Stable and wideband L-band erbium superfluorescent fiber source using improved bi-directional pumping configuration

We have proposed and demonstrated a wideband and wavelength stable L-band erbium-doped superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) using an improved double-pass bi-directional (DP-BD) pumping configuration with a segment of un-pumped fiber. The effects of the fiber length and pump power arrangements on the output characteristics of the L-band SFS are examined. Simulations and experiments show that the output characteristics of the L-band SFS are significantly improved by using an un-pumped fiber in the DP-BD pumping configuration. This designed configuration allows a wavelength stable L-band SFS operation with a broadening bandwidth of 52.6nm, an enhanced pumping efficiency of 47.5%, and a mean wavelength of 1580.42nm.