A Continuously Tunable Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser Using Tunable Fibre Bragg Gratings and Optical Circulator

A continuously tunable erbium-doped fibre laser （TEDFL） based on tunable fibre Bragger grating （TFBG） and a three-port optical circulator （OC） is proposed and demonstrated. The OC acts as a 100%-reflective mirror. A strain-induced uniform fibre Bragger grating （FBG） which functions as a partial-reflecting mirror is implemented in the linear cavity. By applying axial strain onto the TFBG, a continuously tunable lazing output can be realized. The wavelength tuning range covers approximately 7.00nm in C band （from 1543.6161 to 1550.3307nm）. The side mode suppression ratio （SMSR） is better than 50 dB, and the 3 dB bandwidth of the laser is less than 0.01 nm. Moreover, an array waveguide grating （AWG） is inserted into the cavity for wavelength preselecting, and a 50 km transmission experiment was performed using our TEDFL at a 10 Gb/s modulation rate.     

Stable Dual-Wavelength Fibre Laser with Bragg Gratings Fabricated in a Polarization-Maintaining Erbium-Doped Fibre

A new polarization-independent duai-wavelength fibre laser by fabricating a uniform FBG and a chirped FBG in a polarization-maintaining erbium-doped fibre （PM-EDF） is proposed and demonstrated. The wavelength spacing is 0.18nm and the optical signal-to-noise ratio is greater than 50dB with pump power of 246mW. Chirped FBG is used to make the reflectivity wavelengths of two PM-FBGs match easier. Since both EDF and FBGs are polarization-maintaining without splices and the two wavelengths are polarization-independent, the maximum amplitude variation and wavelength shifts for both lasing wavelength with 3-min intervals over a period of six hours are less than 0.2 dB and 0.005 nm, respectively, which shows stable dual-wavelength output.     

Realization of Stable Narrow Linewidth Dual-Wavelength Lasing in an Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser by Cleaving the Wavelength-Selective Filter Spectrum

We propose and demonstrate a new concept of stable narrow-line-width and close wavelength spacing dualwavelength lasing in an Er-doped fibre ring laser （EDFRL） by cleaving the spectrum with a wavelength-selective component in the EDFRL. A fibre loop mirror （FLM） combining with a polarization controller （PC） acts as the cleaver. The cleaver can produce a fine pectinate spectrum. By adjusting the PC, the fine pectinate spectrum can be so changeable that cleaving the spectrum of a fibre Bragg grating （FBG） into two parts. As a result, we obtain the dual-wavelength fibre lasering with a bandwidth of only 0.03nm and a wavelength spacing of only 0.07nm. Furthermore, the laser can also perform stable switchable single wavelength or stable different-bandwidth dual-wavelength by carefully adjusting the PC at room temperature.     

Realization of an All-Fibre Self-Organization Intra-Cavity Coherent Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser

An intra-cavity coherent coupling Michelson Er-doped fibre （EDF） laser （MCEDFL） is proposed and demonstrated. Characteristics of the MCEDFL are investigated. It is found that the MCEDFL with a polarizer can be coherent combined effectively. By the experiment based on fibre Bragg gratings （FBGs） with different reflectivity, we find that the reflectivity of the FBG play a vital role in improving the performance of the MCEDFL. This outcome adequately shows many favourable features, such as high efficiency, easy operation, and simple all-fibre configuration.     

Single-longitudinal-mode erbium-doped fiber laser based on a fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot filter

A novel single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) erbium-doped fiber laser with a simple linear cavity based on a fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot filter (FBG-FPF) and a narrowband (～0.06 nm) FBG is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Two uniform FBGs form the FBG-FPF, which has two ultranarrow transmission bands with a bandwidth of 0.12 pm and a wavelength spacing of 0.095 nm. By slightly tuning the central wavelength of the narrowband FBG, SLM lasing at 1549.658 or 1549.563 nm (corresponding to the two transmission peaks of the FBG-FPF) is achieved with a laser output power of ～4 mW, when the pump power is ～75 mW.     

Temperature-Insensitive Chemical Sensor with Twin Bragg Gratings in an Optical Fibre

To reduce temperature sensitivity of the fibre Bragg grating （FBG） chemical sensor, a simple method is proposed by measuring the peak wavelength difference between an etched FBG and an un-etched one in an optical fibre. Thermal characteristics and chemical sensitivity of the sensor are experimentally investigated. The experimental results indicate that the etched FBG and the rest one have almost the same thermal response, and concentration changes of the surrounding chemical solutions can be detected by measuring the peak wavelength difference between them. The sensor has been used to measure the concentrations of propylene glycol solutions and sugar solutions, and it could detect 0.7% and 0.45% concentration changes for them with an optical spectrum analyser in resolution of 10pm.     

