Dual Sagnac loop mirror SOA-based widely tunable dual-output port fiber laser

A widely tunable (30 nm) fiber laser based on a double Sagnac loop mirror configuration is proposed and demonstrated. A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) placed between the two loop mirrors acts as the gain medium. The fiber laser has two output ports with adjustable optical power outputs. Wavelength tunability is obtained through the use of a thin film tunable filter, while optical power adjustability is accomplished by proper adjustment of each of the loop mirror reflectivity via a polarization controller. A total output power of + 9 dBm is measured and the potential for higher output powers is discussed. Optical power stability of better than +/- 0.15 dB is measured for 6 hours.