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Low-cost Custom Fabrication and Mode-locked Operation of an All-normal-dispersion Femtosecond Fiber Laser for Multiphoton Microscopy
Published on: November 22, 2019
Opto-VLSI-based tunable single-mode fiber laser.
Feng Xiao1, Kamal Alameh, Tongtak Lee
1WA Centre of Excellence for MicroPhotonic Systems, Electron Science Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Optics Express
|April 8, 2010
Summary
A novel tunable fiber laser utilizes an Opto-VLSI processor and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) for dynamic waveband selection. This innovation achieves narrow-linewidth, stable laser output tunable across the C-band.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Laser Technology
- Fiber Optics
Background:
- Tunable lasers are crucial for applications requiring precise wavelength control.
- Existing tunable fiber laser technologies face limitations in dynamic range and stability.
- Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) offer a broad gain spectrum suitable for wavelength tuning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new tunable fiber ring laser structure.
- To demonstrate the effectiveness of an Opto-VLSI processor for dynamic waveband selection in fiber lasers.
- To achieve narrow-linewidth, stable, and tunable laser output.
Main Methods:
- Integration of an Opto-VLSI processor with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) in a fiber ring resonator.
- Dynamic selection and coupling of specific wavebands from the EDFA gain spectrum.
- Characterization of laser output parameters including linewidth, tunability, side mode suppression ratio (SMSR), and power uniformity.
Main Results:
- Achieved a tunable fiber laser with a narrow linewidth of 0.05 nm.
- Demonstrated wavelength tuning over the C-band with a 0.05 nm step.
- Measured a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) greater than 35 dB.
- Observed laser output power uniformity better than 0.25 dB.
- Confirmed stable laser output at room temperature.
Conclusions:
- The proposed Opto-VLSI processor enables dynamic control of waveband selection in fiber ring lasers.
- The developed tunable fiber laser offers high-quality output with excellent stability and performance metrics.
- This technology presents a promising solution for applications demanding precise and stable wavelength-agile laser sources.
