Tapered-EDF-Based Mach–Zehnder Interferometer for Dual-Wavelength Fiber Laser

Author

Md Ali, M.I. ; Ibrahim, S.A. ; Abu Bakar, M.H. ; Noor, A.S.M. ; Ahmad Anas, S.B. ; Zamzuri, A.K. ; Mahdi, M.A.

Author_Institution

Wireless & Photonics Networks Res. Centre, Univ. Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

Volume

6

Issue

5

fYear

2014

fDate

Oct. 2014

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

9

Abstract

An all-fiber comb filter using a tapered-erbium-doped fiber in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure is presented. The free spectral range, extinction ratio, bandwidth, and interference pattern of the comb filter can be shaped by controlling the taper waist length and the length of up and down taper transition regions. By varying the taper waist length from 5 to 25 mm, the free spectral range changes from 14.7 to 1.0 nm, and the linewidth varies from 3.3 to 0.3 nm, respectively. We demonstrate a tunable dual-wavelength laser by using the tapered-erbium-doped fiber as a gain medium as well as a wavelength-selective element. The laser can be tuned at a resolution of 0.2 nm with a side-mode suppression ratio of up to 46.88 dB and a linewidth of 0.09 nm.

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; comb filters; erbium; fibre lasers; optical fibre filters; all-fiber comb filter; dual-wavelength fiber laser; extinction ratio; free spectral range; interference pattern; taper transition regions; taper waist length; tapered-EDF-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer; tapered-erbium-doped fiber; tunable dual-wavelength laser; wavelength-selective element; Fiber lasers; Optical fiber filters; Optical fiber networks; Optical fibers; Pump lasers; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; Mach??Zehnder interferometer; Tapered fiber; fiber laser;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1943-0655

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPHOT.2014.2361642

Filename

6920014