Patent Application
20100103965
The present invention relates to a method of controlling a coherence length and to a light source device using the control method.
In recent years, dramatic progress has been made in technology in measurement, medical and biotechnological fields. Requirement for the light source used in these fields have diversified accordingly.
As the light source, there are lamp, various lasers, diode and so on. Although these light sources will become increasingly differentiated according to their characteristics, as a trend in recent years, the need for a light source with high radiance has been increasing. It can be said that this is connected with the fact that the light source is being used in a more microscopic field.
As the light source having the high radiance, the laser, especially a semiconductor laser which can be used readily is often used. However, although a height of coherence unique to the laser is a valuable feature, in some utilization, for example, for an image display device or an illumination optical device, it is an unwelcome feature. An invention in which a speckle appearing due to the high coherence is removed has been proposed (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).
There is also a semiconductor light source (LED, SLD) which is not the laser light, namely that the coherence is relatively low. However, the radiance is not enough, and a band of wavelength is limited to an infrared region.
With respect to the coherence, findings concerning the laser light are already presented (Non Patent Document 1). In general, by observing interference fringes of a target light by Michelson interferometer, a coherence length L can be determined. Further, it is also known that this coherence length L is almost represented by the following expression 1.
L=c/Δν (here, c: speed of light, Δν: line width) expression 1
Furthermore, when wavelengths that indicate a half-power in light spectrum are λ1, λ2 (λ1<λ2) the expression 1 is also represented by the following expression 2.
L=λ
1λ2λ2−λ1) expression 2
And this suggests that control of the coherence length is possible through control of the light spectrum. In the expression 2, (λ2−λ1) is a full width at half maximum (FWHM).
In an ASE (Amplified Spontaneous Emission) light source of the light source devices using a transition element-doped optical waveguide as a light emitter, a spontaneous emission light component and a component that is amplified by stimulated emission are mixed. In particular, in a case of a high power ASE light source, since the stimulated emission component is large, it is conceivable that the relationship between the light spectrum and the coherence length mentioned above can be used as a gauge.
The light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter is mainly formed from, for example as shown in
There are proposals for the light source device using an optical waveguide in which the rare earth element is doped as the transition element (Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, Patent Document 5). These proposals are the proposals for an increase of output power, and the control of the light spectrum for controlling the coherence length is not taken into account.
In addition, an incoherent light source whose line width is narrow, and which is incoherent compared with the laser, using a narrow-band reflector, has been invented (Patent Document 6). However, in a case where a common fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is used, since the line width is on the order of an angstrom, the light spectrum shows a sharp peak, and the coherence length may be shorter than the laser, but it is considered to be not enough. When comparing this with a coherence length of a general wide-band light source etc., it can be said that the coherence length is long. In a case of this manner, also because a bandwidth of the common FBG is narrower than resolution of a light spectrum analyzer in general use, it is not enough as a method for obtaining an easily controllable spectrum. Furthermore, there is no proposal for the control of the coherence length.
Further, an active control of the coherence length in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter has not been proposed so far.
Here, it is possible for the rare earth element as the transition element to obtain light of various wavelengths, and also its combination has been presented in Non Patent Documents 2, 3. And chromium as the transition element is used for a ruby laser etc.
Patent Document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,930
Non Patent Document 1: Hiroyoshi OTAKE, The directions for Laser and the precautions, The Optronics Co., Ltd., P33
The active control of the coherence length in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter has not been proposed so far.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source device which is capable of controlling the coherence length of an output light without changing the transition element-doped optical waveguide in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter.
According to a first feature of the present invention, a first light source device using a transition element-doped optical waveguide as a light emitter, which is characterized in that a light output end and an excitation light source to excite the transition element-doped optical waveguide are connected to one end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through an optocoupler and a reflector is connected to the other end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through a variable attenuator, thereby changing a coherence length of light that is output from the light output end, is provided.
