Cristine Calil Kores

Fabry-Pérot resonator: spectral line shapes, generic and related Airy distributions, linewidths, finesses, and performance at low or frequency-dependent reflectivity

We systematically characterize the Fabry-Pérot resonator. We derive the generic Airy distribution of a Fabry-Pérot resonator, which equals the internal resonance enhancement factor, and show that all related Airy distributions are obtained by simple scaling factors. We analyze the textbook approaches to the Fabry-Pérot resonator and point out various misconceptions. We verify that the sum of the mode profiles of all longitudinal modes is the fundamental physical function that characterizes the Fabry-Pérot resonator and generates the Airy distribution. Consequently, the resonator losses are quantified by the linewidths of the underlying Lorentzian lines and not by the measured Airy linewidth. Therefore, we introduce the Lorentzian finesse which provides the spectral resolution of the Lorentzian lines, whereas the usually considered Airy finesse only quantifies the performance of the Fabry-Pérot resonator as a scanning spectrometer. We also point out that the concepts of linewidth and finesse of the Airy distribution of a Fabry-Pérot resonator break down at low reflectivity. Furthermore, we show that a Fabry-Pérot resonator has no cut-off resonance wavelength. Finally, we investigate the influence of frequency-dependent mirror reflectivities, allowing for the direct calculation of its deformed mode profiles.

Temperature dependence of the spectral characteristics of distributed-feedback resonators

We characterize the spectral response of a distributed-feedback resonator when subject to a thermal chirp. An Al2O3 rib waveguide with a corrugated surface Bragg grating inscribed into its SiO2 top cladding is experimentally investigated. We induce a near-to-linear temperature gradient along the resonator, leading to a similar variation of the grating period, and characterize its spectral response in terms of wavelength and linewidth of the resonance peak. Simulations are carried out, showing good agreement with the experimental results and indicating that the wavelength of the resonance peak is a result only of the total accumulated phase shift. For any chirp profile we are able to calculate the reflectivities at the resonance wavelength, and this information largely explains how the linewidth of the resonance changes. This result shows that the increase in linewidth is governed by the increase of the resonator outcoupling losses.

Temperature dependence of spectral characteristics of distributed feedback resonators

The spectral response of a distributed-feedback resonator with a thermal chirp is investigated. An Al2O3 channel waveguide with a surface Bragg grating inscribed into its SiO2 top cladding is studied. A linear temperature gradient along the resonator leads to a corresponding variation of the grating period. We characterize its spectral response with respect to wavelength and linewidth changes of the resonance peak. Simulated results show good agreement with the experimental data, indicating that the resonance wavelength is determined by the total accumulated phase shift. The calculated grating reflectivities at the resonance wavelength largely explain the observed changes of the resonance linewidth. This agreement demonstrates that the linewidth increase is caused by the increase of resonator outcoupling losses.

Frequency and linewidth dependence of distributed-feedback resonators on thermal chirp

We present an analysis of the spectral characteristics of distributed-feedback (DFB) laser resonators with thermally chirped distributed mirrors. Such DFB resonators have the interesting capability of producing a linewidth as narrow as a few kHz. The investigated devices are ytterbium-doped amorphous Al2O3 channel waveguides with a periodic Bragg grating inscribed into its SiO2 top cladding. The resonance in the spectral response of the resonator results from a distributed λ/4 phase-shift produced by increasing the waveguide width. Its frequency is determined by the period of the Bragg grating, whereas its linewidth is determined by the intrinsic losses and the outcoupling losses of the resonator. When such a device is optically pumped to achieve gain and eventually lasing, the grating period becomes thermally chirped, thereby influencing the spectral characteristics of the resonator. We investigate experimentally and via simulations the frequency and linewidth of the resonance in the presence of a thermally induced linear chirp on the grating profile. Experiments and simulations show good quantitative agreement.

Mode profiles and Airy distributions of Fabry-Perot resonators with frequency-dependent mirror reflectivity

We thoroughly investigate the Fabry-Pérot resonator, avoid approximations, and derive its generic Airy distribution, equaling the internal resonance enhancement, and all related Airy distributions, such as the commonly known transmission. We verify that the sum of the mode profiles of all longitudinal modes is the fundamental physical function characterizing the Fabry-Pérot resonator and generating the Airy distributions. We investigate the influence of frequency-dependent mirror reflectivities on the mode profiles and the resulting Airy distributions. The mode profiles then deviate from simple Lorentzian lines and exhibit peaks that are not located at resonant frequencies. Our simple, yet accurate analysis greatly facilitates the characterization of Fabry-Pérot resonators with strongly frequency-dependent mirror reflectivities.

The linewidth of distributed feedback resonators: the combined effect of thermally induced chirp and gain narrowing

Distributed-feedback (DFB) laser resonators are widely recognized for their advantage of generating laser emission with extremely narrow linewidth. Our investigation concerns ytterbium-doped amorphous Al2O3 channel waveguides with a corrugated homogeneous Bragg grating inscribed into its SiO2 top cladding, in which a λ/4 phase-shift provides a resonance and allows for laser emission with a linewidth as narrow as a few kHz. Pump absorption imposes a thermal chirp of the grating period, which has implications for the spectral characteristics of the resonator. Thermal effects on the spectral response of a DFB passive resonator were investigated via simulations using Coupled Mode Theory by considering (i) a constant deviation of the grating period or (ii) a chirp with a linear profile. We report an increase of the resonance linewidth up to 15%. This result is due to two factors, namely changes of the grating reflectivity at the resonance frequency up to 2.4% and of the shift of resonance frequency up to 61 pm due to an accumulated phase shift imposed on the grating by the chirp profile. The linewidth decrease due to gain is on the order of 106, which is a much larger value. Nevertheless, according to the Schawlow-Townes equation the linewidth increase of the passive resonator due to a thermal chirp quadratically increases the laser linewidth.

Diode side pumped, quasi-CW Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser operating at 1176 nm

In this work we demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, quasi-continuous wave (qcw) laser operation of a diode-side-pumped Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser operating at 1176 nm. The double beam mode controlling (DBMC) technique used in this work allows fundamental mode laser oscillation, resulting in a beam quality M2 of 2.42 and 2.18 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. More than 3.5 W of peak output power at 1176 nm was achieved with TEM00 laser mode, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 5.4%.With multimode operation, more than 8W of peak output power was achieved, corresponding to 11.7% optical conversion efficiency.

LD-side-pumped Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser at 1176 nm

We demonstrate a diode-side-pumped Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser at 1176 nm in a grazing incidence configuration operating in quasi-continuous mode. More than 8 W of output power was achieved in multimode operation, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 15%. With TEM00 mode operation is also demonstrated.