External-cavity semiconductor laser sensor

O. L. Quan; Y. T. Seng; L. P. Lan; J. T.K. Wah; Andrew Thurairaja Sabaratnam; Gopalkrishna M. Hegde; Ananth Selvarajan

doi:10.1117/12.369369

11 November 1999 External-cavity semiconductor laser sensor

O. L. Quan, Y. T. Seng, L. P. Lan, J. T.K. Wah, Andrew Thurairaja Sabaratnam, Gopalkrishna M. Hegde, Ananth Selvarajan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3897, Advanced Photonic Sensors and Applications; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.369369
Event: International Symposium on Photonics and Applications, 1999, Singapore, Singapore

Abstract

The spectral characteristics of a diode laser are significantly affected due to interference caused between the laser diode output and the optical feedback in the external-cavity. This optical feedback effect is of practical use for linewidth reduction, tuning or for sensing applications. A sensor based on this effect is attractive due to its simplicity, low cost and compactness. This optical sensor has been used so far, in different configuration such as for sensing displacement induced by different parameters. In this paper we report a compact optical sensor consisting of a semiconductor laser coupled to an external cavity. Theoretical analysis of the self- mixing interference for optical sensing applications is given for moderate optical feedback case. A comparison is made with our experimental observations. Experimental results are in good agreement with the simulated power modulation based on self-mixing interference theory. Displacements as small as 10^-4 nm have been measured using this sensor. The developed sensor showed a fringe sensitivity of one fringe per 400nm displacement for reflector distance of around 10cms. The sensor has also been tested for magnetic field and temperature induced displacement measurements.

Citation Download Citation

O. L. Quan, Y. T. Seng, L. P. Lan, J. T.K. Wah, Andrew Thurairaja Sabaratnam, Gopalkrishna M. Hegde, and Ananth Selvarajan "External-cavity semiconductor laser sensor", Proc. SPIE 3897, Advanced Photonic Sensors and Applications, (11 November 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.369369

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