Dr. Cesar Alberto López-Mercado Profile

Dr. Cesar Alberto López-Mercado

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Publications (14)

Proceedings Article | 17 May 2022 Poster + Paper

Brillouin optical time domain analysis with dual-frequency self-injection locked DFB laser

Cesar Lopez-Mercado, Pavel Itrin, Dmitry Korobko, Igor Zolotovskii, Andrei Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 12139, 121391D (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2621130

KEYWORDS: Fiber optics sensors, Electrooptic modulators, Laser stabilization, Laser optics, Spatial resolution, Laser sources, Fiber lasers

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Proceedings Article | 18 April 2021 Presentation + Paper

Stabilizing Brillouin fiber laser for applications in distributed BOTDA sensing

V. Spirin, C. A. Lopez-Mercado, P. Mégret, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskii, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 11772, 1177207 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589112

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Laser scattering, Spatial resolution, Semiconductors, Scattering, Optoelectronics, Light scattering, Laser systems engineering, Laser sources

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Proceedings Article | 18 April 2021 Poster + Presentation + Paper

Dual-frequency narrowband CW fiber laser implementing self-injection locking of DFB laser diode and Brillouin lasing in a single ring cavity

V. Spirin, J. Bueno-Escopedo, C. Lopez-Mercado, P. Mégret, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskii, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 11770, 117701K (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589106

KEYWORDS: Light scattering, Optoelectronics, Scattering, Scattering media, Standards development, Telecommunications, Laser scattering, Continuous wave operation, Semiconductor lasers, Fiber lasers

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Linewidth narrowing and stabilization of semiconductor laser light generation is of great research interest governed by the huge demand of compact cost-effective narrow-band laser sources for many potential applications. In 2012 we have demonstrated a simple kHz-linewidth laser just splicing a standard distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode and a few passive telecommunication components. The principle of operation employs the mechanism of self-injection locking that significantly improves DFB laser performance. While a typical linewidth of free-running DFB semiconductor lasers ranges from a few to tens MHz, self-injection locking of a DFB laser through an external fiber ring cavity causes a drastic reduction of its laser linewidth down to a few kHz. The advantage of the proposed configuration is that the same external fiber ring cavity could be used for self-injection locking of a DFB laser and as Brillouin scattering media to generate Stokes shifted optical wave. However, a continuous laser operation at two frequencies has not been reported yet preventing it from many prosperous photonic applications. Here, we introduce a simple dual-frequency laser configuration. In our approach, the implementation of self-injection locking into the Brillouin ring fiber laser helps to maintain coupling between the DFB laser and an external high-Q fiber cavity enabling dual-frequency laser operation. Specifically, the same ring fiber cavity is used to generate narrow-band light at the pump frequency (through self-injection locking mechanism) and narrow-band laser light at Stokes frequency (through stimulated Brillouin scattering). The system is supplied by a low-bandwidth active optoelectronic feedback circuit controlled by a low-cost USB-DAQ card that helps the laser to maintain the desired operation mode. The fiber configuration reduces the natural Lorentzian linewidth of light emitted by the laser at pump and Stokes frequencies down to 270 Hz and 220 Hz, respectively, and features a stable 300-Hz-width RF spectrum recorded with the beating of two laser outputs. We have explored key features of the laser performance, revealing its stability and applicability to RF harmonic generation of high spectral purity as an additional benefit of the proposed technique.

Proceedings Article | 18 April 2021 Poster + Presentation + Paper

Microwave signal generation with a dual-frequency self-injection-locked DFB laser

C. Lopez-Mercado, J. Bueno-Escopedo, M. C. Maya-Sanchez, S. Miridovov, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskii, V. Spirin, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 11770, 117701M (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589111

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Signal generators, Microwave radiation, Tunable lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Spectroscopy, Sensors, Semiconductors, Precision measurement, Optoelectronics

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Proceedings Article | 1 April 2020 Presentation + Paper

Spatial-temporal averaging algorithm for improving vibration detection with low-cost phase-sensitive OTDR

C. López-Mercadoa, V. Spirin, J. L. Bueno Escobedo, P. Megret, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskii, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 11354, 113542V (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2557767

