Title :
Tunable dual-wavelength-switching fiber grating laser
Author :
Xu, Y.Z. ; Tam, H.Y. ; Du, W.C. ; Demokan, M.S.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Hong Kong Polytech., Kowloon, Hong Kong
fDate :
3/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We report a tunable dual-wavelength-switching fiber grating laser by exploiting the large homogeneous gain broadening in erbium (Er)-doped fiber to suppress simultaneous lasing. Wavelength switching was accomplished through a novel design which has two overlapping cavities sharing a single-gain medium. The loss corresponding to one of the lasing wavelengths can be modulated via an optical chopper. Output power of about 6 mW and extinction ratio up to 50 dB were observed. The lasing wavelengths were tunable and switching was demonstrated for wavelength separations ranging from 0.35 to 23.5 nm.
Keywords :
diffraction gratings; erbium; fibre lasers; laser cavity resonators; laser tuning; optical communication equipment; optical switches; wavelength division multiplexing; Er-doped fiber laser; extinction ratio; large homogeneous gain broadening; lasing wavelengths; optical chopper; output power; overlapping cavities; single-gain medium; tunable dual-wavelength-switching fiber grating laser; wavelength separations; Choppers; Erbium; Erbium-doped fiber lasers; Extinction ratio; Fiber gratings; Fiber lasers; Optical losses; Optical modulation; Power generation; Tunable circuits and devices;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE