Patent Application
20110026102
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to nonlinear frequency conversion laser systems. In particular, the disclosure relates to a method and device for adjusting the output frequency of the seed source integrated into a Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) fiber laser system.
2. Prior Art Discussion
Fiber lasers are frequently used to converts the radiation at one wavelength into another, different wavelength. For example, the infrared radiation (IR) can be converted into visible light which is used in multiple applications. The efficient conversion of IR into visible light can be effectively realized by utilizing a frequency doubling crystal1 in an external resonator. 1U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,042 fully incorporated herein by reference.
A variety of fiber laser applications are in need for, among others, the single mode (SM) operation, narrow optical linewidth, and low noise performance.2 This can be attained by a known optical schematic including, in its basic configuration, a single frequency seed laser. The practical implementation of such radiation includes distributed feedback (DFB) fiber lasers, i.e., lasers which operate in a single resonator mode, incorporated in a MOPA configuration. In the MOPA configuration, a single-frequency seed DFB laser radiates light at a first wavelength; the lazed light is then amplified by a fiber amplifier. The amplified light is further coupled into a resonator containing nonlinear crystal which converts the first wavelength into the desired one.3 2U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,909 fully incorporated herein by reference.3U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,042
The above-discussed optical system operates in the desired manner provided that the first wavelength of SM radiation at the output of the seed laser should substantially match its resonant frequency. Various approaches used for the adjustment of the resonant frequency are known.
The insufficiency of the resonant frequency adjustment has been noted and dealt with. Hence several techniques are used for controlling the output frequency of the single frequency seed laser.4 The configuration of the single frequency fiber laser basically includes an active, i.e., doped fiber having a phase-shift fiber grating which is written in the fiber core. When the single frequency laser is pumped at the desired wavelength, it becomes a single frequency light source. 4U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,909, U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,042
One of the techniques used for changing the wavelength of single frequency laser, defined by its grating, is based on the controlled application of mechanical strain to the region of the fiber including the grating. The applied tension or compressed forces cause changes of not only the fiber's geometrical dimensions, but also of the refractive index of the fiber. As a consequence, the frequency of the grating, and, therefore, resonant frequency of MOPA can be controllably changed. The other technique includes the application of thermal stress to the fiber of the single frequency seed source. Similarly to a mechanical stress, a thermal stress affects the fiber's dimensions and refractive index and, thus, the resonant frequency. One of the issues associated with both of the techniques includes a relatively slow response of the treated active fiber. In the field, when frequency changes should be made in a fraction of second, the above techniques may be associated with seconds and even minutes. Still another issue relates to the reliability of the DFB laser. The fiber is a delicate, easily damaged configuration which, as a result of numerous thermo-mechanical stresses, may have a relatively short lifetime.
The parameters of DFB lasers may be changed by altering a pump power. In particular, controllable fluctuations of the pump power cause change of the output power and central wavelength of the DFB laser. The effects pump power modulation may have on a standard single-shift DFB laser include rapid changes of the laser core's refractive index due to the high intensity in the laser cavity in addition to the output power change.5 As a consequence, the relative central wavelength shift is increased. The wavelength shift and DFB output power change, however, are detrimental to the desired operation of 5N.Y. Voo and M. Ibsen “Multiple phase-shift all fibre DFB lasers”, Optoelectronics research Centre, University of Southampton SO17 BJ, UK (2006). The paper is fully incorporated herein by reference.
all fiber DFB lasers and can be reduced by configuring these lasers as a multiple phase-shift DFB laser.6 6Id.
A need, therefore, exists for a resonant frequency conversion system utilizing MOPA fiber laser unit with a DFB seed laser which is characterized by a rapid wavelength shift in search for a resonant frequency while avoiding the issues that may be associated with the known prior art.
A further need exists for a method for controllably tuning the frequency of the MOPA in the disclosed resonant frequency conversion system.
These needs are met by a laser system configured to convert one wavelength into another by controlling a pump power coupled into a single frequency seed fiber laser. Accordingly, the present disclosure utilizes the effect—wavelength shift—taught by the known prior art as parasitic.
