Investigation of a multiwavelength raman fiber laser based on few-mode fiber Bragg gratings

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a simple multiwavelength Raman fiber laser based on few-mode fiber Bragg gratings without additional multichannel filters. The multiwavelength Raman laser output has a high extinction ratio of more than 45 dB. The multiwavelength output is so stable that the peak power fluctuation is less than 0.5 dB. The number of lasing wavelengths can be adjusted, corresponding to the properties of few-mode Bragg gratings with multiple resonant wavelengths. By the thermal tuning method, the lasing wavelength of each channel can be effectively controlled, and the laser's tunability is measured to be 10.5 pm/ degrees C.     

A reconfigurable multiwavelength fiber laser with switchable wavelength channels and tunable wavelength spacing

We report the experimental demonstration of a reconfigurable multiwavelength fiber laser source with switchable wavelength channels and tunable wavelength spacing by spectrum slicing a broadband light source using a tunable comb filter. The tunable comb filter is based on a thermally-induced linearly-chirped fiber Bragg grating (LCFBG). As an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, two wavelength channels with various wavelength spacings and eight wavelength channels with ∼1.6 nm wavelength spacing were experimentally demonstrated. All the wavelength channels have rejection ratios of greater than 20 dB, and very small 3-dB linewidths of ∼10 pm. The multiwavelength optical source has such unique advantages as simple all-fiber structure, switchable wavelength channels, tunable wavelength spacing, very narrow linewidths, and stable room-temperature operation.     

Long-distance fiber Bragg grating sensor system with a high optical signal-to-noise ratio based on a tunable fiber ring laser configuration

A novel tunable fiber ring laser configuration with a combination of bidirectional Raman amplification and dual erbium-doped fiber (EDF) amplification is proposed for realizing high optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), long-distance, quasi-distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing systems with large capacities and low cost. The hybrid Raman-EDF amplification configuration arranged in the ring laser can enhance the optical SNR of FBG sensor signals significantly owing to the good combination of the high gain of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and the low noise of the Raman amplification. Such a sensing system can support a large number of FBG sensors because of the use of a tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter located within the ring laser and spatial division multiplexing for expansion of sensor channels. Experimental results show that an excellent optical SNR of approximately 60 dB has been achieved for a 50 km transmission distance with a low Raman pump power of approximately 170 mW at a wavelength of 1455 nm and a low EDFA pump power of approximately 40 mW at a wavelength of 980 nm, which is the highest optical SNR achieved so far for a 50 km long FBG sensor system, to our knowledge.     

Wavelength-spacing tunable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on four-wave mixing of dispersion-shifted fiber

We experimentally demonstrate a wavelength-spacing tunable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on degenerate four-wave mixing in a dispersion-shifted fiber incorporating multiple-fiber Bragg gratings. We have achieved stable operation of the multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser, which has 0.8 nm spacing ten-channel lasing wavelengths and a high extinction ratio of more than approximately 45 dB, at room temperature. The output power of the multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser is stable, so the peak fluctuation is less than approximately 0.2 dB. By changing the properties such as loss and polarization state of multiple fiber Bragg grating cavities, we can exercise flexible control of the wavelength spacing of the multiwavelength output. We can also obtain switchable multiwavelength lasing operation by elimination of the effects of alternate single-fiber Bragg gratings.     

Wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating

A novel wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and erbium–ytterbium co-doped fibers is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The strain-induced chirped FBG, which acts as a partial-reflecting mirror, is achieved by bending a uniform FBG bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. A single wavelength lasing with a maximum wavelength tuning range of 17 nm has been achieved experimentally.     

Multiwavelength fiber ring lasing by use of a semiconductor optical amplifier

A multiwavelength fiber ring laser obtained by use of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with a simple laser cavity configuration is reported. A Fabry-Perot filter was used in the fiber laser ring cavity to achieve more than 50 simultaneous wavelength lasing oscillations with a frequency separation of 50 GHz. The resulting stable broadband multiwavelength lasing operation was attributed to broadband and flat gain of the SOA, which has a gain flatness of 0.8 dB for more than 20 nm. The laser has a total output power of -3 dBm and a signal-to-spontaneous-noise ratio of 30 dB.     

