Ludovic Grossard

Iterative reconstruction of thermally induced phase distortion in a Nd3+:YVO4 laser

The thermal distortions in a continuous-wave end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser are experimentally investigated by use of an external TEM00 probe beam (TEM standing for transverse electric magnetic). After a round-trip of this probe through the active medium, three irradiance profiles are recorded along its propagation axis. The distorted phase pattern of this probe beam is then reconstructed from these profiles by means of a Gerchberg-Saxton-like iterative algorithm. To identify the contribution of each kind of aberration in the phase profile, we have computed a Zernike polynomial expansion, and have shown that the main terms constituting the aberration are (in order) defocusing (optical path difference (OPD) 0.7 λ FWHM (full width at half-maximum)), spherical aberration (OPD 0.3 λ FWHM), and first-order astigmatism (OPD of ±0.14 λp FWHM). Moreover, all higher-order terms result in a significant phase peak (λ/4 FWHM over 400 µm).

Deformable micro-electro-mechanical mirror integration in a fibre laser Q-switch system

We demonstrated active Q-switching of an erbium-doped fibre laser using a deformable metallic micro-mirror. The electrostatically actuated micro-mirror acts as one of the laser cavity reflectors and, at the same time, as a switching/modulator element. When actuated, its shape changes from planar to a concave curvature, allowing control of the Q-factor of the laser cavity. The mirror/switching element is small, compact, highly reflective and achromatic, with a great integration potential. The laser system operates at frequencies between 20 and 120 kHz and generates short pulses (FWHM down to 300 ns) and high peak powers, up to 160 times greater than the continuous emission.

Phase closure retrieval in an infrared-to-visible upconversion interferometer for high resolution astronomical imaging

This paper demonstrates the use of a nonlinear upconversion process to observe an infrared source through a telescope array detecting the interferometric signal in the visible domain. We experimentally demonstrate the possibility to retrieve information on the phase of the object spectrum of an infrared source by using a three-arm upconversion interferometer. We focus our study on the acquisition of phase information of the complex visibility by means of the phase closure technique. In our experimental demonstration, a laboratory binary star with an adjustable photometric ratio is used as a test source. A real time comparison between a standard three-arm interferometer and our new concept using upconversion by sum-frequency generation demonstrates the preservation of phase information which is essential for image reconstruction.

Unprecedented Raman cascading and four-wave mixing from second-harmonic generation in optical fiber.

We experimentally demonstrate strong second-harmonic-generation from a self-induced all-optical poling in germanium-doped fiber with a subnanosecond laser pump at 1064 nm. The large second-harmonic conversion efficiency allows nonlinear spectral broadening at visible wavelengths so that up to nine distinct Raman sidebands have been obtained. In this work we emphasize how the Raman scattering, induced from the pump in the IR region, can drastically affect the optical poling effect, limiting in turn second-harmonic generation.

Demonstration of a frequency spectral compression effect through an up-conversion interferometer

This paper reports on the experimental implementation of an interferometer featuring sum frequency generation (SFG) processes powered by a pump spectral doublet. The aim of this configuration is to allow the use of the SFG process over an enlarged spectral domain. By analyzing the converted signal, we experimentally demonstrate a frequency spectral compression effect from the infrared input signal to the visible one converted through the SFG process. Recently, such a compression effect has been numerically demonstrated by Wabnitz et al. We also verify experimentally that we fully retrieve the temporal coherence properties of the infrared input signal in the visible field. The experimental setup permits to demonstrate an experimental frequency spectral compression factor greater than 4. This study takes place in the general field of coherence analysis through second order non-linear processes.

Effect of spectral sampling on the temporal coherence analysis of a broadband source in a SFG interferometer

In the frame of sum frequency generation of a broadband infrared source, we aim to enlarge the converted bandwidth by using a pump frequency comb while keeping a high conversion efficiency. The nonlinear effects are simultaneously induced in the same nonlinear medium. In this paper, we investigate the spectral filtering effect on the temporal coherence behavior with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer using two pump lines. We show that joined effects of quasi-phase matching and spectral sampling lead to an original coherence behavior.

