Tunable multi-wavelength fiber lasers based on an Opto-VLSI processor and optical amplifiers

Opt Express. 2009 Dec 7;17(25):23123-9. doi: 10.1364/OE.17.023123.

Abstract

A multi-wavelength tunable fiber laser based on the use of an Opto-VLSI processor in conjunction with different optical amplifiers is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The Opto-VLSI processor can simultaneously select any part of the gain spectrum from each optical amplifier into its associated fiber ring, leading to a multiport tunable fiber laser source. We experimentally demonstrate a 3-port tunable fiber laser source, where each output wavelength of each port can independently be tuned within the C-band with a wavelength step of about 0.05 nm. Experimental results demonstrate a laser linewidth as narrow as 0.05 nm and an optical side-mode-suppression-ratio (SMSR) of about 35 dB. The demonstrated three fiber lasers have excellent stability at room temperature and output power uniformity less than 0.5 dB over the whole C-band.

MeSH terms

  • Amplifiers, Electronic*
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Electronics / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Lasers*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*