help of the vector refraction theory. Using the rigorous results, the distortion of the beam shape is discussed. The distortion to the beam varies with the different relative angles of double prisms. The scanner expands the beam in some directions while it contracts the beam in other directions. According to the conservation of energy, the distribution of the laser intensity is changed as well. (c) 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Intensity-modulating characteristics of a laser diode subjected to optical injection

We have found that the optical power of a laser diode (LD) does not change with the injected light intensity that is modulated when its injection current is at some specific values. The amplitude of optical power change of the LD varies periodically with the increase of the injection current. It is made clear through theoretical analysis that these phenomena are caused by gain compression and interband carrier absorption of the LD that depend on longitudinal mode competition, bandgap-shrinkage effects, thermal conduction, and so on. Our experimental results make it easy to eliminate optical power change of LDs. We only need to choose a proper value of the injection current. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Simple ABCD matrix method for evaluating optical coupling system of laser diode to single-mode fiber with a lensed-tip

In this paper, we present a simple technique to determine the coupling efficiency between a laser diode and a lensed-tip based on the ABCD transformation matrix method. We have compared our analysis technique to that of previous work and have found that the presented method is reliable in predicting the coupling efficiency of lensed-tip and has the advantage of simplicity of coupling efficiency calculation even by a pocket calculator. The results can be useful for designing coupling optics. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Radius of curvature measurements for laser beams: A simple method

A simple method for measuring the radius of curvature of laser beams is introduced. It has been developed to estimate the astigmatic aberration of a diode laser. Compared with the interferornetry, this method is convenient and straightforward. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the wavefront of a laser diode system for intersatellite communication by a Jamin double-shearing interferometer

The frame of a laser diode transmitter for intersatellite communication is concisely introduced. A simple, novel and visual method for measuring the diffraction-limited wavefront of the transmitter by a Jamin double-shearing interferometer is proposed. To verify the validity of the measurement, the far-field divergence of beam is additionally rigorously analysed in terms of the Fraunhofer diffraction. The measurement, the necessary analyses and discussion are given in detail. By directly measuring the fringe widths and quantitatively interpreting the interference fringes, the minimum detectable wavefront height (DWH) of the wavefront is only 0.2 gimel (the distance between the perfect plane wavefront and the actual wavefront at the transmitting aperture) and the corresponding divergence is only 65.84 mu rad. This indicates that the wavefront approaches the diffraction-limited condition. The results show that this interferometer is a powerful tool for testing the semiconductor laser beam's wavefront, especially the diffraction-limited wavefront.

Red laser-induced domain inversion in MgO-doped lithium niobate crystals

A laser beam at wavelength 647 nm is focused on a sample of 5 mol% MgO-doped lithium niobate crystal for domain inversion by a conventional external electric field. In this case, a reduction of 36% in the electric field required for domain nucleation (nucleation field) is observed. To the best of our knowledge, it is the longest wavelength reported for laser-induced domain inversion. This extends the spectrum of laser inducing, and the experimental results are helpful to understand the nucleation dynamics under laser illumination. The dependence of nucleation fields on intensities of laser beams is analysed in experiments.

Laser beam shaping system with a radial birefringent filter

Reshaping of a Gaussian laser beam into a uniform or other intensity distribution is required for various applications. The laser beam shaping system with a radial birefringent filter is presented in this paper. With such a system the Gaussian beams can be transformed into uniform or annular beams. The theory and simulation of the proposed systems are described in detail. The primary advantage of such a system is that the out beam pro. le can be tunable with the rotation of the radial birefringent element.

Double-line-density gratings structure for compression and generation of double femtosecond laser pulses

Grating pairs are widely used for pulse compression and stretching. Normally, the two gratings are identical. We propose a very simple structure with double-line-density reflective gratings for pulse compression and generation of double pulses, which has the advantages of no material dispersion, compact in volume, simple in structure, etc. The use of reflective Dammann gratings fully demonstrated the principle of this structure. The output pulses are well verified by a standard frequency-resolved optical gating apparatus. This structure will be highly interesting in ultrashort pulse compression and other more practical applications of femtosecond laser pulses. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Specklegram in a multiple-mode fiber and its dependence on longitudinal modes of the laser source

