Fiber Laser Amplifiers and Oscillators
Abstract
This study reports on the experimental development of a passively modelocked fiber laser. It is based on erbium doped fiber, similar to that used successfully in optical amplifiers. The focus of the work is to retain as much signal processing capability in the fiber medium as possible, and to select essential system components for ruggedness and straightforward field integration. The fiber ring laser here described uses the simplest and most compact configuration reported to date. The measured pulse durations are variable from 15 pico seconds to 1 nanosecond and are completely self starting. One self-modulation mechanism proposed and described, is nonlinear polarization evolution. The surprising result is that this nonlinear effect is achieved in fiber at the low pump powers available from a compact diode source. This Kerr type effect generates modelocking in the fiber medium, and is somewhat analogous to the mechanism of operation in self-modelocked Ti:Sapphire lasers. The construction of one of the fiber lasers is based on commercially available components most of which are integrated, allowing the final package size to be less than that of a notebook computer. Further work involves increased pulse stability control for applications in fiber communication systems and possibly fiber sensors. Fiber optics, Fiber laser, Passively modelocked laser.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA285835
Entities
People
- Kenneth J. Teegarden