L-band Erbium-doped fiber laser with coupling-ratio controlled wavelength tunability

Abstract

By controlling the output coupling ratio, we demonstrate a novel wavelength-tunable L-band Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) with a maximum tuning range up to 58 nm ( from 1567 to 1625 nm) by controlling its output coupling ratio between 1% and 99%. The L-band EDFL is configured by using a bi-directionally dual-wavelength pumped EDFA in close-loop with an output coupler of tunable coupling ratio and an air-gap inserted FC/PC connector pair. Such an EDFL exhibits a quantum efficiency of 42% and an ultra-high power conversion efficiency of 37% under optimized pumping scheme, providing the small-signal gain and output power of similar to 34 dB and 91 mW, respectively. Low variation of < 1.2 dB on channel power, power fluctuation of 0.04% and a narrow linewidth of 0.03 nm are obtained. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America