Emmy Noether Research Group, Institute for Nanoelectronics

Master thesis / Diplomarbeit: Modeling of Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) Lasers

08.09.2009, Diplomarbeiten, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

Fourier domain mode locking (FDML) is a new stationary laser operating regime, generating fast frequency sweeps over a wide spectral range. Such lasers have a wide range of applications, ranging from spectroscopy to biomedical imaging. For example, they are used for optical coherence tomography (OCT). In this thesis, the focus is on the simulation of the physical properties of FDML lasers in close collaboration with Dr. Robert Huber (LMU), whose group provides the experimental feedback for the simulations. The goal is the further optimization of the laser and a deeper understanding of the underlying theoretical framework.

Fourier domain mode locking (FDML) is a new stationary laser operating regime besides continuous wave (cw) and conventional mode locked operation. Typical FDML lasers feature a fiber ring resonator, combined with a semiconductor-based optical amplifier (SOA). In FDML operation, a narrowband optical bandpass filter is tuned periodically with a sweep repetition rate that is synchronous to the optical roundtrip time of the circulating light field in the laser, resulting in one or several narrowband frequency sweeps per roundtrip over a wide spectral range. FDML lasers can provide superior performance in applications where high speed, narrowband frequency-swept sources are desired, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) in biomedical imaging.

In our research group, we focus on the simulation of the physical properties of FDML lasers in close collaboration with Dr. Robert Huber (LMU), whose group provides the experimental feedback for the simulations. The goal is the further optimization of the laser and a deeper understanding of the underlying theoretical framework. The student will carry out simulations, and use analytical methods in order to describe the laser dynamics. The tools for our simulations are C++ and MATLAB. This thesis will give you hands-on experience in laser physics, programming and numerical methods.
Prerequisite: An interest in optical simulations and theoretical work.

Kontakt: Dr. Christian Jirauschek, jirauschek@tum.de

More Information

http://www.nano.ei.tum.de/noether