KEYWORDS: Signal detection, Interference (communication), Polarization, Spatial resolution, Sensors, Detection and tracking algorithms, Laser stabilization, Optical fibers, Fiber lasers, Signal to noise ratio

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Proceedings Article | 4 March 2019 Paper

Cost-effective solution for phase-OTDR distributed acoustic/vibration sensing

V. Spirin, C. López-Mercado, J. Jason, J. Bueno-Escobedo, P. Mégret, M. Wuilpart, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskii, S. Sokolovskii, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 10903, 109030Q (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2509767

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Signal to noise ratio, Laser stabilization, Semiconductor lasers, Sensors, Polarization, Spatial resolution, Fiber optics

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Self-injection locking - an efficient method to improve the spectral performance of semiconductor lasers without active stabilization - has already demonstrated its high potential for operation with single-longitude-mode fiber lasers. Recently, we demonstrated that self-injection locking of a conventional DFB laser through an external fiber optic ring cavity causes a drastic decrease of the laser linewidth and makes possible its direct application in a phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) acoustic sensor system. Detection and localization of dynamic perturbations in the optical fiber were successfully demonstrated at the distance of 9270 m. However, the ability of the system to restore the perturbating frequency spectrum was not quantified. Here, we have evaluated the performance of a φ-OTDR system for acoustic/vibration measurements utilizing a conventional telecom DFB laser self-stabilized through an external PM optical fiber ring resonator. The use of PM fiber components prevents the polarization mode-hopping that is proved to be a major source of the laser instability, resulting in single frequency laser operation with 6 kHz linewidth. The laser diode current and the laser fiber configuration temperature both have been stabilized with accuracies better than 0.3%. All laser components have been placed into a special insulating box to protect the laser from external perturbations. Under these conditions, the typical duration of laser operation in self-maintaining stabilization regime is ~30 minutes. The laser long-term frequency drift is estimated to be less than ~30 MHz/min. This low-cost solution is directly compared with the use of a commercial, ultra-narrow linewidth (~ 100 Hz) fiber laser implemented into the same setup. Both systems are tested for measurement of the frequency of vibration applied to a fiber at a distance of 3500 m. The obtained SNR value higher than 6 dB demonstrates the ability of the DFB laser to be used in distributed measurements of vibrations with frequencies up to 5600 Hz with a spatial resolution of 10 meters.

Proceedings Article | 9 May 2018 Paper

Cost-effective laser source for phase-OTDR vibration sensing

C. López-Mercado, J. Jason, V. Spirin, J. Bueno Escobedo, M. Wuilpart, P. Mégret, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskiy, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 10680, 106802S (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2307683

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Signal to noise ratio, Semiconductor lasers, Laser sources, Superposition, Laser resonators, Acoustics, Laser systems engineering, Fiber optics, Resonators

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Self-injection locking, an efficient method to improve the spectral performance of semiconductor lasers without active stabilization, has already demonstrated its high potential for operation with single-longitude-mode fiber lasers. Recently, we have demonstrated significant line-narrowing (more than 1000 times) of the conventional low-cost DFB laser locked to an external fiber optic ring resonator. However, dynamical behavior of such a laser exhibits mode-hopping making its applications for distributed acoustic sensing rather questionable. In order to explore capacity of the injection locked laser for a phase-OTDR, we have designed a simple configuration of the injection locking DFB laser and applied it for detection and localization of perturbations with a phase-OTDR based distributed vibration sensor. The conventional DFB laser locked at critical coupling regime through fiber optic ring resonator of 3.75 m length (Free Spectral Range is 54.5 MHz) delivers CW mode-hoping free radiation with a linewidth of about ~5.0 kHz, i.e. ~200 times narrower than the linewidth of free-running laser. In combination with the moving differential processing algorithm such a laser is capable to provide high SNR distributed measurements of vibrations and dynamic strain perturbations. The fiber under test comprises three sections of standard single mode fiber, with a total length of ~4.5 km. Perturbations have been locally implemented into the test fiber at two positions using a shaker and a piezoelectric stretcher, respectively. In the first case, perturbations of the fiber induced by the shaker at a frequency of 815 Hz have been recognized as a peak in the recorded and processed traces with a signalto- noise ratio (SNR) of 12 dB over a 10 m resolution cell. In the second case, dynamical strain induced by the fiber stretcher over 40 m at a frequency of 3 kHz is shown in a similar pronounced peak with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 11 dB. These signatures are similar to the results obtained with a commercial 1 kHz linewidth laser employed with the same phase- OTDR setup. We believe that proposed solution could be a basis for development of a cost-effective phase-sensitive OTDR for distributed sensing specified for the distance up to tens of kilometers.

