Polarization-maintaining fiber loop with double optical length and its application to fiber optic gyroscope

A novel polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) loop is proposed and used for an interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (FOG). By splicing a conventional PMF loop with two pigtailed polarization beam splitters, polarized light can be guided to propagate along the slow and fast axes of the PMF in sequence to double its effective optical length in the loop. In particular, the resultant optical length in the combined loop is partially self-compensated for some external disturbances, such as transverse strain. Primary experiments on the FOG using the proposed loop demonstrate that the average static bias deviation between-40 and +60 °C is less than 0.050 deg./h, and the average bias variation under conventional random vibration test is less than 0.10 deg./h.     

All-fiber single-mode fiber frequency-modulated continuous-wave Sagnac gyroscope

An all-fiber single-mode fiber unbalanced Sagnac gyroscope is described. The gyroscope is based on optical frequency-modulated continuous-wave interference and consists primarily of four Y-type single-mode fiber directional couplers and a single-mode fiber coil. The rotational velocity of the fiber coil is determined simultaneously by detection of the phase shift of the beat signal. The advantages and limitations of the gyroscope are discussed.     

All-fiber LP11 mode convertors

We describe two all-fiber devices for converting light from the fundamental mode to the second-order set of modes in optical fibers. The first is made by controlled hole collapse in a photonic crystal fiber, and the second is a twisted fused coupler made from few-moded conventional fiber. As well as having applications within fiber optics, the devices can be used to generate azimuthally polarized free-space beams.     

Linearly polarized fiber laser using a point-by-point Bragg grating in a single-polarization photonic bandgap fiber

We present a narrow-linewidth, linearly polarized neodymium-doped fiber laser that incorporates a point-by-point Bragg grating inscribed into the core of a single-polarization all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. The Bragg grating was written within a single-polarization wavelength band of the fiber; thus, the Bragg reflection was polarized. This all-fiber laser produced 7.2 W, linearly polarized output with 25 pm FWHM and 19.6 dB polarization extinction ratio.     

Reduced minimum configuration fiber optic gyro for land navigation applications

Further cost reduction of the fiber optic gyroscope is necessary in order to meet the economic requirements of land navigation systems. We have previously concentrated on the reduction of the number of splices and component improvements in the open-loop, minimum configuration. Now we eliminate nonessential components and splices. The source-detector coupler is not part of the Sagnac interferometer and serves solely to provide isolation between the broadband optical source and the photodetector. Many commercial laser diodes incorporate a back-facet photodetector to monitor laser intensity. The signal returned from the Sagnac interferometer traverses the laser, is received at this photodetector, and can be distinguished from the laser signal by the bias modulation. Configuring a gyro in this manner eliminates a directional coupler and the separate photodetector as well as up to three fiber splices in an all-fiber gyroscope. A production, open-loop, fiber optic gyroscope has been modified to demonstrate this principal. The gyroscope can be constructed with only two fiber splices and exhibits performance comparable to the conventional minimum configuration.     

All-fiber,high power single-frequency linearly polarized ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier

We report an all-fiber high power,single frequency large-mode area (LMA) linearly polarized ytterbiumdoped fiber amplifiers (YDFA) module,which is based on the master oscillator multi-stage power amplifiers (MOPA).The maximum output power is 43.8 W at a wavelength of 1064 nm when 60-W launched pump light is coupled,with high slope efficiency of 88%,polarization extinction rate (PER) >17.2 dB and nearly diffraction-limited beam quality (M 2 <1.1).     

利用全光纤耦合环实现三路光纤激光器的相位锁定

利用三个2×2的光纤耦合器按一定规则联接成一个全光纤耦合环,该耦合环将三个独立的掺铒光纤激光器连成一个锁相阵列. 由于耦合环的引入,锁相阵列的整体损耗减小,且三个单元激光器之间可以进行有效的能量相互注入耦合,进而实现阵列的锁相输出. 实验中观察到的远场干涉图样和锁相前后的输出光谱均表明三路光纤激光器实现了相位锁定,当三路抽运源的功率均为100 mW时,获得了92 mW的稳定相干输出. 关键词： 光纤激光器 相干合成 光纤耦合器 相位锁定     

Single-frequency laser oscillator with watts-level output power at 1.5 microm by use of a twisted-mode technique

We report an all-fiber laser oscillator producing as much as 1.9 W of single-frequency direct output at 1.5 microm. Spatial gain hole burning in the active fiber has been eliminated by use of a twisted-mode cavity approach. The two short pieces of a polarization-maintaining fiber that were spliced to the ends of the active fiber served as ultracompact quarter-wave plates. To our knowledge, the use of such a wave plate to manipulate the polarization state of light inside a fiber laser cavity is reported here for the first time. The laser output is linearly polarized and delivered through a polarization-maintaining fiber pigtail. We believe that the output power of our laser is the highest among all single-frequency fiber laser oscillators reported to date.     