1018 nm短波长掺镱光纤激光高功率自组织相干合成

搭建了两台高功率、低量子损耗的1018 nm短波长掺镱光纤激光器,进行了全光纤结构下两路光纤激光器的相干合成实验。获得了功率为55 W、合成效率为90.2%的相干输出,这是当前严格单模1018 nm光纤激光器的最高功率水平。同时,验证了Michelson腔自组织相干合成技术能够实现光纤激光器的高功率单模输出。     

光纤光栅激光器激射波长的研究

一般认为，用光纤光栅作选频元件的光纤激光器，激射波长与光纤光栅中心反射波长一致，本文报道了不同的实验研究结果。通过细致的实验研究，发现光纤光栅激光器激射波长相对于光纤光栅中心反射波长有一定的偏移。激射波长可以出现在光栅中心反射波长的长波端，也可以出现在其短波端。对不同腔结构的掺镱、掺铒光纤光栅激光器的深入研究证明，谐振腔的各向异性对激光器的激射波长偏移起到决定性的作用，波长最大偏移量主要受限于光纤光栅的反射带宽。通过激光腔内的偏振控制器改变谐振腔的各向异性，可以在光纤光栅的反射带宽内控制激射波长的位置。     

Compact fiber laser at L-band region using Erbium-doped Zirconia fiber

A compact Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) operating in L-band region is demonstrated using a fabricated Erbium-doped Zirconia fiber (EDZF) for the first time. The fiber is fabricated by combining Zr and Al to achieve the maximum Erbium ion concentration of 4320 wt ppm. By using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in a ring configuration, the laser operates at 1579.6 nm with a slope efficiency of 13.6% and the threshold pump power of 25.1 mW. The lasing wavelength is obtained at Bragg wavelength with an output power of 13 dBm and a 3 dB spectral width of 0.02 nm using a piece of 2 m long EDZF in conjunction with 120 mW of 1480 nm pump power.     

Single-to-Multiple Channel Wavelength Conversions and Tuning of Picosecond Pulses in Quasi-Phase-Matched Waveguides

We report the single-to-multiple channel wavelength conversions of 1.57-ps pulses based on cascaded secondharmonic generation and difference frequency generation in quasi-phase-matched periodically poled lithium hiebate waveguides. For single-to-single channel wavelength conversion, no external cavity laser is required with use of a fibre ring laser. The conversion efficiency is about -21.44 dB. The converted idler wavelength can be tuned from 1526.4nm to 1537.5nm as the lasing pump wavelength is varied from 1566.1 nm to 1555.0nm. By employing several input pumps, tunable single-to-dual and single-to-triple channel wavelength conversions are experimentally demonstrated.     

Generation of Anti-Stokes Line in Fundamental Mode of Photonic Crystal Fibre

A photonic crystal fibre （PCF） with zero-dispersion wavelength around 800 nm is designed and fabricated. Simulated results show that the zero-dispersion wavelength of fundamental mode for this PCF is at 826nm, and phase-matched four-wave mixing can be achieved in fundamental mode. Using 20ors Ti：sapphire laser with central wavelength at 810nm as pump, the anti-Stokes line around 610hm ＆ generated efficiently. The output signal has a Gaussian-like profile, which indicates that the anti-Stokes signal is in the fundamental mode of the PCF. The energy of anti-Stokes signal is higher than that of residual pump laser and the maximum ratio of the anti-Stokes signal to the pump component in the output spectrum is estimated to be 1.2.     

A Distributed Fibre Bragg Grating Sensor Interrogator Employing a Reformative Arrayed Waveguide Grating

We present an interrogating technique employing a reformative arrayed waveguide grating without output waveguides in combination with a linear charge coupled device. A simple and effective data processing method called area equalized point is used to improve the system resolution. The simulation results show that the wavelength shift of a fibre Bragg grating with temperature can be precisely measured by this interrogation technique. The temperature accuracy and wavelength resolution of the sensor system are smaller than 0.08℃ and 0.8pm, respectively. If the FBG 3dB-bandwidth is 0.2nm with the wavelength spacing between two adjacent FBGs of 1.4 nm, the temperature and wavelength errors caused by crosstalk are respectively 0.01℃ and 0. 1 pm.     

