JP2012078476A - Composite etalon filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contribute to miniaturization of a laser device.SOLUTION: The laser device includes a beam splitter that splits laser light into two lines, a second transparent member, and a hollow member arranged between the beam splitter and the second transparent member. The beam splitter has a reflection film on a surface facing the hollow member, while having a first junction film on the reflection film. The second transparent member has a reflection film on a surface facing the hollow member, while having a second junction film on the reflection film. The hollow member has a third junction film on a surface around an opening of the hollow part and facing the beam splitter and on a surface facing the second transparent member. The first junction film of the beam splitter and the third junction film of the hollow member are joined by atomic diffusion joining. The second junction film of the second transparent member and the third junction film of the hollow member are joined by atomic diffusion joining.

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite etalon filter used in a laser apparatus.

  Conventionally, a laser apparatus includes a semiconductor laser, an optical system that collimates laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser, a beam splitter that divides the laser light into two systems, and a predetermined wavelength for one of the divided laser lights. This is mainly composed of a Fabry-Perot resonator that resonates and a photodetector to which the laser light is incident.

  In the laser device configured as described above, a structure using two reflectors for a Fabry-Perot resonator is known. The Fabry-Perot resonator having this structure is required to have high installation accuracy of the two reflecting plates. For example, there is a problem in that the light transmission characteristics of the laser light change unless the two reflectors are installed with a parallelism in seconds (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Therefore, a laser apparatus using an etalon filter instead of the Fabry-Perot resonator has been proposed. As a conventional etalon filter, for example, two types of filters, a solid structure and an air gap structure, are used.

The solid structure etalon filter has a structure in which, for example, a reflective film is provided on two parallel planes of a quadrangular prism-shaped member. Of the two planes provided with the reflective film, light is transmitted from one plane side toward the other plane (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Here, the characteristics of light transmitted through the etalon filter will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the light transmitted through the etalon filter has a transmission intensity T (λ) at predetermined intervals, where the vertical axis indicates the transmission intensity T (λ) and the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength λ. It has the characteristic of producing a plurality of peaks with high intensity.

The interval between two adjacent peaks among the plurality of peaks is called FSR (free spectrum range).
This FSR is a product of the physical length L of the optical path and the refractive index of the solid, where n is the physical length L of the optical path of the optical path of the etalon filter and n is the refractive index between the reflecting films provided on the two planes. It is also a value determined by the wavelength λ.
For example, FSR is approximated by the following equation.
FSR = λ ² / ( ² nL)

An etalon filter having an air gap structure has a structure in which two plate members are sandwiched between two flat transparent members, and a space is formed between the two transparent members with a predetermined interval between the two plate members. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). Here, the two flat transparent members are provided with reflective films on the planes facing each other. Such an etalon filter having an air gap structure can keep the distance between two flat transparent members at a predetermined interval by two plate members.
Here, in the etalon filter having an air gap structure, the physical length L of the optical path is set between the reflective films provided on the two transparent members. The FSR in this case is determined by the product of the physical length L of the optical path and the refractive index n of the medium in the air gap portion, as in the case of the solid structure etalon filter.
The etalon filter having an air gap structure uses an adhesive to join a plate member provided between two flat transparent members. An etalon filter having an air gap structure can be easily manufactured by using an adhesive for bonding.
In addition, as a joining without using an adhesive, joining by a conventionally known optical contact method has been proposed.
Further, the conventional laser apparatus incorporates a semiconductor laser module in which the semiconductor laser, the optical system, the beam splitter, the etalon filter, and the photodetector are arranged at predetermined intervals to form a module.

Japanese Patent No. 283068 JP 2003-195031 A

  However, in an etalon filter having a conventional air gap structure, it is necessary to maintain a distance between two flat transparent members in order to obtain a predetermined wavelength temperature characteristic. This interval is set longer than the solid structure etalon filter. Further, since the beam splitter is provided at a predetermined interval from the etalon filter, it has been difficult to reduce the size of the laser device.

