Analysis of a widely tunable long-period grating by use of an ultrathin cladding layer and higher-order cladding mode coupling

A widely tunable long-period grating in single-mode fiber is analyzed by use of an ultrathin cladding layer and higher-order cladding mode coupling. The numerical simulation shows that a 225-nm tuning range in the newly designed ultrathin long-period grating (cladding thickness, 35 microm) with third-order cladding mode coupling can be obtained. The analyzed tuning range is seven times wider than those of the other known long-period gratings. We believe that the proposed highly sensitive long-period grating will be widely used as a gain-flattening filter for ultrawideband optical amplifiers and fast tunable filters in dynamic optical communication systems.     

Single- to three-wavelength switchable ytterbium-doped fiber laser based on intracavity induced loss by a long-period holey fiber grating

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a versatile and simple single-, dual- and three-wavelength switchable ytterbium-doped fiber laser using the intracavity induced-loss generated by a mechanically induced long-period grating (MLPFG) in a holey fiber. The laser net gain in the cavity is reshaped through the MLPFG by adjusting the twist rate and the pressure of the holey fiber in the long-period grating. In this way, the twist response of the MLPFG enables the laser to switch between the single-, dual-, and three-wavelength operations and the tuning of the simultaneous two- and three-wavelengths. These results are of great interest in the design of flexible multiwavelength sources with a tunable capability on their wavelengths.     

Automatic feedback control of an Er-doped fiber laser with an intracavity loss modulator

Suppression of Q-switching instabilities with an actively controlled intracavity loss modulator is demonstrated in an Er-doped waveguide laser that is mode locked with a slow saturable absorber at repetition rates of as much as 100 MHz. By automatic gain control in the feedback loop, stable mode locking is achieved over the entire parameter range of the laser. This approach renders laser stabilization independent of the characteristics of the gain medium and intracavity power. The pulse-shaping dynamics is not affected by the presence of the intracavity loss modulator.     

Optical low-coherence reflectometry characterization of cladding modes excited by long-period fiber gratings

The group refractive-index difference of cladding modes excited by a long-period fiber grating is characterized by use of the technique of optical low-coherence reflectometry, with a precision of <10(-4) . Very good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is demonstrated.     

Single resonant and widely tunable ultrathin cladding long-period fiber grating filters

A spectrally single resonant and widely tunable, ultrathin cladding long-period fiber grating (UCLPG) is demonstrated in the present paper. Both experimental and theoretical analyses of the characteristics for the proposed device are accomplished. Since the single resonant and widely tunable characteristics of the proposed UCLPG are strongly influenced by the waveguide structure and surrounding material, both material dispersion and waveguide dispersion were included in the calculation for determining the wideband tuning range and resonant spectra of the UCLPG. The tuning range covered wavelength from 1.41 to 1.56 μm for the variation of refractive index of 1–1.445 (optical liquid n _D 1:456 for λ 1:5 mm) is achieved in the study.     

Improvement of the spatial beam quality of laser sources with an intracavity Bragg grating

We demonstrate a novel method for improvement of spatial beam quality by use of the angular selectivity of a thick phase grating inserted into various laser cavities. Preliminary experiments with an intentionally degraded beam from a Nd:YVO4 laser have enhanced beam propagation factor M2 by a factor of 4.5. Operation with a broad-area laser diode in an external cavity with a thick grating was achieved. We obtained 100 mW of cw power in a beam with an M2 of 1.3. Moreover, a reduction of the output spectrum by as much as a factor of 3.8 was obtained.     

Guided modes in fibres with parabolic-index core and homogeneous cladding

Mode propagation characteristics of parabolic-index fibres with a homogeneous cladding are studied by using vector wave analysis. By investigating the asymptotic behaviour of the eigenvalue equations and the field components at cut-off and far from cut-off, a comprehensive and consistent scheme for the designation of the various modes is established. Strong similarities with step index fibres are found for both the mode designation schemes and the degeneracy properties among the hybrid modes as well as the TE_0m and TM_0m modes. This suggests that the technique employed in this paper can be applied to other types of graded-index fibres. In addition, numerical results obtained by solving the eigenvalue equations for a wide range of parameters are presented, which verify the theoretical predictions. Comparisons with the infinite-core approximation (ICA) and the field decomposition technique (FDT) are given. It is shown that neither the ICA nor FDT are applicable for modes near cut-off.Work supported in part by the Department of Communications, Canada.     

