Excess noise of an Er/Yb fiber superfluorescent radiation source

A study is made of the noise in the output intensity of a high-power superfluorescent fiber radiation source generating 20 mW in the 1.55 μm region of the spectrum. The source is constructed in an all-fiber technology from a quartz fiber activated with ytterbium and erbium. It is found that the spectral density of the noise in the frequency range 100–500 kHz is uniform and corresponds to the excess noise of “thermal” sources. It is shown that the noise in the output intensity of the source can be compensated (decreased by an order of magnitude) in a two-channel scheme of photodetection, where it approaches a level close to the photon shot noise. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 1–6 (December 12, 1997)