Compensated Fiber-Optic Frequency Distribution Equipment

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-01

fiber optic links have been developed and deployed, providing stability sufficient to transfer hydrogen maser-derived frequency references in intra...effectively compensate for the added noise and instability of an inter-facility fiber - optic frequency distribution link , it is important to understand the...dispersion (the variation in group velocity as a function of optical wavelength) may also affect the performance of the fiber optic link , when link

Dual frequency optical carrier technique for transmission of reference frequencies in dispersive media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maleki, Lutfollah (Inventor)

1993-01-01

Two different carrier frequencies modulated by a reference frequency are transmitted to each receiver to be synchronized therewith. Each receiver responds to local phase differences between the two received signals to correct the phase of one of them so as to maintain the corrected signal as a reliable synchronization reference.

Optical Frequency Synthesizer for Precision Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holzwarth, R.; Udem, Th.; Hänsch, T. W.; Knight, J. C.; Wadsworth, W. J.; Russell, P. St. J.

2000-09-01

We have used the frequency comb generated by a femtosecond mode-locked laser and broadened to more than an optical octave in a photonic crystal fiber to realize a frequency chain that links a 10 MHz radio frequency reference phase-coherently in one step to the optical region. By comparison with a similar frequency chain we set an upper limit for the uncertainty of this new approach to 5.1×10-16. This opens the door for measurement and synthesis of virtually any optical frequency and is ready to revolutionize frequency metrology.

Demonstration of a near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser frequency comb for precision radial velocity measurements in astronomy.

PubMed

Yi, X; Vahala, K; Li, J; Diddams, S; Ycas, G; Plavchan, P; Leifer, S; Sandhu, J; Vasisht, G; Chen, P; Gao, P; Gagne, J; Furlan, E; Bottom, M; Martin, E C; Fitzgerald, M P; Doppmann, G; Beichman, C

2016-01-27

An important technique for discovering and characterizing planets beyond our solar system relies upon measurement of weak Doppler shifts in the spectra of host stars induced by the influence of orbiting planets. A recent advance has been the introduction of optical frequency combs as frequency references. Frequency combs produce a series of equally spaced reference frequencies and they offer extreme accuracy and spectral grasp that can potentially revolutionize exoplanet detection. Here we demonstrate a laser frequency comb using an alternate comb generation method based on electro-optical modulation, with the comb centre wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. In contrast to mode-locked combs, the line spacing is readily resolvable using typical astronomical grating spectrographs. Built using commercial off-the-shelf components, the instrument is relatively simple and reliable. Proof of concept experiments operated at near-infrared wavelengths were carried out at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope.

Demonstration of a near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser frequency comb for precision radial velocity measurements in astronomy

PubMed Central

Yi, X.; Vahala, K.; Li, J.; Diddams, S.; Ycas, G.; Plavchan, P.; Leifer, S.; Sandhu, J.; Vasisht, G.; Chen, P.; Gao, P.; Gagne, J.; Furlan, E.; Bottom, M.; Martin, E. C.; Fitzgerald, M. P.; Doppmann, G.; Beichman, C.

2016-01-01

An important technique for discovering and characterizing planets beyond our solar system relies upon measurement of weak Doppler shifts in the spectra of host stars induced by the influence of orbiting planets. A recent advance has been the introduction of optical frequency combs as frequency references. Frequency combs produce a series of equally spaced reference frequencies and they offer extreme accuracy and spectral grasp that can potentially revolutionize exoplanet detection. Here we demonstrate a laser frequency comb using an alternate comb generation method based on electro-optical modulation, with the comb centre wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. In contrast to mode-locked combs, the line spacing is readily resolvable using typical astronomical grating spectrographs. Built using commercial off-the-shelf components, the instrument is relatively simple and reliable. Proof of concept experiments operated at near-infrared wavelengths were carried out at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope. PMID:26813804

Reference-free, high-resolution measurement method of timing jitter spectra of optical frequency combs

PubMed Central

Kwon, Dohyeon; Jeon, Chan-Gi; Shin, Junho; Heo, Myoung-Sun; Park, Sang Eon; Song, Youjian; Kim, Jungwon

2017-01-01

Timing jitter is one of the most important properties of femtosecond mode-locked lasers and optical frequency combs. Accurate measurement of timing jitter power spectral density (PSD) is a critical prerequisite for optimizing overall noise performance and further advancing comb applications both in the time and frequency domains. Commonly used jitter measurement methods require a reference mode-locked laser with timing jitter similar to or lower than that of the laser-under-test, which is a demanding requirement for many laser laboratories, and/or have limited measurement resolution. Here we show a high-resolution and reference-source-free measurement method of timing jitter spectra of optical frequency combs using an optical fibre delay line and optical carrier interference. The demonstrated method works well for both mode-locked oscillators and supercontinua, with 2 × 10−9 fs2/Hz (equivalent to −174 dBc/Hz at 10-GHz carrier frequency) measurement noise floor. The demonstrated method can serve as a simple and powerful characterization tool for timing jitter PSDs of various comb sources including mode-locked oscillators, supercontinua and recently emerging Kerr-frequency combs; the jitter measurement results enabled by our method will provide new insights for understanding and optimizing timing noise in such comb sources. PMID:28102352

SPECIAL ISSUE ON OPTICAL PROCESSING OF INFORMATION: Realisation of video-frequency filters on the basis of a new mode of operation of an acousto-optical correlator with spatial integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushakov, V. N.

1995-10-01

A video-frequency acousto-optical correlator with spatial integration, which widens the functional capabilities of correlation-type acousto-optical processors, is described. The correlator is based on a two-dimensional reference transparency and it can filter arbitrary video signals of spectral width limited by the pass band of an acousto-optical modulator. The calculated pulse characteristic is governed by the structure of the reference transparency. A procedure for the synthesis of this transparency is considered and experimental results are reported.

Stable fiber-optic time transfer by active radio frequency phase locking.

PubMed

Yin, Feifei; Wu, Zhongle; Dai, Yitang; Ren, Tianpeng; Xu, Kun; Lin, Jintong; Tang, Geshi

2014-05-15

In this Letter we demonstrate a fiber link capable of stable time signal transfer utilizing our active long-distance radio frequency (RF) stabilization technology. Taking advantage of the chromatic dispersion in optical fiber, our scheme compensates dynamically the link delay variation by tuning the optical carrier wavelength to phase lock a round-trip RF reference. Since the time signal and the RF reference are carried by the same optical carrier, a highly stable time transfer is achieved at the same time. Experimentally, we demonstrate a stability of the time signal transfer over 50-km fiber with a time deviation of 40 ps at 1-s average and 2.3 ps at 1000-s average. The performance of the RF reference delivery is also tested, with an Allan deviation of 2×10(-15) at 1000-s average. According to our proposal, a simultaneous stable time and frequency transfer is expected.

Pico-strain multiplexed fiber optic sensor array operating down to infra-sonic frequencies.

PubMed

Littler, Ian C M; Gray, Malcolm B; Chow, Jong H; Shaddock, Daniel A; McClelland, David E

2009-06-22

An integrated sensor system is presented which displays passive long range operation to 100 km at pico-strain (pepsilon) sensitivity to low frequencies (4 Hz) in wavelength division multiplexed operation with negligible cross-talk (better than -75 dB). This has been achieved by pre-stabilizing and multiplexing all interrogation lasers for the sensor array to a single optical frequency reference. This single frequency reference allows each laser to be locked to an arbitrary wavelength and independently tuned, while maintaining suppression of laser frequency noise. With appropriate packaging, such a multiplexed strain sensing system can form the core of a low frequency accelerometer or hydrophone array.

On Frequency Combs in Monolithic Resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savchenkov, A. A.; Matsko, A. B.; Maleki, L.

2016-06-01

Optical frequency combs have become indispensable in astronomical measurements, biological fingerprinting, optical metrology, and radio frequency photonic signal generation. Recently demonstrated microring resonator-based Kerr frequency combs point the way towards chip scale optical frequency comb generator retaining major properties of the lab scale devices. This technique is promising for integrated miniature radiofrequency and microwave sources, atomic clocks, optical references and femtosecond pulse generators. Here we present Kerr frequency comb development in a historical perspective emphasizing its similarities and differences with other physical phenomena. We elucidate fundamental principles and describe practical implementations of Kerr comb oscillators, highlighting associated solved and unsolved problems.

Frequency Measurements of Superradiance from the Strontium Clock Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norcia, Matthew A.; Cline, Julia R. K.; Muniz, Juan A.; Robinson, John M.; Hutson, Ross B.; Goban, Akihisa; Marti, G. Edward; Ye, Jun; Thompson, James K.

2018-04-01

We present the first characterization of the spectral properties of superradiant light emitted from the ultranarrow, 1-mHz-linewidth optical clock transition in an ensemble of cold Sr 87 atoms. Such a light source has been proposed as a next-generation active atomic frequency reference, with the potential to enable high-precision optical frequency references to be used outside laboratory environments. By comparing the frequency of our superradiant source to that of a state-of-the-art cavity-stabilized laser and optical lattice clock, we observe a fractional Allan deviation of 6.7 (1 )×10-16 at 1 s of averaging, establish absolute accuracy at the 2-Hz (4 ×10-15 fractional frequency) level, and demonstrate insensitivity to key environmental perturbations.

Noise properties of an optical frequency comb from a SESAM-mode-locked 1.5-μm solid-state laser stabilized to the 10-13 level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schilt, S.; Dolgovskiy, V.; Bucalovic, N.; Schori, C.; Stumpf, M. C.; Di Domenico, G.; Pekarek, S.; Oehler, A. E. H.; Südmeyer, T.; Keller, U.; Thomann, P.

2012-11-01

We present a detailed investigation of the noise properties of an optical frequency comb generated from a femtosecond diode-pumped solid-state laser operating in the 1.5-μm spectral region. The stabilization of the passively mode-locked Er:Yb:glass laser oscillator, referred to as ERGO, is achieved using pump power modulation for the control of the carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency and by adjusting the laser cavity length for the control of the repetition rate. The stability and the noise of the ERGO comb are characterized in free-running and in phase-locked operation by measuring the noise properties of the CEO, of the repetition rate, and of a comb line at 1558 nm. The comb line is analyzed from the heterodyne beat signal with a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow-linewidth laser using a frequency discriminator. Two different schemes to stabilize the comb to a radio-frequency (RF) reference are compared. The comb properties (phase noise, frequency stability) are limited in both cases by the RF oscillator used to stabilize the repetition rate, while the contribution of the CEO is negligible at all Fourier frequencies, as a consequence of the low-noise characteristics of the CEO-beat. A linewidth of ≈150 kHz and a fractional frequency instability of 4.2×10-13 at 1 s are obtained for an optical comb line at 1558 nm. Improved performance is obtained by stabilizing the comb to an optical reference, which is a cavity-stabilized ultra-narrow linewidth laser at 1558 nm. The fractional frequency stability of 8×10-14 at 1 s, measured in preliminary experiments, is limited by the reference oscillator used in the frequency comparison.

Method and apparatus for optical communication by frequency modulation

DOEpatents

Priatko, Gordon J.

1988-01-01

Laser optical communication according to this invention is carried out by producing multi-frequency laser beams having different frequencies, splitting one or more of these constituent beams into reference and signal beams, encoding information on the signal beams by frequency modulation and detecting the encoded information by heterodyne techniques. Much more information can be transmitted over optical paths according to the present invention than with the use of only one path as done previously.

Broadband midinfrared frequency comb with tooth scanning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kevin F.; Masłowski, P.; Mills, A.; Mohr, C.; Jiang, Jie; Schunemann, Peter G.; Fermann, M. E.

2015-03-01

Frequency combs are a massively parallel source of extremely accurate optical frequencies. Frequency combs generally operate at the visible or near-infrared wavelengths, but fundamental molecular vibrations occur at midinfrared wavelengths. We demonstrate an optically-referenced, broadband midinfrared frequency comb based on a doublyresonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO). By tuning the wavelength of the reference laser, the comb line frequencies are tuned as well. By scanning the reference wavelength, any frequency can be accessed, not just the frequencies of the base comb. Combined with our comb-resolving Fourier transform spectrometer, we can measure 200 wavenumber wide broadband absorption spectra with 200 kHz linewidth comb teeth. Our OPO is pumped by an amplified Tm fiber frequency comb, with phase-locked carrier envelope offset frequency, and repetition rate fixed by phase-locking a frequency comb line to a narrow linewidth diode laser at a telecom channel. The frequency comb is referenced to GPS by long-term stabilization of the repetition rate to a selected value using the temperature of the reference laser as the control. The resulting pump comb is about 3W of 100 fs pulses at 418 MHz repetition rate at 1950 nm. Part of the comb is used for supercontinuum generation for frequency stabilization, and the rest pumps an orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OP-GaAs) crystal in a doubly-resonant optical parametric oscillator cavity, yielding collinear signal and idler beams from about 3 to 5.5 μm. We verify comb scanning by resolving the 200 MHz wide absorption lines of the entire fundamental CO vibrational manifold at 11 Torr pressure.

Highly precise stabilization of intracavity prism-based Er:fiber frequency comb using optical-microwave phase detector.

PubMed

Zhang, Shuangyou; Wu, Jiutao; Leng, Jianxiao; Lai, Shunnan; Zhao, Jianye

2014-11-15

In this Letter, we demonstrate a fully stabilized Er:fiber frequency comb by using a fiber-based, high-precision optical-microwave phase detector. To achieve high-precision and long-term phase locking of the repetition rate to a microwave reference, frequency control techniques (tuning pump power and cavity length) are combined together as its feedback. Since the pump power has been used for stabilization of the repetition rate, we introduce a pair of intracavity prisms as a regulator for carrier-envelope offset frequency, thereby phase locking one mode of the comb to the rubidium saturated absorption transition line. The stabilized comb performs the same high stability as the reference for the repetition rate and provides a residual frequency instability of 3.6×10(-13) for each comb mode. The demonstrated stabilization scheme could provide a high-precision comb for optical communication, direct frequency comb spectroscopy.

Self-referenced locking of optical coherence by single-detector electronic-frequency tagging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shay, T. M.; Benham, Vincent; Spring, Justin; Ward, Benjamin; Ghebremichael, F.; Culpepper, Mark A.; Sanchez, Anthony D.; Baker, J. T.; Pilkington, D.; Berdine, Richard

2006-02-01

We report a novel coherent beam combining technique. This is the first actively phase locked optical fiber array that eliminates the need for a separate reference beam. In addition, only a single photodetector is required. The far-field central spot of the array is imaged onto the photodetector to produce the phase control loop signals. Each leg of the fiber array is phase modulated with a separate RF frequency, thus tagging the optical phase shift for each leg by a separate RF frequency. The optical phase errors for the individual array legs are separated in the electronic domain. In contrast with the previous active phase locking techniques, in our system the reference beam is spatially overlapped with all the RF modulated fiber leg beams onto a single detector. The phase shift between the optical wave in the reference leg and in the RF modulated legs is measured separately in the electronic domain and the phase error signal is feedback to the LiNbO 3 phase modulator for that leg to minimize the phase error for that leg relative to the reference leg. The advantages of this technique are 1) the elimination of the reference beam and beam combination optics and 2) the electronic separation of the phase error signals without any degradation of the phase locking accuracy. We will present the first theoretical model for self-referenced LOCSET and describe experimental results for a 3 x 3 array.

A novel photonic oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yao, X. S.; Maleki, L.

1995-01-01

We report a novel oscillator for photonic RF systems. This oscillator is capable of generating high-frequency signals up to 70 GHz in both electrical and optical domains and is a special voltage-controlled oscillator with an optical output port. It can be used to make a phase-locked loop (PLL) and perform all functions that a PLL is capable of for photonic systems. It can be synchronized to a reference source by means of optical injection locking, electrical injection locking, and PLL. It can also be self-phase locked and self-injection locked to generate a high-stability photonic RF reference. Its applications include high-frequency reference regeneration and distribution, high-gain frequency multiplication, comb-frequecy and square-wave generation, carrier recovery, and clock recovery. We anticipate that such photonic voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) will be as important to photonic RF systems as electrical VCOs are to electrical RF systems.

An ultra-stable iodine-based frequency reference for space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuldt, Thilo; Braxmaier, Claus; Doeringshoff, Klaus; Keetman, Anja; Reggentin, Matthias; Kovalchuk, Evgeny; Peters, Achim

2012-07-01

Future space missions require for ultra-stable optical frequency references. Examples are the gravitational wave detector LISA/eLISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), the SpaceTime Asymmetry Research (STAR) program, the aperture-synthesis telescope Darwin and the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) follow on mission exploring Earth's gravity. As high long-term frequency stability is required, lasers stabilized to atomic or molecular transitions are preferred, also offering an absolute frequency reference. Frequency stabilities in the 10 ^{-15} domains at longer integration times (up to several hours) are demonstrated in laboratory experiments using setups based on Doppler-free spectroscopy. Such setups with a frequency stability comparable to the hydrogen maser in the microwave domain, have the potential to be developed space compatible on a relatively short time scale. Here, we present the development of ultra-stable optical frequency references based on modulation-transfer spectroscopy of molecular iodine. Noise levels of 2\\cdot10 ^{-14} at an integration time of 1 s and below 3\\cdot10 ^{-15} at integration times between 100 s and 1000 s are demonstrated with a laboratory setup using an 80 cm long iodine cell in single-pass configuration in combination with a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser and standard optical components and optomechanic mounts. The frequency stability at longer integration times is (amongst other things) limited by the dimensional stability of the optical setup, i.e. by th pointing stability of the two counter-propagating beams overlapped in the iodine cell. With the goal of a future space compatible setup, a compact frequency standard on EBB (elegant breadboard) level was realized. The spectroscopy unit utilizes a baseplate made of Clearceram-HS, a glass ceramics with an ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion of 2\\cdot10 ^{-8} K ^{-1}. The optical components are joint to the baseplate using adhesive bonding technology, which was developed in a cooperation of HTWG Konstanz and Astrium Friedrichshafen. This setup ensures a higher long-term frequency stability due to enhanced pointing stability. Also, it takes into account space mission related criteria such as compactness, robustness, MAIVT and environmental influences (shock, vibration and thermal tests). The assembly-integration technology was already successfully environmentally tested and demonstrated in a previous setup of a compact fiber-coupled heterodyne interferometer, which serves as a demonstrator for the optical readout of the LISA gravitational reference sensor. We present first measurements of the EBB setup and a first design of an iodine frequency standard on engineering model (EM) level. The EM-setup is based on the EBB experience, but features smaller dimensions by using a multipass iodine cell and less optical components. Financial support by the German Space Agency DLR with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under grant number 50 QT 1102 is highly appreciated.

Inter-comb synchronization by mode-to-mode locking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chun, Byung Jae; Kim, Young-Jin; Kim, Seung-Woo

2016-08-01

Two combs of fiber femtosecond lasers are synchronized through the optical frequency reference created by injection-locking of a diode laser to a single comb mode. Maintaining a mHz-level narrow linewidth, the optical frequency reference permits two combs to be stabilized by mode-to-mode locking with a relative stability of 1.52  ×  10-16 at 10 s with a frequency slip of 2.46 mHz. This inter-comb synchronization can be utilized for applications such as dual-comb spectroscopy or ultra-short pulse synthesis without extra narrow-linewidth lasers.

Frequency stabilization for multilocation optical FDM networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Quan; Kavehrad, Mohsen

1993-04-01

In a multi-location optical FDM network, the frequency of each user's transmitter can be offset-locked, through a Fabry-Perot, to an absolute frequency standard which is distributed to the users. To lock the local Fabry-Perot to the frequency standard, the standard has to be frequency-dithered by a sinusoidal signal and the sinusoidal reference has to be transmitted to the user location since the lock-in amplifier in the stabilization system requires the reference for synchronous detection. We proposed two solutions to avoid transmitting the reference. One uses an extraction circuit to obtain the sinusoidal signal from the incoming signal. A nonlinear circuit following the photodiode produces a strong second-order harmonic of the sinusoidal signal and a phase-locked loop is locked to it. The sinusoidal reference is obtained by a divide- by-2 circuit. The phase ambiguity (0 degree(s) or 180 degree(s)) is resolved by using a selection- circuit and an initial scan. The other method uses a pseudo-random sequence instead of a sinusoidal signal to dither the frequency standard and a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) matched-filter instead of a lock-in amplifier to obtain the frequency error. The matched-filter serves as a correlator and does not require the dither reference.

Apparatus for direct-to-digital spatially-heterodyned holography

DOEpatents

Thomas, Clarence E.; Hanson, Gregory R.

2006-12-12

An apparatus operable to record a spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis includes: a laser; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the laser; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter; a focusing lens optically coupled to both the beamsplitter and the object; a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens; and a computer that performs a Fourier transform, applies a digital filter, and performs an inverse Fourier transform. A reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form a spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis which is recorded by the digital recorder, and the computer transforms the recorded spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes and shifts axes in Fourier space to sit on top of a heterodyne carrier frequency defined by an angle between the reference beam and the object beam and cuts off signals around an original origin before performing the inverse Fourier transform.

High-Performance Optical Frequency References for Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuldt, Thilo; Döringshoff, Klaus; Milke, Alexander; Sanjuan, Josep; Gohlke, Martin; Kovalchuk, Evgeny V.; Gürlebeck, Norman; Peters, Achim; Braxmaier, Claus

2016-06-01

A variety of future space missions rely on the availability of high-performance optical clocks with applications in fundamental physics, geoscience, Earth observation and navigation and ranging. Examples are the gravitational wave detector eLISA (evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), the Earth gravity mission NGGM (Next Generation Gravity Mission) and missions, dedicated to tests of Special Relativity, e.g. by performing a Kennedy- Thorndike experiment testing the boost dependence of the speed of light. In this context we developed optical frequency references based on Doppler-free spectroscopy of molecular iodine; compactness and mechanical and thermal stability are main design criteria. With a setup on engineering model (EM) level we demonstrated a frequency stability of about 2·10-14 at an integration time of 1 s and below 6·10-15 at integration times between 100s and 1000s, determined from a beat-note measurement with a cavity stabilized laser where a linear drift was removed from the data. A cavity-based frequency reference with focus on improved long-term frequency stability is currently under development. A specific sixfold thermal shield design based on analytical methods and numerical calculations is presented.

Atomic clocks for geodesy.

PubMed

Mehlstäubler, Tanja E; Grosche, Gesine; Lisdat, Christian; Schmidt, Piet O; Denker, Heiner

2018-06-01

We review experimental progress on optical atomic clocks and frequency transfer, and consider the prospects of using these technologies for geodetic measurements. Today, optical atomic frequency standards have reached relative frequency inaccuracies below 10 -17 , opening new fields of fundamental and applied research. The dependence of atomic frequencies on the gravitational potential makes atomic clocks ideal candidates for the search for deviations in the predictions of Einstein's general relativity, tests of modern unifying theories and the development of new gravity field sensors. In this review, we introduce the concepts of optical atomic clocks and present the status of international clock development and comparison. Besides further improvement in stability and accuracy of today's best clocks, a large effort is put into increasing the reliability and technological readiness for applications outside of specialized laboratories with compact, portable devices. With relative frequency uncertainties of 10 -18 , comparisons of optical frequency standards are foreseen to contribute together with satellite and terrestrial data to the precise determination of fundamental height reference systems in geodesy with a resolution at the cm-level. The long-term stability of atomic standards will deliver excellent long-term height references for geodetic measurements and for the modelling and understanding of our Earth.

Atomic clocks for geodesy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehlstäubler, Tanja E.; Grosche, Gesine; Lisdat, Christian; Schmidt, Piet O.; Denker, Heiner

2018-06-01

We review experimental progress on optical atomic clocks and frequency transfer, and consider the prospects of using these technologies for geodetic measurements. Today, optical atomic frequency standards have reached relative frequency inaccuracies below 10‑17, opening new fields of fundamental and applied research. The dependence of atomic frequencies on the gravitational potential makes atomic clocks ideal candidates for the search for deviations in the predictions of Einstein’s general relativity, tests of modern unifying theories and the development of new gravity field sensors. In this review, we introduce the concepts of optical atomic clocks and present the status of international clock development and comparison. Besides further improvement in stability and accuracy of today’s best clocks, a large effort is put into increasing the reliability and technological readiness for applications outside of specialized laboratories with compact, portable devices. With relative frequency uncertainties of 10‑18, comparisons of optical frequency standards are foreseen to contribute together with satellite and terrestrial data to the precise determination of fundamental height reference systems in geodesy with a resolution at the cm-level. The long-term stability of atomic standards will deliver excellent long-term height references for geodetic measurements and for the modelling and understanding of our Earth.

X-ray frequency combs from optically controlled resonance fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavaletto, Stefano M.; Harman, Zoltán; Buth, Christian; Keitel, Christoph H.

2013-12-01

An x-ray pulse-shaping scheme is put forward for imprinting an optical frequency comb onto the radiation emitted on a driven x-ray transition, thus producing an x-ray frequency comb. A four-level system is used to describe the level structure of N ions driven by narrow-bandwidth x rays, an optical auxiliary laser, and an optical frequency comb. By including many-particle enhancement of the emitted resonance fluorescence, a spectrum is predicted consisting of equally spaced narrow lines which are centered on an x-ray transition energy and separated by the same tooth spacing as the driving optical frequency comb. Given an x-ray reference frequency, our comb could be employed to determine an unknown x-ray frequency. While relying on the quality of the light fields used to drive the ensemble of ions, the model has validity at energies from the 100 eV to the keV range.

Random phase encoding for optical security

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, RuiKang K.; Watson, Ian A.; Chatwin, Christopher R.

1996-09-01

A new optical encoding method for security applications is proposed. The encoded image (encrypted into the security products) is merely a random phase image statistically and randomly generated by a random number generator using a computer, which contains no information from the reference pattern (stored for verification) or the frequency plane filter (a phase-only function for decoding). The phase function in the frequency plane is obtained using a modified phase retrieval algorithm. The proposed method uses two phase-only functions (images) at both the input and frequency planes of the optical processor leading to maximum optical efficiency. Computer simulation shows that the proposed method is robust for optical security applications.

Improved polar display technique of the phase angle of optical interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umeda, N.; Shirai, H.; Takasaki, H.

1984-02-01

A technique which displays the fractional order of optical interference by the azimuthal angle of radial arm has been improved by using a digital electronic circuit such as phase-locked loop and D flip-flop. The phase quadrature reference signals of this system are derived by reforming a reference signal and shifting it by a quarter wavelength referring to its waveform. As the result the orthogonal phase relation of the two signals is not affected by the frequency of the signal. This system has been proven to operate properly over the frequency range of 200-600 kHz without readjusting the electric system.

Methods and apparatus for broadband frequency comb stabilization

DOEpatents

Cox, Jonathan A; Kaertner, Franz X

2015-03-17

Feedback loops can be used to shift and stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a frequency comb from a mode-locked fibers laser or other optical source. Compared to other frequency shifting and stabilization techniques, feedback-based techniques provide a wideband closed-loop servo bandwidth without optical filtering, beam pointing errors, or group velocity dispersion. It also enables phase locking to a stable reference, such as a Ti:Sapphire laser, continuous-wave microwave or optical source, or self-referencing interferometer, e.g., to within 200 mrad rms from DC to 5 MHz. In addition, stabilized frequency combs can be coherently combined with other stable signals, including other stabilized frequency combs, to synthesize optical pulse trains with pulse durations of as little as a single optical cycle. Such a coherent combination can be achieved via orthogonal control, using balanced optical cross-correlation for timing stabilization and balanced homodyne detection for phase stabilization.

Frequency locking of compact laser-diode modules at 633 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nölleke, Christian; Leisching, Patrick; Blume, Gunnar; Jedrzejczyk, Daniel; Pohl, Johannes; Feise, David; Sahm, Alexander; Paschke, Katrin

2018-02-01

This work reports on a compact diode-laser module emitting at 633 nm. The emission frequency can be tuned with temperature and current, while optical feedback of an internal DBR grating ensures single-mode operation. The laser diode is integrated into a micro-fabricated package, which includes optics for beam shaping, a miniaturized optical isolator, and a vapor cell as frequency reference. The achieved absolute frequency stability is below 10-8 , while the output power can be more than 10 mW. This compact absolute frequency-stabilized laser system can replace gas lasers and may be integrated in future quantum technology devices.

Mode Matching for Optical Antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feichtner, Thorsten; Christiansen, Silke; Hecht, Bert

2017-11-01

The emission rate of a point dipole can be strongly increased in the presence of a well-designed optical antenna. Yet, optical antenna design is largely based on radio-frequency rules, ignoring, e.g., Ohmic losses and non-negligible field penetration in metals at optical frequencies. Here, we combine reciprocity and Poynting's theorem to derive a set of optical-frequency antenna design rules for benchmarking and optimizing the performance of optical antennas driven by single quantum emitters. Based on these findings a novel plasmonic cavity antenna design is presented exhibiting a considerably improved performance compared to a reference two-wire antenna. Our work will be useful for the design of high-performance optical antennas and nanoresonators for diverse applications ranging from quantum optics to antenna-enhanced single-emitter spectroscopy and sensing.

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies.

PubMed

Jackson, Michael; Zink, Lyndon R

2015-12-18

The generation and subsequent measurement of far-infrared radiation has found numerous applications in high-resolution spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and Terahertz imaging. For about 45 years, the generation of coherent, far-infrared radiation has been accomplished using the optically pumped molecular laser. Once far-infrared laser radiation is detected, the frequencies of these laser emissions are measured using a three-laser heterodyne technique. With this technique, the unknown frequency from the optically pumped molecular laser is mixed with the difference frequency between two stabilized, infrared reference frequencies. These reference frequencies are generated by independent carbon dioxide lasers, each stabilized using the fluorescence signal from an external, low pressure reference cell. The resulting beat between the known and unknown laser frequencies is monitored by a metal-insulator-metal point contact diode detector whose output is observed on a spectrum analyzer. The beat frequency between these laser emissions is subsequently measured and combined with the known reference frequencies to extrapolate the unknown far-infrared laser frequency. The resulting one-sigma fractional uncertainty for laser frequencies measured with this technique is ± 5 parts in 10(7). Accurately determining the frequency of far-infrared laser emissions is critical as they are often used as a reference for other measurements, as in the high-resolution spectroscopic investigations of free radicals using laser magnetic resonance. As part of this investigation, difluoromethane, CH2F2, was used as the far-infrared laser medium. In all, eight far-infrared laser frequencies were measured for the first time with frequencies ranging from 0.359 to 1.273 THz. Three of these laser emissions were discovered during this investigation and are reported with their optimal operating pressure, polarization with respect to the CO2 pump laser, and strength.

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies

PubMed Central

Jackson, Michael; Zink, Lyndon R.

2015-01-01

The generation and subsequent measurement of far-infrared radiation has found numerous applications in high-resolution spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and Terahertz imaging. For about 45 years, the generation of coherent, far-infrared radiation has been accomplished using the optically pumped molecular laser. Once far-infrared laser radiation is detected, the frequencies of these laser emissions are measured using a three-laser heterodyne technique. With this technique, the unknown frequency from the optically pumped molecular laser is mixed with the difference frequency between two stabilized, infrared reference frequencies. These reference frequencies are generated by independent carbon dioxide lasers, each stabilized using the fluorescence signal from an external, low pressure reference cell. The resulting beat between the known and unknown laser frequencies is monitored by a metal-insulator-metal point contact diode detector whose output is observed on a spectrum analyzer. The beat frequency between these laser emissions is subsequently measured and combined with the known reference frequencies to extrapolate the unknown far-infrared laser frequency. The resulting one-sigma fractional uncertainty for laser frequencies measured with this technique is ± 5 parts in 107. Accurately determining the frequency of far-infrared laser emissions is critical as they are often used as a reference for other measurements, as in the high-resolution spectroscopic investigations of free radicals using laser magnetic resonance. As part of this investigation, difluoromethane, CH2F2, was used as the far-infrared laser medium. In all, eight far-infrared laser frequencies were measured for the first time with frequencies ranging from 0.359 to 1.273 THz. Three of these laser emissions were discovered during this investigation and are reported with their optimal operating pressure, polarization with respect to the CO2 pump laser, and strength. PMID:26709957

A broadband chip-scale optical frequency synthesizer at 2.7 × 10−16 relative uncertainty

PubMed Central

Huang, Shu-Wei; Yang, Jinghui; Yu, Mingbin; McGuyer, Bart H.; Kwong, Dim-Lee; Zelevinsky, Tanya; Wong, Chee Wei

2016-01-01

Optical frequency combs—coherent light sources that connect optical frequencies with microwave oscillations—have become the enabling tool for precision spectroscopy, optical clockwork, and attosecond physics over the past decades. Current benchmark systems are self-referenced femtosecond mode-locked lasers, but Kerr nonlinear dynamics in high-Q solid-state microresonators has recently demonstrated promising features as alternative platforms. The advance not only fosters studies of chip-scale frequency metrology but also extends the realm of optical frequency combs. We report the full stabilization of chip-scale optical frequency combs. The microcomb’s two degrees of freedom, one of the comb lines and the native 18-GHz comb spacing, are simultaneously phase-locked to known optical and microwave references. Active comb spacing stabilization improves long-term stability by six orders of magnitude, reaching a record instrument-limited residual instability of 3.6mHz/τ. Comparing 46 nitride frequency comb lines with a fiber laser frequency comb, we demonstrate the unprecedented microcomb tooth-to-tooth relative frequency uncertainty down to 50 mHz and 2.7 × 10−16, heralding novel solid-state applications in precision spectroscopy, coherent communications, and astronomical spectrography. PMID:27152341

Digital approach to stabilizing optical frequency combs and beat notes of CW lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Čížek, Martin; Číp, Ondřej; Å míd, Radek; Hrabina, Jan; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef

2013-10-01

In cases when it is necessary to lock optical frequencies generated by an optical frequency comb to a precise radio frequency (RF) standard (GPS-disciplined oscillator, H-maser, etc.) the usual practice is to implement phase and frequency-locked loops. Such system takes the signal generated by the RF standard (usually 10 MHz or 100 MHz) as a reference and stabilizes the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb contained in the RF output of the f-2f interferometer. These control loops are usually built around analog electronic circuits processing the output signals from photo detectors. This results in transferring the stability of the standard from RF to optical frequency domain. The presented work describes a different approach based on digital signal processing and software-defined radio algorithms used for processing the f-2f and beat-note signals. Several applications of digital phase and frequency locks to a RF standard are demonstrated: the repetition (frep) and offset frequency (fceo) of the comb, and the frequency of the beat note between a CW laser source and a single component of the optical frequency comb spectrum.

Study of Fourier transform spectrometer based on Michelson interferometer wave-meter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yuexiang; Wang, Liqiang; Lin, Li

2008-03-01

A wave-meter based on Michelson interferometer consists of a reference and a measurement channel. The voice-coiled motor using PID means can realize to move in stable motion. The wavelength of a measurement laser can be obtained by counting interference fringes of reference and measurement laser. Reference laser with frequency stabilization creates a cosine interferogram signal whose frequency is proportional to velocity of the moving motor. The interferogram of the reference laser is converted to pulse signal, and it is subdivided into 16 times. In order to get optical spectrum, the analog signal of measurement channel should be collected. The Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for measurement channel is triggered by the 16-times pulse signal of reference laser. So the sampling rate is constant only depending on frequency of reference laser and irrelative to the motor velocity. This means the sampling rate of measurement channel signals is on a uniform time-scale. The optical spectrum of measurement channel can be processed with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method by DSP and displayed on LCD.

Frequency stabilization of a 2.05 μm laser using hollow-core fiber CO2 frequency reference cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meras, Patrick; Poberezhskiy, Ilya Y.; Chang, Daniel H.; Spiers, Gary D.

2010-04-01

We have designed and built a hollow-core fiber frequency reference cell, filled it with CO2, and used it to demonstrate frequency stabilization of a 2.05 μm Tm:Ho:YLF laser using frequency modulation (FM) spectroscopy technique. The frequency reference cell is housed in a compact and robust hermetic package that contains a several meter long hollow-core photonic crystal fiber optically coupled to index-guiding fibers with a fusion splice on one end and a mechanical splice on the other end. The package has connectorized fiber pigtails and a valve used to evacuate, refill it, or adjust the gas pressure. We have demonstrated laser frequency standard deviation decreasing from >450MHz (free-running) to <2.4MHz (stabilized). The 2.05 μm laser wavelength is of particular interest for spectroscopic instruments due to the presence of many CO2 and H20 absorption lines in its vicinity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported demonstration of laser frequency stabilization at this wavelength using a hollow-core fiber reference cell. This approach enables all-fiber implementation of the optical portion of laser frequency stabilization system, thus making it dramatically more lightweight, compact, and robust than the traditional free-space version that utilizes glass or metal gas cells. It can also provide much longer interaction length of light with gas and does not require any alignment. The demonstrated frequency reference cell is particularly attractive for use in aircraft and space coherent lidar instruments for measuring atmospheric CO2 profile.

An ultra-stable optical frequency reference for space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuldt, T.; Döringshoff, K.; Kovalchuk, E.; Pahl, J.; Gohlke, M.; Weise, D.; Johann, U.; Peters, A.; Braxmaier, C.

2017-11-01

We realized ultra-stable optical frequency references on elegant breadboard (EBB) and engineering model (EM) level utilizing Doppler-free spectroscopy of molecular iodine near 532nm. A frequency stability of about 1•10-14 at an integration time of 1 s and below 5•10-15 at integration times between 10 s and 100 s was achieved. These values are comparable to the currently best laboratory setups. Both setups use a baseplate made of glass material where the optical components are joint using a specific assembly-integration technology. Compared to the EBB setup, the EM setup is further developed with respect to compactness and mechanical and thermal stability. The EM setup uses a baseplate made of fused silica with dimensions of 380 x 180 x 40 mm3 and a specifically designed 100 x 100 x 30 mm3 rectangular iodine cell in nine-pass configuration with a specific robust cold finger design. The EM setup was subjected to thermal cycling and vibrational testing. Applications of such an optical frequency reference in space can be found in fundamental physics, geoscience, Earth observation, and navigation & ranging. One example is the proposed mSTAR (mini SpaceTime Asymmetry Research) mission, dedicated to perform a Kennedy-Thorndike experiment on a satellite in a sunsynchronous low-Earth orbit. By comparing an iodine standard to a cavity-based frequency reference and integration over 2 year mission lifetime, the Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient will be determined with up to two orders of magnitude higher accuracy than the current best ground experiment. In a current study, the compatibility of the payload with the SaudiSat-4 host vehicle is investigated.

High-speed optical coherence tomography using fiberoptic acousto-optic phase modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Tuqiang; Wang, Zhenguo; Pan, Yingtian

2003-12-01

We report a new rapid-scanning optical delay device suitable for high-speed optical coherence tomography (OCT) in which an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is used to independently modulate the Doppler frequency shift of the reference light beam for optical heterodyne detection. Experimental results show that the fluctuation of the measured Doppler frequency shift is less than +/-0.2% over 95% duty cycle of OCT imaging, thus allowing for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio of optical heterodyne detection. The increased Doppler frequency shift by AOM also permits complete envelop demodulation without the compromise of reducing axial resolution; if used with a resonant rapid-scanning optical delay, it will permit high-performance real-time OCT imaging. Potentially, this new rapid-scanning optical delay device will improve the performance of high-speed Doppler OCT techniques.

Apparatus and Method to Enable Precision and Fast Laser Frequency Tuning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Jeffrey R. (Inventor); Numata, Kenji (Inventor); Wu, Stewart T. (Inventor); Yang, Guangning (Inventor)

2015-01-01

An apparatus and method is provided to enable precision and fast laser frequency tuning. For instance, a fast tunable slave laser may be dynamically offset-locked to a reference laser line using an optical phase-locked loop. The slave laser is heterodyned against a reference laser line to generate a beatnote that is subsequently frequency divided. The phase difference between the divided beatnote and a reference signal may be detected to generate an error signal proportional to the phase difference. The error signal is converted into appropriate feedback signals to phase lock the divided beatnote to the reference signal. The slave laser frequency target may be rapidly changed based on a combination of a dynamically changing frequency of the reference signal, the frequency dividing factor, and an effective polarity of the error signal. Feed-forward signals may be generated to accelerate the slave laser frequency switching through laser tuning ports.

Development of optical fiber frequency and time distribution systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lutes, G.

1982-01-01

The development of ultra stable optical fiber distribution systems for the dissemination of frequency and timing references is reported. The ultimate design goals for these systems are a frequency stability of 10 to the -17 power for tau or = 100 sec and time stability of + or - 0.1 ns for 1 year and operation over distances or = 30 km. A prototype system is reviewed and progress is discussed.

Frequency-noise measurements of optical frequency combs by multiple fringe-side discriminator

PubMed Central

Coluccelli, Nicola; Cassinerio, Marco; Gambetta, Alessio; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

2015-01-01

The frequency noise of an optical frequency comb is routinely measured through the hetherodyne beat of one comb tooth against a stable continuous-wave laser. After frequency-to-voltage conversion, the beatnote is sent to a spectrum analyzer to retrive the power spectral density of the frequency noise. Because narrow-linewidth continuous-wave lasers are available only at certain wavelengths, heterodyning the comb tooth can be challenging. We present a new technique for direct characterization of the frequency noise of an optical frequency comb, requiring no supplementary reference lasers and easily applicable in all spectral regions from the terahertz to the ultraviolet. The technique is based on the combination of a low finesse Fabry-Perot resonator and the so-called “fringe-side locking” method, usually adopted to characterize the spectral purity of single-frequency lasers, here generalized to optical frequency combs. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated with an Er-fiber comb source across the wavelength range from 1 to 2 μm. PMID:26548900

Remotely manageable system for stabilizing femtosecond lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cizek, Martin; Hucl, Vaclav; Smid, Radek; Mikel, Bretislav; Lazar, Josef; Cip, Ondrej

2014-05-01

In the field of precise measurement of optical frequencies, laser spectroscopy and interferometric distance surveying the optical frequency synthesizers (femtosecond combs) are used as optical frequency references. They generate thousands of narrow-linewidth coherent optical frequencies at the same time. The spacing of generated components equals to the repetition frequency of femtosecond pulses of the laser. The position of the comb spectrum has a frequency offset that is derived from carrier to envelope frequency difference. The repetition frequency and mentioned frequency offset belong to main controlled parameters of the optical frequency comb. If these frequencies are electronically locked an ultrastable frequency standard (i.e. H-maser, Cs- or Rb- clock), its relative stability is transferred to the optical frequency domain. We present a complete digitally controlled signal processing chain for phase-locked loop (PLL) control of the offset frequency. The setup is able to overcome some dropouts caused by the femtosecond laser non-stabilities (temperature drifts, ripple noise and electricity spikes). It is designed as a two-stage control loop, where controlled offset frequency is permanently monitored by digital signal processing. In case of dropouts of PLL, the frequency-locked loop keeps the controlled frequency in the required limits. The presented work gives the possibility of long-time operation of femtosecond combs which is necessary when the optical frequency stability measurement of ultra-stable lasers is required. The detailed description of the modern solution of the PLL with remote management is presented.

Methods and apparatus of entangled photon generation using four-wave mixing

DOEpatents

Camacho, Ryan

2016-02-23

A non-linear optical device is provided. The device comprises an optical disk or ring microresonator fabricated from a material that exhibits an optical nonlinearity able to produce degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in response to a pump beam having a pump frequency in a specified effective range. The microresonator is conformed to exhibit an angular group velocity minimum at a pump frequency within the specified effective range such that there is zero angular group velocity dispersion at the pump frequency. We refer to such a pump frequency as the "zero dispersion frequency". In embodiments, excitation of the resonator by a pump beam of sufficient intensity at the zero-dispersion frequency causes the resonator to emit a frequency comb of entangled photon pairs wherein the respective frequencies in each pair are symmetrically placed about the zero-dispersion frequency.

Monolithically integrated absolute frequency comb laser system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wanke, Michael C.

2016-07-12

Rather than down-convert optical frequencies, a QCL laser system directly generates a THz frequency comb in a compact monolithically integrated chip that can be locked to an absolute frequency without the need of a frequency-comb synthesizer. The monolithic, absolute frequency comb can provide a THz frequency reference and tool for high-resolution broad band spectroscopy.

Fully stabilized mid-infrared frequency comb for high-precision molecular spectroscopy.

PubMed

Vainio, Markku; Karhu, Juho

2017-02-20

A fully stabilized mid-infrared optical frequency comb spanning from 2.9 to 3.4 µm is described in this article. The comb is based on half-harmonic generation in a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator, which transfers the high phase coherence of a fully stabilized near-infrared Er-doped fiber laser comb to the mid-infrared region. The method is simple, as no phase-locked loops or reference lasers are needed. Precise locking of optical frequencies of the mid-infrared comb to the pump comb is experimentally verified at sub-20 mHz level, which corresponds to a fractional statistical uncertainty of 2 × 10^-16 at the center frequency of the mid-infrared comb. The fully stabilized mid-infrared comb is an ideal tool for high-precision molecular spectroscopy, as well as for optical frequency metrology in the mid-infrared region, which is difficult to access with other stabilized frequency comb techniques.

New ultra-high resolution dye laser spectrometer utilizing a non-tunable reference resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helmcke, J.; Snyder, J. J.; Morinaga, A.; Mensing, F.; Gläser, M.

1987-06-01

A new dye laser spectrometer utilizing a non-tunable reference resonator is described. The resonator consists of two Zerodur mirrors optically contacted to a Zerodur spacer. Frequency scanning of the laser is provided by acoustooptic modulation. Residual drifts of the resonator frequency — measured on line — are compensated automatically by corresponding corrections of the modulation frequency. The stability during several hours and the resettability of the dye laser frequency are±2.5 kHz and±10 kHz, respectively.

Optical Links and RF Distribution for Antenna Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, Shouhua; Calhoun, Malcolm; Tjoelker, Robert

2006-01-01

An array of three antennas has recently been developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory capable of detecting signals at X and Ka band. The array requires a common frequency reference and high precision phase alignment to correlate received signals. Frequency and timing references are presently provided from a remotely located hydrogen maser and clock through a combination of commercially and custom developed optical links. The selected laser, photodetector, and fiber components have been tested under anticipated thermal and simulated antenna rotation conditions. The resulting stability limitations due to thermal perturbations or induced stress on the optical fiber have been characterized. Distribution of the X band local oscillator includes a loop back and precision phase monitor to enable correlation of signals received from each antenna.

Fast, precise, and widely tunable frequency control of an optical parametric oscillator referenced to a frequency comb.

PubMed

Prehn, Alexander; Glöckner, Rosa; Rempe, Gerhard; Zeppenfeld, Martin

2017-03-01

Optical frequency combs (OFCs) provide a convenient reference for the frequency stabilization of continuous-wave lasers. We demonstrate a frequency control method relying on tracking over a wide range and stabilizing the beat note between the laser and the OFC. The approach combines fast frequency ramps on a millisecond timescale in the entire mode-hop free tuning range of the laser and precise stabilization to single frequencies. We apply it to a commercially available optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and demonstrate tuning over more than 60 GHz with a ramping speed up to 3 GHz/ms. Frequency ramps spanning 15 GHz are performed in less than 10 ms, with the OPO instantly relocked to the OFC after the ramp at any desired frequency. The developed control hardware and software are able to stabilize the OPO to sub-MHz precision and to perform sequences of fast frequency ramps automatically.

Femtosecond Timekeeping: Slip-Free Clockwork for Optical Timescales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herman, D.; Droste, S.; Baumann, E.; Roslund, J.; Churin, D.; Cingoz, A.; Deschênes, J.-D.; Khader, I. H.; Swann, W. C.; Nelson, C.; Newbury, N. R.; Coddington, I.

2018-04-01

The generation of true optical time standards will require the conversion of the highly stable optical-frequency output of an optical atomic clock to a high-fidelity time output. We demonstrate a comb-based clockwork that phase-coherently integrates ˜7 ×1020 optical cycles of an input optical frequency to create a coherent time output. We verify the underlying stability of the optical timing system by comparing two comb-based clockworks with a common input optical frequency and show <20 fs total time drift over the 37-day measurement period. Both clockworks also generate traditional timing signals including an optical pulse per second and a 10-MHz rf reference. The optical pulse-per-second time outputs remain synchronized to 240 attoseconds (240 as) at 1000 s. The phase-coherent 10-MHz rf outputs are stable to near a part in 1019 . Fault-free timekeeping from an optical clock to femtosecond level over months is an important step in replacing the current microwave time standard by an optical standard.

Implementation and characterization of a stable optical frequency distribution system.

PubMed

Bernhardt, Birgitta; Hänsch, Theodor W; Holzwarth, Ronald

2009-09-14

An optical frequency distribution system has been developed that continuously delivers a stable optical frequency of 268 THz (corresponding to a wavelength of 1118 nm) to different experiments in our institute. For that purpose, a continuous wave (cw) fiber laser has been stabilized onto a frequency comb and distributed across the building by the use of a fiber network. While the light propagates through the fiber, acoustic and thermal effects counteract against the stability and accuracy of the system. However, by employing proper stabilization methods a stability of 2 x 10(-13) tau(-1/2) is achieved, limited by the available radio frequency (RF) reference. Furthermore, the issue of counter-dependant results of the Allan deviation was examined during the data evaluation.

Active linewidth-narrowing of a mid-infrared quantum cascade laser without optical reference.

PubMed

Tombez, L; Schilt, S; Hofstetter, D; Südmeyer, T

2013-12-01

We report on a technique for frequency noise reduction and linewidth-narrowing of a distributed-feedback mid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) that does not involve any optical frequency reference. The voltage fluctuations across the QCL are sensed, amplified and fed back to the temperature of the QCL at a fast rate using a near-IR laser illuminating the top of the QCL chip. A locking bandwidth of 300 kHz and a reduction of the frequency noise power spectral density by a factor of 10 with respect to the free-running laser are achieved. From 2 MHz for the free-running QCL, the linewidth is narrowed below 700 kHz (10 ms observation time).

(abstract) Precision Time and Frequency Transfer Utilizing SONET OC-3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stein, Sam; Calhoun, Malcom; Kuhnle, Paul; Sydnor, Richard; Gifford, Al

1996-01-01

An innovative method of distributing precise time and reference frequency to users located several kilometers from a frequency standard and master clock has been developed by the Timing Solutions Corporation of Boulder, CO. The Optical Two-Way Time Transfer System (OTWTTS) utilizes a commercial SONET OC-3 facility interface to physically connect a master unit to multiple slave units at remote locations. Optical fiber is a viable alternative to standard copper cable and microwave transmission. This paper discusses measurements of frequency and timing stability over the OTWTTS.

Cascaded multiplexed optical link on a telecommunication network for frequency dissemination.

PubMed

Lopez, Olivier; Haboucha, Adil; Kéfélian, Fabien; Jiang, Haifeng; Chanteau, Bruno; Roncin, Vincent; Chardonnet, Christian; Amy-Klein, Anne; Santarelli, Giorgio

2010-08-02

We demonstrate a cascaded optical link for ultrastable frequency dissemination comprised of two compensated links of 150 km and a repeater station. Each link includes 114 km of Internet fiber simultaneously carrying data traffic through a dense wavelength division multiplexing technology, and passes through two routing centers of the telecommunication network. The optical reference signal is inserted in and extracted from the communication network using bidirectional optical add-drop multiplexers. The repeater station operates autonomously ensuring noise compensation on the two links and the ultra-stable signal optical regeneration. The compensated link shows a fractional frequency instability of 3 x 10(-15) at one second measurement time and 5 x 10(-20) at 20 hours. This work paves the way to a wide dissemination of ultra-stable optical clock signals between distant laboratories via the Internet network.

Towards the LISA backlink: experiment design for comparing optical phase reference distribution systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isleif, Katharina-Sophie; Bischof, Lea; Ast, Stefan; Penkert, Daniel; Schwarze, Thomas S.; Fernández Barranco, Germán; Zwetz, Max; Veith, Sonja; Hennig, Jan-Simon; Tröbs, Michael; Reiche, Jens; Gerberding, Oliver; Danzmann, Karsten; Heinzel, Gerhard

2018-04-01

LISA is a proposed space-based laser interferometer detecting gravitational waves by measuring distances between free-floating test masses housed in three satellites in a triangular constellation with laser links in-between. Each satellite contains two optical benches that are articulated by moving optical subassemblies for compensating the breathing angle in the constellation. The phase reference distribution system, also known as backlink, forms an optical bi-directional path between the intra-satellite benches. In this work we discuss phase reference implementations with a target non-reciprocity of at most 2π μrad \\sqrtHz-1 , equivalent to 1 pm \\sqrtHz-1 for a wavelength of 1064 nm in the frequency band from 0.1 mHz to 1 Hz. One phase reference uses a steered free beam connection, the other one a fiber together with additional laser frequencies. The noise characteristics of these implementations will be compared in a single interferometric set-up with a previously successfully tested direct fiber connection. We show the design of this interferometer created by optical simulations including ghost beam analysis, component alignment and noise estimation. First experimental results of a free beam laser link between two optical set-ups that are co-rotating by  ±1° are presented. This experiment demonstrates sufficient thermal stability during rotation of less than 10‑4 K \\sqrtHz-1 at 1 mHz and operation of the free beam steering mirror control over more than 1 week.

Edge Triggered Apparatus and Method for Measuring Strain in Bragg Gratings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Froggatt, Mark E. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

An apparatus and method for measuring strain of gratings written into an optical fiber. Optical radiation is transmitted over one or more contiguous predetermined wavelength ranges into a reference optical fiber network and an optical fiber network under test to produce a plurality of reference interference fringes and measurement interference fringes, respectively. The reference and measurement fringes are detected, and the reference fringes trigger the sampling of the measurement fringes. This results in the measurement fringes being sampled at 2(pi) increments of the reference fringes. Each sampled measurement fringe of each wavelength sweep is transformed into a spatial domain waveform. The spatial domain waveforms are summed to form a summation spatial domain waveform that is used to determine location of each grating with respect to a reference reflector. A portion of each spatial domain waveform that corresponds to a particular grating is determined and transformed into a corresponding frequency spectrum representation. The strain on the grating at each wavelength of optical radiation is determined by determining the difference between the current wavelength and an earlier, zero-strain wavelength measurement.

Genetics Home Reference: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy

MedlinePlus

... What is the prognosis of a genetic condition? Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center Frequency The prevalence of LHON in ... Nerve Disorders Health Topic: Vision Impairment and Blindness Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (1 link) Leber hereditary optic neuropathy ...

Frequency stabilization for space-based missions using optical fiber interferometry.

PubMed

McRae, Terry G; Ngo, Silvie; Shaddock, Daniel A; Hsu, Magnus T L; Gray, Malcolm B

2013-02-01

We present measurement results for a laser frequency reference, implemented with an all-optical fiber Michelson interferometer, down to frequencies as low as 1 mHz. Optical fiber is attractive for space-based operations as it is physically robust, small and lightweight. The small free spectral range of fiber interferometers also provides the possibility to prestabilize two lasers on two distant spacecraft and ensures that the beatnote remains within the detector bandwidth. We demonstrate that these fiber interferometers are viable candidates for future laser-based gravity recovery and climate experiment missions requiring a stability of 30 Hz/√Hz over a 10 mHz-1 Hz bandwidth.

Frequency-domain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with linear optics.

PubMed

Imany, Poolad; Odele, Ogaga D; Alshaykh, Mohammed S; Lu, Hsuan-Hao; Leaird, Daniel E; Weiner, Andrew M

2018-06-15

The Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference is one of the most fundamental quantum-mechanical effects that reveal a nonclassical behavior of single photons. Two identical photons that are incident on the input ports of an unbiased beam splitter always exit the beam splitter together from the same output port, an effect referred to as photon bunching. In this Letter, we utilize a single electro-optic phase modulator as a probabilistic frequency beam splitter, which we exploit to observe HOM interference between two photons that are in different spectral modes, yet are identical in other characteristics. Our approach enables linear optical quantum information processing protocols using the frequency degree of freedom in photons such as quantum computing techniques with linear optics.

Common mode noise rejection properties of amplitude and phase noise in a heterodyne interferometer.

PubMed

Hechenblaikner, Gerald

2013-05-01

High precision metrology systems based on heterodyne interferometry can measure the position and attitude of objects to accuracies of picometer and nanorad, respectively. A frequently found feature of the general system design is the subtraction of a reference phase from the phase of the position interferometer, which suppresses low frequency common mode amplitude and phase fluctuations occurring in volatile optical path sections shared by both the position and reference interferometer. Spectral components of the noise at frequencies around or higher than the heterodyne frequency, however, are generally transmitted into the measurement band and may limit the measurement accuracy. Detailed analytical calculations complemented with Monte Carlo simulations show that high frequency noise components may also be entirely suppressed, depending on the relative difference of measurement and reference phase, which may be exploited by corresponding design provisions. While these results are applicable to any heterodyne interferometer with certain design characteristics, specific calculations and related discussions are given for the example of the optical metrology system of the LISA Pathfinder mission to space.

Laser frequency stabilization using a transfer interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Shira; Sawaoka, Hiromitsu; Bhatt, Nishant; Potnis, Shreyas; Vutha, Amar C.

2018-03-01

We present a laser frequency stabilization system that uses a transfer interferometer to stabilize slave lasers to a reference laser. Our implementation uses off-the-shelf optical components along with microcontroller-based digital feedback, and offers a simple, flexible, and robust way to stabilize multiple laser frequencies to better than 1 MHz.

Towards the distribution network of time and frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipiński, M.; Krehlik, P.; Śliwczyński, Ł.; Buczek, Ł.; Kołodziej, J.; Nawrocki, J.; Nogaś, P.; Dunst, P.; Lemański, D.; Czubla, A.; Pieczerak, J.; Adamowicz, W.; Pawszak, T.; Igalson, J.; Binczewski, A.; Bogacki, W.; Ostapowicz, P.; Stroiński, M.; Turza, K.

2014-05-01

In the paper the genesis, current stage and perspectives of the OPTIME project are described. The main goal of the project is to demonstrate that the newdeveloped at AGH technology of fiber optic transfer of the atomic clocks reference signals is ready to be used in building the domestic Time and Frequency distribution network. In the first part we summarize the two-year continuous operation of 420 kmlong link connecting the Laboratory of Time and Frequency at Central Office of Measures GUM in Warsaw and Time Service Laboratory at Astrogeodynamic Obserwatory AOS in Borowiec near Poznan. For the first time, we are reporting the two year comparison of UTC(PL) and UTC(AOS) atomic timescales with this link, and we refer it to the results of comparisons performed by GPS-based methods. We also address some practical aspects of maintaining time and frequency dissemination over fiber optical network. In the second part of the paper the concept of the general architecture of the distribution network with two Reference Time and Frequency Laboratories and local repositories is proposed. Moreover the brief project of the second branch connecting repositories in Poznan Polish Supercomputing and Networking Center and Torun Nicolaus Copernicus University with the first end-users in Torun such as National Laboratory of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics and Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center is described. In the final part the perspective of developing the network both in the domestic range as far as extention with the international connections possibilities are presented.

Laser frequency stabilization and control through offset sideband locking to optical cavities.

PubMed

Thorpe, J I; Numata, K; Livas, J

2008-09-29

We describe a class of techniques whereby a laser frequency can be stabilized to a fixed optical cavity resonance with an adjustable offset, providing a wide tuning range for the central frequency. These techniques require only minor modifications to the standard Pound-Drever-Hall locking techniques and have the advantage of not altering the intrinsic stability of the frequency reference. We discuss the expected performance and limitations of these techniques and present a laboratory investigation in which both the sideband techniques and the standard, on-tunable Pound-Drever- Hall technique reached the 100Hz/square root(Hz) level.

Celestial Reference Frames at Multiple Radio Wavelengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Christopher S.

2012-01-01

In 1997 the IAU adopted the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) built from S/X VLBI data. In response to IAU resolutions encouraging the extension of the ICRF to additional frequency bands, VLBI frames have been made at 24, 32, and 43 gigahertz. Meanwhile, the 8.4 gigahertz work has been greatly improved with the 2009 release of the ICRF-2. This paper discusses the motivations for extending the ICRF to these higher radio bands. Results to date will be summarized including evidence that the high frequency frames are rapidly approaching the accuracy of the 8.4 gigahertz ICRF-2. We discuss current limiting errors and prospects for the future accuracy of radio reference frames. We note that comparison of multiple radio frames is characterizing the frequency dependent systematic noise floor from extended source morphology and core shift. Finally, given Gaia's potential for high accuracy optical astrometry, we have simulated the precision of a radio-optical frame tie to be approximately10-15 microarcseconds ((1-sigma) (1-standard deviation), per component).

Optical frequency standard development in support of NASA's gravity-mapping missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klipstein, W. M.; Seidel, D. J.; White, J. A.; Young, B. C.

2001-01-01

We intend to combine the exquisite performance over short time scales coming from a cavity reference with the long-term stability of an atomic frequency standard with an eye towards reliability in a spaceflight application.

1THz synchronous tuning of two optical synthesizers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neuhaus, Rudolf; Rohde, Felix; Benkler, Erik; Puppe, Thomas; Raab, Christoph; Unterreitmayer, Reinhard; Zach, Armin; Telle, Harald R.; Stuhler, Jürgen

2016-04-01

Single-frequency optical synthesizers (SFOS) provide an optical field with arbitrarily adjustable frequency and phase which is phase-coherently linked to a reference signal. Ideally, they combine the spectral resolution of narrow linewidth frequency stabilized lasers with the broad spectral coverage of frequency combs in a tunable fashion. In state-of-the-art SFOSs tuning across comb lines requires comb line order switching,1, 2 which imposes technical overhead with problems like forbidden frequency gaps or strong phase glitches. Conventional tunable lasers often tune over only tens of GHz before mode-hops occur. Here, we present a novel type of SFOSs, which relies on a serrodyne technique with conditional flyback,3 shifting the carrier frequency of the employed frequency comb without an intrusion into the comb generator. It utilizes a new continuously tunable diode laser that tunes mode-hop-free across the full gain spectrum of the integrated laser diode. We investigate the tuning behavior of two identical SFOSs that share a common reference, by comparing the phases of their output signals. Previously, we achieved phase-stable and cycle-slip free frequency tuning over 28.1 GHz with a maximum zero-to-peak phase deviation of 62 mrad4 when sharing a common comb generator. With the new continuously tunable lasers, the SFOSs tune synchronously across nearly 17800 comb lines (1 THz). The tuning range in this approach can be extended to the full bandwidth of the frequency comb and the 110 nm mode-hop-free tuning range of the diode laser.

Beaconless Pointing for Deep-Space Optical Communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swank, Aaron J.; Aretskin-Hariton, Eliot; Le, Dzu K.; Sands, Obed S.; Wroblewski, Adam

2016-01-01

Free space optical communication is of interest to NASA as a complement to existing radio frequency communication methods. The potential for an increase in science data return capability over current radio-frequency communications is the primary objective. Deep space optical communication requires laser beam pointing accuracy on the order of a few microradians. The laser beam pointing approach discussed here operates without the aid of a terrestrial uplink beacon. Precision pointing is obtained from an on-board star tracker in combination with inertial rate sensors and an outgoing beam reference vector. The beaconless optical pointing system presented in this work is the current approach for the Integrated Radio and Optical Communication (iROC) project.

LISA Technology Development at GSFC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thorpe, James Ira; McWilliams, S.; Baker, J.

2008-01-01

The prime focus of LISA technology development efforts at NASA/GSFC has been in LISA interferometry, specifically in the area of laser frequency noise mitigation. Laser frequency noise is addressed through a combination of stabilization and common-mode rejection. Current plans call for two stages of stabilization, pre-stabilization to a local frequency reference and further stabilization using the constellation as a frequency reference. In order for these techniques to be used simultaneously, the pre-stabilization step must provide an adjustable frequency offset. Here, we report on a modification to the standard modulation/demodulation techniques used to stabilize to optical cavities that generates a frequency-tunable reference from a fixed-length cavity. This technique requires no modifications to the cavity itself and only minor modifications to the components. The measured noise performance and dynamic range of the laboratory prototype meets the LISA requirements.

Frequency range selection method of trans-impedance amplifier for high sensitivity lock-in amplifier used in the optical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Chang-In; Jeon, Su-Jin; Hong, Nam-Pyo; Choi, Young-Wan

2016-03-01

Lock-in amplifier (LIA) has been proposed as a detection technique for optical sensors because it can measure low signal in high noise level. LIA uses synchronous method, so the input signal frequency is locked to a reference frequency that is used to carry out the measurements. Generally, input signal frequency of LIA used in optical sensors is determined by modulation frequency of optical signal. It is important to understand the noise characteristics of the trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) to determine the modulation frequency. The TIA has a frequency range in which noise is minimized by the capacitance of photo diode (PD) and the passive component of TIA feedback network. When the modulation frequency is determined in this range, it is possible to design a robust system to noise. In this paper, we propose a method for the determination of optical signal modulation frequency selection by using the noise characteristics of TIA. Frequency response of noise in TIA is measured by spectrum analyzer and minimum noise region is confirmed. The LIA and TIA circuit have been designed as a hybrid circuit. The optical sensor is modeled by the laser diode (LD) and photo diode (PD) and the modulation frequency was used as the input to the signal generator. The experiments were performed to compare the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the minimum noise region and the others. The results clearly show that the SNR is enhanced in the minimum noise region of TIA.

