Abstract
A technique is presented for determining the frequency modulation transfer function of a laser. The method is based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, with a significant difference in the optical path lengths of the two arms. A frequency-modulated laser beam incident on the interferometer produces a phase-modulated photocurrent signal with an effective modulation index that is related to the amplitude of the optical frequency modulation. Techniques for determining both the amplitude and the phase of the optical frequency modulation from the photocurrent signal are described.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
M. Kuznetsov, J. Stone, L.W. Stulz, Appl. Phys. Lett. 59, 2492 (1991)
Y.C. Chung, T.M. Shay, Appl. Opt. 28, 648 (1989)
H. Olesen, G. Jacobsen, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-18, 2069 (1982)
P. Vankwikelberge, F. Buytaert, A. Franchois, R. Baets, P.I. Kuindersma, C.W. Fredriksz, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 25, 2239 (1989)
M. Imai, K. Kawakita, Appl. Opt. 29, 348 (1990)
H. Tsuchida, T. Tako, M. Ohtsu, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 22, L19 (1983)
T. Chattopadhyay, M. Bhattacharya, Opt. Commun. 110, 46 (1994)
H. Nakajima, Electron. Lett. 26, 1129 (1990)
T. Chattopadhyay, M. Bhattacharya, Opt. Commun. 163, 193 (1999)
P. Correc, O. Girard, I.F. de Faria, Jr., IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 30, 2485 (1994)
P. Landais, G.-H. Duan, S. Keller, J. Jacquet, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 31, 1029 (1995)
G.M. Carter, K.-Y. Huang, J. Brotman, R. Grober, H. Mandelberg, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 29, 2910 (1993)
W.V. Sorin, K.W. Chang, G.A. Conrad, P.R. Hernday, J. Lightwave Technol. 10, 787 (1992)
X. Xie, J. Khurgin, J. Kang, F.-S. Choa, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 14, 1136 (2002)
F.G. Stremler, Introduction to Communication Systems (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990)
W.Y. Pan, S.J. Jang, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 61, 2109 (1990)
R.W. Fox, C.W. Oates, L.W. Hollberg, in Cavity-Enhanced Spectroscopies (Academic, San Diego, 2002), pp. 1–46
J.T. Broch, Principles of Experimental Frequency Analysis (Elsevier Applied Science, London, New York, 1990)
P.A. Lynn, An Introduction to the Analysis and Processing of Signals (Macmillan, London, 1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McRae, T.G., Field, B.J. & Manson, P.J. Measurement of the frequency modulation transfer function of a laser using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. Appl. Phys. B 80, 849–856 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1807-4
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1807-4