Widely tunable lasers are generally considered as key components of future optical communication networks. However, practically all widely tunable lasers that have been fabricated so far suffer from drawbacks, like elaborate calibration procedures that are required for each specific device, low output powers, and limited direct modulation capabilities. To overcome the aforementioned issues, the...

Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) sensors are based on a recent approach to photoacoustic detection which employs a quartz tuning fork as an acoustic transducer. These sensors enable detection of trace gases for air quality monitoring, industrial process control, and medical diagnostics. To detect a trace gas, modulated laser radiation is directed between the tines of a tuning ...

High-power narrow-spectrum diode laser systems based on tapered gain media in an external cavity are demonstrated at 675 nm. Two 2 mm long amplifiers are used, one with a 500 μm long ridge-waveguide section (device A), the other with a 750 μm long ridge-waveguide section (device B). Laser system A based on device A is tunable from 663 to 684 nm with output power higher than 0.55 W in the tuning...

Single frequency laser sources are desired in many applications. Various architectures for achieving high power single frequency fiber laser outputs have been investigated and demonstrated. Axial gain apodization can affect the lasing threshold and spectral modal discrimination of DFB lasers. Modeling results show that if properly tailored, the lasing threshold can be reduced by 21% without sac...

A laser-isotope-separation study of lithium has been performed with two-step excitation involving UV laser radiation and a visible tunable-diode laser. The method yields a high degree of selectivity by tuning the narrow-linewidth diode laser to the D1 or D2 levels of the lithium atom. Selective laser excitation is simplified by the use of the tunable diode laser and the overall approach benefit...

Photoassociation (PA) spectrum in the presence of a magnetic Feshbach resonance is analyzed. Nonperturbative solution of the problem yields analytical expressions for PA linewidth and shift which are applicable for arbitrary PA laser intensity and magnetic field tuning of Feshbach Resonance. We show that by tuning magnetic field close to Fano minimum, it is possible to suppress power broadening...

Self-tuning optical systems are of growing importance in technological applications such as mode-locked fiber lasers. Such self-tuning paradigms require intelligent algorithms capable of inferring approximate models of the underlying physics and discovering appropriate control laws in order to maintain robust performance for a given objective. In this work, we demonstrate the first integration ...

The characteristics of a stable and flexible laser system based on a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is presented. This OPO can offer very stable operation with both approximately 1 ps and approximately 300 fs outputs over a broad wavelength range, i.e., 920-1200 nm. Combining the pump tuning with the OPO tuning, a total Raman range of 1900-5500 cm(-1) is accessible. Fo...

Lasing in induced cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) containing highly photosensitive azo chiral dopant (ChD) and pyrromethene laser dye was investigated. Due to the absence of excitation energy transfer from the dye molecules to the molecules of ChD in such a system, a low lasing threshold was achieved. When using violet and green light-emitting diodes, reversible frequency tuning was obtained i...