We experimentally demonstrate efficient optical carrier reduction of microwave signals with a single-mode 1.5-microm wavelength Brillouin all-fiber ring laser. Because of the tunable optical coupling, the lasing threshold of the short-length (20-m) fiber cavity is lower than 5 mW, and high conversion efficiencies (up to 60%) are obtained at any pump power up to approximately 200 mW. Using the single-mode Stokes beam as a seed for the stimulated Brillouin scattering process allows up to 40-dB optical carrier depletion with almost no added noise for an optically carried microwave signal at 6 GHz. In addition, using this resonator, we provide evidence of generation of high-spectral-purity beatnotes.
We theoretically analyze a high-efficiency single-frequency Brillouin all-fiber ring laser at 1.5 m wavelength, taking pump depletion into account. The output pump and Stokes intensities are calculated as functions of the cavity coupling coefficient and of the input pump intensity. Lasing threshold and pump-to-Stokes conversion efficiency are predicted. Furthermore, we demonstrate good agreement between model results and measurements. Applications to the improvement of optoelectronic links for radio-frequency signals by use of stimulated Brillouin scattering fiber lasers are also presented.
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