High power linearly polarized Raman fiber laser at 1120 nm

An all-fiber linearly polarized Raman fiber laser at 1120 nm is demonstrated. With a 1 070-nm linearly polarized Yb-doped fiber laser as pump source, an output of up to 7.7 W at 1120 nm is obtained with an optical efficiency of 55%. The polarization extinction ratio of the linearly polarized Raman fiber is higher than 18 dB. A numerical simulation model is developed to determine the Raman coefficient of the gain fiber and to evaluate the laser performance. The spectral isolation between the Raman fiber laser and the pump fiber laser is determined to be necessary for further improvements of performance.     

Mueller matrix analysis for all optical fiber co-existence of birefringence-polarization dependent gain-mode coupling at a single wavelength

Birefringence (polarization-related phase-shift), polarization dependent gain (PDG) and mode coupling are three factors that may synchronously influence the transmission of single-wavelength polarized light in optical fibers. This paper obtains a new Mueller matrix analysis, which can be used under conditions that all these three factors are existing and changing. According to our transmission model, the state of polarization (SOP) changes along an optical microstructure fiber with co-existence of birefringence-PDG-mode coupling were simulated. The simulated results, which show the phenomena of SOP constringency, are in good agreement with previous theoretical analyses.     

Recent developments of optical fiber sensors for automotive use

Optical fiber sensing technologies are expected to apply for many future electronic control systems in automobiles, because of their inherent outstanding features, such as high noise immunity, high heat resistance, and flexible light propagation paths which can be applied to measure the movements and directions of the mobiles. In this paper, two typical applications of fiber sensing technologies in automobiles are described in detail. The combustion flame detector is one of the typical applications of a fiber spectroscopic technology which utilizes the feature of high noise and heat resistibility and remote sensibility. Measurement of engine combustion conditions, such as the detonation, the combustion initiation, and the air-fuel ratio, have been demonstrated in an experimental fiber sensing method. Fiber interferometers, such as a fiber gyroscope, have great possibilities in future mobile applications because they are applicable to many kinds of measurements for movements and physical variables. An optical fiber gyroscope utilizing the single polarized optical fiber and other optical devices has been developed. Quite an accurate measurement of vehicle position was displayed on a prototype navigation system which installed the fiber gyroscope as a rotational speed sensor.     

Recent developments of optical fiber sensors for automotive use

Optical fiber sensing technologies are expected to apply for many future electronic control systems in automobiles, because of their inherent outstanding features, such as high noise immunity, high heat resistance, and flexible light propagation paths which can be applied to measure the movements and directions of the mobiles. In this paper, two typical applications of fiber sensing technologies in automobiles are described in detail. The combustion flame detector is one of the typical applications of a fiber spectroscopic technology which utilizes the feature of high noise and heat resistibility and remote sensibility. Measurement of engine combustion conditions, such as the detonation, the combustion initiation, and the air-fuel ratio, have been demonstrated in an experimental fiber sensing method. Fiber interferometers, such as a fiber gyroscope, have great possibilities in future mobile applications because they are applicable to many kinds of measurements for movements and physical variables. An optical fiber gyroscope utilizing the single polarized optical fiber and other optical devices has been developed. Quite an accurate measurement of vehicle position was displayed on a prototype navigation system which installed the fiber gyroscope as a rotational speed sensor.     

Switchable multiple lasing oscillations in an erbium-doped fiber ring laser using a single stage of a Sagnac loop mirror

A simple scheme for a switchable multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber (EDF) ring laser is investigated by using a single stage of a Sagnac loop mirror. The multiple lasing outputs are obtained and switched readily by controlling the state of polarization (SOP). Since the transmission characteristics of the Sagnac loop mirror in terms of peak wavelengths and peak powers strongly depend on the SOP, the switching performance of the proposed multi-wavelength EDF laser can be effectively obtained. The proposed multi-wavelength EDF laser has versatile lasing outputs in states of a single-, dual-, triple-, and quadruple-wavelength oscillations. The multiple outputs are effectively switchable by adjusting the SOP.     