Co-phasing of a diluted aperture synthesis instrument for direct imaging: Experimental demonstration on a temporal hypertelescope

Context. The diluted aperture synthesis is one of the most promising ways of obtaining direct images with an angular resolution in the milliarcsecond range. By applying apodization techniques to a hypertelescope, it is possible to discriminate between objects with a high contrast in intensity with a reasonable number of telescopes (<10). Aims. To reach such performances, we attempt to develop a co-phasing system capable of stabilizing the optical path differences with an accuracy better than λ/100 RMS. Methods. We propose a method based on a joint use of a sub-aperture piston phase-diversity technique and a genetic algorithm to co-phase a laboratory prototype called a temporal hypertelescope (THT). First, we simulated the behavior of this instrument and inferred the related statistical properties of our co-phasing method. In a second step, we implemented this co-phasing system on our THT prototype. Results. We obtain an experimental stabilization of the optical path differences of about λ/300 RMS over 1000 s. Thanks to this result, we are able to acquire an image of a high-contrast binary system. We also validate that the instrument accurately estimates the object characteristics, i.e. 25 μrad for the angular separation and ΔH = 9.1 magnitude difference between the main star and its companion.

ALOHA 1.55 μm Implementation on the CHARA Telescope Array : On-sky sensitivity tests

We intend to implement the ALOHA at 1.55μm up-conversion interferometer on the CHARA Array. After a full laboratory investigation, a sensitivity evaluation is conducted on several stars using a single interferometric arm in a photometric mode. The on-sky photometric results allows us to calibrate a numerical simulation of the interferometric configuration, and to predict the future performance of ALOHA at 1.55μm as a function of the seeing conditions.

Proposal for the Implementation of the ALOHA Up-Conversion Interferometer on the CHARA Telescope Array

In this paper, we present a new concept of instrument for high resolution imaging in astronomy, involving the sum frequency generation in non-linear wavegui des. The aim is to convert the infrared radiation emitted by an astronomical source to the visible spectral domain where the optical components are mature and efficient. We present the main experimental results obtained in laboratory, and propose a new design for this instrument for its implementation on the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) telescope array. Preliminary stability and photometric results obtained at CHARA are pre- sented. Using these last measurements, we estimate the limiting magnitudes which could be reached by this interferometer in the H spectral band.

Co-phasing of a diluted aperture synthesis instrument for direct imaging - II. Experimental demonstration in the photon-counting regime with a temporal hypertelescope

Context. Amongst the new techniques currently developed for high-resolution and high-dynamics imaging, the hypertelescope architecture is very promising for direct imaging of objects such as exoplanets. The performance of this instrument strongly depends on the co-phasing process accuracy. In a previous high-flux experimental study with an eight-telescope array, we successfully implemented a co-phasing system based on the joint use of a genetic algorithm and a sub-aperture piston phase diversity using the object itself as a source for metrology. Aims. To fit the astronomical context, we investigate the impact of photon noise on the co-phasing performance operating our laboratory prototype at low flux. This study provides experimental results on the sensitivity and the dynamics that could be reached for real astrophysical observations. Methods. Simulations were carried out to optimize the critical parameters to be applied in the co-phasing system running in the photon-counting regime. We used these parameters experimentally to acquire images with our temporal hypertelescope test bench for di erent photon flux levels. A data reduction method allows highly contrasted images to be extracted. Results. The optical path di erences have been servo-controlled over one hour with an accuracy of 22.0 nm and 15.7 nm for 200 and 500 photons/frame, respectively. The data reduction greatly improves the signal-to-noise ratio and allows us to experimentally obtain highly contrasted images. The related normalized point spread function is characterized by a 1:1 10 4 and 5:4 10 5 intensity standard deviation over the dark field (for 15 000 snapshots with 200 and 500 photons/frame, respectively). Conclusions. This laboratory experiment demonstrates the potential of our hypertelescope concept, which could be directly transposed to a space-based telescope array. Assuming eight telescopes with a 30 cm diameter, the I-band limiting magnitude of the main star would be 7.3, allowing imaging of a companion with a 17.3 mag.