Modeling of ultra-low noise operation in Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers

傅里叶域锁模 (FDML) 激光器中超低噪声运行的建模

• 批准号: 320985564
• 负责人: Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Jirauschek
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Professur für Computational Photonics
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2016-12-31 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/320985564?language=en
• 关键词: Modeling; ultra; low; noise; operation

The goal of this project is to model ultra-low noise operation in Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) fiber cavity laser systems. These generate fast frequency sweeps over a wide spectral range, as needed for various medical imaging and sensing applications. An important example is optical coherence tomography (OCT), which yields depth-resolved information of human tissue. Typically, the FDML laser exhibits strong high-frequency intensity fluctuations, and the instantaneous coherence length is limited to a few mm. For highly dispersion compensated FDML lasers, an ultra-low noise operating regime has been discovered which is distinguished by nearly vanishing intensity noise and offers considerably improved coherence properties. Consequently, significantly better OCT performance is obtained, and novel applications such as FDML-based ultrashort optical pulse generation become possible. Scientifically, this operating regime is highly interesting because it relies on a hitherto unidentified self-stabilization mechanism. In this proposal, we aim at developing a theoretical model for ultra-low noise FDML operation, which will then be employed to investigate and advance related applications. Here we build on our simulation approach developed in the DFG project JI 115-3/1, already accounting for the polarization dynamics which has been shown to significantly affect the noise properties of the FDML laser. This approach will be extended to include the nonlinear dynamics of the semiconductor optical amplifier which also plays an important role in this context, as well as other relevant effects. We will use the resulting model to identify the self-stabilization mechanism enabling ultra-low noise operation, and to systematically improve the laser performance in close collaboration with our experimental partner. This project will also include the development and investigation of special applications enabled by this operating regime, in particular the compression of the FDML spectrum to ultrashort pulses and the emergence of frequency comb structures in the spectrum. Furthermore, we will theoretically investigate FDML lasers based on Raman gain media, featuring a much faster gain recovery than the typically used semiconductor optical amplifiers, as well as configurations based on doped fiber amplifiers with a quasi-static behavior. Hereby we will clarify how the gain recovery time affects the coherence properties of FDML lasers, and in particular ultra-low noise operation.

本项目的目标是模拟傅立叶域锁模(FDML)光纤腔激光器系统的超低噪声运行。这些可在宽光谱范围内产生快速频率扫描，以满足各种医学成像和传感应用的需要。一个重要的例子是光学相干层析成像(OCT)，它产生人体组织的深度分辨信息。通常，FDML激光器表现出强烈的高频强度起伏，瞬时相干长度被限制在几毫米以内。对于高度色散补偿的FDML激光器，已经发现了一种超低噪声工作区域，其特点是强度噪声几乎为零，并提供了显著改善的相干特性。因此，获得了显著更好的OCT性能，并使基于FDML的超短光脉冲的新应用成为可能。从科学上讲，这种运行机制非常有趣，因为它依赖于一种迄今未知的自我稳定机制。在这项建议中，我们旨在开发一个超低噪声FDML操作的理论模型，然后将用于研究和推进相关应用。在这里，我们建立在DFG项目JI 115-3/1中开发的模拟方法的基础上，该方法已经考虑了已被证明显著影响FDML激光器噪声特性的偏振动力学。这一方法将被扩展到包括半导体光放大器的非线性动力学以及其他相关的效应，在这方面也起着重要作用。我们将使用所得到的模型来确定能够实现超低噪声操作的自稳定机制，并与我们的实验合作伙伴密切合作来系统地改进激光器的性能。该项目还将包括开发和调查这一操作制度带来的特殊应用，特别是将FDML频谱压缩为超短脉冲以及频谱中出现频率梳结构。此外，我们将从理论上研究基于拉曼增益介质的FDML激光器，该激光器具有比通常使用的半导体光放大器快得多的增益恢复速度，以及基于准静态行为的掺杂光纤放大器的配置。因此，我们将阐明增益恢复时间如何影响FDML激光器的相干特性，特别是超低噪声工作。

项目成果

Modeling of the Ultra-Stable Operating Regime in Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) Lasers

傅里叶域锁模 (FDML) 激光器超稳定工作状态的建模

• DOI: 10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2019.8873213
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)
• 作者: M. Schmidt;T. Pfeiffer;C. Grill;R. Huber;C. Jirauschek
• 通讯作者: C. Jirauschek

Coherence of Fourier Domain Mode-Locked (FDML) Lasers in the Ultra-Stable Regime

超稳定状态下傅里叶域锁模 (FDML) 激光器的相干性

• DOI: 10.1109/iclo48556.2020.9285488
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: 2020 International Conference Laser Optics (ICLO)
• 作者: M. Schmidt;C. Grill;R. Huber;C. Jirauschek
• 通讯作者: C. Jirauschek

Intensity pattern types in broadband Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers operating beyond the ultra-stable regime

• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-021-07600-1
• 发表时间: 2020-12
• 期刊: Applied Physics B
• 作者: M. Schmidt;C. Grill;S. Lotz;T. Pfeiffer;R. Huber;C. Jirauschek

Coexistence of Intensity Pattern Types in Broadband Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) Lasers

宽带傅里叶域锁模 (FDML) 激光器中强度图案类型的共存

• DOI: 10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2019.8872381
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)
• 作者: M. Schmidt;T. Pfeiffer;C. Grill;R. Huber;C. Jirauschek
• 通讯作者: C. Jirauschek

Self-stabilization mechanism in ultra-stable Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers

• DOI: 10.1364/osac.389972
• 发表时间: 2020-02
• 期刊: OSA Continuum
• 影响因子: 1.6
• 作者: M. Schmidt;T. Pfeiffer;C. Grill;R. Huber;C. Jirauschek