Accuracy enhanced distance measurement system using double-sideband modulated frequency scanning interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xilun; Wang, Xiangchuan; Pan, Shilong

2017-03-01

An implementation of a distance measurement system using double-sideband with suppressed carrier modulation (DSB-SC) frequency scanning interferometry is proposed to reduce the variations in the optical path and improve the measurement accuracy. In this proposed system, the electro-optic DSB-SC is used to create dual-swept signals with opposite scanning directions. For each swept signal, the relative distance between the reference arm and the measuring arm is determined by the beat frequency of signals from two arms. By multiplying both beat signals, measurement errors caused by variations in the optical path can be greatly reduced. As an experimental demonstration, a vibration was introduced in the optical path length. The experimental results show that the variations can be suppressed for over 19.9 dB.

Progress toward Brazilian cesium fountain second generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bueno, Caio; Rodriguez Salas, Andrés; Torres Müller, Stella; Bagnato, Vanderlei Salvador; Varela Magalhães, Daniel

2018-03-01

The operation of a Cesium fountain primary frequency standard is strongly influenced by the characteristics of two important subsystems. The first is a stable frequency reference and the second is the frequency-transfer system. A stable standard frequency reference is key factor for experiments that require high accuracy and precision. The frequency stability of this reference has a significant impact on the procedures for evaluating certain systematic biases in frequency standards. This paper presents the second generation of the Brazilian Cesium Fountain (Br-CsF) through the opto-mechanical assembly and vacuum chamber to trap atoms. We used a squared section glass profile to build the region where the atoms are trapped and colled by magneto-optical technique. The opto-mechanical system was reduced to increase stability and robustness. This newest Atomic Fountain is essential to contribute with time and frequency development in metrology systems.

Electronic sideband locking of a broadly tunable 318.6 nm ultraviolet laser to an ultra-stable optical cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Jiandong; Wang, Jieying; He, Jun; Wang, Junmin

2017-04-01

We demonstrate frequency stabilization of a tunable 318.6 nm ultraviolet (UV) laser system using electronic sideband locking. By indirectly changing the frequency of a broadband electro-optic phase modulator, the laser can be continuously tuned over 4 GHz, while a 637.2 nm laser is directly stabilized to a high-finesse ultra-stable optical cavity. The doubling cavity also remains locked to the 637.2 nm light. We show that the tuning range depends mainly on the gain-flattening region of the modulator and the piezo-tunable range of the seed laser. The frequency-stabilized tunable UV laser system is able to compensate for the offset between reference and target frequencies, and has potential applications in precision spectroscopy of cold atoms.

Two-stage system based on a software-defined radio for stabilizing of optical frequency combs in long-term experiments.

PubMed

Cížek, Martin; Hucl, Václav; Hrabina, Jan; Smíd, Radek; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Cíp, Ondřej

2014-01-20

A passive optical resonator is a special sensor used for measurement of lengths on the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. A stabilized optical frequency comb can provide an ultimate reference for measuring the wavelength of a tunable laser locked to the optical resonator. If we lock the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb to a high-grade radiofrequency (RF) oscillator its relative frequency stability is transferred from the RF to the optical frequency domain. Experiments in the field of precise length metrology of low-expansion materials are usually of long-term nature so it is required that the optical frequency comb stay in operation for an extended period of time. The optoelectronic closed-loop systems used for stabilization of combs are usually based on traditional analog electronic circuits processing signals from photodetectors. From an experimental point of view, these setups are very complicated and sensitive to ambient conditions, especially in the optical part, therefore maintaining long-time operation is not easy. The research presented in this paper deals with a novel approach based on digital signal processing and a software-defined radio. We describe digital signal processing algorithms intended for keeping the femtosecond optical comb in a long-time stable operation. This need arose during specialized experiments involving measurements of optical frequencies of tunable continuous-wave lasers. The resulting system is capable of keeping the comb in lock for an extensive period of time (8 days or more) with the relative stability better than 1.6 × 10(-11).

Two-Stage System Based on a Software-Defined Radio for Stabilizing of Optical Frequency Combs in Long-Term Experiments

PubMed Central

Čížek, Martin; Hucl, Václav; Hrabina, Jan; Šmíd, Radek; Mikel, Břetislav; Lazar, Josef; Číp, Ondřej

2014-01-01

A passive optical resonator is a special sensor used for measurement of lengths on the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Astabilized optical frequency comb can provide an ultimate reference for measuring the wavelength of a tunable laser locked to the optical resonator. If we lock the repetition and offset frequencies of the comb to a high-grade radiofrequency (RF) oscillator its relative frequency stability is transferred from the RF to the optical frequency domain. Experiments in the field of precise length metrology of low-expansion materials are usually of long-term nature so it is required that the optical frequency comb stay in operation for an extended period of time. The optoelectronic closed-loop systems used for stabilization of combs are usually based on traditional analog electronic circuits processing signals from photodetectors. From an experimental point of view, these setups are very complicated and sensitive to ambient conditions, especially in the optical part, therefore maintaining long-time operation is not easy. The research presented in this paper deals with a novel approach based on digital signal processing and a software-defined radio. We describe digital signal processing algorithms intended for keeping the femtosecond optical comb in a long-time stable operation. This need arose during specialized experiments involving measurements of optical frequencies of tunable continuous-wave lasers. The resulting system is capable of keeping the comb in lock for an extensive period of time (8 days or more) with the relative stability better than 1.6 × 10−11. PMID:24448169

United time-frequency spectroscopy for dynamics and global structure.

PubMed

Marian, Adela; Stowe, Matthew C; Lawall, John R; Felinto, Daniel; Ye, Jun

2004-12-17

Ultrashort laser pulses have thus far been used in two distinct modes. In the time domain, the pulses have allowed probing and manipulation of dynamics on a subpicosecond time scale. More recently, phase stabilization has produced optical frequency combs with absolute frequency reference across a broad bandwidth. Here we combine these two applications in a spectroscopic study of rubidium atoms. A wide-bandwidth, phase-stabilized femtosecond laser is used to monitor the real-time dynamic evolution of population transfer. Coherent pulse accumulation and quantum interference effects are observed and well modeled by theory. At the same time, the narrow linewidth of individual comb lines permits a precise and efficient determination of the global energy-level structure, providing a direct connection among the optical, terahertz, and radio-frequency domains. The mechanical action of the optical frequency comb on the atomic sample is explored and controlled, leading to precision spectroscopy with an appreciable reduction in systematic errors.

A tunable, double-wavelength heterodyne detection interferometer with frequency-locked diode-pumped Nd:YAG sources for absolute measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelmini, E.; Minoni, U.; Docchio, F.

1995-08-01

A double heterodyne interferometric instrument using a tunable synthetic wavelength for the absolute measurements of distance and position is presented. The optical synthetic wavelength is generated by a pair of PZT-tunable diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1.064 μm. Based on a closed-loop scheme, a suitable electronic circuit has been developed to implement the frequency locking of the two lasers. A digital frequency comparator provides an error signal, used to control the slave laser, by comparing the laser beat frequency to a reference oscillator. Demodulation of the superheterodyne signals is obtained by a rf detector followed by low-pass filtering. Distance measurements are obtained by a digital phase meter gauging the phase difference between the demodulated signals from a measuring interferometer and from a reference interferometer. The paper presents the optical and the electronic layouts of the instrument as well as experimental results from a laboratory prototype.

Stable optical frequency comb generation and applications in arbitrary waveform generation, signal processing and optical data mining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozharar, Sarper

This thesis focuses on the generation and applications of stable optical frequency combs. Optical frequency combs are defined as equally spaced optical frequencies with a fixed phase relation among themselves. The conventional source of optical frequency combs is the optical spectrum of the modelocked lasers. In this work, we investigated alternative methods for optical comb generation, such as dual sine wave phase modulation, which is more practical and cost effective compared to modelocked lasers stabilized to a reference. Incorporating these comblines, we have generated tunable RF tones using the serrodyne technique. The tuning range was +/-1 MHz, limited by the electronic waveform generator, and the RF carrier frequency is limited by the bandwidth of the photodetector. Similarly, using parabolic phase modulation together with time division multiplexing, RF chirp extension has been realized. Another application of the optical frequency combs studied in this thesis is real time data mining in a bit stream. A novel optoelectronic logic gate has been developed for this application and used to detect an 8 bit long target pattern. Also another approach based on orthogonal Hadamard codes have been proposed and explained in detail. Also novel intracavity modulation schemes have been investigated and applied for various applications such as (a) improving rational harmonic modelocking for repetition rate multiplication and pulse to pulse amplitude equalization, (b) frequency skewed pulse generation for ranging and (c) intracavity active phase modulation in amplitude modulated modelocked lasers for supermode noise spur suppression and integrated jitter reduction. The thesis concludes with comments on the future work and next steps to improve some of the results presented in this work.

Method and Apparatus of Multiplexing and Acquiring Data from Multiple Optical Fibers Using a Single Data Channel of an Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, Jr., Allen R (Inventor); Chan, Hon Man (Inventor); Piazza, Anthony (Nino) (Inventor); Richards, William Lance (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A method and system for multiplexing a network of parallel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor-fibers to a single acquisition channel of a closed Michelson interferometer system via a fiber splitter by distinguishing each branch of fiber sensors in the spatial domain. On each branch of the splitter, the fibers have a specific pre-determined length, effectively separating each branch of fiber sensors spatially. In the spatial domain the fiber branches are seen as part of one acquisition channel on the interrogation system. However, the FBG-reference arm beat frequency information for each fiber is retained. Since the beat frequency is generated between the reference arm, the effective fiber length of each successive branch includes the entire length of the preceding branch. The multiple branches are seen as one fiber having three segments where the segments can be resolved. This greatly simplifies optical, electronic and computational complexity, and is especially suited for use in multiplexed or branched OFS networks for SHM of large and/or distributed structures which need a lot of measurement points.

Apparatus and method for qualitative and quantitative measurements of optical properties of turbid media using frequency-domain photon migration

DOEpatents

Tromberg, B.J.; Tsay, T.T.; Berns, M.W.; Svaasand, L.O.; Haskell, R.C.

1995-06-13

Optical measurements of turbid media, that is media characterized by multiple light scattering, is provided through an apparatus and method for exposing a sample to a modulated laser beam. The light beam is modulated at a fundamental frequency and at a plurality of integer harmonics thereof. Modulated light is returned from the sample and preferentially detected at cross frequencies at frequencies slightly higher than the fundamental frequency and at integer harmonics of the same. The received radiance at the beat or cross frequencies is compared against a reference signal to provide a measure of the phase lag of the radiance and modulation ratio relative to a reference beam. The phase and modulation amplitude are then provided as a frequency spectrum by an array processor to which a computer applies a complete curve fit in the case of highly scattering samples or a linear curve fit below a predetermined frequency in the case of highly absorptive samples. The curve fit in any case is determined by the absorption and scattering coefficients together with a concentration of the active substance in the sample. Therefore, the curve fitting to the frequency spectrum can be used both for qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances in the sample even though the sample is highly turbid. 14 figs.

Apparatus and method for qualitative and quantitative measurements of optical properties of turbid media using frequency-domain photon migration

DOEpatents

Tromberg, Bruce J.; Tsay, Tsong T.; Berns, Michael W.; Svaasand, Lara O.; Haskell, Richard C.

1995-01-01

Optical measurements of turbid media, that is media characterized by multiple light scattering, is provided through an apparatus and method for exposing a sample to a modulated laser beam. The light beam is modulated at a fundamental frequency and at a plurality of integer harmonics thereof. Modulated light is returned from the sample and preferentially detected at cross frequencies at frequencies slightly higher than the fundamental frequency and at integer harmonics of the same. The received radiance at the beat or cross frequencies is compared against a reference signal to provide a measure of the phase lag of the radiance and modulation ratio relative to a reference beam. The phase and modulation amplitude are then provided as a frequency spectrum by an array processor to which a computer applies a complete curve fit in the case of highly scattering samples or a linear curve fit below a predetermined frequency in the case of highly absorptive samples. The curve fit in any case is determined by the absorption and scattering coefficients together with a concentration of the active substance in the sample. Therefore, the curve fitting to the frequency spectrum can be used both for qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances in the sample even though the sample is highly turbid.

Frequency Comparison of [Formula: see text] Ion Optical Clocks at PTB and NPL via GPS PPP.

PubMed

Leute, J; Huntemann, N; Lipphardt, B; Tamm, Christian; Nisbet-Jones, P B R; King, S A; Godun, R M; Jones, J M; Margolis, H S; Whibberley, P B; Wallin, A; Merimaa, M; Gill, P; Peik, E

2016-07-01

We used precise point positioning, a well-established GPS carrier-phase frequency transfer method to perform a direct remote comparison of two optical frequency standards based on single laser-cooled [Formula: see text] ions operated at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), U.K. and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany. At both institutes, an active hydrogen maser serves as a flywheel oscillator which is connected to a GPS receiver as an external frequency reference and compared simultaneously to a realization of the unperturbed frequency of the (2)S1/2(F=0)-(2)D3/2(F=2) electric quadrupole transition in [Formula: see text] via an optical femtosecond frequency comb. To profit from long coherent GPS-link measurements, we extrapolate the fractional frequency difference over the various data gaps in the optical clock to maser comparisons which introduces maser noise to the frequency comparison but improves the uncertainty from the GPS-link instability. We determined the total statistical uncertainty consisting of the GPS-link uncertainty and the extrapolation uncertainties for several extrapolation schemes. Using the extrapolation scheme with the smallest combined uncertainty, we find a fractional frequency difference [Formula: see text] of -1.3×10(-15) with a combined uncertainty of 1.2×10(-15) for a total measurement time of 67 h. This result is consistent with an agreement of the frequencies realized by both optical clocks and with recent absolute frequency measurements against caesium fountain clocks within the corresponding uncertainties.

Optical microphone

DOEpatents

Veligdan, James T.

2000-01-11

An optical microphone includes a laser and beam splitter cooperating therewith for splitting a laser beam into a reference beam and a signal beam. A reflecting sensor receives the signal beam and reflects it in a plurality of reflections through sound pressure waves. A photodetector receives both the reference beam and reflected signal beam for heterodyning thereof to produce an acoustic signal for the sound waves. The sound waves vary the local refractive index in the path of the signal beam which experiences a Doppler frequency shift directly analogous with the sound waves.

System and Method for Measuring the Transfer Function of a Guided Wave Device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Froggatt, Mark E. (Inventor); Erdogan, Turan (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A method/system are provided for measuring the NxN scalar transfer function elements for an N-port guided wave device. Optical energy of a selected wavelength is generated at a source and directed along N reference optical paths having N reference path lengths. Each reference optical path terminates in one of N detectors such that N reference signals are produced at the N detectors. The reference signals are indicative of amplitude, phase and frequency of the optical energy carried along the N reference optical paths. The optical energy from the source is also directed to the N-ports of the guided wave device and then on to each of the N detectors such that N measurement optical paths are defined between the source and each of the N detectors. A portion of the optical energy is modified in terms of at least one of the amplitude and phase to produce N modified signals at each of the N detectors. At each of the N detectors, each of the N modified signals is combined with a corresponding one of the N reference signals to produce corresponding N combined signals at each of the N detectors. A total of N(sup 2) measurement signals are generated by the N detectors. Each of the N(sup 2) measurement signals is sampled at a wave number increment (Delta)k so that N(sup 2) sampled signals are produced. The NxN transfer function elements are generated using the N(sup 2) sampled signals. Reference and measurement path length constraints are defined such that the N combined signals at each of the N detectors are spatially separated from one another in the time domain.

A multi-branch, fiber-based frequency comb with millihertz-level relative linewidths using an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator.

PubMed

Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Inaba, Hajime; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Minoshima, Kaoru; Onae, Atsushi; Yasuda, Masami; Kohno, Takuya; Kawato, Sakae; Kobayashi, Takao; Katsuyama, Toshio; Hong, Feng-Lei

2010-01-18

We demonstrate that fiber-based frequency combs with multi-branch configurations can transfer both linewidth and frequency stability to another wavelength at the millihertz level. An intra-cavity electro-optic modulator is employed to obtain a broad servo bandwidth for repetition rate control. We investigate the relative linewidths between two combs using a stable continuous-wave laser as a common reference to stabilize the repetition rate frequencies in both combs. The achieved energy concentration to the carrier of the out-of-loop beat between the two combs was 99% and 30% at a bandwidth of 1 kHz and 7.6 mHz, respectively. The frequency instability of the comb was 3.7x10(-16) for a 1 s averaging time, improving to 5-8x10(-19) for 10000 s. We show that the frequency noise in the out-of-loop beat originates mainly from phase noise in branched optical fibers.

Communication: Saturated CO2 absorption near 1.6 μm for kilohertz-accuracy transition frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkart, Johannes; Sala, Tommaso; Romanini, Daniele; Marangoni, Marco; Campargue, Alain; Kassi, Samir

2015-05-01

Doppler-free saturated-absorption Lamb dips were measured on weak rovibrational lines of 12C16O2 between 6189 and 6215 cm-1 at sub-Pa pressures using optical feedback frequency stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy. By referencing the laser source to an optical frequency comb, transition frequencies for ten lines of the 30013←00001 band P-branch and two lines of the 31113←01101 hot band R-branch were determined with an accuracy of a few parts in 1011. Involving rotational quantum numbers up to 42, the data were used for improving the upper level spectroscopic constants. These results provide a highly accurate reference frequency grid over the spectral interval from 1599 to 1616 nm.

Opto-electronic microwave oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, X. Steve; Maleki, Lute

1996-12-01

Photonic applications are important in RF communication systems to enhance many functions including remote transfer of antenna signals, carrier frequency up or down conversion, antenna beam steering, and signal filtering. Many of these functions require reference frequency oscillators. However, traditional microwave oscillators cannot meet all the requirements of photonic communication systems that need high frequency and low phase noise signal generation. Because photonic systems involve signals in both optical and electrical domains, an ideal signal source should be able to provide electrical and optical signals. In addition, it should be possible to synchronize or control the signal source by both electrical and optical means. We present such a source1-2 that converts continuous light energy into stable and spectrally pure microwave signals. This Opto-Electronic Oscillator, OEO, consists of a pump laser and a feedback circuit including an intensity modulator, an optical fiber delay line, a photodetector, an amplifier, and a filter, as shown in Figure 1a. Its oscillation frequency, limited only by the speed of the modulator, can be up to 75 GHz.

Wideband laser locking to an atomic reference with modulation transfer spectroscopy.

PubMed

Negnevitsky, V; Turner, L D

2013-02-11

We demonstrate that conventional modulated spectroscopy apparatus, used for laser frequency stabilization in many atomic physics laboratories, can be enhanced to provide a wideband lock delivering deep suppression of frequency noise across the acoustic range. Using an acousto-optic modulator driven with an agile oscillator, we show that wideband frequency modulation of the pump laser in modulation transfer spectroscopy produces the unique single lock-point spectrum previously demonstrated with electro-optic phase modulation. We achieve a laser lock with 100 kHz feedback bandwidth, limited by our laser control electronics. This bandwidth is sufficient to reduce frequency noise by 30 dB across the acoustic range and narrows the imputed linewidth by a factor of five.

Fiber Laser Development for LISA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Numata, Kenji; Chen, Jeffrey R.

2009-01-01

We have developed a linearly-polarized Ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser with single longitudinal-mode output at 1064nm for LISA and other space applications. Single longitudinal-mode selection was achieved by using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a fiber Fabry-Perot (FFP). The FFP also serves as a frequency-reference within our ring laser. Our laser exhibits comparable low frequency and intensity noise to Non-Planar Ring Oscillator (NPRO). By using a fiber-coupled phase modulator as a frequency actuator, the laser frequency can be electro-optically tuned at a rate of 100kHz. It appears that our fiber ring laser is promising for space applications where robustness of fiber optics is desirable.

Optical Riblet Sensor: Beam Parameter Requirements for the Probing Laser Source.

PubMed

Tschentscher, Juliane; Hochheim, Sven; Brüning, Hauke; Brune, Kai; Voit, Kay-Michael; Imlau, Mirco

2016-03-30

Beam parameters of a probing laser source in an optical riblet sensor are studied by considering the high demands on a sensors' precision and reliability for the determination of deviations of the geometrical shape of a riblet. Mandatory requirements, such as minimum intensity and light polarization, are obtained by means of detailed inspection of the optical response of the riblet using ray and wave optics; the impact of wavelength is studied. Novel measures for analyzing the riblet shape without the necessity of a measurement with a reference sample are derived; reference values for an ideal riblet structure obtained with the optical riblet sensor are given. The application of a low-cost, frequency-doubled Nd:YVO₄ laser pointer sufficient to serve as a reliable laser source in an appropriate optical riblet sensor is discussed.

Optical Riblet Sensor: Beam Parameter Requirements for the Probing Laser Source

PubMed Central

Tschentscher, Juliane; Hochheim, Sven; Brüning, Hauke; Brune, Kai; Voit, Kay-Michael; Imlau, Mirco

2016-01-01

Beam parameters of a probing laser source in an optical riblet sensor are studied by considering the high demands on a sensors’ precision and reliability for the determination of deviations of the geometrical shape of a riblet. Mandatory requirements, such as minimum intensity and light polarization, are obtained by means of detailed inspection of the optical response of the riblet using ray and wave optics; the impact of wavelength is studied. Novel measures for analyzing the riblet shape without the necessity of a measurement with a reference sample are derived; reference values for an ideal riblet structure obtained with the optical riblet sensor are given. The application of a low-cost, frequency-doubled Nd:YVO4 laser pointer sufficient to serve as a reliable laser source in an appropriate optical riblet sensor is discussed. PMID:27043567

Fundamental concepts of integrated and fiber optic sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tuma, Margaret L.

1995-01-01

This chapter discusses fiber optic and integrated optic sensor concepts. Unfortunately, there is no standard method to categorize these sensor concepts. Here, fiber optic and integrated optic sensor concepts will be categorized by the primary modulation technique. These modulation techniques have been classified as: intensity, phase, wavelength, polarization, and time/frequency modulation. All modulate the output light with respect to changes in the physical or chemical property to be measured. Each primary modulation technique is then divided into fiber optic and integrated optic sections which are treated independently. For each sensor concept, possible sensor applications are discussed. The sensors and references discussed are not exhaustive, but sufficient to give the reader an overview of sensor concepts developed to date. Sensor multiplexing techniques such as wavelength division, time division, and frequency division will not be discussed as they are beyond the scope of this report.

Optical synchronization system for femtosecond X-ray sources

DOEpatents

Wilcox, Russell B [El Cerrito, CA; Holzwarth, Ronald [Munich, DE

2011-12-13

Femtosecond pump/probe experiments using short X-Ray and optical pulses require precise synchronization between 100 meter-10 km separated lasers in a various experiments. For stabilization in the hundred femtosecond range a CW laser is amplitude modulated at 1-10 GHz, the signal retroreflected from the far end, and the relative phase used to correct the transit time with various implementations. For the sub-10 fsec range the laser frequency itself is upshifted 55 MHz with an acousto-optical modulator, retroreflected, upshifted again and phase compared at the sending end to a 110 MHz reference. Initial experiments indicate less than 1 fsec timing jitter. To lock lasers in the sub-10 fs range two single-frequency lasers separated by several teraHertz will be lock to a master modelocked fiber laser, transmit the two frequencies over fiber, and lock two comb lines of a slave laser to these frequencies, thus synchronizing the two modelocked laser envelopes.

III-V on silicon micro-photonic circuits for frequency downconversion of RF signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roelkens, G.; Keyvaninia, S.; Tassaert, M.; Latkowski, S.; Bente, E.; Mariën, J.; Thomassen, L.; Baets, R.

2017-11-01

RF frequency downconverters are of key importance in communication satellites. Classically, this is implemented using an electronic mixer. In this paper we explore the use of photonic technology to realize the same functionality. The potential advantages of such an approach compared to the classical microwave solutions are that it is lighter weight, has lower power consumption and can be made smaller if photonic technology is used. An additional advantage is the fact that the optical local oscillator (LO) reference can easily be transported over longer distances than the equivalent LO signal in the microwave domain due to the large bandwidth and low loss and dispersion of optical fiber. Another big advantage is that one can envision the use of short pulse trains as the LO - starting off from a sinusoidal RF reference - in order to exploit subsampling. Subsampling avoids the need for high frequency LO references, which is especially valuable if a downconversion over several 10s of GHz is required. In this paper we present the operation principle of such a photonic frequency downconverter and describe the performance of the developed micro-photonic building blocks required for this functionality. These micro-photonic building blocks are implemented on a III-V semiconductor-on-silicon photonic platform. The components include a micro-photonic hybridly modelocked laser, a 30GHz electroabsorption modulator and an intermediate frequency (1.5GHz) photodetector.

Spectrally narrow, long-term stable optical frequency reference based on a Eu3+:Y2SiO5 crystal at cryogenic temperature.

PubMed

Chen, Qun-Feng; Troshyn, Andrei; Ernsting, Ingo; Kayser, Steffen; Vasilyev, Sergey; Nevsky, Alexander; Schiller, Stephan

2011-11-25

Using an ultrastable continuous-wave laser at 580 nm we performed spectral hole burning of Eu(3+):Y(2)SiO(5) at a very high spectral resolution. The essential parameters determining the usefulness as a macroscopic frequency reference, linewidth, temperature sensitivity, and long-term stability, were characterized using a H-maser stabilized frequency comb. Spectral holes with a linewidth as low as 6 kHz were observed and the upper limit of the drift of the hole frequency was determined to be 5±3 mHz/s. We discuss the necessary requirements for achieving ultrahigh stability in laser frequency stabilization to these spectral holes.

Parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Song; Tan, Yidong; Zhang, Shulian, E-mail: zsl-dpi@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

2013-12-15

We present a parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometer based on spatial multiplexing which avoids the signal crosstalk in the former feedback interferometer. The interferometer outputs two close parallel laser beams, whose frequencies are shifted by two acousto-optic modulators by 2Ω simultaneously. A static reference mirror is inserted into one of the optical paths as the reference optical path. The other beam impinges on the target as the measurement optical path. Phase variations of the two feedback laser beams are simultaneously measured through heterodyne demodulation with two different detectors. Their subtraction accurately reflects the target displacement. Under typical room conditions, experimentalmore » results show a resolution of 1.6 nm and accuracy of 7.8 nm within the range of 100 μm.« less

Narrow linewidth comb realized with a mode-locked fiber laser using an intra-cavity waveguide electro-optic modulator for high-speed control.

PubMed

Iwakuni, Kana; Inaba, Hajime; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Kobayashi, Takumi; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Onae, Atsushi; Hong, Feng-Lei

2012-06-18

We have developed an optical frequency comb using a mode-locked fiber ring laser with an intra-cavity waveguide electro-optic modulator controlling the optical length in the laser cavity. The mode-locking is achieved with a simple ring configuration and a nonlinear polarization rotation mechanism. The beat note between the laser and a reference laser and the carrier envelope offset frequency of the comb were simultaneously phase locked with servo bandwidths of 1.3 MHz and 900 kHz, respectively. We observed an out-of-loop beat between two identical combs, and obtained a coherent δ-function peak with a signal to noise ratio of 70 dB/Hz.

REVIEW OF IMPROVEMENTS IN RADIO FREQUENCY PHOTONICS

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

control boards keep the MZM biased at quadrature. A couple of methods exist for bias control: optical power monitoring or second harmonic power... bias , referred to as low- biasing . The increased RF gain for operating at the low bias point comes from the improved optical gain of the sidebands...Figure 3: Optical Gain for an MZM at Quadrature and Low Bias Operation ............................... 3 Figure 4: RF Gain for an MZM at Different

Applications of high average power nonlinear optics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Velsko, S.P.; Krupke, W.F.

1996-02-05

Nonlinear optical frequency convertors (harmonic generators and optical parametric oscillators are reviewed with an emphasis on high average power performance and limitations. NLO materials issues and NLO device designs are discussed in reference to several emerging scientific, military and industrial commercial applications requiring {approx} 100 watt average power level in the visible and infrared spectral regions. Research efforts required to enable practical {approx} 100 watt class NLO based laser systems are identified.

First international comparison of fountain primary frequency standards via a long distance optical fiber link

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guéna, J.; Weyers, S.; Abgrall, M.; Grebing, C.; Gerginov, V.; Rosenbusch, P.; Bize, S.; Lipphardt, B.; Denker, H.; Quintin, N.; Raupach, S. M. F.; Nicolodi, D.; Stefani, F.; Chiodo, N.; Koke, S.; Kuhl, A.; Wiotte, F.; Meynadier, F.; Camisard, E.; Chardonnet, C.; Le Coq, Y.; Lours, M.; Santarelli, G.; Amy-Klein, A.; Le Targat, R.; Lopez, O.; Pottie, P. E.; Grosche, G.

2017-06-01

We report on the first comparison of distant caesium fountain primary frequency standards (PFSs) via an optical fiber link. The 1415 km long optical link connects two PFSs at LNE-SYRTE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d’Essais—SYstème de Références Temps-Espace) in Paris (France) with two at PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) in Braunschweig (Germany). For a long time, these PFSs have been major contributors to accuracy of the International Atomic Time (TAI), with stated accuracies of around 3× {{10}-16} . They have also been the references for a number of absolute measurements of clock transition frequencies in various optical frequency standards in view of a future redefinition of the second. The phase coherent optical frequency transfer via a stabilized telecom fiber link enables far better resolution than any other means of frequency transfer based on satellite links. The agreement for each pair of distant fountains compared is well within the combined uncertainty of a few 10-16 for all the comparisons, which fully supports the stated PFSs’ uncertainties. The comparison also includes a rubidium fountain frequency standard participating in the steering of TAI and enables a new absolute determination of the 87Rb ground state hyperfine transition frequency with an uncertainty of 3.1× {{10}-16} . This paper is dedicated to the memory of André Clairon, who passed away on 24 December 2015, for his pioneering and long-lasting efforts in atomic fountains. He also pioneered optical links from as early as 1997.

Low frequency noise fiber delay stabilized laser with reduced sensitivity to acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argence, B.; Clivati, C.; Dournaux, J.-L.; Holleville, D.; Faure, B.; Lemonde, P.; Santarelli, G.

2017-11-01

Lasers with sub-hertz line-width and fractional frequency instability around 1×10-15 for 0.1 s to 10 s averaging time are currently realized by locking onto an ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavity using the Pound-Drever-Hall method. This powerful method requires tight alignment of free space optical components, precise polarization adjustment and spatial mode matching. To circumvent these issues, we use an all-fiber Michelson interferometer with a long fiber spool as a frequency reference and a heterodyne detection technique with a fibered acousto optical modulator (AOM)1. At low Fourier frequencies, the frequency noise of our system is mainly limited by mechanical vibrations, an issue that has already been explored in the field of optoelectronic oscillators.2,3,4

Interferometer with Continuously Varying Path Length Measured in Wavelengths to the Reference Mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohara, Tetsuo (Inventor)

2016-01-01

An interferometer in which the path length of the reference beam, measured in wavelengths, is continuously changing in sinusoidal fashion and the interference signal created by combining the measurement beam and the reference beam is processed in real time to obtain the physical distance along the measurement beam between the measured surface and a spatial reference frame such as the beam splitter. The processing involves analyzing the Fourier series of the intensity signal at one or more optical detectors in real time and using the time-domain multi-frequency harmonic signals to extract the phase information independently at each pixel position of one or more optical detectors and converting the phase information to distance information.

Theoretical Analysis About Quantum Noise Squeezing of Optical Fields From an Intracavity Frequency-Doubled Laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhang, Kuanshou; Xie, Changde; Peng, Kunchi

1996-01-01

The dependence of the quantum fluctuation of the output fundamental and second-harmonic waves upon cavity configuration has been numerically calculated for the intracavity frequency-doubled laser. The results might provide a direct reference for the design of squeezing system through the second-harmonic-generation.

Improvement in Rayleigh Scattering Measurement Accuracy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fagan, Amy F.; Clem, Michelle M.; Elam, Kristie A.

2012-01-01

Spectroscopic Rayleigh scattering is an established flow diagnostic that has the ability to provide simultaneous velocity, density, and temperature measurements. The Fabry-Perot interferometer or etalon is a commonly employed instrument for resolving the spectrum of molecular Rayleigh scattered light for the purpose of evaluating these flow properties. This paper investigates the use of an acousto-optic frequency shifting device to improve measurement accuracy in Rayleigh scattering experiments at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The frequency shifting device is used as a means of shifting the incident or reference laser frequency by 1100 MHz to avoid overlap of the Rayleigh and reference signal peaks in the interference pattern used to obtain the velocity, density, and temperature measurements, and also to calibrate the free spectral range of the Fabry-Perot etalon. The measurement accuracy improvement is evaluated by comparison of Rayleigh scattering measurements acquired with and without shifting of the reference signal frequency in a 10 mm diameter subsonic nozzle flow.

Stimulated Raman photoacoustic imaging

PubMed Central

Yakovlev, Vladislav V.; Zhang, Hao F.; Noojin, Gary D.; Denton, Michael L.; Thomas, Robert J.; Scully, Marlan O.

2010-01-01

Achieving label-free, molecular-specific imaging with high spatial resolution in deep tissue is often considered the grand challenge of optical imaging. To accomplish this goal, significant optical scattering in tissues has to be overcome while achieving molecular specificity without resorting to extrinsic labeling. We demonstrate the feasibility of developing such an optical imaging modality by combining the molecularly specific stimulated Raman excitation with the photoacoustic detection. By employing two ultrashort excitation laser pulses, separated in frequency by the vibrational frequency of a targeted molecule, only the specific vibrational level of the target molecules in the illuminated tissue volume is excited. This targeted optical absorption generates ultrasonic waves (referred to as stimulated Raman photoacoustic waves) which are detected using a traditional ultrasonic transducer to form an image following the design of the established photoacoustic microscopy. PMID:21059930

All-optical laser spectral narrowing and line fixing at atomic absorption transition by injection competition and gain knock-down techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gacheva, Lazarina I.; Deneva, Margarita A.; Kalbanov, Mihail H.; Nenchev, Marin N.

2008-12-01

We present two original, all optical techniques, to produce a narrowline laser light, fixed at the frequency of a chosen reference atomic absorption transition. The first type of systems is an essential improvement of our method 3,4 for laser spectral locking using a control by two frequency scanned, competitive injections with disturbed power ratio by the absorption at the reference line. The new development eliminates the narrowing limiting problem, related with the fixed laser longitudinal mode structure. We have proposed an original new technique for continuously tunable single mode laser operation in combination with synchronously and equal continuous tuning of the modes of the amplifier. By adapting the laser differential rate equations, the system is analyzed theoretically in details and is shown its feasibility. The results are in agreement with previous our experiments. The essential advantage, except simplicity of realization, is that the laser line can be of order of magnitude and more narrowed than the absorption linewidth. The second system is based of the laser amplifier arrangement with a gain knock-down from the competitive frequency scanned pulse, except at the wavelength of the desired absorption reference line. The essential advantages of the last system are that the problem of fixing laser mode presence is naturally avoided. The theoretical modeling and the numerical investigations show the peculiarity and advantages of the system proposed. The developed approaches are of interest for applications in spectroscopy, in DIAL monitoring of the atmospheric pollutants, in isotope separation system and potentially - for creation of simple, all optical, frequency standards for optical communications. Also, the continuously tunable single mode laser (and the combination with the simultaneously tunable amplifier) presents itself the interest for many practical applications in spectroscopy, metrology, and holography. We compare the action and the advantages of the two systems proposed.

A simple-architecture fibered transmission system for dissemination of high stability 100 MHz signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakir, A.; Rocher, C.; Maréchal, B.; Bigler, E.; Boudot, R.; Kersalé, Y.; Millo, J.

2018-05-01

We report on the development of a simple-architecture fiber-based frequency distribution system used to transfer high frequency stability 100 MHz signals. This work is focused on the emitter and the receiver performances that allow the transmission of the radio-frequency signal over an optical fiber. The system exhibits a residual fractional frequency stability of 1 × 10-14 at 1 s integration time and in the low 10-16 range after 100 s. These performances are suitable to transfer the signal of frequency references such as those of a state-of-the-art hydrogen maser without any phase noise compensation scheme. As an application, we demonstrate the dissemination of such a signal through a 100 m long optical fiber without any degradation. The proposed setup could be easily extended for operating frequencies in the 10 MHz-1 GHz range.

Saturated CO{sub 2} absorption near 1.6 μm for kilohertz-accuracy transition frequencies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burkart, Johannes, E-mail: johannes.burkart@ujf-grenoble.fr; Romanini, Daniele; Campargue, Alain

2015-05-21

Doppler-free saturated-absorption Lamb dips were measured on weak rovibrational lines of {sup 12}C{sup 16}O{sub 2} between 6189 and 6215 cm{sup −1} at sub-Pa pressures using optical feedback frequency stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy. By referencing the laser source to an optical frequency comb, transition frequencies for ten lines of the 30013←00001 band P-branch and two lines of the 31113←01101 hot band R-branch were determined with an accuracy of a few parts in 10{sup 11}. Involving rotational quantum numbers up to 42, the data were used for improving the upper level spectroscopic constants. These results provide a highly accurate reference frequency gridmore » over the spectral interval from 1599 to 1616 nm.« less

3-D optical profilometry at micron scale with multi-frequency fringe projection using modified fibre optic Lloyd's mirror technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inanç, Arda; Kösoğlu, Gülşen; Yüksel, Heba; Naci Inci, Mehmet

2018-06-01

A new fibre optic Lloyd's mirror method is developed for extracting 3-D height distribution of various objects at the micron scale with a resolution of 4 μm. The fibre optic assembly is elegantly integrated to an optical microscope and a CCD camera. It is demonstrated that the proposed technique is quite suitable and practical to produce an interference pattern with an adjustable frequency. By increasing the distance between the fibre and the mirror with a micrometre stage in the Lloyd's mirror assembly, the separation between the two bright fringes is lowered down to the micron scale without using any additional elements as part of the optical projection unit. A fibre optic cable, whose polymer jacket is partially stripped, and a microfluidic channel are used as test objects to extract their surface topographies. Point by point sensitivity of the method is found to be around 8 μm, changing a couple of microns depending on the fringe frequency and the measured height. A straightforward calibration procedure for the phase to height conversion is also introduced by making use of the vertical moving stage of the optical microscope. The phase analysis of the acquired image is carried out by One Dimensional Continuous Wavelet Transform for which the chosen wavelet is the Morlet wavelet and the carrier removal of the projected fringe patterns is achieved by reference subtraction. Furthermore, flexible multi-frequency property of the proposed method allows measuring discontinuous heights where there are phase ambiguities like 2π by lowering the fringe frequency and eliminating the phase ambiguity.

EGR distribution and fluctuation probe based on CO.sub.2 measurements

DOEpatents

Parks, II, James E; Partridge, Jr., William P; Yoo, Ji Hyung

2015-04-07

A diagnostic system having a single-port EGR probe and a method for using the same. The system includes a light source, an EGR probe, a detector and a processor. The light source may provide a combined light beam composed of light from a mid-infrared signal source and a mid-infrared reference source. The signal source may be centered at 4.2 .mu.m and the reference source may be centered at 3.8 .mu.m. The EGR probe may be a single-port probe with internal optics and a sampling chamber with two flow cells arranged along the light path in series. The optics may include a lens for focusing the light beam and a mirror for reflecting the light beam received from a pitch optical cable to a catch optical cable. The signal and reference sources are modulated at different frequencies, thereby allowing them to be separated and the signal normalized by the processor.

High-speed digital fiber optic links for satellite traffic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daryoush, A. S.; Ackerman, E.; Saedi, R.; Kunath, R. R.; Shalkhauser, K.

1989-01-01

Large aperture phased array antennas operating at millimeter wave frequencies are designed for space-based communications and imaging platforms. Array elements are comprised of active T/R modules which are linked to the central processing unit through high-speed fiber-optic networks. The system architecture satisfying system requirements at millimeter wave frequency is T/R level data mixing where data and frequency reference signals are distributed independently before mixing at the T/R modules. This paper demonstrates design procedures of a low loss high-speed fiber-optic link used for transmission of data signals over 600-900 MHz bandwidth inside satellite. The fiber-optic link is characterized for transmission of analog and digital data. A dynamic range of 79 dB/MHz was measured for analog data over the bandwidth. On the other hand, for bursted SMSK satellite traffic at 220 Mbps rates, BER of 2 x 10 to the -7th was measured for E(b)/N(o) of 14.3 dB.

A 12.5 GHz-spaced optical frequency comb spanning >400 nm for near-infrared astronomical spectrograph calibration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Quinlan, F.; Diddams, S. A.; Ycas, G.

2010-06-15

A 12.5 GHz-spaced optical frequency comb locked to a global positioning system disciplined oscillator for near-infrared (IR) spectrograph calibration is presented. The comb is generated via filtering a 250 MHz-spaced comb. Subsequent nonlinear broadening of the 12.5 GHz comb extends the wavelength range to cover 1380-1820 nm, providing complete coverage over the H-band transmission window of earth's atmosphere. Finite suppression of spurious sidemodes, optical linewidth, and instability of the comb has been examined to estimate potential wavelength biases in spectrograph calibration. Sidemode suppression varies between 20 and 45 dB, and the optical linewidth is {approx}350 kHz at 1550 nm. Themore » comb frequency uncertainty is bounded by {+-}30 kHz (corresponding to a radial velocity of {+-}5 cm/s), limited by the global positioning system disciplined oscillator reference. These results indicate that this comb can readily support radial velocity measurements below 1 m/s in the near IR.« less

First experimental demonstration of self-synchronous locking of optical coherence by single-detector electronic-frequency tagging of fiber amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shay, T. M.; Benham, Vincent; Baker, J. T.; Ward, Benjamin; Sanchez, Anthony D.; Culpepper, Mark A.; Pilkington, D.; Spring, Justin; Nelson, Douglas J.; Lu, Chunte A.

2006-08-01

A novel high accuracy all electronic technique for phase locking arrays of optical fibers is demonstrated. We report the first demonstration of the only electronic phase locking technique that doesn't require a reference beam. The measured phase error is λ/20. Excellent phase locking has been demonstrated for fiber amplifier arrays.

698-nm diode laser with 1-Hz linewidth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Long; Zhang, Linbo; Xu, Guanjun; Liu, Jun; Dong, Ruifang; Liu, Tao

2017-01-01

Two diode lasers at 698 nm are separately locked to two independent optical reference cavities with a finesse of about 128,000 by the Pound-Drever-Hall method. The more accurate coefficient between voltage and frequency of the error signal is measured, with which quantitative evaluation of the effect of many noises on the frequency stability can be made much more conveniently. A temperature-insensitive method is taken to reduce the effect of residual amplitude modulation on laser frequency stability. With an active fiber noise cancellation, the optical heterodyne beat between two independent lasers shows that the linewidth of one diode laser reaches 1 Hz. The fractional Allan deviation removed linear frequency shift less than 30 mHz/s is below 2.6×10-15 with 1- to 100-s average time.

LISA Beyond Einstein: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. LISA Technology Development at GSFC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thorpe, James Ira

2008-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews the work that has been ongoing at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in the development of the technology to be used in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) spacecrafts. The prime focus of LISA technology development efforts at NASA/GSFC has been in LISA interferometry. Specifically efforts have been made in the area of laser frequency noise mitigation. Laser frequency noise is addressed through a combination of stabilization and common-mode rejection. Current plans call for two stages of stabilization, pre-stabilization to a local frequency reference and further stabilization using the constellation as a frequency reference. In order for these techniques to be used simultaneously, the pre-stabilization step must provide an adjustable frequency offset. This presentation reports on a modification to the standard modulation/demodulation technique used to stabilize to optical cavities that generates a frequency-tunable reference from a fixed length cavity. This technique requires no modifications to the cavity itself and only minor modifications to the components. The measured noise performance and dynamic range of the laboratory prototype meet the LISA requirements.

Unambiguous demonstration of soliton evolution in slow-light silicon photonic crystal waveguides with SFG-XFROG.

PubMed

Li, Xiujian; Liao, Jiali; Nie, Yongming; Marko, Matthew; Jia, Hui; Liu, Ju; Wang, Xiaochun; Wong, Chee Wei

2015-04-20

We demonstrate the temporal and spectral evolution of picosecond soliton in the slow light silicon photonic crystal waveguides (PhCWs) by sum frequency generation cross-correlation frequency resolved optical grating (SFG-XFROG) and nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) modeling. The reference pulses for the SFG-XFROG measurements are unambiguously pre-characterized by the second harmonic generation frequency resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) assisted with the combination of NLSE simulations and optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) measurements. Regardless of the inevitable nonlinear two photon absorption, high order soliton compressions have been observed remarkably owing to the slow light enhanced nonlinear effects in the silicon PhCWs. Both the measurements and the further numerical analyses of the pulse dynamics indicate that, the free carrier dispersion (FCD) enhanced by the slow light effects is mainly responsible for the compression, the acceleration, and the spectral blue shift of the soliton.

Improving the surface metrology accuracy of optical profilers by using multiple measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xudong; Huang, Qiushi; Shen, Zhengxiang; Wang, Zhanshan

2016-10-01

The performance of high-resolution optical systems is affected by small angle scattering at the mid-spatial-frequency irregularities of the optical surface. Characterizing these irregularities is, therefore, important. However, surface measurements obtained with optical profilers are influenced by additive white noise, as indicated by the heavy-tail effect observable on their power spectral density (PSD). A multiple-measurement method is used to reduce the effects of white noise by averaging individual measurements. The intensity of white noise is determined using a model based on the theoretical PSD of fractal surface measurements with additive white noise. The intensity of white noise decreases as the number of times of multiple measurements increases. Using multiple measurements also increases the highest observed spatial frequency; this increase is derived and calculated. Additionally, the accuracy obtained using multiple measurements is carefully studied, with the analysis of both the residual reference error after calibration, and the random errors appearing in the range of measured spatial frequencies. The resulting insights on the effects of white noise in optical profiler measurements and the methods to mitigate them may prove invaluable to improve the quality of surface metrology with optical profilers.

Time Domain Simulations of Arm Locking in LISA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thorpe, J. I.; Maghami, P.; Livas, Jeff

2011-01-01

Arm locking is a technique that has been proposed for reducing laser frequency fluctuations in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). a gravitational-wave observatory sensitive' in the milliHertz frequency band. Arm locking takes advantage of the geometric stability of the triangular constellation of three spacecraft that comprise LISA to provide a frequency reference with a stability in the LISA measurement band that exceeds that available from a standard reference such as an optical cavity or molecular absorption line. We have implemented a time-domain simulation of arm locking including the expected limiting noise sources (shot noise, clock noise. spacecraft jitter noise. and residual laser frequency noise). The effect of imperfect a priori knowledge of the LISA heterodyne frequencies and associated "pulling" of an arm locked laser is included. We find that our implementation meets requirements both on the noise and dynamic range of the laser frequency.

A high sensitivity heterodyne interferometer as a possible optical readout for the LISA gravitational reference sensor and its application to technology verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gohlke, Martin; Schuldt, Thilo; Weise, Dennis; Cordero, Jorge; Peters, Achim; Johann, Ulrich; Braxmaier, Claus

2017-11-01

The gravitational wave detector LISA utilizes as current baseline a high sensitivity Optical Readout (ORO) for measuring the relative position and tilt of a free flying proof mass with respect to the satellite housing. The required sensitivities in the frequency band from 30 μHz to 1Hz are ˜ pm/ √ Hz for the translation√ and nrad/√ Hz for the tilt measurement. EADS Astrium, in collaboration with the Humboldt University Berlin and the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz, has realized a prototype ORO over the past years. The interferometer is based on a highly symmetric design where both, measurement and reference beam have a similar optical pathlength, and the same frequency and polarization. The technique of differential wavefront sensing (DWS) for tilt measurement is implemented. With our setup noise levels below 5pm/ √Hz for translation and below 10nrad/ √Hz for tilt measurements - both for frequencies above 10mHz - were demonstrated. We give an overview over the experimental setup, its current performance and the planned improvements. We also discuss the application to first verification of critical LISA aspects. As example we present measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of various carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) including a "near-zero-CTE" tube.

Performance evaluation of coherent free space optical communications with a double-stage fast-steering-mirror adaptive optics system depending on the Greenwood frequency.

PubMed

Liu, Wei; Yao, Kainan; Huang, Danian; Lin, Xudong; Wang, Liang; Lv, Yaowen

2016-06-13

The Greenwood frequency (GF) is influential in performance improvement for the coherent free space optical communications (CFSOC) system with a closed-loop adaptive optics (AO) unit. We analyze the impact of tilt and high-order aberrations on the mixing efficiency (ME) and bit-error-rate (BER) under different GF. The root-mean-square value (RMS) of the ME related to the RMS of the tilt aberrations, and the GF is derived to estimate the volatility of the ME. Furthermore, a numerical simulation is applied to verify the theoretical analysis, and an experimental correction system is designed with a double-stage fast-steering-mirror and a 97-element continuous surface deformable mirror. The conclusions of this paper provide a reference for designing the AO system for the CFSOC system.

Doppler-Free Spectroscopy of the {sup 1}S{sub 0}-{sup 3}P{sub 0} Optical Clock Transition in Laser-Cooled Fermionic Isotopes of Neutral Mercury

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petersen, M.; Chicireanu, R.; Dawkins, S. T.

2008-10-31

We report direct laser spectroscopy of the {sup 1}S{sub 0}-{sup 3}P{sub 0} transition at 265.6 nm in fermionic isotopes of neutral mercury in a magneto-optical trap. Measurements of the frequency against the LNE-SYRTE primary reference using an optical frequency comb yield 1 128 575 290 808.4{+-}5.6 kHz in {sup 199}Hg and 1 128 569 561 139.6{+-}5.3 kHz in {sup 201}Hg. The uncertainty, allowed by the observation of the Doppler-free recoil doublet, is 4 orders of magnitude lower than previous indirect determinations. Mercury is a promising candidate for future optical lattice clocks due to its low sensitivity to blackbody radiation.

Semiconductor Reference Oscillator Development for Coherent Detection Optical Remote Sensing Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tratt, David M.; Mansour, Kamjou; Menzies, Robert T.; Qiu, Yueming; Forouhar, Siamak; Maker, Paul D.; Muller, Richard E.

2001-01-01

The NASA Earth Science Enterprise Advanced Technology Initiatives Program is supporting a program for the development of semiconductor laser reference oscillators for application to coherent optical remote sensing from Earth orbit. Local oscillators provide the frequency reference required for active spaceborne optical remote sensing concepts that involve heterodyne (coherent) detection. Two recent examples of such schemes are Doppler wind lidar and tropospheric carbon dioxide measurement by laser absorption spectrometry, both of which are being proposed at a wavelength of 2.05 microns. Frequency-agile local oscillator technology is important to such applications because of the need to compensate for large platform-induced Doppler components that would otherwise interfere with data interpretation. Development of frequency-agile local oscillator approaches has heretofore utilized the same laser material as the transmitter laser (Tm,Ho:YLF in the case of the 2.05-micron wavelength mentioned above). However, a semiconductor laser-based frequency-agile local oscillator offers considerable scope for reduced mechanical complexity and improved frequency agility over equivalent crystal laser devices, while their potentially faster tuning capability suggest the potential for greater scanning versatility. The program we report on here is specifically tasked with the development of prototype novel architecture semiconductor lasers with the power, tunability, and spectral characteristics required for coherent Doppler lidar. The baseline approach for this work is the distributed feedback (DFB) laser, in which gratings are etched into the semiconductor waveguide structures along the entire length of the laser cavity. However, typical DFB lasers at the wavelength of interest have linewidths that exhibit unacceptable growth when driven at the high currents and powers that are required for the Doppler lidar application. Suppression of this behavior by means of corrugation pitch-modulation (using a detuned central section to prevent intensity peaking in the center of the cavity) is currently under investigation to achieve the required performance goals.

Electro-optic modulation of a laser at microwave frequencies for interferometric purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Specht, Paul E.; Jilek, Brook A.

2017-02-01

A multi-point microwave interferometer (MPMI) concept was previously proposed by the authors for spatially-resolved, non-invasive tracking of a shock, reaction, or detonation front in energetic media [P. Specht et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1793, 160010 (2017).]. The advantage of the MPMI concept over current microwave interferometry techniques is its detection of Doppler shifted microwave signals through electro-optic (EO) modulation of a laser. Since EO modulation preserves spatial variations in the Doppler shift, collecting the EO modulated laser light into a fiber array for recording with an optical heterodyne interferometer yields spatially-resolved velocity information. This work demonstrates the underlying physical principle of the MPMI diagnostic: the monitoring of a microwave signal with nanosecond temporal resolution using an optical heterodyne interferometer. For this purpose, the MPMI concept was simplified to a single-point construction using two tunable 1550 nm lasers and a 35.2 GHz microwave source. A (110) ZnTe crystal imparted the microwave frequency onto a laser, which was combined with a reference laser for determination of the microwave frequency in an optical heterodyne interferometer. A single, characteristic frequency associated with the microwave source was identified in all experiments, providing a means to monitor a microwave signal on nanosecond time scales. Lastly, areas for improving the frequency resolution of this technique are discussed, focusing on increasing the phase-modulated signal strength.

Electro-optic modulation of a laser at microwave frequencies for interferometric purposes.

PubMed

Specht, Paul E; Jilek, Brook A

2017-02-01

A multi-point microwave interferometer (MPMI) concept was previously proposed by the authors for spatially-resolved, non-invasive tracking of a shock, reaction, or detonation front in energetic media [P. Specht et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1793, 160010 (2017).]. The advantage of the MPMI concept over current microwave interferometry techniques is its detection of Doppler shifted microwave signals through electro-optic (EO) modulation of a laser. Since EO modulation preserves spatial variations in the Doppler shift, collecting the EO modulated laser light into a fiber array for recording with an optical heterodyne interferometer yields spatially-resolved velocity information. This work demonstrates the underlying physical principle of the MPMI diagnostic: the monitoring of a microwave signal with nanosecond temporal resolution using an optical heterodyne interferometer. For this purpose, the MPMI concept was simplified to a single-point construction using two tunable 1550 nm lasers and a 35.2 GHz microwave source. A (110) ZnTe crystal imparted the microwave frequency onto a laser, which was combined with a reference laser for determination of the microwave frequency in an optical heterodyne interferometer. A single, characteristic frequency associated with the microwave source was identified in all experiments, providing a means to monitor a microwave signal on nanosecond time scales. Lastly, areas for improving the frequency resolution of this technique are discussed, focusing on increasing the phase-modulated signal strength.

Evaluation of Time Transfer Units for Time and Frequency Transfer in Optical Fibers Utilizing a Passive Technique Based on SONET/SDH

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

precision and accuracy. For instance, in international time metrology, two-way satellite time and frequency transfer ( TWSTFT ) (see e.g. [1] and...can act as a time transfer system that is complementary to other high quality systems such as TWSTFT and GPS. REFERENCES [1] J. Levine. “A

A novel high-resolution chaotic lidar with optical injection to chaotic laser diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yun-cai; Wang, An-bang

2008-03-01

A novel chaotic lidar with high resolution is proposed and studied theoretically. In chaotic lidar system, the chaotic laser emitted from chaotic laser diode is split into two beams: the probe and the reference light. The ranging is achieved by correlating the reference waveform with the delayed probe waveform backscattered from the target. In chaotic lidar systems presented previously, the chaotic signal source is laser diode with optical feedback or with optical injection by another one. The ranging resolution is limited by the bandwidth of chaotic laser which determined by the configuration of chaotic signal source. We proposed a novel chaotic lidar which ranging resolution is enhanced significantly by external optical injected chaotic laser diode. With the bandwidth-enhanced chaotic laser, the range resolution of the chaotic lidar system with optical injection is roughly two times compared with that of without optical injection. The resolution increases with injection strength increasing in a certain frequency detuning range.

Performance of a laser frequency comb calibration system with a high-resolution solar echelle spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doerr, H.-P.; Kentischer, T. J.; Steinmetz, T.; Probst, R. A.; Franz, M.; Holzwarth, R.; Udem, Th.; Hänsch, T. W.; Schmidt, W.

2012-09-01

Laser frequency combs (LFC) provide a direct link between the radio frequency (RF) and the optical frequency regime. The comb-like spectrum of an LFC is formed by exact equidistant laser modes, whose absolute optical frequencies are controlled by RF-references such as atomic clocks or GPS receivers. While nowadays LFCs are routinely used in metrological and spectroscopic fields, their application in astronomy was delayed until recently when systems became available with a mode spacing and wavelength coverage suitable for calibration of astronomical spectrographs. We developed a LFC based calibration system for the high-resolution echelle spectrograph at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), located at the Teide observatory, Tenerife, Canary Islands. To characterize the calibration performance of the instrument, we use an all-fiber setup where sunlight and calibration light are fed to the spectrograph by the same single-mode fiber, eliminating systematic effects related to variable grating illumination.

Full stabilization and characterization of an optical frequency comb from a diode-pumped solid-state laser with GHz repetition rate.

PubMed

Hakobyan, Sargis; Wittwer, Valentin J; Brochard, Pierre; Gürel, Kutan; Schilt, Stéphane; Mayer, Aline S; Keller, Ursula; Südmeyer, Thomas

2017-08-21

We demonstrate the first self-referenced full stabilization of a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) frequency comb with a GHz repetition rate. The Yb:CALGO DPSSL delivers an average output power of up to 2.1 W with a typical pulse duration of 96 fs and a center wavelength of 1055 nm. A carrier-envelope offset (CEO) beat with a signal-to-noise ratio of 40 dB (in 10-kHz resolution bandwidth) is detected after supercontinuum generation and f-to-2f interferometry directly from the output of the oscillator, without any external amplification or pulse compression. The repetition rate is stabilized to a reference synthesizer with a residual integrated timing jitter of 249 fs [10 Hz - 1 MHz] and a relative frequency stability of 10 -12 /s. The CEO frequency is phase-locked to an external reference via pump current feedback using home-built modulation electronics. It achieves a loop bandwidth of ~150 kHz, which results in a tight CEO lock with a residual integrated phase noise of 680 mrad [1 Hz - 1 MHz]. We present a detailed characterization of the GHz frequency comb that combines a noise analysis of the repetition rate f rep , of the CEO frequency f CEO , and of an optical comb line at 1030 nm obtained from a virtual beat with a narrow-linewidth laser at 1557 nm using a transfer oscillator. An optical comb linewidth of about 800 kHz is assessed at 1-s observation time, for which the dominant noise sources of f rep and f CEO are identified.

Compensated vibrating optical fiber pressure measuring device

DOEpatents

Fasching, George E.; Goff, David R.

1987-01-01

A microbending optical fiber is attached under tension to a diaphragm to se a differential pressure applied across the diaphragm which it causes it to deflect. The fiber is attached to the diaphragm so that one portion of the fiber, attached to a central portion of the diaphragm, undergoes a change in tension; proportional to the differential pressure applied to the diaphragm while a second portion attached at the periphery of the diaphragm remains at a reference tension. Both portions of the fiber are caused to vibrate at their natural frequencies. Light transmitted through the fiber is attenuated by both portions of the tensioned sections of the fiber by an amount which increases with the curvature of fiber bending so that the light signal is modulated by both portions of the fiber at separate frequencies. The modulated light signal is transduced into a electrical signal. The separate modulation signals are detected to generate separate signals having frequencies corresponding to the reference and measuring vibrating sections of the continuous fiber, respectively. A signal proportional to the difference between these signals is generated which is indicative of the measured pressure differential across the diaphragm. The reference portion of the fiber is used to compensate the pressure signal for zero and span changes resulting from ambient temperature and humidity effects upon the fiber and the transducer fixture.

Laser frequency stabilization for LISA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, Guido; McNamara, Paul; Thorpe, Ira; Camp, Jordan

2005-01-01

The requirement on laser frequency noise in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) depends on the velocity and our knowledge of the position of each spacecraft of the interferometer. Currently it is assumed that the lasers must have a pre-stabilized frequency stability of 30Hz/square root of Hz over LISA'S most sensitive frequency band (3 mHz - 30 mHz). The intrinsic frequency stability of even the most stable com- mercial lasers is several orders of magnitude above this level. Therefore it is necessary to stabilize the laser frequency to an ultra-stable frequency reference which meets the LISA requirements. The baseline frequency reference for the LISA lasers are high finesse optical cavities based on ULE spacers. We measured the stability of two ULE spacer cavities with respect to each other. Our current best results show a noise floor at, or below, 30 Hz/square root of Hz above 3 mHz. In this report we describe the experimental layout of the entire experiment and discuss the limiting noise sources.

Near-IR laser frequency standard stabilized using FM-spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ružička, Bohdan; Číp, Ondřej; Lazar, Josef

2006-02-01

At the present time fiber-optics and optical communication are in rapid progress. Modern technologies such as DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex) need precise stability of laser frequencies. According to this fact, requirements of new etalons of optical frequencies in the telecommunication band is rapidly growing. Lasers working in near infrared telecommunication band (1500-1600 nm) can be stabilized to 12C IIH II or 13C IIH II (acetylene) gas absorption lines. The acetylene gas absorption has been widely studied and accepted by international bodies of standardization as a primary wavelength reference in the near infrared band around 1550nm. Our aim was to design and develop a compact fibre optics laser system generating coherent light in near-JR band with high frequency stability (at least 1.10 -8). This system should become a base for realization of a primary frequency standard for optical communications in the Czech Republic. Such an etalon will be needed for calibration of wavelength-meters and spectral analysers for DWDM communication systems. We are co-operating with CMI (Czech Metrology Institute) on this project. We present stabilized laser system based on a single frequency DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser diode with a narrow spectral profile. The laser is pre-stabilized by means of the FM-spectroscopy on a passive resonator. Thanks to a fast feed-back loop we are able to improve spectral characteristics of the laser. The laser frequency is locked by a relatively slow second feed-back loop on an absorption line of acetylene vapour which is sealed in a cell under the optimised pressure.

Nonlinear optical response of a gold surface in the visible range: A study by two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. I. Experimental determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalstein, L.; Revel, A.; Humbert, C.; Busson, B.

2018-04-01

We experimentally determine the effective nonlinear second-order susceptibility of gold over the visible spectral range. To reach that goal, we probe by vibrational two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy the methyl stretching region of a dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on a gold film. The sum-frequency generation spectra show a remarkable shape reversal when the visible probe wavelength is tuned from 435 to 705 nm. After correcting from Fresnel effects, the methyl stretching vibrations serve as an internal reference, allowing to extract the dispersion of the absolute phase and relative amplitude of the effective nonlinear optical response of gold in the visible range.

Frequency-tunable Pre-stabilized Lasers for LISA via Sideband-locking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Livas, Jeffrey C.; Thorpe, James I.; Numata, Kenji; Mitryk, Shawn; Mueller, Guido; Wand, Vinzenz

2008-01-01

Laser frequency noise mitigation is one of the most challenging aspects of the LISA interferometric measurement system. The unstabilized frequency fluctuations must be suppressed by roughly twelve orders of magnitude in order to achieve stability sufficient for gravitational wave detection. This enormous suppression will be achieved through a combination of stabilization and common-mode rejection. The stabilization component will itself be achieved in two stages: pre-stabilization to a local optical cavity followed by arm-locking to some combination of the inter-spacecraft distances. In order for these two stabilization stages to work simultaneously, the lock-point of the pre-stabilization loop must be frequency tunable. The current baseline stabilization technique, locking to an optical cavity, does not provide tunability between cavity resonances, which are typically spaced by 100s of MHz. Here we present a modification to the traditional Pound-Drever-Hall cavity locking technique that allows the laser to be locked to a cavity resonance with an adjustable frequency offset. This technique requires no modifications to the optical cavity itself, thus preserving the stability of the frequency reference. We present measurements of the system performance and demonstrate that we can meet implement the first two stages of stabilization.

Modernization of Koesters interferometer and high accuracy calibration gauge blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

França, R. S.; Silva, I. L. M.; Couceiro, I. B.; Torres, M. A. C.; Bessa, M. S.; Costa, P. A.; Oliveira, W., Jr.; Grieneisen, H. P. H.

2016-07-01

The Optical Metrology Division (Diopt) of Inmetro is responsible for maintaining the national reference of the length unit according to International System of Units (SI) definitions. The length unit is realized by interferometric techniques and is disseminated to the dimensional community through calibrations of gauge blocks. Calibration of large gauge blocks from 100 mm to 1000 mm has been performed by Diopt with a Koesters interferometer with reference to spectral lines of a krypton discharge lamp. Replacement of this lamp by frequency stabilized lasers, traceable now to the time and frequency scale, is described and the first results are reported.

