Two-Frequency Lasers: from Excess Quantum Noise to RF Photonics Applications |
| M. Alouini, F. Bretenaker, M. Brunel, D. Chauvat, O. Emile, N.D. Lai, A. Le Floch, G. Ropars and M. Vallet Laboratoire d'Electronique Quantique - Physique des Lasers Unite Mixte de Recherche du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6627 Universit\'e de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France |
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| We illustrate the physics of two-frequency lasers by two examples. The first example illustrates the fundamental consequences of the existence of two eigenstates on the laser line width. We indeed show experimentally that the non-orthogonality of these two eigenstates results in an increase in the laser quantum noise. We also give a physical explanation of this vectorial excess noise factor. The second example illustrates the capabilities of two-frequency lasers in terms of applications. In the domain of RF frequency generation by optical means, we show how a pulsed two-frequency source can be built for lidar-radar applications and pulsed RF frequency generation. |
| DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.101.7 PACS numbers: 42.55.Ah, 42.50.Ar, 42.50.Lc, 42.60.By, 42.60.Gd |