Optical Waveguide Theory

Xu-dong Wang*,† and Otto S. Wolfbeis*,‡ †Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, P. R. China ‡Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemoand Biosensors, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany ■ CONTENTS Books, Reviews, and Articles of General Interest 204 Sensors for (Dissolved) Gases and Vapors 204 Hydrogen 204 Hydrocarbons 206 Oxygen 206 Carbon Dioxide 208 Nitrogen Oxides 208 Other Gases 208 Ammonia 209 Ethanol 209 Other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)s 210 Sensors for Humidity, Water Fractions, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Hydrazine 211 Humidity 211 Water Fractions in Organic Solvents 212 Hydrogen Peroxide 213 Sensors for pH Values, Ions, and Salinity 213 pH Values 213 Ions 214 Salinity and Ionic Strength 215 Sensors for Organic Species 216 Glucose Sensing 216 Sucrose 217 Oils 217 Other Organics 217 Biosensors 218 Nucleic Acid-Based Biosensors (DNAand Aptamer-Based) 218 Immunosensors 218 Enzymatic Biosensors 219 Other Biosensors 220 New Schemes and Materials 220 New Sensing Schemes 220 Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-Based Sensors 221 Photonic Crystals 223 Author Information 223 Corresponding Authors 223 Notes 223 Biographies 223 Acknowledgments 223 References 223

Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensors and Biosensors (2013-2015).

Frequency down-conversion of solid-state laser sources to the mid-infrared spectral range using non-oxide nonlinear crystals

We describe the saturation properties and power scaling of large-aperture planar photoconducting antennas. These antennas have been used to emit and detect electromagnetic pulses with terahertz bandwidth. At high optical fluences, the amplitude of the radiated electric field saturates, at a value comparable to the bias field in agreement with a simple model of the radiation. We also discuss the saturation properties of the large-aperture photoconducting antennas with different semiconductor materials.

Saturation properties of large-aperture photoconducting antennas

The optical fibers which are considered as waveguides can be applied to light transmission applications The core part of the optical fiber is surrounded by a glass or plastic layer called cladding which is characterized by the refractive index that is lower compared to the core refractive index The total internal reflection phenomena are necessary for the fine confinements of the light within the waveguide Basically, optical fibers can be categorized based on the structure, modes number, refractive index profile, dispersion, signal processing ability, and polarization In this report, we focus on the first three common types of optical fibers As a common application of the fibers, these can be used in fiber lasers to create and amplify a narrow intense beam of coherent and monochromatic light Fabrication of optical fiber involves three stages such as the preform formation Modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) method is a known technique, which can be used to fabricate the optical fibers Optical fiber sensors are well known for wide range applications in optics and photonics As a sensing application, optical biosensors can be made based on the refractive index changes that used widely for detection of biomolecules in their natural forms

Review of optical fibers-introduction and applications in fiber lasers

We introduce the basics of an apodized 2f/1f wavelength modulation method for the spectroscopy of the R(9) transition line in the first overtone band of carbon monoxide (12C16O) in near-infrared (NIR) region around 2.33 μm. Performance of the method is investigated for high gas concentrations beyond the optically thin limit to generalize common 2f/1f wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) reported by Rieker et al. (Appl Opt 48:5546, [28]). Numerical simulations are performed based on real experimental parameters associated with a NIR spectrometer designed in our laboratory. The results primarily show a more linear response and less error than occurred in the common WMS-2f/1f method for an optically thick sample. It is also theoretically shown that the apodized method enables sharpening the spectrum without peak displacement compared to the common WMS-2f/1f method. The validity of the method is verified experimentally by the trace detection of an air-broadened R(9) CO absorption line centered at 4,294.637 cm−1 at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The effect of a so-called scaling k-factor on the sharpening of WMS-2f/1f signal is investigated through trace simulation and detection of CO and methane (CH4) lines in the scanning range of a distributed feedback laser. The obtained results show very good agreement between simulation and experiment.