Further, in an etalon filter having an air gap structure, when the adhesive is used, the thickness of the adhesive may vary depending on manufacturing conditions. At this time, the variation in the thickness of the adhesive causes the physical length L of the optical path of the etalon filter to be distorted.
Therefore, the etalon filter defined as the physical length L of the optical path has a different physical length L ′ of the optical path depending on the adhesive.
As a result, the characteristic of the light transmitted through the etalon filter is different from the FSR defined by the physical length number L of the optical path of the etalon filter, where the vertical axis represents the transmission intensity T (λ) and the horizontal axis represents the wavelength λ. It shifts to become a new FSR ′ (see FIG. 1B).
For this reason, the wavelength λ shows a different value with respect to the predetermined transmission intensity T (λ), and there is a possibility that the oscillation wavelength used in the optical device can be known correctly, that is, the oscillation wavelength cannot be monitored correctly. is there.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a composite etalon filter that can solve the above-described problems and contribute to downsizing of a laser device.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a composite etalon filter comprising: a beam splitter that divides laser light into two systems; a second transparent member; and the beam splitter and the second transparent member. A hollow member provided therebetween, and the beam splitter includes a first bonding film on the reflective film while including a reflective film on a surface facing the hollow member, and the second transparent member includes the second transparent member, A second bonding film is provided on the reflection film while a reflection film is provided on a surface facing the hollow member, and the hollow member is formed around the opening of the hollow portion and faces the beam splitter and the second transparent film. A third bonding film is provided on a surface facing the member, the first bonding film of the beam splitter and the third bonding film of the hollow member are bonded by an atomic diffusion bonding method, and the second bonding of the second transparent member Membrane and hollow member A third bonding film is characterized in that it is joined by atomic diffusion bonding.

  In the present invention, the first bonding film, the second bonding film, and the third bonding film may have a film thickness of 1 nm or less.

According to such a composite type etalon filter, since the etalon filter and the beam splitter are joined, the path through which the laser light passes is shortened, which can contribute to the miniaturization of the laser device.
Further, according to such a composite type etalon filter, the beam splitter, the hollow member, and the second transparent member can be joined without using an adhesive, and variation in thickness can be reduced. The change in the physical length L of the optical path of the etalon filter can be made difficult to occur.
Further, since the film thickness of the first bonding film, the second bonding film, and the third bonding film is 1 nm or less, it is not necessary to consider the refraction of incident light, and the first bonding Since the bonding between the film and the third bonding film and the bonding between the second bonding film and the third bonding film are bonded by atomic diffusion bonding, peeling due to the thermal environment can be prevented.

(A) is sectional drawing which shows an example of the etalon filter which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is a graph which shows the relationship between transmission intensity and a wavelength. (A) is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the state which joined the some wafer and made it the block, (b) is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a 1st wafer. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a 1st wafer, a 2nd wafer, and a 3rd wafer. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which joined the 1st wafer, the 3rd wafer, and the 2nd wafer.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that each component is exaggerated for easy understanding of the state.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the composite etalon filter 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a beam splitter 10, a second transparent member 20, and a hollow member 30.

The beam splitter 10 plays a role of dividing the laser light into two systems.
The beam splitter 10 is a transparent member, and for example, glass or crystal material is used. The beam splitter 10 has a quadrangular prism shape formed by joining triangular prism members 10a and 10b, and is provided with an optical film for dividing light on one of the inclined surfaces 10c of the triangular prism members 10a and 10b. For example, one triangular prism member 10a has a shape obtained by giving a right triangle a thickness. Similarly, the other triangular prism member 10b has a right triangle having a thickness. A quadrangular prism-shaped beam splitter 10 is configured by overlapping the oblique sides of the triangular prism member 10a and the oblique sides of the triangular prism member 10b. In this beam splitter 10, a reflective film is provided on one surface of either one of the triangular prism members 10a and 10b so as not to include the hypotenuse. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reflective film 11 is provided on the triangular prism member 10b. At this time, the beam splitter 10 includes a first bonding film 12 made of a metal having a thickness of 1 nm or less on the reflective film 11.
The beam splitter 10 is provided with antireflection films 13 and 14 on two surfaces orthogonal to the surface on which the reflection film 11 is provided.
In this beam splitter 10, the laser beam is divided into two systems on the surface where the triangular prism member 10a and the triangular prism member 10b are joined.