A specklegram in a multimode fiber (MMF) has successfully been used as a sensor for detecting external disturbance. Our experiments showed that the sensitivity in the sensor with a multiple longitudinal-mode laser as its source was much higher than that with a single longitudinal-mode laser. In addition, the near-field pattern observations indicated that the coupling between different transverse modes in the MMF is quite weak. Based on the experimental results, a theoretical model for the speckle formation is proposed, taking a bend-caused phase factor into consideration. It is shown in the theoretical analysis that the interferences between different longitudinal modes make a larger contribution to the specklegram signals. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Far-field spot compression without energy loss in main lob in wireless laser communication

Far-field spot compression without energy loss in main lob is of great significance to wireless laser communication. In this letter, we propose two schemes to obtain far-field spot compression without energy loss in main lob. One scheme is based on the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. Using SA algorithm, we design the phase profile of the diffractive phase element (DPE). Using the designed DPE, far-field spot compression without energy loss in main lob is achieved. The other scheme is based on YG algorithm. By means of YG algorithm, we appropriately designed the DPE in the emitting plane. Using the DPE, far-field spot compression without energy loss in main lob is obtained. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

In situ surface topography measurement method of granite base in scanning wafer stage with laser interferometer

Topography of a granite surface has an effect on the vertical positioning of a wafer stage in a lithographic tool, when the wafer stage moves on the granite. The inaccurate measurement of the topography results in a bad leveling and focusing performance. In this paper, an in situ method to measure the topography of a granite surface with high accuracy is present. In this method, a high-order polynomial is set up to express the topography of the granite surface. Two double-frequency laser interferometers are used to measure the tilts of the wafer stage in the X- and Y-directions. From the sampling tilts information, the coefficients of the high-order polynomial can be obtained by a special algorithm. Experiment results shows that the measurement reproducibility of the method is better than 10 nm. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Invertible dark-center diffraction of the metal film induced by femtosecond laser

We found reversible dark-center diffraction of the transmitted probe beam passing through the chromium film. which is induced by the pump femtosecond laser. The dark-center diffraction of I he transmitted probe beam appears and disappears with and without the pump beam. A view of diffractive optics with binary phase plate is put forward, which explains the reversible dark-center diffractive optical phenomenon. The pre-ablated hole on the metal film can be regarded as a uniform light filed without phase modulation, the Surrounding Circular part around the pre-ablated hole can be regarded as "phase modulated". Therefore, this diffraction optic view might be helpful for us to understand the phase change of the metal film introduced by the femtosecond laser pulse. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V, All rights reserved.

Multi-channel 2-D pattern transfer model based on imaging optics for submarine laser uplink communication

An optical communication scheme of 2-D pattern transfer based on imaging optics for submarine laser uplink communication (SLUC) is suggested. Unlike the methods aiming at avoiding neighboring crosstalk used in traditional multi-channel optical beam transferring, we make full use of the overlapping of each spreading beam other than controlling divergence effect of each beam to avoid interference noise. The apparent parameters have been introduced to simplify theoretical analysis of optical pattern transfer problem involving underwater condition, with the help of which the complex beam propagation inside two kinds of mediums can be easily reduced to brief beam transfer only inside air medium. In this paper, optical transmission path and receiver terminal optics geometry have been described in detail. The link range equation and system uplink performance analysis have also been given. At last, results of a proof-of-concept experiment indicate good feasibility of the proposed SLUC model. © 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Primary and secondary threshold intensities of ultraviolet-laser-induced domain nucleation in nearly stoichiometric LiTaO3

The primary and secondary threshold intensities of ultraviolet-laser-induced preferential domain nucleation in nearly stoichiometric LiTaO3 is observed. The primary threshold is the minimum intensity to achieve the instantaneous preferential domain nucleation within the focus by the combined action of irradiation and electric fields. The secondary threshold is the minimum intensity to achieve the memory effect without any irradiation within the original focus. The space charge field created by the photoionization carriers is thought to be responsible for the instantaneous effect. The explanation based on the formation and transformation of extrinsic defect is presented for the memory effect. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Theoretical model for a periodically driven semiconductor laser subject to optical feedback from a microcantilever

We propose a theoretical model for analyzing the dynamics of a periodically driven semiconductor laser subject to optical feedback from a microcantilever. We numerically investigate the temporal evolution of the light intensity of the semiconductor laser, and we show the interspikes of the light intensity. These interspikes of light intensity are also demonstrated in our experiment. The validity of the theoretical model is verified. The observed phenomenon has a potential application for resonant sensing. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.