New transfer matrix method for long-period fiber gratings with coupled multiple cladding modes

A new transfer matrix method for long-period fiber gratings with coupled multiple cladding modes is proposed and numerically characterized. The transmission spectra of uniform and non-uniform longperiod fiber gratings are numerically characterized. The theoretical results excellently agree with the experimental measurements. Compared with commonly used methods,such as using the fourth-order adaptive step size control of the Runge-Kutta algorithm in solving the coupled mode equation,the new transfer matrix method exhibits a faster calculation speed.     

Fiber curvature sensor based on spherical-shape structures and long-period grating

A novel curvature sensor based on optical fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is demonstrated. It consists of two spherical-shape structures and a long-period grating (LPG) in between. The experimental results show that the shift of the dip wavelength is almost linearly proportional to the change of curvature, and the curvature sensitivity are −22.144 nm/m⁻¹ in the measurement range of 5.33–6.93 m⁻¹, −28.225 nm/m⁻¹ in the range of 6.93–8.43 m⁻ and −15.68 nm/m⁻¹ in the range of 8.43–9.43 m⁻¹, respectively. And the maximum curvature error caused by temperature is only −0.003 m⁻¹/°C. The sensor exhibits the advantages of all-fiber structure, high mechanical strength, high curvature sensitivity and large measurement scales.     

High efficient Tm3+ doped double cladding silica fiber laser with an intracavity biconical taper

A high efficient LD (laser diode) pumped Tm³⁺ doped double clad silica fiber laser with an intravacity biconical taper was reported. A biconical taper located ～3 cm from the output end of the fiber laser was fabricated by heating and stretching method with a length 1.5 cm and waist diameter ～20 µm. The slope efficiency was 49.8% with respected to the launched pump power, and the maximum output power was 1.97 W. Pre and post output laser power ratio was ～10. This fiber laser was compared with other three biconical tapered fiber lasers (the same fiber with different tapers) and a uniform geometry fiber laser. With intracavity biconical tapers, fiber lasers’ thresholds were ～1 W higher than the fiber laser without the taper (1.97 W). The pump end’s slope efficiencies of fiber lasers with tapers were 3–5% in contrast with 37.6% of the uniform one. After tapered, the pre and post laser power ratios were much higher than the un-tapered one’s, but not changed much with the launched pump power.     

分布式反馈激光器动态扫描光纤布拉格光栅波长解调系统

通过对该系统采集到的法布里-珀罗(F-P)标准具透射谱和光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)传感器反射谱进行寻峰算法以及拟合算法的研究,采用C语言编程和LabVIEW编程相结合的方式,实现了FBG波长信号的解调。其中,由于系统采集到的F-P透射谱和FBG反射谱线时域信号数据都由离散点构成, 且在3 dB带宽内均符合高斯曲线分布,采用高斯拟合对采集到的信号数据进行寻峰处理,提高系统精度;又由于分布式反馈(DFB)激光器的波长扫描存在着一定的非线性,采用二项式拟合对DFB激光器的波长扫描曲线进行拟合,以降低其非线性导致的误差。另外,设置一路标准FBG传感通道用于波长校准。实验研究表明该系统稳定性良好,波长测量范围为1 550.012~1 554.812 nm,分辨力为1 pm,精度为10 pm,验证了该系统可用于FBG波长信号检测的可行性。     

800 nm飞秒激光长周期光纤光栅的特性

利用800 nm飞秒激光脉冲作为光源,在标准通信单模光纤上直接刻写周期分别为100,200,300和400 m的长周期光纤光栅(LPFG),得到波长范围为1 280～1 680 nm的透射谱,分析研究了在不同刻写条件下LPFG透射谱的共振波长、透射深度和插入损耗等参数的变化。通过对比分析发现透射衰减与刻写长度、条数以及平台高度等有着一定的对应关系。优化实验参数制作出共振波长分别约为1 407,1 311,1 669,1 551 nm,透射深度分别约为24.0,22.3,27.8,23.4 dB,插入损耗分别约为2.5,1.7,3.2,2.0 dB的LPFG。     

Widely tunable asymmetric long-period fiber grating with high sensitivity using optical polymer on laser-ablated cladding

We demonstrate high-efficiency, wideband-tunable, laser-ablated long-period fiber gratings that use an optical polymer overlay. Portions of the fiber cladding are periodically removed by CO(2) laser pulses to induce periodic index changes for coupling the core mode into cladding modes. An optical polymer with a high thermo-optic coefficient with a dispersion distinct from that of silica is used on a deep-ablated cladding structure so that the effective indices of cladding modes become dispersive and the resonant wavelengths can be efficiently tuned. The tuning efficiency can be as high as 15.8 nm/ degrees C, and the tuning range can be wider than 105 nm (1545-1650 nm).     

