Experimentally verified modeling of erbium-ytterbium co-doped DFB fiber lasers

For the first time, the simulation results of fiber distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are compared against experimental data in this paper. The pump source, active medium, and grating are all modeled and simulated to predict actual laser characteristics. Simple characterization methods are illustrated for the measurement of model parameters. Large loss at the pump wavelength is observed, attributed to the lifetime quenching of Yb ions, and included in the model as a critical parameter. DFB lasers with two different apodization profiles successfully simulated with the same set of model parameters.