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Developing open cavity solid-state laser for self-mixing sensor

Ke Kou (School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, China)
Tianhong Lian (School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, China)
Cuo Wang (School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, China)
Guanlei Zhang (School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, China)

Sensor Review

ISSN: 0260-2288

Article publication date: 1 October 2018

Issue publication date: 18 March 2019

120

Abstract

Purpose

As an emerging measurement technique with the merit of easy alignment and high sensitivity, laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) has wide applications in the detection of physical quantities. Considering that the characteristics of lasers have a determining influence on sensors’ performance, the authors have established an open cavity solid-state laser (SSL) with more adjustment flexibility to act as a laser source.

Design/methodology/approach

The fundamental structure of a SSL has been presented with an Nd:YAG rod severing as an active material and a birefringent filter inserted in the resonator as a mode selecting element. The power stability has been tested by a power meter, while the mode pattern has been inspected with a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer, and the linewidth has been observed through a wavelength meter. A loudspeaker driven by a function generator is located in the extracavity to introduce phase modulation for SMI signal observation.

Findings

The established Nd:YAG SSL operates in a single longitudinal mode with the power stability of 0.2 mW and the linewidth less than 10 MHz. The SMI phenomenon occurs in the SSL, and the SMI signal obtained shows a fine signal-to-noise ratio of about 30 dB.

Originality/value

To the authors knowledge, SMI sensors using SSLs, especially in open cavity type, have rarely been reported, and they can find significant applications in designing high performance SMI sensors and instruments.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (Programme No. 2017JQ6062), Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (Programme No. 17JK0540) and Doctor’s Startup Foundation of Xi’an University of Technology (Programme No. 102-451116010).

Citation

Kou, K., Lian, T., Wang, C. and Zhang, G. (2019), "Developing open cavity solid-state laser for self-mixing sensor", Sensor Review, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 252-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-12-2017-0263

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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