Long-wavelength erbium-doped fiber amplifier gain enhanced by ASE end-reflectors

We use for what we believe is the first time narrow-band end-reflectors to reduce losses through short-wavelength amplified stimulated emission (ASE) in silica-based erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operating at wavelengths above 1570 mm. The end-reflectors feed a small fraction of the ASE, up to a few tenths of a milliwatt, back into the amplifying fiber. The reflected ASE compresses the short-wavelength gain and thus reduces the ASE-losses, from, e,g., 50 mW for a launched pump power of 110 mW at 980 nm without end-reflector to 10 mW with an optimized end-reflector. We investigate possible improvements of gain (around 5 dB) and output power (up to 17 mW), and the influence of the amount and wavelength of the feedback.