The 2nd transparent member 20 is a transparent member, Comprising: For example, it consists of glass or a crystal material, and is formed in the square column shape. The second transparent member 20 faces, for example, the beam splitter 10, and the area of each facing surface is the same.
The quadrangular prism-shaped second transparent member 20 is configured to transmit light between two predetermined parallel surfaces. One of the two predetermined parallel surfaces faces a hollow member 30 described later. The second transparent member 20 includes a second bonding film 22 made of a metal having a film thickness of 1 nm or less on the reflection film 21 while including a reflection film 21 on a surface facing a hollow member 30 described later. Yes.
The second transparent member 20 may be provided with an antireflection film 23 on a surface parallel to the surface facing the hollow member 30.

The hollow member 30 is made of glass or a crystal material provided between the beam splitter 10 and the second transparent member 20.
The hollow member 30 has a cylindrical shape in which a wall portion 31 is formed in an annular shape to form a hollow portion 30a, and a direction perpendicular to a center line C passing through the center of the hollow portion 30a along the wall portion 31. The cross-sectional shape of this is a quadrangle. In other words, the cross-sectional shape when the hollow member 30 is cut is a quadrangle whose outer contour shape is the same shape as the beam splitter 10 and the second transparent member 20, and the contour of the hollow portion 30a is larger than the outer shape. Is a small square.
The hollow member 30 includes a third bonding film 32 having a film thickness of 1 nm or less on the surface around the opening of the hollow portion 30 a and facing the beam splitter 10 and the surface facing the second transparent member 20.

In the beam splitter 10 and the hollow member 30, the first bonding film 12 provided on the beam splitter 10 and the third bonding film 32 provided on the hollow member 30 are bonded by an atomic diffusion bonding method.
Similarly, the second transparent member 20 and the hollow member 30 are formed by combining the second bonding film 22 provided on the second transparent member 20 and the third bonding film 32 provided on the hollow member 30 by an atomic diffusion bonding method. It is joined by.
In addition, the joining of the beam splitter 10 and the hollow member 30 and the joining of the second transparent member 20 and the hollow member 30 are performed in a vacuum atmosphere, for example.
In addition, for example, the hollow portion 30a of the hollow member 30 may be in an airtight state in which atmospheric pressure is maintained in addition to a vacuum, or may be in an airtight state in which a predetermined pressure is maintained in an inert gas atmosphere.

According to such a composite type etalon filter 100, since the etalon filter and the beam splitter are joined, the path through which the laser light passes is shortened, which can contribute to downsizing of the laser apparatus.
Moreover, according to such a composite type etalon filter 100, the beam splitter 10, the hollow member 30, and the second transparent member 20 can be joined without using an adhesive, and variation in thickness can be reduced to reduce the FSR. The shift can be prevented, and the change in the product of the physical length number L of the optical path of the etalon filter 100 and the refractive index n of the medium in the hollow portion can be made difficult to occur. Thereby, it is possible to monitor the oscillation wavelength used in the optical apparatus with high accuracy.
Further, since the film thickness of the first bonding film 12, the second bonding film 22, and the third bonding film 32 is 1 nm or less, it is not necessary to consider the refraction of incident light, and the first bonding film 12 and the third bonding film 32 and the bonding between the second bonding film 22 and the third bonding film 32 are bonded by atomic diffusion bonding, so that peeling due to the thermal environment can be prevented.