Multiwavelength Raman-fiber-laser-based long-distance remote sensor for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature

We propose a simple and flexible multiwavelength Raman-fiber-laser-based long-distance remote-sensing scheme for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature by use of fiber Bragg gratings. By combining two uniform fiber Bragg gratings with a tunable chirped fiber grating, we readily achieve simultaneous two-channel sensing probes with a high extinction ratio of more than approximately 50 dB over a 50-km distance. When strain and temperature are applied, lasing wavelength separation and shift occur, respectively, since the two uniform fiber Bragg gratings have identical material composition and different cladding diameters. This allows simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature for long-distance sensing applications of more than 50 km.     

Multiwavelength Raman fiber lasers with equalized peak power using a sampled chirped fiber Bragg grating

Two novel multiwavelength Raman fiber lasers using a ring cavity and a linear cavity are proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Both laser configurations include a sampled chirped fiber Bragg grating used in the reflection mode. By adjusting the polarization controller (PC) in the cavities, up to ten stable lasing wavelengths with 0.8 nm spacing and equalized peak power are achieved at room temperature. It is observed that the output spectrum depends upon which port of the grating is connected to the cavity. These two fiber ring lasers offer advantages such as, stable room temperature operation, simple structure, low loss, multiwavelength lasing lines with moderate output power. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.55.Ye; 42.81.-i     

双波长啁啾相移光纤光栅

理论研究并实验验证了一种含有两段π相移的啁啾相移光纤光栅.采用F矩阵对啁啾相移光纤光栅进行计算并分析了该光栅的谱特性.含有两段π相移的啁啾相移光纤光栅可以在普通啁啾光栅透射谱阻带中产生双波长透射峰,透射峰位置直接取决于光栅中π相移的位置,透射峰的线宽和透射峰的波长间隔没有关系,仅随着啁啾率的增大而增大.采用带相位掩模的逐点扫描法对含有两段π相移的双波长啁啾相移光栅进行了制作,获得波长间隔为8 nm的双波长透射谱的光栅器件.该光栅的消光比和3 dB谱线宽分别为20 dB和0.08 nm,实验结果和理论设计一致.     

Stable and spacing-adjustable multiwavelength Raman fiber laser based on mixed-cascaded phosphosilicate fiber Raman linear cavity

A novel multiwavelength Raman fiber laser based on the mixed-cascaded Stokes effects of phosphosilicate fiber is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. By using stimulated Raman scattering of both P(2)O(5) and SiO(2) along 1 km phosphosilicate fiber pumped with a 1064 nm double-clad fiber laser, the mixed-cascaded Raman linear cavity is formed by a pair of fiber Bragg gratings at 1239 nm, a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) Sagnac loop filter, and a conventional optical loop mirror. Up to 15-wavelength stable oscillations around 1320 nm are obtained with a wavelength spacing of 0.44 nm and power nonuniformity of less than 4 dB. By changing the length of the PMF in the Sagnac loop filter from 10 to 5.5 m, the wavelength spacing is adjustable from 0.44 to 0.8 nm. The extinction ratio of the laser is more than 30 dB. Excellent stability is also observed with a peak power fluctuation of less than 0.8 dB in 1 h.     

Continuously spacing-tunable multiwavelength semiconductor-optical-amplifier-based fiber ring laser incorporating a superimposed chirped fiber Bragg grating

We investigate a flexibly tunable multiwavelength semiconductor-optical-amplifier-based fiber ring laser with continuous wavelength spacing controllability incorporating a superimposed chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG). The wavelength spacing of a superimposed CFBG can be continuously controlled by symmetrically modifying the chirp bandwidth of the grating with the specially designed apparatus. We achieve a wide and continuous tuning range of the wavelength spacing from 0.35 to 0.78 nm. The continuous tunability of the wavelength spacing is measured to be ~ +/-0.033 nm/mm. By controlling the reflection bandwidth of the tunable CFBG, we can independently adjust the number of lasing channels from 2 to 23 at the wavelength spacing of 0.51 nm.     