Fundamental performance determining factors of the ultrahigh-precision space-borne optical metrology system for the LISA Pathfinder mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hechenblaikner, Gerald; Flatscher, Reinhold

2013-05-01

The LISA Pathfinder mission to space employs an optical metrology system (OMS) at its core to measure the distance and attitude between two freely floating test-masses to picometer and nanorad accuracy, respectively, within the measurement band of [1 mHz, 30 mHz]. The OMS is based upon an ultra-stable optical bench with 4 heterodyne interferometers from which interference signals are read-out and processed by a digital phase-meter. Laser frequency noise, power fluctuations and optical path-length variations are suppressed to uncritical levels by dedicated control loops so that the measurement performance approaches the sensor limit imposed by the phasemeter. The system design is such that low frequency common mode noise which affects the read-out phase of all four interferometers is generally well suppressed by subtraction of a reference phase from the other interferometer signals. However, high frequency noise directly affects measurement performance and its common mode rejection depends strongly on the relative signal phases. We discuss how the data from recent test campaigns point towards high frequency phase noise as a likely performance limiting factor which explains some important performance features.

Atomic frequency reference at 1033 nm for ytterbium (Yb)-doped fiber lasers and applications exploiting a rubidium (Rb) 5S_1/2 to 4D_5/2 one-colour two-photon transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Ritayan; Condylis, Paul C.; Johnathan, Yik Jinen; Hessmo, Björn

2017-04-01

We demonstrate a two-photon transition of rubidium (Rb) atoms from the ground state (5$S_{1/2}$) to the excited state (4$D_{5/2}$), using a home-built ytterbium (Yb)-doped fiber amplifier at 1033 nm. This is the first demonstration of an atomic frequency reference at 1033 nm as well as of a one-colour two-photon transition for the above energy levels. A simple optical setup is presented for the two-photon transition fluorescence spectroscopy, which is useful for frequency stabilization for a broad class of lasers. This spectroscopy has potential applications in the fiber laser industry as a frequency reference, particularly for the Yb-doped fiber lasers. This two-photon transition also has applications in atomic physics as a background- free high- resolution atom detection and for quantum communication, which is outlined in this article.

Polydyne displacement interferometer using frequency-modulated light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arablu, Masoud; Smith, Stuart T.

2018-05-01

A radio-frequency Frequency-Modulated (FM) signal is used to diffract a He-Ne laser beam through an Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM). Due to the modulation of the FM signal, the measured spectra of the diffracted beams comprise a series of phase-synchronized harmonics that have exact integer frequency separation. The first diffraction side-beam emerging from the AOM is selected by a slit to be used in a polydyne displacement interferometer in a Michelson interferometer topology. The displacement measurement is derived from the phase measurement of selected modulation harmonic pairs. Individual harmonic frequency amplitudes are measured using discrete Fourier transform applied to the signal from a single photodetector. Phase signals are derived from the changes in the amplitudes of different harmonic pairs (typically odd-even pairs) with the phase being extracted using a standard quadrature method. In this study, two different modulation frequencies of 5 and 10 kHz are used at different modulation depths. The measured displacements by different harmonic pairs are compared with a commercial heterodyne interferometer being used as a reference for these studies. Measurements obtained from five different harmonic pairs when the moving mirror of the interferometer is scanned over ranges up to 10 μm all show differences of less than 50 nm from the reference interferometer measurements. A drift test was also used to evaluate the differences between the polydyne interferometer and reference measurements that had different optical path lengths of approximately 25 mm and 50 mm, respectively. The drift test results indicate that about half of the differences can be attributed to temperature, pressure, and humidity variations. Other influences include Abbe and thermal expansion effects. Rough magnitude estimates using simple models for these two effects can account for remaining observed deviations.

Integrated Photonic Comb Generation: Applications in Coherent Communication and Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, John S.

Integrated photonics combines many optical components including lasers, modulators, waveguides, and detectors in close proximity via homogeneous (monolithic) or heterogeneous (using multiple materials) integration. This improves stability for interferometers and lasers, reduces the occurrence of unwanted reflections, and it avoids coupling losses between different components as they are on the same chip. Thus, less power is needed to compensate for these added losses, and less heat needs to be removed due to these power savings. In addition, integration allows the many components that comprise a system to be fabricated together, thereby reducing the cost per system and allowing rapid scaling in production throughput. Integrated optical combs have many applications including: metrology, THz frequency generation, arbitrary waveform generation, optical clocks, photonic analog-to-digital converters, sensing (imaging), spectroscopy, and data communication. A comb is a set of optical sources evenly spaced in frequency. Several methods of comb generation including mode-locking and optical parametric oscillation produce phase-matched optical outputs with a fixed phase relationship between the frequency lines. When the absolute frequency of a single comb line is stabilized along with the frequency spacing between comb lines, absolute phase and frequency precision can be achieved over the entire comb bandwidth. This functionality provides tremendous benefits to many applications such as coherent communication and optical sensing. The goals for this work were achieving a broad comb bandwidth and noise reduction, i.e., frequency and phase stability. Integrated mode-locked lasers on the InGaAsP/InP material platform were chosen, as they could be monolithically integrated with the wide range of highly functional and versatile photonic integrated circuits (PICs) previously demonstrated on this platform at UCSB. Gain flattening filters were implemented to increase the comb bandwidths to 2.5 THz. Active mode-locking with an RF source was used to precisely set the frequency spacing between comb lines with better than 10 Hz accuracy. An integrated optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) for the comb was designed, built, and tested. The OPLL fixed a single comb line to a stable single linewidth laser, demonstrating a ˜430 Hz FWHM optical linewidth on the locked comb line and 20º RMS phase deviation between the comb and optical reference. The free-running linewidth is 50--100 MHz, demonstrating over 50 dB improvement in optical linewidth via locking. An integrated tunable laser (SG-DBR) with an OPLL was phase-locked to a comb source with a fixed offset frequency, thus showing the potential for using a comb with SG-DBRs as a compact frequency synthesizer.

Optical Diagnostics of Solution Crystal Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Yongkee; Reddy, B. R.; George, T. G.; Lal, R. B.

1996-01-01

Non-contact optical techniques such as, optical heterodyne, ellipsometry and interferometry, for real time in-situ monitoring of solution crystal growth are demonstrated. Optical heterodyne technique has the capability of measuring the growth rate as small as 1A/sec. In a typical Michelson interferometer set up, the crystal is illuminated by a Zeeman laser with frequency omega(sub 1) and the reference beam with frequency omega(sub 2). As the crystal grows, the phase of the rf signal changes with respect to the reference beam and this phase change is related to the crystal growth rate. This technique is demonstrated with two examples: (1) by measuring the copper tip expansion/shrinkage rate and (2) by measuring the crystal growth rate of L-Arginine Phosphate (LAP). The first test shows that the expansion/shrinkage rate of copper tip was fast in the beginning, and gets slower as the expansion begins to stabilize with time. In crystal growth, the phase change due the crystal growth is measured using a phase meter and a strip chart recorder. Our experimental results indicate a varied growth rate from 69.4 to 92.6A per sec. The ellipsometer is used to study the crystal growth interface. From these measurements and a theoretical modeling of the interface, the various optical parameters can be deduced. Interferometry can also be used to measure the growth rate and concentration gradient in the vicinity of the crystal.

Frequency stability measurement of pulsed superradiance from strontium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norcia, Matthew; Cline, Julia; Robinson, John; Ye, Jun; Thompson, James

2017-04-01

Superradiant laser light from an ultra-narrow optical transition holds promise as a next-generation of active frequency references. We have recently demonstrated pulsed lasing on the milliHertz linewidth clock transition in strontium. Here, we present the first frequency comparisons between such a superradiant source and a state of the art stable laser system. We characterize the stability of the superradiant system, and demonstrate a reduction in sensitivity to cavity frequency fluctuations of nearly five orders of magnitude compared to a conventional laser. DARPA QUASAR, NIST, NSF PFC.

Frequency-Modulated, Continuous-Wave Laser Ranging Using Photon-Counting Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erkmen, Baris I.; Barber, Zeb W.; Dahl, Jason

2014-01-01

Optical ranging is a problem of estimating the round-trip flight time of a phase- or amplitude-modulated optical beam that reflects off of a target. Frequency- modulated, continuous-wave (FMCW) ranging systems obtain this estimate by performing an interferometric measurement between a local frequency- modulated laser beam and a delayed copy returning from the target. The range estimate is formed by mixing the target-return field with the local reference field on a beamsplitter and detecting the resultant beat modulation. In conventional FMCW ranging, the source modulation is linear in instantaneous frequency, the reference-arm field has many more photons than the target-return field, and the time-of-flight estimate is generated by balanced difference- detection of the beamsplitter output, followed by a frequency-domain peak search. This work focused on determining the maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation algorithm when continuous-time photoncounting detectors are used. It is founded on a rigorous statistical characterization of the (random) photoelectron emission times as a function of the incident optical field, including the deleterious effects caused by dark current and dead time. These statistics enable derivation of the Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRB) on the accuracy of FMCW ranging, and derivation of the ML estimator, whose performance approaches this bound at high photon flux. The estimation algorithm was developed, and its optimality properties were shown in simulation. Experimental data show that it performs better than the conventional estimation algorithms used. The demonstrated improvement is a factor of 1.414 over frequency-domainbased estimation. If the target interrogating photons and the local reference field photons are costed equally, the optimal allocation of photons between these two arms is to have them equally distributed. This is different than the state of the art, in which the local field is stronger than the target return. The optimal processing of the photocurrent processes at the outputs of the two detectors is to perform log-matched filtering followed by a summation and peak detection. This implies that neither difference detection, nor Fourier-domain peak detection, which are the staples of the state-of-the-art systems, is optimal when a weak local oscillator is employed.

Microwave generation with low residual phase noise from a femtosecond fiber laser with an intracavity electro-optic modulator.

PubMed

Swann, William C; Baumann, Esther; Giorgetta, Fabrizio R; Newbury, Nathan R

2011-11-21

Low phase-noise microwave generation has previously been demonstrated using self-referenced frequency combs to divide down a low noise optical reference. We demonstrate an approach based on a fs Er-fiber laser that avoids the complexity of self-referenced stabilization of the offset frequency. Instead, the repetition rate of the femtosecond Er-fiber laser is phase locked to two cavity-stabilized cw fiber lasers that span 3.74 THz by use of an intracavity electro-optic modulator with over 2 MHz feedback bandwidth. The fs fiber laser effectively divides the 3.74 THz difference signal to produce microwave signals at harmonics of the repetition rate. Through comparison of two identical dividers, we measure a residual phase noise on a 1.5 GHz carrier of -120 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset. © 2011 Optical Society of America

State-of-the-art fiber optics for short distance frequency reference distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lutes, G. F.; Primas, L. E.

1989-05-01

A number of recently developed fiber-optic components that hold the promise of unprecedented stability for passively stabilized frequency distribution links are characterized. These components include a fiber-optic transmitter, an optical isolator, and a new type of fiber-optic cable. A novel laser transmitter exhibits extremely low sensitivity to intensity and polarization changes of reflected light due to cable flexure. This virtually eliminates one of the shortcomings in previous laser transmitters. A high-isolation, low-loss optical isolator has been developed which also virtually eliminates laser sensitivity to changes in intensity and polarization of reflected light. A newly developed fiber has been tested. This fiber has a thermal coefficient of delay of less than 0.5 parts per million per deg C, nearly 20 times lower than the best coaxial hardline cable and 10 times lower than any previous fiber-optic cable. These components are highly suitable for distribution systems with short extent, such as within a Deep Space Communications Complex. Here, these new components are described and the test results presented.

State-of-the-art fiber optics for short distance frequency reference distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lutes, G. F.; Primas, L. E.

1989-01-01

A number of recently developed fiber-optic components that hold the promise of unprecedented stability for passively stabilized frequency distribution links are characterized. These components include a fiber-optic transmitter, an optical isolator, and a new type of fiber-optic cable. A novel laser transmitter exhibits extremely low sensitivity to intensity and polarization changes of reflected light due to cable flexure. This virtually eliminates one of the shortcomings in previous laser transmitters. A high-isolation, low-loss optical isolator has been developed which also virtually eliminates laser sensitivity to changes in intensity and polarization of reflected light. A newly developed fiber has been tested. This fiber has a thermal coefficient of delay of less than 0.5 parts per million per deg C, nearly 20 times lower than the best coaxial hardline cable and 10 times lower than any previous fiber-optic cable. These components are highly suitable for distribution systems with short extent, such as within a Deep Space Communications Complex. Here, these new components are described and the test results presented.

Optical frequency stabilization in infrared region using improved dual feed-back loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ružička, B.; Číp, O.; Lazar, J.

2007-03-01

Modern technologies such as DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex) need precise stability of laser frequencies. According to this fact, requirements of new etalons of optical frequencies in the telecommunication band is rapidly growing. Lasers working in near infrared telecommunication band (1500-1600 nm) can be stabilized to 12C IIH II or 13C IIH II (acetylene) gas absorption lines. The acetylene gas absorption has been widely studied and accepted by international bodies of standardization as a primary wavelength reference in the near infrared band around 1550 nm. Our aim was to design and develop a compact fibre optics laser system generating coherent light in near-IR band with high frequency stability (at least 1.10 -8). This system should become a base for realization of a primary frequency standard for optical communications in the Czech Republic. Such an etalon will be needed for calibration of wavelengthmeters and spectral analysers for DWDM communication systems. We are co-operating with CMI (Czech Metrology Institute) on this project. We present stabilized laser system based on a single frequency DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser diode with a narrow spectral profile. The laser is pre-stabilized by means of the FM-spectroscopy on a passive resonator. Thanks to a fast feed-back loop we are able to improve spectral characteristics of the laser. The laser frequency is locked by a relatively slow second feed-back loop on an absorption line of acetylene vapour which is sealed in a cell under the optimised pressure.

An Optical Frequency Comb Tied to GPS for Laser Frequency/Wavelength Calibration

PubMed Central

Stone, Jack A.; Egan, Patrick

2010-01-01

Optical frequency combs can be employed over a broad spectral range to calibrate laser frequency or vacuum wavelength. This article describes procedures and techniques utilized in the Precision Engineering Division of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) for comb-based calibration of laser wavelength, including a discussion of ancillary measurements such as determining the mode order. The underlying purpose of these calibrations is to provide traceable standards in support of length measurement. The relative uncertainty needed to fulfill this goal is typically 10−8 and never below 10−12, very modest requirements compared to the capabilities of comb-based frequency metrology. In this accuracy range the Global Positioning System (GPS) serves as an excellent frequency reference that can provide the traceable underpinning of the measurement. This article describes techniques that can be used to completely characterize measurement errors in a GPS-based comb system and thus achieve full confidence in measurement results. PMID:27134794

An investigation and conceptual design of a holographic starfield and landmark tracker

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welch, J. D.

1973-01-01

The analysis, experiments, and design effort of this study have supported the feasibility of the basic holographic tracker concept. Image intensifiers and photoplastic recording materials were examined, along with a Polaroid rapid process silver halide material. Two reference beam, coherent optical matched filter technique was used for multiplexing spatial frequency filters for starfields. A 1 watt HeNe laser and an electro-optical readout are also considered.

Diffraction analysis of sidelobe characteristics of optical elements with ripple error

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Lei; Luo, Yupeng; Bai, Jian; Zhou, Xiangdong; Du, Juan; Liu, Qun; Luo, Yujie

2018-03-01

The ripple errors of the lens lead to optical damage in high energy laser system. The analysis of sidelobe on the focal plane, caused by ripple error, provides a reference to evaluate the error and the imaging quality. In this paper, we analyze the diffraction characteristics of sidelobe of optical elements with ripple errors. First, we analyze the characteristics of ripple error and build relationship between ripple error and sidelobe. The sidelobe results from the diffraction of ripple errors. The ripple error tends to be periodic due to fabrication method on the optical surface. The simulated experiments are carried out based on angular spectrum method by characterizing ripple error as rotationally symmetric periodic structures. The influence of two major parameter of ripple including spatial frequency and peak-to-valley value to sidelobe is discussed. The results indicate that spatial frequency and peak-to-valley value both impact sidelobe at the image plane. The peak-tovalley value is the major factor to affect the energy proportion of the sidelobe. The spatial frequency is the major factor to affect the distribution of the sidelobe at the image plane.

A CMOS Low-Power Optical Front-End for 5 Gbps Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zohoori, Soorena; Dolatshahi, Mehdi

2018-01-01

In this paper, a new low-power optical receiver front-end is proposed in 90 nm CMOS technology for 5 Gb/s AApplications. However, to improve the gain-bandwidth trade-off, the proposed Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) uses an active modified inverter-based topology followed by a common-source amplifier, which uses active inductive peaking technique to enhance the frequency bandwidth in an increased gain level for a reasonable power consumption value. The proposed TIA is analyzed and simulated in HSPICE using 90 nm CMOS technology parameters. Simulation results show a 53.5dBΩ trans-impedance gain, 3.5 GHz frequency bandwidth, 16.8pA/√Hz input referred noise, and 1.28 mW of power consumption at 1V supply voltage. The Optical receiver is completed using three stages of differential limiting amplifiers (LAs), which provide 27 dB voltage gain while consume 3.1 mW of power. Finally, the whole optical receiver front-end consumes only 5.6 mW of power at 1 V supply and amplifies the input signal by 80 dB, while providing 3.7 GHz of frequency bandwidth. Finally, the simulation results indicate that the proposed optical receiver is a proper candidate to be used in a low-power 5 Gbps optical communication system.

Stabilizing Microwave Frequency of a Photonic Oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maleki, Lute; Yu, Nan; Tu, Meirong

2006-01-01

A scheme for stabilizing the frequency of a microwave signal is proposed that exploits the operational characteristics of a coupled optoelectronic oscillator (COEO) and related optoelectronic equipment. An essential element in the scheme is a fiber mode-locked laser (MLL), the optical frequency of which is locked to an atomic transition. In this scheme, the optical frequency stability of the mode-locked laser is transferred to that of the microwave in the same device. Relative to prior schemes for using wideband optical frequency comb to stabilize microwave signals, this scheme is simpler and lends itself more readily to implementation in relatively compact, rugged equipment. The anticipated development of small, low-power, lightweight, highly stable microwave oscillators based on this scheme would afford great benefits in communication, navigation, metrology, and fundamental sciences. COEOs of various designs, at various stages of development, in some cases called by different names, have been described in a number of prior NASA Tech Briefs articles. A COEO is an optoelectronic apparatus that generates both short (picosecond) optical pulses and a steady microwave signal having an ultrahigh degree of spectral purity. The term "coupled optoelectronic" in the full name of such an apparatus signifies that its optical and electronic oscillations are coupled to each other in a single device. The present frequency-stabilization scheme is best described indirectly by describing the laboratory apparatus used to demonstrate it. The apparatus (see figure) includes a COEO that generates a comb-like optical spectrum, the various frequency components of which interfere, producing short optical pulses. This spectrum is centered at a nominal wavelength of 1,560 nm. The spectrum separation of this comb is about 10 GHz, as determined primarily by the length of an optical loop and the bandpass filter in the microwave feedback loop. The optical loop serves as microwave resonator having a very high value of the resonance quality factor (Q). The optical frequency of MLL is then stabilized by locking it to an atomic transition as described below. The COEO contains a tunable 1-nm band-pass optical filter and a piezoelectric-transducer (PZT) drum over which a stretch of fiber is wound. The 1-nm-wide pass band of the filter provides coarse tuning to overlap the frequency comb with the atomic transition frequency. Controlled stretching of the fiber by means of the PZT drum can be used in conjunction with temperature control for locking the laser frequency. To reference to an atomic resonance at 780 nm in this demonstration setup, the optical output of the COEO at 1,560 nm is fed through an erbium-doped-fiber amplifier (EDFA) to a frequency doubler in the form of a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. The frequency-doubled output is combined with the output of a separate frequency-stabilized diode laser at a photodetector. As described thus far, the two 780-nm laser subsystems are nominally independent of each other and can, therefore, operate at different frequencies. Hence, at the photodetector, the two laser beams interfere, so that the output of the photodetector includes a beat note (a component at the difference between the two laser frequencies).

Optical coupling elements for coherent optical multiport receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langenhorst, Ralf

1992-05-01

Three by three (3 by 3) and four by four (4 by 4) port coupling elements and receivers for heterodyne multiport systems are realized. Commercial (3 by 3) fiber coupling elements were used to achieve a usual (3 by 3) port receiver and a (3 by 3) port receiver in pushpull switching, whose concept was theoretically and experimentally analyzed. It is established that intensity oscillations of laser sources are suppressed by pushpull switching. The influence of thermal noise of opto-electronic input levels is shown to be weaker than in usual (3 by 3) port and (4 by 4) port receivers. Thermal noise effect in pushpull switching is similar to this one in heterodyne receivers. An integrated optical coupling element in LiNbO3 was made with bridge circuit from four waveguide coupling elements and two phase converters, which are electro-optically tunable so that a continuous regulation of intermediate frequency phase can be compensated by temperature variations of the element. To obtain fiber-to-fiber losses lower than a dB, a compact crystal optical coupling element was developed with reference to polarization properties of optical waves. This element supplied the eight necessary intermediate frequency output signals. A direct experimental comparison of bandwidth efficiency of multiport and heterodyne receivers shows a factor two in optical area and a factor three in electrical frequency area.

Optical atomic phase reference and timing.

PubMed

Hollberg, L; Cornell, E H; Abdelrahmann, A

2017-08-06

Atomic clocks based on laser-cooled atoms have made tremendous advances in both accuracy and stability. However, advanced clocks have not found their way into widespread use because there has been little need for such high performance in real-world/commercial applications. The drive in the commercial world favours smaller, lower-power, more robust compact atomic clocks that function well in real-world non-laboratory environments. Although the high-performance atomic frequency references are useful to test Einstein's special relativity more precisely, there are not compelling scientific arguments to expect a breakdown in special relativity. On the other hand, the dynamics of gravity, evidenced by the recent spectacular results in experimental detection of gravity waves by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, shows dramatically that there is new physics to be seen and understood in space-time science. Those systems require strain measurements at less than or equal to 10 -20 As we discuss here, cold atom optical frequency references are still many orders of magnitude away from the frequency stability that should be achievable with narrow-linewidth quantum transitions and large numbers of very cold atoms, and they may be able to achieve levels of phase stability, Δ Φ / Φ total  ≤ 10 -20 , that could make an important impact in gravity wave science.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantum technology for the 21st century'. © 2017 The Author(s).

Optically stabilized Erbium fiber frequency comb with hybrid mode-locking and a broad tunable range of repetition rate.

PubMed

Yang, Honglei; Wu, Xuejian; Zhang, Hongyuan; Zhao, Shijie; Yang, Lijun; Wei, Haoyun; Li, Yan

2016-12-01

We present an optically stabilized Erbium fiber frequency comb with a broad repetition rate tuning range based on a hybrid mode-locked oscillator. We lock two comb modes to narrow-linewidth reference lasers in turn to investigate the best performance of control loops. The control bandwidth of fast and slow piezoelectric transducers reaches 70 kHz, while that of pump current modulation with phase-lead compensation is extended to 32 kHz, exceeding laser intrinsic response. Eventually, simultaneous lock of both loops is realized to totally phase-stabilize the comb, which will facilitate precision dual-comb spectroscopy, laser ranging, and timing distribution. In addition, a 1.8-MHz span of the repetition rate is achieved by an automatic optical delay line that is helpful in manufacturing a secondary comb with a similar repetition rate. The oscillator is housed in a homemade temperature-controlled box with an accuracy of ±0.02  K, which not only keeps high signal-to-noise ratio of the beat notes with reference lasers, but also guarantees self-starting at the same mode-locking every time.

Based on optical fiber Michelson interferometer for acoustic emission detection experimental research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yijun; Qu, Dandan; Deng, Hu

2013-08-01

A type of Michelson interferometer with two optical fiber loop reflectors acoustic emission sensor is proposed in the article to detect the vibrations produced by ultrasonic waves propagating in a solid body. Two optical fiber loop reflectors are equivalent to the sensing arm and the reference arm instead of traditional Michelson interferometer end reflecter Theoretical analyses indicate that the sensitivity of the system has been remarkably increased because of the decrease of the losses of light energy. The best operating point of optical fiber sensor is fixed by theoretical derivation and simulation of computer, and the signal frequency which is detected by the sensor is the frequency of input signal. PZT (Piezoelectric Ceramic) is powered by signal generator as known ultrasonic source, The Polarization controller is used to make the reflected light interference，The fiber length is changed by adjusting the DC voltage on the PZT with the fiber loop to make the sensor system response that ΔΦ is closed to π/2. the signal basis frequency detected by the sensor is the frequency of the input signal. Then impacts the surface of the marble slab with home-made mechanical acoustic emission source. And detect it. and then the frequency characteristic of acoustic emission signal is obtained by Fourier technique. The experimental results indicate that the system can identify the frequency characteristic of acoustic emission signal, and it can be also used to detect the surface feeble vibration which is generated by ultrasonic waves propagating in material structure.

Using a transportable optical clock for chronometric levelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisdat, Christian; Sterr, Uwe; Koller, Silvio; Grotti, Jacopo; Vogt, Stefan; Häfner, Sebastian; Herbers, Sofia; Al-Masoudi, Ali

2016-07-01

With their supreme accuracy and precision, optical clocks in combination with new methods of long-distance frequency transfer can be used to determine height differences by measuring the gravitational red shift between two clocks without accumulation of measurement errors, as in classical levelling. We are developing transportable optical clocks for this purpose that will also serve for the technology development regarding optical clocks in Space and for international comparisons between optical clocks that cannot be linked with sufficient accuracy otherwise. In this talk we will focus on the transportable strontium lattice clock that we are developing and its first evaluation. Presently, we achieve a fractional frequency instability of 3 × 10^{-17} after 1000 s averaging time, which is equivalent to a height resolution of 30 cm. The first uncertainty evaluation of the system yielded 7 × 10^{-17}. We expect rapid improvements to an uncertainty of a few parts in 10^{17}. The clock is now located within a car trailer, which requires compact and rugged lasers systems and physics package. Special care has been taken in the design of the ultra-frequency stable interrogation laser that has to achieve fractional frequency instabilities of considerably below 10^{-15}. Typical laboratory constructions of the reference resonator system used to pre-stabilize the laser frequency are not compatible with the requirement of transportability. In an actual levelling campaign, this clock will be connected via a stabilized optical fibre link with another, stationary frequency standard. The measured gravitational red shift will be compared with the ones calculated from potential differences derived with state of the art geodetic data and models. We will discuss the status of measurements of geodetic relevance with optical clocks and give an outlook on our next steps. This work is supported by QUEST, DFG (RTG 1729, CRC 1128), EU-FP7 (FACT) and EMRP (ITOC). The EMRP is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the European Union.

Phase-locking to a free-space terahertz comb for metrological-grade terahertz lasers.

PubMed

Consolino, L; Taschin, A; Bartolini, P; Bartalini, S; Cancio, P; Tredicucci, A; Beere, H E; Ritchie, D A; Torre, R; Vitiello, M S; De Natale, P

2012-01-01

Optical frequency comb synthesizers have represented a revolutionary approach to frequency metrology, providing a grid of frequency references for any laser emitting within their spectral coverage. Extending the metrological features of optical frequency comb synthesizers to the terahertz domain would be a major breakthrough, due to the widespread range of accessible strategic applications and the availability of stable, high-power and widely tunable sources such as quantum cascade lasers. Here we demonstrate phase-locking of a 2.5 THz quantum cascade laser to a free-space comb, generated in a LiNbO(3) waveguide and covering the 0.1-6 THz frequency range. We show that even a small fraction (<100 nW) of the radiation emitted from the quantum cascade laser is sufficient to generate a beat note suitable for phase-locking to the comb, paving the way to novel metrological-grade terahertz applications, including high-resolution spectroscopy, manipulation of cold molecules, astronomy and telecommunications.

High stability lasers for lidar and remote sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heine, Frank; Lange, Robert; Seel, Stefan; Smutny, Berry

2017-11-01

Tesat-Spacecom is currently building a set flight models of frequency stabilized lasers for the ESA Missions AEOLUS and LTP. Lasers with low intensity noise in the kHz region and analogue tuning capabilities for frequency and output power are developed for the on board metrology of the LTP project, the precursor mission for LISA. This type of laser is internally stabilized by precise temperature control, approaching an ALLAN variance of 10-9 for 100 sec. It can be easily locked to external frequency references with <50kHz bandwidth. The Seed laser for the AEOLUS mission (wind LIDAR) is used as the master frequency reference and is stabilized internally by a optical cavity. It shows a 3* 10-11 Allan variance from time intervals 1 sec - 1000 sec. Furthermore it is step-tunable for calibration of the receiver instrument with a speed of GHz / sec by a digital command interface. Performance and environmental test results will be presented.

Optical RAM-enabled cache memory and optical routing for chip multiprocessors: technologies and architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pleros, Nikos; Maniotis, Pavlos; Alexoudi, Theonitsa; Fitsios, Dimitris; Vagionas, Christos; Papaioannou, Sotiris; Vyrsokinos, K.; Kanellos, George T.

2014-03-01

The processor-memory performance gap, commonly referred to as "Memory Wall" problem, owes to the speed mismatch between processor and electronic RAM clock frequencies, forcing current Chip Multiprocessor (CMP) configurations to consume more than 50% of the chip real-estate for caching purposes. In this article, we present our recent work spanning from Si-based integrated optical RAM cell architectures up to complete optical cache memory architectures for Chip Multiprocessor configurations. Moreover, we discuss on e/o router subsystems with up to Tb/s routing capacity for cache interconnection purposes within CMP configurations, currently pursued within the FP7 PhoxTrot project.

A calibration method for the measurement of IR detector spectral responses using a FTIR spectrometer equipped with a DTGS reference cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gravrand, Olivier; Wlassow, J.; Bonnefond, L.

2014-07-01

Various high performance IR detectors are today available on the market from QWIPs to narrow gap semiconductor photodiodes, which exhibit various spectral features. In the astrophysics community, the knowledge of the detector spectral shape is of first importance. This quantity (spectral QE or response) is usually measured by means of a monochromator followed by an integrating sphere and compared to a calibrated reference detector. This approach is usually very efficient in the visible range, where all optical elements are very well known, particularly the reference detector. This setup is also widely used in the near IR (up to 3μm) but as the wavelength increases, it becomes less efficient. For instance, the internal emittance of integrating spheres in the IR, and the bad knowledge of reference detectors for longer wavelengths tend to degrade the measurement reliability. Another approach may therefore be considered, using a Fourier transform IR spectrometer (FTIR). In this case, as opposed to the monochromator, the tested detector is not in low flux condition, the incident light containing a mix of different wavelengths. Therefore, the reference detector has to be to be sensitive (and known) in the whole spectral band of interest, because it will sense all those wavelengths at the same time. A popular detector used in this case is a Deuterated Triglycine Sulfate thermal detector (DTGS). Being a pyro detetector, the spectral response of such a detector is very flat, mainly limited by its window. However, the response of such a detector is very slow, highly depending on the temporal frequency of the input signal. Moreover, being a differential detector, it doesn't work in DC. In commercial FTIR spectrometers, the source luminance is usually continuously modulated by the moving interferometer, and the result is that the interferogram mixes optical spectral information (optical path difference) and temporal variations (temporal frequency) so that the temporal transfert function of the DTGS has to be qualified and taken into account. The usual way is to measure it directly by means of an optical shopper and a locking amplifier for different shopping frequencies. We present here an alternative method to estimate this DTGS transfer function, based on the fact that a FTIR continuous scan interfergram contains the different spectral frequencies of interest. Such a calibration method doesn't need a specific setup as it can be performed in standard configuration, playing only with spectrometer parameters. It allows for the precise estimation of detector spectral shapes. However, this measurement is not absolute and the peak response needs therefore to be estimated using a calibrated black body cavity. The method, its results and limits is presented and discussed for a set of different DTGS cells.

The CIPM list of recommended frequency standard values: guidelines and procedures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riehle, Fritz; Gill, Patrick; Arias, Felicitas; Robertsson, Lennart

2018-04-01

A list of standard reference frequency values (LoF) of quantum transitions from the microwave to the optical regime has been recommended by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (Comité international des poids et mesures, CIPM) for use in basic research, technology, and for the metrology of time, frequency and length. The CIPM LoF contains entries that are recommended as secondary representations of the second in the International System of Units, and entries that can be used to serve as realizations of the definition of the metre. The historical perspective that led to the CIPM LoF is outlined. Procedures have been developed for updating existing, and validating new, entries into the CIPM LoF. The CIPM LoF might serve as an entry for a future redefinition of the second by an optical transition.

Solid-state lasers for coherent communication and remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byer, Robert L.

1992-01-01

Semiconductor-diode laser-pumped solid-state lasers have properties that are superior to other lasers for the applications of coherent communication and remote sensing. These properties include efficiency, reliability, stability, and capability to be scaled to higher powers. We have demonstrated that an optical phase-locked loop can be used to lock the frequency of two diode-pumped 1.06 micron Nd:YAG lasers to levels required for coherent communication. Monolithic nonplanar ring oscillators constructed from solid pieces of the laser material provide better than 10 kHz frequency stability over 0.1 sec intervals. We have used active feedback stabilization of the cavity length of these lasers to demonstrate 0.3 Hz frequency stabilization relative to a reference cavity. We have performed experiments and analysis to show that optical parametric oscillators (OPO's) reproduce the frequency stability of the pump laser in outputs that can be tuned to arbitrary wavelengths. Another measurement performed in this program has demonstrated the sub-shot-noise character of correlations of the fluctuations in the twin output of OPO's. Measurements of nonlinear optical coefficients by phase-matched second harmonic generation are helping to resolve inconsistency in these important parameters.

High frequency resolution terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangala, Bagvanth Reddy

2013-12-01

A new method for the high frequency resolution terahertz time-domain spectroscopy is developed based on the characteristic matrix method. This method is useful for studying planar samples or stack of planar samples. The terahertz radiation was generated by optical rectification in a ZnTe crystal and detected by another ZnTe crystal via electro-optic sampling method. In this new characteristic matrix based method, the spectra of the sample and reference waveforms will be modeled by using characteristic matrices. We applied this new method to measure the optical constants of air. The terahertz transmission through the layered systems air-Teflon-air-Quartz-air and Nitrogen gas-Teflon-Nitrogen gas-Quartz-Nitrogen gas was modeled by the characteristic matrix method. A transmission coefficient is derived from these models which was optimized to fit the experimental transmission coefficient to extract the optical constants of air. The optimization of an error function involving the experimental complex transmission coefficient and the theoretical transmission coefficient was performed using patternsearch algorithm of MATLAB. Since this method takes account of the echo waveforms due to reflections in the layered samples, this method allows analysis of longer time-domain waveforms giving rise to very high frequency resolution in the frequency-domain. We have presented the high frequency resolution terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of air and compared the results with the literature values. We have also fitted the complex susceptibility of air to the Lorentzian and Gaussian functions to extract the linewidths.

A diode laser-based velocimeter providing point measurements in unseeded flows using modulated filtered Rayleigh scattering (MFRS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jagodzinski, Jeremy James

2007-12-01

The development to date of a diode-laser based velocimeter providing point-velocity-measurements in unseeded flows using molecular Rayleigh scattering is discussed. The velocimeter is based on modulated filtered Rayleigh scattering (MFRS), a novel variation of filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS), utilizing modulated absorption spectroscopy techniques to detect a strong absorption of a relatively weak Rayleigh scattered signal. A rubidium (Rb) vapor filter is used to provide the relatively strong absorption; alkali metal vapors have a high optical depth at modest vapor pressures, and their narrow linewidth is ideally suited for high-resolution velocimetry. Semiconductor diode lasers are used to generate the relatively weak Rayleigh scattered signal; due to their compact, rugged construction diode lasers are ideally suited for the environmental extremes encountered in many experiments. The MFRS technique utilizes the frequency-tuning capability of diode lasers to implement a homodyne detection scheme using lock-in amplifiers. The optical frequency of the diode-based laser system used to interrogate the flow is rapidly modulated about a reference frequency in the D2-line of Rb. The frequency modulation is imposed on the Rayleigh scattered light that is collected from the probe volume in the flow under investigation. The collected frequency modulating Rayleigh scattered light is transmitted through a Rb vapor filter before being detected. The detected modulated absorption signal is fed to two lock-in amplifers synchronized with the modulation frequency of the source laser. High levels of background rejection are attained since the lock-ins are both frequency and phase selective. The two lock-in amplifiers extract different Fourier components of the detected modulated absorption signal, which are ratioed to provide an intensity normalized frequency dependent signal from a single detector. A Doppler frequency shift in the collected Rayleigh scattered light due to a change in the velocity of the flow under investigation results in a change in the detected modulated absorption signal. This change in the detected signal provides a quantifiable measure of the Doppler frequency shift, and hence the velocity in the probe volume, provided that the laser source exhibits acceptable levels of frequency stability (determined by the magnitude of the velocities being measured). An extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) in the Littrow configuration provides frequency tunable, relatively narrow-linewidth lasing for the MFRS velocimeter. Frequency stabilization of the ECDL is provided by a proportional-integral-differential (PID) controller based on an error signal in the reference arm of the experiment. The optical power of the Littrow laser source is amplified by an antireflection coated (AR coated) broad stripe diode laser. The single-mode, frequency-modulatable, frequency-stable O(50 mW) of optical power provided by this extended cavity diode laser master oscillator power amplifier (ECDL-MOPA) system provided sufficient scattering signal from a condensing jet of CO2 to implement the MFRS technique in the frequency-locked mode of operation.

Optical binding of two microparticles levitated in vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arita, Yoshihiko; Wright, Ewan M.; Dholakia, Kishan

2017-04-01

Optical binding refers to an optically mediated inter-particle interaction that creates new equilibrium positions for closely spaced particles [1-5]. Optical binding of mesoscopic particles levitated in vacuum can pave the way towards the realisation of a large scale quantum bound array in cavity-optomechanics [6-9]. Recently we have demonstrated trapping and rotation of two mesoscopic particles in vacuum using a spatial-light-modulator-based approach to trap more than one particle, induce controlled rotation of individual particles, and mediate interparticle separation [10]. By trapping and rotating two vaterite particles, we observe intensity modulation of the scattered light at the sum and difference frequencies with respect to the individual rotation rates. This first demonstration of optical interference between two microparticles in vacuum has lead to a platform to explore optical binding. Here we demonstrate for the first time optically bound two microparticles mediated by light scattering in vacuum. We investigate autocorrelations between the two normal modes of oscillation, which are determined by the centre-of-mass and the relative positions of the two-particle system. In situ determination of the optical restoring force acting on the bound particles are based on measurement of the oscillation frequencies of the autocorrelation functions of the two normal modes, thereby providing a powerful and original platform to explore multiparticle entanglement in cavity-optomechanics.

Holistic design in high-speed optical interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saeedi, Saman

Integrated circuit scaling has enabled a huge growth in processing capability, which necessitates a corresponding increase in inter-chip communication bandwidth. As bandwidth requirements for chip-to-chip interconnection scale, deficiencies of electrical channels become more apparent. Optical links present a viable alternative due to their low frequency-dependent loss and higher bandwidth density in the form of wavelength division multiplexing. As integrated photonics and bonding technologies are maturing, commercialization of hybrid-integrated optical links are becoming a reality. Increasing silicon integration leads to better performance in optical links but necessitates a corresponding co-design strategy in both electronics and photonics. In this light, holistic design of high-speed optical links with an in-depth understanding of photonics and state-of-the-art electronics brings their performance to unprecedented levels. This thesis presents developments in high-speed optical links by co-designing and co-integrating the primary elements of an optical link: receiver, transmitter, and clocking. In the first part of this thesis a 3D-integrated CMOS/Silicon-photonic receiver will be presented. The electronic chip features a novel design that employs a low-bandwidth TIA front-end, double-sampling and equalization through dynamic offset modulation. Measured results show -14.9dBm of sensitivity and energy eciency of 170fJ/b at 25Gb/s. The same receiver front-end is also used to implement source-synchronous 4-channel WDM-based parallel optical receiver. Quadrature ILO-based clocking is employed for synchronization and a novel frequency-tracking method that exploits the dynamics of IL in a quadrature ring oscillator to increase the effective locking range. An adaptive body-biasing circuit is designed to maintain the per-bit-energy consumption constant across wide data-rates. The prototype measurements indicate a record-low power consumption of 153fJ/b at 32Gb/s. The receiver sensitivity is measured to be -8.8dBm at 32Gb/s. Next, on the optical transmitter side, three new techniques will be presented. First one is a differential ring modulator that breaks the optical bandwidth/quality factor trade-off known to limit the speed of high-Q ring modulators. This structure maintains a constant energy in the ring to avoid pattern-dependent power droop. As a first proof of concept, a prototype has been fabricated and measured up to 10Gb/s. The second technique is thermal stabilization of micro-ring resonator modulators through direct measurement of temperature using a monolithic PTAT temperature sensor. The measured temperature is used in a feedback loop to adjust the thermal tuner of the ring. A prototype is fabricated and a closed-loop feedback system is demonstrated to operate at 20Gb/s in the presence of temperature fluctuations. The third technique is a switched-capacitor based pre-emphasis technique designed to extend the inherently low bandwidth of carrier injection micro-ring modulators. A measured prototype of the optical transmitter achieves energy efficiency of 342fJ/bit at 10Gb/s and the wavelength stabilization circuit based on the monolithic PTAT sensor consumes 0.29mW. Lastly, a first-order frequency synthesizer that is suitable for high-speed on-chip clock generation will be discussed. The proposed design features an architecture combining an LC quadrature VCO, two sample-and-holds, a PI, digital coarse-tuning, and rotational frequency detection for fine-tuning. In addition to an electrical reference clock, as an extra feature, the prototype chip is capable of receiving a low jitter optical reference clock generated by a high-repetition-rate mode-locked laser. The output clock at 8GHz has an integrated RMS jitter of 490fs, peak-to-peak periodic jitter of 2.06ps, and total RMS jitter of 680fs. The reference spurs are measured to be 64.3dB below the carrier frequency. At 8GHz the system consumes 2.49mW from a 1V supply.

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of Doppler-broadened absorption line with sub-MHz absolute frequency accuracy.

PubMed

Cheng, C-F; Sun, Y R; Pan, H; Lu, Y; Li, X-F; Wang, J; Liu, A-W; Hu, S-M

2012-04-23

A continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectrometer has been built for precise determination of absolute frequencies of Doppler-broadened absorption lines. Using a thermo-stabilized Fabry-Pérot interferometer and Rb frequency references at the 780 nm and 795 nm, 0.1 - 0.6 MHz absolute frequency accuracy has been achieved in the 775-800 nm region. A water absorption line at 12579 cm(-1) is studied to test the performance of the spectrometer. The line position at zero-pressure limit is determined with an uncertainty of 0.3 MHz (relative accuracy of 0.8 × 10(-9)). © 2012 Optical Society of America

Reference-free determination of tissue absorption coefficient by modulation transfer function characterization in spatial frequency domain.

PubMed

Chen, Weiting; Zhao, Huijuan; Li, Tongxin; Yan, Panpan; Zhao, Kuanxin; Qi, Caixia; Gao, Feng

2017-08-08

Spatial frequency domain (SFD) measurement allows rapid and non-contact wide-field imaging of the tissue optical properties, thus has become a potential tool for assessing physiological parameters and therapeutic responses during photodynamic therapy of skin diseases. The conventional SFD measurement requires a reference measurement within the same experimental scenario as that for a test one to calibrate mismatch between the real measurements and the model predictions. Due to the individual physical and geometrical differences among different tissues, organs and patients, an ideal reference measurement might be unavailable in clinical trials. To address this problem, we present a reference-free SFD determination of absorption coefficient that is based on the modulation transfer function (MTF) characterization. Instead of the absolute amplitude that is used in the conventional SFD approaches, we herein employ the MTF to characterize the propagation of the modulated lights in tissues. With such a dimensionless relative quantity, the measurements can be naturally corresponded to the model predictions without calibrating the illumination intensity. By constructing a three-dimensional database that portrays the MTF as a function of the optical properties (both the absorption coefficient μ a and the reduced scattering coefficient [Formula: see text]) and the spatial frequency, a look-up table approach or a least-square curve-fitting method is readily applied to recover the absorption coefficient from a single frequency or multiple frequencies, respectively. Simulation studies have verified the feasibility of the proposed reference-free method and evaluated its accuracy in the absorption recovery. Experimental validations have been performed on homogeneous tissue-mimicking phantoms with μ a ranging from 0.01 to 0.07 mm -1 and [Formula: see text] = 1.0 or 2.0 mm -1 . The results have shown maximum errors of 4.86 and 7% for [Formula: see text] = 1.0 mm -1 and [Formula: see text] = 2.0 mm -1 , respectively. We have also presented quantitative ex vivo imaging of human lung cancer in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model for further validation, and observed high absorption contrast in the tumor region. The proposed method can be applied to the rapid and accurate determination of the absorption coefficient, and better yet, in a reference-free way. We believe this reference-free strategy will facilitate the clinical translation of the SFD measurement to achieve enhanced intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring and personalized treatment planning in photodynamic therapy.

A coherent fiber link for very long baseline interferometry.

PubMed

Clivati, Cecilia; Costanzo, Giovanni A; Frittelli, Matteo; Levi, Filippo; Mura, Alberto; Zucco, Massimo; Ambrosini, Roberto; Bortolotti, Claudio; Perini, Federico; Roma, Mauro; Calonico, Davide

2015-11-01

We realize a coherent fiber link for application in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) for radio astronomy and geodesy. A 550-km optical fiber connects the Italian National Metrological Institute (INRIM) to a radio telescope in Italy and is used for the primary Cs fountain clock stability and accuracy dissemination. We use an ultrastable laser frequency- referenced to the primary standard as a transfer oscillator; at the radio telescope, an RF signal is generated from the laser by using an optical frequency comb. This scheme now provides the traceability of the local maser to the SI second, realized by the Cs fountain at the 1.7 × 10(-16) accuracy. The fiber link never limits the experiment and is robust enough to sustain radio astronomical campaigns. This experiment opens the possibility of replacing the local hydrogen masers at the VLBI sites with optically-synthesized RF signals. This could improve VLBI resolution by providing more accurate and stable frequency references and, in perspective, by enabling common- clock VLBI based on a network of telescopes connected by fiber links.

Laser modulator for LISA pathfinder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voland, C.; Lund, G.; Coppoolse, W.; Crosby, P.; Stadler, M.; Kudielka, K.; Özkan, C.

2017-11-01

LISA Pathfinder is an ESA experiment to demonstrate the key technologies needed for the LISA mission to detect gravitational waves in space. The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft represents one arm of the LISA interferometer, containing an optical metrology system and two proof masses as inertial references for the drag-free control system. The LISA Pathfinder payload consists of two drag-free floating test masses located in the inertial sensors with their control electronics and an optical metrology subsystem. The optical metrology subsystem monitors the movement of both test masses relative to each other and to the spacecraft with very high sensitivity and resolution. This is achieved with a heterodyne Mach- Zehnder interferometer. This interferometer requires as input two coherent laser beams with a heterodyne frequency difference of a few kHz. To generate the two laser beams with a heterodyne frequency difference a Nd:YAG laser is used together with the Laser Modulator. The Nd:YAG laser generates a single coherent laser signal at a wavelength of 1064nm which is fibre coupled to the Laser Modulator. The Laser Modulator then generates the two optical beams with the required heterodyne frequency offset. In addition, the Laser Modulator is required to perform laser amplitude stabilization and optical path difference control for the two optical signals. The Laser Modulator consists of an optical unit - the LMU - and RF synthesiser, power amplification and control electronics. These electronics are all housed in the Laser Modulator Electronics (LME). The LMU has four primary functions: • Splitting of the input laser beam into two paths for later superposition in the interferometer. • Applying different frequency shifts to each of the beams. • Providing amplitude modulation control to each of the beams. • Providing active control of the optical path length difference between the two optical paths. The present paper describes the design and performance of the LMU together with a summary of the results of the Laser Modulator engineering model test campaign.

A noninterference blade vibration measurement system for gas turbine engines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watkins, William B.; Chi, Ray M.

1987-06-01

A noninterfering blade vibration system has been demonstrated in tests of a gas turbine first stage fan. Conceptual design of the system, including its theory, design of case mounted probes, and data acquisition and signal processing hardware was done in a previous effort. The current effort involved instrumentation of an engine fan stage with strain gages; data acquisition using shaft-mounted reference and case-mounted optical probes; recording of data on a wideband tape recorder; and posttest processing using off-line analysis in a facility computer and a minicomputer-based readout system designed for near- real-time readout. Results are presented in terms of true blade vibration frequencies, time and frequency dependent vibration amplitudes and comparison of the optical noninterference results with strain gage readings.

Foundry fabricated photonic integrated circuit optical phase lock loop.

PubMed

Bałakier, Katarzyna; Fice, Martyn J; Ponnampalam, Lalitha; Graham, Chris S; Wonfor, Adrian; Seeds, Alwyn J; Renaud, Cyril C

2017-07-24

This paper describes the first foundry-based InP photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designed to work within a heterodyne optical phase locked loop (OPLL). The PIC and an external electronic circuit were used to phase-lock a single-line semiconductor laser diode to an incoming reference laser, with tuneable frequency offset from 4 GHz to 12 GHz. The PIC contains 33 active and passive components monolithically integrated on a single chip, fully demonstrating the capability of a generic foundry PIC fabrication model. The electronic part of the OPLL consists of commercially available RF components. This semi-packaged system stabilizes the phase and frequency of the integrated laser so that an absolute frequency, high-purity heterodyne signal can be generated when the OPLL is in operation, with phase noise lower than -100 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset from the carrier. This is the lowest phase noise level ever demonstrated by monolithically integrated OPLLs.

An optical color image watermarking scheme by using compressive sensing with human visual characteristics in gyrator domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liansheng, Sui; Bei, Zhou; Zhanmin, Wang; Ailing, Tian

2017-05-01

A novel optical color image watermarking scheme considering human visual characteristics is presented in gyrator transform domain. Initially, an appropriate reference image is constructed of significant blocks chosen from the grayscale host image by evaluating visual characteristics such as visual entropy and edge entropy. Three components of the color watermark image are compressed based on compressive sensing, and the corresponding results are combined to form the grayscale watermark. Then, the frequency coefficients of the watermark image are fused into the frequency data of the gyrator-transformed reference image. The fused result is inversely transformed and partitioned, and eventually the watermarked image is obtained by mapping the resultant blocks into their original positions. The scheme can reconstruct the watermark with high perceptual quality and has the enhanced security due to high sensitivity of the secret keys. Importantly, the scheme can be implemented easily under the framework of double random phase encoding with the 4f optical system. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on embedding the color watermark into the grayscale host image which will be out of attacker's expectation. Simulation results are given to verify the feasibility and its superior performance in terms of noise and occlusion robustness.

Fiber-based polarization-sensitive Mueller matrix optical coherence tomography with continuous source polarization modulation.

PubMed

Jiao, Shuliang; Todorović, Milos; Stoica, George; Wang, Lihong V

2005-09-10

We report on a new configuration of fiber-based polarization-sensitive Mueller matrix optical coherence tomography that permits the acquisition of the round-trip Jones matrix of a biological sample using only one light source and a single depth scan. In this new configuration, a polarization modulator is used in the source arm to continuously modulate the incident polarization state for both the reference and the sample arms. The Jones matrix of the sample can be calculated from the two frequency terms in the two detection channels. The first term is modulated by the carrier frequency, which is determined by the longitudinal scanning mechanism, whereas the other term is modulated by the beat frequency between the carrier frequency and the second harmonic of the modulation frequency of the polarization modulator. One important feature of this system is that, for the first time to our knowledge, the Jones matrix of the sample can be calculated with a single detection channel and a single measurement when diattenuation is negligible. The system was successfully tested by imaging both standard polarization elements and biological samples.

Design verification of large time constant thermal shields for optical reference cavities.

PubMed

Zhang, J; Wu, W; Shi, X H; Zeng, X Y; Deng, K; Lu, Z H

2016-02-01

In order to achieve high frequency stability in ultra-stable lasers, the Fabry-Pérot reference cavities shall be put inside vacuum chambers with large thermal time constants to reduce the sensitivity to external temperature fluctuations. Currently, the determination of thermal time constants of vacuum chambers is based either on theoretical calculation or time-consuming experiments. The first method can only apply to simple system, while the second method will take a lot of time to try out different designs. To overcome these limitations, we present thermal time constant simulation using finite element analysis (FEA) based on complete vacuum chamber models and verify the results with measured time constants. We measure the thermal time constants using ultrastable laser systems and a frequency comb. The thermal expansion coefficients of optical reference cavities are precisely measured to reduce the measurement error of time constants. The simulation results and the experimental results agree very well. With this knowledge, we simulate several simplified design models using FEA to obtain larger vacuum thermal time constants at room temperature, taking into account vacuum pressure, shielding layers, and support structure. We adopt the Taguchi method for shielding layer optimization and demonstrate that layer material and layer number dominate the contributions to the thermal time constant, compared with layer thickness and layer spacing.

Frequency Stabilization of a Single Mode Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser to the Kilohertz Level

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-27

analog locking circuit was shown to stabilize the beat signal between a 2.408 THz quantum cascade laser and a CH2DOH THz CO2 optically pumped...codes: (140.5965) Semiconductor lasers , quantum cascade; (140.3425) Laser stabilization; (300.3700) Linewidth; (040.2840) Heterodyne . References...Reno, “Frequency and phase - lock control of a 3 THz quantum cascade laser ,” Opt. Lett. 30, 1837-1839 (2005). 10. D. Rabanus, U. U. Graf, M. Philipp

Adhesive Bonding for Optical Metrology Systems in Space Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gohlke, Martin; Schuldt, Thilo; Döringshoff, Klaus; Peters, Achim; Johann, Ulrich; Weise, Dennis; Braxmaier, Claus

2015-05-01

Laser based metrology systems become more and more attractive for space applications and are the core elements of planned missions such as LISA (NGO, eLISA) or NGGM where laser interferometry is used for distance measurements between satellites. The GRACE-FO mission will for the first time demonstrate a Laser Ranging Instrument (LRI) in space, starting 2017. Laser based metrology also includes optical clocks/references, either as ultra-stable light source for high sensitivity interferometry or as scientific payload e.g. proposed in fundamental physics missions such as mSTAR (mini SpaceTime Asymmetry Research), a mission dedicated to perform a Kennedy-Thorndike experiment on a satellite in a low-Earth orbit. To enable the use of existing optical laboratory setups, optimization with respect to power consumption, weight and dimensions is necessary. At the same time the thermal and structural stability must be increased. Over the last few years we investigated adhesive bonding of optical components to thermally highly stable glass ceramics as an easy-to-handle assembly integration technology. Several setups were implemented and tested for potential later use in space applications. We realized a heterodyne LISA related interferometer with demonstrated noise levels in the pm-range for translation measurement and nano-radiant-range for tilt measurements and two iodine frequency references on Elegant Breadboard (EBB) and Engineering Model (EM) level with frequency stabilities in the 10-15 range for longer integration times. The EM setup was thermally cycled and vibration tested.

Actively stabilized optical fiber interferometry technique for online/in-process surface measurement.

PubMed

Wang, Kaiwei; Martin, Haydn; Jiang, Xiangqian

2008-02-01

In this paper, we report the recent progress in optical-beam scanning fiber interferometry for potential online nanoscale surface measurement based on the previous research. It attempts to generate a robust and miniature measurement device for future development into a multiprobe array measurement system. In this research, both fiber-optic-interferometry and the wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques have been used, so that the optical probe and the optical interferometer are well spaced and fast surface scanning can be carried out, allowing flexibility for online measurement. In addition, this system provides a self-reference signal to stabilize the optical detection with high common-mode noise suppression by adopting an active phase tracking and stabilization technique. Low-frequency noise was significantly reduced compared with unstabilized result. The measurement of a sample surface shows an attained repeatability of 3.3 nm.

Sub-mm Scale Fiber Guided Deep/Vacuum Ultra-Violet Optical Source for Trapped Mercury Ion Clocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yi, Lin; Burt, Eric A.; Huang, Shouhua; Tjoelker, Robert L.

2013-01-01

We demonstrate the functionality of a mercury capillary lamp with a diameter in the sub-mm range and deep ultraviolet (DUV)/ vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation delivery via an optical fiber integrated with the capillary. DUV spectrum control is observed by varying the fabrication parameters such as buffer gas type and pressure, capillary diameter, electrical resonator design, and temperature. We also show spectroscopic data of the 199Hg+ hyper-fine transition at 40.5GHz when applying the above fiber optical design. We present efforts toward micro-plasma generation in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber with related optical design and theoretical estimations. This new approach towards a more practical DUV optical interface could benefit trapped ion clock developments for future ultra-stable frequency reference and time-keeping applications.

Compact, thermal-noise-limited reference cavity for ultra-low-noise microwave generation.

PubMed

Davila-Rodriguez, J; Baynes, F N; Ludlow, A D; Fortier, T M; Leopardi, H; Diddams, S A; Quinlan, F

2017-04-01

We demonstrate an easy-to-manufacture 25-mm-long ultra-stable optical reference cavity for transportable photonic microwave generation systems. Employing a rigid holding geometry that is first-order insensitive to the squeezing force and a cavity geometry that improves the thermal noise limit at room temperature, we observe a laser phase noise that is nearly thermal noise limited for three frequency decades (1 Hz to 1 kHz offset) and supports 10 GHz generation with phase noise near -100  dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset and <-173  dBc/Hz for all offsets >600  Hz. The fractional frequency stability reaches 2×10^-15 at 0.1 s of averaging.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thorpe, J. I.; Livas, J.; Maghami, P.

Arm locking is a proposed laser frequency stabilization technique for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a gravitational-wave observatory sensitive in the milliHertz frequency band. Arm locking takes advantage of the geometric stability of the triangular constellation of three spacecraft that compose LISA to provide a frequency reference with a stability in the LISA measurement band that exceeds that available from a standard reference such as an optical cavity or molecular absorption line. We have implemented a time-domain simulation of a Kalman-filter-based arm-locking system that includes the expected limiting noise sources as well as the effects of imperfect a priorimore » knowledge of the constellation geometry on which the design is based. We use the simulation to study aspects of the system performance that are difficult to capture in a steady-state frequency-domain analysis such as frequency pulling of the master laser due to errors in estimates of heterodyne frequency. We find that our implementation meets requirements on both the noise and dynamic range of the laser frequency with acceptable tolerances and that the design is sufficiently insensitive to errors in the estimated constellation geometry that the required performance can be maintained for the longest continuous measurement intervals expected for the LISA mission.« less

Estimating Transmitted-Signal Phase Variations for Uplink Array Antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paal, Leslie; Mukai, Ryan; Vilntrotter, Victor; Cornish, Timothy; Lee, Dennis

2009-01-01

A method of estimating phase drifts of microwave signals distributed to, and transmitted by, antennas in an array involves the use of the signals themselves as phase references. The method was conceived as part of the solution of the problem of maintaining precise phase calibration required for proper operation of an array of Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas on Earth used for communicating with distant spacecraft at frequencies between 7 and 8 GHz. The method could also be applied to purely terrestrial phased-array radar and other radio antenna array systems. In the DSN application, the electrical lengths (effective signal-propagation path lengths) of the various branches of the system for distributing the transmitted signals to the antennas are not precisely known, and they vary with time. The variations are attributable mostly to thermal expansion and contraction of fiber-optic and electrical signal cables and to a variety of causes associated with aging of signal-handling components. The variations are large enough to introduce large phase drifts at the signal frequency. It is necessary to measure and correct for these phase drifts in order to maintain phase calibration of the antennas. A prior method of measuring phase drifts involves the use of reference-frequency signals separate from the transmitted signals. A major impediment to accurate measurement of phase drifts over time by the prior method is the fact that although DSN reference-frequency sources separate from the transmitting signal sources are stable and accurate enough for most DSN purposes, they are not stable enough for use in maintaining phase calibrations, as required, to within a few degrees over times as long as days or possibly even weeks. By eliminating reliance on the reference-frequency subsystem, the present method overcomes this impediment. In a DSN array to which the present method applies (see figure), the microwave signals to be transmitted are generated by exciters in a signal-processing center, then distributed to the antennas via optical fibers. At each antenna, the signals are used to drive a microwave power-amplifier train, the output of which is coupled to the antenna for transmission. A small fraction of the power-amplifier-train output is sent back to the signal-processing center along another optical fiber that is part of the same fiber-optic cable used to distribute the transmitted signal to the antenna. In the signal-processing center, the signal thus returned from each antenna is detected and its phase is compared with the phase of the signal sampled directly from the corresponding exciter. It is known, from other measurements, that the signal-propagation path length from the power-amplifier-train output port to the phase center of each antenna is sufficiently stable and, hence, that sampling the signal at the power-amplifier-train output port suffices for the purpose of characterizing the phase drift of the transmitted signal at the phase center of the antenna

Atomic fountain clock with very high frequency stability employing a pulse-tube-cryocooled sapphire oscillator.

PubMed

Takamizawa, Akifumi; Yanagimachi, Shinya; Tanabe, Takehiko; Hagimoto, Ken; Hirano, Iku; Watabe, Ken-ichi; Ikegami, Takeshi; Hartnett, John G

2014-09-01

The frequency stability of an atomic fountain clock was significantly improved by employing an ultra-stable local oscillator and increasing the number of atoms detected after the Ramsey interrogation, resulting in a measured Allan deviation of 8.3 × 10(-14)τ(-1/2)). A cryogenic sapphire oscillator using an ultra-low-vibration pulse-tube cryocooler and cryostat, without the need for refilling with liquid helium, was applied as a local oscillator and a frequency reference. High atom number was achieved by the high power of the cooling laser beams and optical pumping to the Zeeman sublevel m(F) = 0 employed for a frequency measurement, although vapor-loaded optical molasses with the simple (001) configuration was used for the atomic fountain clock. The resulting stability is not limited by the Dick effect as it is when a BVA quartz oscillator is used as the local oscillator. The stability reached the quantum projection noise limit to within 11%. Using a combination of a cryocooled sapphire oscillator and techniques to enhance the atom number, the frequency stability of any atomic fountain clock, already established as primary frequency standard, may be improved without opening its vacuum chamber.

An ATP System for Deep-Space Optical Communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Shinhak; Irtuzm Gerardi; Alexander, James

2008-01-01

An acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) system is proposed for aiming an optical-communications downlink laser beam from deep space. In providing for a direction reference, the concept exploits the mature technology of star trackers to eliminate the need for a costly and potentially hazardous laser beacon. The system would include one optical and two inertial sensors, each contributing primarily to a different portion of the frequency spectrum of the pointing signal: a star tracker (<10 Hz), a gyroscope (<50 Hz), and a precise fluid-rotor inertial angular-displacement sensor (sometimes called, simply, "angle sensor") for the frequency range >50 Hz. The outputs of these sensors would be combined in an iterative averaging process to obtain high-bandwidth, high-accuracy pointing knowledge. The accuracy of pointing knowledge obtainable by use of the system was estimated on the basis of an 8-cm-diameter telescope and known parameters of commercially available star trackers and inertial sensors: The single-axis pointing-knowledge error was found to be characterized by a standard deviation of 150 nanoradians - below the maximum value (between 200 and 300 nanoradians) likely to be tolerable in deep-space optical communications.

Optical diffraction interpretation: an alternative to interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouillet, S.; Audo, F.; Fréville, S.; Eupherte, L.; Rouyer, C.; Daurios, J.

2015-08-01

The Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) is a French high power laser project that requires thousands of large optical components. The wavefront performances of all those optics are critical to achieve the desired focal spot shape and to limit the hot spots that could damage the components. Fizeau interferometers and interferometric microscopes are the most commonly used tools to cover the whole range of interesting spatial frequencies. Anyway, in some particular cases like diffractive and/or coated and/or aspheric optics, an interferometric set-up becomes very expensive with the need to build a costly reference component or a specific to-the-wavelength designed interferometer. Despite the increasing spatial resolution of Fizeau interferometers, it may even not be enough, if you are trying to access the highest spatial frequencies of a transmitted wavefront for instance. The method we developed is based upon laser beam diffraction intermediate field measurements and their interpretation with a Fourier analysis and the Talbot effect theory. We demonstrated in previous papers that it is a credible alternative to classical methods. In this paper we go further by analyzing main error sources and discussing main practical difficulties.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

PubMed Central

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C.

2015-01-01

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35× corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼115×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼2,500× spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d2. Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, Io = qω|xo|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|xo| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency. PMID:25624503

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission.

PubMed

Eggleston, Michael S; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C

2015-02-10

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼ 200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼ 115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼ 2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d(2). Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE PAGES

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; ...

2015-01-26

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Near infrared spatial frequency domain fluorescence imaging of tumor phantoms containing erythrocyte-derived optical nanoplatforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, Joshua M.; Schaefer, Elise; Anvari, Bahman

2018-02-01

Light-activated theranostic constructs provide a multi-functional platform for optical imaging and phototherapeutic applications. Our group has engineered nano-sized vesicles derived from erythrocytes that encapsulate the FDAapproved near infrared (NIR) absorber indocyanine green (ICG). We refer to these constructs as NIR erythrocytemimicking transducers (NETs). Once photo-excited by NIR light these constructs can transduce the photons energy to emit fluorescence, generate heat, or induce chemical reactions. In this study, we investigated fluorescence imaging of NETs embedded within tumor phantoms using spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI). Using SFDI, we were able to fluorescently image simulated tumors doped with different concentration of NETs. These preliminary results suggest that NETs can be used in conjunction with SFDI for potential tumor imaging applications.