Proceedings Article | 26 February 2018 Paper

Fiber laser for application in phase sensitive optical time domain reflectometry

V. Spirin, J. L. Bueno Escobedo, D. Korobko, I. Zolotovskiy, C. López-Mercado, P. Mégret, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 10512, 105122F (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2288632

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Reflectometry, Signal to noise ratio, Superposition, Laser resonators, Backscatter, Optical fibers, Interference (communication), Laser stabilization, Resonators

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Proceedings Article | 16 May 2017 Paper

New fiber laser design for application in phase sensitive optical time domain reflectometry

J. L. Bueno Escobedo, V. Spirin, C. López-Mercado, A. Marquez Lucero, P. Mégret, I. Zolotovskii, A. Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 10231, 1023129 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2265980

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Laser development, Acoustics, Sensors, Laser sources, Reflectometry, Laser resonators, Optical fibers, Resonators, Laser stabilization, Fiber optics, Spatial resolution

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Proceedings Article | 4 March 2015 Paper

Self-injection locking of the DFB laser through ring fiber optic resonator

Vasily Spirin, Cesar López-Mercado, José Luis Bueno Escobedo, Alfredo Márquez Lucero, Igor Zolotovskii, Patrice Mégret, Andrei Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 9344, 93442B (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2077886

KEYWORDS: Resonators, Fiber lasers, Fiber optics, Laser resonators, Polarization, Laser optics, Fiber optic communications, Fiber coupled lasers, Telecommunications, Optical fibers

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2014 Paper

Adjustment of double resonance in short cavity Brillouin fiber lasers

Cesar López-Mercado, Vasily Spirin, Sergey Kablukov, Ekaterina Zlobina, Igor Zolotovsky, Patrice Mégret, Andrei Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 8961, 89612V (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2037938

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Laser resonators, Laser optics, Laser scattering, Solids, Laser applications, Polarization, Single mode fibers, Q switched lasers, Scattering

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Proceedings Article | 8 May 2013 Paper

Double-frequency Brillouin fiber lasers

Vasily Spirin, Cesar López-Mercado, Damien Kinet, Ekaterina Zlobina, Sergei Kablukov, Patrice Mégret, Igor Zolotovskiy, Andrei Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 8772, 87720U (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2017614

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Laser stabilization, Semiconductor lasers, Laser optics, Laser resonators, Polarization, Interferometers, Optical fibers, Spatial light modulators, Optical isolators

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Proceedings Article | 26 February 2013 Paper

Passively stabilized Brillouin fiber lasers with doubly resonant cavities

Vasily Spirin, Cesar López-Mercado, Damien Kinet, Patrice Mégret, Igor Zolotovskiy, Andrei Fotiadi

Proceedings Volume 8601, 860135 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2005172

KEYWORDS: Fiber lasers, Laser stabilization, Semiconductor lasers, Laser optics, Laser resonators, Interferometers, Polarization, Spatial light modulators, Optical isolators, Feedback loops

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Proceedings Article | 17 May 2011 Paper

Chaotic lasers for elimination of low-frequency fluctuations of backscattered Rayleigh radiation in distributed fiber optical sensors

V. Spirin, C. López-Mercado, S. Miridonov, L. Cardoza-Avendaño, R. López-Gutiérrez, C. Cruz-Hernández

Proceedings Volume 7753, 77532T (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.885859

KEYWORDS: Fiber optics sensors, Fiber lasers, Geometrical optics, Fiber optics, Sensors, Laser scattering, Rayleigh scattering, Semiconductor lasers, Scattering, Optical fibers

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Showing 5 of 14 publications

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