Bismuth-based Brillouin/erbium fiber laser

A multi-wavelength Brillouin/erbium-doped fiber laser (BEFL) operating in the 1573 nm region is proposed and demonstrated. The system employs both linear and nonlinear gain from a bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber (Bi-EDF) approximately 215 cm long and a single mode fiber (SMF) of various lengths to generate an optical comb with a spacing of approximately 0.089 nm. Two 3 dB couplers were used to form a looping arm in the system in order to produce cascaded Brillouin Stokes waves as internal feedback for multi-wavelength operation. A stable output laser comb with 10 lines at more than ??13 dBm was obtained with 4.85 dBm Brillouin pump power and two 140 mW pumps at 1480 nm. The 1480 nm pumps' power and SMF length have a significant effect on the number of wavelengths and on the output power of the generated wavelength comb.     

Characterization of a multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser based on a linear cavity configuration

We experimentally demonstrate a simple method for generating a multiwavelength Brillouin comb by utilizing a linear cavity of hybrid Brillouin-erbium fiber lasers (BEFLs). The optimization of Brillouin pump wavelength, power, and erbium gain played a significant role in determining the maximum number of Brillouin Stokes signals generated. Simultaneous and stable multiple-wavelength laser output of 22 lines with 10.88-GHz channel spacing has been obtained with good flatness. Various parameters such as 980-nm pump power, Brillouin pump wavelength, and Brillouin pump power that affect the performance of a multiwavelength BEFL system have been investigated. An analysis of the tuning range of the system is presented.     

Tunable S-band output based on Raman shift in dispersion shifted fiber

A tunable short-wavelength band Raman fiber laser using a dispersion shifted fiber as the nonlinear medium is proposed and demonstrated. This approach provides an alternative to the common method of using depressed-cladding, erbium-doped fibers as the gain medium in S-band fiber lasers. The proposed laser has a tuning range of 1508 to 1534?nm as well as an average peak power of about ?11.3?dBm within the range 1518–1530?nm. A high signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 70 dB is obtained from the system at this range.     

Investigation of the effects of SOA locations in the linear cavity of an O-band Brillouin SOA fiber laser

An investigation into the effect of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) location in an O-band Brillouin SOA fiber laser (BSFL) was performed. Better output peak power flatness was generated by placing the SOA after the nonlinear medium, which is a 20?km true wave fiber (TWF) than placing it before the TWF. A maximum power of six flat output peaks with average power of ?22.0?dBm for a BP (Brillouin pump) wavelength of 1320?nm was obtained, generated from a BSFL with a SOA located after the TWF, compared with three flat Stokes signals with the SOA before the TWF at a BP wavelength of 1310?nm. The flat peak power output for the O-band Brillouin fiber laser is important, especially in producing a good O-band source.     

光纤拉曼放大器中级联的受激布里渊散射

在以25kmG652单模光纤为增益介质的光纤拉曼放大器中,观察到了级联的受激布里渊散射。光纤中的双瑞利折射作用导致了二阶布里渊散射光子的出现,加快了二阶布里渊散射的出现。在拉曼增益的作用下,随着二阶布里渊散射的饱和会出现级联的多阶布里渊散射,形成梳状光谱。该梳状光谱也具有明显的阈值特性。在拉曼泵浦功率是1200mW的时候,出现梳状光谱的阈值在1.5到2.5dBm之间。在传输系统中,级联的受激布里渊散射会导致放大器的增益饱和,严重恶化系统的信噪比,因此必须采用增加信号光的带宽或者对信号光进行调制等措施加以控制。但该现象也有可能被用来制造梳状光源。     

Effects of different Raman pumping schemes on stimulated Brillouin scattering in a linear cavity

The effects of backward, forward, and bidirectional Raman pumping schemes on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is investigated in this study. By using a linear cavity, we utilize residual Brillouin pump (BP) and Raman pump (RP) power after each transmission through a 25 km single-mode fiber (SMF) used as a gain medium. The SBS threshold power is reduced in the forward, backward, and bidirectional Raman pumping schemes by 2.5, 1.75, and 2.75 dB, respectively when the 1480 nm RP power is fixed at 150 mW and the BP wavelength is 1580 nm. Surprisingly, it is revealed that the SBS threshold reduction depends strongly and solely on Raman gain and it is independent of the Raman pumping schemes. In addition, the effect of Raman amplification on SBS is more effective at the SBS threshold, especially in the bidirectional and forward schemes.     

