Title :
Automated laser heterodyne optical/microwave spectrum analyzer
Author :
Simonis, G.J. ; Purchase, K. ; Hay, R.G. ; Adams, F.J. ; Cheng, E.A.P. ; Kane, T.J.
Author_Institution :
Labcom, Adelphi, MD, USA
Abstract :
The monolithic diode-laser-pumped unidirectional single-mode Nd:YAG ring laser has extraordinary properties of coherence and frequency stability. Reported is the use of a pair of such lasers voltage controlled by a PC-AT computer to frequency scan the laser frequency and the heterodyne frequency between the lasers in an automated fashion. An IEEE-488 bus interface to an HP8566B spectrum analyser is used to provide computerized data acquisition of heterodyne frequency (and, thereby, change in tuned laser frequency) and heterodyne power. This automated heterodyne instrumentation has been applied in a straightforward fashion to the characterization of the absolute frequency response of individual infrared detectors over the DC-to-24-GHz calibrated power range of the spectrum analyzer.<>
Keywords :
computerised instrumentation; frequency measurement; frequency response; infrared detectors; laser variables measurement; microwave measurement; neodymium; ring lasers; solid lasers; spectral analysers; 0 to 24 GHz; HP8566B spectrum analyser; IEEE-488 bus interface; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; absolute frequency response; automated heterodyne instrumentation; calibrated power range; computerized data acquisition; heterodyne frequency; heterodyne power; infrared detectors; laser frequency scanning; microwave spectrum analyzer; optical spectrum analyzer; tuned laser frequency; unidirectional single-mode Nd:YAG ring laser; voltage control; Automatic voltage control; Diodes; Frequency; Laser stability; Laser tuning; Masers; Optical control; Optical mixing; Ring lasers; Spectral analysis;
Conference_Titel :
Broadband Analog Optoelectronics: Devices and Systems, 1990. Conference Digest., LEOS Summer Topical on
Conference_Location :
Monterey, CA, USA
DOI :
10.1109/BAODS.1990.205513
