Optical signal generating device and method based on coherent array laser

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical signal generating device and method based on a coherent array laser, and relates to the technical field of lasers, in the generating device, a coherent array laser module is composed of a preset number of laser cavities, and coherent superposition of an optical field is achieved between the laser cavities through a coupling structure; the driving control module is used for adjusting the working current or temperature of the laser cavities, so that each laser cavity can output laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; and the output interface module is used for respectively leading out laser signals output by the laser cavity to subsequent optical devices. By means of the technical scheme, simultaneous output of multiple paths of high-consistency optical signals is achieved, environment disturbance can be automatically compensated, the robustness of the system is improved, and the device is compact in structure and high in stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of lasers, and particularly to an optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser and an optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser. Background Art

[0002] Currently, in modern optical communication systems, especially in high-throughput satellite communication systems, multiple highly consistent light sources are usually required to implement functions such as conversion, modulation, and transmission of broadband signals to narrowband signals.

[0003] Traditional solutions usually rely on multiple independent laser sources or complex heterodyne structures to generate the required multiple optical signals. However, such methods have the following significant drawbacks: 1. It is difficult to maintain exactly the same frequency, phase, and wavelength among the output optical signals of each path; 2. Multiple external light sources introduce additional noise and increase the system control complexity; 3. The system integration degree is low, which limits the large-scale multiplexing ability and is not conducive to reducing costs and power consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an optical signal generating device and a generating method based on a coherent array laser. By using a coherent array laser, multiple optical signals are output simultaneously. By regulating the driving parameters of the laser cavity and combining a closed-loop feedback control mechanism, a high degree of consistency of the output optical signals is achieved. It can automatically compensate for environmental disturbances, improve the robustness of the system, and the device has a compact structure and strong stability.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser, including: a coherent array laser module, a drive control module, and an output interface module; The coherent array laser module is composed of a preset number of laser cavities, and a coupling structure is adopted between the laser cavities to achieve coherent superposition of optical fields; The drive control module is used to adjust the working current or temperature of the laser cavity so that each laser cavity can output laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; The output interface module is used to respectively lead out the laser signals output by the laser cavity to subsequent optical devices.

[0006] In the above technical solution, preferably, the laser cavities adopt a parallel arrangement structure, and a gain medium or a waveguide structure is shared between the laser cavities.

[0007] In the above technical solution, preferably, the coupling structure adopts a directional coupler or a Y-shaped waveguide structure.

[0008] In the above technical solution, preferably, the drive control module includes a constant current source, a temperature control unit, and a feedback processing unit. The constant current source and the temperature control unit respectively adjust the working current and temperature of the laser cavity under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit, so that each laser cavity is in a preset working current range and temperature range.

[0009] In the above technical solution, preferably, the output interface module includes a preset number of single-mode optical fibers or integrated optical waveguides, and each optical fiber or waveguide corresponds to an output port of one of the laser cavities.

[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, the optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser further includes a feedback control module, and the feedback control module includes a phase detection unit, a frequency locking unit, and a controller; The phase detection unit obtains the phase difference of each output laser signal through a photodetector and feeds it back to the controller. The controller outputs a feedback control instruction to the frequency locking unit based on the phase difference to control the drive control module to adjust the laser cavity to a preset working current.

[0011] The present invention also proposes an optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser, which is applied to the optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser disclosed in any one of the above technical solutions, and includes: Start the coherent array laser, and a preset number of laser cavities oscillate simultaneously, and the coupling structure enables the optical field coherence superposition effect between the laser cavities to achieve phase locking; Adjust the laser cavity to be respectively in a preset working current or temperature through the drive control module, so that each laser cavity outputs laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; Output each laser signal to subsequent optical devices through the output interface module.

[0012] In the above technical solution, preferably, the process of adjusting the laser cavity to be respectively in a preset working current or temperature through the drive control module specifically includes: Control the working current and temperature of the laser cavity through a constant current source and a temperature control unit respectively, and under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit, adjust the laser cavity to reach the preset working current and / or temperature respectively.