Low-coherence interferometric tip-clearance probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kempe, Andreas; Schlamp, Stefan; Rösgen, Thomas; Haffner, Ken

2003-08-01

We propose an all-fiber, self-calibrating, economical probe that is capable of near-real-time, single-port, simultaneous blade-to-blade tip-clearance measurements with submillimeter accuracy (typically <100 μm, absolute) in the first stages of a gas turbine. Our probe relies on the interference between backreflected light from the blade tips during the 1-μs blade passage time and a frequency-shifted reference with variable time delay, making use of a low-coherence light source. A single optical fiber of arbitrary length connects the self-contained optics and electronics to the turbine.

Remote distribution of a mode-locked pulse train with sub 40-as jitter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Fei; Jiang, Jie; Jones, David J.

2006-12-01

Remote transfer of an ultralow-jitter microwave frequency reference signal is demonstrated using the pulse trains generated by a mode-locked fiber laser. The timing jitter in a ~ 30-m fiber link is reduced to 38 attoseconds (as) integrated over a bandwidth from 1 Hz to 10 MHz via active stabilization which represents a significant improvement over previously reported jitter performance. Our approach uses an all-optical generation of the synchronization error signal and an accompanying out-of-loop optical detection technique to verify the jitter performance.

Aeronautical concerns and National Aeronautics and Space Administration atmospheric electricity projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughan, W. W.

1980-01-01

The phenomenology of lightning and lightning measurement techniques are briefly examined with a particular reference to aeronautics. Developments made in airborne and satellite detection methods are reported. NASA research efforts are outlined which cover topics including in-situ measurements, design factors and protection, remote optical and radio frequency measurements, and space vehicle design.

Stabilization of Phase of a Sinusoidal Signal Transmitted Over Optical Fiber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DAddario, Larry R.; Trink, Joseph T.

2010-01-01

In the process of connecting widely distributed antennas into a coherent array, it is necessary to synchronize the timing of signals at the various locations. This can be accomplished by distributing a common reference signal from a central source, usually over optical fiber. A high-frequency (RF or microwave) tone is a good choice for the reference. One difficulty is that the effective length of the optical fiber changes with temperature and mechanical stress, leading to phase instability in the received tone. This innovation provides a new way to stabilize the phase of the received tone, in spite of variations in the electrical length of the fiber. Stabilization is accomplished by two-way transmission in which part of the received signal is returned to the transmitting end over an identical fiber. The returned signal is detected and used to close an electrical servo loop whose effect is to keep constant the phase of the tone at the receiving end.

Micro-controller based air pressure monitoring instrumentation system using optical fibers as sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazarika, D.; Pegu, D. S.

2013-03-01

This paper describes a micro-controller based instrumentation system to monitor air pressure using optical fiber sensors. The principle of macrobending is used to develop the sensor system. The instrumentation system consists of a laser source, a beam splitter, two multi mode optical fibers, two Light Dependent Resistance (LDR) based timer circuits and a AT89S8252 micro-controller. The beam splitter is used to divide the laser beam into two parts and then these two beams are launched into two multi mode fibers. One of the multi mode fibers is used as the sensor fiber and the other one is used as the reference fiber. The use of the reference fiber is to eliminate the environmental effects while measuring the air pressure magnitude. The laser beams from the sensor and reference fibers are applied to two identical LDR based timer circuits. The LDR based timer circuits are interfaced to a micro-controller through its counter pins. The micro-controller samples the frequencies of the timer circuits using its counter-0 and counter-1 and the counter values are then processed to provide the measure of air pressure magnitude.

Broadband noise limit in the photodetection of ultralow jitter optical pulses.

PubMed

Sun, Wenlu; Quinlan, Franklyn; Fortier, Tara M; Deschenes, Jean-Daniel; Fu, Yang; Diddams, Scott A; Campbell, Joe C

2014-11-14

Applications with optical atomic clocks and precision timing often require the transfer of optical frequency references to the electrical domain with extremely high fidelity. Here we examine the impact of photocarrier scattering and distributed absorption on the photocurrent noise of high-speed photodiodes when detecting ultralow jitter optical pulses. Despite its small contribution to the total photocurrent, this excess noise can determine the phase noise and timing jitter of microwave signals generated by detecting ultrashort optical pulses. A Monte Carlo simulation of the photodetection process is used to quantitatively estimate the excess noise. Simulated phase noise on the 10 GHz harmonic of a photodetected pulse train shows good agreement with previous experimental data, leading to the conclusion that the lowest phase noise photonically generated microwave signals are limited by photocarrier scattering well above the quantum limit of the optical pulse train.

A transportable optical clock for chronometric levelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisdat, C.; Koller, S. B.; Grotti, J.; Vogt, S.; Al-Masoudi, A.; Dörscher, S.; Herbers, S.; Häfner, S.; Sterr, U.

2016-12-01

With their supreme accuracy and precision, optical clocks in combination with new methods of long-distance frequency transfer can be used to determine height differences by measuring the gravitational red shift between two clocks without accumulation of measurement errors, as in classical levelling. We are developing transportable optical clocks for this purpose that will also serve for the technology development regarding optical clocks in Space and for international comparisons between optical clocks that cannot be linked with sufficient accuracy otherwise.In this talk we will focus on the transportable strontium lattice clock that we are developing and its first evaluation. Presently, we achieve a fractional frequency instability of 3×10-17 after 1000 s averaging time, which is equivalent to a height resolution of 30 cm. The first uncertainty evaluation of the system yielded 7×10-17. We expect rapid improvements to an uncertainty of a few parts in 1017.The clock then placed within a car trailer, which requires compact and rugged lasers systems and physics package. Special care has been taken in the design of the ultra-frequency stable interrogation laser that has to achieve fractional frequency instabilities of considerably below 10-15. Typical laboratory constructions of the reference resonator system used to pre-stabilize the laser frequency are not compatible with the requirement of transportability.In an actual levelling campaign, this clock will be connected e.g. via a stabilized optical fibre link with another, stationary frequency standard. The measured gravitational red shift can be compared to the ones calculated from potential differences derived with state of the art geodetic data and models. A first campaign has been completed in cooperation with colleagues from the Italian and UK metrology institutes INRIM and NPL, respectively, and the Institut für Erdmessung (IfE), Leibniz University Hannover. We will discuss the status of the evaluation and give an outlook on our next steps.This work is supported by QUEST, DFG (CRC 1128, 1227), EU-FP7 (FACT) and EMRP (ITOC). The EMRP is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the European Union.

Light fidelity (Li-Fi): towards all-optical networking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsonev, Dobroslav; Videv, Stefan; Haas, Harald

2013-12-01

Motivated by the looming radio frequency (RF) spectrum crisis, this paper aims at demonstrating that optical wireless communication (OWC) has now reached a state where it can demonstrate that it is a viable and matured solution to this fundamental problem. In particular, for indoor communications where most mobile data traffic is consumed, light fidelity (Li-Fi) which is related to visible light communication (VLC) offers many key advantages, and effective solutions to the issues that have been posed in the last decade. This paper discusses all key component technologies required to realize optical cellular communication systems referred to here as optical attocell networks. Optical attocells are the next step in the progression towards ever smaller cells, a progression which is known to be the most significant contributor to the improvements in network spectral efficiencies in RF wireless networks.

Optical implementation of the synthetic discriminant function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, S.; Riggins, J.

1984-10-01

Much attention is focused on the use of coherent optical pattern recognition (OPR) using matched spatial filters for robotics and intelligent systems. The OPR problem consists of three aspects -- information input, information processing, and information output. This paper discusses the information processing aspect which consists of choosing a filter to provide robust correlation with high efficiency. The filter should ideally be invariant to image shift, rotation and scale, provide a reasonable signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and allow high throughput efficiency. The physical implementation of a spatial matched filter involves many choices. These include the use of conventional holograms or computer-generated holograms (CGH) and utilizing absorption or phase materials. Conventional holograms inherently modify the reference image by non-uniform emphasis of spatial frequencies. Proper use of film nonlinearity provides improved filter performance by emphasizing frequency ranges crucial to target discrimination. In the case of a CGH, the emphasis of the reference magnitude and phase can be controlled independently of the continuous tone or binary writing processes. This paper describes computer simulation and optical implementation of a geometrical shape and a Synthetic Discriminant Function (SDF) matched filter. The authors chose the binary Allebach-Keegan (AK) CGH algorithm to produce actual filters. The performances of these filters were measured to verify the simulation results. This paper provides a brief summary of the matched filter theory, the SDF, CGH algorithms, Phase-Only-Filtering, simulation procedures, and results.

Absorption line metrology by optical feedback frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkart, Johannes; Kassi, Samir

2015-04-01

Optical feedback frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy (OFFS-CRDS) is a near-shot-noise-limited technique combining a sensitivity of with a highly linear frequency axis and sub-kHz resolution. Here, we give an in-depth review of the key elements of the experimental setup encompassing a highly stable V-shaped reference cavity, an integrated Mach-Zehnder modulator and a tightly locked ring-down cavity with a finesse of 450,000. Carrying out a detailed analysis of the spectrometer performance and its limitations, we revisit the photo-electron shot-noise limit in CRDS and discuss the impact of optical fringes. We demonstrate different active schemes for fringe cancelation by varying the phase of parasitic reflections. The proof-of-principle experiments reported here include a broadband high-resolution spectrum of carbon dioxide at 1.6 µm and an isolated line-shape measurement with a signal-to-noise ratio of 80,000. Beyond laboratory-based absorption line metrology for fundamental research, OFFS-CRDS holds a considerable potential for field laser measurements of trace gas concentrations and isotopic ratios by virtue of its small sample volume and footprint, the robust cavity-locking scheme and supreme precision.

A closed-loop phase-locked interferometer for wide bandwidth position sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fleming, Andrew J., E-mail: Andrew.Fleming@Newcastle.edu.au; Routley, Ben S., E-mail: Ben.Routley@Newcastle.edu.au

This article describes a position sensitive interferometer with closed-loop control of the reference mirror. A calibrated nanopositioner is used to lock the interferometer phase to the most sensitive point in the interferogram. In this configuration, large low-frequency movements of the sensor mirror can be detected from the control signal applied to the nanopositioner and high-frequency short-range signals can be measured directly from the photodiode. It is demonstrated that these two signals are complementary and can be summed to find the total displacement. The resulting interferometer has a number of desirable characteristics: it is optically simple, does not require polarization ormore » modulation to detect the direction of motion, does not require fringe-counting or interpolation electronics, and has a bandwidth equal to that of the photodiode. Experimental results demonstrate the frequency response analysis of a high-speed positioning stage. The proposed instrument is ideal for measuring the frequency response of nanopositioners, electro-optical components, MEMs devices, ultrasonic devices, and sensors such as surface acoustic wave detectors.« less

Photonic microwave signals with zeptosecond-level absolute timing noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Xiaopeng; Bouchand, Romain; Nicolodi, Daniele; Giunta, Michele; Hänsel, Wolfgang; Lezius, Matthias; Joshi, Abhay; Datta, Shubhashish; Alexandre, Christophe; Lours, Michel; Tremblin, Pierre-Alain; Santarelli, Giorgio; Holzwarth, Ronald; Le Coq, Yann

2017-01-01

Photonic synthesis of radiofrequency (RF) waveforms revived the quest for unrivalled microwave purity because of its ability to convey the benefits of optics to the microwave world. In this work, we perform a high-fidelity transfer of frequency stability between an optical reference and a microwave signal via a low-noise fibre-based frequency comb and cutting-edge photodetection techniques. We demonstrate the generation of the purest microwave signal with a fractional frequency stability below 6.5 × 10-16 at 1 s and a timing noise floor below 41 zs Hz-1/2 (phase noise below -173 dBc Hz-1 for a 12 GHz carrier). This outperforms existing sources and promises a new era for state-of-the-art microwave generation. The characterization is achieved through a heterodyne cross-correlation scheme with the lowermost detection noise. This unprecedented level of purity can impact domains such as radar systems, telecommunications and time-frequency metrology. The measurement methods developed here can benefit the characterization of a broad range of signals.

Robust frequency stabilization of multiple spectroscopy lasers with large and tunable offset frequencies.

PubMed

Nevsky, A; Alighanbari, S; Chen, Q-F; Ernsting, I; Vasilyev, S; Schiller, S; Barwood, G; Gill, P; Poli, N; Tino, G M

2013-11-15

We have demonstrated a compact, robust device for simultaneous absolute frequency stabilization of three diode lasers whose carrier frequencies can be chosen freely relative to the reference. A rigid ULE multicavity block is employed, and, for each laser, the sideband locking technique is applied. A small lock error, computer control of frequency offset, wide range of frequency offset, simple construction, and robust operation are the useful features of the system. One concrete application is as a stabilization unit for the cooling and trapping lasers of a neutral-atom lattice clock. The device significantly supports and improves the clock's operation. The laser with the most stringent requirements imposed by this application is stabilized to a line width of 70 Hz, and a residual frequency drift less than 0.5 Hz/s. The carrier optical frequency can be tuned over 350 MHz while in lock.

Thermal-noise-limited higher-order mode locking of a reference cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, X. Y.; Ye, Y. X.; Shi, X. H.; Wang, Z. Y.; Deng, K.; Zhang, J.; Lu, Z. H.

2018-04-01

Higher-order mode locking has been proposed to reduce the thermal noise limit of reference cavities. By locking a laser to the HG02 mode of a 10-cm long all ULE cavity, and measure its performance with the three-cornered-hat method among three independently stabilized lasers, we demonstrate a thermal noise limited performance of a fractional frequency instability of 4.9E-16. The results match the theoretical models with higher-order optical modes. The achieved laser instability improves the all ULE short cavity results to a new low level.

Solar Power Satellite (SPS) fiber optic link assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A feasibility demonstration of a 980 MHz fiber optic link for the Solar Power Satellite (SPS) phase reference distribution system was accomplished. A dual fiber-optic link suitable for a phase distribution frequency of 980 MHz was built and tested. The major link components include single mode injection laser diodes, avalanche photodiodes, and multimode high bandwidth fibers. Signal throughput was demonstrated to be stable and of high quality in all cases. For a typical SPS link length of 200 meters, the transmitted phase at 980 MHz varies approximately 2.5 degrees for every deg C of fiber temperature change. This rate is acceptable because of the link length compensation feature of the phase control design.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kohli, K; Liu, F; Krishnan, K

Purpose: Multi-frequency EIT has been reported to be a potential tool in distinguishing a tissue anomaly from background. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of acquiring functional information by comparing multi-frequency EIT images in reference to the structural information from the CT image through fusion. Methods: EIT data was acquired from a slice of winter melon using sixteen electrodes around the phantom, injecting a current of 0.4mA at 100, 66, 24.8 and 9.9 kHz. Differential EIT images were generated by considering different combinations of pair frequencies, one serving as reference data and the other as test data. The experimentmore » was repeated after creating an anomaly in the form of an off-centered cavity of diameter 4.5 cm inside the melon. All EIT images were reconstructed using Electrical Impedance Tomography and Diffuse Optical Tomography Reconstruction Software (EIDORS) package in 2-D differential imaging mode using one-step Gaussian Newton minimization solver. CT image of the melon was obtained using a Phillips CT Scanner. A segmented binary mask image was generated based on the reference electrode position and the CT image to define the regions of interest. The region selected by the user was fused with the CT image through logical indexing. Results: Differential images based on the reference and test signal frequencies were reconstructed from EIT data. Result illustrated distinct structural inhomogeneity in seeded region compared to fruit flesh. The seeded region was seen as a higherimpedance region if the test frequency was lower than the base frequency in the differential EIT reconstruction. When the test frequency was higher than the base frequency, the signal experienced less electrical impedance in the seeded region during the EIT data acquisition. Conclusion: Frequency-based differential EIT imaging can be explored to provide additional functional information along with structural information from CT for identifying different tissues.« less

Micro-combs: A novel generation of optical sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasquazi, Alessia; Peccianti, Marco; Razzari, Luca; Moss, David J.; Coen, Stéphane; Erkintalo, Miro; Chembo, Yanne K.; Hansson, Tobias; Wabnitz, Stefan; Del'Haye, Pascal; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Weiner, Andrew M.; Morandotti, Roberto

2018-01-01

The quest towards the integration of ultra-fast, high-precision optical clocks is reflected in the large number of high-impact papers on the topic published in the last few years. This interest has been catalysed by the impact that high-precision optical frequency combs (OFCs) have had on metrology and spectroscopy in the last decade [1-5]. OFCs are often referred to as optical rulers: their spectra consist of a precise sequence of discrete and equally-spaced spectral lines that represent precise marks in frequency. Their importance was recognised worldwide with the 2005 Nobel Prize being awarded to T.W. Hänsch and J. Hall for their breakthrough in OFC science [5]. They demonstrated that a coherent OFC source with a large spectrum - covering at least one octave - can be stabilised with a self-referenced approach, where the frequency and the phase do not vary and are completely determined by the source physical parameters. These fully stabilised OFCs solved the challenge of directly measuring optical frequencies and are now exploited as the most accurate time references available, ready to replace the current standard for time. Very recent advancements in the fabrication technology of optical micro-cavities [6] are contributing to the development of OFC sources. These efforts may open up the way to realise ultra-fast and stable optical clocks and pulsed sources with extremely high repetition-rates, in the form of compact and integrated devices. Indeed, the fabrication of high-quality factor (high-Q) micro-resonators, capable of dramatically amplifying the optical field, can be considered a photonics breakthrough that has boosted not only the scientific investigation of OFC sources [7-13] but also of optical sensors and compact light modulators [6,14]. In this framework, the demonstration of planar high-Q resonators, compatible with silicon technology [10-14], has opened up a unique opportunity for these devices to provide entirely new capabilities for photonic-integrated technologies. Indeed, it is well acknowledged by the electronics industry that future generations of computer processing chips will inevitably require an extremely high density of copper-based interconnections, significantly increasing the chip power dissipation to beyond practical levels [15-17]; hence, conventional approaches to chip design must undergo radical changes. On-chip optical networks, or optical interconnects, can offer high speed and low energy per-transferred-bit, and micro-resonators are widely seen as a key component to interface the electronic world with photonics. Many information technology industries have recently focused on the development of integrated ring resonators to be employed for electrically-controlled light modulators [14-17], greatly advancing the maturity of micro-resonator technology as a whole. Recently [11-13], the demonstration of OFC sources in micro-resonators fabricated in electronic (i.e. in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)) compatible platforms has given micro-cavities an additional appeal, with the possibility of exploiting them as light sources in microchips. This scenario is creating fierce competition in developing highly efficient OFC generators based on micro-cavities which can radically change the nature of information transport and processing. Even in telecommunications, perhaps a more conventional environment for optical technologies, novel time-division multiplexed optical systems will require extremely stable optical clocks at ultra-high pulse repetition-rates towards the THz scale. Furthermore, arbitrary pulse generators based on OFC [18,19] are seen as one of the most promising solutions for this next generation of high-capacity optical coherent communication systems. This review will summarise the recent exciting achievements in the field of micro-combs, namely optical frequency combs based on high-Q micro-resonators, with a perspective on both the potential of this technology, as well as the open questions and challenges that remain.

Iodine absorption cells quality evaluation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrabina, Jan; Zucco, Massimo; Holá, Miroslava; Šarbort, Martin; Acef, Ouali; Du-Burck, Frédéric; Lazar, Josef; Číp, Ondřej

2016-12-01

The absorption cells represent an unique tool for the laser frequency stabilization. They serve as irreplaceable optical frequency references in realization of high-stable laser standards and laser sources for different brands of optical measurements, including the most precise frequency and dimensional measurement systems. One of the most often used absorption media covering visible and near IR spectral range is molecular iodine. It offers rich atlas of very strong and narrow spectral transitions which allow realization of laser systems with ultimate frequency stabilities in or below 10-14 order level. One of the most often disccussed disadvantage of the iodine cells is iodine's corrosivity and sensitivity to presence of foreign substances. The impurities react with absorption media and cause spectral shifts of absorption spectra, spectral broadening of the transitions and decrease achievable signal-to-noise ratio of the detected spectra. All of these unwanted effects directly influence frequency stability of the realized laser standard and due to this fact, the quality of iodine cells must be precisely controlled. We present a comparison of traditionally used method of laser induced fluorescence (LIF) with novel technique based on hyperfine transitions linewidths measurement. The results summarize advantages and drawbacks of these techniques and give a recommendation for their practical usage.

Rare-earth-doped materials with application to optical signal processing, quantum information science, and medical imaging technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cone, R. L.; Thiel, C. W.; Sun, Y.; Böttger, Thomas; Macfarlane, R. M.

2012-02-01

Unique spectroscopic properties of isolated rare earth ions in solids offer optical linewidths rivaling those of trapped single atoms and enable a variety of recent applications. We design rare-earth-doped crystals, ceramics, and fibers with persistent or transient "spectral hole" recording properties for applications including high-bandwidth optical signal processing where light and our solids replace the high-bandwidth portion of the electronics; quantum cryptography and information science including the goal of storage and recall of single photons; and medical imaging technology for the 700-900 nm therapeutic window. Ease of optically manipulating rare-earth ions in solids enables capturing complex spectral information in 105 to 108 frequency bins. Combining spatial holography and spectral hole burning provides a capability for processing high-bandwidth RF and optical signals with sub-MHz spectral resolution and bandwidths of tens to hundreds of GHz for applications including range-Doppler radar and high bandwidth RF spectral analysis. Simply stated, one can think of these crystals as holographic recording media capable of distinguishing up to 108 different colors. Ultra-narrow spectral holes also serve as a vibration-insensitive sub-kHz frequency reference for laser frequency stabilization to a part in 1013 over tens of milliseconds. The unusual properties and applications of spectral hole burning of rare earth ions in optical materials are reviewed. Experimental results on the promising Tm3+:LiNbO3 material system are presented and discussed for medical imaging applications. Finally, a new application of these materials as dynamic optical filters for laser noise suppression is discussed along with experimental demonstrations and theoretical modeling of the process.

Technique for long and absolute distance measurement based on laser pulse repetition frequency sweeping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro Alves, D.; Abreu, Manuel; Cabral, A.; Jost, Michael; Rebordão, J. M.

2017-11-01

In this work we present a technique to perform long and absolute distance measurements based on mode-locked diode lasers. Using a Michelson interferometer, it is possible to produce an optical cross-correlation between laser pulses of the reference arm with the pulses from the measurement arm, adjusting externally their degree of overlap either changing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) or the position of the reference arm mirror for two (or more) fixed frequencies. The correlation of the travelling pulses for precision distance measurements relies on ultra-short pulse durations, as the uncertainty associated to the method is dependent on the laser pulse width as well as on a highly stable PRF. Mode-locked Diode lasers are a very appealing technology for its inherent characteristics, associated to compactness, size and efficiency, constituting a positive trade-off with regard to other mode-locked laser sources. Nevertheless, main current drawback is the non-availability of frequency-stable laser diodes. The laser used is a monolithic mode-locked semiconductor quantum-dot (QD) laser. The laser PRF is locked to an external stabilized RF reference. In this work we will present some of the preliminary results and discuss the importance of the requirements related to laser PRF stability in the final metrology system accuracy.

Development of high precision digital driver of acoustic-optical frequency shifter for ROG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Rong; Kong, Mei; Xu, Yameng

2016-10-01

We develop a high precision digital driver of the acoustic-optical frequency shifter (AOFS) based on the parallel direct digital synthesizer (DDS) technology. We use an atomic clock as the phase-locked loop (PLL) reference clock, and the PLL is realized by a dual digital phase-locked loop. A DDS sampling clock up to 320 MHz with a frequency stability as low as 10-12 Hz is obtained. By constructing the RF signal measurement system, it is measured that the frequency output range of the AOFS-driver is 52-58 MHz, the center frequency of the band-pass filter is 55 MHz, the ripple in the band is less than 1 dB@3MHz, the single channel output power is up to 0.3 W, the frequency stability is 1 ppb (1 hour duration), and the frequency-shift precision is 0.1 Hz. The obtained frequency stability has two orders of improvement compared to that of the analog AOFS-drivers. For the designed binary frequency shift keying (2-FSK) and binary phase shift keying (2-PSK) modulation system, the demodulating frequency of the input TTL synchronous level signal is up to 10 kHz. The designed digital-bus coding/decoding system is compatible with many conventional digital bus protocols. It can interface with the ROG signal detecting software through the integrated drive electronics (IDE) and exchange data with the two DDS frequency-shift channels through the signal detecting software.

Dynamic Scattering Mode LCDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bahadur, Birendra

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * CELL DESIGNING * EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS IN NEMATICS RELATED WITH DYNAMIC SCATTERING * Experimental Observations at D.C. Field and Electrode Effects * Experimental Observation at Low Frequency A.C. Fields * Homogeneously Aligned Nematic Regime * Williams Domains * Dynamic Scattering * Experimental Observation at High Frequency A.C. Field * Other Experimental Observations * THEORETICAL INTERPRETATIONS * Felici Model * Carr-Helfrich Model * D.C. Excitation * Dubois-Violette, de Gennes and Parodi Model * Low Freqency or Conductive Regime * High Frequency or Dielectric Regime * DYNAMIC SCATTERING IN SMECRIC A PHASE * ELECTRO-OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND LIMITATIONS * Contrast Ratio vs. Voltage, Viewing Angle, Cell Gap, Wavelength and Temperature * Display Current vs. Voltage, Cell Gap and Temperature * Switching Time * Effect of Alignment * Effect of Conductivity, Temperature and Frequency * Addressing of DSM LCDs * Limitations of DSM LCDs * ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS * REFERENCES

Mounting system for optical frequency reference cavities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Notcutt, Mark (Inventor); Hall, John L. (Inventor); Ma, Long-Sheng (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A technique for reducing the vibration sensitivity of laser-stabilizing optical reference cavities is based upon an improved design and mounting method for the cavity, wherein the cavity is mounted vertically. It is suspended at one plane, around the spacer cylinder, equidistant from the mirror ends of the cavity. The suspension element is a collar of an extremely low thermal expansion coefficient material, which surrounds the spacer cylinder and contacts it uniformly. Once the collar has been properly located, it is cemented in place so that the spacer cylinder is uniformly supported and does not have to be squeezed at all. The collar also includes a number of cavities partially bored into its lower flat surface, around the axial bore. These cavities are support points, into which mounting base pins will be inserted. Hence the collar is supported at a minimum of three points.

Interferometric at-wavelength flare characterization of EUV optical systems

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick P.; Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2001-01-01

The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI) provides the high-accuracy wavefront characterization critical to the development of EUV lithography systems. Enhancing the implementation of the PS/PDI can significantly extend its spatial-frequency measurement bandwidth. The enhanced PS/PDI is capable of simultaneously characterizing both wavefront and flare. The enhanced technique employs a hybrid spatial/temporal-domain point diffraction interferometer (referred to as the dual-domain PS/PDI) that is capable of suppressing the scattered-reference-light noise that hinders the conventional PS/PDI. Using the dual-domain technique in combination with a flare-measurement-optimized mask and an iterative calculation process for removing flare contribution caused by higher order grating diffraction terms, the enhanced PS/PDI can be used to simultaneously measure both figure and flare in optical systems.

Brillouin Optomechanics in Coupled Silicon Microcavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espinel, Y. A. V.; Santos, F. G. S.; Luiz, G. O.; Alegre, T. P. Mayer; Wiederhecker, G. S.

2017-03-01

The simultaneous control of optical and mechanical waves has enabled a range of fundamental and technological breakthroughs, from the demonstration of ultra-stable frequency reference devices, to the exploration of the quantum-classical boundaries in optomechanical laser-cooling experiments. More recently, such an optomechanical interaction has been observed in integrated nano-waveguides and microcavities in the Brillouin regime, where short-wavelength mechanical modes scatter light at several GHz. Here we engineer coupled optical microcavities to enable a low threshold excitation of mechanical travelling-wave modes through backward stimulated Brillouin scattering. Exploring the backward scattering we propose silicon microcavity designs based on laterally coupled single and double-layer cavities, the proposed structures enable optomechanical coupling with very high frequency modes (11 to 25 GHz) and large optomechanical coupling rates (g0/2π) from 50 kHz to 90 kHz.

Optical gas monitor

DOEpatents

Wu, Sheng; Deev, Andrei; Palm, Steve L.; Tang, Yongchun; Goddard, William A.

2010-11-30

A frequency modulated spectroscopy system, including a photo-detector, a band-pass filter to filter the output of the photo-detector, and a rectifier to demodulate. The band-pass filter has a relatively high Q factor. With the high Q factor band-pass filter and rectifier, a reference sinusoid is not required for demodulation, resulting in phase-insensitive spectroscopy. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Absolute frequency measurement of a diode laser locked on a hyperfine component of 5S1/2-5D5/2 two-photon transitions of rubidium (lambda equals 778.1 nm, nu equals 385.3 THz)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zondy, Jean-Jacques; Touahri, D.; Acef, Ouali; Hilico, L.; Abed, M.; Clairon, Andre; Millerioux, Yves P.; Felder, Raymond; de Beauvoir, Beatrice; Nez, Francois; Biraben, Francois; Julien, Lucile

1995-04-01

A frequency chain, derived from the one used to measure the absolute frequency ((nu) $= 473 THz) of the He-Ne/I2 optical standard, is currently being implemented in order to measure the frequency of a diode laser stabilized on the two-photon transition of rubidium vapor. The measurement scheme is based on the comparison of the frequency of this near-IR potential secondary standard to the 13th harmonic frequency of the R(12)-CO2/OsO4 LPTF secondary standard at (nu) equals 29.096 THz. Recent results on the frequency synthesis are reported, enabling the testing of long-term stability of this Rb-locked system with respect to the IR reference standard.

Repetitive Interrogation of 2-Level Quantum Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prestage, John D.; Chung, Sang K.

2010-01-01

Trapped ion clocks derive information from a reference atomic transition by repetitive interrogations of the same quantum system, either a single ion or ionized gas of many millions of ions. Atomic beam frequency standards, by contrast, measure reference atomic transitions in a continuously replenished "flow through" configuration where initial ensemble atomic coherence is zero. We will describe some issues and problems that can arise when atomic state selection and preparation of the quantum atomic system is not completed, that is, optical pumping has not fully relaxed the coherence and also not fully transferred atoms to the initial state. We present a simple two-level density matrix analysis showing how frequency shifts during the state-selection process can cause frequency shifts of the measured clock transition. Such considerations are very important when a low intensity lamp light source is used for state selection, where there is relatively weak relaxation and re-pumping of ions to an initial state and much weaker 'environmental' relaxation of the atomic coherence set-up in the atomic sample.

Photonic engineering for biological study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Fei

My dissertation focuses on designing and developing prototypes of optical tools in the laboratory that can facilitate practical medical therapies. More specifically, this dissertation examines two novel biophotonic techniques: (1) a frequency multiplexed confocal microscope with the potential to provide rational therapy of congestive heart failure (CHF), and (2) the "optical comb" with the potential to improve results of retina reattachment surgery and accelerate post surgical recovery. Next, I will discuss the background, design and initial experimental results of each study individually. Part I: The Frequency Multiplexed Confocal Microscope. To overcome the limitations of existing confocal microscope technology, this dissertation proposes a non-scanning, real-time, high resolution technique (a multi-point frequency multiplexed confocal microscope) to measure 3-D intracellular calcium ion concentration in a living cardiac myocyte. This method can be also applied to measure the intracellular sodium ion concentration, or other ions in which high quantum-yield fluorescent probes are available. The novelty of the proposed research lies in the introduction of carrier frequency multiplexing techniques which can differentiate fluorescence emitted at different spatial locations in cardiac myocyte by their modulated frequency. It therefore opens the possibility to visualize the transient dynamics of intracellular dynamics at multiple locations in cells simultaneously, which will shine a new light on our understanding of CHF. The procedure for frequency multiplexing proposed is described below. Multiple incident laser beams are focused onto different locations in an isolated rat cardiac myocyte with each beam modulated at a different carrier frequency. The fluorescence emission at each location therefore bears the same modulated frequency as the stimulation laser beam. Each fluorescence signal is sent to the photo multiplier tube (PMT) after being spatially filtered by a single mode fiber (functioning as a pinhole). Since each signal has a different carrier frequency, only one signal detector is required to collect multiple signal streams which eliminates the errors introduced by difference of multiple detectors. After taking the Fourier Transform of the collected data, multiple peaks can be found in the frequency domain. Each peak refers to a corresponding location in the sample. The temporal information of the fluorescence signal variation at each location can be obtained by demodulating the low frequency information from the carrier frequency, followed by an inverse Fourier transform. Part II: The "Optical Comb". Retinal detachment refers to separation of the inner layers of the retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. It can cause degeneration of the retina and may lead to permanent vision loss if not promptly treated and hence is considered an ocular emergency. Currently, the only treatment available for retinal detachment is surgical reattachment. The idea of an "optical comb" is developed from the general working principle of the well known "optical tweezers" in the optical literature, which can pull micro-objects through the trapping force produced by a focused laser beam. If we can manage to incident the focused laser beam onto the misaligned photoreceptors and further scan it back and forth, trapping forces that produced may be able to "comb" the photoreceptors to be aligned, and thereby help with post surgery recovery. A series of experiments have been carried out to demonstrate the plausibility of this idea. First, several micro glass rods with size similar to human's photoreceptors (6 microns in diameter and 30 microns in length) were used. We observed that when the laser beam is focused close to one end of the micro rod originally laid on a glass coverslip, the rod is pulled to stand upright successfully, and we can manipulate the direction it faces by controlling its relative position to the laser beam. We are now experimenting with this combing technique with detached bovine retina samples to further verify its feasibility over live animal cells. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Mach-Zehnder interferometry method for acoustic shock wave measurements in air and broadband calibration of microphones.

PubMed

Yuldashev, Petr; Karzova, Maria; Khokhlova, Vera; Ollivier, Sébastien; Blanc-Benon, Philippe

2015-06-01

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used to measure spherically diverging N-waves in homogeneous air. An electrical spark source is used to generate high-amplitude (1800 Pa at 15 cm from the source) and short duration (50 μs) N-waves. Pressure waveforms are reconstructed from optical phase signals using an Abel-type inversion. It is shown that the interferometric method allows one to reach 0.4 μs of time resolution, which is 6 times better than the time resolution of a 1/8-in. condenser microphone (2.5 μs). Numerical modeling is used to validate the waveform reconstruction method. The waveform reconstruction method provides an error of less than 2% with respect to amplitude in the given experimental conditions. Optical measurement is used as a reference to calibrate a 1/8-in. condenser microphone. The frequency response function of the microphone is obtained by comparing the spectra of the waveforms resulting from optical and acoustical measurements. The optically measured pressure waveforms filtered with the microphone frequency response are in good agreement with the microphone output voltage. Therefore, an optical measurement method based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer is a reliable tool to accurately characterize evolution of weak shock waves in air and to calibrate broadband acoustical microphones.

A symmetrical laser Doppler velocity meter and its application to turbulence characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazumder, M. K.

1972-01-01

A symmetrical method of optical heterodyning of the Doppler shifted scattered laser radiation developed for velocity measurements with a minimal instrumental spectral broadening and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The method employs two laser beams incident on the moving scatterer and does not use any reference beam for heterodyning. The Doppler signal frequency is independent of the scattering angle and the signal possesses no receiving aperture broadening. Optical alignment is simple. Typical values of the instrumental spectral broadening were approximately 0.8 percent of the center frequency of the Doppler signal, and the signal-to-noise ratio was approximately 25 dB, obtained from an air flow system using submicron dioctylphthalate scattering aerosol. Experimental and theoretical studies were made on the characteristics of the Doppler signal and the effect of system parameters in turbulent flow measurement. The optimization process involved in the beam optics and in the use of a spatial filter is described. For localized flow measurement in any direction of the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinates, the system, using uncorrected optical components, had a sensing volume which can be described by a sensitive length of 600 microns and a diameter of 100 microns.

A vibration-insensitive optical cavity and absolute determination of its ultrahigh stability.

PubMed

Zhao, Y N; Zhang, J; Stejskal, A; Liu, T; Elman, V; Lu, Z H; Wang, L J

2009-05-25

We use the three-cornered-hat method to evaluate the absolute frequency stabilities of three different ultrastable reference cavities, one of which has a vibration-insensitive design that does not even require vibration isolation. An Nd:YAG laser and a diode laser are implemented as light sources. We observe approximately 1 Hz beat note linewidths between all three cavities. The measurement demonstrates that the vibration-insensitive cavity has a good frequency stability over the entire measurement time from 100 ms to 200 s. An absolute, correlation-removed Allan deviation of 1.4 x 10(-15) at s of this cavity is obtained, giving a frequency uncertainty of only 0.44 Hz.

Frequency stabilization of multiple lasers on a single medium-finesse cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Chengyin; Zhou, Min; Gao, Qi; Li, Shangyan; Zhang, Shuang; Qiao, Hao; Ai, Di; Zhang, Mengya; Lou, Ge; Luo, Limeng; Xu, Xinye

2018-04-01

We present a simple, compact, and robust frequency stabilization system of three lasers operating at 649, 759, and 770 nm, respectively. These lasers are applied in experiments on ytterbium optical lattice clocks, for which each laser needs to have a linewidth of a few hundred or tens of kilohertz while maintaining a favorable long-term stability. Here, a single medium-finesse cavity is adopted as the frequency reference and the standard Pound-Drever-Hall technique is used to stabilize the laser frequencies. Based on the independent phase modulation, multiple-laser locking is demonstrated without mutual intervention. The locked lasers are measured to have a linewidth of 100 kHz and the residual frequency drift is about 78.5 Hz s-1. This kind of setup provides a construction that is much simpler than that in previous work.

Precision spectroscopy of Mg atoms in a magneto-optical trap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goncharov, A N; Brazhnikov, D V; Shilov, A M

2014-06-30

We report the results of experimental investigations aimed at creation of the optical frequency standard based on magnesium atoms cooled and localised in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). An experimentally realised MOT for magnesium made it possible to obtain a cloud comprising ∼10{sup 6} – 10{sup 7} atoms at a temperature of 3 – 5 mK. The results of ultra-high resolution spectroscopy of intercombination {sup 1}S{sub 0} – {sup 3}P{sub 1} transition for Mg atom are presented, the resonances in time-domain separated optical fields with the half-width of Γ = 500 Hz are recorded, which corresponds to the Q-factor of themore » reference line Q = ν/Δν ∼ 1.3 × 10{sup 12}. (extreme light fields and their applications)« less

[The Detection of Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Spectroscopy of InP Wafer by Using Coherent Heterodyne Time-Domain Spectrometer].

PubMed

Zhang, Liang-liang; Zhang, Rui; Xu, Xiao-yan; Zhang, Cun-lin

2016-02-01

Indium Phosphide (InP) has attracted great physical interest because of its unique characteristics and is indispensable to both optical and electronic devices. However, the optical property of InP in the terahertz range (0. 110 THz) has not yet been fully characterized and systematically studied. The former researches about the properties of InP concentrated on the terahertz frequency between 0.1 and 4 THz. The terahertz optical properties of the InP in the range of 4-10 THz are still missing. It is fairly necessary to fully understand its properties in the entire terahertz range, which results in a better utilization as efficient terahertz devices. In this paper, we study the optical properties of undoped (100) InP wafer in the ultra-broad terahertz frequency range (0.5-18 THz) by using air-biased-coherent-detection (ABCD) system, enabling the coherent detection of terahertz wave in gases, which leads to a significant improvement on the dynamic range and sensitivity of the system. The advantage of this method is broad frequency bandwidth from 0.2 up to 18 THz which is only mainly limited by laser pulse duration since it uses ionized air as terahertz emitter and detector instead of using an electric optical crystal or photoconductive antenna. The terahertz pulse passing through the InP wafer is delayed regarding to the reference pulse and has much lower amplitude. In addition, the frequency spectrum amplitude of the terahertz sample signal drops to the noise floor level from 6.7 to 12.1 THz. At the same time InP wafer is opaque at the frequencies spanning from 6.7 to 12.1 THz. In the frequency regions of 0.8-6.7 and 12.1-18 THz it has relativemy low absorption coefficient. Meanwhile, the refractive index increases monotonously in the 0.8-6.7 THz region and 12.1-18 THz region. These findings will contribute to the design of InP based on nonlinear terahertz devices.

Numerical simulation and experimental verification of extended source interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Yinlong; Li, Lin; Wang, Shanshan; Wang, Xiao; Zang, Haijun; Zhu, Qiudong

2013-12-01

Extended source interferometer, compared with the classical point source interferometer, can suppress coherent noise of environment and system, decrease dust scattering effects and reduce high-frequency error of reference surface. Numerical simulation and experimental verification of extended source interferometer are discussed in this paper. In order to provide guidance for the experiment, the modeling of the extended source interferometer is realized by using optical design software Zemax. Matlab codes are programmed to rectify the field parameters of the optical system automatically and get a series of interferometric data conveniently. The communication technique of DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) was used to connect Zemax and Matlab. Then the visibility of interference fringes can be calculated through adding the collected interferometric data. Combined with the simulation, the experimental platform of the extended source interferometer was established, which consists of an extended source, interference cavity and image collection system. The decrease of high-frequency error of reference surface and coherent noise of the environment is verified. The relation between the spatial coherence and the size, shape, intensity distribution of the extended source is also verified through the analysis of the visibility of interference fringes. The simulation result is in line with the result given by real extended source interferometer. Simulation result shows that the model can simulate the actual optical interference of the extended source interferometer quite well. Therefore, the simulation platform can be used to guide the experiment of interferometer which is based on various extended sources.

Thermal-noise-limited higher-order mode locking of a reference cavity.

PubMed

Zeng, X Y; Ye, Y X; Shi, X H; Wang, Z Y; Deng, K; Zhang, J; Lu, Z H

2018-04-15

Higher-order mode locking has been proposed to reduce the thermal noise limit of reference cavities. By locking a laser to the HG 02 mode of a 10-cm long all ultra-low expansion (ULE) cavity and measuring its performance with the three-cornered-hat method among three independently stabilized lasers, we demonstrate a thermal-noise-limited performance of a fractional frequency instability of 4.9×10 -16 . The results match the theoretical models with higher-order optical modes. The achieved laser instability improves the all ULE short cavity results to a new low level.

Frequency locking of a field-widened Michelson interferometer based on optimal multi-harmonics heterodyning.

PubMed

Cheng, Zhongtao; Liu, Dong; Zhou, Yudi; Yang, Yongying; Luo, Jing; Zhang, Yupeng; Shen, Yibing; Liu, Chong; Bai, Jian; Wang, Kaiwei; Su, Lin; Yang, Liming

2016-09-01

A general resonant frequency locking scheme for a field-widened Michelson interferometer (FWMI), which is intended as a spectral discriminator in a high-spectral-resolution lidar, is proposed based on optimal multi-harmonics heterodyning. By transferring the energy of a reference laser to multi-harmonics of different orders generated by optimal electro-optic phase modulation, the heterodyne signal of these multi-harmonics through the FWMI can reveal the resonant frequency drift of the interferometer very sensitively within a large frequency range. This approach can overcome the locking difficulty induced by the low finesse of the FWMI, thus contributing to excellent locking accuracy and lock acquisition range without any constraint on the interferometer itself. The theoretical and experimental results are presented to verify the performance of this scheme.

Vapor concentration monitor

DOEpatents

Bayly, John G.; Booth, Ronald J.

1977-01-01

An apparatus for monitoring the concentration of a vapor, such as heavy water, having at least one narrow bandwidth in its absorption spectrum, in a sample gas such as air. The air is drawn into a chamber in which the vapor content is measured by means of its radiation absorption spectrum. High sensitivity is obtained by modulating the wavelength at a relatively high frequency without changing its optical path, while high stability against zero drift is obtained by the low frequency interchange of the sample gas to be monitored and of a reference sample. The variable HDO background due to natural humidity is automatically corrected.

Digital holographic microscope with low-frequency attenuation filter for position measurement of a nanoparticle.

PubMed

Pham, Quang Duc; Kusumi, Yuichi; Hasegawa, Satoshi; Hayasaki, Yoshio

2012-10-01

We propose a new method for three-dimensional (3D) position measurement of nanoparticles using an in-line digital holographic microscope. The method improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the amplitude of the interference fringes to achieve higher accuracy in the position measurement by increasing weak scattered light from a nanoparticle relative to the reference light by using a low spatial frequency attenuation filter. We demonstrated the improvements of signal-to-noise ratio of the optical system and contrast of the interference fringes, allowing the 3D positions of nanoparticles to be determined more precisely.

An optical transduction chain for the AURIGA detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conti, L.; Marin, F.; de Rosa, M.; Prodi, G. A.; Taffarello, L.; Zendri, J. P.; Cerdonio, M.; Vitale, S.

2000-06-01

We describe the principle of operation of an opto-mechanical readout for resonant mass gravitational wave detectors; with such a device the AURIGA detector is expected to reach a sensitivity at the level of Shh=10-22/Hz over a bandwidth of about 40Hz. Recent developments in the implementation of this transduction chain are also reported. In particular we achieve quantum limited laser power noise in the frequency range of 200Hz around the bar fundamental frequency (about 1kHz) by means of active stabilization. We also set up a reference cavity of finesse 40000 with optically contacted mirrors on a 0.2m long Zerodur spacer. The cavity can be heated from room temperature to about 100 °C and temperature stabilized with fluctuations within 1mK over a period of several days. The cavity is under vacuum and isolated from mechanical disturbancies by means of a double stage cantilever system. .

Pseudo-differential CMOS analog front-end circuit for wide-bandwidth optical probe current sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uekura, Takaharu; Oyanagi, Kousuke; Sonehara, Makoto; Sato, Toshiro; Miyaji, Kousuke

2018-04-01

In this paper, we present a pseudo-differential analog front-end (AFE) circuit for a novel optical probe current sensor (OPCS) aimed for high-frequency power electronics. It employs a regulated cascode transimpedance amplifier (RGC-TIA) to achieve a high gain and a large bandwidth without using an extremely high performance operational amplifier. The AFE circuit is designed in a 0.18 µm standard CMOS technology achieving a high transimpedance gain of 120 dB Ω and high cut off frequency of 16 MHz. The measured slew rate is 70 V/µs and the input referred current noise is 1.02 pA/\\sqrt{\\text{Hz}} . The magnetic resolution and bandwidth of OPCS are estimated to be 1.29 mTrms and 16 MHz, respectively; the bandwidth is higher than that of the reported Hall effect current sensor.

[Measurement and analysis on complex refraction indices of pear pollen in infrared band].

PubMed

Li, Le; Hu, Yi-hua; Gu, You-lin; Chen, Wei; Zhao, Yi-zheng; Chen, Shan-jing

2015-01-01

Pollen is an important part of bioaerosols, and its complex refractive index is a crucial parameter for study on optical characteristics and detection, identification of bioaerosols. The reflection spectra of pear pollen within the 2. 5 - 15µm waveband were measured by squash method. Based on the measured data, the complex refractive index of pear pollen within the wave-band of 2. 5 to 15 µm was calculated by using Kramers-Kroning (K-K) relation, and calculation deviation about incident angle and different reflectivities at high and low frequencies.were analyzed. The results indicate that 18 degrees angle of incidence and different reflectivities at high and low frequencies have little effect on the results, and it is practicable to calculate the complex refractive index of pollen based on its reflection spectral data. The data of complex refractive index of pollen have some reference value for optical characteristics of pollen, detection and identification of bioaerosols.

Ultrafast and Doppler-free femtosecondoptical ranging based on dispersivefrequency-modulated interferometry.

PubMed

Xia, Haiyun; Zhang, Chunxi

2010-03-01

An ultrafast and Doppler-free optical ranging system based on dispersive frequency-modulated interferometry is demonstrated. The principle is similar to the conventional frequency-modulated continuous-wave interferometry where the range information is derived from the beat frequency between the object signal and the reference signal. However, a passive and static frequency scanning is performed based on the chromatic dispersion of a transform-limited femtosecond pulse in the time domain. We point out that the unbalanced dispersion introduced in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer can be optimized to eliminate the frequency chirp in the temporal interferograms pertaining to the third order dispersion of the all-fiber system, if the dynamic range being considered is small. Some negative factors, such as the polarization instability of the femtosecond pulse, the power fluctuation of the optical signal and the nonuniform gain spectrum of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier lead to an obvious envelope deformation of the temporal interferograms from the Gaussian shape. Thus a new data processing method is proposed to guarantee the range resolution. In the experiment, the vibration of a speaker is measured. A range resolution of 1.59 microm is achieved with an exposure time of 394 fs at a sampling rate of 48.6 MHz.

Swept optical SSB-SC modulation technique for high-resolution large-dynamic-range static strain measurement using FBG-FP sensors.

PubMed

Huang, Wenzhu; Zhang, Wentao; Li, Fang

2015-04-01

This Letter presents a static strain demodulation technique for FBG-FP sensors using a suppressed carrier LiNbO(3) (LN) optical single sideband (SSB-SC) modulator. A narrow-linewidth tunable laser source is generated by driving the modulator using a linear chirp signal. Then this tunable single-frequency laser is used to interrogate the FBG-FP sensors with the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique, which is beneficial to eliminate the influence of light intensity fluctuation of the modulator at different tuning frequencies. The static strain is demodulated by calculating the wavelength difference of the PDH signals between the sensing FBG-FP sensor and the reference FBG-FP sensor. As an experimental result using the modulator, the linearity (R²) of the time-frequency response increases from 0.989 to 0.997, and the frequency-swept range (dynamic range) increases from hundreds of MHz to several GHz compared with commercial PZT-tunable lasers. The high-linearity time-wavelength relationship of the modulator is beneficial for improving the strain measurement resolution, as it can solve the problem of the frequency-swept nonlinearity effectively. In the laboratory test, a 0.67 nanostrain static strain resolution, with a 6 GHz dynamic range, is demonstrated.

Optical calibration of a new two-way optical component network analyzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsao, Shyh-Lin; Ko, Chih-Han; Liou, Tai-Chi

2003-12-01

High-speed fiber communications show promising results recently [1,2]. Using of lightwave technology for measuring S parameters with optical component becoming important. For this purpose to develop a two-way network analyzer has been reported [3]. In this paper, we report the calibration method of a new two-way lightwave component analyze for applying in fiber optical signal processing elements. The background error and circulator wavelength response are all calibrated. We have designed a new probe for two-way optical component network analyzer. The probe is composed of frequency division multiplexer(FDM), electrical circulator, optical transmitter, optical receiver, and an optical circulator. We design 2-D grating structures as frequency division. The PCB we adopted is Kinstan GD1530 160 whose relative dielectric constantɛ= 4.3, length= 120 mm, and height= 1.8 mm. Two dimensional non-metal covered array square pads are designed on FR4 Glass-Epoxy board for FDM. The FDM can be achieved by the two dimensional non-metalized covered array square pads. Finally we use a single fiber ring resonator filter as our test samples. Comparing the numerical and experimental results, test the device we made. References [1] D. D. Curtis and E. E. Ames,"Optical Test Set for Microwave Fiber-Optic Network Analysis," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. , vol. 38, NO.5, pp. 552-559, 1990. [2] J. A. C. Bingham,"Multicarrier modulation for data transmission: an idea whose time has come," IEEE Commun. Magazine., pp. 5 -14, 1990. [3] M. Nakazawa, K. Suzuki, and Y. Kimura, " 3.2-5 Gbps 100km error-free soliton transmission with erbium amplifiers and repenters," IEEE Photonics Tech Lett.,vol.2,pp.216-219,1990.

Improved line-end foreshortening and corner-rounding control in optical proximity correction using radius of curvature method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Maharaj; Phan, Vinhthuy

2002-07-01

We describe how to generate better Optical Proximity Corrections (OPC) for line-ends and corners by using rounded anchors and serifs. These rounded serifs and anchors can be made smaller in size and shape than the traditional rectilinear anchors and serifs. The smaller size of the serifs tend to have less problems in satisfying mask-rule constraints. They also have less adverse effects on the printability of neighboring shapes. We refer to these rounded anchors and serifs as Mouse-Ears. The rounding is done by circles which are regular octagons with Ortho-45 straight lines. The main idea of this paper stems from the physical description of the lithographic process, which can be conceptualized as a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter eliminates the sharp corners of the feature which are made of high spatial-frequency components and retains the low spatial-frequency components. Since the rounded anchors and serifs have fewer high-frequency components than their rectilinear counterparts they get less deformed in the lithographic process.

Hardware Overview of the Microwave Imaging Reflectometry (MIR) on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xing; Muscatello, Chirstopher; Domier, Calvin; Luhmann, Neville; Ren, Xiaoxin; Spear, Alexander; Tobias, Benjamin; Yu, Liubing; University of California Davis Collaboration; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Collaboration

2013-10-01

UC Davis in collaboration with PPPL has developed and installed a 12 by 4 (48) channel MIR system on DIII-D to measure 2-D structure of density fluctuations. In the transmitter path, a four-frequency probing beam is generated by mixing the 65 GHz Gunn oscillator signal with two different 0.5 ~ 9 GHz signals. Carefully designed imaging optics shape the beam to ensure the probing beam wavefront matches the cutoff surfaces. In the receiver path, large aperture imaging optics collect the reflected beam and focus it onto the mini lens antenna array, which provides improved LO coupling and antenna performance over earlier imaging systems. The reflected signal is down-converted for the first time on the array and goes into the innovative electronics for a second down-conversion. Low frequency LOs for the IQ mixer are generated by mixing two reference signals from phase-locked circuits. The double down-converted signal is mixed with the low frequency LOs yielding in-phase and quadrature components of the phase and thus density fluctuation information.

Ultra-stable clock laser system development towards space applications.

PubMed

Świerad, Dariusz; Häfner, Sebastian; Vogt, Stefan; Venon, Bertrand; Holleville, David; Bize, Sébastien; Kulosa, André; Bode, Sebastian; Singh, Yeshpal; Bongs, Kai; Rasel, Ernst Maria; Lodewyck, Jérôme; Le Targat, Rodolphe; Lisdat, Christian; Sterr, Uwe

2016-09-26

The increasing performance of optical lattice clocks has made them attractive for scientific applications in space and thus has pushed the development of their components including the interrogation lasers of the clock transitions towards being suitable for space, which amongst others requires making them more power efficient, radiation hardened, smaller, lighter as well as more mechanically stable. Here we present the development towards a space-compatible interrogation laser system for a strontium lattice clock constructed within the Space Optical Clock (SOC2) project where we have concentrated on mechanical rigidity and size. The laser reaches a fractional frequency instability of 7.9 × 10 -16 at 300 ms averaging time. The laser system uses a single extended cavity diode laser that gives enough power for interrogating the atoms, frequency comparison by a frequency comb and diagnostics. It includes fibre link stabilisation to the atomic package and to the comb. The optics module containing the laser has dimensions 60 × 45 × 8 cm 3 ; and the ultra-stable reference cavity used for frequency stabilisation with its vacuum system takes 30 × 30 × 30 cm 3 . The acceleration sensitivities in three orthogonal directions of the cavity are 3.6 × 10 -10 /g, 5.8 × 10 -10 /g and 3.1 × 10 -10 /g, where g ≈ 9.8 m/s 2 is the standard gravitational acceleration.

Performance analysis of a coherent free space optical communication system based on experiment.

PubMed

Cao, Jingtai; Zhao, Xiaohui; Liu, Wei; Gu, Haijun

2017-06-26

Based on our previous study and designed experimental AO system with a 97-element continuous surface deformable mirror, we conduct the performance analysis of a coherent free space optical communication (FSOC) system for mixing efficiency (ME), bit error rate (BER) and outage probability under different Greenwood frequency and atmospheric coherent length. The results show that the influence of the atmospheric temporal characteristics on the performance is slightly stronger than that of the spatial characteristics when the receiving aperture and the number of sub-apertures are given. This analysis result provides a reference for the design of the coherent FSOC system.

Optically Pumped Mid-IR Vibrational Hydrogen Chloride Laser

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-01-01

p > HCl(v1,J1) (2) HCl(v1,J1) + h p > HCl(v",J") + 2h p (3) HCl(v1,J1) + hl > HCl(vf",Jf") + 2h...1,Jf 1) + HCl(vf ",Jf ") (7) where p and l refer to the pump and laser emission frequencies respectively. Equation (2) describes the optical...J,M) N (v1,JM) – 12(JM) 12J N (v,J) (10) .(v,J M,M) 1(v,J M,M) N (v,J) 12J 12(J M) N (v 1,J M) (11) For single quantum transitions, we

HITPRO Tests and Analyses

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-09-01

significant error here would perhaps be the angular velocity as seen by the computer because the optical angle is read to the nearest tenth milliradian ...Track 6. When the tape is reproduced, this signal is recovered from the tape and is compared to the crystal oscillator reference frequency. If a...34 Comparative Evaluation of the Electro-Hydraulic and All-Electric Stabilization Systems Developed for the M60A2 Tank," dated August 1974, by

Method of optical coherence tomography with parallel depth-resolved signal reception and fibre-optic phase modulators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morozov, A N; Turchin, I V

2013-12-31

The method of optical coherence tomography with the scheme of parallel reception of the interference signal (P-OCT) is developed on the basis of spatial paralleling of the reference wave by means of a phase diffraction grating producing the appropriate time delay in the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The absence of mechanical variation of the optical path difference in the interferometer essentially reduces the time required for 2D imaging of the object internal structure, as compared to the classical OCT that uses the time-domain method of the image construction, the sensitivity and the dynamic range being comparable in both approaches. For the resultingmore » field of the interfering object and reference waves an analytical expression is derived that allows the calculation of the autocorrelation function in the plane of photodetectors. For the first time a method of linear phase modulation by 2π is proposed for P-OCT systems, which allows the use of compact high-frequency (a few hundred kHz) piezoelectric cell-based modulators. For the demonstration of the P-OCT method an experimental setup was created, using which the images of the inner structure of biological objects at the depth up to 1 mm with the axial spatial resolution of 12 μm were obtained. (optical coherence tomography)« less

Metrological properties of {CO 2}/{OsO 4} optical frequency standard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acef, O.

1997-02-01

Recent progress on the metrological performance of the BNM-LPTF {CO 2}/{OsO 4} frequency standards in the {28}/{29}THz range, using OsO 4 molecular transitions as a frequency reference is reported. Significant improvements in terms of both short-term stability ( {6.6×10 -14}/{τup to τ=300s }) and long-term stability (4 × 10 -15 up to τ = 1 000 s, Δν ˜ 0.1 Hz) are obtained. Long term reproducibility (over more than 18 months) of about 3 × 10 -13 has been achieved. This high level enables the transfer, in terms of absolute frequency at the 3 × 10 -13 level of uncertainty, from primary frequency standards in the microwave domain to near infrared and visible domains, using frequency chains with {CO 2}/{OsO 4} as a transfer frequency standard. Preliminary estimates of the main effects which may shift the OsO 4 center line are reported.

Ultra high frequency imaging acoustic microscope

DOEpatents

Deason, Vance A.; Telschow, Kenneth L.

2006-05-23

An imaging system includes: an object wavefront source and an optical microscope objective all positioned to direct an object wavefront onto an area of a vibrating subject surface encompassed by a field of view of the microscope objective, and to direct a modulated object wavefront reflected from the encompassed surface area through a photorefractive material; and a reference wavefront source and at least one phase modulator all positioned to direct a reference wavefront through the phase modulator and to direct a modulated reference wavefront from the phase modulator through the photorefractive material to interfere with the modulated object wavefront. The photorefractive material has a composition and a position such that interference of the modulated object wavefront and modulated reference wavefront occurs within the photorefractive material, providing a full-field, real-time image signal of the encompassed surface area.

Analysis of frequency noise properties of 729nm extended cavity diode laser with unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pham, Tuan M.; Čížek, Martin; Hucl, Václav; Lazar, Josef; Hrabina, Jan; Řeřucha, Šimon; Lešundák, Adam; Obšil, Petr; Filip, Radim; Slodička, Lukáš; Číp, Ondřej

2016-12-01

We report on the frequency noise investigation of a linewidth-suppressed Extended Cavity Diode Laser (ECDL), working at 729 nm. Since the ECDL is intended as an excitation laser for the forbidden transition in a trapped and laser cooled 40Ca+ ion, an Hz-level linewidth is required. We present the experimental design that comprises a two-stage linewidth narrowing and a facility for frequency and noise analysis. The linewidth is first narrowed with a phase lock loop of the ECDL onto a selected component of an optical frequency comb where the frequency noise was suppressed with a fast electronic servo-loop controller that drives the laser injection current with a high bandwidth. The second stage comprises locking the laser onto a selected mode of a high-finesse passive optical cavity. The frequency analysis used an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a fiber spool inserted in the reference arm in order to give a general insight into the signal properties by mixing two separated beams, one of them delayed by the spool, and processing it with a spectral analyzer. Such a frequency noise analysis reveals what are the most significant noises contributions to the laser linewidth, which is a crucial information in field of ion trapping and cooling. The presented experimental results show the effect of the linewidth narrowing with the first stage, where the linewidth of ECDL was narrowed down to a kHz level.

1-GHz repetition rate femtosecond OPO with stabilized offset between signal and idler frequency combs.

PubMed

Gebs, R; Dekorsy, T; Diddams, S A; Bartels, A

2008-04-14

We report an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) that is synchronously pumped by a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser at 1 GHz repetition rate. The signal output has a center wavelength of 1558 nm and its spectral bandwidth amounts to 40 nm. The OPO operates in a regime where the signal- and idler frequency combs exhibit a partial overlap around 1600 nm. In this near-degeneracy region, a beat at the offset between the signal and idler frequency combs is detected. Phase-locking this beat to an external reference stabilizes the spectral envelopes of the signal- and idler output. At the same time, the underlying frequency combs are stabilized relative to each other with an instability of 1.5x10(-17) at 1 s gate time.

SPECIAL ISSUE ON OPTICAL PROCESSING OF INFORMATION: Optoelectronic processors with scanning CCD photodetectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esepkina, N. A.; Lavrov, A. P.; Anan'ev, M. N.; Blagodarnyi, V. S.; Ivanov, S. I.; Mansyrev, M. I.; Molodyakov, S. A.

1995-10-01

Two new types of optoelectronic radio-signal processors were investigated. Charge-coupled device (CCD) photodetectors are used in these processors under continuous scanning conditions, i.e. in a time delay and storage mode. One of these processors is based on a CCD photodetector array with a reference-signal amplitude transparency and the other is an adaptive acousto-optical signal processor with linear frequency modulation. The processor with the transparency performs multichannel discrete—analogue convolution of an input signal with a corresponding kernel of the transformation determined by the transparency. If a light source is an array of light-emitting diodes of special (stripe) geometry, the optical stages of the processor can be made from optical fibre components and the whole processor then becomes a rigid 'sandwich' (a compact hybrid optoelectronic microcircuit). A report is given also of a study of a prototype processor with optical fibre components for the reception of signals from a system with antenna aperture synthesis, which forms a radio image of the Earth.

Comparison of Fiber Optic Strain Demodulation Implementations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quach, Cuong C.; Vazquez, Sixto L.

2005-01-01

NASA Langley Research Center is developing instrumentation based upon principles of Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) for the provision of large-scale, dense distribution of strain sensors using fiber optics embedded with Bragg gratings. Fiber Optic Bragg Grating technology enables the distribution of thousands of sensors immune to moisture and electromagnetic interference with negligible weight penalty. At Langley, this technology provides a key component for research and development relevant to comprehensive aerospace vehicle structural health monitoring. A prototype system is under development that includes hardware and software necessary for the acquisition of data from an optical network and conversion of the data into strain measurements. This report documents the steps taken to verify the software that implements the algorithm for calculating the fiber strain. Brief descriptions of the strain measurement system and the test article are given. The scope of this report is the verification of software implementations as compared to a reference model. The algorithm will be detailed along with comparison results.

Photon path distribution and optical responses of turbid media: theoretical analysis based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law.

PubMed

Tsuchiya, Y

2001-08-01

A concise theoretical treatment has been developed to describe the optical responses of a highly scattering inhomogeneous medium using functions of the photon path distribution (PPD). The treatment is based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law and has been found to yield a complete set of optical responses by time- and frequency-domain measurements. The PPD is defined for possible photons having a total zigzag pathlength of l between the points of light input and detection. Such a distribution is independent of the absorption properties of the medium and can be uniquely determined for the medium under quantification. Therefore, the PPD can be calculated with an imaginary reference medium having the same optical properties as the medium under quantification except for the absence of absorption. One of the advantages of this method is that the optical responses, the total attenuation, the mean pathlength, etc are expressed by functions of the PPD and the absorption distribution.

Effect of soil temperature on optical frequency transfer through unidirectional dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing fiber-optic links.

