142 research outputs found
Demonstration of 3-port grating phase relations
We experimentally demonstrate the phase relations of 3-port gratings by
investigating 3-port coupled Fabry-Perot cavities. Two different gratings which
have the same 1st order diffraction efficiency but differ substantially in
their 2nd order diffraction efficiency have been designed and manufactured.
Using the gratings as couplers to Fabry-Perot cavities we could validate the
results of an earlier theoretical description of the phases at a three port
grating
Diffractive Optics for Gravitational Wave Detectors
All-reflective interferometry based on nano-structured diffraction gratings
offers new possibilities for gravitational wave detection. We investigate an
all-reflective Fabry-Perot interferometer concept in 2nd order Littrow mount.
The input-output relations for such a resonator are derived treating the
grating coupler by means of a scattering matrix formalism. A low loss
dielectric reflection grating has been designed and manufactured to test the
properties of such a grating cavity
Narrow band resonant grating of 100% reflection under normal incidence
9 pagesInternational audienceA resonant grating mirror comprising a multilayer submirror and a grating slab waveguide submirror exhibiting constructive mutual reflection is shown experimentally to provide zero transmission. Its reflection line width of less than 1 nm, its polarization selectivity and low overall loss make the device usable as a longitudinal mode filter in a disk laser in the 1000-1100 nm wavelength range
Experimental demonstration of a suspended diffractively coupled optical cavity
All-reflective optical systems are under consideration for future gravitational wave detector topologies. One approach in proposed designs is to use diffraction gratings as input couplers for Fabry–Perot cavities. We present an experimental demonstration of a fully suspended diffractively coupled cavity and investigate the use of conventional Pound–Drever–Hall length sensing and control techniques to maintain the required operating condition
100% reflectivity from a monolithic dielectric microstructured surface
Here, we propose a new mirror architecture which is solely based upon a monolithic dielectric micro-structured surface. Hence, the mirror device, which consists of a possibly mono-crystalline bulk material, can in principle simultaneously provide perfect reflectivity and lowest mechanical loss. By specifically structuring the monolithic surface, resulting in T-shaped ridges of a subwavelength grating, a resonant behavior of light coupling can be realized, leading to theoretically 100% reflectivity
Monolithic dielectric surfaces as new low-loss light-matter interfaces
We propose a new mirror architecture, which is solely based upon structuring of the surface of a monolithic, possibly monocrystalline, bulk material. We found that a structure of T-shaped ridges of a subwavelength grating can theoretically provide 100% reflectivity. Since no material needs to be added to the mirror device, lowest mechanical loss can also be expected. Our approach might have compelling applications as a new light-matter interface
Diffractive beam splitter characterization via a power-recycled interferometer
We used the high-precision laser interferometer technique of power recycling to characterize the optical loss of an all-reflective grating beam splitter. This beam splitter was used to set up a Michelson interferometer with a power-recycling resonator with a finesse of 883. Analyzing the results obtained, we determined the beam splitter's total optical loss to be (0.193+/-0.019)%. Low loss all-reflective beam splitters might find application in future high-power laser interferometers for the detection of gravitational waves
Mechanical Q-factor measurements on a test mass with a structured surface
We present mechanical Q-factors (quality factors) of a crystalline quartz test mass with a nano-structured surface, measured in the temperature regime from 5 to 300 K. The nano-structure was a grating with a period of 2 mu m and a depth of about 0.1 mu m. Comparative measurements were performed on the plain substrate and on the structured test mass with different numbers of SiO2/Ta2O5 coating layers. The measurements at different stages of the test mass fabrication process show that the surface distortion induced by the nanostructure does not severely lower the mechanical Q-factor of the substrate. Damping due to a multi-layer coating stack was found to be orders of magnitude higher. The results provide vital information concerning the potential usage of low-thermal noise nano-structured test masses in future generations of high-precision laser interferometers and in current attempts to measure quantum effects of macroscopic mirror oscillators.DFG/SFB/Transregio
Power-recycled michelson interferometer with a 50/50 grating beam splitter
We designed and fabricated an all-reflective 50/50 beam splitter based on a dielectric grating. This beam splitter was used to set up a power-recycled Michelson interferometer with a finesse of about FPR ≈ 880. Aspects of the diffractive beam splitter as well as of the interferometer design are discussed.DFG/SFB/TR
Three-dimensional femtosecond laser nanolithography of crystals
Nanostructuring hard optical crystals has so far been exclusively feasible at
their surface, as stress induced crack formation and propagation has rendered
high precision volume processes ineffective. We show that the inner chemical
etching reactivity of a crystal can be enhanced at the nanoscale by more than
five orders of magnitude by means of direct laser writing. The process allows
to produce cm-scale arbitrary three-dimensional nanostructures with 100 nm
feature sizes inside large crystals in absence of brittle fracture. To showcase
the unique potential of the technique, we fabricate photonic structures such as
sub-wavelength diffraction gratings and nanostructured optical waveguides
capable of sustaining sub-wavelength propagating modes inside yttrium aluminum
garnet crystals. This technique could enable the transfer of concepts from
nanophotonics to the fields of solid state lasers and crystal optics.Comment: Submitted Manuscript and Supplementary Informatio
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