Maintaining maximum signal-to-noise ratio in uncooled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser-based self-mixing sensors

Ranveer S. Matharu (1) , Julien Perchoux (2) , Russell Kliese (1) , Yah Leng Lim (1) , Aleksandar D. Rakic (1)

1 ITEE - Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
2 LAAS-OSE - Équipe Optoélectronique pour les Systèmes Embarqués

We demonstrate a method for maintaining the maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signal obtained from the self-mixing sensor based on a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). It was found that the locus of the maximum SNR in the current-temperature space can be well approximated by a simple analytical model related to the temperature behavior of the VCSEL threshold current. The optimum sensor performance is achieved by tuning the laser current according to the proposed model, thus enabling the sensor to operate without temperature stabilization in a wide temperature range between −20 °C and +80 °C .

Mots clés: Interferometry; Diode lasers; Visible lasers

Domaines: Instrumentations et Détecteurs [physics.ins-det]; Optique / photonique

Ranveer S. Matharu, Julien Perchoux, Russell Kliese, Yah Leng Lim, Aleksandar D. Rakic. Maintaining maximum signal-to-noise ratio in uncooled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser-based self-mixing sensors. Optics Letters, 2011, 36 (18), pp.3690-3692. ⟨hal-00757555⟩