Apodized 2f/1f wavelength modulation spectroscopy method for calibration-free trace detection of carbon monoxide in the near-infrared region: theory and experiment

We present a theoretical model which describes the effects of thermal load distribution on single-pass second harmonic generation (SP-SHG) of high-power continuous-wave (cw) radiation in MgO:sPPLT nonlinear crystal to provide green output at 532 nm. Numerical simulations are performed based on real practical values and actual operating conditions associated with a recent SP-SHG experiment, generating 10 W of cw green radiation using a Yb-fiber laser. The model is used for four oven configurations to simulate the implications of thermal effects on SH power. The observed asymmetric feature of the phase-matching curves, particularly at higher fundamental powers up to 50 W, are characterized and explained by considering the generation of heat due to crystal absorption. The concept of optical path difference (OPD) is introduced to study the formation of thermal lens and its effects on the displacement of focal point inside the thermally loaded crystal. We further study the dependence of the SH power on the different oven schemes by increasing the input fundamental power up to 50 W. It is found that a top-sinked oven design is the optimum configuration for achieving maximum SHG efficiency without saturation. Comparison of the simulation results with experimental data confirms the validity of the theoretical model.

Thermal Effects in High-Power Continuous-Wave Single-Pass Second Harmonic Generation

In the present paper, a laser-coupled optical fiber is introduced for pH sensing of Methyl red solution in the Ethanol solvent. Then it is modified for corrosion detection when it was placed inside a corrosive solution. Second-harmonic (SH) radiation of a microchip Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at λ=532 nm is generated via KTP nonlinear crystal, and it is launched into the fabricated fiber sensor. The provided evanescent field is absorbed by the surrounding environment in the sensing region, and the output intensity of the absorbed laser beam is monitored and recorded in the presence of the different kind of solvents and corrosive solutions. To increase the sensitivity of the pH sensor the fiber-optic probe is coiled and fixed on a Poly Propylene (PP) mount with 6 cm diameter and 10 cm long. The fabricated sensor is then calibrated for pH measurement of unknown media. For corrosion detection, a spin motor is used to uniformly coat a small portion of the fiber designed as U-shaped after its clad was removed by a simple chemical method. It is then electroplated by a very thin Fe–C film to form a corrosion sensor. It is observed that while the concentration of the NH4Cl solution is changed from 0.068 to 0.125 mol/l and its pH from zero to 14, the output intensity of the launched laser is increased due to the Fe–C film corrosion.

Second-harmonic laser-coupled optical fiber sensor for pH measurement and corrosion detection based on evanescent field absorption

We study thermal effects in high-power single-pass second-harmonic generation (SP-SHG) of continuous-wave (cw) green radiation in MgO:sPPLT and describe optimization of critical factors including the fundamental beam waist, position, and focusing parameter, for attainment of maximum SP-SHG efficiency. By developing a numerical model combining split-step Fourier and finite-element methods, we compute the relevant parameters for optimization of SP-SHG of a cw Yb-fiber laser at 1064 nm in a 30-mm-long crystal. Real experimental parameters and boundary conditions are used to simulate nonuniform heat distribution in the crystal under high-power operation and study its effects on SP-SHG optimization. The results indicate that for input powers exceeding a certain limit, the Boyd and Kleinman (BK) criteria for optimum focusing are no longer valid. By increasing the fundamental power to 50 W, we find that the optimum focusing parameter decreases by a factor of 4, from $\xi =2.84$ to 0.7. We also find that the maximum SP-SHG output power is always obtained for fundamental waist at the center of the crystal, and we present a general strategy for the choice of ξ at different fundamental powers. Using a top-sinked oven design, the BK focusing condition can be established even at high fundamental powers.

Focusing Optimization for High-Power Continuous-Wave Second-Harmonic Generation in the Presence of Thermal Effects

In this paper, we present a theoretical model that describes the performance of a specific oven configuration used to actively control the effect of thermal dephasing on the output characteristics of a high-power single-pass second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a MgO:sPPLT nonlinear crystal. The provided model is based on using step and slope oven configurations and making a quantitative comparison with the recent results obtained by using open-top oven scheme. It is found that in the slope oven scheme the SHG power is enhanced by 190% at a fundamental power of 50 W, indicating the significance of the represented model. Eventually, the merit of the proposed slope oven indicated through saturation control in the generation of high-power SH radiation.

Alireza Khorsandi

Papers

Apodized 2f/1f wavelength modulation spectroscopy method for calibration-free trace detection of carbon monoxide in the near-infrared region: theory and experiment

Thermal Effects in High-Power Continuous-Wave Single-Pass Second Harmonic Generation

Second-harmonic laser-coupled optical fiber sensor for pH measurement and corrosion detection based on evanescent field absorption

Focusing Optimization for High-Power Continuous-Wave Second-Harmonic Generation in the Presence of Thermal Effects

Active Control of Thermal Dephasing Effect in High Power Continuous Wave Single-Pass Second Harmonic Generation