According to a second feature of the present invention, a second light source device using a transition element-doped optical waveguide as a light emitter, which is characterized in that a light output end and an excitation light source to excite the transition element-doped optical waveguide are connected to one end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through an optocoupler and a reflector is connected to the other end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide, thereby changing a shape of a light emission spectrum of the transition element-doped optical waveguide, is provided.
The present invention can be used for, of course, communication system in a field of the optical communications, and also used for evaluation measurement etc. as the light source in the application field of optical transmission. It is favorable to an imaging device, a medical light source and an analytic light source.
More specifically, the present invention is also used for signals for optical communications, a monitoring light source, a light source for an optical pathological examination system, an excitation light source of fluorescent dye such as tumor marker, a light source for an oral tissue observation instrument, an endoscope light source such as an optical fiber light source for surgery, an OCT light source for an optical tomography scanner, a light source for various optical microscopes such as a particulates observation microscope, a light source for an optical inspection device, a light source for an apparatus of color properties measurement of fluid, a light source for a microscopic foreign material inspection device, a light source for a filter inspection device, and an inspection light source for various sensors.
Furthermore, the present invention is also used as a light source required for a fluorescence display, a pointer, an optical memory, holography and so on.
Through the present invention, the output light whose coherence length is controlled can be provided without changing the transition element-doped optical waveguide in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter.
With regard to the first feature of the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter, a light output end and an excitation light source to excite the transition element-doped optical waveguide are connected to one end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through an optocoupler. And a reflector is connected to the other end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through a variable attenuator. Since the variable attenuator is arranged between the transition element-doped optical waveguide and the reflector, a light power which returns to the transition element-doped optical waveguide from the reflector is controlled, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the light spectrum of the output light is enlarged or reduced.
The optical waveguide mentioned here indicates an optical waveguide that has a core-clad structure, and indicates an optical waveguide where the core-clad structure is given to the optical fiber or on a substrate etc.
The coherence length is linked with the line width or the FWHM of the light spectrum, thus it becomes possible to control the coherence length by the control of the light spectrum.
In the following, the first feature of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings 2˜4.
Since the excitation light source 101 is the excitation light source for activating the transition element inside the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, it is required that an excitation light source containing a proper wavelength be selected in accordance with transition element variations. For instance, a semiconductor laser, a fiber-coupled semiconductor laser, a semiconductor laser excitation solid-state laser, a semiconductor laser excitation fiber laser, a semiconductor laser excitation Raman laser, and these wavelength-conversion lasers, can be used. An isolator could be inserted between the excitation light source 101 and the optocoupler 102 as needed. Further, light whose excitation wavelength is formed from a plurality of wavelengths is also possible.
The optocoupler 102 is the optocoupler that leads excitation light which is output from the excitation light source 101 into the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 and leads the light from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 to the output end 105. For instance, although there are optocouplers made by the melting and drawing and filter-type optocouplers, it is not limited to these structures as long as the optocoupler has functions mentioned above.
The transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 indicates an optical waveguide whose core part is doped with the transition element.
With respect to the doped transition element, one kind of element is possible, and a combination of a plurality of elements is also possible.
A base material forming the optical waveguide can employ any glass as long as it is possible to form the core-clad structure, such as silica glass, fluoride glass, and chalcogenide glass, or glass formed by the sol-gel process.
The light used as the light source is output from the output end 105. A reflection reduction film could be provided at the output end 105 in order that the reflection light from the output end does not return to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103. Or, an isolator could be provided between the optocoupler 102 and the output end 105 for the same purpose.
The reflector 201 could be a metal film or a dielectric multilayer as long as a part or all of the light produced in the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 is reflected and returns to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103.
Regarding the variable attenuator 202, any variable attenuator can be used as long as it provides a loss to the light from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 to the reflector 201, the light returning to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 from the reflector 201. The variable attenuator could be, of course, a commercial variable attenuator, attenuation by a bending loss of the fiber, a reflection filter using a dielectric multiple layers, a filter utilizing absorption of a substance, attenuation using knife edge, a means shifting an optical axis, and attenuation using a means rotating a reflection mirror etc.