PubMed

Pinkert, T J; Böll, O; Willmann, L; Jansen, G S M; Dijck, E A; Groeneveld, B G H M; Smets, R; Bosveld, F C; Ubachs, W; Jungmann, K; Eikema, K S E; Koelemeij, J C J

2015-02-01

Results of optical frequency transfer over a carrier-grade dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) optical fiber network are presented. The relation between soil temperature changes on a buried optical fiber and frequency changes of an optical carrier through the fiber is modeled. Soil temperatures, measured at various depths by the Royal Netherlands Meteorology Institute (KNMI) are compared with observed frequency variations through this model. A comparison of a nine-day record of optical frequency measurements through the 2×298  km fiber link with soil temperature data shows qualitative agreement. A soil temperature model is used to predict the link stability over longer periods (days-months-years). We show that optical frequency dissemination is sufficiently stable to distribute and compare, e.g., rubidium frequency standards over standard DWDM optical fiber networks using unidirectional fibers.

Multichannel heterodyning for wideband interferometry, correlation and signal processing

DOEpatents

Erskine, David J.

1999-01-01

A method of signal processing a high bandwidth signal by coherently subdividing it into many narrow bandwidth channels which are individually processed at lower frequencies in a parallel manner. Autocorrelation and correlations can be performed using reference frequencies which may drift slowly with time, reducing cost of device. Coordinated adjustment of channel phases alters temporal and spectral behavior of net signal process more precisely than a channel used individually. This is a method of implementing precision long coherent delays, interferometers, and filters for high bandwidth optical or microwave signals using low bandwidth electronics. High bandwidth signals can be recorded, mathematically manipulated, and synthesized.

Multichannel heterodyning for wideband interferometry, correlation and signal processing

DOEpatents

Erskine, D.J.

1999-08-24

A method is disclosed of signal processing a high bandwidth signal by coherently subdividing it into many narrow bandwidth channels which are individually processed at lower frequencies in a parallel manner. Autocorrelation and correlations can be performed using reference frequencies which may drift slowly with time, reducing cost of device. Coordinated adjustment of channel phases alters temporal and spectral behavior of net signal process more precisely than a channel used individually. This is a method of implementing precision long coherent delays, interferometers, and filters for high bandwidth optical or microwave signals using low bandwidth electronics. High bandwidth signals can be recorded, mathematically manipulated, and synthesized. 50 figs.

Performance of the PARCS Testbed Cesium Fountain Frequency Standard

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Enzer, Daphna G.; Klipstein, William M.

2004-01-01

A cesium fountain frequency standard has been developed as a ground testbed for the PARCS (Primary Atomic Reference Clock in Space) experiment, an experiment intended to fly on the International Space Station. We report on the performance of the fountain and describe some of the implementations motivated in large part by flight considerations, but of relevance for ground fountains. In particular, we report on a new technique for delivering cooling and trapping laser beams to the atom collection region, in which a given beam is recirculated three times effectively providing much more optical power than traditional configurations. Allan deviations down to 10 have been achieved with this method.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Radio fluxes of 195 ICRF2-Gaia transfer sources (Le Bail+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Bail, K.; Gipson, J. M.; Gordon, D.; MacMillan, D. S.; Behrend, D.; Thomas, C. C.; Bolotin, S.; Himwich, W. E.; Baver, K. D.; Corey, B. E.; Titus, M.; Bourda, G.; Charlot, P.; Collioud, A.

2016-07-01

The second realization of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF2) is based on Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data at radio frequencies in X band and S band. The European Space Agency's Gaia mission, launched on 2013 December 19, started routine scientific operations in 2014 July. By scanning the whole sky, it is expected to observe ~500000 Quasi Stellar Objects in the optical domain. This means that, in the future, two extragalactic celestial reference frames, at two different frequency domains, will coexist. It will thus be important to align them very accurately. In 2012, the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB) selected 195 sources from ICRF2 that will be observed by Gaia and should be suitable for aligning the radio and optical frames: they are called ICRF2-Gaia transfer sources. The LAB submitted a proposal to the International VLBI Service (IVS) to regularly observe these ICRF2-Gaia transfer sources at the same rate as Gaia observes them in the optical realm, e.g., roughly once a month. Of the 195 sources, all but one have been successfully observed in the 12 months prior to 2015 September 01. Table1 lists the 195 ICRF2-Gaia transfer sources. Beginning in 2003 June, the Goddard VLBI group developed a program to purposefully monitor when sources were observed and to increase the observations of "under-observed" sources. In 2013 March, we added all 195 ICRF2-Gaia transfer sources to the IVS source monitoring program with an observation target of 12 successful sessions per year. (1 data file).

Steering optical comb frequencies by rotating the polarization state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yanyan; Zhang, Xiaofei; Yan, Lulu; Zhang, Pan; Rao, Bingjie; Han, Wei; Guo, Wenge; Zhang, Shougang; Jiang, Haifeng

2017-12-01

Optical frequency combs, with precise control of repetition rate and carrier-envelope-offset frequency, have revolutionized many fields, such as fine optical spectroscopy, optical frequency standards, ultra-fast science research, ultra-stable microwave generation and precise ranging measurement. However, existing high bandwidth frequency control methods have small dynamic range, requiring complex hybrid control techniques. To overcome this limitation, we develop a new approach, where a home-made intra-cavity electro-optic modulator tunes polarization state of laser signal rather than only optical length of the cavity, to steer frequencies of a nonlinear-polarization-rotation mode-locked laser. By taking advantage of birefringence of the whole cavity, this approach results in not only broadband but also relative large-dynamic frequency control. Experimental results show that frequency control dynamic range increase at least one order in comparison with the traditional intra-cavity electro-optic modulator technique. In additional, this technique exhibits less side-effect than traditional frequency control methods.

Research on spectrum broadening covering visible light of a fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb for absolute frequency measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xing, Shuai; Wu, Tengfei; Li, Shuyi; Xia, Chuanqing; Han, Jibo; Zhang, Lei; Zhao, Chunbo

2018-03-01

As a bridge connecting microwave frequency and optical frequency, femtosecond laser has important significance in optical frequency measurement. Compared with the traditional Ti-sapphire femtosecond optical frequency comb, with the advantages of compact structure, strong anti-interference ability and low cost, the fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb has a wider application prospect. An experiment of spectrum broadening in a highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber pumped by an Er-fiber mode-locked femtosecond laser is studied in this paper. Based on optical amplification and frequency doubling, the central wavelength of the output spectrum is 780nm and the average power is 232mW. With the femtosecond pulses coupled into two different photonic crystal fibers, the coverage of visible spectrum is up to 500nm-960nm. The spectral shape and width can be optimized by changing the polarization state for satisfying the requirments of different optical frequencies measurement.

Statistical learning methods for aero-optic wavefront prediction and adaptive-optic latency compensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, W. Robert

Since the early 1970's research in airborne laser systems has been the subject of continued interest. Airborne laser applications depend on being able to propagate a near diffraction-limited laser beam from an airborne platform. Turbulent air flowing over the aircraft produces density fluctuations through which the beam must propagate. Because the index of refraction of the air is directly related to the density, the turbulent flow imposes aberrations on the beam passing through it. This problem is referred to as Aero-Optics. Aero-Optics is recognized as a major technical issue that needs to be solved before airborne optical systems can become routinely fielded. This dissertation research specifically addresses an approach to mitigating the deleterious effects imposed on an airborne optical system by aero-optics. A promising technology is adaptive optics: a feedback control method that measures optical aberrations and imprints the conjugate aberrations onto an outgoing beam. The challenge is that it is a computationally-difficult problem, since aero-optic disturbances are on the order of kilohertz for practical applications. High control loop frequencies and high disturbance frequencies mean that adaptive-optic systems are sensitive to latency in sensors, mirrors, amplifiers, and computation. These latencies build up to result in a dramatic reduction in the system's effective bandwidth. This work presents two variations of an algorithm that uses model reduction and data-driven predictors to estimate the evolution of measured wavefronts over a short temporal horizon and thus compensate for feedback latency. The efficacy of the two methods are compared in this research, and evaluated against similar algorithms that have been previously developed. The best version achieved over 75% disturbance rejection in simulation in the most optically active flow region in the wake of a turret, considerably outperforming conventional approaches. The algorithm is shown to be insensitive to changes in flow condition, and stable in the presence of small latency uncertainty. Consideration is given to practical implementation of the algorithms as well as computational requirement scaling.

Optical fiber sensors measurement system and special fibers improvement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jelinek, Michal; Hrabina, Jan; Hola, Miroslava; Hucl, Vaclav; Cizek, Martin; Rerucha, Simon; Lazar, Josef; Mikel, Bretislav

2017-06-01

We present method for the improvement of the measurement accuracy in the optical frequency spectra measurements based on tunable optical filters. The optical filter was used during the design and realization of the measurement system for the inspection of the fiber Bragg gratings. The system incorporates a reference block for the compensation of environmental influences, an interferometric verification subsystem and a PC - based control software implemented in LabView. The preliminary experimental verification of the measurement principle and the measurement system functionality were carried out on a testing rig with a specially prepared concrete console in the UJV Řež. The presented system is the laboratory version of the special nuclear power plant containment shape deformation measurement system which was installed in the power plant Temelin during last year. On the base of this research we started with preparation other optical fiber sensors to nuclear power plants measurement. These sensors will be based on the microstructured and polarization maintaining optical fibers. We started with development of new methods and techniques of the splicing and shaping optical fibers. We are able to made optical tapers from ultra-short called adiabatic with length around 400 um up to long tapers with length up to 6 millimeters. We developed new techniques of splicing standard Single Mode (SM) and Multimode (MM) optical fibers and splicing of optical fibers with different diameters in the wavelength range from 532 to 1550 nm. Together with development these techniques we prepared other techniques to splicing and shaping special optical fibers like as Polarization-Maintaining (PM) or hollow core Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) and theirs cross splicing methods with focus to minimalize backreflection and attenuation. The splicing special optical fibers especially PCF fibers with standard telecommunication and other SM fibers can be done by our developed techniques. Adjustment of the splicing process has to be prepared for any new optical fibers and new fibers combinations. The splicing of the same types of fibers from different manufacturers can be adjusted by several tested changes in the splicing process. We are able to splice PCF with standard telecommunication fiber with attenuation up to 2 dB. The method is also presented. Development of these new techniques and methods of the optical fibers splicing are made with respect to using these fibers to another research and development in the field of optical fibers sensors, laser frequency stabilization and laser interferometry based on optical fibers. Especially for the field of laser frequency stabilization we developed and present new techniques to closing microstructured fibers with gases inside.

Terahertz Difference-Frequency Quantum Cascade Laser Sources on Silicon

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-22

temperature. The introduction of the Cherenkov waveguide scheme in these devices grown on semi- insulating InP substrates enabled generation of tens...room temperature, a factor of 5 improvement over the best reference devices on a native semi- insulating InP substrate. © 2016 Optical Society of America...implementation of the Cherenkov emission scheme [10]. Cherenkov THz DFG-QCLs reported so far use a semi- insulating (SI) InP substrate. SI InP

Stable Research Platform Workshop

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-01

autonomous or manned submersibles, by providing them with a deep underwater garage for launch and recovery. A track system for bringing the vehicle...s;. 10- f(H2) Figure 5 SIO Reference 87-2.0 69 STEREO - PHOTOGRAPHY Figure 6 70 Appendix E -15 0 31 62 93 124 155 DISTANCE, x...WAVE FOLLOWER WITH MULTI-BEAM LASER OPTICAL SENSOR • STEREO -PHOTOQRAPHY • MULTI-FREQUENCY RADAR: 10-100 GHz • SURFACE TENSION SENSORS • LONG WAVE

Metrology Camera System Using Two-Color Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dubovitsky, Serge; Liebe, Carl Christian; Peters, Robert; Lay, Oliver

2007-01-01

A metrology system that contains no moving parts simultaneously measures the bearings and ranges of multiple reflective targets in its vicinity, enabling determination of the three-dimensional (3D) positions of the targets with submillimeter accuracy. The system combines a direction-measuring metrology camera and an interferometric range-finding subsystem. Because the system is based partly on a prior instrument denoted the Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Ranging (MSTAR) sensor and because of its 3D capability, the system is denoted the MSTAR3D. Developed for use in measuring the shape (for the purpose of compensating for distortion) of large structures like radar antennas, it can also be used to measure positions of multiple targets in the course of conventional terrestrial surveying. A diagram of the system is shown in the figure. One of the targets is a reference target having a known, constant distance with respect to the system. The system comprises a laser for generating local and target beams at a carrier frequency; a frequency shifting unit to introduce a frequency shift offset between the target and local beams; a pair of high-speed modulators that apply modulation to the carrier frequency in the local and target beams to produce a series of modulation sidebands, the highspeed modulators having modulation frequencies of FL and FM; a target beam launcher that illuminates the targets with the target beam; optics and a multipixel photodetector; a local beam launcher that launches the local beam towards the multi-pixel photodetector; a mirror for projecting to the optics a portion of the target beam reflected from the targets, the optics being configured to focus the portion of the target beam at the multi-pixel photodetector; and a signal-processing unit connected to the photodetector. The portion of the target beam reflected from the targets produces spots on the multi-pixel photodetector corresponding to the targets, respectively, and the signal-processing unit centroids the spots to determine bearings of the targets, respectively. As the spots oscillate in intensity because they are mixed with the local laser beam that is flood illuminating the focal plane, the phase of oscillation of each spot is measured, the phase of sidebands in the oscillation of each spot being proportional to a distance to the corresponding target relative to the reference target A.

A low-cost, tunable laser lock without laser frequency modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shea, Margaret E.; Baker, Paul M.; Gauthier, Daniel J.

2015-05-01

Many experiments in optical physics require laser frequency stabilization. This can be achieved by locking to an atomic reference using saturated absorption spectroscopy. Often, the laser frequency is modulated and phase sensitive detection used. This method, while well-proven and robust, relies on expensive components, can introduce an undesirable frequency modulation into the laser, and is not easily frequency tuned. Here, we report a simple locking scheme similar to those implemented previously. We modulate the atomic resonances in a saturated absorption setup with an AC magnetic field created by a single solenoid. The same coil applies a DC field that allows tuning of the lock point. We use an auto-balanced detector to make our scheme more robust against laser power fluctuations and stray magnetic fields. The coil, its driver, and the detector are home-built with simple, cheap components. Our technique is low-cost, simple to setup, tunable, introduces no laser frequency modulation, and only requires one laser. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the NSF through Grant # PHY-1206040.

Wide-band analog frequency modulation of optic signals using indirect techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fitzmartin, D. J.; Balboni, E. J.; Gels, R. G.

1991-01-01

The wideband frequency modulation (FM) of an optical carrier by a radio frequency (RF) or microwave signal can be accomplished independent of laser type when indirect modulation is employed. Indirect modulators exploit the integral relation of phase to frequency so that phase modulators can be used to impress frequency modulation on an optical carrier. The use of integrated optics phase modulators, which are highly linear, enables the generation of optical wideband FM signals with very low intermodulation distortion. This modulator can be used as part of an optical wideband FM link for RF and microwave signals. Experimental results from the test of an indirect frequency modulator for an optical carrier are discussed.

Phase Synchronization for the Mid-Frequency Square Kilometre Array Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schediwy, Sascha; Gozzard, David; Stobie, Simon; Gravestock, Charles; Whitaker, Richard; Alachkar, Bassem; Malan, Sias; Boven, Paul; Grainge, Keith

2018-01-01

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world’s most sensitive radio telescope operating in the 50 MHz to 14 GHz frequency range. Construction of the SKA has been divided into phases, with the first phase (SKA1) accounting for the first 10% of the telescope's receiving capacity. During SKA1, a low-frequency aperture array comprising over a hundred thousand individual dipole antenna elements will be constructed in Western Australia (SKA1-low), while an array of 197 parabolic-dish antennas, incorporating the 64 dishes of MeerKAT, will be constructed in South Africa (SKA1-mid).Radio telescope arrays such as the SKA require phase-coherent reference signals to be transmitted to each antenna site in the array. In the case of the SKA1-mid, these reference signals will be generated at a central site and transmitted to the antenna sites via fiber-optic cables up to 175 km in length. Environmental perturbations affect the optical path length of the fiber and act to degrade the phase stability of the reference signals received at the antennas, which has the ultimate effect of reducing the fidelity and dynamic range of the data.Since 2011, researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA) have led the development of an actively-stabilized phase-synchronization system designed specifically to meet the scientific needs and technical challenges of the SKA telescope. Recently this system has been select as the official phase synchronization system for the SKA1-mid telescope. The system is an evolution of Atacama Large Millimeter Array’s distributed ‘photonic local oscillator system’, incorporating key advances made by the international frequency metrology community over the last decade, as well as novel innovations developed by UWA researchers.In this presentation I will describe the technical details of the system; outline how the system's performance was tested using metrology techniques in a laboratory setting, on 186 km of overhead fibre at the South African SKA site, and verified using existing astronomical radio interferometers; and how the system can enhance the astronomical performance of the SKA1-mid telescope.

Accurate frequency and time dissemination in the optical domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khabarova, K. Yu; Kalganova, E. S.; Kolachevsky, N. N.

2018-02-01

The development of the optical frequency comb technique has enabled a wide use of atomic optical clocks by allowing frequency conversion from the optical to the radio frequency range. Today, the fractional instability of such clocks has reached the record eighteen-digit level, two orders of magnitude better than for cesium fountains representing the primary frequency standard. This is paralleled by the development of techniques for transferring accurate time and optical frequency signals, including fiber links. With this technology, the fractional instability of transferred frequency can be lowered to below 10‑18 with an averaging time of 1000 s for a 1000 km optical link. At a distance of 500 km, a time signal uncertainty of 250 ps has been achieved. Optical links allow comparing optical clocks and creating a synchronized time and frequency standard network at a new level of precision. Prospects for solving new problems arise, including the determination of the gravitational potential, the measurement of the continental Sagnac effect, and precise tests of fundamental theories.

In-vivo gingival sulcus imaging using full-range, complex-conjugate-free, endoscopic spectral domain optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yong; Zhang, Kang; Yi, WonJin; Kang, Jin U.

2012-01-01

Frequent monitoring of gingival sulcus will provide valuable information for judging the presence and severity of periodontal disease. Optical coherence tomography, as a 3D high resolution high speed imaging modality is able to provide information for pocket depth, gum contour, gum texture, gum recession simultaneously. A handheld forward-viewing miniature resonant fiber-scanning probe was developed for in-vivo gingival sulcus imaging. The fiber cantilever driven by magnetic force vibrates at resonant frequency. A synchronized linear phase-modulation was applied in the reference arm by the galvanometer-driven reference mirror. Full-range, complex-conjugate-free, real-time endoscopic SD-OCT was achieved by accelerating the data process using graphics processing unit. Preliminary results showed a real-time in-vivo imaging at 33 fps with an imaging range of lateral 2 mm by depth 3 mm. Gap between the tooth and gum area was clearly visualized. Further quantification analysis of the gingival sulcus will be performed on the image acquired.

Optical injection locking-based amplification in phase-coherent transfer of optical frequencies.

PubMed

Kim, Joonyoung; Schnatz, Harald; Wu, David S; Marra, Giuseppe; Richardson, David J; Slavík, Radan

2015-09-15

We demonstrate the use of an optical injection phase locked loop (OIPLL) as a regenerative amplifier for optical frequency transfer applications. The optical injection locking provides high gain within a narrow bandwidth (<100  MHz) and is capable of preserving the fractional frequency stability of the incoming carrier to better than 10(-18) at 1000 s. The OIPLL was tested in the field as a mid-span amplifier for the transfer of an ultrastable optical carrier, stabilized to an optical frequency standard, over a 292 km long installed dark fiber link. The transferred frequency at the remote end reached a fractional frequency instability of less than 1×10(-19) at averaging time of 3200 s.

The role of geometry in nanoscale rectennas for rectification and energy conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miskovsky, N. M.; Cutler, P. H.; Mayer, A.; Willis, B. G.; Zimmerman, D. T.; Weisel, G. J.; Chen, James M.; Sullivan, T. E.; Lerner, P. B.

2013-09-01

We have previously presented a method for optical rectification that has been demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally and can be used for the development of a practical rectification and energy conversion device for the electromagnetic spectrum including the visible portion. This technique for optical frequency rectification is based, not on conventional material or temperature asymmetry as used in MIM or Schottky diodes, but on a purely geometric property of the antenna tip or other sharp edges that may be incorporated on patch antennas. This "tip" or edge in conjunction with a collector anode providing connection to the external circuit constitutes a tunnel junction. Because such devices act as both the absorber of the incident radiation and the rectifier, they are referred to as "rectennas." Using current nanofabrication techniques and the selective Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) process, junctions of 1 nm can be fabricated, which allow for rectification of frequencies up to the blue portion of the spectrum (see Section 2).

Developing Stabilized Lasers, Measuring their Frequencies, demoting the Metre, inventing the Comb, and further consequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hall, John L.

2010-02-01

Michelson's 1907 proposal to define the SI Metre in terms of an optical wavelength was realized only in 1960, based on a ^86Krypton discharge lamp. The same year saw the cw HeNe laser arrive and a future redefinition based on laser technology assured. Separation in the late 60's of the laser's gain and spectral-reference-gas functions led to unprecedented levels of laser frequency stability and reproducibility. In addition to HeNe:CH4 system at 3392 nm and HeNe:I2 at 633 nm, systems at 514 nm and 10600 nm were studied. Absolute frequency measurement became the holy grail and some NBS team experiences will be shared. We measured both frequency and wavelength in 1972, and so obtained a speed of light value, improved 100-fold in accuracy. During the next decade, the NBS value of c was confirmed by other national labs, and frequency metrology was extended to the 473 THz (633 nm) Iodine-based wavelength standard. This frequency to ˜10 digit accuracy was obtained in 1983, thus setting the stage for redefining the SI Metre. By consensus choice the value 299 792 458 m/s was adopted for the speed of light, effectively reducing the Metre to a derived SI quantity. Knowledge of the frequency of the particular laser being utilized was controlled by International intercomparisons, but the need for a fast and accurate means to make these laser frequency measurements was obvious. Creative proposals by H"ansch and by Chebotayev were to use ultra-fast repetitive pulses to create an ``Optical Comb,'' but it was years before any technical basis existed to implement their Fourier dreams. Finally, in 1999 the last needed capability was demonstrated -- continuum production at 100 MHz rates and non-destructive power levels. By May 2000 phase-locked combs were operational in both Garching and Boulder, substantially accelerated by their collaborative interactions. Within 18 months all the known proposed ``optical frequency standards'' had been accurately measured via Comb techniques. )

An interferometric fiber optic hydrophone with large upper limit of dynamic range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Kan, Baoxi; Zheng, Baichao; Wang, Xuefeng; Zhang, Haiyan; Hao, Liangbin; Wang, Hailiang; Hou, Zhenxing; Yu, Wenpeng

2017-10-01

Interferometric fiber optic hydrophone based on heterodyne detection is used to measure the missile dropping point in the sea. The signal caused by the missile dropping in the water will be too large to be detected, so it is necessary to boost the upper limit of dynamic range (ULODR) of fiber optic hydrophone. In this article we analysis the factors which influence the ULODR of fiber optic hydrophone based on heterodyne detection, the ULODR is decided by the sampling frequency fsam and the heterodyne frequency Δf. The sampling frequency and the heterodyne frequency should be satisfied with the Nyquist sampling theorem which fsam will be two times larger than Δf, in this condition the ULODR is depended on the heterodyne frequency. In order to enlarge the ULODR, the Nyquist sampling theorem was broken, and we proposed a fiber optic hydrophone which the heterodyne frequency is larger than the sampling frequency. Both the simulation and experiment were done in this paper, the consequences are similar: When the sampling frequency is 100kHz, the ULODR of large heterodyne frequency fiber optic hydrophone is 2.6 times larger than that of the small heterodyne frequency fiber optic hydrophone. As the heterodyne frequency is larger than the sampling frequency, the ULODR is depended on the sampling frequency. If the sampling frequency was set at 2MHz, the ULODR of fiber optic hydrophone based on heterodyne detection will be boosted to 1000rad at 1kHz, and this large heterodyne fiber optic hydrophone can be applied to locate the drop position of the missile in the sea.

Frequency-modulated laser ranging sensor with closed-loop control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Fabian M.; Böttger, Gunnar; Janeczka, Christian; Arndt-Staufenbiel, Norbert; Schröder, Henning; Schneider-Ramelow, Martin

2018-02-01

Advances in autonomous driving and robotics are creating high demand for inexpensive and mass-producible distance sensors. A laser ranging system (Lidar), based on the frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) method is built in this work. The benefits of an FMCW Lidar system are the low-cost components and the performance in comparison to conventional time-of-flight Lidar systems. The basic system consists of a DFB laser diode (λ= 1308 nm) and an asymmetric fiber-coupled Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a fixed delay line in one arm. Linear tuning of the laser optical frequency via injection current modulation creates a beat signal at the interferometer output. The frequency of the beat signal is proportional to the optical path difference in the interferometer. Since the laser frequency-to-current response is non-linear, a closed-loop feed-back system is designed to improve the tuning linearity, and consequently the measurement resolution. For fast active control, an embedded system with FPGA is used, resulting in a nearly linear frequency tuning, realizing a narrow peak in the Fourier spectrum of the beat signal. For free-space measurements, a setup with two distinct interferometers is built. The fully fiber-coupled Mach-Zehnder reference interferometer is part of the feed-back loop system, while the other - a Michelson interferometer - has a free-space arm with collimator lens and reflective target. A resolution of 2:0 mm for a 560 mm distance is achieved. The results for varying target distances show high consistency and a linear relation to the measured beat-frequency.

Chip-Scale Architectures for Precise Optical Frequency Synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jinghui

Scientists and engineers have investigated various types of stable and accurate optical synthesizers, where mode-locked laser based optical frequency comb synthesizers have been widely investigated. These frequency combs bridge the frequencies from optical domain to microwave domain with orders of magnitude difference, providing a metrological tool for various platforms. The demand for highly robust, scalable, compact and cost-effective femtosecond-laser synthesizers, however, are of great importance for applications in air- or space-borne platforms, where low cost and rugged packaging are particularly required. This has been afforded in the past several years due to breakthroughs in chip-scale nanofabrication, bringing advances in optical frequency combs down to semiconductor chips. These platforms, with significantly enhanced light-matter interaction, provide a fertile sandbox for research rich in nonlinear dynamics, and offer a reliable route towards low-phase noise photonic oscillators, broadband optical frequency synthesizers, miniaturized optical clockwork, and coherent terabit communications. The dissertation explores various types of optical frequency comb synthesizers based on nonlinear microresonators. Firstly, the fundamental mechanism of mode-locking in a high-quality factor microresonator is examined, supported by ultrafast optical characterizations, analytical closed-form solutions and numerical modeling. In the evolution of these frequency microcombs, the key nonlinear dynamical effect governing the comb state coherence is rigorously analyzed. Secondly, a prototype of chip-scale optical frequency synthesizer is demonstrated, with the laser frequency comb stabilized down to instrument-limited 50-mHz RF frequency inaccuracies and 10-16 fractional frequency inaccuracies, near the fundamental limits. Thirdly, a globally stable Turing pattern is achieved and characterized in these nonlinear resonators with high-efficiency conversion, subsequently generating coherent high-power terahertz radiation via plasmonic photomixers. Finally, a new universal modality of frequency combs is discussed, including satellite states, dynamical tunability, and high efficiency conversion towards direct chip-scale optical frequency synthesis at the precision metrology frontiers.

Optical Tunable-Based Transmitter for Multiple Radio Frequency Bands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Hung (Inventor); Simons, Rainee N. (Inventor); Wintucky, Edwin G. (Inventor); Freeman, Jon C. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

An optical tunable transmitter is used to transmit multiple radio frequency bands on a single beam. More specifically, a tunable laser is configured to generate a plurality of optical wavelengths, and an optical tunable transmitter is configured to modulate each of the plurality of optical wavelengths with a corresponding radio frequency band. The optical tunable transmitter is also configured to encode each of the plurality of modulated optical wavelengths onto a single laser beam for transmission of a plurality of radio frequency bands using the single laser beam.

Precision optical device of freeform defects inspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meguellati, S.

2015-09-01

This method of optical scanning presented in this paper is used for precision measurement deformation in shape or absolute forms in comparison with a reference component form, of optical or mechanical components, on reduced surfaces area that are of the order of some mm2 and more. The principle of the method is to project the image of the source grating to palpate optically surface to be inspected, after reflection; the image of the source grating is printed by the object topography and is then projected onto the plane of reference grating for generate moiré fringe for defects detection. The optical device used allows a significant dimensional surface magnification of up to 1000 times the area inspected for micro-surfaces, which allows easy processing and reaches an exceptional nanometric imprecision of measurements. According to the measurement principle, the sensitivity for displacement measurement using moiré technique depends on the frequency grating, for increase the detection resolution. This measurement technique can be used advantageously to measure the deformations generated by the production process or constraints on functional parts and the influence of these variations on the function. The optical device and optical principle, on which it is based, can be used for automated inspection of industrially produced goods. It can also be used for dimensional control when, for example, to quantify the error as to whether a piece is good or rubbish. It then suffices to compare a figure of moiré fringes with another previously recorded from a piece considered standard; which saves time, money and accuracy. The technique has found various applications in diverse fields, from biomedical to industrial and scientific applications.

Active Correction of Aberrations of Low-Quality Telescope Optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemmati, Hamid; Chen, Yijian

2007-01-01

A system of active optics that includes a wavefront sensor and a deformable mirror has been demonstrated to be an effective means of partly correcting wavefront aberrations introduced by fixed optics (lenses and mirrors) in telescopes. It is envisioned that after further development, active optics would be used to reduce wavefront aberrations of about one wave or less in telescopes having aperture diameters of the order of meters or tens of meters. Although this remaining amount of aberration would be considered excessive in scientific applications in which diffraction-limited performance is required, it would be acceptable for free-space optical- communication applications at wavelengths of the order of 1 m. To prevent misunderstanding, it is important to state the following: The technological discipline of active optics, in which the primary or secondary mirror of a telescope is directly and dynamically tilted, distorted, and/or otherwise varied to reduce wavefront aberrations, has existed for decades. The term active optics does not necessarily mean the same thing as does adaptive optics, even though active optics and adaptive optics are related. The term "adaptive optics" is often used to refer to wavefront correction at speeds characterized by frequencies ranging up to between hundreds of hertz and several kilohertz high enough to enable mitigation of adverse effects of fluctuations in atmospheric refraction upon propagation of light beams. The term active optics usually appears in reference to wavefront correction at significantly lower speeds, characterized by times ranging from about 1 second to as long as minutes. Hence, the novelty of the present development lies, not in the basic concept of active or adaptive optics, but in the envisioned application of active optics in conjunction with a deformable mirror to achieve acceptably small wavefront errors in free-space optical communication systems that include multi-meter-diameter telescope mirrors that are relatively inexpensive because their surface figures are characterized by errors as large as about 10 waves. Figure 1 schematically depicts the apparatus used in an experiment to demonstrate such an application on a reduced scale involving a 30-cm-diameter aperture.

The Importance of Time and Frequency Reference in Quantum Astronomy and Quantum Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

simulator, but the same general results are valid for optical fiber and also different quantum state transmission technologies (i.e. Entangled Photons ...protocols [6]). The Matlab simulation starts from a sequence of pulses of duration Ton; the number of photons per pulse has been implemented like a...astrophysical emission mechanisms or scattering processes by measuring the statistics of the arrival time of each incoming photon . This line of research will be

Characterization of the frequency stability of an optical frequency standard at 1.39 µm based upon noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical heterodyne molecular spectroscopy.

PubMed

Dinesan, H; Fasci, E; D'Addio, A; Castrillo, A; Gianfrani, L

2015-01-26

Frequency fluctuations of an optical frequency standard at 1.39 µm have been measured by means of a highly-sensitive optical frequency discriminator based on the fringe-side transmission of a high finesse optical resonator. Built on a Zerodur spacer, the optical resonator exhibits a finesse of 5500 and a cavity-mode width of about 120 kHz. The optical frequency standard consists of an extended-cavity diode laser that is tightly stabilized against the center of a sub-Doppler H(2) (18)O line, this latter being detected by means of noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical heterodyne molecular spectroscopy. The emission linewidth has been carefully determined from the frequency-noise power spectral density by using a rather simple approximation, known as β-line approach, as well as the exact method based on the autocorrelation function of the laser light field. It turns out that the linewidth of the optical frequency standard amounts to about 7 kHz (full width at half maximum) for an observation time of 1 ms. Compared to the free-running laser, the measured width corresponds to a line narrowing by a factor of ~220.

Heterodyne interferometer with subatomic periodic nonlinearity.

PubMed

Wu, C M; Lawall, J; Deslattes, R D

1999-07-01

A new, to our knowledge, heterodyne interferometer for differential displacement measurements is presented. It is, in principle, free of periodic nonlinearity. A pair of spatially separated light beams with different frequencies is produced by two acousto-optic modulators, avoiding the main source of periodic nonlinearity in traditional heterodyne interferometers that are based on a Zeeman split laser. In addition, laser beams of the same frequency are used in the measurement and the reference arms, giving the interferometer theoretically perfect immunity from common-mode displacement. We experimentally demonstrated a residual level of periodic nonlinearity of less than 20 pm in amplitude. The remaining periodic error is attributed to unbalanced ghost reflections that drift slowly with time.

Millimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuit characterization by a picosecond optoelectronic technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Hing-Loi A.; Smith, Thane; Huang, Ho C.; Polak-Dingels, Penny; Webb, Kevin J.

1989-08-01

The characterization of microwave and millimeter-wave monolithic integrated circits (MIMICs) using picosecond pulse-sampling techniques is developed with emphasis on improving broadband coverage and measurement accuracy. GaAs photoconductive swithces are used for signal generation and sampling operations. The measured time-domain response allows the spectral transfer function of the MIMIC to be obtained. This measurement technique is verified by characterization of the frequency response (magnitude and phase) of a reference 50-ohm microstrip line and a two-stage Ka-band MIMIC amplifier. The measured broadband results agree with those obtained from conventional frequency-domain measurements using a network analyzer. The application of this optical technique to on-wafer MIMIC characterization is described.

Active Faraday optical frequency standard.

PubMed

Zhuang, Wei; Chen, Jingbiao

2014-11-01

We propose the mechanism of an active Faraday optical clock, and experimentally demonstrate an active Faraday optical frequency standard based on narrow bandwidth Faraday atomic filter by the method of velocity-selective optical pumping of cesium vapor. The center frequency of the active Faraday optical frequency standard is determined by the cesium 6 (2)S(1/2) F=4 to 6 (2)P(3/2) F'=4 and 5 crossover transition line. The optical heterodyne beat between two similar independent setups shows that the frequency linewidth reaches 281(23) Hz, which is 1.9×10(4) times smaller than the natural linewidth of the cesium 852-nm transition line. The maximum emitted light power reaches 75 μW. The active Faraday optical frequency standard reported here has advantages of narrow linewidth and reduced cavity pulling, which can readily be extended to other atomic transition lines of alkali and alkaline-earth metal atoms trapped in optical lattices at magic wavelengths, making it useful for new generation of optical atomic clocks.

Optical-fiber-connected 300-GHz FM-CW radar system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanno, Atsushi; Sekine, Norihiko; Kasamatsu, Akifumi; Yamamoto, Naokatsu; Kawanishi, Tetsuya

2017-05-01

300-GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FM-CW) radar system operated by radio over fiber technologies is configured and demonstrated. Centralized signal generator, which is based on an optical frequency comb generation, provides high-precise FM-CW radar signal. The optical signal is easy to be transported to radar heads through an optical fiber network. Optical-modulator-based optical frequency comb generator is utilized as an optical frequency multiplier from a microwave signal to a 300-GHz terahertz signal by an optical modulation technique. In the study, we discuss the configuration of the network, signal generator and remote radar head for terahertz-wave multi-static radar system.

Interferometric sensor based on the polarization-maintaining fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cubik, Jakub; Kepak, Stanislav; Doricak, Jan; Vašinek, Vladimir; Liner, Andrej; Papes, Martin

2012-01-01

The interferometers composed of optical fibers are due to its high sensitivity capable of to measure various influences affecting the fiber. These influences may be bending or different sorts of fiber deformations, vibration, temperature, etc. In this case the vibration is the measured quantity, which is evaluated by analyzing the interference fringes representing changes in the fiber. Was used a Mach-Zehnder interferometer composed of the polarization maintaining elements. The polarization maintaining elements were used because of high sensitivity to polarization state inside the interferometer. The light was splitted into the two optical paths, where the first one is the reference fiber and it is separated from the actual phenomenon, and the second one is measuring fiber, which is directly exposed to vibration transmission from the underlying surface. The light source was narrowband DFB laser serating at a wavelength of 1550nm and as a detector an InGaAs PIN photodiode were used in this measurement. The electrical signal from the photodiode was amplified and fed into the measuring card. On the incoming signal the FFT was applied, which performs the transformation into the frequency domain and the results were further evaluated by software. We were evaluating the characteristic frequencies and their amplitude ratios. The frequency responses are unique for a given phenomenon, thus it is possible to identify recurring events by the characteristic frequencies and their amplitude ratios. The frequency range was limited by the properties of the used speaker, by the frequency characteristics of the filter in the amplifier and used resonant element. For the experiment evaluation the repeated impact of the various spherical objects on the surface board was performed and measured. The stability of amplitude and frequency and also the frequency range was verified in this measurement.

Fizeau simultaneous phase-shifting interferometry based on extended source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanshan; Zhu, Qiudong; Hou, Yinlong; Cao, Zheng

2016-09-01

Coaxial Fizeau simultaneous phase-shifting interferometer plays an important role in many fields for its characteristics of long optical path, miniaturization, and elimination of reference surface high-frequency error. Based on the matching of coherence between extended source and interferometer, orthogonal polarization reference wave and measurement wave can be obtained by Fizeau interferometry with Michelson interferometer preposed. Through matching spatial coherence length between preposed interferometer and primary interferometer, high contrast interference fringes can be obtained and additional interference fringes can be eliminated. Thus, the problem of separation of measurement and reference surface in the common optical path Fizeau interferometer is solved. Numerical simulation and principle experiment is conducted to verify the feasibility of extended source interferometer. Simulation platform is established by using the communication technique of DDE (dynamic data exchange) to connect Zemax and Matlab. The modeling of the extended source interferometer is realized by using Zemax. Matlab codes are programmed to automatically rectify the field parameters of the optical system and conveniently calculate the visibility of interference fringes. Combined with the simulation, the experimental platform of the extended source interferometer is established. After experimental research on the influence law of scattering screen granularity to interference fringes, the granularity of scattering screen is determined. Based on the simulation platform and experimental platform, the impacts on phase measurement accuracy of the imaging system aberration and collimation system aberration of the interferometer are analyzed. Compared the visibility relation curves between experimental measurement and simulation result, the experimental result is in line with the theoretical result.

Femtosecond fibre laser stabilisation to an optical frequency standard using a KTP electro-optic crystal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nyushkov, B N; Pivtsov, V S; Koliada, N A

2015-05-31

A miniature intracavity KTP-based electro-optic phase modulator has been developed which can be used for effective stabilisation of an optical frequency comb of a femtosecond erbiumdoped fibre laser to an optical frequency standard. The use of such an electro-optic modulator (EOM) has made it possible to extend the working frequency band of a phase-locked loop system for laser stabilisation to several hundred kilohertz. We demonstrate that the KTP-based EOM is sufficiently sensitive even at a small optical length, which allows it to be readily integrated into cavities of femtosecond fibre lasers with high mode frequency spacings (over 100 MHz). (extrememore » light fields and their applications)« less

Comparison of Chromatic Dispersion Compensation Method Efficiency for 10 Gbit/S RZ-OOK and NRZ-OOK Wdm-Pon Transmission Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsevska, A.; Dilendorfs, V.; Spolitis, S.; Bobrovs, Vj.

2017-12-01

In the paper, the authors compare efficiency of two physical dispersion compensation methods for single channel and 8-channel WDM fibre-optical transmission systems using return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) line codes for operation within optical C-band frequencies by means of computer simulations. As one of the most important destructive effects in fibre optical transmission systems (FOTS) is chromatic dispersion (CD), it is very important to reduce its negative effect on a transmitted signal. Dispersion compensation methods that were implemented in the research were dispersion compensating fibre (DCF) and fibre Bragg grating (FBG). The main goal of the paper was to find out which dispersion compensation method (DCF or FBG) provided the highest performance increase for fibre-optical transmission system and provided the longest transmission distance after dispersion compensation was implemented at different locations in the fibre-optical line while RZ or NRZ line codes were used. In the paper the reference point of signal quality for all measurements, which were obtained at the receiver, was BER<10-12.

Development of a compact optical absolute frequency reference for space with 10^-15 instability.

PubMed

Schuldt, Thilo; Döringshoff, Klaus; Kovalchuk, Evgeny V; Keetman, Anja; Pahl, Julia; Peters, Achim; Braxmaier, Claus

2017-02-01

We report on a compact and ruggedized setup for laser frequency stabilization employing Doppler-free spectroscopy of molecular iodine near 532 nm. Using a 30 cm long iodine cell in a triple-pass configuration in combination with noise-canceling detection and residual amplitude modulation control, a frequency instability of 6×10^-15 at 1 s integration time and a Flicker noise floor below 3×10^-15 for integration times between 100 and 1000 s was found. A specific assembly-integration technology was applied for the realization of the spectroscopy setup, ensuring high beam pointing stability and high thermal and mechanical rigidity. The setup was developed with respect to future applications in space, including high-sensitivity interspacecraft interferometry, tests of fundamental physics, and navigation and ranging.

High precision measurements of 16O12C17O using a new type of cavity ring down spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daëron, M.; Stoltmann, T.; Kassi, S.; Burkhart, J.; Kerstel, E.

2016-12-01

Laser absorption techniques for the measurement of isotopologue abundances in gases have been dripping into the geoscientific community over the past decade. In the field of carbon dioxide such instruments have mostly been restricted to measurements of the most abundant stable isotopologues. Distinct advantages of CRDS techniques are non-destructiveness and the ability to resolve isobaric isotopologues. The determination of low-abundance isotopologues is predominantly limited by the linewidth of the probing laser, laser jitter, laser drift and system stability. Here we present first measurements of 16O12C17O abundances using a new type of ultra-precise cavity ring down spectrometer. By the use of Optical Feedback Frequency Stabilization, we achieved a laser line width in the sub-kHz regime with a frequency drift of less than 20 Hz/s. A tight coupling with an ultra-stable ring down cavity combined with a frequency tuning mechanism which enables us to arbitrarily position spectral points (Burkart et al., 2013) allowed us to demonstrate a single-scan (2 minutes) precision of 40 ppm on the determination of the 16O12C17O abundance. These promising results imply that routine, direct, high-precision measurements of 17O-anomalies in CO2 using this non-destructive method are in reach. References:Burkart J, Romanini D, Kassi S; Optical feedback stabilized laser tuned by single-sideband modulation; Optical Letters 12:2062-2063 (2013)

Optical Characterization of Tissue Phantoms Using a Silicon Integrated fdNIRS System on Chip.

PubMed

Sthalekar, Chirag C; Miao, Yun; Koomson, Valencia Joyner

2017-04-01

An interface circuit with signal processing and digitizing circuits for a high frequency, large area avalanche photodiode (APD) has been integrated in a 130 nm BiCMOS chip. The system enables the absolute oximetry of tissue using frequency domain Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fdNIRS). The system measures the light absorbed and scattered by the tissue by measuring the reduction in the amplitude of signal and phase shift introduced between the light source and detector which are placed a finite distance away from each other. The received 80 MHz RF signal is downconverted to a low frequency and amplified using a heterodyning scheme. The front-end transimpedance amplifier has a 3-level programmable gain that increases the dynamic range to 60 dB. The phase difference between an identical reference channel and the optical channel is measured with a 0.5° accuracy. The detectable current range is [Formula: see text] and with a 40 A/W reponsivity using the APD, power levels as low as 500 pW can be detected. Measurements of the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of solid tissue phantoms using this system are compared with those using a commercial instrument with differences within 30%. Measurement of a milk based liquid tissue phantom show an increase in absorption coefficient with addition of black ink. The miniaturized circuit serves as an efficiently scalable system for multi-site detection for applications in neonatal cerebral oximetry and optical mammography.

Direct frequency comb optical frequency standard based on two-photon transitions of thermal atoms

PubMed Central

Zhang, S. Y.; Wu, J. T.; Zhang, Y. L.; Leng, J. X.; Yang, W. P.; Zhang, Z. G.; Zhao, J. Y.

2015-01-01

Optical clocks have been the focus of science and technology research areas due to their capability to provide highest frequency accuracy and stability to date. Their superior frequency performance promises significant advances in the fields of fundamental research as well as practical applications including satellite-based navigation and ranging. In traditional optical clocks, ultrastable optical cavities, laser cooling and particle (atoms or a single ion) trapping techniques are employed to guarantee high stability and accuracy. However, on the other hand, they make optical clocks an entire optical tableful of equipment, and cannot work continuously for a long time; as a result, they restrict optical clocks used as very convenient and compact time-keeping clocks. In this article, we proposed, and experimentally demonstrated, a novel scheme of optical frequency standard based on comb-directly-excited atomic two-photon transitions. By taking advantage of the natural properties of the comb and two-photon transitions, this frequency standard achieves a simplified structure, high robustness as well as decent frequency stability, which promise widespread applications in various scenarios. PMID:26459877

Whispering gallery mode resonators for frequency metrology applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgartel, Lukas

This dissertation describes an investigation into the use of whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators for applications towards frequency reference and metrology. Laser stabilization and the measurement of optical frequencies have enabled myriad technologies of both academic and commercial interest. A technology which seems to span both motivations is optical atomic clocks. These devices are virtually unimaginable without the ultra stable lasers plus frequency measurement and down-conversion afforded by Fabry Perot (FP) cavities and model-locked laser combs, respectively. However, WGM resonators can potentially perform both of these tasks while having the distinct advantages of compactness and simplicity. This work represents progress towards understanding and mitigating the performance limitations of WGM cavities for such applications. A system for laser frequency stabilization to a the cavity via the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) method is described. While the laser lock itself is found to perform at the level of several parts in 1015, a variety of fundamental and technical mechanisms destabilize the WGM frequency itself. Owing to the relatively large thermal expansion coefficients in optical crystals, environmental temperature drifts set the stability limit at time scales greater than the thermal relaxation time of the crystal. Uncompensated, these drifts pull WGM frequencies about 3 orders of magnitude more than they would in an FP cavity. Thus, two temperature compensation schemes are developed. An active scheme measures and stabilizes the mode volume temperature to the level of several nK, reducing the effective temperature coefficient of the resonator to 1.7x10-7 K-1; simulations suggest that the value could eventually be as low as 3.5x10-8 K-1, on par with the aforementioned FP cavities. A second, passive scheme is also described, which employs a heterogeneous resonator structure that capitalizes on the thermo-mechanical properties of one material and the optical properties of another. Calculations show that a temperature coefficient zero-crossing can be achieved, and encouraging initial experimental results are presented. At shorter time scales, fundamental thermal and technical noise sources define stability limits. The relative strengths of thermorefractive, thermoelastic, and Brownian motion are outlined, along with the level at which they can expect to be observed and some approaches to minimize them. It is shown that variations in the coupling gap pull the frequency at about 10 Hz/nm. A method for calculating frequency noise density caused by laser amplitude fluctuations is presented. Frequency comb generation in WGM resonators is also discussed. It is shown that cavity dispersion can be engineered through geometric parameters, yielding a microcomb with initial sidebands at 1 FSR from the pump. Such combs are thought to be coherent. Also described is a microcomb generated by a PDH locked pump laser. The resulting microwave beatnote can be changed from noisy to quiet by changing the offset of this lock. An investigation of optical to microwave down-conversion is conducted.

Method and apparatus for detecting internal structures of bulk objects using acoustic imaging

DOEpatents

Deason, Vance A.; Telschow, Kenneth L.

2002-01-01

Apparatus for producing an acoustic image of an object according to the present invention may comprise an excitation source for vibrating the object to produce at least one acoustic wave therein. The acoustic wave results in the formation of at least one surface displacement on the surface of the object. A light source produces an optical object wavefront and an optical reference wavefront and directs the optical object wavefront toward the surface of the object to produce a modulated optical object wavefront. A modulator operatively associated with the optical reference wavefront modulates the optical reference wavefront in synchronization with the acoustic wave to produce a modulated optical reference wavefront. A sensing medium positioned to receive the modulated optical object wavefront and the modulated optical reference wavefront combines the modulated optical object and reference wavefronts to produce an image related to the surface displacement on the surface of the object. A detector detects the image related to the surface displacement produced by the sensing medium. A processing system operatively associated with the detector constructs an acoustic image of interior features of the object based on the phase and amplitude of the surface displacement on the surface of the object.

Contrast features of breast cancer in frequency-domain laser scanning mammography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moesta, K. Thomas; Fantini, Sergio; Jess, Helge; Totkas, Susan; Franceschini, Maria-Angela; Kaschke, Michael; Schlag, Peter M.

1998-04-01

Frequency-domain optical mammography has been advocated to improve contrast and thus cancer detectability in breast transillumination. To the best of our knowledge, this report provides the first systematic clinical results of a frequency-domain laser scanning mammograph (FLM). The instrument provides monochromatic light at 690 and 810 nm, whose intensity is modulated at 110.0008 MHz, respectively. The breast is scanned by stepwise positioning of source and detector, and amplitude and phase for both wavelengths are measured by a photomultiplier tube using heterodyne detection. Images are formed representing amplitude or phase data on linear gray scales. Furthermore, various algorithms carrying on more than one signal were essayed. Twenty visible cancers out of 25 cancers in the first 59 investigations were analyzed for their quantitative contrast with respect to the whole breast or to defined reference areas. Contrast definitions refer to the signal itself, to the signal noise, or were based on nonparametric comparison. The amplitude signal provides better contrast than the phase signal. Ratio images between red and IR amplitudes gave variable results; in some cases the tumor contrast was canceled. The algorithms to determine (mu) a and (mu) sPRM from amplitude and phase data did not significantly improve upon objective contrast. The N algorithm, using the phase signal to flatten the amplitude signal did significantly improve upon contrast according to contrast definitions 1 and 2, however, did not improve upon nonparametric contrast. Thus, with the current instrumentation, the phase signal is helpful to correct for the complex and variable geometry of the breast. However, an independent informational content for tumor differentiation could not be determined. The flat field algorithm did greatly enhance optical contrast in comparison with amplitude or amplitude ratio images. Further evaluation of FLM will have to be based on the N-algorithm images.

Improved vibration sensor based on a biconical tapered singlemode fiber, using in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wonko, R.; Moś, J. E.; Stasiewicz, K. A.; Jaroszewicz, L. R.

2017-05-01

Optical fiber vibration sensors are an appropriate alternative for piezoelectric devices, which are electromagnetic sensitive to the external conditions. Most of the vibration sensors demonstrated in previous publications resist to different interferometers or Bragg's gratings. Such sensors require a long time of stabilization of an optical signal, because they are vulnerable to undesirable disturbance. In majority, time response of an optical sensor should be instantaneous, therefore we have proposed an in- line vibration sensing passive element based on a tapered fiber. Micrometer sized optical fiber tapers are attractive for many optical areas due to changes process of boundary conditions. Such phenomena allow for a sensitive detection of the modulation phase. Our experiment shows that a singlemode, adiabatic tapered fiber enables detecting an acoustic vibration. In this study, we report on Mach- Zehnder (MZ) interferometer as a vibration sensor which was composed of two 50/50 couplers at 1550 nm. In the reference arm we used a 4 meter singlemode optical fiber (SMF28), while in the arm under test we placed tapered optical fibers attached to a metal plate, put directly on speaker. Researches carried out on different tapered fibers which diameter of a taper waist was in the range from 5 μm to 25 μm, and each taper was characterized by optical losses less than 0,5 dB. The measured phase changes were over a frequency from 100 Hz to 1 kHz and an amplitude in the range from 100 mVpp to 1 Vpp. Although on account of a limited space we have showed only the results for 100 Hz. Nevertheless, experimental results show that this sensing system has a wide frequency response range from a few hertz to one of kilohertz, however for some conditions, a standard optical fiber showed better result.

Absolute Frequency Measurements with a Set of Transportable HE-NE/CH4 Optical Frequency Standards and Prospects for Future Design and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gubin, M.; Kovalchuk, E.; Petrukhin, E.; Shelkovnikov, A.; Tyurikov, D.; Gamidov, R.; Erdogan, C.; Sahin, E.; Felder, R.; Gill, P.; Lea, S. N.; Kramer, G.; Lipphardt, B.

2002-04-01

The accumulated results of absolute frequency measurements (AFM) carried out in 1997-2000 with transportable double-mode He-Ne/CH4 optical frequency standards (λ = 3 .39μm) in a collaboration of several laboratories are presented. The performance of this secondary optical frequency standard is estimated on the level of 10-13 (in repeatability), and 1 × 10-14/s (in stability). The next steps towards He-Ne/CH4 standards with one order of magnitude better performance, including devices based on monolithic zerodur resonators, are discussed. Important applications of transportable He-Ne/CH4 optical frequency standards have appeared now due to dramatic progress in the field of optical frequency measurements. Used to stabilize the repetition rate of a Ti:Sa fs laser, these compact secondary standards can transfer their performance into the whole optical range covered by a fs comb. Thus they can play the role of a narrow spectrum interrogative oscillator for super-accurate optical or microwave frequency standards substituting in some tasks a H-maser or oscillators based on cryogenic sapphire resonators.

Experimental simulation of ranging action using Si photonic crystal modulator and optical antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furukado, Yuya; Abe, Hiroshi; Hinakura, Yosuke; Baba, Toshihiko

2018-02-01

Time of flight LiDARs are used for auto-driving of vehicles, while FMCW LiDARs potentially achieve a higher sensitivity. In this study, we fabricated and tested each component of a FMCW LiDAR based on Si photonics and experimentally simulated the ranging action. Here, we drove a Si photonic crystal slow light modulator with linearly frequency-chirped signal in the frequency band of 500-1000 MHz and a repetition frequency of 100 kHz, to generate FM-signal light from a narrow-linewidth laser source. Next, we branched the signal light into two paths. One was inserted into a fiber delay line of 20-320 m and its output was irradiated to a photonic crystal slow beam steering device acting as an optical antenna via the free-space transmission. When the irradiation angle was optimized so that the antenna gain took maximum for a set laser wavelength, light was efficiently coupled into the antenna. We mixed the light output from the antenna with reference light of the other path with no delay, and detected it by balanced photodiodes. We observed a beat signal whose frequency well agreed with the theoretical value predicted from the length of the delay line. Thus, we succeeded in the experimental simulation of the FMCW LiDAR. We also observed a spectral sequence around the beat spectrum, in which the inter-frequency spacing equals the repetition frequency and corresponds to a range resolution of 30 cm which will be improved by expanding the modulation bandwidth.

Surface Profiling and Core Evaluation of Aluminum Honeycomb Sandwich Aircraft Panels Using Multi-Frequency Eddy Current Testing

PubMed Central

Reyno, Tyler; Underhill, P. Ross; Krause, Thomas W.; Marsden, Catharine; Wowk, Diane

2017-01-01

Surface damage on honeycomb aircraft panels is often measured manually, and is therefore subject to variation based on inspection personnel. Eddy current testing (ECT) is sensitive to variations in probe-to-specimen spacing, or lift-off, and is thus promising for high-resolution profiling of surface damage on aluminum panels. Lower frequency testing also allows inspection through the face sheet, an advantage over optical 3D scanning methods. This paper presents results from the ECT inspection of surface damage on an approximately flat aluminum honeycomb aircraft panel, and compares the measurements to those taken using optical 3D scanning technology. An ECT C-Scan of the dented panel surface was obtained by attaching the probe to a robotic scanning apparatus. Data was taken simultaneously at four frequencies of 25, 100, 400 and 1600 kHz. A reference surface was then defined that approximated the original, undamaged panel surface, which also compensated for the effects of specimen tilt and thermal drift within the ECT instrument. Data was converted to lift-off using height calibration curves developed for each probe frequency. A damage region of 22,550 mm2 area with dents ranging in depth from 0.13–1.01 mm was analyzed. The method was accurate at 1600 kHz to within 0.05 mm (2σ) when compared with 231 measurements taken via optical 3D scanning. Testing at 25 kHz revealed a 3.2 mm cell size within the honeycomb core, which was confirmed via destructive evaluation. As a result, ECT demonstrates potential for implementation as a method for rapid in-field aircraft panel surface damage assessment. PMID:28906434

Surface Profiling and Core Evaluation of Aluminum Honeycomb Sandwich Aircraft Panels Using Multi-Frequency Eddy Current Testing.

PubMed

Reyno, Tyler; Underhill, P Ross; Krause, Thomas W; Marsden, Catharine; Wowk, Diane

2017-09-14

Surface damage on honeycomb aircraft panels is often measured manually, and is therefore subject to variation based on inspection personnel. Eddy current testing (ECT) is sensitive to variations in probe-to-specimen spacing, or lift-off, and is thus promising for high-resolution profiling of surface damage on aluminum panels. Lower frequency testing also allows inspection through the face sheet, an advantage over optical 3D scanning methods. This paper presents results from the ECT inspection of surface damage on an approximately flat aluminum honeycomb aircraft panel, and compares the measurements to those taken using optical 3D scanning technology. An ECT C-Scan of the dented panel surface was obtained by attaching the probe to a robotic scanning apparatus. Data was taken simultaneously at four frequencies of 25, 100, 400 and 1600 kHz. A reference surface was then defined that approximated the original, undamaged panel surface, which also compensated for the effects of specimen tilt and thermal drift within the ECT instrument. Data was converted to lift-off using height calibration curves developed for each probe frequency. A damage region of 22,550 mm² area with dents ranging in depth from 0.13-1.01 mm was analyzed. The method was accurate at 1600 kHz to within 0.05 mm (2σ) when compared with 231 measurements taken via optical 3D scanning. Testing at 25 kHz revealed a 3.2 mm cell size within the honeycomb core, which was confirmed via destructive evaluation. As a result, ECT demonstrates potential for implementation as a method for rapid in-field aircraft panel surface damage assessment.

Tunable optical frequency comb enabled scalable and cost-effective multiuser orthogonal frequency-division multiple access passive optical network with source-free optical network units.

PubMed

Chen, Chen; Zhang, Chongfu; Liu, Deming; Qiu, Kun; Liu, Shuang

2012-10-01

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a multiuser orthogonal frequency-division multiple access passive optical network (OFDMA-PON) with source-free optical network units (ONUs), enabled by tunable optical frequency comb generation technology. By cascading a phase modulator (PM) and an intensity modulator and dynamically controlling the peak-to-peak voltage of a PM driven signal, a tunable optical frequency comb source can be generated. It is utilized to assist the configuration of a multiple source-free ONUs enhanced OFDMA-PON where simultaneous and interference-free multiuser upstream transmission over a single wavelength can be efficiently supported. The proposed multiuser OFDMA-PON is scalable and cost effective, and its feasibility is successfully verified by experiment.

Efficient quantum microwave-to-optical conversion using electro-optic nanophotonic coupled resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soltani, Mohammad; Zhang, Mian; Ryan, Colm; Ribeill, Guilhem J.; Wang, Cheng; Loncar, Marko

2017-10-01

We propose a low-noise, triply resonant, electro-optic (EO) scheme for quantum microwave-to-optical conversion based on coupled nanophotonics resonators integrated with a superconducting qubit. Our optical system features a split resonance—a doublet—with a tunable frequency splitting that matches the microwave resonance frequency of the superconducting qubit. This is in contrast to conventional approaches, where large optical resonators with free-spectral range comparable to the qubit microwave frequency are used. In our system, EO mixing between the optical pump coupled into the low-frequency doublet mode and a resonance microwave photon results in an up-converted optical photon on resonance with high-frequency doublet mode. Importantly, the down-conversion process, which is the source of noise, is suppressed in our scheme as the coupled-resonator system does not support modes at that frequency. Our device has at least an order of magnitude smaller footprint than conventional devices, resulting in large overlap between optical and microwave fields and a large photon conversion rate (g /2 π ) in the range of ˜5 -15 kHz. Owing to a large g factor and doubly resonant nature of our device, microwave-to-optical frequency conversion can be achieved with optical pump powers in the range of tens of microwatts, even with moderate values for optical Q (˜106 ) and microwave Q (˜104 ). The performance metrics of our device, with substantial improvement over the previous EO-based approaches, promise a scalable quantum microwave-to-optical conversion and networking of superconducting processors via optical fiber communication.

High Spectral Resolution Lidar: System Calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vivek Vivekanandan, J.; Morley, Bruce; Spuler, Scott; Eloranta, Edwin

2015-04-01

One of the unique features of the high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) is simultaneous measurements of backscatter and extinction of atmosphere. It separates molecular scattering from aerosol and cloud particle backscatter based on their Doppler spectrum width. Scattering from aerosol and cloud particle are referred as Mie scattering. Molecular or Rayleigh scattering is used as a reference for estimating aerosol extinction and backscatter cross-section. Absolute accuracy of the backscattered signals and their separation into Rayleigh and Mie scattering depends on spectral purity of the transmitted signals, accurate measurement of transmit power, and precise performance of filters. Internal calibration is used to characterize optical subsystems Descriptions of high spectral resolution lidar system and its measurement technique can be found in Eloronta (2005) and Hair et al.(2001). Four photon counting detectors are used to measure the backscatter from the combined Rayleigh and molecular scattering (high and low gain), molecular scattering and cross-polarized signal. All of the detectors are sensitive to crosstalk or leakage through the optical filters used to separate the received signals and special data files are used to remove these effects as much as possible. Received signals are normalized with respect to the combined channel response to Mie and Rayleigh scattering. The laser transmit frequency is continually monitored and tuned to the 1109 Iodine absorption line. Aerosol backscatter cross-section is measured by referencing the aerosol return signal to the molecular return signal. Extinction measurements are calculated based on the differences between the expected (theoretical) and actual change in the molecular return. In this paper an overview of calibration of the HSRL is presented. References: Eloranta, E. W., High Spectral Resolution Lidar in Lidar: Range-Resolved Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Klaus Weitkamp editor, Springer Series in Optical Sciences, Springer-Verlag, New York, 2005. Hair, JW; Caldwell, LM; Krueger, D. A.Krueger, and C.Y. She 2001: High-spectral-resolution lidar with iodine-vapor filters: measurement of atmospheric-state and aerosol profiles. Appl. Optics, 40, 5280-5294.

Chaotic oscillation and random-number generation based on nanoscale optical-energy transfer.

PubMed

Naruse, Makoto; Kim, Song-Ju; Aono, Masashi; Hori, Hirokazu; Ohtsu, Motoichi

2014-08-12

By using nanoscale energy-transfer dynamics and density matrix formalism, we demonstrate theoretically and numerically that chaotic oscillation and random-number generation occur in a nanoscale system. The physical system consists of a pair of quantum dots (QDs), with one QD smaller than the other, between which energy transfers via optical near-field interactions. When the system is pumped by continuous-wave radiation and incorporates a timing delay between two energy transfers within the system, it emits optical pulses. We refer to such QD pairs as nano-optical pulsers (NOPs). Irradiating an NOP with external periodic optical pulses causes the oscillating frequency of the NOP to synchronize with the external stimulus. We find that chaotic oscillation occurs in the NOP population when they are connected by an external time delay. Moreover, by evaluating the time-domain signals by statistical-test suites, we confirm that the signals are sufficiently random to qualify the system as a random-number generator (RNG). This study reveals that even relatively simple nanodevices that interact locally with each other through optical energy transfer at scales far below the wavelength of irradiating light can exhibit complex oscillatory dynamics. These findings are significant for applications such as ultrasmall RNGs.

Studies of Second Order Optical Nonlinearities of 4-Aminobenzophenone (ABP) Single Crystal Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmik, Achintya; Thakur, Mrinal

1998-03-01

Specific organic materials exhibit very high second order optical susceptibilities. Growth of single crystal films of these materials and characterization of nonlinear optical properties are necessary for implementation of device applications. We have grown large-area films ( 1 cm^2 area, 4 μm thick) of ABP by a modification of the shear method. Single crystal nature of the films was confirmed by polarized optical microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis showed a [100] surface orientation. The absorption spectra revealed transparency from 390 nm to 1940 nm. Significant elements of the second order optical susceptibility tensor were measured by detailed SHG experiments using a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 100 ps, 82 MHz). Second-harmonic power was measured using lock-in detection with carefully selected polarization conditions while the film was rotated about the propagation direction. Using LiNbØas the reference, d-coefficients of ABP were found to be d_23=7.2 pm/V and d_22=0.7 pm/V. Type-I and type-II phase-matching directions were identified on the film by analyzing the optical indicatrix surfaces at fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies.