[0013] In the above technical solution, preferably, the optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser further includes: Use a feedback control system to perform closed-loop control on the laser cavity through the drive control module to output a stable laser signal.

[0014] In the above technical solution, preferably, the feedback control system uses a PID algorithm or a digital phase-locked loop for feedback control.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: (1) Compact structure: Without the need for multiple independent lasers, the system volume and power consumption are significantly reduced; (2) High output consistency: All output optical signals are highly consistent in frequency, phase, and wavelength; (3) Strong stability: Adopting a closed-loop feedback mechanism, it can automatically compensate for environmental disturbances and improve the system robustness; (4) Wide application range: It can be used in various application scenarios such as high-throughput satellite communication, optical sensing, optical interferometry, optical computing, etc.; (5) High integration: It can be integrated with other photonic devices such as optical modulators, filters, mixers, etc. on the same chip to improve the overall performance of the system. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a coherent array laser module disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a feedback control module disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0018] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings: As Figure 1 shown, an optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser provided by the present invention includes: a coherent array laser module, a drive control module, and an output interface module; The coherent array laser module is composed of a preset number of laser cavities, and a coupling structure is adopted between the laser cavities to realize the coherent superposition of the optical fields; The drive control module is used to adjust the working current or temperature of the laser cavities so that each laser cavity can output laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; The output interface module is used to respectively lead out the laser signals output by the laser cavities to subsequent optical devices.

[0019] In this embodiment, multiple optical signals are simultaneously output by a coherent array laser. By regulating the driving parameters of the laser cavity and combining a closed-loop feedback control mechanism, a high degree of consistency of the output optical signals is achieved, which can automatically compensate for environmental disturbances, improve the robustness of the system, and the device structure is compact and has strong stability.

[0020] Specifically, the coherent array laser module can output N laser signals. Without the need for multiple independent lasers and beam splitting, there is no need to worry about insufficient optical power, which significantly reduces the system volume and power consumption. The optical fields of each laser cavity interact with each other and achieve phase synchronization through an integrated waveguide coupling structure, and the coherent superposition of the optical fields forms a stable coherent oscillation mode as a whole. This module can simultaneously output N laser signals with highly consistent wavelength, frequency, and phase, and share the same power supply, thus achieving the operating characteristics of high integration and low power consumption.

[0021] In addition, the optical signal generating device can be integrated with other photonic devices such as optical modulators, filters, and mixers on the same chip to improve the overall performance of the system.

[0022] As Figure 2 shown, in the above embodiment, preferably, the laser cavities adopt a parallel arrangement structure, and the laser cavities share a gain medium or waveguide structure to achieve phase locking.

[0023] In the above embodiment, preferably, the coupling structure adopts a directional coupler or a Y-shaped waveguide structure.

[0024] In the above embodiment, preferably, the drive control module includes a constant current source, a temperature control unit, and a feedback processing unit. The constant current source and the temperature control unit respectively adjust the working current and temperature of the laser cavity under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit, so that each laser cavity is within a preset working current range and temperature range, maintaining the stable operation of the laser cavity. By adjusting the drive current or temperature, the output wavelengths of each laser cavity can be finely tuned to make them completely consistent.

[0025] In the above embodiment, preferably, the output interface module includes a preset number of single-mode optical fibers or integrated optical waveguides, and each optical fiber or waveguide corresponds to the output port of a laser cavity, realizing the efficient extraction of multiple optical signals.

[0026] As Figure 3 shown, in the above embodiment, preferably, the optical signal generating device based on the coherent array laser further includes a feedback control module, and the feedback control module includes a phase detection unit, a frequency locking unit, and a controller; The phase detection unit obtains the phase differences of the output laser signals of each path through a photodetector and feeds them back to the controller. The controller outputs a feedback control instruction to the frequency locking unit based on the phase differences to control the drive control module to adjust the laser cavity to a preset working current, thereby ensuring the long-term stability and consistency of the output signals.