Furthermore, with regard to the attenuation in the variable attenuator 202, negative attenuation, i.e. amplification is possible. For example, the variable attenuator 202 could employ an optical amplifier that has no isolator, and spectrum formation by adding can be also performed.
In addition, with respect to these optical components that form an optical circuit of the light source device, they are connected through the optical waveguide, and the optical fiber is preferable. In this case, if possible, to reduce a connection loss, it is desirable to unify the optical fiber used for the optical components and the optical fiber that connects them. Being a single mode is ideal for the light produced in the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 as these optical fibers. However, if they are impossible due to circumstances, it is desirable to design so that only as low a mode as possible is permitted.
Or, it is possible that the optical waveguide is not used for the connection of these optical components that form the optical circuit of the light source device, and the optical components could be directly connected or could be connected through space.
Moreover, for example, in a case of iron group element of the transition element, although light emission wavelength etc. are greatly influenced by material or a ligand field of host, since such influence is relatively small in a case of the rare earth element, the rare earth element is preferable.
With regard to the second feature of the present invention, in order to solve the problems mentioned above, in the light source device using the transition element-doped optical waveguide as the light emitter, a light output end and an excitation light source to excite the transition element-doped optical waveguide are connected to one end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide through an optocoupler. And a reflector is connected to the other end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide. The reflector is placed to design the reflection spectrum significantly. An output light is a mixed light of a light that is directly output from the one end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide and a light that is a part of light output from the other end of the transition element-doped optical waveguide, which is reflected and returns at the reflector and comes out through the transition element-doped optical waveguide. When the light emitter in the transition element-doped optical waveguide is sufficiently excited and an optical loss in this optical circuit is sufficiently small, a power of the light that is reflected at the reflector and returns to the transition element-doped optical waveguide then comes out through this transition element-doped optical waveguide becomes stronger than a power of the light that is directly output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide. Therefore, a shape of reflection spectrum of the reflector is reflected in a light spectrum of the output light. As a result, the FWHM of the light spectrum of the output light is enlarged or reduced.
The optical waveguide mentioned here indicates an optical waveguide that has a core-clad structure, and indicates an optical waveguide where the core-clad structure is given to the optical fiber or on a substrate etc.
The coherence length is linked with the line width or the FWHM of the light spectrum, thus it becomes possible to control the coherence length by the control of the light spectrum.
In the following, the second feature of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings 5˜14.
Regarding the second feature of the present invention, it is required that the reflector 201 be formed so that a reflection spectrum in which a reflectance is different depending on the wavelength is designed in a target wavelength band and it can take effect. For the sake of this, the reflector 201 is formed from the metal film or absorption materials, or formed by one or a plurality of fiber Bragg grating (FBG), or formed by a reflection film including reflection dielectric multiple layers. It is best to form the reflector 201 from the reflection film including dielectric multiple layers because the design of the reflection spectrum is especially easy.
For the formation of the output light spectrum, it is desirable that a difference between a maximum reflectance and a minimum reflectance of the reflection spectrum of the reflector 201 should be large. Therefore, it is desirable that a wavelength bandwidth of the reflection spectrum in the target wavelength band should be greater than or equal to 1 nm, and it is desirable that the difference between the maximum reflectance and the minimum reflectance should be greater than or equal to 6%, and also a reflector whose maximum reflectance is 7˜100% is desirable.
A case where the wavelength bandwidth of the reflection spectrum is less than 1 nm is not desirable because the reflectance of the light spectrum cannot be accurately measured by resolution of a commercial light spectrum analyzer and there is a need to prepare a remarkably sophisticated measurement system.
In a case where the difference between the maximum reflectance and the minimum reflectance in the target wavelength band is small, practically, the formation of the spectrum is difficult. And in a case where the difference between the maximum reflectance and the minimum reflectance is less than 6%, a desired shape of the spectrum is not formed.
Furthermore, in a case where the maximum reflectance is low, the light cannot return and the formation of the spectrum shape becomes difficult. Although it depends on a gain coefficient of the transition element-doped optical waveguide, especially in a case where the maximum reflectance is less than 7%, it tends to be difficult.