Dynamic path length changes in all-fiber mirrors: Transmission modulation

In this paper, we present a technique to modulate the transmission of an all-fiber mirror. This technique is based on the phase modulation of the light in the fiber loop, combined with the time delay between the clockwise and anticlockwise propagating beams. Using Jones calculus, a theoretical analysis has been carried out to describe the effects of static polarization changes and a dynamic phase modulation. An experimental all-fiber optical mirror has been constructed, and using a 1-MHz piezoelectric disc as the phase modulator, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve either a 1-MHz or 2-MHz transmission modulation by adjusting the polarization state.     

Cascaded dynamic eigenstates of polarization analysis for piezoelectric polarization control

We propose the cascaded dynamic eigenstates (DESs) of polarization to analyze multicomponent polarization control (PC) devices, and achieve the analytical expression of output state of polarization (SOP) as a function of voltage for piezoelectric polarization control (PPC). By measuring the DES at the output port of the device, the prestage DESs will rotate around subsequent ones. Experimental results in PPC confirm the validity of our analysis. The average error of our theoretical output SOP is 1.23 degrees, and the SOP response time is ~10 micros, which is promising to realize a quasi-open-loop high-speed PC.     

Polarization properties of Rayleigh backscattering with a high degree of coherence in single-mode fibers

The state and degree of polarization (SOP, DOP) of Rayleigh backscattering (RB) are analyzed by using Jones calculus for the case the source coherent length is larger than the fiber length. It shows that the SOP of RB is the same as the SOP of input light, and the fiber disturbance does not influence the SOP of RB. The DOP of RB is also the same as that of input light. The corresponding experiments have been carried out, and the results agree well with all the predictions.     

THEORETICAL STUDY OF SELF-STARTING MODE-LOCKED ALL-FIBER LASERS

In this paper, the self-startlng mode-locking characteristics of all-fiber lasers are in-vestigated theoretically. The mechanism of self-starting mode-locking is analyzed and the experimental phenomena are explained successfully by introducing effective energy gain. The modulation characteristics of all-fiber lasers and the effect of gain saturation on modulation characteristics are discussed by analyzing the transmissivity of Er-doped fiber loop. Finally, the dynamic processes of all-fiber self-starting mode-locked lasers are simulated numerically.     

基于简单MOPA结构实现3.08 kW全光纤窄线宽线偏振激光输出

基于简单的主振荡功率放大结构,演示了一种高功率窄线宽线性偏振全光纤激光器,其最大输出功率为3.08 kW,3 dB线宽为0.2 nm。在整个功率缩放过程中,偏振消光比约为94%,光束质量M 2约为1.4。这是国内外首次实现3 kW全保偏光纤激光输出,与基于相位调制的窄线宽激光器相比,该激光器可实现近似的线宽,同时具有受激布里渊散射阈值高、系统结构简单、成本低等特点。     

Low-threshold single-wavelength all-fiber laser generating cylindrical vector beams using a few-mode fiber Bragg grating

We propose and demonstrate a low-threshold single-wavelength all-fiber laser generating cylindrical vector beams using a few-mode fiber Bragg grating. Both radially and azimuthally polarized beams have been generated with very good modal symmetry and polarization purity higher than 94%. The radially and azimuthally polarized modes can be switched by simply adjusting the polarization controllers built in the fiber laser cavity. This fiber laser operates at a single wavelength of 1053 nm with a 3 dB linewidth of less than 0.02 nm, signal-to-background ratio of more than 55 dB, and a threshold as low as 16 mW. A new method for the polarization purity measurement is also proposed.     

Soliton squeezing at the gigahertz rate in a Sagnac loop

We demonstrate what is to our knowledge the first all-fiber squeezing experiment. A balanced Sagnac loop is used, and a record 6.1+/-0.2dB of noise reduction below shot noise has been obtained without stabilization. A gigahertz Er-doped fiber laser and a high-power double-clad Er-Yb amplifier have been developed to suppress guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering and to make possible the all-fiber configuration.