Temperature-insensitive strain sensor based on four-wave mixing using Raman fiber Bragg grating laser sensor with cooperative Rayleigh scattering

A temperature-insensitive strain sensor based on Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) using two Raman fiber Bragg grating (FBG) lasers with cooperative Rayleigh scattering is proposed. Two FBG were used to form two linear cavities laser sensors based on Raman amplification combined with cooperative Rayleigh scattering. Due to the very low dispersion coefficient of the fiber, it is possible to obtain the FWM using the two lasers. This configuration allows the operation as a temperature-insensitive strain sensor where both sensors have the same sensitivity to temperature but only one of the FBG laser is sensitive to strain. The difference between the wavelengths of the signal sensor and the converted signal presents a strain coefficient sensitivity of 2?pm/??? with insensitivity to temperature. The FWM efficiency is also dependent on the applied strain, but it is temperature independent, presenting a maximum sensibility of 0.01?dB/???.     

Simple tunable multiwavelength Brillouin/Erbium fiber laser utilizing short-length photonic crystal fiber

We have demonstrated a simple ring cavity tunable multiwavelength Brillouin/Erbium fiber laser (MWBEFL), in which 70 m highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (HNL-PCF) is used as the Brillouin gain medium. The fiber laser utilizes recycling mechanism to enhance stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The configuration that consists of only 3 optical components is easy to be integrated and improves the practicality. At the maximum 1480 nm pump power of 110 mW and the Brillouin pump power of 3 dBm, 10 stable output channels with more than 10 dB optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) and 0.078 nm channel spacing could achieve 10 nm tuning ranges.     

Multiwavelength Linear-Cavity Fiber Laser Source Using a Sagnac Interferemetric Filter and a Strain-Induced Chirped Fiber Grating

A novel multiwavelength linear-cavity fiber laser source using a strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating, a Sagnac interferemetric filter, and Erbium-Ytterbium codoped fibers is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The Sagnac interferemetric filter, which acts as a full-reflecting mirror, consists of a polarization-maintaining directional coupler and two pieces of polarization-maintaining fibers. The strain-induced chirped FBG, which acts as a partial-reflecting mirror, is achieved by bending a uniform FBG bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. By tuning the strain-induced chirped FBG, desirable lasing wavelength and number can be easily achieved.     

Widely tunable ring-cavity tellurite fiber Raman laser

We report a widely tunable ring-cavity tellurite fiber Raman laser covering the S+C+L+U band. A tunable range (1495-1600 nm, limited by the tunable optical bandpass filter) over 100 nm is obtained by using a single-mode tellurite fiber with high Raman gain coefficients (55 W(-1)km(-1)) and large Raman shift (~22.3 THz) as the gain medium. Furthermore, the free-running 1665 nm Raman fiber laser is achieved from the ring cavity by removing the tunable optical bandpass filter, which shows that such a tellurite fiber has potential for constructing a widely tunable fiber Raman laser covering the S+C+L+U band. A high optical signal-to-noise ratio of over 60 dB for almost all of the tunable range is also demonstrated.     

Thermally switchable and discretely tunable comb filter with a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel switchable and discretely tunable comb filter based on a thermally induced linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating. Experimentally we achieved a thermally induced optical bandpass filter that has eight switchable passband peaks with peak separations of 1.6 and 3.2 nm, a very narrow bandwidth (as small as 10 pm) of each peak, a tunable range of 16.5 nm, and a greater than 25 dB rejection ratio. Two spectral peaks separated by only 0.8 nm were also obtained with this comb filter. This filter provides the unique advantages of an all-fiber structure, switchable spectral peaks, independent tuning of the center wavelength and wavelength spacing of the spectral peaks, low polarization sensitivity, simple structure, ease of fabrication, and low cost.     