Within the context of the disclosure, of course, a rapid wavelength shift is the desirable outcome. As a consequence, the disclosed method and laser system for adjusting the wavelength shift of the seed laser are based on the known pump power change configuration. However, in contrast to the known prior art, the disclosed system avoids other detrimental effects, such as the instability of power at the output of DFB fiber laser which was considered to be a detriment in the known prior art.
The disclosed system is thus configured, among others, with a resonator and a MOPA unit including a DFB fiber seed laser and a fiber amplifier. The adjustment of the resonant frequency is realized by controllably changing a pump power which is coupled into the DFB. To provide a stable power outcome of radiation lazed by the MOPA, the fiber amplifier operates in a saturated mode. Therefore, the output power of the MOPA remains substantially constant despite controllable changes of pump power.
The disclosed method utilizes the concept underlying the above-discussed system. In particular, the method provides for controllably changing a pump power in response to a signal generated by a controller which executes a software operative to compare the detected wavelength at the output of the frequency conversion unit to the desired resonant frequency.
The above and other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following specific description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the disclosed method and system. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are far from precise scale.
During operation of system 10, it is often necessary to adjust frequency f1 of light source 12 to a resonant frequency thereof if an output 18 of system 10 is not radiated at the desired output frequency f2. The deviation of the output frequency f2 from the desired reference value is monitored by a controller 20 capable of executing computer readable media which allows for determining frequency f2. If the determined frequency does not match the stored reference value RV, controller 20 generates a signal coupled into a pump laser unit 22 which is operative to pump light source 12. Upon receiving the signal from controller 20, pump unit 22 is operative to modify its output pump power by changing applied current I.
The power changes of the pump causes a wavelength shift of light source 12. The tuning of light source 12, which thus “scans the entire cavity resonance envelope”7, continues until frequency f, of light source 12 corresponds to the resonant frequency. The latter can be easily identified by determining frequency f2. If the determined frequency at the output of converter 16 matches the reference value, no signal is generated by controller 20. Otherwise, controller 20 generates a signal modulating the output pump power of pump unit 22. The pump unit 22 may be comprised of a plurality of SM laser diodes 34. Alternatively, pump unit 22 may be configured with a plurality of SM fiber lasers 36 combined together by a combiner. The pumping configurations may include both end and side pumping schemes, as readily understood by one of ordinary skills in the laser arts. 7U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,042, col. 4, lines 25-26.
The power adjustment of the active fiber of light source 12 allows rapid tuning over a wide frequency range at a rate which is substantially greater than the tuning rate if either thermal or mechanical or a combination of these is used. However, the active fiber, one of the components of the DBF laser, is not nearly as affected as a fiber exposed to thermo-mechanical stresses as taught by the prior art.
The pump power fluctuations affect not only the stability of the wavelength shift of DFB laser source 12, but also the radiation power at the output of source 12. The latter, however, is a detriment to the desired operation of system 10, as known to one of ordinary skills in the fiber laser arts. Accordingly, to remedy this undesirable effect, power amplifier 14 is configured to operate in a saturated mode. In other words, even if the pump power substantially changes causing the fluctuation of the light source radiation in response to the signal from controller 20, the radiation power at the output of amplifier 14 of the MOPA output will remain substantially uniformly stable.
Referring to
The light source 12 is coupled to amplifier 14 operating in a saturated mode and lazing the MOPA's output which impinges upon non-linear resonator 16. Shown is an exemplary schematic, resonator 16 may have three or more reflective elements 40 placed within the resonant cavity such that the optical axis follows a folded path that is always at non-normal incidence to the cavity mirrors. A nonlinear crystal 42 is introduced along the upstream of the light path within the resonant cavity and configured to convert frequency f1 of the MOPA's output into frequency f2. The nonlinear optical crystal 42 may be selected, among others, from the group consisting of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), lithium triborate (LBO), lithium niobate (LN), beta-barium borate (BBO), periodically-poled KTP, periodically-poled KTA, and periodically-poled LN. As discussed above, the resonant mode is preferably, but not necessarily, a fundamental transverse mode.
Turning to
Referring
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system and method. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
