2120691
Optical interferometers with reduced sensitivity to thermal noise
Thermal phase noise in optical interferometry can be compensated by exploiting coherence for underlying stochastic displacements and strains. The phase upon reflection from a fluctuating mirror's surface can thereby have reduced sensitivity to thermal noise.
31462099
Precision stabilization of femtosecond lasers to high-finesse optical cavities
We report on direct stabilization of a femtosecond laser by a high-finesse passive optical cavity. Detailed comparison of two distinct stabilization schemes leads to new understanding of the optimum conditions for cavity stabilization and limitations on the ability to transfer the frequency stability of the cavity to the microwave domain. The stability of the frequency comb is explored in both the optical and the radio frequency domain. With an independent, stable cw laser, we verify that the linewidth and stability of the optical comb components, respectively, reach below 300 Hz and 53 10 ˛14 at 1 s averaging time, both limited by the
12183523
Colloquium: Femtosecond optical frequency combs
Recently there has been a remarkable synergy between the technologies of precision laser stabilization and mode-locked ultrafast lasers. This has resulted in control of the frequency spectrum produced by mode-locked lasers, which consists of a regular comb of sharp lines. Thus such a controlled mode-locked laser is a ``femtosecond optical frequency comb generator.'' For a sufficiently broad comb, it is possible to determine the absolute frequencies of all of the comb lines. This ability has revolutionized optical frequency metrology and synthesis. It has also served as the basis for the recent demonstrations of atomic clocks that utilize an optical frequency transition. In addition, it is having an impact on time-domain applications, including synthesis of a single pulse from two independent lasers. In this Colloquium, we first review the frequency-domain description of a mode-locked laser and the connection between the pulse phase and the frequency spectrum in order to provide a basis for understanding how the absolute frequencies can be determined and controlled. Using this understanding, applications in optical frequency metrology and synthesis and optical atomic clocks are discussed. This is followed by a brief overview of how the comb technology is affecting and will affect time-domain experiments.
20964607
Human breath analysis via cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy
To date, researchers have identified over 1000 different compounds contained in human breath. These molecules have both endogenous and exogenous origins and provide information about physiological processes occurring in the body as well as environment-related ingestion or absorption of contaminants1,2. While the presence and concentration of many of these molecules are poorly understood, many 'biomarker' molecules have been correlated to specific diseases and metabolic processes. Such correlations can result in non-invasive methods of health screening for a wide variety of medical conditions. In this article we present human breath analysis using an optical-frequency-comb-based trace detection system with excellent performance in all criteria: detection sensitivity, ability to identify and distinguish a large number of biomarkers, and measurement time. We demonstrate a minimum detectable absorption of 8 x 10-10 cm-1, a spectral resolution of 800 MHz, and 200 nm of spectral coverage from 1.5 to 1.7 micron where strong and unique molecular fingerprints exist for many biomarkers. We present a series of breath measurements including stable isotope ratios of CO2, breath concentrations of CO, and the presence of trace concentrations of NH3 in high concentrations of H2O.
118401596
Tenfold reduction of Brownian noise in optical interferometry
Thermally induced fluctuations impose a fundamental limit on precision measurement. In optical interferometry, the current bounds of stability and sensitivity are dictated by the excess mechanical damping of the high-reflectivity coatings that comprise the cavity end mirrors. Over the preceding decade, the mechanical loss of these amorphous multilayer reflectors has at best been reduced by a factor of two. Here we demonstrate a new paradigm in optical coating technology based on direct-bonded monocrystalline multilayers, which exhibit both intrinsically low mechanical loss and high optical quality. Employing these "crystalline coatings" as end mirrors in a Fabry-P\'erot cavity, we obtain a finesse of 150,000. More importantly, at room temperature, we observe a thermally-limited noise floor consistent with a tenfold reduction in mechanical damping when compared with the best dielectric multilayers. These results pave the way for the next generation of ultra-sensitive interferometers, as well as for new levels of laser stability.
111121123
Irradiation studies of Gb/s optical links developed for the front-end read-out of the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter
Abstract In the baseline read-out scheme of the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter, approximately 1500 unidirectional Gigavit/s (Gb/s) optical links are used to transfer data from teh calorimeter to receivers in data acquisition electronics situated up to 200 metres away. In the architecture of the link currently under development, VCSEL's (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser diodes) mounted on-detector are coupled to PIN-photodiodes located in receivers through graded-index multimode optical fibres. Over 10 years of ATLAS running, the components of the emitter will be exposed to high levels of neutron (1.7 × 10 13 n (1MeV Si) cm −2 ) and gamma (800 Gy) radiation. Their performance has been explored using neutron and gamma facilities and the results of these studies are presented in this paper. No significant levels of radiation are expected for the receiving part of the link.
63008679
CDRD High Rate Data Links Program
30481535
A compact apparatus for muon lifetime measurement and time dilation demonstration in the undergraduate laboratory
We describe a compact apparatus for measuring the charge-averaged lifetime of atmospheric muons in plastic scintillator using low-cost, low-power electronics. We present measurements of the stopping rate of atmospheric muons as a function of altitude to demonstrate relativistic time dilation. The apparatus is designed for the advanced undergraduate physics laboratory and is suitable for field measurements.
122670904
The design of 8-Gbps VCSEL drivers for ATLAS liquid Argon calorimeter upgrade
We present designs and preliminary test results of LOCld1 and LOCld4, VCSEL drivers in a commercial 0.25-mu m m Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS process for ATLAS liquid Argon calorimeter upgrade. Active shunt peaking, multiple-stage amplification and higher voltage supply are used to achieve the data rate of 8 Gbps. LOCld1 is a single channel VCSEL driver with a differential output, while LOCld4 has four channels with single-ended open-drain outputs. Both drivers have tunable modulation and peaking strength. Bias current for VCSEL is also embedded.
123143173
Optical data transmission ASICs for the high-luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) experiments
We present the design and test results of two optical data transmission ASICs for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) experiments. These ASICs include a two-channel serializer (LOCs2) and a single-channel Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) driver (LOCld1V2). Both ASICs are fabricated in a commercial 0.25-μm Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS technology and operate at a data rate up to 8 Gbps per channel. The power consumption of LOCs2 and LOCld1V2 are 1.25 W and 0.27 W at 8-Gbps data rate, respectively. LOCld1V2 has been verified meeting the radiation-tolerance requirements for HL-LHC experiments.