When enlarging the FWHM of the light spectrum of the output light, the reflector is selected so that the reflectance of the reflector is decreased for a strongly output wavelength and the reflectance of the reflector is increased for a weakly output light in the light spectrum output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103. Further, when narrowing the FWHM of the light spectrum of the output light, the reflector is selected so that the reflectance of the reflector is increased for the strongly output wavelength and the reflectance of the reflector is decreased for the weakly output light in the light spectrum output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103.
As a setting way of the reflector 201, there are some ways, such as a way in which the reflection film is formed at an end face of the optical fiber that is connected to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, a way in which the reflection film is directly formed at an end face of the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, a way in which the reflector is set at the end face of the optical fiber connected to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 or at the end face of the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, and a way in which the reflector faces the end face of the optical fiber connected to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 or faces the end face of the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, through a lens. However, the setting way is not limited to these ways as long as a function of reflecting a part of the light from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 by the reflector and returning it to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 is secured. In addition, it is also possible to use a plurality of reflectors.
Further, although a band in a range of wavelength 300 nm˜1200 nm is a characteristic of the target wavelength band, also in a case of light except this wavelength band, the same performance can be made as long as the optical components forming the present invention and the doped transition element are properly selected.
With respect to these optical components that form the optical circuit of the light source device, they are connected through the optical waveguide, and the optical fiber is preferable. In particular, a step index optical fiber is preferable for the light output end. Additionally, if possible, to reduce the connection loss, it is desirable to unify types of the optical fiber used for the optical components and the optical fiber that connects them. Being a single mode is ideal for the target light as these optical fibers. However, if they are impossible due to circumstances, it is desirable to design so that only as low a mode as possible is permitted. Since presence of a plurality of modes makes the control of the coherence difficult, when controlling the coherence, like the control of the present invention, the mode has to be limited. More specifically, it is desirable that a V-number should be smaller than or equal to 3.832 for the target light. It is highly desirable that it should be smaller than or equal to 2.405.
In the following, the present invention will be explained by citing embodiments. An embodiment 1 corresponds to the first feature of the present invention. Embodiments 2˜5 correspond to the second feature of the present invention. A comparative example 1 is an example that contrasts with the embodiment 2.
As the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, an erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber was used. Here, in order to obtain light of 550 nm band of Er3+, this fiber was used. An Er3+ concentration was 5000 ppm, a length was 110 cm.
As the excitation light source 101, a semiconductor laser of a wavelength 974 nm, made by Bookham, was used.
As the optocoupler 102, a melted-drawn type optocoupler capable of the coupling and branching of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source 101 and the light emitted from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 which is activated by the excitation light, was used.
As the reflector 201, a reflection mirror employing the dielectric multiple layers that have a reflection spectrum, as shown in
As the variable attenuator 202, as shown in
The excitation light output from the excitation light source 101 activates the erbium inside the erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber that is the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, and the sufficiently excited erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber emits a fluorescence of 543 nm. Although this fluorescence is basically emitted without directivity, through the core-clad structure of the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, the fluorescence propagates through the core of the erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber and travels in directions of the optocoupler 102 and the reflector 201 in
The output lights when employing the excitation light whose output is 400 mW and setting decrements of the variable attenuator 202 to 0%, 50% and 75%, were respectively measured by a light spectrum analyzer AQ-6315 made by Ando Electric Co. Ltd. Measured FWHMs and coherence lengths that are calculated from these values are shown in table 1. It was verified that the respective FWHMs were 2.63 nm, 4.19 nm and 4.85 nm. Further, the coherence lengths calculated from the measurement FWHM were 111 μm, 70 μm and 61 μm respectively, and the coherence length were able to be controlled by controlling the decrement of the variable attenuator 202.
As the excitation light source 101, a semiconductor laser of a wavelength 974 nm, made by Bookham, was used.