THE PECULIAR LIGHT CURVE OF THE SYMBIOTIC STAR AX PER OF THE LAST 125 YEARS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leibowitz, Elia M.; Formiggini, Liliana, E-mail: elia@wise.tau.ac.il

We analyze the optical light curve (LC) of the last 125 years of the symbiotic star AX Per through some remarkable correlations that we discovered in its power spectrum (PS). The data were assembled from the literature and from the American Association of Variable Stars Observers database. A series of six major outbursts dominate the LC. They are presented in the PS as 13 harmonics of the fundamental frequency f {sub a} = 1/P {sub a} = 1/23,172 day{sup –1}. We refer to them as the ''red'' frequencies. Oscillations with the binary periodicity of the system P {sub b} =more » 1/f {sub b} = 681.48 days are also seen in the LC, with particularly large amplitudes during outbursts. The f {sub b} peak in the PS is accompanied by 13 other peaks on each side, which we refer to as the ''blue'' frequencies. A distinct structure in the frequency distribution of the blue peaks, as well as in their peak power, is best interpreted as reflecting beating of the 13 ''red'' frequencies with the binary one. We suggest, following others, that the major outbursts of the system result from events of intense mass loss from the giant star. Mass accretion onto the hot component, partially through the L1 point of the system, took place in the last 125 years at a rate that oscillated with the 13 first harmonics of the f {sub a} frequency. The binary orbit is slightly eccentric and periastron passages induced modulation of the L1 accretion at the binary frequency. Hence the f {sub b} oscillations in the brightness of the star of an amplitude that is modulated by the ''red'' frequencies of the system.« less

Optical Sidebands Multiplier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strekalov, Dmitry V.; Yu, Nan

2010-01-01

Optical sidebands have been generated with relative frequency tens to hundreds of GHz by using optical sidebands that are generated in a cascade process in high-quality optical resonators with Kerr nonlinearity, such as whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators. For this purpose, the WGM resonator needs to be optically pumped at two frequencies matching its resonances. These two optical components can be one or several free spectral ranges (FSRs), equal to approximately 12 GHz, in this example, apart from each other, and can be easily derived from a monochromatic pump with an ordinary EOM (electro-optic modulation) operating at half the FSR frequency. With sufficient nonlinearity, an optical cascade process will convert the two pump frequencies into a comb-like structure extending many FSRs around the carrier frequency. This has a demonstratively efficient frequency conversion of this type with only a few milliwatt optical pump power. The concept of using Kerr nonlinearity in a resonator for non-degenerate wave mixing has been discussed before, but it was a common belief that this was a weak process requiring very high peak powers to be observable. It was not thought possible for this approach to compete with electro-optical modulators in CW applications, especially those at lower optical powers. By using the high-Q WGM resonators, the effective Kerr nonlinearity can be made so high that, using even weak seeding bands available from a conventional EOM, one can effectively multiply the optical sidebands, extending them into an otherwise inaccessible frequency range.

Coherent multi-heterodyne spectroscopy using acousto-optic frequency combs.

PubMed

Durán, Vicente; Schnébelin, Cȏme; Guillet de Chatellus, Hugues

2018-05-28

We propose and characterize experimentally a new source of optical frequency combs for performing multi-heterodyne spectrometry. This comb modality is based on a frequency-shifting loop seeded with a continuous-wave (CW) monochromatic laser. The comb lines are generated by successive passes of the CW laser through an acousto-optic frequency shifter. We report the generation of frequency combs with more than 1500 mutually coherent lines, without resorting to non-linear broadening phenomena or external electronic modulation. The comb line spacing is easily reconfigurable from tens of MHz down to the kHz region. We first use a single acousto-optic frequency comb to conduct self-heterodyne interferometry with a high frequency resolution (500 kHz). By increasing the line spacing to 80 MHz, we demonstrate molecular spectroscopy on the sub-millisecond time scale. In order to reduce the detection bandwidth, we subsequently implement an acousto-optic dual-comb spectrometer with the aid of two mutually coherent frequency shifting loops. In each architecture, the potentiality of acousto-optic frequency combs for spectroscopy is validated by spectral measurements of hydrogen cyanide in the near-infrared region.

Coherent multi-heterodyne spectroscopy using acousto-optic frequency combs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durán, Vicente; Schnébelin, Cȏme; Guillet de Chatellus, Hugues

2018-05-01

We propose and characterize experimentally a new source of optical frequency combs for performing multi-heterodyne spectrometry. This comb modality is based on a frequency shifting loop seeded with a CW monochromatic laser. The comb lines are generated by successive passes of the CW laser through an acousto-optic frequency shifter. We report the generation of frequency combs with more than 1500 mutually coherent lines, without resorting to non-linear broadening phenomena or external electronic modulation. The comb line spacing is easily reconfigurable from tens of MHz down to the kHz region. We first use a single acousto-optic frequency comb to conduct self-heterodyne interferometry with a high frequency resolution (500 kHz). By increasing the line spacing to 80 MHz, we demonstrate molecular spectroscopy on the sub-millisecond time scale. In order to reduce the detection bandwidth, we subsequently implement an acousto-optic dual-comb spectrometer with the aid of two mutually coherent frequency shifting loops. In each architecture, the potentiality of acousto-optic frequency combs for spectroscopy is validated by spectral measurements of hydrogen cyanide in the near-infrared region.

Combined electromechanical impedance and fiber optic diagnosis of aerospace structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlavin, Jon; Zagrai, Andrei; Clemens, Rebecca; Black, Richard J.; Costa, Joey; Moslehi, Behzad; Patel, Ronak; Sotoudeh, Vahid; Faridian, Fereydoun

2014-03-01

Electromechanical impedance is a popular diagnostic method for assessing structural conditions at high frequencies. It has been utilized, and shown utility, in aeronautic, space, naval, civil, mechanical, and other types of structures. By contrast, fiber optic sensing initially found its niche in static strain measurement and low frequency structural dynamic testing. Any low frequency limitations of the fiber optic sensing, however, are mainly governed by its hardware elements. As hardware improves, so does the bandwidth (frequency range * number of sensors) provided by the appropriate enabling fiber optic sensor interrogation system. In this contribution we demonstrate simultaneous high frequency measurements using fiber optic and electromechanical impedance structural health monitoring technologies. A laboratory specimen imitating an aircraft wing structure, incorporating surfaces with adjustable boundary conditions, was instrumented with piezoelectric and fiber optic sensors. Experiments were conducted at different structural boundary conditions associated with deterioration of structural health. High frequency dynamic responses were collected at multiple locations on a laboratory wing specimen and conclusions were drawn about correspondence between structural damage and dynamic signatures as well as correlation between electromechanical impedance and fiber optic sensors spectra. Theoretical investigation of the effect of boundary conditions on electromechanical impedance spectra is presented and connection to low frequency structural dynamics is suggested. It is envisioned that acquisition of high frequency structural dynamic responses with multiple fiber optic sensors may open new diagnostic capabilities for fiber optic sensing technologies.

The Primordial Inflation Explorer (PIXIE) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kogut, Alan J.; Chuss, David T.; Dotson, Jessie L.; Fixsen, Dale J.; Halpern, Mark; Hinshaw, Gary F.; Meyer, Stephan M.; Moseley, S. Harvey; Seiffert, Michael D.; Spergel, David N.;

Hypopharyngeal perforation near-miss during transesophageal echocardiography.

PubMed

Aviv, Jonathan E; Di Tullio, Marco R; Homma, Shunichi; Storper, Ian S; Zschommler, Anne; Ma, Guoguang; Petkova, Eva; Murphy, Mark; Desloge, Rosemary; Shaw, Gary; Benjamin, Stanley; Corwin, Steven

2004-05-01

The traditional blind passage of a transesophageal echocardiography probe transorally through the hypopharynx is considered safe. Yet, severe hypopharyngeal complications during transesophageal echocardiography at several institutions led the authors to investigate whether traditional probe passage results in a greater incidence of hypopharyngeal injuries when compared with probe passage under direct visualization. Randomized, prospective clinical study. In 159 consciously sedated adults referred for transesophageal echocardiography, the authors performed transesophageal echocardiography with concomitant transnasal videoendoscopic monitoring of the hypopharynx. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive traditional (blind) or experimental (optical) transesophageal echocardiography. The primary outcome measure was frequency of hypopharyngeal injuries (hypopharyngeal lacerations or hematomas), and the secondary outcome measure was number of hypopharyngeal contacts. No perforation occurred with either technique. However, hypopharyngeal lacerations or hematomas occurred in 19 of 80 (23.8%) patients with the traditional technique (11 superficial lacerations of pyriform sinus, 1 laceration of pharynx, 12 arytenoid hematomas, 2 vocal fold hematomas, and 1 pyriform hematoma) and in 1 of 79 patients (1.3%) with the optical technique (superficial pyriform laceration) (P =.001). All traumatized patients underwent flexible laryngoscopy, but none required additional intervention. Respectively, hypopharyngeal contacts were more frequent with the traditional than with the optical technique at the pyriform sinus (70.0% vs. 10.1% [P =.001]), arytenoid (55.0% vs. 3.8% [P =.001]), and vocal fold (15.0% vs. 3.86% [P =.016]). Optically guided trans-esophageal echocardiography results in significantly fewer hypopharyngeal injuries and fewer contacts than traditional, blind transesophageal echocardiography. The optically guided technique may result in decreased frequency of potentially significant complications and therefore in improved patient safety.

Optomechanical Design and Analysis Considerations on the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt. Stephen; Mamakos, William; Matzinger, Elizabeth; Wall, Sheila

2007-01-01

This paper presents the mechanical design and analysis work completed on the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). LOLA is one of six instruments on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scheduled to launch in 2008. LOLA's main objective is to produce a high-resolution global lunar topographic model to aid in safe landings and enhance surface mobility in future exploration missions. LOLA will also look for evidence of ice water in the permanently shadowed regions around the lunar poles. Beryllium was chosen as the primary material for the LOLA Optical Transmitter Assembly to take advantage of the material's low mass density for light weight optical instrument design and for CTE matching of the refractive optical components. In addition, the thermal conductivity and specific heat of beryllium minimizes thermal gradients and thermal excursions. Special consideration must be made for the planning and preparation to fabricate beryllium components, as well as the preparation and cleaning of the components for gold plating. Assembly challenges include handling, precision cleaning and integration and testing. Structural analysis considerations include following General Environmental Verification Specification (GEVS) guidelines for GSFC payloads. The GEVS random environment for LOLA has an acceptance level of 10.0 Grms, which was analyzed for higher frequency transients. The low frequency transients were analyzed using a Mass Acceleration Curve to obtain an equivalent static loading. In addition, Structural-Thermal-Optical analysis, commonly referred to as STOP analysis, was completed to predict optical performance under the instrument's operational thermal environment. This included stress and distortion analysis on the receiver telescope lens.

Wideband optical vector network analyzer based on optical single-sideband modulation and optical frequency comb.

PubMed

Xue, Min; Pan, Shilong; He, Chao; Guo, Ronghui; Zhao, Yongjiu

2013-11-15

A novel approach to increase the measurement range of the optical vector network analyzer (OVNA) based on optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. In the proposed system, each comb line in an optical frequency comb (OFC) is selected by an optical filter and used as the optical carrier for the OSSB-based OVNA. The frequency responses of an optical device-under-test (ODUT) are thus measured channel by channel. Because the comb lines in the OFC have fixed frequency spacing, by fitting the responses measured in all channels together, the magnitude and phase responses of the ODUT can be accurately achieved in a large range. A proof-of-concept experiment is performed. A measurement range of 105 GHz and a resolution of 1 MHz is achieved when a five-comb-line OFC with a frequency spacing of 20 GHz is applied to measure the magnitude and phase responses of a fiber Bragg grating.

Covert laser remote sensing and vibrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maleki, Lutfollah (Inventor); Yu, Nan (Inventor); Matsko, Andrey B. (Inventor); Savchenkov, Anatoliy (Inventor)

2012-01-01

Designs of single-beam laser vibrometry systems and methods. For example, a method for detecting vibrations of a target based on optical sensing is provided to include operating a laser to produce a laser probe beam at a laser frequency and modulated at a modulation frequency onto a target; collecting light at or near the laser to collect light from the target while the target is being illuminated by the laser probe beam through an optical receiver aperture; using a narrow-band optical filter centered at the laser frequency to filter light collected from the optical receiver aperture to transmit light at the laser frequency while blocking light at other frequencies; using an optical detector to convert filtered light from the narrow-band optical filter to produce a receiver electrical signal; using a lock-in amplifier to detect and amplify the receiver electrical signal at the modulation frequency while rejecting signal components at other frequencies to produce an amplified receiver electrical signal; processing the amplified receiver electrical signal to extract information on vibrations of the target carried by reflected laser probe beam in the collected light; and controlling optical power of the laser probe beam at the target to follow optical power of background illumination at the target.

Demonstration of an optical frequency synthesizer with zero carrier-envelope-offset frequency stabilized by the direct locking method.

PubMed

Kim, Eok Bong; Lee, Jae-hwan; Trung, Luu Tran; Lee, Wong-Kyu; Yu, Dai-Hyuk; Ryu, Han Young; Nam, Chang Hee; Park, Chang Yong

2009-11-09

We developed an optical frequency synthesizer (OFS) with the carrier-envelope-offset frequency locked to 0 Hz achieved using the "direct locking method." This method differs from a conventional phaselock method in that the interference signal from a self-referencing f-2f interferometer is directly fed back to the carrier-envelope-phase control of a femtosecond laser in the time domain. A comparison of the optical frequency of the new OFS to that of a conventional OFS stabilized by a phase-lock method showed that the frequency comb of the new OFS was not different to that of the conventional OFS within an uncertainty of 5.68x10(-16). As a practical application of this OFS, we measured the absolute frequency of an acetylene-stabilized diode laser serving as an optical frequency standard in optical communications.

Direct-to-digital holography and holovision

DOEpatents

Thomas, Clarence E.; Baylor, Larry R.; Hanson, Gregory R.; Rasmussen, David A.; Voelkl, Edgar; Castracane, James; Simkulet, Michelle; Clow, Lawrence

2000-01-01

Systems and methods for direct-to-digital holography are described. An apparatus includes a laser; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the laser; a reference beam mirror optically coupled to the beamsplitter; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter, a focusing lens optically coupled to both the reference beam mirror and the object; and a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens. A reference beam is incident upon the reference beam mirror at a non-normal angle, and the reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form an image. The systems and methods provide advantages in that computer assisted holographic measurements can be made.

Virtual mask digital electron beam lithography

DOEpatents

Baylor, L.R.; Thomas, C.E.; Voelkl, E.; Moore, J.A.; Simpson, M.L.; Paulus, M.J.

1999-04-06

Systems and methods for direct-to-digital holography are described. An apparatus includes a laser; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the laser; a reference beam mirror optically coupled to the beamsplitter; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter, a focusing lens optically coupled to both the reference beam mirror and the object; and a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens. A reference beam is incident upon the reference beam mirror at a non-normal angle, and the reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form an image. The systems and methods provide advantages in that computer assisted holographic measurements can be made. 5 figs.

Virtual mask digital electron beam lithography

DOEpatents

Baylor, Larry R.; Thomas, Clarence E.; Voelkl, Edgar; Moore, James A.; Simpson, Michael L.; Paulus, Michael J.

1999-01-01

Systems and methods for direct-to-digital holography are described. An apparatus includes a laser; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the laser; a reference beam mirror optically coupled to the beamsplitter; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter, a focusing lens optically coupled to both the reference beam mirror and the object; and a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens. A reference beam is incident upon the reference beam mirror at a non-normal angle, and the reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form an image. The systems and methods provide advantages in that computer assisted holographic measurements can be made.

Optical profile determining apparatus and associated methods including the use of a plurality of wavelengths in the reference beam and a plurality of wavelengths in a reflective transit beam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montgomery, Robert M. (Inventor)

2006-01-01

An optical profile determining apparatus includes an optical detector and an optical source. The optical source generates a transmit beam including a plurality of wavelengths, and generates a reference beam including the plurality of wavelengths. Optical elements direct the transmit beam to a target, direct a resulting reflected transmit beam back from the target to the optical detector, and combine the reference beam with the reflected transmit beam so that a profile of the target is based upon fringe contrast produced by the plurality of wavelengths in the reference beam and the plurality of wavelengths in the reflected transmit beam.

Sub-nanometer periodic nonlinearity error in absolute distance interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hongxing; Huang, Kaiqi; Hu, Pengcheng; Zhu, Pengfei; Tan, Jiubin; Fan, Zhigang

2015-05-01

Periodic nonlinearity which can result in error in nanometer scale has become a main problem limiting the absolute distance measurement accuracy. In order to eliminate this error, a new integrated interferometer with non-polarizing beam splitter is developed. This leads to disappearing of the frequency and/or polarization mixing. Furthermore, a strict requirement on the laser source polarization is highly reduced. By combining retro-reflector and angel prism, reference and measuring beams can be spatially separated, and therefore, their optical paths are not overlapped. So, the main cause of the periodic nonlinearity error, i.e., the frequency and/or polarization mixing and leakage of beam, is eliminated. Experimental results indicate that the periodic phase error is kept within 0.0018°.

Computational multiheterodyne spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Burghoff, David; Yang, Yang; Hu, Qing

2016-01-01

Dual-comb spectroscopy allows for high-resolution spectra to be measured over broad bandwidths, but an essential requirement for coherent integration is the availability of a phase reference. Usually, this means that the combs’ phase and timing errors must be measured and either minimized by stabilization or removed by correction, limiting the technique’s applicability. We demonstrate that it is possible to extract the phase and timing signals of a multiheterodyne spectrum completely computationally, without any extra measurements or optical elements. These techniques are viable even when the relative linewidth exceeds the repetition rate difference and can tremendously simplify any dual-comb system. By reconceptualizing frequency combs in terms of the temporal structure of their phase noise, not their frequency stability, we can greatly expand the scope of multiheterodyne techniques. PMID:27847870

An alternative cost-effective image processing based sensor for continuous turbidity monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chai, Matthew Min Enn; Ng, Sing Muk; Chua, Hong Siang

2017-03-01

Turbidity is the degree to which the optical clarity of water is reduced by impurities in the water. High turbidity values in rivers and lakes promote the growth of pathogen, reduce dissolved oxygen levels and reduce light penetration. The conventional ways of on-site turbidity measurements involve the use of optical sensors similar to those used in commercial turbidimeters. However, these instruments require frequent maintenance due to biological fouling on the sensors. Thus, image processing was proposed as an alternative technique for continuous turbidity measurement to reduce frequency of maintenance. The camera was kept out of water to avoid biofouling while other parts of the system submerged in water can be coated with anti-fouling surface. The setup developed consisting of a webcam, a light source, a microprocessor and a motor used to control the depth of a reference object. The image processing algorithm quantifies the relationship between the number of circles detected on the reference object and the depth of the reference object. By relating the quantified data to turbidity, the setup was able to detect turbidity levels from 20 NTU to 380 NTU with measurement error of 15.7 percent. The repeatability and sensitivity of the turbidity measurement was found to be satisfactory.

Ac electronic tunneling at optical frequencies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Faris, S. M.; Fan, B.; Gustafson, T. K.

1974-01-01

Rectification characteristics of non-superconducting metal-barrier-metal junctions deduced from electronic tunneling have been observed experimentally for optical frequency irradiation of the junction. The results provide verification of optical frequency Fermi level modulation and electronic tunneling current modulation.

Microscopy imaging system and method employing stimulated raman spectroscopy as a contrast mechanism

DOEpatents

Xie, Xiaoliang Sunney [Lexington, MA; Freudiger, Christian [Boston, MA; Min, Wei [Cambridge, MA

2011-09-27

A microscopy imaging system includes a first light source for providing a first train of pulses at a first center optical frequency .omega..sub.1, a second light source for providing a second train of pulses at a second center optical frequency .omega..sub.2, a modulator system, an optical detector, and a processor. The modulator system is for modulating a beam property of the second train of pulses at a modulation frequency f of at least 100 kHz. The optical detector is for detecting an integrated intensity of substantially all optical frequency components of the first train of pulses from the common focal volume by blocking the second train of pulses being modulated. The processor is for detecting, a modulation at the modulation frequency f, of the integrated intensity of the optical frequency components of the first train of pulses to provide a pixel of an image for the microscopy imaging system.

Dense electro-optic frequency comb generated by two-stage modulation for dual-comb spectroscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Shuai; Fan, Xinyu; Xu, Bingxin; He, Zuyuan

2017-10-01

An electro-optic frequency comb enables frequency-agile comb-based spectroscopy without using sophisticated phase-locking electronics. Nevertheless, dense electro-optic frequency combs over broad spans have yet to be developed. In this Letter, we propose a straightforward and efficient method for electro-optic frequency comb generation with a small line spacing and a large span. This method is based on two-stage modulation: generating an 18 GHz line-spacing comb at the first stage and a 250 MHz line-spacing comb at the second stage. After generating an electro-optic frequency comb covering 1500 lines, we set up an easily established mutually coherent hybrid dual-comb interferometer, which combines the generated electro-optic frequency comb and a free-running mode-locked laser. As a proof of concept, this hybrid dual-comb interferometer is used to measure the absorption and dispersion profiles of the molecular transition of H 13 CN with a spectral resolution of 250 MHz.

Robust interferometric frequency lock between cw lasers and optical frequency combs.

PubMed

Benkler, Erik; Rohde, Felix; Telle, Harald R

2013-02-15

A transfer interferometer is presented which establishes a versatile and robust optical frequency locking link between a tunable single frequency laser and an optical frequency comb. It enables agile and continuous tuning of the frequency difference between both lasers while fluctuations and drift effects of the transfer interferometer itself are widely eliminated via common mode rejection. Experimental results will be presented for a tunable extended-cavity 1.5 μm laser diode locked to an Er-fiber based frequency comb.

Optical atomic clocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poli, N.; Oates, C. W.; Gill, P.; Tino, G. M.

2013-12-01

In the last ten years extraordinary results in time and frequency metrology have been demonstrated. Frequency-stabilization techniques for continuous-wave lasers and femtosecond optical frequency combs have enabled a rapid development of frequency standards based on optical transitions in ultra-cold neutral atoms and trapped ions. As a result, today's best performing atomic clocks tick at an optical rate and allow scientists to perform high-resolution measurements with a precision approaching a few parts in 1018. This paper reviews the history and the state of the art in optical-clock research and addresses the implementation of optical clocks in a possible future redefinition of the SI second as well as in tests of fundamental physics.

Mid-frequency MTF compensation of optical sparse aperture system.

PubMed

Zhou, Chenghao; Wang, Zhile

2018-03-19

Optical sparse aperture (OSA) can greatly improve the spatial resolution of optical system. However, because of its aperture dispersion and sparse, its mid-frequency modulation transfer function (MTF) are significantly lower than that of a single aperture system. The main focus of this paper is on the mid-frequency MTF compensation of the optical sparse aperture system. Firstly, the principle of the mid-frequency MTF decreasing and missing of optical sparse aperture are analyzed. This paper takes the filling factor as a clue. The method of processing the mid-frequency MTF decreasing with large filling factor and method of compensation mid-frequency MTF with small filling factor are given respectively. For the MTF mid-frequency decreasing, the image spatial-variant restoration method is proposed to restore the mid-frequency information in the image; for the mid-frequency MTF missing, two images obtained by two system respectively are fused to compensate the mid-frequency information in optical sparse aperture image. The feasibility of the two method are analyzed in this paper. The numerical simulation of the system and algorithm of the two cases are presented using Zemax and Matlab. The results demonstrate that by these two methods the mid-frequency MTF of OSA system can be compensated effectively.

Spectral characterization of near-infrared acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) hyperspectral imaging systems using standard calibration materials.

PubMed

Bürmen, Miran; Pernuš, Franjo; Likar, Boštjan

2011-04-01

In this study, we propose and evaluate a method for spectral characterization of acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) hyperspectral imaging systems in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region from 900 nm to 1700 nm. The proposed spectral characterization method is based on the SRM-2035 standard reference material, exhibiting distinct spectral features, which enables robust non-rigid matching of the acquired and reference spectra. The matching is performed by simultaneously optimizing the parameters of the AOTF tuning curve, spectral resolution, baseline, and multiplicative effects. In this way, the tuning curve (frequency-wavelength characteristics) and the corresponding spectral resolution of the AOTF hyperspectral imaging system can be characterized simultaneously. Also, the method enables simple spectral characterization of the entire imaging plane of hyperspectral imaging systems. The results indicate that the method is accurate and efficient and can easily be integrated with systems operating in diffuse reflection or transmission modes. Therefore, the proposed method is suitable for characterization, calibration, or validation of AOTF hyperspectral imaging systems. © 2011 Society for Applied Spectroscopy

Theoretical analysis of optical poling and frequency doubling effect based on classical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Xi; Li, Fuquan; Lin, Aoxiang; Wang, Fang; Chai, Xiangxu; Wang, Zhengping; Zhu, Qihua; Sun, Xun; Zhang, Sen; Sun, Xibo

2018-03-01

Optical poling and frequency doubling effect is one of the effective manners to induce second order nonlinearity and realize frequency doubling in glass materials. The classical model believes that an internal electric field is built in glass when it's exposed by fundamental and frequency-doubled light at the same time, and second order nonlinearity appears as a result of the electric field and the orientation of poles. The process of frequency doubling in glass is quasi phase matched. In this letter, the physical process of poling and doubling process in optical poling and frequency doubling effect is deeply discussed in detail. The magnitude and direction of internal electric field, second order nonlinear coefficient and its components, strength and direction of frequency doubled output signal, quasi phase matched coupled wave equations are given in analytic expression. Model of optical poling and frequency doubling effect which can be quantitatively analyzed are constructed in theory, which set a foundation for intensive study of optical poling and frequency doubling effect.

A 25-Gbps high-sensitivity optical receiver with 10-Gbps photodiode using inductive input coupling for optical interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oku, Hideki; Narita, Kiyomi; Shiraishi, Takashi; Ide, Satoshi; Tanaka, Kazuhiro

2012-01-01

A 25-Gbps high-sensitivity optical receiver with a 10-Gbps photodiode (PD) using inductive input coupling has been demonstrated for optical interconnects. We introduced the inductive input coupling technique to achieve the 25-Gbps optical receiver using a 10-Gbps PD. We implemented an input inductor (Lin) between the PD and trans-impedance amplifier (TIA), and optimized inductance to enhance the bandwidth and reduce the input referred noise current through simulation with the RF PD-model. Near the resonance frequency of the tank circuit formed by PD capacitance, Lin, and TIA input capacitance, the PD photo-current through Lin into the TIA is enhanced. This resonance has the effects of enhancing the bandwidth at TIA input and reducing the input equivalent value of the noise current from TIA. We fabricated the 25-Gbps optical receiver with the 10-Gbps PD using an inductive input coupling technique. Due to the application of an inductor, the receiver bandwidth is enhanced from 10 GHz to 14.2 GHz. Thanks to this wide-band and low-noise performance, we were able to improve the sensitivity at an error rate of 1E-12 from non-error-free to -6.5 dBm. These results indicate that our technique is promising for cost-effective optical interconnects.

Thermal diffusivity imaging with the thermal lens microscope.

PubMed

Dada, Oluwatosin O; Feist, Peter E; Dovichi, Norman J

2011-12-01

A coaxial thermal lens microscope was used to generate images based on both the absorbance and thermal diffusivity of histological samples. A pump beam was modulated at frequencies ranging from 50 kHz to 5 MHz using an acousto-optic modulator. The pump and a CW probe beam were combined with a dichroic mirror, directed into an inverted microscope, and focused onto the specimen. The change in the transmitted probe beam's center intensity was detected with a photodiode. The photodiode's signal and a reference signal from the modulator were sent to a high-speed lock-in amplifier. The in-phase and quadrature signals were recorded as a sample was translated through the focused beams and used to generate images based on the amplitude and phase of the lock-in amplifier's signal. The amplitude is related to the absorbance and the phase is related to the thermal diffusivity of the sample. Thin sections of stained liver and bone tissues were imaged; the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the phase image was highest at frequencies from 0.1-1 MHz and dropped at higher frequencies. The spatial resolution was 2.5 μm for both amplitude and phase images, limited by the pump beam spot size. © 2011 Optical Society of America

The Application of Coherent Local Time for Optical Time Transfer and the Quantification of Systematic Errors in Satellite Laser Ranging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreiber, K. Ulrich; Kodet, Jan

2018-02-01

Highly precise time and stable reference frequencies are fundamental requirements for space geodesy. Satellite laser ranging (SLR) is one of these techniques, which differs from all other applications like Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and finally Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) by the fact that it is an optical two-way measurement technique. That means that there is no need for a clock synchronization process between both ends of the distance covered by the measurement technique. Under the assumption of isotropy for the speed of light, SLR establishes the only practical realization of the Einstein Synchronization process so far. Therefore it is a powerful time transfer technique. However, in order to transfer time between two remote clocks, it is also necessary to tightly control all possible signal delays in the ranging process. This paper discusses the role of time and frequency in SLR as well as the error sources before it address the transfer of time between ground and space. The need of an improved signal delay control led to a major redesign of the local time and frequency distribution at the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell. Closure measurements can now be used to identify and remove systematic errors in SLR measurements.

Vibration-tolerant narrow-linewidth semiconductor disk laser using novel frequency-stabilisation schemes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunter, Craig R.; Jones, Brynmor E.; Schlosser, Peter; Sørensen, Simon Toft; Strain, Michael J.; McKnight, Loyd J.

2018-02-01

This paper will present developments in narrow-linewidth semiconductor-disk-laser systems using novel frequencystabilisation schemes for reduced sensitivity to mechanical vibrations, a critical requirement for mobile applications. Narrow-linewidth single-frequency lasers are required for a range of applications including metrology and highresolution spectroscopy. Stabilisation of the laser was achieved using a monolithic fibre-optic ring resonator with free spectral range of 181 MHz and finesse of 52 to act as passive reference cavity for the laser. Such a cavity can operate over a broad wavelength range and is immune to a wide band of vibrational frequency noise due to its monolithic implementation. The frequency noise of the locked system has been measured and compared to typical Fabry-Perotlocked lasers using vibration equipment to simulate harsh environments, and analysed here. Locked linewidths of < 40 kHz have been achieved. These developments offer a portable, narrow-linewidth laser system for harsh environments that can be flexibly designed for a range of applications.

Removing the depth-degeneracy in optical frequency domain imaging with frequency shifting

PubMed Central

Yun, S. H.; Tearney, G. J.; de Boer, J. F.; Bouma, B. E.

2009-01-01

A novel technique using an acousto-optic frequency shifter in optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is presented. The frequency shift eliminates the ambiguity between positive and negative differential delays, effectively doubling the interferometric ranging depth while avoiding image cross-talk. A signal processing algorithm is demonstrated to accommodate nonlinearity in the tuning slope of the wavelength-swept OFDI laser source. PMID:19484034

Experimental observation of optical Weyl points and Fermi arcs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rechtsman, Mikael

We directly observe the presence type-II Weyl points for optical photons in a three-dimensional dielectric structure comprising arrays of evanescently-coupled, single-mode, helical waveguides. We also observe the corresponding Fermi arc surface states emerging from Weyl points (despite the use of the `Fermi arc' terminology, we are referring to bosons rather than fermions). The Weyl points are manifested by the presence of conical diffraction at the Weyl frequency in the photonic band structure, and the Fermi arc states are manifested by the emergence of surface states as we scan in frequency past the Weyl point. We map the Weyl points to Dirac points of the isofrequency surface, and the Fermi arcs to chiral edge states of an anomalous Floquet insulator. In collaboration with: Jiho Noh, Sheng Huang, Daniel Leykam*, Y. D. Chong, Kevin Chen, and Mikael C. Rechtsman M.C.R. acknowledges the National Science Foundation under Award Number ECCS-1509546, the Penn State MRSEC, Center for Nanoscale Science, under Award Number NSF DMR-1420620, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation under fellowship number FG-2016-6418.

Coherent Detector for Near-Angle Scattering and Polarization Characterization of Telescope Mirror Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macenka, Steven A.; Chipman, Russell A.; Daugherty, Brian J.; McClain, Stephen C.

2012-01-01

A report discusses the difficulty of measuring scattering properties of coated mirrors extremely close to the specular reflection peak. A prototype Optical Hetero dyne Near-angle Scatterometer (OHNS) was developed. Light from a long-coherence-length (>150 m) 532-nm laser is split into two arms. Acousto-optic modulators frequency shift the sample and reference beams, establishing a fixed beat frequency between the beams. The sample beam is directed at very high f/# onto a mirror sample, and the point spread function (PSF) formed after the mirror sample is scanned with a pinhole. This light is recombined by a non-polarizing beam splitter and measured through heterodyne detection with a spectrum analyzer. Polarizers control the illuminated and analyzed polarization states, allowing the polarization dependent scatter to be measured. The bidirectional reflective or scattering distribution function is normally measured through use of a scattering goniometer instrument. The instrumental beam width (collection angle span) over which the scatterometer responds is typically many degrees. The OHNS enables measurement at angles as small as the first Airy disk diameter.

Fiber optic interferometer as a security element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nedoma, Jan; Zboril, Ondrej; Fajkus, Marcel; Cubik, Jakub; Zavodny, Petr; Novak, Martin; Bednarek, Lukas; Martinek, Radek; Vasinek, Vladimir

2016-04-01

Interferometric sensors can be categorized as highly sensitive and precise devices with series inconsiderable benefits from the possibility of using standard telecommunication fibers. They can be measured even small changes in the deformation of shapes in time, changes in temperature, pressure, voltage, vibration, electric field, etc. The basic idea, which is described in this article is the usage of the interferometer as a security and monitoring component, which offers a solution for securing of closed spaces, especially before unwanted entries. Its primary task is to detect intrusions - disrupting the integrity of the transparent window area due to vibration response. The base of the solution is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, which consists of two arms in the power distribution ratio of 1:1, consisting of the SM optical fiber excited by a DFB laser. The interferometer is working on the wavelength of 1550 nm. The resulting signal is registered as a result of interference of optical beams from the reference and sensor arm. Realized measuring scheme was terminated optical receiver comprising PbSe detector. Below described experimental measurements have shown that implemented interferometer has a sufficient value of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and is able to detect very weak signals in a wide frequency range from tens of Hz to kHz units. The signal was processed by applications developed for the amplitude-frequency spectrum. Evaluated was the maximum amplitude of the signal and compared to the noise. The results were verified by retesting the assembled prototype.

Measuring the frequency of a Sr optical lattice clock using a 120 km coherent optical transfer.

PubMed

Hong, F-L; Musha, M; Takamoto, M; Inaba, H; Yanagimachi, S; Takamizawa, A; Watabe, K; Ikegami, T; Imae, M; Fujii, Y; Amemiya, M; Nakagawa, K; Ueda, K; Katori, H

2009-03-01

We demonstrate a precision frequency measurement using a phase-stabilized 120 km optical fiber link over a physical distance of 50 km. The transition frequency of the (87)Sr optical lattice clock at the University of Tokyo is measured to be 429228004229874.1(2.4) Hz referenced to international atomic time. The results demonstrate the excellent functions of the intercity optical fiber link and the great potential of optical lattice clocks for use in the redefinition of the second.

Ultra-stable long distance optical frequency distribution using the Internet fiber network.

PubMed

Lopez, Olivier; Haboucha, Adil; Chanteau, Bruno; Chardonnet, Christian; Amy-Klein, Anne; Santarelli, Giorgio

2012-10-08

We report an optical link of 540 km for ultrastable frequency distribution over the Internet fiber network. The stable frequency optical signal is processed enabling uninterrupted propagation on both directions. The robustness and the performance of the link are enhanced by a cost effective fully automated optoelectronic station. This device is able to coherently regenerate the return optical signal with a heterodyne optical phase locking of a low noise laser diode. Moreover the incoming signal polarization variation are tracked and processed in order to maintain beat note amplitudes within the operation range. Stable fibered optical interferometer enables optical detection of the link round trip phase signal. The phase-noise compensated link shows a fractional frequency instability in 10 Hz bandwidth of 5 × 10(-15) at one second measurement time and 2 × 10(-19) at 30,000 s. This work is a significant step towards a sustainable wide area ultrastable optical frequency distribution and comparison network.

Extinction-ratio-independent electrical method for measuring chirp parameters of Mach-Zehnder modulators using frequency-shifted heterodyne.

PubMed

Zhang, Shangjian; Wang, Heng; Zou, Xinhai; Zhang, Yali; Lu, Rongguo; Liu, Yong

2015-06-15

An extinction-ratio-independent electrical method is proposed for measuring chirp parameters of Mach-Zehnder electric-optic intensity modulators based on frequency-shifted optical heterodyne. The method utilizes the electrical spectrum analysis of the heterodyne products between the intensity modulated optical signal and the frequency-shifted optical carrier, and achieves the intrinsic chirp parameters measurement at microwave region with high-frequency resolution and wide-frequency range for the Mach-Zehnder modulator with a finite extinction ratio. Moreover, the proposed method avoids calibrating the responsivity fluctuation of the photodiode in spite of the involved photodetection. Chirp parameters as a function of modulation frequency are experimentally measured and compared to those with the conventional optical spectrum analysis method. Our method enables an extinction-ratio-independent and calibration-free electrical measurement of Mach-Zehnder intensity modulators by using the high-resolution frequency-shifted heterodyne technique.

New prototype of acousto-optical radio-wave spectrometer with parallel frequency processing for astrophysical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbakov, Alexandre S.; Chavez Dagostino, Miguel; Arellanes, Adan O.; Aguirre Lopez, Arturo

2016-09-01

We develop a multi-band spectrometer with a few spatially parallel optical arms for the combined processing of their data flow. Such multi-band capability has various applications in astrophysical scenarios at different scales: from objects in the distant universe to planetary atmospheres in the Solar system. Each optical arm exhibits original performances to provide parallel multi-band observations with different scales simultaneously. Similar possibility is based on designing each optical arm individually via exploiting different materials for acousto-optical cells operating within various regimes, frequency ranges and light wavelengths from independent light sources. Individual beam shapers provide both the needed incident light polarization and the required apodization to increase the dynamic range of a system. After parallel acousto-optical processing, data flows are united by the joint CCD matrix on the stage of the combined electronic data processing. At the moment, the prototype combines still three bands, i.e. includes three spatial optical arms. The first low-frequency arm operates at the central frequencies 60-80 MHz with frequency bandwidth 40 MHz. The second arm is oriented to middle-frequencies 350-500 MHz with frequency bandwidth 200-300 MHz. The third arm is intended for ultra-high-frequency radio-wave signals about 1.0-1.5 GHz with frequency bandwidth <300 MHz. To-day, this spectrometer has the following preliminary performances. The first arm exhibits frequency resolution 20 KHz; while the second and third arms give the resolution 150-200 KHz. The numbers of resolvable spots are 1500- 2000 depending on the regime of operation. The fourth optical arm at the frequency range 3.5 GHz is currently under construction.

Radio frequency phototube and optical clock: High resolution, high rate and highly stable single photon timing technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Margaryan, Amur

2011-10-01

A new timing technique for single photons based on the radio frequency phototube and optical clock or femtosecond optical frequency comb generator is proposed. The technique has a 20 ps resolution for single photons, is capable of operating with MHz frequencies and achieving 10 fs instability level.

Precision Spectroscopy, Diode Lasers, and Optical Frequency Measurement Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollberg, Leo (Editor); Fox, Richard (Editor); Waltman, Steve (Editor); Robinson, Hugh

1998-01-01

This compilation is a selected set of reprints from the Optical Frequency Measurement Group of the Time and Frequency Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and consists of work published between 1987 and 1997. The two main programs represented here are (1) development of tunable diode-laser technology for scientific applications and precision measurements, and (2) research toward the goal of realizing optical-frequency measurements and synthesis. The papers are organized chronologically in five, somewhat arbitrarily chosen categories: Diode Laser Technology, Tunable Laser Systems, Laser Spectroscopy, Optical Synthesis and Extended Wavelength Coverage, and Multi-Photon Interactions and Optical Coherences.

Crosstalk mitigation using pilot assisted least square algorithm in OFDM-carrying orbital angular momentum multiplexed free-space-optical communication links.

PubMed

Sun, Tengfen; Liu, Minwen; Li, Yingchun; Wang, Min

2017-10-16

In this paper, we experimentally investigate the performance of crosstalk mitigation for 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (16QAM-OFDM) signals carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexed free-space-optical communication (FSO) links using the pilot assisted Least Square (LS) algorithm. At the demodulating spatial light modulators (SLMs), we launch the distorted phase holograms which have the information of atmospheric turbulence obeying the modified Hill spectrum. And crosstalk can be introduced by these holograms with the experimental verification. The pilot assisted LS algorithm can efficiently improve the quality of system performance, the points of constellations get closer to the reference points and around two orders of magnitude improvement of bit-error rate (BER) is obtained.

High-speed fiber-optic links for distribution of satellite traffic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daryoush, Afshin S.; Saedi, Reza; Ackerman, Edward; Kunath, Richard; Shalkhauser, Kurt

1990-01-01

Low-loss fiberoptic links are designed for distribution of data and the frequency reference in large-aperture phased-array antennas based on the transmit/receive-level data mixing architecture. In particular, design aspects of a fiberoptic link satisfying the distribution requirements of satellite data traffic are presented. The design is addressed in terms of reactively matched optical transmitter and receiver modules. Analog and digital characterization of a 50-m fiberoptic link realized using these modules indicates the applicability of this architecture as the only viable alternative for distribution of data signals inside a satellite at present. It is demonstrated that the design of a reactive matching modules enhances the link performance. A dynamic range of 88 dB/MHz was measured for analog data over a 500-1000-MHz bandwidth.

An improved random walk algorithm for the implicit Monte Carlo method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keady, Kendra P., E-mail: keadyk@lanl.gov; Cleveland, Mathew A.

In this work, we introduce a modified Implicit Monte Carlo (IMC) Random Walk (RW) algorithm, which increases simulation efficiency for multigroup radiative transfer problems with strongly frequency-dependent opacities. To date, the RW method has only been implemented in “fully-gray” form; that is, the multigroup IMC opacities are group-collapsed over the full frequency domain of the problem to obtain a gray diffusion problem for RW. This formulation works well for problems with large spatial cells and/or opacities that are weakly dependent on frequency; however, the efficiency of the RW method degrades when the spatial cells are thin or the opacities aremore » a strong function of frequency. To address this inefficiency, we introduce a RW frequency group cutoff in each spatial cell, which divides the frequency domain into optically thick and optically thin components. In the modified algorithm, opacities for the RW diffusion problem are obtained by group-collapsing IMC opacities below the frequency group cutoff. Particles with frequencies above the cutoff are transported via standard IMC, while particles below the cutoff are eligible for RW. This greatly increases the total number of RW steps taken per IMC time-step, which in turn improves the efficiency of the simulation. We refer to this new method as Partially-Gray Random Walk (PGRW). We present numerical results for several multigroup radiative transfer problems, which show that the PGRW method is significantly more efficient than standard RW for several problems of interest. In general, PGRW decreases runtimes by a factor of ∼2–4 compared to standard RW, and a factor of ∼3–6 compared to standard IMC. While PGRW is slower than frequency-dependent Discrete Diffusion Monte Carlo (DDMC), it is also easier to adapt to unstructured meshes and can be used in spatial cells where DDMC is not applicable. This suggests that it may be optimal to employ both DDMC and PGRW in a single simulation.« less

Development of calibration techniques for ultrasonic hydrophone probes in the frequency range from 1 to 100 MHz

PubMed Central

Umchid, S.; Gopinath, R.; Srinivasan, K.; Lewin, P. A.; Daryoush, A. S.; Bansal, L.; El-Sherif, M.

2009-01-01

The primary objective of this work was to develop and optimize the calibration techniques for ultrasonic hydrophone probes used in acoustic field measurements up to 100 MHz. A dependable, 100 MHz calibration method was necessary to examine the behavior of a sub-millimeter spatial resolution fiber optic (FO) sensor and assess the need for such a sensor as an alternative tool for high frequency characterization of ultrasound fields. Also, it was of interest to investigate the feasibility of using FO probes in high intensity fields such as those employed in HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) applications. In addition to the development and validation of a novel, 100 MHz calibration technique the innovative elements of this research include implementation and testing of a prototype FO sensor with an active diameter of about 10 μm that exhibits uniform sensitivity over the considered frequency range and does not require any spatial averaging corrections up to about 75 MHz. The results of the calibration measurements are presented and it is shown that the optimized calibration technique allows the sensitivity of the hydrophone probes to be determined as a virtually continuous function of frequency and is also well suited to verify the uniformity of the FO sensor frequency response. As anticipated, the overall uncertainty of the calibration was dependent on frequency and determined to be about ±12% (±1 dB) up to 40 MHz, ±20% (±1.5 dB) from 40 to 60 MHz and ±25% (±2 dB) from 60 to 100 MHz. The outcome of this research indicates that once fully developed and calibrated, the combined acousto-optic system will constitute a universal reference tool in the wide, 100 MHz bandwidth. PMID:19110289

Improved Gas Filling and Sealing of an HC-PCF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poberezhskiy, Ilya; Meras, Patrick; Chang, Daniel; Spiers, Gary

2008-01-01

An improved packaging approach has been devised for filling a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HC-PCF) with a gas, sealing the HC-PCF to retain the gas, and providing for optical connections and, optionally, a plumbing fitting for changing or augmenting the gas filling. Gas-filled HC-PCFs can be many meters long and have been found to be attractive as relatively compact, lightweight, rugged alternatives to conventional gas-filled glass cells for use as molecular-resonance frequency references for stabilization of lasers in some optical-metrology, lidar, optical-communication, and other advanced applications. Prior approaches to gas filling and sealing of HC-PCFs have involved, variously, omission of any attempt to connectorize the PCF, connectorization inside a vacuum chamber (an awkward and expensive process), or temporary exposure of one end of an HC-PCF to the atmosphere, potentially resulting in contamination of the gas filling. Prior approaches have also involved, variously, fusion splicing of HC-PCFs with other optical fibers or other termination techniques that give rise to Fresnel reflections of about 4 percent, which results in output intensity noise.

Optical Diagnostic System for Solar Sails: Phase 1 Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pappa, Richard S.; Blandino, Joseph R.; Caldwell, Douglas W.; Carroll, Joseph A.; Jenkins, Christopher H. M.; Pollock, Thomas C.

2004-01-01

NASA's In-Space Propulsion program recently selected AEC-ABLE Engineering and L'Garde, Inc. to develop scale-model solar sail hardware and demonstrate its functionality on the ground. Both are square sail designs with lightweight diagonal booms (<100 g/m) and ultra-thin membranes (<10 g/sq m). To support this technology, the authors are developing an integrated diagnostics instrumentation package for monitoring solar sail structures such as these in a near-term flight experiment. We refer to this activity as the "Optical Diagnostic System (ODS) for Solar Sails" project. The approach uses lightweight optics and photogrammetric techniques to measure solar sail membrane and boom shape and dynamics, thermography to map temperature, and non-optical sensors including MEMS accelerometers and load cells. The diagnostics package must measure key structural characteristics including deployment dynamics, sail support tension, boom and sail deflection, boom and sail natural frequencies, sail temperature, and sail integrity. This report summarizes work in the initial 6-month Phase I period (conceptual design phase) and complements the final presentation given in Huntsville, AL on January 14, 2004.

Single-ion, transportable optical atomic clocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delehaye, Marion; Lacroûte, Clément

2018-03-01

For the past 15 years, tremendous progress within the fields of laser stabilization, optical frequency combs and atom cooling and trapping have allowed the realization of optical atomic clocks with unrivaled performances. These instruments can perform frequency comparisons with fractional uncertainties well below ?, finding applications in fundamental physics tests, relativistic geodesy and time and frequency metrology. Even though most optical clocks are currently laboratory setups, several proposals for using these clocks for field measurements or within an optical clock network have been published, and most of time and frequency metrology institutes have started to develop transportable optical clocks. For the purpose of this special issue, we chose to focus on trapped-ion optical clocks. Even though their short-term fractional frequency stability is impaired by a lower signal-to-noise ratio, they offer a high potential for compactness: trapped ions demand low optical powers and simple loading schemes, and can be trapped in small vacuum chambers. We review recent advances on the clock key components, including ion trap and ultra-stable optical cavity, as well as existing projects and experiments which draw the picture of what future transportable, single-ion optical clocks may resemble.

Ultrafast dynamics and stabilization in chip-scale optical frequency combs (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Shu Wei

2017-02-01

Optical frequency comb technology has been the cornerstone for scientific breakthroughs such as precision frequency metrology, re-definition of time, extreme light-matter interaction, and attosecond sciences. Recently emerged Kerr-active microresonators are promising alternatives to the current benchmark femtosecond laser platform. These chip-scale frequency combs, or Kerr combs, are unique in their compact footprints and offer the potential for monolithic electronic and feedback integration, thereby expanding the already remarkable applications of optical frequency combs. In this talk, I will first report the generation and characterization of low-phase-noise Kerr frequency combs. Measurements of the Kerr comb ultrafast dynamics and phase noise will be presented and discussed. Then I will describe novel strategies to fully stabilize Kerr comb line frequencies towards chip-scale optical frequency synthesizers with a relative uncertainty better than 2.7×10-16. I will show that the unique generation physics of Kerr frequency comb can provide an intrinsic self-referenced access to the Kerr comb line frequencies. The strategy improves the optical frequency stability by more than two orders of magnitude, while preserving the Kerr comb's key advantage of low SWaP and potential for chip-scale electronic and photonic integration.

An auto-locked diode laser system for precision metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beica, H. C.; Carew, A.; Vorozcovs, A.; Dowling, P.; Pouliot, A.; Barron, B.; Kumarakrishnan, A.

2017-05-01

We present a unique external cavity diode laser system that can be auto-locked with reference to atomic and molecular spectra. The vacuum-sealed laser head design uses an interchangeable base-plate comprised of a laser diode and optical elements that can be selected for desired wavelength ranges. The feedback light to the laser diode is provided by a narrow-band interference filter, which can be tuned from outside the laser cavity to fineadjust the output wavelength in vacuum. To stabilize the laser frequency, the digital laser controller relies either on a pattern-matching algorithm stored in memory, or on first or third derivative feedback. We have used the laser systems to perform spectroscopic studies in rubidium at 780 nm, and in iodine at 633 nm. The linewidth of the 780-nm laser system was measured to be ˜500 kHz, and we present Allan deviation measurements of the beat note and the lock stability. Furthermore, we show that the laser system can be the basis for a new class of lidar transmitters in which a temperature-stabilized fiber-Bragg grating is used to generate frequency references for on-line points of the transmitter. We show that the fiber-Bragg grating spectra can be calibrated with reference to atomic transitions.

Rigorous coupled wave analysis of acousto-optics with relativistic considerations.

PubMed

Xia, Guoqiang; Zheng, Weijian; Lei, Zhenggang; Zhang, Ruolan

2015-09-01

A relativistic analysis of acousto-optics is presented, and a rigorous coupled wave analysis is generalized for the diffraction of the acousto-optical effect. An acoustic wave generates a grating with temporally and spatially modulated permittivity, hindering direct applications of the rigorous coupled wave analysis for the acousto-optical effect. In a reference frame which moves with the acoustic wave, the grating is static, the medium moves, and the coupled wave equations for the static grating may be derived. Floquet's theorem is then applied to cast these equations into an eigenproblem. Using a Lorentz transformation, the electromagnetic fields in the grating region are transformed to the lab frame where the medium is at rest, and relativistic Doppler frequency shifts are introduced into various diffraction orders. In the lab frame, the boundary conditions are considered and the diffraction efficiencies of various orders are determined. This method is rigorous and general, and the plane waves in the resulting expansion satisfy the dispersion relation of the medium and are propagation modes. Properties of various Bragg diffractions are results, rather than preconditions, of this method. Simulations of an acousto-optical tunable filter made by paratellurite, TeO(2), are given as examples.

Coherence-length-gated distributed optical fiber sensing based on microwave-photonic interferometry.

PubMed

Hua, Liwei; Song, Yang; Cheng, Baokai; Zhu, Wenge; Zhang, Qi; Xiao, Hai

2017-12-11

This paper presents a new optical fiber distributed sensing concept based on coherent microwave-photonics interferometry (CMPI), which uses a microwave modulated coherent light source to interrogate cascaded interferometers for distributed measurement. By scanning the microwave frequencies, the complex microwave spectrum is obtained and converted to time domain signals at known locations by complex Fourier transform. The amplitudes of these time domain pulses are a function of the optical path differences (OPDs) of the distributed interferometers. Cascaded fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining were used to demonstrate the concept. The experimental results indicated that the strain measurement resolution can be better than 0.6 µε using a FPI with a cavity length of 1.5 cm. Further improvement of the strain resolution to the nε level is achievable by increasing the cavity length of the FPI to over 1m. The tradeoff between the sensitivity and dynamic range was also analyzed in detail. To minimize the optical power instability (either from the light source or the fiber loss) induced errors, a single reflector was added in front of an individual FPI as an optical power reference for the purpose of compensation.

Low-cost, digital lock-in module with external reference for coating glass transmission/reflection spectrophotometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alonso, R.; Villuendas, F.; Borja, J.; Barragán, L. A.; Salinas, I.

2003-05-01

A versatile, low-cost, digital signal processor (DSP) based lock-in module with external reference is described. This module is used to implement an industrial spectrophotometer for measuring spectral transmission and reflection of automotive and architectonic coating glasses over the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared wavelength range. The light beams are modulated with an optical chopper. A digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) is used to lock the lock-in to the chop frequency. The lock-in rejects the ambient radiation and permits the spectrophotometer to work in the presence of ambient light. The algorithm that implements the dual lock-in and the DPLL in the DSP56002 evaluation module from Motorola is described. The use of a DSP allows implementation of the lock-in and DPLL by software, which gives flexibility and programmability to the system. Lock-in module cost, under 300 euro, is an important parameter taking into account that two modules are used in the system. Besides, the algorithms implemented in this DSP can be directly implemented in the latest DSP generations. The DPLL performance and the spectrophotometer are characterized. Capture and lock DPLL ranges have been measured and checked to be greater than the chop frequency drifts. The lock-in measured frequency response shows that the lock-in performs as theoretically predicted.

Research on a high-precision calibration method for tunable lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Na; Li, Zhengying; Gui, Xin; Wang, Fan; Hou, Yarong; Wang, Honghai

2018-03-01

Tunable lasers are widely used in the field of optical fiber sensing, but nonlinear tuning exists even for zero external disturbance and limits the accuracy of the demodulation. In this paper, a high-precision calibration method for tunable lasers is proposed. A comb filter is introduced and the real-time output wavelength and scanning rate of the laser are calibrated by linear fitting several time-frequency reference points obtained from it, while the beat signal generated by the auxiliary interferometer is interpolated and frequency multiplied to find more accurate zero crossing points, with these points being used as wavelength counters to resample the comb signal to correct the nonlinear effect, which ensures that the time-frequency reference points of the comb filter are linear. A stability experiment and a strain sensing experiment verify the calibration precision of this method. The experimental result shows that the stability and wavelength resolution of the FBG demodulation can reach 0.088 pm and 0.030 pm, respectively, using a tunable laser calibrated by the proposed method. We have also compared the demodulation accuracy in the presence or absence of the comb filter, with the result showing that the introduction of the comb filter results to a 15-fold wavelength resolution enhancement.

Low jitter RF distribution system

DOEpatents

Wilcox, Russell; Doolittle, Lawrence; Huang, Gang

2012-09-18

A timing signal distribution system includes an optical frequency stabilized laser signal amplitude modulated at an rf frequency. A transmitter box transmits a first portion of the laser signal and receive a modified optical signal, and outputs a second portion of the laser signal and a portion of the modified optical signal. A first optical fiber carries the first laser signal portion and the modified optical signal, and a second optical fiber carries the second portion of the laser signal and the returned modified optical signal. A receiver box receives the first laser signal portion, shifts the frequency of the first laser signal portion outputs the modified optical signal, and outputs an electrical signal on the basis of the laser signal. A detector at the end of the second optical fiber outputs a signal based on the modified optical signal. An optical delay sensing circuit outputs a data signal based on the detected modified optical signal. An rf phase detect and correct signal circuit outputs a signal corresponding to a phase stabilized rf signal based on the data signal and the frequency received from the receiver box.

Reference Standard Test and the Diagnostic Ability of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma.

PubMed

Rao, Harsha L; Yadav, Ravi K; Addepalli, Uday K; Begum, Viquar U; Senthil, Sirisha; Choudhari, Nikhil S; Garudadri, Chandra S

2015-08-01

To evaluate the relationship between the reference standard used to diagnose glaucoma and the diagnostic ability of spectral domain optical coherence tomograph (SDOCT). In a cross-sectional study, 280 eyes of 175 consecutive subjects, referred to a tertiary eye care center for glaucoma evaluation, underwent optic disc photography, visual field (VF) examination, and SDOCT examination. The cohort was divided into glaucoma and control groups based on 3 reference standards for glaucoma diagnosis: first based on the optic disc classification (179 glaucoma and 101 control eyes), second on VF classification (glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits and pattern SD with P-value of <5%, 130 glaucoma and 150 control eyes), and third on the presence of both glaucomatous optic disc and glaucomatous VF (125 glaucoma and 155 control eyes). Relationship between the reference standards and the diagnostic parameters of SDOCT were evaluated using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and sensitivities of most of the SDOCT parameters obtained with the 3 reference standards (ranging from 0.74 to 0.88 and 72% to 88%, respectively) were comparable (P>0.05). However, specificities of SDOCT parameters were significantly greater (P<0.05) with optic disc classification as reference standard (74% to 88%) compared with VF classification as reference standard (57% to 74%). Diagnostic parameters of SDOCT that was significantly affected by reference standard was the specificity, which was greater with optic disc classification as the reference standard. This has to be considered when comparing the diagnostic ability of SDOCT across studies.

Broadband photonic single sideband frequency up-converter based on the cross polarization modulation effect in a semiconductor optical amplifier for radio-over-fiber systems.

PubMed

Lee, Seung-Hun; Kim, Hyoung-Jun; Song, Jong-In

2014-01-13

A broadband photonic single sideband (SSB) frequency up-converter based on the cross polarization modulation (XPolM) effect in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. An optical radio frequency (RF) signal in the form of an optical single sideband (OSSB) is generated by the photonic SSB frequency up-converter to solve the power fading problem caused by fiber chromatic dispersion. The generated OSSB RF signal has almost identical optical carrier power and optical sideband power. This SSB frequency up-conversion scheme shows an almost flat electrical RF power response as a function of the RF frequency in a range from 31 GHz to 75 GHz after 40 km single mode fiber (SMF) transmission. The photonic SSB frequency up-conversion technique shows negligible phase noise degradation. The phase noise of the up-converted RF signal at 49 GHz for an offset of 10 kHz is -93.17 dBc/Hz. Linearity analysis shows that the photonic SSB frequency up-converter has a spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) value of 79.51 dB · Hz(2/3).

Submillimeter-Wave Phasor Beam-Pattern Measurement Based on Two-Stage Heterodyne Mixing With Unitary Harmonic Difference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Yuh-Jing; Rao, Ramprasad; Christensen, Rob; Chen, Ming-Tang; Chu, Tah-Hsiung

2007-06-01

A near-field phasor beam measurement system is developed for the characterization of heterodyne receiver optics at submillimeter-wave frequencies. The system synthesizes a pair of submillimeter-wave signals as the RF and local oscillator (LO) sources from common reference sources. The synthesized harmonic numbers of the RF and LO sources are arranged with difference by one, which makes this a new configuration with a unitary harmonic difference. The coherent RF and LO signal are down-converted by the receiver under test, then mixed with the microwave-frequency common reference signal to generate the second-order IF signal around 100 MHz for amplitude and phase comparison. The amplitude and phase fluctuation of the measurement system at 683 GHz is within +-0.2 dB and +-4deg in a 1-h period, respectively. The system dynamic range at 683 and 250 GHz can be as high as 43 and 47 dB, respectively. The system is then used to measure the receiver beam patterns at 683 and 250 GHz with different RF transmitting probe antennas.

Other Types Of LCDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Shunsuke; Mochizuki, Akihiro

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * TUNABLE BIREFRINGENCE LCDs * Nematic Device with Homogeneous Alignment * Nematic Device with Homeotropic Alignment * ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED BIREFRINGENCE EFFECT LCDs WITH A COMPENSATING CELL OR POLYMER LAYERS * Super Homeotropic LCDs * Black and White STN LCDs * Optical mode interference * Guest-host mode * Double-layered STN * Retardation film compensated STN * DUAL FREQUENCY ADDRESSING LCDs * Application for DSM LCDs * Application for TN LCDs * PI-CELL * CHOLESTERIC-NEMATIC PHASE CHANGE LCDs * Storage Mode LCDs * Stabilized Hysteresis Mode LCDs * THERMALLY ADDRESSED LCDs (CHOLESTERIC) * BISTABLE LCD * WIDE VIEWING ANGLE TN LCDs USING RETARDATION SHEETS * Type 1 Cells * Type 2 Cells * REFERENCES

Optical air data systems and methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caldwell, Loren M. (Inventor); Tang, Shoou-Yu (Inventor); O'Brien, Martin J. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method for remotely sensing air outside a moving aircraft includes generating laser radiation within a swept frequency range. A portion of the laser radiation is projected from the aircraft into the air to induce scattered laser radiation. Filtered scattered laser radiation, filtered laser radiation, and unfiltered laser radiation are detected. At least one actual ratio is determined from data corresponding to the filtered scattered laser radiation and the unfiltered laser radiation. One or more air parameters are determined by correlating the actual ratio to at least one reference ratio.

Optical air data systems and methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caldwell, Loren M. (Inventor); O'Brien, Martin J. (Inventor); Tang, Shoou-Yu (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A method for remotely sensing air outside a moving aircraft includes generating laser radiation within a swept frequency range. A portion of the laser radiation is projected from the aircraft into the air to induce scattered laser radiation. Filtered scattered laser radiation, filtered laser radiation, and unfiltered laser radiation are detected. At least one actual ratio is determined from data corresponding to the filtered scattered laser radiation and the unfiltered laser radiation. One or more air parameters are determined by correlating the actual ratio to at least one reference ratio.

Wideband spectrum analysis of ultra-high frequency radio-wave signals due to advanced one-phonon non-collinear anomalous light scattering.

PubMed

Shcherbakov, Alexandre S; Arellanes, Adan Omar

2017-04-20

We present a principally new acousto-optical cell providing an advanced wideband spectrum analysis of ultra-high frequency radio-wave signals. For the first time, we apply a recently developed approach with the tilt angle to a one-phonon non-collinear anomalous light scattering. In contrast to earlier cases, now one can exploit a regime with the fixed optical wavelength for processing a great number of acoustic frequencies simultaneously in the linear regime. The chosen rutile-crystal combines a moderate acoustic velocity with low acoustic attenuation and allows us wide-band data processing within GHz-frequency acoustic waves. We have created and experimentally tested a 6-cm aperture rutile-made acousto-optical cell providing the central frequency 2.0 GHz, frequency bandwidth ∼0.52  GHz with the frequency resolution about 68.3 kHz, and ∼7620 resolvable spots. A similar cell permits designing an advanced ultra-high-frequency arm within a recently developed multi-band radio-wave acousto-optical spectrometer for astrophysical studies. This spectrometer is intended to operate with a few parallel optical arms for processing the multi-frequency data flows within astrophysical observations. Keeping all the instrument's advantages of the previous schematic arrangement, now one can create the highest-frequency arm using the developed rutile-based acousto-optical cell. It permits optimizing the performances inherent in that arm via regulation of both the central frequency and the frequency bandwidth for spectrum analysis.

Optical frequency upconversion technique for transmission of wireless MIMO-type signals over optical fiber.

PubMed

Shaddad, R Q; Mohammad, A B; Al-Gailani, S A; Al-Hetar, A M

2014-01-01

The optical fiber is well adapted to pass multiple wireless signals having different carrier frequencies by using radio-over-fiber (ROF) technique. However, multiple wireless signals which have the same carrier frequency cannot propagate over a single optical fiber, such as wireless multi-input multi-output (MIMO) signals feeding multiple antennas in the fiber wireless (FiWi) system. A novel optical frequency upconversion (OFU) technique is proposed to solve this problem. In this paper, the novel OFU approach is used to transmit three wireless MIMO signals over a 20 km standard single mode fiber (SMF). The OFU technique exploits one optical source to produce multiple wavelengths by delivering it to a LiNbO3 external optical modulator. The wireless MIMO signals are then modulated by LiNbO3 optical intensity modulators separately using the generated optical carriers from the OFU process. These modulators use the optical single-sideband with carrier (OSSB+C) modulation scheme to optimize the system performance against the fiber dispersion effect. Each wireless MIMO signal is with a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz carrier frequency, 1 Gb/s data rate, and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The crosstalk between the wireless MIMO signals is highly suppressed, since each wireless MIMO signal is carried on a specific optical wavelength.

Comparing Optical Oscillators across the Air to Milliradians in Phase and 10^{-17} in Frequency.