[0027] The present invention also provides an optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser, which is applied to the optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser disclosed in any one of the above embodiments, and includes: Start the coherent array laser, and a preset number of laser cavities oscillate simultaneously, and the coupling structure enables the coherent superposition of the optical fields between the laser cavities to achieve phase locking; Adjust the laser cavities to be respectively at preset working currents or temperatures through the drive control module, so that each laser cavity outputs laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; Output the laser signals of each path to subsequent optical devices through the output interface module.

[0028] In the above embodiment, preferably, the process of adjusting the laser cavities to be respectively at preset working currents or temperatures through the drive control module specifically includes: Control the working current and temperature of the laser cavity through a constant current source and a temperature control unit respectively, and under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit, adjust the laser cavity to reach the preset working current and / or temperature respectively.

[0029] In the above embodiment, preferably, the optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser further includes: Use a feedback control system to perform closed-loop control on the laser cavity through the drive control module to output stable laser signals.

[0030] In the above embodiment, preferably, the feedback control system uses a PID algorithm or a digital phase-locked loop for feedback control.

[0031] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser, characterized in that, Including: A coherent array laser module, a drive control module, and an output interface module; The coherent array laser module is composed of a preset number of laser cavities, and a coupling structure is adopted between the laser cavities to realize coherent superposition of optical fields; The drive control module is used to adjust the working current or temperature of the laser cavity so that each laser cavity can output laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; The output interface module is used to lead out the laser signals output by the laser cavity to subsequent optical devices respectively.

2. The optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser according to claim 1, wherein The laser cavities adopt a parallel arrangement structure, and a gain medium or a waveguide structure is shared between the laser cavities.

3. The optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coupling structure adopts a directional coupler or a Y-type waveguide structure.

4. The optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser according to claim 1, wherein The drive control module includes a constant current source, a temperature control unit, and a feedback processing unit. The constant current source and the temperature control unit respectively adjust the working current and temperature of the laser cavity under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit, so that each laser cavity is within a preset working current range and temperature range.

5. The optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The output interface module includes a preset number of single-mode optical fibers or integrated optical waveguides, and each optical fiber or waveguide corresponds to an output port of one of the laser cavities.

6. The optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It further includes a feedback control module, and the feedback control module includes a phase detection unit, a frequency locking unit, and a controller; The phase detection unit obtains the phase difference of the output laser signals of each path through a photodetector and feeds it back to the controller. The controller outputs a feedback control instruction to the frequency locking unit based on the phase difference to control the drive control module to adjust the laser cavity to a preset working current.

7. A method for generating an optical signal based on a coherent array laser, characterized in that, Applied to the optical signal generating device based on a coherent array laser as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, including: Start the coherent array laser, and a preset number of laser cavities oscillate simultaneously. The coupling structure enables the coherent superposition effect of the optical fields between the laser cavities to achieve phase locking; Adjust the laser cavity to be respectively within a preset working current or temperature through the drive control module so that each laser cavity outputs laser signals with the same frequency and wavelength; Output the laser signals of each path to subsequent optical devices through the output interface module.

8. The optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser according to claim 7, characterized in that, The process of adjusting the laser cavity to be respectively within a preset working current or temperature through the drive control module specifically includes: Control the working current and temperature of the laser cavity respectively through the constant current source and the temperature control unit, and respectively adjust the laser cavity to reach the preset working current and / or temperature under the feedback control of the feedback processing unit.

9. The optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser according to claim 7, wherein It further includes: Use a feedback control system to perform closed-loop control on the laser cavity through the drive control module to output a stable laser signal.

10. The optical signal generating method based on a coherent array laser according to claim 9, wherein, The feedback control system uses a PID algorithm or a digital phase-locked loop for feedback control.

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