Julien Le Gouët

Dual-frequency single-axis laser using a lead lanthanum zirconate tantalate (PLZT) birefringent etalon for millimeter wave generation: beyond the standard limit of tunability

We demonstrate the generation of optically carried, broadly tunable, millimeter-wave signals with a dual-frequency single-axis Nd:YAG laser. A frequency difference as high as 127 GHz is reached thanks to an intracavity electro-optically tunable etalon made of lead zirconate tantalate (PLZT) ceramic. We show that the available frequency range is actually limited by the bandwidth of the amplification medium, namely, far beyond the usually accepted free spectral range value in the case of a single-axis laser. Both coarse discrete and fine continuous tunabilities are obtained with the same voltage-controlled device, opening the way to widely tunable low-phase-noise optically carried submillimeter or even terahertz sources.

Experimental realization of phase-conjugate optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate phase-conjugate optical coherence tomography (PC-OCT) using a classical source of phase-sensitive cross-correlated beams to achieve measurement improvements shared by quantum OCT (Q-OCT): a factor-of-2 enhancement in axial resolution and even-order dispersion cancellation. Compared with coincidence counting used in Q-OCT, PC-OCT employs standard photodetection that results in much faster data acquisitions. This work belongs to a new class of classical techniques inspired by quantum methods that have advantages once thought to be exclusively quantum mechanical.

Classical low-coherence interferometry based on broadband parametric fluorescence and amplification

We demonstrate that single-mode broadband amplified spontaneous parametric downconversion, combined with optical parametric amplification, can be used as a classical source of phase-sensitive cross-correlated beams. We first study the single spatial mode emission and the spectral brightness properties of the parametric fluorescence, produced in periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate. Using the same single-pass bulk-crystal configuration for a pulsed optical parametric amplifier, we achieve a gain of approximately 20 dB at an average pump power of 2W, and explain the pulse narrowing observed at the output of both parametric fluorescence and amplification in the regime of high gain. Combining these two nonlinear processes, we measured optical coherence tomography signals with standard InGaAs photodiodes, thus realizing the first classical interferometer based on amplified parametric fluorescence. The results suggest their utility for demonstrating phase-conjugate optical coherence tomography.

Spatially resolved modal spectroscopy of Er:Yb doped multifilament-core fiber amplifier

The spatially resolved spectral (S2) imaging method is applied on an active microstructured fiber, with a multi-filament core (MFC). This type of fiber has been designed to be the last amplifying stage of a source for a long range coherent lidar. Studying the influence of the bending radius on the modal content with or without gain, we demonstrate that an upper-bound of the high-order modes content can be found by performing the S2 imaging on the bleached fiber. S2 imaging is then used to verify that the output beam of the MFC fiber can be made effectively single-mode. We also show that it can be simply adapted for measuring the fiber birefringence. Finally, a comparison of the MFC fiber mode area with that of a standard large mode area Erbium doped step index fiber illustrates the interest of the MFC structure for high power amplifiers.

Coherent combining of fiber lasers

We describe the coherent combining techniques that can be used to scale up fiber laser power far above single fiber laser limitations, and manipulate their wavefronts. The major configurations and realizations of coherent combining are then presented and compared in terms of maximum achievable number of combined lasers.

Passively Q-switched Yb:YAG micro-laser for high peak power high repetition rate burst of pulses emission

Engine ignition using a laser requires very high peak power levels, that can be produced by solid-state lasers such as Yb:YAG passively Q-switched lasers. We developed high repetition rate diode pumped Yb:YAG micro-lasers to study the effect of cumulated pulses on the engine ignition process. The Yb:YAG laser oscillator is pumped by a 5-Hz quasi-continuous wave diode laser emitting 3-ms long pump pulses with up to 20 W peak power. It’s passively Q-switched using a Cr:YAG crystal. Various Yb:YAG dopant concentrations and crystal length have been tested and different initial transmittance values for the Cr:YAG crystal have been compared. As a result of quasi-continuous wave pumping and passive Q-switching, bursts of short pulses are emitted at the 5-Hz repetition frequency of the long pump pulses. The control of the intra-burst repetition rate is achieved through tuning the pump power between a few watts and 20 W. The energy per pulse ranges from 250 μJ to 300 μJ, with a lower than 5 ns pulse duration. The intra-burst repetition rate can go up to 20 kHz. An amplifying stage comprised of one single Yb:YAG crystal is added after this laser oscillator.

High power pulsed fiber laser development for Co2 space based dial system

High energy fiber lasers emitting around 1579nm is seen as a possible technology for the laser unit of a spaceborn CO2 DIAL system. We are developing an all fiber system with the following expected performances: pulse energy of 260μJ, pulse duration 150ns, beam quality M2 <2, pulse linewidth <60 MHz, laser stability 200 kHz. One of our main concerns has been the radiation induced attenuation mitigation. Various fiber compositions have been investigated.

High Peak Power Fiber Laser for Long Range Lidar Applications

High peak power, narrow linewidth pulsed fiber lasers are key components for the design of long range Lidar. Examples of recent developments for wind monitoring for airport surveillance and gas sensing from space are described.

Progress on Pulsed Eyesafe Narrow Linewidth Fiber Lasers for Lidar Applications

We report on various single-frequency pulsed-MOPFA for lidar applications. We obtained 680W 1μs pulses using a multifilament-fiber at 1545nm and 2kW 150ns pulses using strain distributions at 1580nm. Coherent combining of pulsed-MOPFA is also reported.