Title :
Highly stable tunable dual-wavelength Q-switched fiber laser for DIAL applications
Author :
Sharma, Utkarsh ; Kim, Chang-Seok ; Kang, Jin U.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD, USA
fDate :
5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We demonstrate a stable dual-wavelength Q-switched fiber laser for applications in differential absorption Lidar with tunability in absolute wavelength over several nanometers and discrete tuning in wavelength spacing from 1.1 to 3.3 nm. Single longitudinal-mode operation is also achieved by employing Sagnac loop saturable absorber filter. The delayed self homodyne linewidth measurement of the dual-wavelength continuous-wave laser shows a very narrow spectral linewidth and frequency jitter (<40 kHz). The advantages of tunable wavelengths, narrow linewidth, temperature insensitivity, and high stability in an efficient, cost effective, rugged, compact and light system make it a promising technology for airborne Lidar systems.
Keywords :
Q-switching; airborne radar; atmospheric measuring apparatus; fibre lasers; laser modes; laser stability; laser tuning; measurement by laser beam; optical filters; optical radar; optical saturable absorption; remote sensing by laser beam; spectral line breadth; DIAL; Q-switched laser; Sagnac loop saturable absorber filter; airborne Lidar systems; atmospheric measurements; continuous-wave laser; differential absorption Lidar; dual-wavelength laser; erbium-doped fiber; fiber laser; frequency jitter; highly stable laser; self homodyne linewidth measurement; single longitudinal-mode operation; spectral linewidth; tunable fiber laser; Absorption; Delay lines; Fiber lasers; Filters; Laser applications; Laser radar; Laser stability; Laser tuning; Sagnac interferometers; Tunable circuits and devices;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2004.825991