Frequency switching multiwavelength Brillouin Raman fibre laser based on feedback power adjustment technique

A simple switchable multiwavelength Brillouin–Raman fibre laser (BRFL) was demonstrated. The laser was arranged in a half-open cavity configuration including a physical mirror device with an adjustable reflectivity at one side of the laser cavity. The impact of the feedback power adjustment on frequency switching was carried out by comparing the peak power difference between odd- and even-order Stokes lines. Up to 468 flat-amplitude lines with a 10?GHz frequency spacing and average optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) of 33 dB were observed with mirror reflectivity values of ～15% up to 60% at a 1534?nm Brillouin pump power of 7?dBm and 0.9?W Raman pump power of 0.9?W. – Under the same pumping conditions, setting the mirror reflectivity at its OFF state (where reflectivity is nearly 0%) allows for up to 242 lines with 20?GHz spacing to be realized, with ONSR values of ～35?dB.     

Double spacing multi-wavelength L-band Brillouin erbium fiber laser with Raman pump

A new multi-wavelength Brillouin erbium fiber laser (BEFL), which operates in the L-band region with double frequency Brillouin spacing, is demonstrated. This design uses a Raman pump (RP) and a piece of 2?km highly nonlinear fiber as a gain medium. The double frequency spacing is achieved by employing a dual ring configuration, which is formed by utilizing a four-port circulator that removes the odd-order Stoke signals. Twenty Stokes and seventeen anti-Stokes lines, which have optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) greater than 15?dB, are generated simultaneously with a spacing of 0.16?nm when Brillouin pump and RP powers were fixed at the optimum values of 8 dBm and 40?mW, respectively. The BEFL can be tuned in the range between 1591?nm to 1618?nm. The proposed configuration increases the number of lines generated and the OSNR, and thus allows a compact multi-wavelength laser source to be realized.     

Quasi-stationary multiple stimulated Raman generation in the visible using optical fibers

Several orders of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in monomode and multimode fibers have been observed. The relatively low power in the visible used in the quasi-stationary regime permitted observation of sharply defined Stokes and anti-Stokes spectral lines without any continua. Results of pump-to-Stokes power conversion in a monomode fiber indicate a striking equivalence between pump power and fiber length. The dependence of multiple SRS generation/amplification with these parameters is investigated up to the limit of near total pump extinction. We propose a qualitative explanation of these facts, although a detailed theory of nonlinear behavior of fibers is wanting. Parametric four-photon mixing is again confirmed to account for the generation of stimulated anti-Stokes radiation in multimode fibers and its absolute absence in monomode fibers.     

Uniform amplitude multi-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode Brillouin–erbium fiber lasers

A multi-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) Brillouin–erbium fiber laser has been proposed and demonstrated by using the broadband linear gain and the narrow band gain of stimulated Brillouin scattering both in Er-doped fiber. Eight orders of lased Stokes have been observed with relatively uniform amplitudes and rigid spacing of 11?GHz. Each Stokes frequency works on SLM operation owing to very short oscillating cavity. The output signal-to-noise ratio is as high as 50?dB. The hybrid gain of two mechanisms in Er-doped fiber is helpful to improve the flatness of the multi-wavelength combs.     

Multiwavelength switching of Raman fiber ring laser incorporating composite polarization-maintaining fiber Lyot-Sagnac filter

A multiwavelength switching laser is demonstrated by a precise and fast tuning of a composite Lyot-Sagnac comb filter based on multisegment polarization-maintaining fibers. Broadband multiwavelength output is generated by cascaded Raman Stokes waves between 1.12 and 1.58 microns in a fiber-ring cavity with a wave-division-multiplexed coupler. Theoretical and experimental analysis of stable multiwavelength output operation for various Raman gain fibers and the electro-optic switching and flexible space tuning of interleaved wavebands are performed.     

Tunable optical frequency comb generation in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide based on stimulated Brillouin scattering

We propose and demonstrate a technique for the generation of an optical frequency comb (OFC) in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide based on stimulated Brillouin scattering. A single continuous wave laser is sent to a multi-wavelength Brillouin erbium fibre laser for generating a set of coherent and phase-locked multi-wavelength spectral lines. They are injected into a PPLN waveguide to obtain an OFC. We investigate the influence of the cavity structure on the OFC property in our two different schemes. The number of comb lines is affected by the 980 pump current and Brillouin pump power. The OFCs are tunable in a large range by changing their central wavelength.     

多模增益光纤受激布里渊散组束中散射效果的研究

提出了在计算多模增益光纤有效受激布里渊增益系数时,以优化的高斯模场面积作为光纤有效截面积的方法,并基于光强耦合微分方程,研究了多模增益光纤稳态受激布里渊散射的效果.结果表明,无论是一阶还是二阶受激布里渊散射,随着泵浦功率的增加,残余的泵浦功率都将达到饱和,而Stokes功率都线性增加;二阶Stokes功率相对较弱;光纤的有效长度随泵浦功率的增加逐渐减小.     

