Mechanism for stable, ultra-flat multiwavelength operation in erbium-doped fiber lasers employing intensity-dependent loss

• Main Authors: Lu, C., Tam, H. Y., Wai, P. K. A., Feng, Xinhuan, Tang, Dingyuan, Guan, Bai-ou
• Other Authors: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/97469; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10630
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

We study a mechanism to attain stable and ultra-flat multiwavelength oscillations in erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs). The key concept is to introduce intensity-dependent loss (IDL) into the laser cavity, which can effectively suppress the mode competition in the homogeneously broadened gain medium and ensure a uniform power distribution over wavelengths via the gain-clamping effect. The technique was successfully demonstrated by employing a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) in erbium-doped fiber laser cavity. Based on the experimental results, further experimental investigation and theoretical analysis are carried out to show the effectiveness of the gain-clamping mechanism in realizing the multiwavelength operation of the EDFL.