PubMed

Sinclair, Laura C; Bergeron, Hugo; Swann, William C; Baumann, Esther; Deschênes, Jean-Daniel; Newbury, Nathan R

2018-02-02

We demonstrate carrier-phase optical two-way time-frequency transfer (carrier-phase OTWTFT) through the two-way exchange of frequency comb pulses. Carrier-phase OTWTFT achieves frequency comparisons with a residual instability of 1.2×10^{-17} at 1 s across a turbulent 4-km free space link, surpassing previous OTWTFT by 10-20 times and enabling future high-precision optical clock networks. Furthermore, by exploiting the carrier phase, this approach is able to continuously track changes in the relative optical phase of distant optical oscillators to 9 mrad (7 as) at 1 s averaging, effectively extending optical phase coherence over a broad spatial network for applications such as correlated spectroscopy between distant atomic clocks.

Reconfigurable optical-to-optical frequency conversion method and apparatus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zortman, William A.; Lentine, Anthony L.

A photonic device is provided for impressing a modulation pattern on an optical carrier. The device includes a unit in which a photodetector and an optical microresonator are monolithically integrated. The device further includes an optical waveguide evanescently coupled to the optical microresonator and having at least an upstream portion configured to carry at least one optical carrier toward the microresonator. The optical microresonator is tunable so as to resonate with the optical carrier frequency. The optical microresonator and the photodetector are mutually coupled such that in operation, charge carriers photogenerated in the photodetector are injected into the microresonator, wheremore » the photocurrent changes the resonant conditions. In some embodiments the device is operable as an optical-to-optical frequency converter. In other embodiments the device is operable as an oscillator.« less

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Medecki, H.

1998-11-10

Disclosed is a point diffraction interferometer for evaluating the quality of a test optic. In operation, the point diffraction interferometer includes a source of radiation, the test optic, a beam divider, a reference wave pinhole located at an image plane downstream from the test optic, and a detector for detecting an interference pattern produced between a reference wave emitted by the pinhole and a test wave emitted from the test optic. The beam divider produces separate reference and test beams which focus at different laterally separated positions on the image plane. The reference wave pinhole is placed at a region of high intensity (e.g., the focal point) for the reference beam. This allows reference wave to be produced at a relatively high intensity. Also, the beam divider may include elements for phase shifting one or both of the reference and test beams. 8 figs.

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Medecki, Hector

1998-01-01

Disclosed is a point diffraction interferometer for evaluating the quality of a test optic. In operation, the point diffraction interferometer includes a source of radiation, the test optic, a beam divider, a reference wave pinhole located at an image plane downstream from the test optic, and a detector for detecting an interference pattern produced between a reference wave emitted by the pinhole and a test wave emitted from the test optic. The beam divider produces separate reference and test beams which focus at different laterally separated positions on the image plane. The reference wave pinhole is placed at a region of high intensity (e.g., the focal point) for the reference beam. This allows reference wave to be produced at a relatively high intensity. Also, the beam divider may include elements for phase shifting one or both of the reference and test beams.

Nonlinear Dynamics of Photonics for Optical Signal Processing - Optical Frequency Conversion and Optical DSB-to-SSB Conversion

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-17

the literature, such as mode-locked lasers, optoelectronic oscillators , and laser optical heterodyne, our scheme is (1) up to 100 times better in... Optoelectronic oscillator : This scheme generates microwaves that are tunable only within a few gigahertz and that are stable with a linewidth down to 1 Hz... oscillation frequency, which can be easily adjusted by changing the power and frequency of the optical input. Tens to hundreds of GHz or even THz of

System and Method for Generating a Frequency Modulated Linear Laser Waveform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierrottet, Diego F. (Inventor); Petway, Larry B. (Inventor); Amzajerdian, Farzin (Inventor); Barnes, Bruce W. (Inventor); Lockard, George E. (Inventor); Hines, Glenn D. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A system for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform includes a single frequency laser generator to produce a laser output signal. An electro-optical modulator modulates the frequency of the laser output signal to define a linear triangular waveform. An optical circulator passes the linear triangular waveform to a band-pass optical filter to filter out harmonic frequencies created in the waveform during modulation of the laser output signal, to define a pure filtered modulated waveform having a very narrow bandwidth. The optical circulator receives the pure filtered modulated laser waveform and transmits the modulated laser waveform to a target.

System and Method for Generating a Frequency Modulated Linear Laser Waveform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierrottet, Diego F. (Inventor); Petway, Larry B. (Inventor); Amzajerdian, Farzin (Inventor); Barnes, Bruce W. (Inventor); Lockard, George E. (Inventor); Hines, Glenn D. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A system for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform includes a single frequency laser generator to produce a laser output signal. An electro-optical modulator modulates the frequency of the laser output signal to define a linear triangular waveform. An optical circulator passes the linear triangular waveform to a band-pass optical filter to filter out harmonic frequencies created in the waveform during modulation of the laser output signal, to define a pure filtered modulated waveform having a very narrow bandwidth. The optical circulator receives the pure filtered modulated laser waveform and transmits the modulated laser waveform to a target.

Frequency Standards and Metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleki, Lute

2009-04-01

Preface / Lute Maleki -- Symposium history / Jacques Vanier -- Symposium photos -- pt. I. Fundamental physics. Variation of fundamental constants from the big bang to atomic clocks: theory and observations (Invited) / V. V. Flambaum and J. C. Berengut. Alpha-dot or not: comparison of two single atom optical clocks (Invited) / T. Rosenband ... [et al.]. Variation of the fine-structure constant and laser cooling of atomic dysprosium (Invited) / N. A. Leefer ... [et al.]. Measurement of short range forces using cold atoms (Invited) / F. Pereira Dos Santos ... [et al.]. Atom interferometry experiments in fundamental physics (Invited) / S. W. Chiow ... [et al.]. Space science applications of frequency standards and metrology (Invited) / M. Tinto -- pt. II. Frequency & metrology. Quantum metrology with lattice-confined ultracold Sr atoms (Invited) / A. D. Ludlow ... [et al.]. LNE-SYRTE clock ensemble: new [symbol]Rb hyperfine frequency measurement - spectroscopy of [symbol]Hg optical clock transition (Invited) / M. Petersen ... [et al.]. Precise measurements of S-wave scattering phase shifts with a juggling atomic clock (Invited) / S. Gensemer ... [et al.]. Absolute frequency measurement of the [symbol] clock transition (Invited) / M. Chwalla ... [et al.]. The semiclassical stochastic-field/atom interaction problem (Invited) / J. Camparo. Phase and frequency noise metrology (Invited) / E. Rubiola ... [et al.]. Optical spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen for an improved determination of the Rydberg constant / J. L. Flowers ... [et al.] -- pt. III. Clock applications in space. Recent progress on the ACES mission (Invited) / L. Cacciapuoti and C. Salomon. The SAGAS mission (Invited) / P. Wolf. Small mercury microwave ion clock for navigation and radioScience (Invited) / J. D. Prestage ... [et al.]. Astro-comb: revolutionizing precision spectroscopy in astrophysics (Invited) / C. E. Kramer ... [et al.]. High frequency very long baseline interferometry: frequency standards and imaging an event horizon (Invited) / S. Doeleman. Optically-pumped space cesium clock for Galileo: results of the breadboard / R. Ruffieux ... [et al.] -- pt. IV. Optical clocks I: lattice clocks. Optical lattice clock: seven years of progress and next steps (Invited) / H. Katori, M. Takamoto and T. Akatsuka. The Yb optical lattice clock (Invited) / N. D. Demke ... [et al.]. Optical Lattice clock with Sr atoms (Invited) / P. G. Westergaard ... [et al.]. Development of an optical clock based on neutral strontium atoms held in a lattice trap / E. A. Curtis ... [et al.]. Decoherence and losses by collisions in a [symbol]Sr lattice clock / J. S. R. Vellore Winfred ... [et al.]. Lattice Yb optical clock and cryogenic Cs fountain at INRIM / F. Levi ... [et al.] -- pt. V. Optical clocks II: ion clocks. [Symbol]Yb+ single-ion optical frequency standards (Invited) / Chr. Tamm ... [et al.]. An optical clock based on a single trapped [symbol]Sr+ ion (Invited) / H. S. Margolis ... [et al.]. A trapped [symbol]Yb+ ion optical frequency standard based on the [symbol] transition (Invited) / P. Gill ... [et al.]. Overview of highly accurate RF and optical frequency standards at the National Research Council of Canada (Invited) / A. A. Madej ... [et al.] -- pt. VI. Optical frequency combs. Extreme ultraviolet frequency combs for spectroscopy (Invited) / A. Ozawa ... [et al.]. Development of an optical clockwork for the single trapped strontium ion standard at 445 THz / J. E. Bernard ... [et al.]. A phase-coherent link between the visible and infrared spectral ranges using a combination of CW OPO and femtosecond laser frequency comb / E. V. Kovalchuk and A. Peters. Improvements to the robustness of a TI: sapphire-based femtosecond comb at NPL / V. Tsatourian ... [et al.] -- pt. VII. Atomic microwave standards. NIST FI and F2 (Invited) / T. P. Heavner ... [et al.]. Atomic fountains for the USNO master clock (Invited) / C. Ekstrom ... [et al.]. The transportable cesium fountain clock NIM5: its construction and performance (Invited) / T. Li ... [et al.].Compensated multi-pole mercury trapped ion frequency standard and stability evaluation of systematic effects (Invited) / E. A. Burt ... [et al.]. Research of frequency standards in SIOM - atomic frequency standards based on coherent storage (Invited) / B. Yan ... [et al.]. The PTB fountain clock ensemble preliminary characterization of the new fountain CSF2 / N. Nemitz ... [et al.]. The pulsed optically pumped clock: microwave and optical detection / S. Micalizio ... [et al.]. Research on characteristics of pulsed optically pumped rubidium frequency standard / J. Deng ... [et al.]. Status of the continuous cold fountain clocks at METAS-LTF / A. Joyet ... [et al.]. Experiments with a new [symbol]Hg+ ion clock / E. A. Burt ... [et al.]. Optimising a high-stability CW laser-pumped rubidium gas-cell frequency standard / C. Affolderbach ... [et al.]. Raman-Ramsey Cs cell atomic clock / R. Boudot ... [et al.] -- pt. VIII. Microwave resonators & oscillators. Solutions and ultimate limits in temperature compensation of metallic cylindrical microwave resonators (Invited) / A. De Marchi. Cryogenic sapphire oscillators (Invited) / J. G. Hartnett, E. N. Ivanov and M. E. Tobar. Ultra-stable optical cavity: design and experiments / J. Millo ... [et al.]. New results for whispering gallery mode cryogenic sapphire maser oscillators / K. Benmessai ... [et al.] -- pt. IX. Advanced techniques. Fundamental noise-limited optical phase locking at Femtowatt light levels (Invited) / J. Dick ... [et al.]. Microwave and optical frequency transfer via optical fibre / G. Marra ... [et al.]. Ultra-stable laser source for the [symbol]Sr+ single-ion optical frequency standard at NRC / P. Dubé, A. A. Madej and J. E. Bernard. Clock laser system for a strontium lattice clock / T. Legero ... [et al.]. Measurement noise floor for a long-distance optical carrier transmission via fiber / G. Grosche ... [et al.]. Optical frequency transfer over 172 KM of installed fiber / S. Crane -- pt. X. Miniature systems. Chip-scale atomic devices: precision atomic instruments based on MEMS (Invited) / J. Kitching ... [et al.]. CSAC - the chip-scale atomic clock (Invited) / R. Lutwak ... [et al.]. Reaching a few 10[symbol] stability level with a compact cold atom clock / F. X. Esnault ... [et al.]. Evaluation of Lin||Lin CPT for compact and high performance frequency standard / E. Breschi ... [et al.] -- pt. XI. Time scales. Atomic time scales TAI and TI(BIPM): present status and prospects (Invited) / G. Petit. Weight functions for biases in atomic frequency standards / J. H. Shirley -- pt. XII. Interferometers. Definition and construction of noise budget in atom interferometry (Invited) / E. D'Ambriosio. Characterization of a cold atom gyroscope (Invited) / A. Landragin ... [et al.]. A mobile atom interferometer for high precision measurements of local gravity / M. Schmidt ... [et al.]. Demonstration of atom interferometer comprised of geometric beam splitters / Hiromitsu Imai and Atsuo Morinaga -- pt. XIII. New directions. Active optical clocks (Invited) / J. Chen. Prospects for a nuclear optical frequency standard based on Thorium-229 (Invited) / E. Peik ... [et al.]. Whispering gallery mode oscillators and optical comb generators (Invited) / A. B. Matsko ... [et al.]. Frequency comparison using energy-time entangled photons / A. Stefanov -- List of participants.

Precise Stabilization of the Optical Frequency of WGMRs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Savchenkov, Anatoliy; Matsko, Andrey; Matsko, Andrey; Yu, Nan; Maleki, Lute; Iltchenko, Vladimir

2009-01-01

Crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators (CWGMRs) made of crystals with axial symmetry have ordinary and extraordinary families of optical modes. These modes have substantially different thermo-refractive constants. This results in a very sharp dependence of differential detuning of optical frequency on effective temperature. This frequency difference compared with clock gives an error signal for precise compensation of the random fluctuations of optical frequency. Certain crystals, like MgF2, have turnover points where the thermo-refractive effect is completely nullified. An advantage for applications using WGMRs for frequency stabilization is in the possibility of manufacturing resonators out of practically any optically transparent crystal. It is known that there are crystals with negative and zero thermal expansion at some specific temperatures. Doping changes properties of the crystals and it is possible to create an optically transparent crystal with zero thermal expansion at room temperature. With this innovation s stabilization technique, the resultant WGMR will have absolute frequency stability The expansion of the resonator s body can be completely compensated for by nonlinear elements. This results in compensation of linear thermal expansion (see figure). In three-mode, the MgF2 resonator, if tuned at the turnover thermal point, can compensate for all types of random thermal-related frequency drift. Simplified dual-mode method is also available. This creates miniature optical resonators with good short- and long-term stability for passive secondary frequency ethalon and an active resonator for active secondary frequency standard (a narrowband laser with long-term stability).

Atom Interferometry: A Matter Wave Clock and a Measurement of α

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estey, Brian; Lan, Shau-Yu; Kuan, Pei-Chen; Hohensee, Michael; Haslinger, Philipp; Kehayias, Pauli; English, Damon; Müller, Holger

2012-06-01

Developments in large-momentum transfer beamsplitters (eg. Bragg diffraction) and conjugate Ramsey-Bord'e interferometers have enabled atom interferometers with unparalleled size and sensitivity. The atomic wave packet separation is large enough that the Coriolis force due to the earth's rotation reduces interferometer contrast. We compensate for this effect using a tip-tilt mirror, improving our contrast by up to a factor of 3.5, allowing pulse separations of up to 250 ms with 10k beamsplitters. This interferometer can be used to make a precise measurement of the recoil frequency (h/m) and thus the fine structure constant. The interferometer also gives us indirect access to the Compton frequency (νC≡mc^2/h) oscillations of the matter wave, since h/m is simply c^2/νC. Using an optical frequency comb we reference the interferometer's laser frequency to a multiple of a cesium atom's recoil frequency. This self-referenced interferometer thus locks a local oscillator to a specified fraction of the cesium Compton frequency, with a fractional stability of 2 pbb over several hours. This has potential application in redefining the kilogram in terms of the second. We also present a preliminary measurement of the fine structure constant.

Measurement of a free spectral range of a Fabry-Perot cavity using frequency modulation and null method under off-resonance conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aketagawa, Masato; Kimura, Shohei; Yashiki, Takuya; Iwata, Hiroshi; Banh, Tuan Quoc; Hirata, Kenji

2011-02-01

In this paper, we discuss a method to measure the free spectral range (FSR) of a Fabry-Perot cavity (FP-cavity) using frequency modulation with one electric optical modulator (EOM) and the null method. A laser beam modulated by the EOM, to which a sine wave signal is supplied from a radio frequency (RF) oscillator, is incident on the FP-cavity. The transmitted or reflected light from the FP-cavity is observed and converted to an RF signal by a high-speed photodetector, and the RF signal is synchronously demodulated with a lock-in amplifier by referring to a cosine wave signal from the oscillator. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that the lock-in amplifier signal for the transmitted or reflected light becomes null with a steep slope when the modulation frequency is equal to the FSR under the condition that the carrier frequency of the laser is slightly detuned from the resonance of the FP-cavity. To reduce the measurement uncertainty for the FSR, we also discuss a selection method for laser power, a modulation index and the detuning shift of the carrier frequency, respectively.

A hybrid single-end-access MZI and Φ-OTDR vibration sensing system with high frequency response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yixin; Xia, Lan; Cao, Chunqi; Sun, Zhenhong; Li, Yanting; Zhang, Xuping

2017-01-01

A hybrid single-end-access Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and phase sensitive OTDR (Φ-OTDR) vibration sensing system is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. In our system, the narrow optical pulses and the continuous wave are injected into the fiber through the front end of the fiber at the same time. And at the rear end of the fiber, a frequency-shift-mirror (FSM) is designed to back propagate the continuous wave modulated by the external vibration. Thus the Rayleigh backscattering signals (RBS) and the back propagated continuous wave interfere with the reference light at the same end of the sensing fiber and a single-end-access configuration is achieved. The RBS can be successfully separated from the interference signal (IS) through digital signal process due to their different intermediate frequency based on frequency division multiplexing technique. There is no influence between these two schemes. The experimental results show 10 m spatial resolution and up to 1.2 MHz frequency response along a 6.35 km long fiber. This newly designed single-end-access setup can achieve vibration events locating and high frequency events response, which can be widely used in health monitoring for civil infrastructures and transportation.

Coherent optical modulation for antenna remoting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fitzmartin, D. J.; Gels, R. G.; Balboni, E. J.

1991-01-01

A coherent fiber optic link employing wideband frequency modulation (FM) of the optical carrier is used to transfer radio frequency (RF) or microwave signals. This system is used to link a remotely located antenna to a conveniently located electronics processing site. The advantages of coherent analog fiber optic systems over non-coherent intensity modulated fiber optic analog transmission systems are described. An optical FM link employing an indirect transmitter to frequency modulate the optical carrier and a microwave delay line discriminator receiver is described. Measured performance data for a video signal centered at 60 MHz is presented showing the use of wideband FM in the link.

Carrier-phase control among subharmonic pulses in a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Y; Torizuka, K

2001-08-15

We have generated femtosecond subharmonic pulses by using an optical parametric oscillator. The optical frequencies of the idler and the signal are one third and two thirds, respectively, of the optical frequency of the pump pulse. The carrier phase of the signal pulse relative to that of the pump pulse was locked by electronic feedback. The carrier-envelope phase slip frequency of the signal pulse relative to that of the pump was locked to F/6 , where F is defined as the repetition frequency.

Optical-frequency transfer over a single-span 1840 km fiber link.

PubMed

Droste, S; Ozimek, F; Udem, Th; Predehl, K; Hänsch, T W; Schnatz, H; Grosche, G; Holzwarth, R

2013-09-13

To compare the increasing number of optical frequency standards, highly stable optical signals have to be transferred over continental distances. We demonstrate optical-frequency transfer over a 1840-km underground optical fiber link using a single-span stabilization. The low inherent noise introduced by the fiber allows us to reach short term instabilities expressed as the modified Allan deviation of 2×10(-15) for a gate time τ of 1 s reaching 4×10(-19) in just 100 s. We find no systematic offset between the sent and transferred frequencies within the statistical uncertainty of about 3×10(-19). The spectral noise distribution of our fiber link at low Fourier frequencies leads to a τ(-2) slope in the modified Allan deviation, which is also derived theoretically.

Study on the characteristic and application of DFB semiconductor lasers under optical injection for microwave photonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pu, Tao; Wang, Wei wei

2018-01-01

In order to apply optical injection effect in Microwave Photonics system, The red-shift effect of the cavity mode of the DFB semiconductor laser under single-frequency optical injection is studied experimentally, and the red-shift curve of the cavity mode is measured. The wavelength-selective amplification property of the DFB semiconductor laser under multi-frequency optical injection is also investigated, and the gain curves for the injected signals in different injection ratios are measured in the experiment. A novel and simple structure to implement a single-passband MPF with wideband tunability based on the wavelength-selective amplification of a DFB semiconductor laser under optical injection is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. MPFs with center frequency tuned from 13 to 41 GHz are realized in the experiment. A wideband and frequency-tunable optoelectronic oscillator based on a directly modulated distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser under optical injection is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By optical injection, the relaxation oscillation frequency of the DFB laser is enhanced and its high modulation efficiency makes the loop oscillate without the necessary of the electrical filter. An experiment is performed; microwave signals with frequency tuned from 5.98 to 15.22 GHz are generated by adjusting the injection ratio and frequency detuning between the master and slave lasers.

A hybrid active/passive exhaust noise control system for locomotives.

PubMed

Remington, Paul J; Knight, J Scott; Hanna, Doug; Rowley, Craig

2005-01-01

A prototype hybrid system consisting of active and passive components for controlling far-field locomotive exhaust noise has been designed, assembled, and tested on a locomotive. The system consisted of a resistive passive silencer for controlling high-frequency broadband noise and a feedforward multiple-input, multiple-output active control system for suppressing low-frequency tonal noise. The active system used ten roof-mounted bandpass speaker enclosures with 2-12-in. speakers per enclosure as actuators, eight roof-mounted electret microphones as residual sensors, and an optical tachometer that sensed locomotive engine speed as a reference sensor. The system was installed on a passenger locomotive and tested in an operating rail yard. Details of the system are described and the near-field and far-field noise reductions are compared against the design goal.

A linearly frequency-swept high-speed-rate multi-wavelength laser for optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qiyu; Wang, Zhaoying; Yuan, Quan; Ma, Rui; Du, Tao; Yang, Tianxin

2017-02-01

We proposed and demonstrated a linearly frequency-swept multi-wavelength laser source for optical coherence tomography (OCT) eliminating the need of wavenumber space resampling in the postprocessing progress. The source consists of a multi-wavelength fiber laser source (MFS) and an optical sweeping loop. In this novel laser source, an equally spaced multi-wavelength laser is swept simultaneously by a certain step each time in the frequency domain in the optical sweeping loop. The sweeping step is determined by radio frequency (RF) signal which can be precisely controlled. Thus the sweeping behavior strictly maintains a linear relationship between time and frequency. We experimentally achieved linear time-frequency sweeping at a sweeping rate of 400 kHz with our laser source.

Fiber-optic delay-line stabilization of heterodyne optical signal generator and method using same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Logan, Ronald T. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

The present invention is a laser heterodyne frequency generator system with a stabilizer for use in the microwave and millimeter-wave frequency ranges utilizing a photonic mixer as a photonic phase detector in a stable optical fiber delay-line. Phase and frequency fluctuations of the heterodyne laser signal generators are stabilized at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies by a delay line system operating as a frequency discriminator. The present invention is free from amplifier and mixer 1/.function. noise at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies that typically limit phase noise performance in electronic cavity stabilized electronic oscillators. Thus, 1/.function. noise due to conventional mixers is eliminated and stable optical heterodyne generation of electrical signals is achieved.

Development of traceable measurement of the diffuse optical properties of solid reference standards for biomedical optics at National Institute of Standards and Technology.

PubMed

Lemaillet, Paul; Bouchard, Jean-Pierre; Allen, David W

2015-07-01

The development of a national reference instrument dedicated to the measurement of the scattering and absorption properties of solid tissue-mimicking phantoms used as reference standards is presented. The optical properties of the phantoms are measured with a double-integrating sphere setup in the steady-state domain, coupled with an inversion routine of the adding-doubling procedure that allows for the computation of the uncertainty budget for the measurements. The results are compared to the phantom manufacturer's values obtained by a time-resolved approach. The results suggest that the agreement between these two independent methods is within the estimated uncertainties. This new reference instrument will provide optical biomedical research laboratories with reference values for absolute diffuse optical properties of phantom materials.

An optical fiber Bragg grating and piezoelectric ceramic voltage sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Qing; He, Yanxiao; Sun, Shangpeng; Luo, Mandan; Han, Rui

2017-10-01

Voltage measurement is essential in many fields like power grids, telecommunications, metallurgy, railways, and oil production. A voltage-sensing unit, consisting of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and piezoelectric ceramics, based on which an optical over-voltage sensor was proposed and fabricated in this paper. No demodulation devices like spectrometer or Fabry-Perot filter were needed to gain the voltage signal, and a relatively large sensing frequency range was acquired in this paper; thus, the cost of the sensing system is more acceptable in engineering application. The voltage to be measured was directly applied to the piezoelectric ceramic, and deformation of the ceramics and the grating would be caused because of the inverse piezoelectric effect. With a reference grating, the output light intensity change will be caused by the FBG center wavelength change; thus, the relationship between the applied voltage and the output light intensity was established. Validation of the sensor was accomplished in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 20 kHz and switching impulse waves with a test platform; good linearity of the input-output characteristic was achieved. A temperature validation test was completed, showing that the sensor maintains good temperature stability. Experimental results show that the optical over-voltage sensor can be used for voltage monitoring, and if applied with a voltage divider, the sensor can be used to measure high voltage.

An optical fiber Bragg grating and piezoelectric ceramic voltage sensor.

PubMed

Yang, Qing; He, Yanxiao; Sun, Shangpeng; Luo, Mandan; Han, Rui

2017-10-01

Voltage measurement is essential in many fields like power grids, telecommunications, metallurgy, railways, and oil production. A voltage-sensing unit, consisting of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and piezoelectric ceramics, based on which an optical over-voltage sensor was proposed and fabricated in this paper. No demodulation devices like spectrometer or Fabry-Perot filter were needed to gain the voltage signal, and a relatively large sensing frequency range was acquired in this paper; thus, the cost of the sensing system is more acceptable in engineering application. The voltage to be measured was directly applied to the piezoelectric ceramic, and deformation of the ceramics and the grating would be caused because of the inverse piezoelectric effect. With a reference grating, the output light intensity change will be caused by the FBG center wavelength change; thus, the relationship between the applied voltage and the output light intensity was established. Validation of the sensor was accomplished in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 20 kHz and switching impulse waves with a test platform; good linearity of the input-output characteristic was achieved. A temperature validation test was completed, showing that the sensor maintains good temperature stability. Experimental results show that the optical over-voltage sensor can be used for voltage monitoring, and if applied with a voltage divider, the sensor can be used to measure high voltage.

A programmable optical few wavelength source for flexgrid optical networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imran, M.; Fresi, F.; Meloni, G.; Bhowmik, B. B.; Sambo, N.; Potì, L.

2016-07-01

Multi-wavelength (MW) sources will probably replace discrete lasers or laser arrays in next generation multi-carrier transponders (e.g., 1 Tb/s), currently called multi-flow transponders or sliceable bandwidth variable transponders (SBVTs). We present design and experimental demonstration of a few wavelength (FW) source suitable for SBVTs in a flexgrid scenario. We refer to FW instead of MW since for an SBVT just few subcarriers are required (e.g., eight). The proposed FW source does not require optical filtering for subcarrier modulation. The design exploits frequency shifting in IQ modulators by using single side band suppressed carrier modulation. A reasonable number of lines can be provided depending on the chosen architecture, tunable in the whole C-band. The scheme is also capable of providing symmetric (equally spaced) and asymmetric subcarrier spacing arbitrarily tunable from 6.25 GHz to 37.5 GHz. The control on the number of subcarriers (increase/decrease depending on line rate) provides flexibility to the SBVT, being the spacing dependent on transmission parameters such as line rate or modulation format. Transmission performance has been tested and compared with an array of standard lasers considering a 480 Gb/s transmission for different carrier spacing. Additionally, an integrable solution based on complementary frequency shifter is also presented to improve scalability and costs. The impact on transceiver techno-economics and network performance is also discussed.

Microwave Oscillators Based on Nonlinear WGM Resonators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maleki, Lute; Matsko, Andrey; Savchenkov, Anatoliy; Strekalov, Dmitry

2006-01-01

Optical oscillators that exploit resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing in nonlinear whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonators are under investigation for potential utility as low-power, ultra-miniature sources of stable, spectrally pure microwave signals. There are numerous potential uses for such oscillators in radar systems, communication systems, and scientific instrumentation. The resonator in an oscillator of this type is made of a crystalline material that exhibits cubic Kerr nonlinearity, which supports the four-photon parametric process also known as four-wave mixing. The oscillator can be characterized as all-optical in the sense that the entire process of generation of the microwave signal takes place within the WGM resonator. The resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing yields coherent, phase-modulated optical signals at frequencies governed by the resonator structure. The frequency of the phase-modulation signal, which is in the microwave range, equals the difference between the frequencies of the optical signals; hence, this frequency is also governed by the resonator structure. Hence, further, the microwave signal is stable and can be used as a reference signal. The figure schematically depicts the apparatus used in a proof-of-principle experiment. Linearly polarized pump light was generated by an yttrium aluminum garnet laser at a wavelength of 1.32 microns. By use of a 90:10 fiber-optic splitter and optical fibers, some of the laser light was sent into a delay line and some was transmitted to one face of glass coupling prism, that, in turn, coupled the laser light into a crystalline CaF2 WGM disk resonator that had a resonance quality factor (Q) of 6x10(exp 9). The output light of the resonator was collected via another face of the coupling prism and a single-mode optical fiber, which transmitted the light to a 50:50 fiber-optic splitter. One output of this splitter was sent to a slow photodiode to obtain a DC signal for locking the laser to a particular resonator mode. The other output of this splitter was combined with the delayed laser signal in another 50:50 fiber-optic splitter used as a combiner. The output.of the combiner was fed to a fast photodiode that demodulated light and generated microwave signal. In this optical configuration, the resonator was incorporated into one arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, which was necessary for the following reasons: It was found that when the output of the resonator was sent directly to a fast photodiode, the output of the photodiode did not include a measurable microwave signal. However, when the resonator was placed in an arm of the interferometer and the delay in the other arm was set at the correct value, the microwave signal appeared. Such behavior is distinctly characteristic of phase-modulated light. The phase-modulation signal had a frequency of about 8 GHz, corresponding to the free spectral range of the resonator. The spectral width of this microwave signal was less than 200 Hz. The threshold pump power for generating the microwave signal was about 1 mW. It would be possible to reduce the threshold power by several orders of magnitude if resonators could be made from crystalline materials in dimensions comparable to those of micro-resonators heretofore made from fused silica.

High-Energy, Multi-Octave-Spanning Mid-IR Sources via Adiabatic Difference Frequency Generation

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-17

plan. We have evaluated a brand -new concept in nonlinear optics, adiabatic difference frequency generation (ADFG) for the efficient transfer of...achieved the main goals of our research plan. We have evaluated a brand -new concept in nonlinear optics, adiabatic difference frequency generation (ADFG...research plan. We have evaluated a brand -new concept in nonlinear optics, adiabatic difference frequency generation (ADFG) for the efficient transfer of

The high frequency characteristics of laser reflection and visible light during solid state disk laser welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Xiangdong; You, Deyong; Katayama, Seiji

2015-07-01

Optical properties are related to weld quality during laser welding. Visible light radiation generated from optical-induced plasma and laser reflection is considered a key element reflecting weld quality. An in-depth analysis of the high-frequency component of optical signals is conducted. A combination of a photoelectric sensor and an optical filter helped to obtain visible light reflection and laser reflection in the welding process. Two groups of optical signals were sampled at a high sampling rate (250 kHz) using an oscilloscope. Frequencies in the ranges 1-10 kHz and 10-125 kHz were investigated respectively. Experimental results showed that there was an obvious correlation between the high-frequency signal and the laser power, while the high-frequency signal was not sensitive to changes in welding speed. In particular, when the defocus position was changed, only a high frequency of the visible light signal was observed, while the high frequency of the laser reflection signal remained unchanged. The basic correlation between optical features and welding status during the laser welding process is specified, which helps to provide a new research focus for investigating the stability of welding status.

Simultaneous parametric generation and up-conversion of entangled optical images

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saygin, M. Yu., E-mail: mihasyu@gmail.com; Chirkin, A. S., E-mail: aschirkin@rambler.r

A quantum theory of parametric amplification and frequency conversion of an optical image in coupled nonlinear optical processes that include one parametric amplification process at high-frequency pumping and two up-conversion processes in the same pump field is developed. The field momentum operator that takes into account the diffraction and group velocities of the waves is used to derive the quantum equations related to the spatial dynamics of the images during the interaction. An optical scheme for the amplification and conversion of a close image is considered. The mean photon number density and signal-to-noise ratio are calculated in the fixed-pump-field approximationmore » for images at various frequencies. It has been established that the signal-to-noise ratio decreases with increasing interaction length in the amplified image and increases in the images at the generated frequencies, tending to asymptotic values for all interacting waves. The variance of the difference of the numbers of photons is calculated for various pairs of frequencies. The quantum entanglement of the optical images formed in a high-frequency pump field is shown to be converted to higher frequencies during the generation of sum frequencies. Thus, two pairs of entangled optical images are produced in the process considered.« less

SPECIAL ISSUE ON OPTICAL PROCESSING OF INFORMATION: Multistability in an acousto-optical system with a frequency feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balakshiĭ, V. I.; Kazar'yan, A. Y.; Lee, A. A.

1995-10-01

An investigation was made of an acousto-optical system with hybrid feedback used to control the frequency of ultrasonic waves excited in an acousto-optical cell. An amplitude transparency, placed in front of a photodetector, ensured a nonlinear dependence of the intensity of the diffracted radiation reaching the detector on the ultrasound frequency. Conditions were found under which this nonlinearity gave rise to multistable states differing in respect of the amplitude, frequency, and direction of propagation of the diffracted beam. An analysis was made of various uses of such a system as an optical channel switch and in stabilisation of the direction of propagation of a light beam.

Optical Frequency Upconversion Technique for Transmission of Wireless MIMO-Type Signals over Optical Fiber

PubMed Central

Shaddad, R. Q.; Mohammad, A. B.; Al-Gailani, S. A.; Al-Hetar, A. M.

2014-01-01

The optical fiber is well adapted to pass multiple wireless signals having different carrier frequencies by using radio-over-fiber (ROF) technique. However, multiple wireless signals which have the same carrier frequency cannot propagate over a single optical fiber, such as wireless multi-input multi-output (MIMO) signals feeding multiple antennas in the fiber wireless (FiWi) system. A novel optical frequency upconversion (OFU) technique is proposed to solve this problem. In this paper, the novel OFU approach is used to transmit three wireless MIMO signals over a 20 km standard single mode fiber (SMF). The OFU technique exploits one optical source to produce multiple wavelengths by delivering it to a LiNbO3 external optical modulator. The wireless MIMO signals are then modulated by LiNbO3 optical intensity modulators separately using the generated optical carriers from the OFU process. These modulators use the optical single-sideband with carrier (OSSB+C) modulation scheme to optimize the system performance against the fiber dispersion effect. Each wireless MIMO signal is with a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz carrier frequency, 1 Gb/s data rate, and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The crosstalk between the wireless MIMO signals is highly suppressed, since each wireless MIMO signal is carried on a specific optical wavelength. PMID:24772009

Measurement of optical-beat frequency in a photoconductive terahertz-wave generator using microwave higher harmonics.

PubMed

Murasawa, Kengo; Sato, Koki; Hidaka, Takehiko

2011-05-01

A new method for measuring optical-beat frequencies in the terahertz (THz) region using microwave higher harmonics is presented. A microwave signal was applied to the antenna gap of a photoconductive (PC) device emitting a continuous electromagnetic wave at about 1 THz by the photomixing technique. The microwave higher harmonics with THz frequencies are generated in the PC device owing to the nonlinearity of the biased photoconductance, which is briefly described in this article. Thirteen nearly periodic peaks in the photocurrent were observed when the microwave was swept from 16 to 20 GHz at a power of -48 dBm. The nearly periodic peaks are generated by the homodyne detection of the optical beat with the microwave higher harmonics when the frequency of the harmonics coincides with the optical-beat frequency. Each peak frequency and its peak width were determined by fitting a Gaussian function, and the order of microwave harmonics was determined using a coarse (i.e., lower resolution) measurement of the optical-beat frequency. By applying the Kalman algorithm to the peak frequencies of the higher harmonics and their standard deviations, the optical-beat frequency near 1 THz was estimated to be 1029.81 GHz with the standard deviation of 0.82 GHz. The proposed method is applicable to a conventional THz-wave generator with a photomixer.

In vitro optical quality of monofocal aspheric toric intraocular lenses: effect of cylindrical power.

PubMed

Ferrer-Blasco, Teresa; Domínguez-Vicent, Alberto; García-Lázaro, Santiago; Diez, María Amparo; Alfonso, José F; Esteve-Taboada, José J

2018-06-01

To assess the in vitro optical quality of monofocal aspheric toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) as a function of the cylindrical power. The in vitro optical quality of the AcrySof IQ Toric IOLs SN6AT2, SN6AT3, SN6AT4, SN6AT5 and SN6AT6 (Alcon Laboratories Inc., Forth Worth, TX, USA) was assessed with an instrument conceived for measuring Zernike's coefficients at 3.0- and 5.0-mm apertures. As a reference, the aspheric monofocal lens AcrySof IQ Aspheric SN60WF (Alcon Laboratories Inc., Forth Worth, TX, USA) was also measured. The area of visibility and cut-off frequency were used to describe the modulation transfer function (MTF) of each lens; meanwhile, the light in the bucket and the diameter of a circular area centred on the point-spread function (PSF) peak that captures 50% of the light energy were used to describe the PSF of each lens. Finally, an image simulation was computed from the Zernike values with reference purposes. Small differences were found on the metrics used for describing the MTF and PSF of the lenses at both tested apertures, but these were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the image simulation showed that these differences would not have clinical relevance at all. The optical performance of the AcrySof IQ toric IOLs in terms of MTF and PSF is good and seems to be independent of the cylindrical power and similar to a non-toric aspheric lens.

Multiple frequency optical mixer and demultiplexer and apparatus for remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Jeffrey R. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A pulsed laser system includes a modulator module configured to provide pulsed electrical signals and a plurality of solid-state seed sources coupled to the modulator module and configured to operate, responsive to the pulsed electrical signals, in a pulse mode. Each of the plurality of solid-state seed sources is tuned to a different frequency channel separated from any adjacent frequency channel by a frequency offset. The pulsed laser system also includes a combiner that combines outputs from each of the solid state seed sources into a single optical path and an optical doubler and demultiplexer coupled to the single optical path and providing each doubled seed frequency on a separate output path.

Optical parametric amplification and oscillation assisted by low-frequency stimulated emission.

PubMed

Longhi, Stefano

2016-04-15

Optical parametric amplification and oscillation provide powerful tools for coherent light generation in spectral regions inaccessible to lasers. Parametric gain is based on a frequency down-conversion process and, thus, it cannot be realized for signal waves at a frequency ω3 higher than the frequency of the pump wave ω1. In this Letter, we suggest a route toward the realization of upconversion optical parametric amplification and oscillation, i.e., amplification of the signal wave by a coherent pump wave of lower frequency, assisted by stimulated emission of the auxiliary idler wave. When the signal field is resonated in an optical cavity, parametric oscillation is obtained. Design parameters for the observation of upconversion optical parametric oscillation at λ3=465 nm are given for a periodically poled lithium-niobate (PPLN) crystal doped with Nd(3+) ions.

Intermode Breather Solitons in Optical Microresonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Hairun; Lucas, Erwan; Pfeiffer, Martin H. P.; Karpov, Maxim; Anderson, Miles; Liu, Junqiu; Geiselmann, Michael; Jost, John D.; Kippenberg, Tobias J.

2017-10-01

Dissipative solitons can be found in a variety of systems resulting from the double balance between dispersion and nonlinearity, as well as gain and loss. Recently, they have been observed to spontaneously form in Kerr nonlinear microresonators driven by a continuous wave laser, providing a compact source of coherent optical frequency combs. As optical microresonators are commonly multimode, intermode interactions, which give rise to avoided mode crossings, frequently occur and can alter the soliton properties. Recent works have shown that avoided mode crossings cause the soliton to acquire a single-mode dispersive wave, a recoil in the spectrum, or lead to soliton decay. Here, we show that avoided mode crossings can also trigger the formation of breather solitons, solitons that undergo a periodic evolution in their amplitude and duration. This new breather soliton, referred to as an intermode breather soliton, occurs within a laser detuning range where conventionally stationary (i.e., stable) dissipative Kerr solitons are expected. We experimentally demonstrate the phenomenon in two microresonator platforms (crystalline magnesium fluoride and photonic chip-based silicon nitride microresonators) and theoretically describe the dynamics based on a pair of coupled Lugiato-Lefever equations. We show that the breathing is associated with a periodic energy exchange between the soliton and a second optical mode family, a behavior that can be modeled by a response function acting on dissipative solitons described by the Lugiato-Lefever model. The observation of breathing dynamics in the conventionally stable soliton regime is relevant to applications in metrology such as low-noise microwave generation, frequency synthesis, or spectroscopy.

Visualization of frequency-modulated electric field based on photonic frequency tracking in asynchronous electro-optic measurement system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hisatake, Shintaro; Yamaguchi, Koki; Uchida, Hirohisa; Tojyo, Makoto; Oikawa, Yoichi; Miyaji, Kunio; Nagatsuma, Tadao

2018-04-01

We propose a new asynchronous measurement system to visualize the amplitude and phase distribution of a frequency-modulated electromagnetic wave. The system consists of three parts: a nonpolarimetric electro-optic frequency down-conversion part, a phase-noise-canceling part, and a frequency-tracking part. The photonic local oscillator signal generated by electro-optic phase modulation is controlled to track the frequency of the radio frequency (RF) signal to significantly enhance the measurable RF bandwidth. We demonstrate amplitude and phase measurement of a quasi-millimeter-wave frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal (24 GHz ± 80 MHz with a 2.5 ms period) as a proof-of-concept experiment.

An efficient optimization method to improve the measuring accuracy of oxygen saturation by using triangular wave optical signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Gang; Yu, Yue; Zhang, Cui; Lin, Ling

2017-09-01

The oxygen saturation is one of the important parameters to evaluate human health. This paper presents an efficient optimization method that can improve the accuracy of oxygen saturation measurement, which employs an optical frequency division triangular wave signal as the excitation signal to obtain dynamic spectrum and calculate oxygen saturation. In comparison to the traditional method measured RMSE (root mean square error) of SpO2 which is 0.1705, this proposed method significantly reduced the measured RMSE which is 0.0965. It is notable that the accuracy of oxygen saturation measurement has been improved significantly. The method can simplify the circuit and bring down the demand of elements. Furthermore, it has a great reference value on improving the signal to noise ratio of other physiological signals.

A Magnifying Glass for Virtual Imaging of Subwavelength Resolution by Transformation Optics.

PubMed

Sun, Fei; Guo, Shuwei; Liu, Yichao; He, Sailing

2018-06-14

Traditional magnifying glasses can give magnified virtual images with diffraction-limited resolution, that is, detailed information is lost. Here, a novel magnifying glass by transformation optics, referred to as a "superresolution magnifying glass" (SMG) is designed, which can produce magnified virtual images with a predetermined magnification factor and resolve subwavelength details (i.e., light sources with subwavelength distances can be resolved). Based on theoretical calculations and reductions, a metallic plate structure to produce the reduced SMG in microwave frequencies, which gives good performance verified by both numerical simulations and experimental results, is proposed and realized. The function of SMG is to create a superresolution virtual image, unlike traditional superresolution imaging devices that create real images. The proposed SMG will create a new branch of superresolution imaging technology. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Coherent radio-frequency detection for narrowband direct comb spectroscopy.

PubMed

Anstie, James D; Perrella, Christopher; Light, Philip S; Luiten, Andre N

2016-02-22

We demonstrate a scheme for coherent narrowband direct optical frequency comb spectroscopy. An extended cavity diode laser is injection locked to a single mode of an optical frequency comb, frequency shifted, and used as a local oscillator to optically down-mix the interrogating comb on a fast photodetector. The high spectral coherence of the injection lock generates a microwave frequency comb at the output of the photodiode with very narrow features, enabling spectral information to be further down-mixed to RF frequencies, allowing optical transmittance and phase to be obtained using electronics commonly found in the lab. We demonstrate two methods for achieving this step: a serial mode-by-mode approach and a parallel dual-comb approach, with the Cs D1 transition at 894 nm as a test case.

Nonlinear and non-Hermitian optical systems applied to the development of filters and optical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaro de Faria Júnior, A. C.

2015-09-01

In this work we present a method of investigation of nonlinear optical beams generated from non-Hermitian optical systems1 . This method can be applied in the development of optical filters and optical sensors to process, analyze and choose the passband of the propagation modes of an optical pulse from an non-Hermitian optical system. Non-Hermitian optical systems can be used to develop optical fiber sensors that suppress certain propagation modes of optical pulses that eventually behave as quantum noise. Such systems are described by the Nonlinear Schrödinger-like Equation with Parity-Time (PT) Symmetric Optical Potentials. There are optical fiber sensors that due to high laser intensity and frequency can produce quantum noise, such as Raman and Brillouin scattering. However, the optical fiber, for example, can be designed so that its geometry suppress certain propagation modes of the beam. We apply some results of non- Hermitian optical systems with PT symmetry to simulate optical lattice by a appropriate potential function, which among other applications, can naturally suppress certain propagation modes of an optical beam propagating through a waveguide. In other words, the optical system is modeled by a potential function in the Nonlinear Schrödinger-like Equation that one relates with the geometric aspects of the wave guides and with the optical beam interacting with the waveguide material. The paper is organized as follows: sections 1 and 2 present a brief description about nonlinear optical systems and non-Hermitian optical systems with PT symmetry. Section 3 presents a description of the dynamics of nonlinear optical pulses propagating through optical networks described by a optical potential non-Hermitian. Sections 4 and 5 present a general description of this non-Hermitian optical systems and how to get them from a more general model. Section 6 presents some conclusions and comment and the final section presents the references. Begin the abstract two lines below author names and addresses.

Connection Between the ICRF and the Dynamical Reference Frame for the Outer Planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

da Silva Neto, D. N.; Assafin, M.; Andrei, A. H.; Vieira Martins, R.

2005-01-01

This work brings an approach intending to improve the connection between the Dynamical Reference Frame and the Extragalactic Reference Frame. For that, close encounters of outer Solar System objects and quasars are used. With this goal, Uranus, Neptune and two quasars were observed at Laborat´orio Nacional de Astrof´ısica (LNA), Brazil. The optical reference frame is the HCRF, as given by the UCAC2 catalogue. The first results show an accuracy of 45 mas - 50 mas in the optical positions. The optical minus radio offsets give the local orientation between the catalogue and radio frame. From this, it is possible to place the optical planet coordinates on the extragalactic frame. A comparison between the new corrected optical coordinates and the respective DE ephemeris to these planets can give the instant orientations of the Dynamical Reference Frame with regard to the ICRS, for this zone of outer Solar System.

EDITORIAL: Award for Patrick Gill

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hauptmann, Peter

2007-12-01

On behalf of the journal I would like to congratulate Professor Patrick Gill, a long-serving member of the Editorial Board for Measurement Science and Technology, who has been awarded the prestigious Institute of Physics Young medal and prize for world-leading contributions to optical frequency metrology. He is recognized as the UK leader in the quest for very accurate optical clocks. Professor Gill's work is concerned with the development of cold trapped ion systems as optical frequency standards with potential for future redefinition of the SI second, and the frequency metrology needed to relate optical and microwave standards to high accuracy. Interested readers may wish to read a short review of the wider state-of-the-art development of single cold trapped ion frequency standards, coupled with a more detailed account of results achieved at the National Physical Laboratory, written by Professor Gill and co-workers from NPL: ''Trapped ion optical frequency standards'' by P Gill, G P Barwood, H A Klein, G Huang, S A Webster, P J Blythe, K Hosaka, S N Lea and H S Margolis 2003 Meas. Sci. Technol. 14 (8) 1174-86 He was one of the very early developers of the frequency comb idea, and in 2004 he led an experiment where the femtosecond laser frequency comb measured the prototype optical clock frequency, based on a strontium-ion optical transition, with accuracy close to the capability of the best caesium microwave clocks. Once again I congratulate Professor Gill and wish him every success for his future work.

Coherent Frequency Shifter, Optical Isolator, Lasers on an Integrated Platform for Cold Atom Microsystems

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-11

power operation of optical frequency shifter; (7) a new design and theoretical analysis of frequency shifter with larger electro-optical coefficients...integrated laser. 15. SUBJECT TERMS coherent frequency shifter, optical isolation, integrated photonics, 780nm laser design and fabrication 16...coefficient (r33 and r42) ………………………………………………………………… 20 II.3. 780 nm Laser design , fabrication, and testing based on AlGaAs/GaAs Multiple Quantum Wells

Measuring THz QCL feedback using an integrated monolithic transceiver.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wanke, Michael Clement

2010-08-01

THz quantum cascade lasers are of interest for use as solid-state local-oscillators in THz heterodyne receiver systems, especially for frequencies exceeding 2 THz and for use with non-cryogenic mixers which require mW power levels. Among other criteria, to be a good local oscillator, the laser must have a narrow linewidth and excellent frequency stability. Recent phase locking measurements of THz QCLs to high harmonics of microwave frequency reference sources as high as 2.7 THz demonstrate that the linewidth and frequency stability of QCLs can be more than adequate. Most reported THz receivers employing QCLs have used discrete source and detectormore » components coupled via mechanically aligned free-space quasioptics. Unfortunately, retroreflections of the laser off of the detecting element can lead to deleterious feedback effects. Using a monolithically integrated transceiver with a Schottky diode monolithically integrated into a THz QCL, we have begun to explore the sensitivity of the laser performance to feedback due to retroreflections of the THz laser radiation. The transceiver allows us to monitor the beat frequency between internal Fabry-Perot modes of the QCL or between a QCL mode and external radiation incident on the transceiver. When some of the power from a free running Fabry-Perot type QCL is retroreflected with quasi-static optics we observe frequency pulling, mode splitting and chaos. Given the lack of calibrated frequency sources with sufficient stability and power to phase lock a QCL above a couple THz, attempts have been made to lock the absolute laser frequency by locking the beat frequency of a multimoded laser. We have phase locked the beat frequency between Fabry-Perot modes to an {approx}13 GHz microwave reference source with a linewidth less than 1 Hz, but did not see any improvment in stability of the absolute frequency of the laser. In this case, when some laser power is retroreflected back into the laser, the absolute frequency can be pulled significantly as a function of the external path length.« less

Design of frequency-encoded data-based optical master-slave-JK flip-flop using polarization switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandal, Sumana; Mandal, Dhoumendra; Mandal, Mrinal Kanti; Garai, Sisir Kumar

2017-06-01

An optical data processing and communication system provides enormous potential bandwidth and a very high processing speed, and it can fulfill the demands of the present generation. For an optical computing system, several data processing units that work in the optical domain are essential. Memory elements are undoubtedly essential to storing any information. Optical flip-flops can store one bit of optical information. From these flip-flop registers, counters can be developed. Here, the authors proposed an optical master-slave (MS)-JK flip-flop with the help of two-input and three-input optical NAND gates. Optical NAND gates have been developed using semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). The nonlinear polarization switching property of an SOA has been exploited here, and it acts as a polarization switch in the proposed scheme. A frequency encoding technique is adopted for representing data. A specific frequency of an optical signal represents a binary data bit. This technique of data representation is helpful because frequency is the fundamental property of a signal, and it remains unaltered during reflection, refraction, absorption, etc. throughout the data propagation. The simulated results enhance the admissibility of the scheme.

Optical Vector Near-Field Imaging for the Design of Impedance Matched Optical Antennas and Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olmon, Robert L.

Antennas control and confine electromagnetic energy, transforming free-space propagating modes to localized regions. This is not only true for the traditional classical radio antenna, but also for structures that interact resonantly at frequencies throughout the visible regime, that are on the micro- and nanometer size scales. The investigation of these optical antennas has increased dramatically in recent years. They promise to bring the transformative capabilities of radio antennas to the nanoscale in fields such as plasmonics, photonics, spectroscopy, and microscopy. However, designing optical antennas with desired properties is not straightforward due to different material properties and geometric considerations in the optical regime compared to the RF. New antenna characterization tools and techniques must be developed for the optical frequency range. Here, the optical analogue of the vector network analyzer, based on a scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope, is described and demonstrated for the investigation of the electric and magnetic properties of optical antennas through their electromagnetic vector near-field. Specifically, bringing this microwave frequency tool to the optical regime enables the study of antenna resonant length scaling, optical frequency electromagnetic parameters including current density and impedance, optical antenna coupling to waveguides and nanoloads, local electric field enhancement, and electromagnetic duality of complementary optical antenna geometries.

Phase-locking and coherent power combining of broadband linearly chirped optical waves.

PubMed

Satyan, Naresh; Vasilyev, Arseny; Rakuljic, George; White, Jeffrey O; Yariv, Amnon

2012-11-05

We propose, analyze and demonstrate the optoelectronic phase-locking of optical waves whose frequencies are chirped continuously and rapidly with time. The optical waves are derived from a common optoelectronic swept-frequency laser based on a semiconductor laser in a negative feedback loop, with a precisely linear frequency chirp of 400 GHz in 2 ms. In contrast to monochromatic waves, a differential delay between two linearly chirped optical waves results in a mutual frequency difference, and an acoustooptic frequency shifter is therefore used to phase-lock the two waves. We demonstrate and characterize homodyne and heterodyne optical phase-locked loops with rapidly chirped waves, and show the ability to precisely control the phase of the chirped optical waveform using a digital electronic oscillator. A loop bandwidth of ~ 60 kHz, and a residual phase error variance of < 0.01 rad(2) between the chirped waves is obtained. Further, we demonstrate the simultaneous phase-locking of two optical paths to a common master waveform, and the ability to electronically control the resultant two-element optical phased array. The results of this work enable coherent power combining of high-power fiber amplifiers-where a rapidly chirping seed laser reduces stimulated Brillouin scattering-and electronic beam steering of chirped optical waves.

Automatic Alignment of Displacement-Measuring Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halverson, Peter; Regehr, Martin; Spero, Robert; Alvarez-Salazar, Oscar; Loya, Frank; Logan, Jennifer

2006-01-01

A control system strives to maintain the correct alignment of a laser beam in an interferometer dedicated to measuring the displacement or distance between two fiducial corner-cube reflectors. The correct alignment of the laser beam is parallel to the line between the corner points of the corner-cube reflectors: Any deviation from parallelism changes the length of the optical path between the reflectors, thereby introducing a displacement or distance measurement error. On the basis of the geometrical optics of corner-cube reflectors, the length of the optical path can be shown to be L = L(sub 0)cos theta, where L(sub 0) is the distance between the corner points and theta is the misalignment angle. Therefore, the measurement error is given by DeltaL = L(sub 0)(cos theta - 1). In the usual case in which the misalignment is small, this error can be approximated as DeltaL approximately equal to -L(sub 0)theta sup 2/2. The control system (see figure) is implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. The control system includes three piezoelectric actuators for rapid, fine adjustment of the direction of the laser beam. The voltages applied to the piezoelectric actuators include components designed to scan the beam in a circular pattern so that the beam traces out a narrow cone (60 microradians wide in the initial application) about the direction in which it is nominally aimed. This scan is performed at a frequency (2.5 Hz in the initial application) well below the resonance frequency of any vibration of the interferometer. The laser beam makes a round trip to both corner-cube reflectors and then interferes with the launched beam. The interference is detected on a photodiode. The length of the optical path is measured by a heterodyne technique: A 100- kHz frequency shift between the launched beam and a reference beam imposes, on the detected signal, an interferometric phase shift proportional to the length of the optical path. A phase meter comprising analog filters and specialized digital circuitry converts the phase shift to an indication of displacement, generating a digital signal proportional to the path length.

Off-axis illumination direct-to-digital holography

DOEpatents

Thomas, Clarence E.; Price, Jeffery R.; Voelkl, Edgar; Hanson, Gregory R.

2004-06-08

Systems and methods are described for off-axis illumination direct-to-digital holography. A method of recording an off-axis illuminated spatially heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis, includes: reflecting a reference beam from a reference mirror at a non-normal angle; reflecting an object beam from an object at an angle with respect to an optical axis defined by a focusing lens; focusing the reference beam and the object beam at a focal plane of a digital recorder to form the off-axis illuminated spatially heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis; digitally recording the off-axis illuminated spatially heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis; Fourier analyzing the recorded off-axis illuminated spatially heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes by transforming axes of the recorded off-axis illuminated spatially heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes in Fourier space to sit on top of a heterodyne carrier frequency defined as an angle between the reference beam and the object beam; applying a digital filter to cut off signals around an original origin; and then performing an inverse Fourier transform.

A New Type of Frequency Chain and Its Application to Fundamental Frequency Metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Udem, Thomas; Reichert, Joerg; Holzwarth, Ronald; Diddams, Scott; Jones, David; Ye, Jun; Cundiff, Steven; Haensch, Theodor; Hall, John

A suitable femtosecond (fs) laser system can provide a broad band comb of stable optical frequencies and thus can serve as an rf/optical coherent link. In this way we have performed a direct comparison of the 1S-2S transition in atomic hydrogen at 121 nm with a cesium fountain clock, built at the LPTF/Paris, to reach an accuracy of 1.9times 10^{-14}. The same comb-line counting technique was exploited to determine and recalibrate several important optical frequency standards. In particular, the improved measurement of the Cesium D1 line is necessary for a more precise determination of the fine structure constant. In addition, several of the best-known optical frequency standards have been recalibrated via the fs method. By creating an octave-spanning frequency comb a single-laser frequency chain has been realized and tested.

Performance demonstration of a single-frequency optically-pumped cesium beam frequency standard for space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecomte, S.; Haldimann, M.; Ruffieux, R.; Thomann, P.; Berthoud, P.

2017-11-01

Observatoire de Neuchâtel (ON) is developing a compact optically-pumped cesium beam frequency standard in the frame of an ESA-ARTES 5 project. The simplest optical scheme, which is based on a single optical frequency for both preparation and detection processes of atoms, has been chosen to fulfill reliability constraints of space applications. With our laboratory demonstrator operated at 852 nm (D2 line), we have measured a frequency stability of σy=2.74x10-12 τ -1/2, which is compliant with the Galileo requirement. The atomic resonator is fully compliant to be operated with a single diode laser at 894 nm (D1 line). Sensitivity measurements of the clock signal to the microwave power and to the optical pumping power are also presented. Present performance limitations are discussed and further improvements are proposed in order to reach our ultimate frequency stability goal of σy=1x10-12 τ -1/2. The clock driving software is also briefly described.

Frequency accurate coherent electro-optic dual-comb spectroscopy in real-time.

PubMed

Martín-Mateos, Pedro; Jerez, Borja; Largo-Izquierdo, Pedro; Acedo, Pablo

2018-04-16

Electro-optic dual-comb spectrometers have proved to be a promising technology for sensitive, high-resolution and rapid spectral measurements. Electro-optic combs possess very attractive features like simplicity, reliability, bright optical teeth, and typically moderate but quickly tunable optical spans. Furthermore, in a dual-comb arrangement, narrowband electro-optic combs are generated with a level of mutual coherence that is sufficiently high to enable optical multiheterodyning without inter-comb stabilization or signal processing systems. However, this valuable tool still presents several limitations; for instance, on most systems, absolute frequency accuracy and long-term stability cannot be guaranteed; likewise, interferometer-induced phase noise restricts coherence time and limits the attainable signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, we address these drawbacks and demonstrate a cost-efficient absolute electro-optic dual-comb instrument based on a frequency stabilization mechanism and a novel adaptive interferogram acquisition approach devised for electro-optic dual-combs capable of operating in real-time. The spectrometer, completely built from commercial components, provides sub-ppm frequency uncertainties and enables a signal-to-noise ratio of 10000 (intensity noise) in 30 seconds of integration time.

Coherent Frequency Reference System for the NASA Deep Space Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tucker, Blake C.; Lauf, John E.; Hamell, Robert L.; Gonzaler, Jorge, Jr.; Diener, William A.; Tjoelker, Robert L.

2010-01-01

The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) requires state-of-the-art frequency references that are derived and distributed from very stable atomic frequency standards. A new Frequency Reference System (FRS) and Frequency Reference Distribution System (FRD) have been developed, which together replace the previous Coherent Reference Generator System (CRG). The FRS and FRD each provide new capabilities that significantly improve operability and reliability. The FRS allows for selection and switching between frequency standards, a flywheel capability (to avoid interruptions when switching frequency standards), and a frequency synthesis system (to generate standardized 5-, 10-, and 100-MHz reference signals). The FRS is powered by redundant, specially filtered, and sustainable power systems and includes a monitor and control capability for station operations to interact and control the frequency-standard selection process. The FRD receives the standardized 5-, 10-, and 100-MHz reference signals and distributes signals to distribution amplifiers in a fan out fashion to dozens of DSN users that require the highly stable reference signals. The FRD is also powered by redundant, specially filtered, and sustainable power systems. The new DSN Frequency Distribution System, which consists of the FRS and FRD systems described here, is central to all operational activities of the NASA DSN. The frequency generation and distribution system provides ultra-stable, coherent, and very low phase-noise references at 5, l0, and 100 MHz to between 60 and 100 separate users at each Deep Space Communications Complex.

Widely tunable laser frequency offset lock with 30 GHz range and 5 THz offset.

PubMed

Biesheuvel, J; Noom, D W E; Salumbides, E J; Sheridan, K T; Ubachs, W; Koelemeij, J C J

2013-06-17

We demonstrate a simple and versatile method to greatly extend the tuning range of optical frequency shifting devices, such as acousto-optic modulators (AOMs). We use this method to stabilize the frequency of a tunable narrow-band continuous-wave (CW) laser to a transmission maximum of an external Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a tunable frequency offset. This is achieved through a servo loop which contains an in-loop AOM for simple radiofrequency (RF) tuning of the optical frequency over the full 30 GHz mode-hop-free tuning range of the CW laser. By stabilizing the length of the FPI to a stabilized helium-neon (HeNe) laser (at 5 THz offset from the tunable laser) we simultaneously transfer the ~ 1 MHz absolute frequency stability of the HeNe laser to the entire 30 GHz range of the tunable laser. Thus, our method allows simple, wide-range, fast and reproducible optical frequency tuning and absolute optical frequency measurements through RF electronics, which is here demonstrated by repeatedly recording a 27-GHz-wide molecular iodine spectrum at scan rates up to 500 MHz/s. General technical aspects that determine the performance of the method are discussed in detail.

Optical super resolution using tilted illumination coupled with object rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Anwar; Mudassar, Asloob A.

2015-03-01

In conventional imaging systems, the resolution of the final image is mainly distorted due to diffraction of higher spatial frequencies of the target object. To overcome the diffraction limit, imaging techniques which synthetically enlarge the aperture of the system are used. In this paper, synthesized aperture is produced by means of a three fiber illumination assembly coupled with an in-plane object rotation. The high order diffracted spatial frequencies of the object are brought into the pass band of optical system by illuminating the object with tilted beams. The tilt produced at the fiber assembly plane is related to the dimension of the aperture, placed at the Fourier plane of the system. To span the 2D object spectrum at the Fourier plane, an in-plane object rotation procedure is applied at the object plane. The spectrum of the object is rotated as the object is rotated and illuminated with tilted beams. The corresponding object beam is interfered with a reference beam from the same source to record interferograms. All the recorded interferograms are stored in computer and de-convolution algorithm is applied to recover the synthesized spectrum. The image of the synthesized spectrum has three times improved resolution compared to the conventional image.

Ternary mixed crystal effects on interface optical phonon and electron-phonon coupling in zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN spherical quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Wen Deng; Chen, Guang De; Yuan, Zhao Lin; Yang, Chuang Hua; Ye, Hong Gang; Wu, Ye Long

2016-02-01

The theoretical investigations of the interface optical phonons, electron-phonon couplings and its ternary mixed effects in zinc-blende spherical quantum dots are obtained by using the dielectric continuum model and modified random-element isodisplacement model. The features of dispersion curves, electron-phonon coupling strengths, and its ternary mixed effects for interface optical phonons in a single zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN spherical quantum dot are calculated and discussed in detail. The numerical results show that there are three branches of interface optical phonons. One branch exists in low frequency region; another two branches exist in high frequency region. The interface optical phonons with small quantum number l have more important contributions to the electron-phonon interactions. It is also found that ternary mixed effects have important influences on the interface optical phonon properties in a single zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN quantum dot. With the increase of Al component, the interface optical phonon frequencies appear linear changes, and the electron-phonon coupling strengths appear non-linear changes in high frequency region. But in low frequency region, the frequencies appear non-linear changes, and the electron-phonon coupling strengths appear linear changes.

A 920-kilometer optical fiber link for frequency metrology at the 19th decimal place.

