Sensors (Feb 2024)

Study on Linewidth and Phase Noise Characteristics of a Narrow Linewidth External Cavity Diode Laser

  • Sheng Hu,
  • Puchu Lv,
  • Chenggang Guan,
  • Shasha Li,
  • Haixin Qin,
  • Xiaoqiang Li,
  • Xuan Chen,
  • Linfeng Zhan,
  • Weiqi Wang,
  • Yifan Xiao,
  • Minghu Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24041103
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 4
p. 1103

Abstract

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In the field of inter-satellite laser communication, achieving high-quality communication and compensating for the Doppler frequency shift caused by relative motion necessitate lasers with narrow linewidths, low phase noise, and the ability to achieve mode-hop-free tuning within a specific range. To this end, this paper investigates a novel external cavity diode laser (ECDL) with a frequency-selective F-P etalon structure, leveraging the external cavity F-P etalon structure in conjunction with an auxiliary filter to achieve single longitudinal mode selection. The laser undergoes linewidth testing using a delayed self-heterodyne beating method, followed by the testing of its phase noise and frequency noise characteristics using a noise analyzer, yielding beat spectra and noise power spectral density profiles. Furthermore, the paper introduces an innovative bidirectional temperature-scanning laser method to achieve optimal laser-operating point selection and mode-hop-free tuning. The experimental results showcase that the single longitudinal mode spectral side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) is around 70 dB, and the output power exceeds 10 mW. Enhancing the precision of the F-P etalon leads to a more pronounced suppression of low-frequency phase noise, reducing the Lorentzian linewidth from the initial 10 kHz level to a remarkable 5 kHz level. The bidirectional temperature-scanning laser method not only allows for the selection of the optimal operating point but also enables mode-hop-free tuning within 160 pm.

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