轴向隐失波激励的回音壁模式光纤激光器

采用轴向隐失波激励增益的方式,使激光增益区域局限在光纤回音壁模式的模场区域内,显著地降低了回音壁模式光纤激光辐射的抽运阈值,由此形成一种低阈值的回音壁模式光纤激光器.在微焦耳量级的低抽运能量条件下,用回音壁模式光纤激光器研究了激光染料的浓度效应.实验结果表明,随着激光染料浓度的增加,回音壁模式激光辐射的波长向长波方向移动,激光波长范围变宽.用回音壁模式染料激光的四能级模型得到激光上能级和所有能级上的分子数比值γ(λ)曲线后,很好地解释了实验结果.低抽运阈值的回音壁模式光纤激光器,为研究液体激光现象提供了极为便利的手段.     

利用全光纤结构Michelson腔实现两路高功率双包层光纤激光器相干合成

Michelson腔技术是实现激光相干合成的有效方案. 利用Michelson腔技术, 实现了全光纤结构下的两路光纤激光器的相干合成, 获得了功率为11.75 W, 效率为95.76%的相干输出. 实验研究了相干合成效率与激光腔长差的关系以及抽运对称性对相干合成效率的影响. 实验表明相干合成效率极易受激光腔长差的影响, 不同腔长差下相干合成效率差异可达18%以上, 且存在最佳腔长差; 抽运对称性对相干合成效率的影响在2%以内.     

Chaotic Oscillator in Frequency by Using Tunable Laser with Fibre Bragg Grating

A novel chaotic oscillator in wavelength domain by using a tunable fibre laser is proposed. The generator of chaos in wavelength is composed of fibre Bragg grating （FBG） with hybrid delayed feedback loop which induces wavelength nonlinearity. The dynamical regime of wavelength is ruled by a differential difference equation. We give the numerical simulation of the experimental setup and discuss its application in an optical encryption system.     

Coherent combining of two Nd:YAG lasers in a Vernier–Michelson-type cavity

The coherent combining of two Nd:YAG lasers using a Vernier–Michelson-type cavity has been demonstrated. The spectral behaviour and the energetic performance are reported. We firstly show that the combining efficiency is not strongly spoilt by the gain imbalance between the two amplifying media, and secondly, that despite the interferometric nature of the cavity, the Vernier–Michelson laser can withstand environmental perturbations without alteration in output power. Received: 25 April 2002 / Revised version: 18 May 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +33-5/5545-7253, E-mail: kermene@ircom.unilim.fr     

Parallel demodulation system and signal-processing method for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer and fiber Bragg grating sensors

A parallel demodulation system for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is presented that is based on a Michelson interferometer and combines the methods of low-coherence interference and Fourier transform spectrum. Signals from EFPI and FBG sensors are obtained simultaneously by scanning one arm of a Michelson interferometer, and an algorithm model is established to process the signals and retrieve both the wavelength of the FBG and the cavity length of the EFPI at the same time, which are then used to determine the strain and temperature.     

Flat Supercontinuum Generation at 1550 nm in a Dispersion-Flattened Microstructure Fibre Using Picosecond Pulse

The generation of a flat supercontinuum of over 80nm in the 1550nm region by injecting 1.6ps 10 GHz repetition rate optical pulses into an 80-m-long dispersion-flattened microstructure fibre is demonstrated. The fibre has small normal dispersion with a variation smaller than 1.5 （ps·nm^-1·km^-1） between 1500 and 1650nm. The generated supercontinuum ranging from 1513 to 1591 nm has the flatness of ±1.5 dB and it is not so flat in the range of several nanometres around the pump wavelength 1552nm. Numerical simulation is also used to study the effect of optical loss, fibre parameters and pumping conditions on supercontinuum generation in the dispersion-flattened microstructure fibre, and can be used for further optimization to generate flat broad spectra.     

High Power Photonic Crystal Fibre Raman Laser

A cw Raman laser based on a 100-m photonic crystal fibre is demonstrated with up to 3.8 W output power at the incident pump power of 12 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of about 31.6%.. The second order Stokes light, which is firstly reported in a cw photonic crystal fibre Raman laser, is obtained at 1183nm with an output power of 1.6 W and a slope efficiency of about 45.7%.     

Er/Yb co-doped fiber amplifier with wavelength-tuned Yb-band ring resonator

Erbium-ytterbium co-doped fiber amplifier with wavelength-tuned Yb-band loop resonator is presented. The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from Yb ions is utilized to stimulate a laser emission at several wavelengths from the 1 μm band in the 1550 nm amplifier. The wavelength of this lasing is tuned by introducing a fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The results show, that the overall efficiency of the amplifier at nominal 1550 nm wavelength can be increased by introducing a feedback loop with 1040 nm and 1050 nm FBG. This loop also protects the Er/Yb amplifier from parasitic lasing at 1 μm and allows significant output power scaling without risk of self-pulsing.