PubMed

Predehl, K; Grosche, G; Raupach, S M F; Droste, S; Terra, O; Alnis, J; Legero, Th; Hänsch, T W; Udem, Th; Holzwarth, R; Schnatz, H

2012-04-27

Optical clocks show unprecedented accuracy, surpassing that of previously available clock systems by more than one order of magnitude. Precise intercomparisons will enable a variety of experiments, including tests of fundamental quantum physics and cosmology and applications in geodesy and navigation. Well-established, satellite-based techniques for microwave dissemination are not adequate to compare optical clocks. Here, we present phase-stabilized distribution of an optical frequency over 920 kilometers of telecommunication fiber. We used two antiparallel fiber links to determine their fractional frequency instability (modified Allan deviation) to 5 × 10(-15) in a 1-second integration time, reaching 10(-18) in less than 1000 seconds. For long integration times τ, the deviation from the expected frequency value has been constrained to within 4 × 10(-19). The link may serve as part of a Europe-wide optical frequency dissemination network.

Simultaneous transfer of optical frequency and time over 306 km long-haul optical fibre link

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hucl, Vaclav; Cizek, Martin; Pravdova, Lenka; Rerucha, Simon; Hrabina, Jan; Mikel, Bretislav; Smotlacha, Vladimir; Vojtech, Josef; Lazar, Josef; Cip, Ondrej

2016-12-01

Optical fibre links for distributing optical frequencies and time stamps were researched and experimentally tested in the past fifteen years. They have been used mainly for stability comparison of experimental optical clocks. But recent development puts demands on a technology transfer from laboratory experiments to the real industry. The remote calibration of interrogators of Fibre Bragg Grating strain sensory networks is one of important examples. The first step of the adoption the time and frequency broadcasting should be the drop-out free long-term operation of this technology between research laboratories connected via long-haul fibre links. We present a 306 km long-haul optical fibre link between the cities of Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic where a coherent transfer of stable optical frequency and a stable time signal has been firstly demonstrated. The link between ISI CAS Brno and CESNET Prague uses an internet communication fibre where a window of 1540-1546 nm is dedicated for the coherent transfer and 1PPS signal. The link is equipped with 6 bidirectional EDFA amplifiers. The optical frequency standard based on the highly-coherent laser Koheras Adjustik working at 1540.5 nm and stabilized with a saturation absorption spectroscopy technique was used for the coherent wave transfer. The suppression of the Doppler shift induced by the optical fibre was based on an accoustooptical modulator with a servo-loop including a fast PID controller processing the beat-note frequency given by mixing of the Adjustik laser (Brno) and the reflected frequency of this laser from the far end of 306 km long-haul fibre link (Prague). We verified the Doppler shift suppression for the coherent wave with a measuring method analysing the transport delay of the 1PPS signal.

Optical Frequency Standards Based on Neutral Atoms and Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riehle, Fritz; Helmcke, Juergen

The current status and prospects of optical frequency standards based on neutral atomic and molecular absorbers are reviewed. Special attention is given to an optical frequency standard based on cold Ca atoms which are interrogated with a pulsed excitation scheme leading to resolved line structures with a quality factor Q > 10^12. The optical frequency was measured by comparison with PTB's primary clock to be νCa = 455 986 240 494.13 kHz with a total relative uncertainty of 2.5 x10^-13. After a recent recommendation of the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM), this frequency standard now represents one of the most accurate realizations of the length unit.

Lag compensation of optical fibers or thermocouples to achieve waveform fidelity in dynamic gas pyrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warshawsky, I.

1991-01-01

Fidelity of waveform reproduction requires constant amplitude ratio and constant time lag of a temperature sensor's indication, at all frequencies of interest. However, heat-transfer type sensors usually cannot satisfy these requirements. Equations for the actual indication of a thermocouple and an optical-fiber pyrometer are given explicitly, in terms of sensor and flowing-gas properties. A practical, realistic design of each type of sensor behaves like a first-order system with amplitude-ratio attenuation inversely proportional to frequency when the frequency exceeds the corner frequency. Only at much higher frequencies does the amplitude-ratio attenuation for the optical fiber sensor become inversely proportional to the square root of the frequency. Design options for improving the frequency response are discussed. On-line electrical lag compensation, using a linear amplifier and a passive compensation network, can extend the corner frequency of the thermocouple 100-fold or more; a similar passive network can be used for the optical-fiber sensor. Design details for these networks are presented.

Absolute frequency measurement of the ? optical clock transition in ? with an uncertainty of ? using a frequency link to international atomic time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baynham, Charles F. A.; Godun, Rachel M.; Jones, Jonathan M.; King, Steven A.; Nisbet-Jones, Peter B. R.; Baynes, Fred; Rolland, Antoine; Baird, Patrick E. G.; Bongs, Kai; Gill, Patrick; Margolis, Helen S.

2018-03-01

The highly forbidden ? electric octupole transition in ? is a potential candidate for a redefinition of the SI second. We present a measurement of the absolute frequency of this optical transition, performed using a frequency link to International Atomic Time to provide traceability to the SI second. The ? optical frequency standard was operated for 76% of a 25-day period, with the absolute frequency measured to be 642 121 496 772 645.14(26) Hz. The fractional uncertainty of ? is comparable to that of the best previously reported measurement, which was made by a direct comparison to local caesium primary frequency standards.

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS. OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Increase of the bandwidth and of the efficiency of integrated optical traveling-wave modulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zolotov, Evgenii M.; Pelekhatyĭ, V. M.; Tavlykaev, R. F.

1990-05-01

A simultaneous increase in the frequency bandwidth and a reduction in the control (drive) power of integrated optical traveling-wave modulators can be achieved as a result of the electrooptic interaction in accordance with a linear frequency-modulated oscillatory law derived by inverse Fourier transformation of a rectangular amplitude-frequency characteristic and a quadratic phase-frequency characteristic of a modulator. This oscillatory law is realized using planar electrode structures with triangular or trapezoidal toothed edges. The tooth repetition frequency is governed by the linearly frequency-modulated oscillations and it rises on increase in the light modulation frequency.

Diagnostic genetic testing for patients with bilateral optic neuropathy and comparison of clinical features according to OPA1 mutation status.

PubMed

Gaier, Eric D; Boudreault, Katherine; Nakata, Isao; Janessian, Maria; Skidd, Philip; DelBono, Elizabeth; Allen, Keri F; Pasquale, Louis R; Place, Emily; Cestari, Dean M; Stacy, Rebecca C; Rizzo, Joseph F; Wiggs, Janey L

2017-01-01

Inherited optic neuropathy is genetically heterogeneous, and genetic testing has an important role in risk assessment and counseling. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and spectrum of mutations in a group of patients referred for genetic testing to a tertiary center in the United States. In addition, we compared the clinical features of patients with and without mutations in OPA1 , the gene most commonly involved in dominantly inherited optic atrophy. Clinical data and genetic testing results were reviewed for 74 unrelated, consecutive patients referred with a history of insidious, relatively symmetric, bilateral visual loss secondary to an optic neuropathy. Patients were evaluated for disease-causing variants in OPA1 , OPA3 , WFS1 , and the entire mitochondrial genome with DNA sequencing and copy number variation (CNV) testing. Pathogenic DNA variants were found in 25 cases, with the majority (24 patients) located in OPA1 . Demographics, clinical history, and clinical features for the group of patients with mutations in OPA1 were compared to those without disease-causing variants. Compared to the patients without mutations, cases with mutations in OPA1 were more likely to have a family history of optic nerve disease (p = 0.027); however, 30.4% of patients without a family history of disease also had mutations in OPA1 . OPA1 mutation carriers had less severe mean deviation and pattern standard deviation on automated visual field testing than patients with optic atrophy without mutations in OPA1 (p<0.005). Other demographic and ocular features were not statistically significantly different between the two groups, including the fraction of patients with central scotomas (42.9% of OPA1 mutation positive and 66.0% of OPA1 mutation negative). Genetic testing identified disease-causing mutations in 34% of referred cases, with the majority of these in OPA1. Patients with mutations in OPA1 were more likely to have a family history of disease; however, 30.4% of patients without a family history were also found to have an OPA1 mutation. This observation, as well as similar frequencies of central scotomas in the groups with and without mutations in OPA1 , underscores the need for genetic testing to establish an OPA1 genetic diagnosis.

Ultra-stable microwave generation with a diode-pumped solid-state laser in the 1.5-μm range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolgovskiy, Vladimir; Schilt, Stéphane; Bucalovic, Nikola; Di Domenico, Gianni; Grop, Serge; Dubois, Benoît; Giordano, Vincent; Südmeyer, Thomas

2014-09-01

We demonstrate the first ultra-stable microwave generation based on a 1.5-μm diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) frequency comb. Our system relies on optical-to-microwave frequency division from a planar-waveguide external cavity laser referenced to an ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavity. The evaluation of the microwave signal at ~10 GHz uses the transportable ultra-low-instability signal source ULISS®, which employs a cryo-cooled sapphire oscillator. With the DPSSL comb, we measured -125 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 kHz offset frequency, likely limited by the photo-detection shot-noise or by the noise floor of the reference cryo-cooled sapphire oscillator. For comparison, we also generated low-noise microwave using a commercial Er:fiber comb stabilized in similar conditions and observed >20 dB lower phase noise in the microwave generated from the DPSSL comb. Our results confirm the high potential of the DPSSL technology for low-noise comb applications.

Illusion optics via one-dimensional ultratransparent photonic crystals with shifted spatial dispersions.

PubMed

Yao, Zhongqi; Luo, Jie; Lai, Yun

2017-12-11

In this work, we propose that one-dimensional ultratransparent dielectric photonic crystals with wide-angle impedance matching and shifted elliptical equal frequency contours are promising candidate materials for illusion optics. The shift of the equal frequency contour does not affect the refractive behaviors, but enables a new degree of freedom in phase modulation. With such ultratransparent photonic crystals, we demonstrate some applications in illusion optics, including creating illusions of a different-sized scatterer and a shifted source with opposite phase. Such ultratransparent dielectric photonic crystals may establish a feasible platform for illusion optics devices at optical frequencies.

A first demonstration of audio-frequency optical coherence elastography of tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adie, Steven G.; Alexandrov, Sergey A.; Armstrong, Julian J.; Kennedy, Brendan F.; Sampson, David D.

2008-12-01

Optical elastography is aimed at using the visco-elastic properties of soft tissue as a contrast mechanism, and could be particularly suitable for high-resolution differentiation of tumour from surrounding normal tissue. We present a new approach to measure the effect of an applied stimulus in the kilohertz frequency range that is based on optical coherence tomography. We describe the approach and present the first in vivo optical coherence elastography measurements in human skin at audio excitation frequencies.

Semi-automatic, octave-spanning optical frequency counter.

PubMed

Liu, Tze-An; Shu, Ren-Huei; Peng, Jin-Long

2008-07-07

This work presents and demonstrates a semi-automatic optical frequency counter with octave-spanning counting capability using two fiber laser combs operated at different repetition rates. Monochromators are utilized to provide an approximate frequency of the laser under measurement to determine the mode number difference between the two laser combs. The exact mode number of the beating comb line is obtained from the mode number difference and the measured beat frequencies. The entire measurement process, except the frequency stabilization of the laser combs and the optimization of the beat signal-to-noise ratio, is controlled by a computer running a semi-automatic optical frequency counter.

Electro-optic Q-switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zou, Yingyin (Inventor); Chen, Qiushui (Inventor); Zhang, Run (Inventor); Jiang, Hua (Inventor)

2006-01-01

An electro-optic Q-switch for generating sequence of laser pulses was disclosed. The Q-switch comprises a quadratic electro-optic material and is connected with an electronic unit generating a radio frequency wave with positive and negative pulses alternatively. The Q-switch is controlled by the radio frequency wave in such a way that laser pulse is generated when the radio frequency wave changes its polarity.

Tunable radio-frequency photonic filter based on an actively mode-locked fiber laser.

PubMed

Ortigosa-Blanch, A; Mora, J; Capmany, J; Ortega, B; Pastor, D

2006-03-15

We propose the use of an actively mode-locked fiber laser as a multitap optical source for a microwave photonic filter. The fiber laser provides multiple optical taps with an optical frequency separation equal to the external driving radio-frequency signal of the laser that governs its repetition rate. All the optical taps show equal polarization and an overall Gaussian apodization, which reduces the sidelobes. We demonstrate continuous tunability of the filter by changing the external driving radio-frequency signal of the laser, which shows good fine tunability in the operating range of the laser from 5 to 10 GHz.

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS: Radio-frequency electrooptic modulation in optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulyuk, A. N.

1992-10-01

The electrooptic interaction in single-mode optical fibers with both linear and circular birefringe is analyzed. In most cases, a large interaction length imposes a limit on the modulation frequency. A circular birefringence in an optical fiber may lead to an effective coupling of polarization normal modes if a phase-matching condition is satisfied. Through an appropriate choice of polarization states of the light at the entrance and exit of the device, one can achieve a polarization modulation or a frequency shift of the light. There are possible applications in rf polarization modulators, devices for shifting the frequency of light, and detectors of electromagnetic fields.

Enhanced optical nonlinearity and fiber-optical frequency comb controlled by a single atom in a whispering-gallery-mode microtoroid resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiahua; Zhang, Suzhen; Yu, Rong; Zhang, Duo; Wu, Ying

2014-11-01

Based on a single atom coupled to a fiber-coupled, chip-based microresonator [B. Dayan et al., Science 319, 1062 (2008), 10.1126/science.1152261], we put forward a scheme to generate optical frequency combs at driving laser powers as low as a few nanowatts. Using state-of-the-art experimental parameters, we investigate in detail the influences of different atomic positions and taper-resonator coupling regimes on optical-frequency-comb generation. In addition to numerical simulations demonstrating this effect, a physical explanation of the underlying mechanism is presented. We find that the combination of the atom and the resonator can induce a large third-order nonlinearity which is significantly stronger than Kerr nonlinearity in Kerr frequency combs. Such enhanced nonlinearity can be used to generate optical frequency combs if driven with two continuous-wave control and probe lasers and significantly reduce the threshold of nonlinear optical processes. The comb spacing can be well tuned by changing the frequency beating between the driving control and probe lasers. The proposed method is versatile and can be adopted to different types of resonators, such as microdisks, microspheres, microtoroids or microrings.

Digitally enhanced homodyne interferometry.

PubMed

Sutton, Andrew J; Gerberding, Oliver; Heinzel, Gerhard; Shaddock, Daniel A

2012-09-24

We present two variations of a novel interferometry technique capable of simultaneously measuring multiple targets with high sensitivity. The technique performs a homodyne phase measurement by application of a four point phase shifting algorithm, with pseudo-random switching between points to allow multiplexed measurement based upon propagation delay alone. By multiplexing measurements and shifting complexity into signal processing, both variants realise significant complexity reductions over comparable methods. The first variant performs a typical coherent detection with a dedicated reference field and achieves a displacement noise floor 0.8 pm/√Hz above 50 Hz. The second allows for removal of the dedicated reference, resulting in further simplifications and improved low frequency performance with a 1 pm/√Hz noise floor measured down to 20 Hz. These results represent the most sensitive measurement performed using this style of interferometry whilst simultaneously reducing the electro-optic footprint.

Performance of continuous wave and acousto-optically Q-switched Tm, Ho: YAP laser pumped by diode laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guoxing; Xie, Wenqiang; Yang, Xining; Zhang, Ziqiu; Zhang, Hongda; Zhang, Liang

2018-02-01

A two-end-pumped a-cut Tm(0.5%), Ho(0.5%):YAP laser output at 2119nm is reported under cryogenic temperature. The maximum output power reached to 7.76W with the incident pump power of 24.2W in CW mode. With the acousto-optically Q-switch, an average power of 7.3W can be obtained, when the pulse repetition frequency was 7.5 kHz. The corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was 30.2% and the slope efficiency was 31.4%. Then, the laser output characteristics in the repetition frequency of 7.5 kHz and 10kHz were researched. The output power, the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency and slope efficiency were increased with the increase of the repetition frequency. In the same repetition frequency, the pulse duration was decreasing with the growth of the incident pump power.

Relative Frequencies of Arteritic and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in an Arab Population.

PubMed

Gruener, Anna M; Chang, Jessica R; Bosley, Thomas M; Al-Sadah, Zakeya M; Kum, Clarissa; McCulley, Timothy J

2017-12-01

To evaluate the relative frequencies of arteritic and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) in an Arab population and to compare and contrast these findings with known epidemiological data from Caucasian populations. A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with AION at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 1997 and 2012. Of 171 patients with AION, 4 had biopsy-proven giant-cell arteritis (GCA). The relative frequencies of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in this Arab cohort were 2.3% and 97.7%, respectively. The relative frequencies of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy differ between Arab and North American clinic-based populations, with giant-cell arteritis-related ischemia being much less frequent in Saudi Arabia.

Four-amplitude shift keying-single sideband millimeter-wave signal generation with frequency sextupling based on optical phase modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Peng; Ma, Jianxin

2017-03-01

We have proposed and demonstrated a scheme to generate a frequency-sextupling amplitude shift keying (ASK)-single sideband optical millimeter (mm)-wave signal with high dispersion tolerance based on an optical phase modulator (PM) by ably using the-4th-order and +2nd-order sidebands of the optical modulation. The ASK radio frequency signal, superposed by a local oscillator with the same frequency, modulates the lightwave via an optical PM with proper voltage amplitudes, the +2nd-order sideband carries the ASK signal with a constant slope while the -4th-order sideband maintains constant amplitude. These two sidebands can be abstracted by a wavelength selective switch to form a dual-tone optical mm-wave with only one tone carrying the ASK signal. As only one tone bears the ASK signal while the other tone is unmodulated, the generated dual-tone optical mm-wave signal has high dispersion tolerance.

Coherent multi-dimensional spectroscopy at optical frequencies in a single beam with optical readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiler, Hélène; Palato, Samuel; Kambhampati, Patanjali

2017-09-01

Ultrafast coherent multi-dimensional spectroscopies form a powerful set of techniques to unravel complex processes, ranging from light-harvesting, chemical exchange in biological systems to many-body interactions in quantum-confined materials. Yet these spectroscopies remain complex to implement at the high frequencies of vibrational and electronic transitions, thereby limiting their widespread use. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of two-dimensional spectroscopy at optical frequencies in a single beam. Femtosecond optical pulses are spectrally broadened to a relevant bandwidth and subsequently shaped into phase coherent pulse trains. By suitably modulating the phases of the pulses within the beam, we show that it is possible to directly read out the relevant optical signals. This work shows that one needs neither complex beam geometries nor complex detection schemes in order to measure two-dimensional spectra at optical frequencies. Our setup provides not only a simplified experimental design over standard two-dimensional spectrometers but its optical readout also enables novel applications in microscopy.

Kinetics in Gas Mixtures for Problem of Plasma Assisted Combustion

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-01

to Brewster angle , the width of the generation line is approximately equal to 3 GHz (0.1 cm−1, or 0.7·10−3 nm) in the visible range. The frequency... lenses and optical windows of the lamps. Streak–images, spectral profiles obtained from the images and reference spectra are given in Fig. 6.3—6.4...797.18− 0.4675N, (6.3) where N is a pixels number. In the experiments, the system of two lenses L1 and L2 focused emission from the discharge cell on

Modeling of optical mirror and electromechanical behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fang; Lu, Chao; Liu, Zishun; Liu, Ai Q.; Zhang, Xu M.

2001-10-01

This paper presents finite element (FE) simulation and theoretical analysis of novel MEMS fiber-optical switches actuated by electrostatic attraction. FE simulation for the switches under static and dynamic loading are first carried out to reveal the mechanical characteristics of the minimum or critical switching voltages, the natural frequencies, mode shapes and response under different levels of electrostatic attraction load. To validate the FE simulation results, a theoretical (or analytical) model is then developed for one specific switch, i.e., Plate_40_104. Good agreement is found between the FE simulation and the analytical results. From both FE simulation and theoretical analysis, the critical switching voltage for Plate_40_104 is derived to be 238 V for the switching angel of 12 degree(s). The critical switching on and off times are 431 microsecond(s) and 67 microsecond(s) , respectively. The present study not only develops good FE and analytical models, but also demonstrates step by step a method to simplify a real optical switch structure with reference to the FE simulation results for analytical purpose. With the FE and analytical models, it is easy to obtain any information about the mechanical behaviors of the optical switches, which are helpful in yielding optimized design.

Optical security verification for blurred fingerprints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soon, Boon Y.; Karim, Mohammad A.; Alam, Mohammad S.

1998-12-01

Optical fingerprint security verification is gaining popularity, as it has the potential to perform correlation at the speed of light. With advancement in optical security verification techniques, authentication process can be almost foolproof and reliable for financial transaction, banking, etc. In law enforcement, when a fingerprint is obtained from a crime scene, it may be blurred and can be an unhealthy candidate for correlation purposes. Therefore, the blurred fingerprint needs to be clarified before it is used for the correlation process. There are a several different types of blur, such as linear motion blur and defocus blur, induced by aberration of imaging system. In addition, we may or may not know the blur function. In this paper, we propose the non-singularity inverse filtering in frequency/power domain for deblurring known motion-induced blur in fingerprints. This filtering process will be incorporated with the pow spectrum subtraction technique, uniqueness comparison scheme, and the separated target and references planes method in the joint transform correlator. The proposed hardware implementation is a hybrid electronic-optical correlator system. The performance of the proposed system would be verified with computer simulation for both cases: with and without additive random noise corruption.

Achromatic phase-matching second harmonic generation for a tunable laser

DOEpatents

Jacobson, A.G.; Bisson, S.; Trebino, R.

1998-01-20

An optical system uses a nonlinear optical medium to alter the frequency of a relatively narrow band light source tunable over a plurality of different frequencies using an optical system for passively directing light to the nonlinear medium at a correct phase matching angle. In this manner, the light from the tunable light source can be efficiently frequency-doubled or frequency-tripled without the need of moving parts. An all prism design provides a system of optimal efficiency. 6 figs.

Achromatic phase-matching second harmonic generation for a tunable laser

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Alexander Gerson; Bisson, Scott; Trebino, Rick

1998-01-01

An optical system uses a nonlinear optical medium to alter the frequency of a relatively narrow band light source tunable over a plurality of different frequencies using an optical system for passively directing light to the nonlinear medium at a correct phase matching angle. In this manner, the light from the tunable light source can be efficiently frequency-doubled or frequency-tripled without the need of moving parts. An all prism design provides a system of optimal efficiency.

tweezercalib 2.1: Faster version of MatLab package for precise calibration of optical tweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Poul Martin; Tolic-Nørrelykke, Iva Marija; Flyvbjerg, Henrik; Berg-Sørensen, Kirstine

2006-10-01

New version program summaryTitle of program: tweezercalib Catalogue identifier:ADTV_v2_1 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADTV_v2_1 Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions:no No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 134 188 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 050 368 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: MatLab (Mathworks Inc.), standard license Computer:General computer running MatLab (Mathworks Inc.) Operating system:Windows2000, Windows-XP, Linux RAM:Of order four times the size of the data file Classification:3, 4.14, 18, 23 Catalogue identifier of previous version: ADTV_v2_0 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 174 (2006) 518 Does the new version supersede the previous version?: yes Nature of problem:Calibrate optical tweezers with precision by fitting theory to experimental power spectrum of position of bead doing Brownian motion in incompressible fluid, possibly near microscope cover slip, while trapped in optical tweezers. Thereby determine spring constant of optical trap and conversion factor for arbitrary-units-to-nanometers for detection system. The theoretical underpinnings of the procedure may be found in Ref. [3]. Solution method:Elimination of cross-talk between quadrant photo-diodes, output channels for positions (optional). Check that distribution of recorded positions agrees with Boltzmann distribution of bead in harmonic trap. Data compression and noise reduction by blocking method applied to power spectrum. Full accounting for hydrodynamic effects; Frequency-dependent drag force and interaction with nearby cover slip (optional). Full accounting for electronic filters (optional), for "virtual filtering" caused by detection system (optional). Full accounting for aliasing caused by finite sampling rate (optional). Standard non-linear least-squares fitting with custom written routines based on Refs. [1,2]. Statistical support for fit is given, with several plots facilitating inspection of consistency and quality of data and fit. Reasons for the new version:Recent progress in the field has demonstrated a better approximation of the formula for the theoretical power spectrum with corrections due to frequency dependence of motion and distance to a surface nearby. Summary of revisions:The expression for the theoretical power spectrum when accounting for corrections to Stokes law, P(f), has been updated to agree with a better approximation of the theoretical spectrum, as discussed in Ref. [4] The units of the kinematic viscosity applied in the program is now stated in the input window. Greek letters and exponents are inserted in the input window. The graphical output has improved: The figures now bear a meaningful title and four figures that test the quality of the fit are now combined in one figure with four parts. Restrictions: Data should be positions of bead doing Brownian motion while held by optical tweezers. For high precision in final results, data should be time series measured over a long time, with sufficiently high experimental sampling rate; The sampling rate should be well above the characteristic frequency of the trap, the so-called corner frequency. Thus, the sampling frequency should typically be larger than 10 kHz. The Fast Fourier Transform used works optimally when the time series contain 2 data points, and long measurement time is obtained with n>12-15. Finally, the optics should be set to ensure a harmonic trapping potential in the range of positions visited by the bead. The fitting procedure checks for harmonic potential. Running time:seconds ReferencesJ. Nocedal, Y.x. Yuan, Combining trust region and line search techniques, Technical Report OTC 98/04, Optimization Technology Center, 1998. W.H. Press, B.P. Flannery, S.A. Teukolsky, W.T. Vetterling, Numerical Recipes. The Art of Scientific Computing, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986. (The theoretical underpinnings for the procedure) K. Berg-Sørensen and Henrik Flyvbjerg, Power spectrum analysis for optical tweezers, Rev. Sci. Ins. 75 (2004) 594-612. S.F. Tolic-Nørrelykke, et al., Calibration of optical tweezers with positions detection in the back-focal-plane, arXiv:physics/0603037 v2, 2006.

Electro-optical effects in porous PET films filled with liquid crystal: new possibilities for fiber optics and THZ applications.

PubMed

Chopik, A; Pasechnik, S; Semerenko, D; Shmeliova, D; Dubtsov, A; Srivastava, A K; Chigrinov, V

2014-03-15

The results of investigation of electro-optical properties of porous polyethylene terephthalate films filled with a nematic liquid crystal (5 CB) are presented. It is established that the optical response of the samples on the applied voltage drastically depends on the frequency range. At low frequencies of applied electrical field (ffc) electric field induces an overall change in the light intensity, which is typical for an electro-optical response of a liquid crystal (LC) layer in a conventional "sandwich"-like cell. The dependences of critical frequency fc, threshold voltages, and characteristic times on a pore diameter d were established. The peculiarities of electro-optical effects can be explained in the framework of the approach which connects the variations of light intensity with the corresponding changes of the effective refractive index n(eff) of a composite LC media. The unusual behavior of the electro-optical response at low frequencies is assigned to the orienting action of the specific shear flow typical for electrokinetic phenomena in polar liquids.

Efficient On-chip Optical Microresonator for Optical Comb Generation: Design and Fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Kyunghun

An optical frequency comb is a series of equally spaced frequency components. It has gained much attention since Nobel physics prize was awarded John L. Hall and Theodor W. Hansch for their contribution to the optical frequency comb technique in 2005. The optical frequency comb has been extensively studied because of its precision as a tool for spectroscopy, and is now widely used in bio- and chemical sensors, optical clocks, mode-locked dark pulse generation, soliton generation, and optical communication. Recently, thanks to the developments in nanotechnology, the optical frequency comb generation is made possible at a chip-scale level with microresonators. However, because the threshold power of the optical frequency comb generation is beyond the capability of the on-chip laser source, efficient microresonator is required. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-compact and highly efficient strip-slot direct mode coupler, aiming to achieve slotted silicon microresonator cladded with nonlinear polymer Poly-DDMEBT in SOI platform. As an application of the strip-slot direct mode coupling, a double slot fiber-to-chip edge coupler is demonstrated showing 2 dB insertion loss reduction compared to the conventional single tip edge coupler. For silicon nitride platform, we investigated evanescent wave coupling of microresonator, focusing on bus waveguide geometry optimization. The optimized waveguide width offers an efficient excitation of a fundamental mode in the resonator waveguide. This investigation can benefit low threshold comb generation by enhancing the extinction ratio. We experimentally demonstrated the high Q-factor micro-ring resonator with intrinsic Q of 12.6 million as well as the single FSR comb generation with 63 mW.

A Novel Approach to Realize of All Optical Frequency Encoded Dibit Based XOR and XNOR Logic Gates Using Optical Switches with Simulated Verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, B.; Hazra, S.; Haldar, N.; Roy, D.; Patra, S. N.; Swarnakar, J.; Sarkar, P. P.; Mukhopadhyay, S.

2018-03-01

Since last few decades optics has already proved its strong potentiality for conducting parallel logic, arithmetic and algebraic operations due to its super-fast speed in communication and computation. So many different logical and sequential operations using all optical frequency encoding technique have been proposed by several authors. Here, we have keened out all optical dibit representation technique, which has the advantages of high speed operation as well as reducing the bit error problem. Exploiting this phenomenon, we have proposed all optical frequency encoded dibit based XOR and XNOR logic gates using the optical switches like add/drop multiplexer (ADM) and reflected semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). Also the operations of these gates have been verified through proper simulation using MATLAB (R2008a).

Precision Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy of H3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yu-chan; Liao, Yi-Chieh; Chang, Yung-Hsiang; Peng, Jin-Long; Shy, Jow-Tsong

2016-06-01

In our previous work on the Lamb dips of the νb{2} fundamental band of H3+, the saturated absorption spectrum was obtained by the third-derivative spectroscopy using frequency modulation [1]. However, the frequency modulation also causes error in absolute frequency determination. To solve this problem, we have built an offset-locking system to lock the OPO pump frequency to an iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser. With this modification, we are able to scan the OPO idler frequency precisely and obtain the profile of the Lamb dips. Double modulation (amplitude modulation of the idler power and concentration modulation of the ion) is employed to subtract the interference fringes of the signal and increase the signal-to-noise ratio effectively. To Determine the absolute frequency of the idler wave, the pump wave is offset locked on the R(56) 32-0 a10 hyperfine component of 127I2, and the signal wave is locked on a GPS disciplined fiber optical frequency comb (OFC). All references and lock systems have absolute frequency accuracy better than 10 kHz. Here, we demonstrate its performance by measuring one transition of methane and sixteen transitions of H3+. This instrument could pave the way for the high-resolution spectroscopy of a variety of molecular ions. [1] H.-C. Chen, C.-Y. Hsiao, J.-L. Peng, T. Amano, and J.-T. Shy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 263002 (2012).

Broad-band frequency references in the near-infrared: Accurate dual comb spectroscopy of methane and acetylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zolot, A. M.; Giorgetta, F. R.; Baumann, E.; Swann, W. C.; Coddington, I.; Newbury, N. R.

2013-03-01

The Doppler-limited spectra of methane between 176 THz and 184 THz (5870-6130 cm-1) and acetylene between 193 THz and 199 THz (6430-6630 cm-1) are acquired via comb-tooth resolved dual comb spectroscopy with frequency accuracy traceable to atomic standards. A least squares analysis of the measured absorbance and phase line shapes provides line center frequencies with absolute accuracy of 0.2 MHz, or less than one thousandth of the room temperature Doppler width. This accuracy is verified through comparison with previous saturated absorption spectroscopy of 37 strong isolated lines of acetylene. For the methane spectrum, the center frequencies of 46 well-isolated strong lines are determined with similar high accuracy, along with the center frequencies for 1107 non-isolated lines at lower accuracy. The measured methane line-center frequencies have an uncertainty comparable to the few available laser heterodyne measurements in this region but span a much larger optical bandwidth, marking the first broad-band measurements of the methane 2ν3 region directly referenced to atomic frequency standards. This study demonstrates the promise of dual comb spectroscopy to obtain high resolution broadband spectra that are comparable to state-of-the-art Fourier-transform spectrometer measurements but with much improved frequency accuracy.Work of the US government, not subject to US copyright.

Laser frequency stabilization by light shift of optical-magnetic double resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Yuanzhi; Peng, Xiang; Lin, Zaisheng; Gong, Wei; Guo, Hong

2015-05-01

This work adopts the light shift of optical-magnetic double resonance frequency in metastable-state 4He atoms to lock the laser center frequency to the magic point. At this magic frequency, both the left-circularly and right-circularly optical pumping processes will give the same value of optical-magnetic double resonance. With this method and after locking, experimental results show that the laser frequency fluctuation is dramatically reduced to 2.79 MHz in 3600 seconds, comparing with 34.1 MHz drift in the free running mode. In application, with the locked magic laser frequency, the heading error for laser pumped 4He magnetometer can be eliminated much. The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (Grant No. 61225003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61101081), and the National Hi-Tech Research and Development (863) Program.

Spectrum Control through Discrete Frequency Diffraction in the Presence of Photonic Gauge Potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Chengzhi; Zhou, Feng; Peng, Yugui; Sounas, Dimitrios; Zhu, Xuefeng; Wang, Bing; Dong, Jianji; Zhang, Xinliang; Alù; , Andrea; Lu, Peixiang

2018-03-01

By using optical phase modulators in a fiber-optical circuit, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate large control over the spectrum of an impinging signal, which may evolve analogously to discrete diffraction in spatial waveguide arrays. The modulation phase acts as a photonic gauge potential in the frequency dimension, realizing efficient control of the central frequency and bandwidth of frequency combs. We experimentally achieve a 50 GHz frequency shift and threefold bandwidth expansion of an impinging comb, as well as the frequency analogue of various refraction phenomena, including negative refraction and perfect focusing in the frequency domain, both for discrete and continuous incident spectra. Our study paves a promising way towards versatile frequency management for optical communications and signal processing using time modulation schemes.

eLISA Telescope In-field Pointing and Scattered Light Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livas, J.; Sankar, S.; West, G.; Seals, L.; Howard, J.; Fitzsimons, E.

2017-05-01

The orbital motion of the three spacecraft that make up the eLISA Observatory constellation causes long-arm line of sight variations of approximately ± one degree over the course of a year. The baseline solution is to package the telescope, the optical bench, and the gravitational reference sensor (GRS) into an optical assembly at each end of the measurement arm, and then to articulate the assembly. An optical phase reference is exchanged between the moving optical benches with a single mode optical fiber (“backlink” fiber). An alternative solution, referred to as in-field pointing, embeds a steering mirror into the optical design, fixing the optical benches and eliminating the backlink fiber, but requiring the additional complication of a two-stage optical design for the telescope. We examine the impact of an in-field pointing design on the scattered light performance.

Frequency transfer via a two-way optical phase comparison on a multiplexed fiber network.

PubMed

Calosso, C E; Bertacco, E; Calonico, D; Clivati, C; Costanzo, G A; Frittelli, M; Levi, F; Mura, A; Godone, A

2014-03-01

We performed a two-way remote optical phase comparison on optical fiber. Two optical frequency signals were launched in opposite directions in an optical fiber and their phases were simultaneously measured at the other end. In this technique, the fiber noise is passively canceled, and we compared two optical frequencies at the ultimate 10(-21) stability level. The experiment was performed on a 47 km fiber that is part of the metropolitan network for Internet traffic. The technique relies on the synchronous measurement of the optical phases at the two ends of the link, which is here performed by digital electronics. This scheme offers some advantages with respect to active noise cancellation schemes, as the light travels only once in the fiber.

Cardinal and anti-cardinal points, equalities and chromatic dependence.

PubMed

Evans, Tanya; Harris, William F

2017-05-01

Cardinal points are used for ray tracing through Gaussian systems. Anti-principal and anti-nodal points (which we shall refer to as the anti-cardinal points), along with the six familiar cardinal points, belong to a much larger set of special points. The purpose of this paper is to obtain a set of relationships and resulting equalities among the cardinal and anti-cardinal points and to illustrate them using Pascal's ring. The methodology used relies on Gaussian optics and the transference T. We make use of two equations, obtained via the transference, which give the locations of the six cardinal and four anti-cardinal points with respect to the system. We obtain equalities among the cardinal and anti-cardinal points. We utilise Pascal's ring to illustrate which points depend on frequency and their displacement with change in frequency. Pascal described a memory schema in the shape of a hexagon for remembering equalities among the points and illustrating shifts in these points when an aspect of the system changes. We modify and extend Pascal's ring to include the anti-cardinal points. We make use of Pascal's ring extended to illustrate which points are dependent on the frequency of light and the direction of shift of the equalities with change in frequency. For the reduced eye the principal and nodal points are independent of frequency, but the focal points and the anti-cardinal points depend on frequency. For Le Grand's four-surface model eye all six cardinal and four anti-cardinal points depend on frequency. This has implications for definitions, particularly of chromatic aberrations of the eye, that make use of cardinal points and that themselves depend on frequency. Pascal's ring and Pascal's ring extended are novel memory schema for remembering the equalities among the cardinal and anti-cardinal points. The rings are useful for illustrating changes among the equalities and direction of shift of points when an aspect of a system changes. Care should be taken when defining concepts that rely on cardinal points that depend on frequency. © 2017 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2017 The College of Optometrists.

Fiber optic vibration sensor using bifurcated plastic optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, M.; Bidin, N.; Yasin, M.

2016-11-01

An extrinsic fiber optic vibration sensor is demonstrated for a fiber optic displacement sensor based on a bundled multimode fiber to measure a vibration frequency ranging from 100 until 3000 Hz. The front slope has a sensitivity of 0.1938mV/mm and linearity of 99.7% within a measurement range between 0.15-3.00 mm. By placing the diaphragm of the concave load-speaker within the linear range from the probe, the frequency of the vibration can be measured with error percentage of less than 1.54%. The graph of input against output frequency for low, medium and high frequency range show very high linearity up to 99%. Slope for low, medium, and high frequency range are calculated as 1.0026, 0.9934, and 1.0007 respectively. Simplicity, long term stability, low power consumption, wide dynamic and frequency ranges, noise reduction, ruggedness, linearity and light weight make it promising alternative to other well-establish methods for vibration frequency measurement.

Low Frequency Error Analysis and Calibration for High-Resolution Optical Satellite's Uncontrolled Geometric Positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Mi; Fang, Chengcheng; Yang, Bo; Cheng, Yufeng

2016-06-01

The low frequency error is a key factor which has affected uncontrolled geometry processing accuracy of the high-resolution optical image. To guarantee the geometric quality of imagery, this paper presents an on-orbit calibration method for the low frequency error based on geometric calibration field. Firstly, we introduce the overall flow of low frequency error on-orbit analysis and calibration, which includes optical axis angle variation detection of star sensor, relative calibration among star sensors, multi-star sensor information fusion, low frequency error model construction and verification. Secondly, we use optical axis angle change detection method to analyze the law of low frequency error variation. Thirdly, we respectively use the method of relative calibration and information fusion among star sensors to realize the datum unity and high precision attitude output. Finally, we realize the low frequency error model construction and optimal estimation of model parameters based on DEM/DOM of geometric calibration field. To evaluate the performance of the proposed calibration method, a certain type satellite's real data is used. Test results demonstrate that the calibration model in this paper can well describe the law of the low frequency error variation. The uncontrolled geometric positioning accuracy of the high-resolution optical image in the WGS-84 Coordinate Systems is obviously improved after the step-wise calibration.

Radio-Optical Reference Frame Link Using the U.S. Naval Observatory Astrograph and Deep CCD Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zacharias, N.; Zacharias, M. I.

2014-05-01

Between 1997 and 2004 several observing runs were conducted, mainly with the CTIO 0.9 m, to image International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) counterparts (mostly QSOs) in order to determine accurate optical positions. Contemporary to these deep CCD images, the same fields were observed with the U.S. Naval Observatory astrograph in the same bandpass. They provide accurate positions on the Hipparcos/Tycho-2 system for stars in the 10-16 mag range used as reference stars for the deep CCD imaging data. Here we present final optical position results of 413 sources based on reference stars obtained by dedicated astrograph observations that were reduced following two different procedures. These optical positions are compared to radio very long baseline interferometry positions. The current optical system is not perfectly aligned to the ICRF radio system with rigid body rotation angles of 3-5 mas (= 3σ level) found between them for all three axes. Furthermore, statistically, the optical-radio position differences are found to exceed the total, combined, known errors in the observations. Systematic errors in the optical reference star positions and physical offsets between the centers of optical and radio emissions are both identified as likely causes. A detrimental, astrophysical, random noise component is postulated to be on about the 10 mas level. If confirmed by future observations, this could severely limit the Gaia to ICRF reference frame alignment accuracy to an error of about 0.5 mas per coordinate axis with the current number of sources envisioned to provide the link. A list of 36 ICRF sources without the detection of an optical counterpart to a limiting magnitude of about R = 22 is provided as well.

Radio-optical reference frame link using the U.S. Naval observatory astrograph and deep CCD imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zacharias, N.; Zacharias, M. I., E-mail: nz@usno.navy.mil

2014-05-01

Between 1997 and 2004 several observing runs were conducted, mainly with the CTIO 0.9 m, to image International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) counterparts (mostly QSOs) in order to determine accurate optical positions. Contemporary to these deep CCD images, the same fields were observed with the U.S. Naval Observatory astrograph in the same bandpass. They provide accurate positions on the Hipparcos/Tycho-2 system for stars in the 10-16 mag range used as reference stars for the deep CCD imaging data. Here we present final optical position results of 413 sources based on reference stars obtained by dedicated astrograph observations that were reducedmore » following two different procedures. These optical positions are compared to radio very long baseline interferometry positions. The current optical system is not perfectly aligned to the ICRF radio system with rigid body rotation angles of 3-5 mas (= 3σ level) found between them for all three axes. Furthermore, statistically, the optical-radio position differences are found to exceed the total, combined, known errors in the observations. Systematic errors in the optical reference star positions and physical offsets between the centers of optical and radio emissions are both identified as likely causes. A detrimental, astrophysical, random noise component is postulated to be on about the 10 mas level. If confirmed by future observations, this could severely limit the Gaia to ICRF reference frame alignment accuracy to an error of about 0.5 mas per coordinate axis with the current number of sources envisioned to provide the link. A list of 36 ICRF sources without the detection of an optical counterpart to a limiting magnitude of about R = 22 is provided as well.« less

Variability of extragalactic sources: its contribution to the link between ICRF and the future Gaia Celestial Reference Frame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taris, F.; Damljanovic, G.; Andrei, A.; Souchay, J.; Klotz, A.; Vachier, F.

2018-03-01

Context. The first release of the Gaia catalog is available since 14 September 2016. It is a first step in the realization of the future Gaia reference frame. This reference frame will be materialized by the optical positions of the sources and will be compared with and linked to the International Celestial Reference Frame, materialized by the radio position of extragalactic sources. Aim. As in the radio domain, it can be reasonably postulated that quasar optical flux variations can alert us to potential changes in the source structure. These changes could have important implications for the position of the target photocenters (together with the evolution in time of these centers) and in parallel have consequences for the link of the reference systems. Methods: A set of nine optical telescopes was used to monitor the magnitude variations, often at the same time as Gaia, thanks to the Gaia Observation Forecast Tool. The Allan variances, which are statistical tools widely used in the atomic time and frequency community, are introduced. Results: This work describes the magnitude variations of 47 targets that are suitable for the link between reference systems. We also report on some implications for the Gaia catalog. For 95% of the observed targets, new information about their variability is reported. In the case of some targets that are well observed by the TAROT telescopes, the Allan time variance shows that the longest averaging period of the magnitudes is in the range 20-70 d. The observation period by Gaia for a single target largely exceeds these values, which might be a problem when the magnitude variations exhibit flicker or random walk noises. Preliminary computations show that if the coordinates of the targets studied in this paper were affected by a white-phase noise with a formal uncertainty of about 1 mas (due to astrophysical processes that are put in evidence by the magnitude variations of the sources), it would affect the precision of the link at the level of 50 μas. Full Table 3 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/611/A52

Experimental verification of isotropic radiation from a coherent dipole source via electric-field-driven LC resonator metamaterials.

PubMed

Tichit, Paul-Henri; Burokur, Shah Nawaz; Qiu, Cheng-Wei; de Lustrac, André

2013-09-27

It has long been conjectured that isotropic radiation by a simple coherent source is impossible due to changes in polarization. Though hypothetical, the isotropic source is usually taken as the reference for determining a radiator's gain and directivity. Here, we demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that an isotropic radiator can be made of a simple and finite source surrounded by electric-field-driven LC resonator metamaterials designed by space manipulation. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we show the first isotropic source with omnidirectional radiation from a dipole source (applicable to all distributed sources), which can open up several possibilities in axion electrodynamics, optical illusion, novel transformation-optic devices, wireless communication, and antenna engineering. Owing to the electric- field-driven LC resonator realization scheme, this principle can be readily applied to higher frequency regimes where magnetism is usually not present.

Characterization of ultrafast devices using novel optical techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Md Ershad

Optical techniques have been extensively used to examine the high frequency performance of a number of devices including High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs), Heterojunction Bipolar Phototransistors (HPTs) and Low Temperature GaAs (LT-GaAs) Photoconductive Switches. To characterize devices, frequency and time domain techniques, namely optical heterodyning and electro-optic sampling, having measurement bandwidths in excess of 200 GHz, were employed. Optical mixing in three-terminal devices has been extended for the first time to submillimeter wave frequencies. Using a new generation of 50-nm gate pseudomorphic InP-based HEMTs, optically mixed signals were detected to 552 GHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 5 dB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest frequency optical mixing obtained in three- terminal devices to date. A novel harmonic three-wave detection scheme was used for the detection of the optically generated signals. The technique involved downconversion of the signal in the device by the second harmonic of a gate-injected millimeter wave local oscillator. Measurements were also conducted up to 212 GHz using direct optical mixing and up to 382 GHz using a fundamental three-wave detection scheme. New interesting features in the bias dependence of the optically mixed signals have been reported. An exciting novel development from this work is the successful integration of near-field optics with optical heterodyning. The technique, called near-field optical heterodyning (NFOH), allows for extremely localized injection of high-frequency stimulus to any arbitrary point of an ultrafast device or circuit. Scanning the point of injection across the sample provides details of the high frequency operation of the device with high spatial resolution. For the implementation of the technique, fiber-optic probes with 100 nm apertures were fabricated. A feedback controlled positioning system was built for accurate placement and scanning of the fiber probe with nanometric precision. The applicability of the NFOH technique was first confirmed by measurements on heterojunction phototransistors at 100 GHz. Later NFOH scans were performed at 63 GHz on two other important devices, HEMTs and LT-GaAs Photoconductive Switches. Spatially resolved response characteristics of these devices revealed interesting details of their operation.

Visual defects in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Lantz, Crystal L; Pulimood, Nisha S; Rodrigues-Junior, Wandilson S; Chen, Ching-Kang; Manhaes, Alex C; Kalatsky, Valery A; Medina, Alexandre Esteves

2014-01-01

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to a multitude of neurological problems in offspring, varying from subtle behavioral changes to severe mental retardation. These alterations are collectively referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Early alcohol exposure can strongly affect the visual system and children with FASD can exhibit an amblyopia-like pattern of visual acuity deficits even in the absence of optical and oculomotor disruption. Here, we test whether early alcohol exposure can lead to a disruption in visual acuity, using a model of FASD to mimic alcohol consumption in the last months of human gestation. To accomplish this, mice were exposed to ethanol (5 g/kg i.p.) or saline on postnatal days (P) 5, 7, and 9. Two to three weeks later we recorded visually evoked potentials to assess spatial frequency detection and contrast sensitivity, conducted electroretinography (ERG) to further assess visual function and imaged retinotopy using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. We observed that animals exposed to ethanol displayed spatial frequency acuity curves similar to controls. However, ethanol-treated animals showed a significant deficit in contrast sensitivity. Moreover, ERGs revealed a market decrease in both a- and b-waves amplitudes, and optical imaging suggest that both elevation and azimuth maps in ethanol-treated animals have a 10-20° greater map tilt compared to saline-treated controls. Overall, our findings suggest that binge alcohol drinking restricted to the last months of gestation in humans can lead to marked deficits in visual function.

Further detection of the optical low frequency QPO in the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Wenfei; Lin, Jie; Mao, Dongming; Zhang, Jujia; Yan, Zhen; Bai, Jinming

2018-05-01

We report on the optical photometric observation of MAXI J1820+070 with the 2.4m telescope at Lijiang Gaomeigu Station of Yunnan observatories with our Fast Optical Camera (FOC) on April 22, 2018, following the detection of low frequency QPO in the optical band (ATEL #11510).

All-Optical Ultrasound Transducers for High Resolution Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheaff, Clay Smith

High frequency ultrasound (HFUS) has increasingly been used within the past few decades to provide high resolution (< 200 mum) imaging in medical applications such as endoluminal imaging, intravascular imaging, ophthalmology, and dermatology. The optical detection and generation of HFUS using thin films offers numerous advantages over traditional piezoelectric technology. Circumvention of an electronic interface with the device head is one of the most significant given the RF noise, crosstalk, and reduced capacitance that encumbers small-scale electronic transducers. Thin film Fabry-Perot interferometers - also known as etalons - are well suited for HFUS receivers on account of their high sensitivity, wide bandwidth, and ease of fabrication. In addition, thin films can be used to generate HFUS when irradiated with optical pulses - a method referred to as Thermoelastic Ultrasound Generation (TUG). By integrating a polyimide (PI) film for TUG into an etalon receiver, we have created for the first time an all-optical ultrasound transducer that is both thermally stable and capable of forming fully sampled 2-D imaging arrays of arbitrary configuration. Here we report (1) the design and fabrication of PI-etalon transducers; (2) an evaluation of their optical and acoustic performance parameters; (3) the ability to conduct high-resolution imaging with synthetic 2-D arrays of PI-etalon elements; and (4) work towards a fiber optic PI-etalon for in vivo use. Successful development of a fiber optic imager would provide a unique field-of-view thereby exposing an abundance of prospects for minimally-invasive analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Frequency stabilization of a 1083 nm fiber laser to {sup 4}He transition lines with optical heterodyne saturation spectroscopies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gong, W.; Peng, X., E-mail: xiangpeng@pku.edu.cn; Li, W.

2014-07-15

Two kinds of optical heterodyne saturation spectroscopies, namely, frequency modulation spectroscopy (FMS) and modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS), are demonstrated for locking a fiber laser to the transition lines of metastable {sup 4}He atoms around 1083 nm. The servo-loop error signals of FMS and MTS for stabilizing laser frequency are optimized by studying the dependence of the peak-to-peak amplitude and slope on the optical power of pump and probe beams. A comparison of the stabilization performances of FMS/MTS and polarization spectroscopy (PS) is presented, which shows that MTS exhibits relatively superior performance with the least laser frequency fluctuation due to itsmore » flat-background dispersive signal, originated from the four-wave mixing process. The Allan deviation of the stabilized laser frequency is 5.4 × 10{sup −12}@100 s with MTS for data acquired in 1000 s, which is sufficiently applicable for fields like laser cooling, optical pumping, and optical magnetometry.« less

The optimal input optical pulse shape for the self-phase modulation based chirp generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zachinyaev, Yuriy; Rumyantsev, Konstantin

2018-04-01

The work is aimed to obtain the optimal shape of the input optical pulse for the proper functioning of the self-phase modulation based chirp generator allowing to achieve high values of chirp frequency deviation. During the research, the structure of the device based on self-phase modulation effect using has been analyzed. The influence of the input optical pulse shape of the transmitting optical module on the chirp frequency deviation has been studied. The relationship between the frequency deviation of the generated chirp and frequency linearity for the three options for implementation of the pulse shape has been also estimated. The results of research are related to the development of the theory of radio processors based on fiber-optic structures and can be used in radars, secure communications, geolocation and tomography.

Optical superheterodyne receiver.

PubMed

Lucy, R F; Lang, K; Peters, C J; Duval, K

1967-08-01

Optical communications experiments at 6328 A, comparing the fading characteristics of coherent and noncoherent optical detection, have been performed over a 1-km real atmospheric path in different weather conditions. The results show that fading is less severe for noncoherent detection and that the fading characteristic for both types vary significantly with weather conditions. In addition, the similarity of optical FM to rf FM is demonstrated. The measurements were performed using a remote laser transmitter and an optical superheterodyne receiver operating simultaneously in both a coherent and noncoherent detection mode. The receiver, tunable over a frequency range of 1 GHz at the IF difference frequency of 30 MHz, has automatic frequency control and also uses a precision angle tracking servo to maintain receiver spatial alignment with a remote transmitter. The angle and frequency tracking capability permit operation between moving transmitter and receiver terminals.

Fiber optic security seal including plural Bragg gratings

DOEpatents

Forman, Peter R.

1994-01-01

An optical security system enables the integrity of a container seal to be remotely interrogated. A plurality of Bragg gratings is written holographically into the core of at least one optical fiber placed about the container seal, where each Bragg grating has a predetermined location and a known frequency for reflecting incident light. A time domain reflectometer is provided with a variable frequency light output that corresponds to the reflecting frequencies of the Bragg gratings to output a signal that is functionally related to the location and reflecting frequency of each of the Bragg gratings.

Excitation of the {sup 229m}Th nuclear isomer via resonance conversion in ionized atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karpeshin, F. F., E-mail: fkarpeshin@gmail.com; Trzhaskovskaya, M. B.

2015-09-15

Pressing problems concerning the optical pumping of the 7.6-eV {sup 229m}Th nuclear isomer, which is a candidate for a new nuclear optical reference point for frequencies, are examined. Physics behind the mechanism of the two-photon optical pumping of the isomer is considered. It is shown that, irrespective of the pumping scheme, a dominant contribution comes, in accord with what was proven earlier for the 3.5-eV isomer, from the resonance 8s–7s transition. Details of an optimum experimental scheme are discussed. It is shown that, after isomer excitation, the atom involved remains with a high probability in an excited state at anmore » energy of about 0.5 eV rather than in the ground state, the required energy of the two photons being equal to the energy of the nuclear level plus the energy of the lowest 7s state of the atom. The estimated pumping time is about 1.5 s in the case where the field strength of each laser is 1 V/cm.« less

Scattering from very rough layers under the geometric optics approximation: further investigation.

PubMed

Pinel, Nicolas; Bourlier, Christophe

2008-06-01

Scattering from very rough homogeneous layers is studied in the high-frequency limit (under the geometric optics approximation) by taking the shadowing effect into account. To do so, the iterated Kirchhoff approximation, recently developed by Pinel et al. [Waves Random Complex Media17, 283 (2007)] and reduced to the geometric optics approximation, is used and investigated in more detail. The contributions from the higher orders of scattering inside the rough layer are calculated under the iterated Kirchhoff approximation. The method can be applied to rough layers of either very rough or perfectly flat lower interfaces, separating either lossless or lossy media. The results are compared with the PILE (propagation-inside-layer expansion) method, recently developed by Déchamps et al. [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A23, 359 (2006)], and accelerated by the forward-backward method with spectral acceleration. They highlight that there is very good agreement between the developed method and the reference numerical method for all scattering orders and that the method can be applied to root-mean-square (RMS) heights at least down to 0.25lambda.

Excitation of the 229 m Th nuclear isomer via resonance conversion in ionized atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpeshin, F. F.; Trzhaskovskaya, M. B.

2015-09-01

Pressing problems concerning the optical pumping of the 7.6-eV 229 m Th nuclear isomer, which is a candidate for a new nuclear optical reference point for frequencies, are examined. Physics behind the mechanism of the two-photon optical pumping of the isomer is considered. It is shown that, irrespective of the pumping scheme, a dominant contribution comes, in accord with what was proven earlier for the 3.5-eV isomer, from the resonance 8 s-7 s transition. Details of an optimum experimental scheme are discussed. It is shown that, after isomer excitation, the atom involved remains with a high probability in an excited state at an energy of about 0.5 eV rather than in the ground state, the required energy of the two photons being equal to the energy of the nuclear level plus the energy of the lowest 7 s state of the atom. The estimated pumping time is about 1.5 s in the case where the field strength of each laser is 1 V/cm.

Optical and structural characterization of Ge clusters embedded in ZrO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agocs, E.; Zolnai, Z.; Rossall, A. K.; van den Berg, J. A.; Fodor, B.; Lehninger, D.; Khomenkova, L.; Ponomaryov, S.; Gudymenko, O.; Yukhymchuk, V.; Kalas, B.; Heitmann, J.; Petrik, P.

2017-11-01

The change of optical and structural properties of Ge nanoclusters in ZrO2 matrix have been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry versus annealing temperatures. Radio-frequency top-down magnetron sputtering approach was used to produce the samples of different types, i.e. single-layers of pure Ge, pure ZrO2 and Ge-rich-ZrO2 as well as multi-layers stacked of 40 periods of 5-nm-Ge-rich-ZrO2 layers alternated by 5-nm-ZrO2 ones. Germanium nanoclusters in ZrO2 host were formed by rapid-thermal annealing at 600-800 °C during 30 s in nitrogen atmosphere. Reference optical properties for pure ZrO2 and pure Ge have been extracted using single-layer samples. As-deposited multi-layer structures can be perfectly modeled using the effective medium theory. However, annealed multi-layers demonstrated a significant diffusion of elements that was confirmed by medium energy ion scattering measurements. This fact prevents fitting of such annealed structure either by homogeneous or by periodic multi-layer models.

Analysis of the dynamics and frequency spectrum synthesis of an optical-mechanical scanning device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andryushkevichyus, A. I.; Kumpikas, A. L.; Kumpikas, K. L.

1973-01-01

A two-coordinate optical-mechanical scanning device (OMSD), the operating unit of which is a scanning disk, with directional and focusing optics and a board, on which the data carrier is placed, is examined. The disk and board are kinematically connected by a transmission mechanism, consisting of a worm and complex gear drive and a tightening screw-nut with correcting device, and it is run by a synchronous type motor. The dynamic errors in the system depend, first, on irregularities in rotation of the disk, fluctuations in its axis and vibrations of the table in the plane parallel to the plane of the disk. The basic sources of the fluctuations referred to above are residual disbalance of the rotor and other rotating masses, the periodic component of the driving torque of the synchronous motor, variability in the resistance, kinematic errors in the drive and other things. The fluctuations can be transmitted to the operating units through the kinematic link as a flexural-torsional system, as well as through vibrations of the housing of the device.

High frequency ultrasound imaging using Fabry-Perot optical etalon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashkenazi, S.; Witte, R.; O'Donnell, M.

2005-04-01

Optical detection of ultrasound provides a unique and appealing way of forming detector arrays (1D or 2D) using either raster beam scanning or simultaneous array detection exploiting wide area illumination. Etalon based optical techniques are of particular interest, due to their relatively high sensitivity resulting from multiple optical reflections within the resonance structure. Detector arrays formed by etalon based techniques are characterized by high element density and small element active area, which enables high resolution imaging at high ultrasonic frequencies (typically 10-50 MHz). In this paper we present an application of an optical etalon structure for very high frequency ultrasound detection (exceeding 100 MHz). A thin polymer Fabry-Perot etalon (10 μm thickness) has been fabricated using spin coating of polymer photoresist on a glass substrate and gold evaporation forming partially reflecting mirrors on both faces of the polymer layer. The optical resonator formed by the etalon structure has a measured Q-factor of 300. The characteristic broadband response of the optical signal was demonstrated by insonifying the etalon using two different ultrasound transducers and recording the resulting intensity modulation of optical reflection from the etalon. A focused 10 MHz transducer was used for the low MHz frequency region, and a 50 MHz focused transducer was used for the high frequency region. The optical reflection signal was compared to the pulse/echo signal detected by the same ultrasound transducer. The measured signal to noise ratio of the optically detected signal is comparable to that of the pulse/echo signal in both low and high frequency ranges. The etalon detector was integrated in a photoacoustic imaging system. High resolution images of phantom targets and biological tissue (nerve cord) were obtained. The additional information of optical absorption obtained by photoacoustic imaging, along with the high resolution detection of the etalon, offer unique advantages for intravascular and neurological imaging devices.

Tunable error-free optical frequency conversion of a 4ps optical short pulse over 25 nm by four-wave mixing in a polarisation-maintaining optical fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morioka, T.; Kawanishi, S.; Saruwatari, M.

1994-05-01

Error-free, tunable optical frequency conversion of a transform-limited 4.0 ps optical pulse signalis demonstrated at 6.3 Gbit/s using four-wave mixing in a polarization-maintaining optical fibre. The process generates 4.0-4.6 ps pulses over a 25nm range with time-bandwidth products of 0.31-0.43 and conversion power penalties of less than 1.5 dB.

Frequency comb generation in a continuously pumped optical parametric oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mosca, S.; Parisi, M.; Ricciardi, I.; Leo, F.; Hansson, T.; Erkintalo, M.; Maddaloni, P.; De Natale, P.; Wabnitz, S.; De Rosa, M.

2018-02-01

We demonstrate optical frequency comb generation in a continuously pumped optical parametric oscillator, in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency. We also model the dynamics of such quadratic combs using a single time-domain mean-field equation, and obtain simulation results that are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, we numerically investigate the coherence properties of simulated combs, showing the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our work could pave the way for a new class of frequency comb sources, which may enable straightforward access to new spectral regions and stimulate novel applications of frequency combs.

A stable frequency comb directly referenced to rubidium electromagnetically induced transparency and two-photon transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hou, Dong; Wu, Jiutao; Zhang, Shuangyou

2014-03-17

We demonstrate an approach to create a stable erbium-fiber-based frequency comb at communication band by directly locking the combs to two rubidium atomic transitions resonances (electromagnetically induced transparency absorption and two-photon absorption), respectively. This approach directly transfers the precision and stability of the atomic transitions to the comb. With its distinguishing feature of compactness by removing the conventional octave-spanning spectrum and f-to-2f beating facilities and the ability to directly control the comb's frequency at the atomic transition frequency, this stable optical comb can be widely used in optical communication, frequency standard, and optical spectroscopy and microscopy.

Optical Frequency Metrology of an Iodine-Stabilized He-Ne Laser Using the Frequency Comb of a Quantum-Interference-Stabilized Mode-Locked Laser

PubMed Central

Smith, Ryan P.; Roos, Peter A.; Wahlstrand, Jared K.; Pipis, Jessica A.; Rivas, Maria Belmonte; Cundiff, Steven T.

2007-01-01

We perform optical frequency metrology of an iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser using a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser frequency comb that is stabilized using quantum interference of photocurrents in a semiconductor. Using this technique, we demonstrate carrier-envelope offset frequency fluctuations of less than 5 mHz using a 1 s gate time. With the resulting stable frequency comb, we measure the optical frequency of the iodine transition [127I2 R(127) 11-5 i component] to be 473 612 214 712.96 ± 0.66 kHz, well within the uncertainty of the CIPM recommended value. The stability of the quantum interference technique is high enough such that it does not limit the measurements. PMID:27110472

Filterless frequency 12-tupling optical millimeter-wave generation using two cascaded dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators.

PubMed

Zhu, Zihang; Zhao, Shanghong; Zheng, Wanze; Wang, Wei; Lin, Baoqin

2015-11-10

A novel frequency 12-tupling optical millimeter-wave (mm-wave) generation using two cascaded dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators (DP-MZMs) without an optical filter is proposed and demonstrated by computer simulation. By properly adjusting the amplitude and phase of radio frequency (RF) driving signal and the direct current (DC) bias points of two DP-MZMs, a 120 GHz mm-wave with an optical sideband suppression ratio (OSSR) of 25.1 dB and a radio frequency spurious suppression ratio (RFSSR) of 19.1 dB is shown to be generated from a 10 GHz RF driving signal, which largely reduces the response frequency of electronic devices. Furthermore, it is also proved to be valid that even if the phase difference of RF driving signals, the RF driving voltage, and the DC bias voltage deviate from the ideal values to a certain degree, the performance is still acceptable. Since no optical filter is employed to suppress the undesired optical sidebands, a high-spectral-purity mm-wave signal tunable from 48 to 216 GHz can be obtained theoretically when a RF driving signal from 4 to 18 GHz is applied to the DP-MZMs, and the system can be readily implemented in wavelength-division-multiplexing upconversion systems to provide high-quality optical local oscillator signal.

Optical Frequency Stabilization and Optical Phase Locked Loops: Golden Threads of Precision Measurement

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taubman, Matthew S.

Stabilization of lasers through locking to optical cavities, atomic transitions, and molecular transitions has enabled the field of precision optical measurement since shortly after the invention of the laser. Recent advances in the field have produced an optical clock that is orders of magnitude more stable than those of just a few years prior. Phase locking of one laser to another, or to a frequency offset from another, formed the basis for linking stable lasers across the optical spectrum, such frequency chains exhibiting progressively finer precision through the years. Phase locking between the modes within a femtosecond pulsed laser hasmore » yielded the optical frequency comb, one of the most beautiful and useful instruments of our time. This talk gives an overview of these topics, from early work through to the latest 1E-16 thermal noise-limited precision recently attained for a stable laser, and the ongoing quest for ever finer precision and accuracy. The issues of understanding and measuring line widths and shapes are also studied in some depth, highlighting implications for servo design for sub-Hz line widths.« less

Electronic tunneling currents at optical frequencies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Faris, S. M.; Fan, B.; Gustafson, T. K.

1975-01-01

Rectification characteristics of nonsuperconducting metal-barrier-metal junctions as deduced from electronic tunneling theory have been observed experimentally for optical frequency irradiation of the junction.