157 W all-fiber high-power picosecond laser

An all-fiber high-power picosecond laser is constructed in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The self-constructed fiber laser seed is passively mode locked by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Average output power of 157 W is obtained after three stages of amplification at a fundamental repetition rate of 60 MHz. A short length of ytterbium double-clad fiber with a high doping level is used to suppress nonlinear effects. However, a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) effect occurs owing to the 78 kW high peak power. A self-made all-fiber repetition rate increasing system is used to octuple the repetition rate and decrease the high peak power. Average output power of 156.6 W is obtained without SRS under the same pump power at a 480 MHz repetition rate with 0.6 nm line width.     

Generation of multicolor spatial solitons by stimulated Raman scattering

We report the experimental observation of Raman spatial solitons in a nonlinear planar waveguide. We show that, under certain conditions, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) can stabilize the pump beam propagation and give rise to multifrequency spatial solitons. We present the different Kerr media with which we obtained self-focusing and SRS. The observations can be described in terms of Raman gain versus soliton power.     

Fiber delivered two-color picosecond source through nonlinear spectral transformation for coherent Raman scattering imaging

We demonstrate a two-color, fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) imaging through nonlinear spectral transformation. The wavelength tunable picosecond pump is generated by nonlinear spectral compression of a prechirped femtosecond pulse in a fiber wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The 1064-nm synchronized picosecond Stokes pulse is generated through pulse carving of a continuous wave laser, nonlinear spectral broadening in 100-m standard single-mode fiber, and subsequent dispersive compression with a fiber compressor. The pump and Stokes beams are combined and delivered by the fiber WDM. CRS imaging of mouse skin is performed to demonstrate the practicality of this source.     

Tunable excitation source for coherent Raman spectroscopy based on a single fiber laser

We demonstrate a wavelength tunable optical excitation source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) spectroscopy based on a single femtosecond fiber laser. Electrically controlled wavelength tuning of Stokes optical pulses was achieved with soliton self frequency shift in an optical fiber, and linear frequency chirping was applied to both the pump and the Stokes waves to significantly improve the spectral resolution. The coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectrum of cyclohexane was measured and vibrational resonant Raman peaks separated by 70?cm(-1) were clearly resolved. Single laser-based tunable excitation may greatly simplify CRS measurements and extend the practicality of CRS microscopy.     

Experimental study of the propagation of an apertured high-intensity laser beam in Kerr-active CS2

Abstract

Transverse pattern formation along the propagation in Kerractive CS₂ of a circularly and an elliptically apertured high-intensity input beam is studied. Observation is made of the modification in the Fresnel diffraction pattern as a function of the input beam power and the propagation distance. In addition to the well defined ring patterns, at high powers these rings break up into several spots. Also, a thermal-induced nonlinearity was observed to affect the dynamics of the pattern formation. Both forward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and backward stimulated Brillouin scattering were observed to occur during the propagation of the beam along the CS₂ cell. An unexpected pattern of fringes was always observed in the Stokes components of the SRS.     

Tunable Brillouin-erbium fiber laser incorporating a low-cost biconic tapered fiber

A new method of tuning a multi-wavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser (BEFL) within a Fabry–Perot cavity by incorporating a low-cost biconic tapered fiber is reported. The biconic tapered fiber was fabricated using a flame elongation technique and it was incorporated into the BEFL system to position the self-lasing cavity modes over a tuning range of 5.5 nm within the erbium-doped fiber gain profile. By injecting the Brillouin pump near to the tunable self-lasing cavity modes, it suppresses the modes and generates stable cascaded Brillouin–Stokes lines with more than 20 dB signal-to-noise ratio.     

Switchable and tunable multiple-channel erbium-doped fiber laser using graphene-polymer nanocomposite and asymmetric two-stage fiber Sagnac loop filter

A high-performance multiple-channel erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, using graphene-polymer nanocomposite as a multiwavelength equalizer and an asymmetric two-stage polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) Sagnac loop as a flexible comb filter. At first, the filtering characteristics of the PMF Sagnac loop filter (SLF) are investigated. Both theoretical and experimental results show that it can provide a flexibly switchable and tunable comblike filtering. Then, the two-stage PMF SLF is inserted into a graphene-assisted EDFL cavity for generating multiwavelength oscillation. The extreme-high third-order optical nonlinearity of graphene is exploited to suppress the mode competition of the EDFL, and a stable multiple-channel lasing is observed. By carefully adjusting the polarization controllers in the two-stage PMF SLF, not only can the lasing-line number per channel be switchable between single and multiple wavelengths, but also the wavelength spacing in the triple-wavelength condition can be tunable. In the case of triple wavelengths per channel, up to 12 wavelengths with four channels stable oscillations can be achieved. The multiple-channel EDFL can keep a high extinction ratio of >40 dB and a narrow linewidth of <0.01 nm.