The composite etalon filter 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured as follows.
When manufacturing a composite type etalon filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first wafer 10 </ b> W serving as a beam splitter, a second wafer 20 </ b> W serving as a second transparent member, A third wafer 30W to be a hollow member is prepared.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the first wafer 10W serving as a beam splitter forms a block B by overlapping and joining a plurality of transparent members W, W... Having a predetermined thickness. Then, when viewed from the laminated part B1 side of the block B formed to be overlapped, the block B is cut along the cutting line S1 at a predetermined angle and a predetermined thickness with respect to the laminated part B1. (See FIG. 2B).
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the antireflection film is omitted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a reflective film 11 is provided on one main surface of the first wafer 10W by using, for example, sputtering.
Similarly, the reflective film 21 is provided on one main surface of the second wafer 20W by using, for example, sputtering. Note that an antireflection film 23 (see FIG. 1A) may be provided on the other main surface of the second wafer.
Further, a plurality of through holes 30a having a quadrangular cross section when cut in a direction perpendicular to the through direction penetrating in the thickness direction are formed in the third wafer 30W.
The cross section may be other than a square shape. For example, it may be circular.

In this state, the first bonding film 12 is provided on the reflective film 11 of the first wafer 10W, and the third bonding film 32 is provided on one main surface of the third wafer 30W.
The first bonding film 12 provided on the reflective film 11 of the first wafer 10W and the third bonding film 32 provided on one main surface of the third wafer 30W are overlapped and bonded by atomic diffusion bonding.
Here, the atomic diffusion bonding method is a method of bonding by diffusing atoms of materials constituting each other on bonding surfaces that overlap each other.

In a state where the first wafer 10W and the third wafer 30W are bonded, the third bonding film 32 is provided on the other main surface of the third wafer 30W, and the second bonding is performed on the reflective film 21 of the second wafer 20W. A film 22 is provided.
The second bonding film 22 provided on the reflective film 21 of the second wafer 20W and the third bonding film 32 provided on the other main surface of the third wafer 30W are overlapped to perform atomic diffusion bonding, for example, a vacuum. Join in atmosphere.

Thereby, the first wafer 10W, the third wafer 30W, and the second wafer 20W are bonded to each other, and a plurality of composite etalon filters 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention are connected (see FIG. 4).
In this state, for example, individual composite etalon filters 100 can be obtained by cutting S2 between adjacent through-holes 30a while marking between the plurality of through-holes 30a provided in the third wafer 30W. it can. In addition, the through-hole 30a at this time points out the hollow part 30a of the hollow member 30 in FIG.

  By manufacturing in this way, for example, the inside of the through hole 30a, that is, the hollow portion 30a of the hollow member 30 can be hermetically sealed in an atmospheric pressure state other than vacuum. Note that the inside of the hollow portion 30a may be airtight with an inert gas at a predetermined pressure, or may be the atmosphere.

  In this way, the composite etalon filter according to the embodiment of the present invention can be easily manufactured.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. As the transparent member, a member excellent in heat resistance that can be provided with a bonding film or a reflection film is preferable. For example, a crystal material such as quartz, glass, or a resin such as polycarbonate can be used. The bonding film is preferably made of a metal such as Cu or Ti having a large diffusion coefficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Composite type etalon filter 10 Beam splitter 11 Reflective film 12 First joining film 20 Second transparent member 21 Reflecting film 22 Second joining film 30 Hollow member 30a Hollow part (through hole)
32 Third bonding film

Claims (2)

A beam splitter that splits the laser light into two systems;
A second transparent member;
A hollow member provided between the beam splitter and the second transparent member,
The beam splitter includes a first bonding film on the reflective film while including a reflective film on a surface facing the hollow member;
The second transparent member includes a second bonding film on the reflective film while including a reflective film on a surface facing the hollow member,
The hollow member includes a third bonding film on a surface facing the beam splitter and a surface facing the second transparent member around the opening of the hollow portion,
The first bonding film of the beam splitter and the third bonding film of the hollow member are bonded by an atomic diffusion bonding method,
A composite etalon filter, wherein the second bonding film of the second transparent member and the third bonding film of the hollow member are bonded by an atomic diffusion bonding method.   2. The composite etalon filter according to claim 1, wherein the first bonding film, the second bonding film, and the third bonding film have a thickness of 1 nm or less.

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