Widely tunable Raman ring laser using highly nonlinear fiber

An all-optical widely tunable Raman fiber laser has been realized by incorporating a highly nonlinear fiber in a ring cavity. By feedback a portion of Raman Stokes wave back into the highly nonlinear gain medium, a Raman fiber laser is generated. We found that the lasing wavelength of Raman fiber laser can be tuned from 1537 to 1568 nm with peak power fluctuation within 1 dB, giving a total wavelength tunability of 31 nm. The optical signal-to-noise ratio is found to be wavelength dependent, and the highest optical signal-to-noise ratio of about 59 dB is recorded. The lasing threshold of the Raman fiber laser with this configuration is found to be as low as 300 mW.     

基于光纤环形激光器和光放大的100 km光纤布拉格光栅传感系统

在基于掺铒光纤-拉曼混合放大的可调光纤环形激光器的光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)传感系统结构基础上,提出了延长传感距离的新方法。该方法以环形掺铒光纤激光器作为光源,采用双波长拉曼放大的方法对信号进行低噪声的双向放大,系统中间的两段掺铒光纤再利用剩余的抽运功率产生自发辐射光和放大传感信号,使得整个系统能够在超长的传感距离上获得很高的信噪比。实验表明使用一只40 mW的掺铒光纤放大(EDFA)抽运源、一只170 mW的拉曼抽运源和一只2 W的拉曼抽运源,可以使整个系统的传感距离达到100km,并且传感系统的光纤布拉格光栅反射信号均能获得超过57 dB的优良信噪比,从而实现在超长距离上的光纤布拉格光栅传感。     

Waveband-switchable multiwavelength mixed-cascaded phosphosilicate raman fiber lasers

In this paper, the mixed-cascaded Raman scattering has been developed to investigate multiwavelength phosphosilicate Raman fiber lasers (MRFLs). With a tunable Yb³⁺-doped double-clad fiber laser (YDCFL) as the Raman pump source, we propose a compact and waveband-switchable (from the O- to U-band) MRFL using two- or three-mixed-cascaded Raman scattering of both SiO₂/GeO₂ and P₂O₅ in a P-doped fiber. We also confirm experimentally the feasibility of the proposed mixed-cascaded MRFL. When a 1064 nm YDCFL was used to pump a spool of 1-km P-doped fiber, the compact linear-cavity MRFLs in the O- and L-band operation were obtained, respectively, based on the two- and three-mixed cascaded Raman scattering. Up to 16-wavelength stable oscillation around 1320 nm has been observed with a spacing of 0.40 nm and an extinction ratio >30 dB. 12 lasing lines around 1601 nm have also been achieved with a spacing of 0.58 nm. The multiwavelength output powers as high as 108 and 138 mW were obtained in the O- and L-band operations, respectively. The wavelength spacing of the MRFLs is flexibly adjustable, and the peak wavelength of each lasing line is continuously tunable over the wavelength spacing. In addition, the important characteristics of the mixed-cascaded MRFLs, including the linewidth broadening, the signal-to-noise ratio and the conversion efficiency, are discussed.     

Tunable microwave photonic notch filter using a dual-wavelength fiber laser with phase modulation

A novel tunable microwave photonic notch filter using a phase-modulated dual-wavelength fiber laser is presented. A stable dual-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser with a linear cavity is formed by a polarization-maintaining uniform fiber Bragg grating (PM-FBG) and a polarization maintaining linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating (PM-LCFBG), both of which were fabricated on a high-birefringence (Hi-Bi) fiber. It is found that a stable room-temperature dual-wavelength operation can be achieved due to the presence of two reflection peaks arising from the orthogonal states of polarization (SOP) of the PM-FBG. Experimental results show stable dual-wavelength lasing operation with a wavelength separation of ∼0.36 nm and a large optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of over 40 dB under room temperature. The dual-wavelength fiber laser is combined with a phase modulator and a segment of single-mode fiber (SMF) as a dispersive device to form a tunable microwave photonic notch filter. By stretching the PM-FBG to tune the wavelength separation of the dual-wavelength fiber laser, a tunable microwave photonic notch filter with various free spectral ranges (FSRs) and a rejection ratio greater than 35 dB was developed.