As the optocoupler 102, a melted-drawn type optocoupler capable of the coupling and branching of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source 101 and the light of a target wavelength band, emitted from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 which is activated by the excitation light, was used.
As the reflector 201, a reflector having the dielectric multiple layers which are provided at the end face of the fiber for enlarging the FWHM of the output light spectrum, was used. A reflection spectrum of this film is shown in
The optical components used in the embodiment were connected through a silica optical fiber whose V-number is 3.00 for the light of 543 nm.
The excitation light output from the excitation light source 101 activates the erbium inside the erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber that is the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, and the sufficiently excited erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber emits a fluorescence of 543 nm. Although this fluorescence is basically emitted without directivity, through the core-clad structure of the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, the fluorescence propagates through the core of the erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber and travels in directions of the optocoupler 102 and the reflector 201 shown in
The output light when employing the excitation light whose output is 400 mW was measured by the light spectrum analyzer AQ-6315 made by Ando Electric Co. Ltd. Measured output light spectrum is shown in
A configuration of a comparative example 1 is completely the same as the embodiment 2, except that the reflector of the embodiment 2 is removed and a nonreflective end is provided. Output light spectra obtained in this case are shown in
The FWHM of the output spectrum of the embodiment 2 became wider than the comparative example 1, and the calculated coherence length became shorter by about 5 micrometer.
A configuration of an embodiment 3 is the same as the embodiment 2, except that the reflectance of the reflector of the embodiment 2 is 100% in a band of 535 nm ˜555 nm. The output light spectrum obtained is shown in
A configuration of an embodiment 4 is the same as the embodiment 2, except that the difference between the maximum reflectance and the minimum reflectance is 60% and also the maximum reflectance is 60% in the reflection spectrum of the reflector of the embodiment 2. This reflector is a reflector that is designed for the sake of enlarging the FWHM. The output light spectrum obtained is shown in
As can be understood from these embodiments, by using a properly made reflector, it becomes possible to change the FWHM of the output light spectrum.
As the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103, an erbium-doped fluoride optical fiber was used. Here, in order to obtain light of 543 nm band of Er3+, this fiber was used. An Er3+ concentration was 3000 ppm, a length was 200 cm.
As the excitation light source 101 and the optocoupler 102, the same excitation light source and optocoupler as the embodiment 2 were used.
With respect to the lens 401 here, it is a lens for the sake of obtaining a collimated light to obtain the reflection light with efficiency. As the lens, any single lens and any lens group formed from a plurality of lenses are possible.
The lens 401 and the variable reflector 402 have the function of varying the power of the light which returns to the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103. A fiber type device having the same function is also possible, and a configuration of the variable reflector 402 could be changed.
A structure in which the reflection mirrors radiated with the light from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 through the lens 401 are changed by rotating the variable reflector 402 and the reflectance is changed, is employed.
The output lights when employing the excitation light whose output is 400 mW and setting the reflectance of the variable reflector 402 to 0%, 25% and 100%, were respectively measured by the light spectrum analyzer AQ-6315 made by Ando Electric Co. Ltd. Measured output light spectra are shown in
It becomes possible to change the FWHM at the place.
Also in the present embodiment, it is possible to change the spectrum shape, and consequently the coherence length were able to be changed.
In the output light from the output end 105, the light directly output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 and the light which returns at the variable reflector 402 and passes through the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 while being amplified then is output, are mixed. By changing the reflectance of the variable reflector 402, the power of the light which passes through the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 while being amplified and is output, is changed. The power of the light passing through the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 while being amplified is greater as compared with the light directly output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103. In addition, the FWHM of the amplified light is smaller as compared with the light directly output from the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103. As a consequence, it becomes possible to control the power of the light returning at the variable reflector 402 and passing through the transition element-doped optical waveguide 103 while being amplified and being output, and possible to control the FWHM of the output light, and therefore the coherence length were also able to be controlled.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-011458 | Jan 2007 | JP | national |
| 2007-027709 | Feb 2007 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2007/066723 | 8/29/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/16/2009 |
