Laserien Vallankumous: Säädettävät Puolijohde‑Rengastekniikat

A team of scientists from the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) and Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) just unveiled a new method to fabricate tunable semiconductor ring lasers. These advanced lasers have the potential to provide high-powered communications, more advanced safety systems, and much more. Here’s what you need to know.

Säädettävien laserien tyypit ja niiden edut

It was only 6 years after Theodore H. Maiman demonstrated the first laser using a synthetic ruby rod that researchers began work on tunable lasers. Unlike their fixed wavelength predecessors, they can be set up to emit light across various wavelengths, making them ideal for use in precision applications like optical communications and microscopy.  As such, tunable lasers have become a crucial component of today’s high-tech and medical fields.

Säädettävien laserien kategoriat: Kaasu, kuitu, OPO:t & puolijohde

Today, there are many different types of tunable lasers including gas lasers, fiber lasers, optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), and semiconductor lasers. Tunable semiconductor lasers are seen by many as the most advanced option. They offer a compact form factor, support a broad wavelength, and provide adequate power.

Säädettävien laserien haitat

Tunable laser technology has seen massive leaps in capabilities. However, there are still many limitations that have hindered the technology from reaching its maximum potential. For example, tunable Lasers with wide wave ranges often provide less precision. Additionally, the manufacturing costs for these devices and their overall fragility have been seen as roadblocks to their advancement.

Kuinka säätää puolijohde‑lasereita

There are two main methods to create and tune semiconductor lasers. The first method required precise grating to be added to the laser ridge. This grating is cut at exact angles on a nano scale to create frequency-selective optical feedback. This setup allows engineers to amplify a particular wavelength and reduce interference from others by altering the laser’s current.

Lähde – Military Aerospace