Title :
Narrow linewidth, tunable Tm3+-doped fluoride fiber laser for optical-based hydrocarbon gas sensing
Author :
McAleavey, Fergal J. ; Gorman, James O. ; Donegan, John F. ; MacCraith, Brian D. ; Hegarty, John ; Mazé, Gwenael
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Trinity Coll., Dublin, Ireland
fDate :
8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Operation of an efficient continuous-wave (CW) thulium-doped fiber laser emitting at wavelength, λ=2.31 μm is reported. The fiber laser parameters are optimized with a view to ultimately producing a compact and efficient laser source for optical absorption based gas sensing. A number of fiber laser configurations are investigated to assess their suitability for narrow linewidth, tunable fiber laser operation emitting around λ=2.3 μm, which is a wavelength region of significant importance for hydrocarbon gas monitoring. Tuning ranges of 140 nm and linewidths of less than 210 MHz have been demonstrated with lasers with bulk external tuning grating. Preliminary hydrocarbon gas sensing investigation confirm the potential of this source for detection of ppb gas concentrations
Keywords :
fibre lasers; fibre optic sensors; gas sensors; infrared sources; infrared spectroscopy; laser beams; laser tuning; light sources; spectroscopic light sources; thulium; 2.3 mum; 2.31 mum; 210 MHz; Tm3+-doped fluoride fiber laser; bulk external tuning grating; compact efficient laser source; continuous-wave laser; fiber laser configurations; fiber laser operation; hydrocarbon gas monitoring; linewidths; narrow linewidth tunable fiber laser; optical absorption based gas sensing; optical-based hydrocarbon gas sensing; ppb gas concentrations; tuning ranges; wavelength region; Absorption; Fiber lasers; Gas lasers; Hydrocarbons; Laser tuning; Monitoring; Optical sensors; Optical tuning; Stimulated emission; Tunable circuits and devices;
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/2944.649549
