Erbium-doped fiber laser tuning using two cascaded unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers as intracavity filter: numerical analysis and experimental confirmation

Abstract

We propose a new method for tuning an Er3+-doped continuous-wave fiber-ring laser. We present a novel numerical model and confirm the model with experimental results. The numerical model relies on the implementation of the analytical solution of signal propagation over small (elemental) segments of amplifier fiber rather than using the usual Runge-Kutta algorithm. The validity of the model is verified by the good agreement between computer results and experimental data. Experiments demonstrating a 11.2-nm wavelength tuning range have been conducted using an electrooptic intracavity filter composed of two cascaded unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) integrated in lithium niobate, The numerical analysis shows that the tuning range obtained is limited by the combination of gain shape and filter characteristics. Increased tuning range can be obtained by decreasing losses or by using a more selective filter

Tunable multi-wavelength SOA based linear cavity fiber laser source for optical communications applications

“…These include linear cavities [7], ring cavities [8][9], compound fiber ring cavities [10], and Fox-Smith cavities [11]. The wavelength selectivity can be achieved by inserting various wavelength selective elements in the cavity, such as an Opto-VLSI processor [12], a FabryPerot etalon [13], fiber comb filters [14] or an interferometer filter [15]. A superimposed chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) or a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) in a ring cavity [16,17] are also alternative wavelength-selective components that are commonly used in the implementation of fiber lasers.…”

The numerical analysis of a broadly tunable ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser

“…Several numerical tools have been developed for the analysis of fiber laser. Cucinotta et al introduced a model for ring and Fabry-Perot erbium-doped fiber lasers to study spectral characteristics [8][9][10] . Recently, Karasek developed a model for Er 3+ -Yb 3+ and Pr 3+ tunable fiber lasers so as to optimize the waveguiding parameters of the doped fiber [11,12] .…”

Wavelength switching of erbium-doped fiber laser by using Mach–Zehnder interferometer and cavity loss control

“…A fiber laser employing an intracavity fiber Fabry-Pérot filter shows wide-band tunability in continuous mode operation [3][4][5]. A tunable laser can also be obtained by employing a self-injected/seeded Fabry-Pérot laser diode in the laser cavity [6,7], by using two cascaded unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers as an intracavity filter [8], by controlling the pump power for erbium-doped fiber [9], by combining a long period grating and a polarization element to control polarizer-dependent loss [10,11], or through cavity loss control via fiber bending in the fiber laser loop [12][13][14],…”