Stable single longitudinal mode erbium-doped silica fiber laser based on an asymmetric linear three-cavity structure

We present a stable linear-cavity single longitudinal mode (SLM) erbium-doped silica fiber laser. It consists of four fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) directly written in a section of photosensitive erbium-doped fiber (EDF) to form an asymmetric three-cavity structure. The stable SLM operation at a wavelength of 1545.112 nm with a 3-dB bandwidth of 0.012 nm and an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of about 60 dB is verified experimentally. Under laboratory conditions, the performance of a power fluctuation of less than 0.05 dB observed from the power meter for 6 h and a wavelength variation of less than 0.01 nm obtained from the optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) for about 1.5 h are demonstrated. The gain fiber length is no longer limited to only several centimeters for SLM operation because of the excellent mode-selecting ability of the asymmetric three-cavity structure. The proposed scheme provides a simple and cost-effective approach to realizing a stable SLM fiber laser.     

A theoretical and experimental study on all-normal-dispersion Yb-doped mode-locked fiber lasers

We report on a theoretical and experimental study of an all-normal-dispersion (ANDi) Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser, in which nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) is used to realize mode-locking without any dispersion compensation. Based on the coupled nonlinear Schrdinger (CNLS) equation, a model simulating the mode-locked process of an allnormal-dispersion ring fiber laser is developed, which shows that the achievement of stable mode-locking depends on the alignment of the polarization controller (PC) along the fast-polarization axis of the fiber, the birefringence intensity, and the net cavity dispersion. According to the theoretical analysis, stable mode-locked pulses with pulse duration 300 ps and average output power 33.9mW at repetition rate 36MHz are obtained.     

Quantitative evaluation of equatorial small-angle X-ray scattering for cylindrical fibers

Elongated microvoids, internal fibrillar structure, and edge scattering from both surface refraction cause an equatorial streak in small angle X-ray scattering. A model for analyzing the edge scattering of fibers is proposed. Simulation results indicate that the intensity of edge scattering from surface refraction of a cylindrical fiber is strong and makes an important contribution to the equatorial streak. Two factors influence edge scattering intensity. One is the sample-to-detector distance (D); edge scattering intensity increases with increasing D. The equatorial streak becomes weak when D is shortened. The other factor is the refraction index. Edge scattering intensity increases as the real component of the refraction index decreases. In experiment, weak or even no equatorial streaks were found for samples measured in a roughly index-matching fluid. Edge scattering can be eliminated or weakened, and it can be calculated by comparing the intensities of a cylindrical fiber when it is measured in air and in index-matching fluid. The simulation data are basically in agreement with the experimental data.     

An estimation of the baseband transfer function of multimode optical fibers

This paper discusses an alternative criterion for estimating the baseband transfer function of multimode optical fibers. The optical fibers having little mode conversions show that the baseband frequency characteristics are affected strongly by the launching condition of an input optical pulse. In the criterion presented here, the baseband transfer function in such fibers is estimated by considering the launching condition that excites all fiber modes uniformly in amplitudes. In order to obtain such a transfer function, the actual responses affected by the launching conditions are measured together with the modal power distributions for different kinds of launching conditions. A numerical procedure is then presented that enables us to derive the baseband transfer function independently of modal power distributions. Experimental results at λ x= 633 nm and 856 nm are presented for step index fibers (0.1 and 0.2 km long) having a core radius of 30 pm (its refractive index is 1.452) and a refractive index difference of 0.7%.     

Reliability in reconstruction of the axisymmetric refractive index profiles from transverse interferograms. Accurate versus approximate methods: A comparative study

A mathematical formalism related to the approximate as well as the accurate interferometric data reduction schemes is briefly outlined and subsequently applied in the reconstruction of the assumed (Luneburg) axisymmetric refractive index distribution. The presented comparative analysis confirms the generally held opinion that the approximate methods (“straight-line” and Kokubun-Iga approaches) may provide quite reasonable results in the examination of refractively inhomogeneous disturbances characterized by weak gradient and moderate index variation. On the other hand, the accurate scheme for transverse interferometric data interpretation and reduction, based on the close-form correlation between the fringe shift and the deflection function, [1] remains the only method for reliable reconstruction of strongly refracting index profiles, independently of magnitude of refraction and ambiguity of the fringes. This fact is of considerable importance for transverse interferometry of fibers (preform rods) and/or GRIN-rod lenses characterized by high numerical apertures.     

Paraxial designing of planar waveguide variable-index focusing elements: Part 1—lenses of circular symmetry

A paraxial ray equation is used to evaluate refractive index profiles for a family of radially symmetric planar waveguide lenses. Two cases are considered: the (theoretically) full-aperture solution, and the solution with smooth index variation (non-full-aperature case). In deriving the latter case a new method has been applied that consists of the proper choice of a continuous deflection function. Both types of index profiles are described by exceptionally simple formulas.     

Two-Frequency Brillouin Fiber Laser Based on Bragg Grating Fabry-Perot Cavity

Abstract

A novel and simple two-frequency Brillouin fiber laser is presented. It is based on a fiber Fabry-Perot cavity with fiber Bragg gratings as reflectors. The model of stimulated Brillouin scattering in fiber grating–based Fabry-Perot resonator is investigated. The laser allows conversion efficiency of close to 100% and suppresses the higher-order Stokes waves. The theoretical prediction is presented and the experimental demonstration is realized.     

Low-Loss Many-to-One Fiber Couplers with Few or Single-Moded Inputs and a Multi-Mode Output

The coupling of light from a number of few or single-moded fibers into a single multi-mode fiber is analyzed using geometric optics, and simple results demonstrating mode conservation are derived. Coupling from multiple single-mode fibers into a multi-mode fiber is investigated in detail using the overlap integral to determine coupling into each mode of the output fiber as a function of the light phase in the inputs. As well as results with practical relevance to fiber tapped delay-line filters and optical CDMA, the analysis provides pedagogic insight into light propagation and the light-gathering properties of fiber.     

Remote Temperature Sensor Based on the Up-Conversion Fluorescence Power Ratio of an Erbium-Doped Silica Fiber Pumped at 975 nm

Abstract

This article presents experimental results demonstrating the performance of an erbium-doped silica fiber as a remote temperature sensor in the interval from 20°C to 200°C. The sensor is based on the change in the fluorescence intensity ratio of two spectral bands as a function of temperature. The green fluorescence signal was generated by up-conversion processes in the erbium-doped fiber pumped at 975 nm. A radiometric analysis was applied to the erbium-doped fiber to evaluate its performance as a temperature sensor, and the results from this analysis were compared against other rare-earth-doped fiber sensors that utilize the intensity ratio technique.     

Asymmetrically Apodized Fiber Bragg Gratings for Applications in Dispersion-Less Fabry-Pérot Fiber Cavities

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical study of the dispersion properties of the asymmetrically apodized fiber Bragg gratings. It is shown that the dispersive behavior of these gratings may be changed from normal to anomalous, depending on the apodization function and the grating strength. The asymmetrical Bessel functions were chosen in order to demonstrate these properties of the gratings. The application of this effect in a dispersion-less Fabry-Pérot fiber cavity formed by two asymmetrically apodized fiber Bragg gratings is discussed.