A highly stable and switchable dual-wavelength laser using coupled microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer as an optical filter
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Abstract
The generation and switching of dual-wavelength laser based on compact coupled microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (CM-MZI) is reported. The CM-MZI is constructed by overlapping two portions of a single tapered optical fiber which has a diameter of 9 μm as to create multi-mode interference and also to produce spatial mode beating as to suppress mode competition in the homogeneous gain medium. The system is able to generate a dual-wavelength laser output that can be switched with the aid of the polarization rotation technique. Four dual-wavelength oscillation pairs are obtained from the interference fringe peaks of the CM-MZI comb filter with a switched channel spacing of 1.5 nm, 3.0 nm, and 6.0 nm. The wavelength spacing is stable at different pump powers. The lasing wavelength has a 3-dB linewidth of about 30 pm and peak-to-floor ration of about 55 dB at a pump power of 38 mW.
Keywords
Tapered fiber, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Dual-wavelength fiber laser, Switching
Divisions
Science
Funders
Grants RU001 – 2017, RP029A – 15 AFR, PRC 2014 and GA010 - 2014 (ULUNG)
Publication Title
Optics & Laser Technology
Volume
97
Publisher
Elsevier