Radially polarized 3 kW beam from a CO2 laser with an intracavity resonant grating mirror

A 3 kW radially polarized beam is generated from a CO(2) laser by means of a resonant grating mirror. The design results and spectral characterization of a broadband polarizing mirror are presented as well as the mirror's operation in a CO(2) laser resonator. In a long-term experiment a radially polarized beam with a power of 2.7 kW was observed for several hours, proving the high stability of this polarizing scheme.     

Circular modes selection in Yb:YAG laser using an intracavity lens with spherical aberration

The possibility of use of ordinary short-focus lenses with strong spherical aberration for mode selection in a laser resonator is demonstrated. Plano-convex spherical lenses with foci from 2.5 to 10.0 cm placed inside the resonator of the CW laser diode pumped Yb:YAG laser were used to select circular modes of Laguerre-Gauss and Bessel-Gauss type, or to get ring-like, multi-mode off-axis oscillations with variable inner and outer diameters of rings. At the constant pump power mode selection was obtained by shifting an intracavity lens along the resonator axis relative to the Yb:YAG ceramics active element of 1.1 mm thickness. Peaked and hollow multi-ring beams with output power up to 30 mW were produced. Near diffraction free (ndf) propagation of the central part (minimum or maximum) of these beams was observed along distances over 10 m from the resonator output coupler. The mechanisms of mode selection due to spherical aberration in the resonator and ndf propagation of output beams are considered. The possibility of producing radially polarized beams from the laser with an intracavity lens and possible applications of the devised laser scheme are discussed.     

分布式反馈激光器动态扫描光纤布拉格光栅波长解调系统

通过对该系统采集到的法布里-珀罗(F-P)标准具透射谱和光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)传感器反射谱进行寻峰算法以及拟合算法的研究,采用C语言编程和LabVIEW编程相结合的方式,实现了FBG波长信号的解调。其中,由于系统采集到的F-P透射谱和FBG反射谱线时域信号数据都由离散点构成,且在3dB带宽内均符合高斯曲线分布,采用高斯拟合对采集到的信号数据进行寻峰处理,提高系统精度;又由于分布式反馈(DFB)激光器的波长扫描存在着一定的非线性,采用二项式拟合对DFB激光器的波长扫描曲线进行拟合,以降低其非线性导致的误差。另外,设置一路标准FBG传感通道用于波长校准。实验研究表明该系统稳定性良好,波长测量范围为1 550.012~1 554.812nm,分辨力为1pm,精度为±10pm,验证了该系统可用于FBG波长信号检测的可行性。     

闪耀光栅外腔反馈压窄半导体激光器线宽技术的研究

在讨论半导体激光线宽压窄理论的基础上,利用闪耀光栅作为外部反馈元件,介绍了由中心波长为949.6nm、原始线宽为1.2THz的单管半导体激光器构成的反馈外腔,它能够很好的改善半导体激光器的性能。实验得到了中心波长稳定的、单纵模的高质量激光输出,边模抑制比大于30dB,线宽优于1.2MHz(Δλ<3.6×10-6nm)。实验证实了强反馈能够很好地改善外腔半导体激光器的动态特性。     

A grazing-incidence dye laser with an intracavity lens

The performance of a nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser, using a grating at grazing-incidence is greatly improved by inserting a lens between the dye cell and the grating. Long term operation of the laser with a 1.1 GHz linewidth is demonstrated.     

Theory of an intracavity Raman laser

The quantum mechanical Langevin equations of a cavity where laser action takes place both by ordinary population inversion and stimulated Raman scattering is discussed for both single mode and multimode oscillation of the pump and Raman laser. Expressions for amplitude correlation and linewidth due to phase diffusion are obtained both for homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening.     

Fiber laser switched by a long period grating interferometer as an intra-cavity loss modulator

In this paper we present an actively switched fiber laser with an all-fiber long-period grating-based interferometer used as an intra-cavity loss modulator. The modulator consists of two equal long-period gratings written sequentially in the same piece of a double-clad optical fiber. One of the gratings is fixed onto a piezoceramic cylinder producing fast modulation of the interferometer transmission spectrum. The laser demonstrates a stable regime of pulsed emission at repetition rates in the range of tens of kHz.