Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating

Robert J. Williams; Nemanja Jovanovic; Graham D. Marshall; Michael J. Withford

doi:10.1117/12.839450

Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating

Robert J. Williams, Nemanja Jovanovic, Graham D. Marshall, Michael J. Withford

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution

1 Citation (Scopus)

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Abstract

The ability to tune the Bragg wavelength of a fibre-Bragg grating (FBG) in an all-fibre laser can offer added functionality such as laser wavelength tunability, polarization selectivity,1 and Q-switching.2 Compared to current techniques which rely on mechanically straining the FBG to achieve Bragg-wavelength tunability, an all-optical technique for tuning an FBG offers potentially faster switching speeds and a more robust and simple cavity. All-optical tuning of the Bragg wavelength of an FBG has been demonstrated previously by resonant optical pumping; however this technique has only been applied to passive systems for switching applications.³ In this work, we have further investigated this optical-tuning process, experimentally identifying three time-scale regimes, and optimised it for application to active systems. Furthermore, we constructed an erbium all-fibre laser cavity consisting of an outputcoupler FBG and an optically-tunable, high-reflector FBG. The cavity pumping and the optical tuning of the FBG were kept independent. By repetitively tuning the high-reflector FBG on- and off-resonance with the output-coupler FBG, we actively Q-switched the erbium fibre laser at repetition rates up to 35 kHz, limited only by our diode driver. We show that grating tuning at >300 kHz is possible with the existing embodiment, and discuss further potential to operate at MHz rates.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications
Editors	Kanishka Tankala, Jay W. Dawson
Place of Publication	Washington, DC
Publisher	SPIE
Pages	1-8
Number of pages	8
Volume	7580
ISBN (Print)	9780819479761
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839450
Publication status	Published - 2010
Event	Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications - San Francisco, CA, United States Duration: 25 Jan 2010 → 28 Jan 2010

Other

Other	Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications
Country	United States
City	San Francisco, CA
Period	25/01/10 → 28/01/10

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2010 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

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@inproceedings{d38154de6a9542ce924097bbc7ea9373,

title = "Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating",

abstract = "The ability to tune the Bragg wavelength of a fibre-Bragg grating (FBG) in an all-fibre laser can offer added functionality such as laser wavelength tunability, polarization selectivity,1 and Q-switching.2 Compared to current techniques which rely on mechanically straining the FBG to achieve Bragg-wavelength tunability, an all-optical technique for tuning an FBG offers potentially faster switching speeds and a more robust and simple cavity. All-optical tuning of the Bragg wavelength of an FBG has been demonstrated previously by resonant optical pumping; however this technique has only been applied to passive systems for switching applications.3 In this work, we have further investigated this optical-tuning process, experimentally identifying three time-scale regimes, and optimised it for application to active systems. Furthermore, we constructed an erbium all-fibre laser cavity consisting of an outputcoupler FBG and an optically-tunable, high-reflector FBG. The cavity pumping and the optical tuning of the FBG were kept independent. By repetitively tuning the high-reflector FBG on- and off-resonance with the output-coupler FBG, we actively Q-switched the erbium fibre laser at repetition rates up to 35 kHz, limited only by our diode driver. We show that grating tuning at >300 kHz is possible with the existing embodiment, and discuss further potential to operate at MHz rates.",

author = "Williams, {Robert J.} and Nemanja Jovanovic and Marshall, {Graham D.} and Withford, {Michael J.}",

note = "Copyright 2010 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.",

year = "2010",

doi = "10.1117/12.839450",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780819479761",

volume = "7580",

pages = "1--8",

editor = "Kanishka Tankala and Dawson, {Jay W.}",

booktitle = "Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications",

publisher = "SPIE",

address = "United States",

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Williams, RJ, Jovanovic, N, Marshall, GD & Withford, MJ 2010, Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating. in K Tankala & JW Dawson (eds), Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications. vol. 7580, 75800P, SPIE, Washington, DC, pp. 1-8, Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications, San Francisco, CA, United States, 25/01/10. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839450

Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating. / Williams, Robert J.; Jovanovic, Nemanja; Marshall, Graham D.; Withford, Michael J.

Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications. ed. / Kanishka Tankala; Jay W. Dawson. Vol. 7580 Washington, DC : SPIE, 2010. p. 1-8 75800P.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution

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T1 - Optically switched erbium fiber laser using a tunable fiber-Bragg grating

AU - Williams, Robert J.

AU - Jovanovic, Nemanja

AU - Marshall, Graham D.

AU - Withford, Michael J.

N1 - Copyright 2010 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - The ability to tune the Bragg wavelength of a fibre-Bragg grating (FBG) in an all-fibre laser can offer added functionality such as laser wavelength tunability, polarization selectivity,1 and Q-switching.2 Compared to current techniques which rely on mechanically straining the FBG to achieve Bragg-wavelength tunability, an all-optical technique for tuning an FBG offers potentially faster switching speeds and a more robust and simple cavity. All-optical tuning of the Bragg wavelength of an FBG has been demonstrated previously by resonant optical pumping; however this technique has only been applied to passive systems for switching applications.3 In this work, we have further investigated this optical-tuning process, experimentally identifying three time-scale regimes, and optimised it for application to active systems. Furthermore, we constructed an erbium all-fibre laser cavity consisting of an outputcoupler FBG and an optically-tunable, high-reflector FBG. The cavity pumping and the optical tuning of the FBG were kept independent. By repetitively tuning the high-reflector FBG on- and off-resonance with the output-coupler FBG, we actively Q-switched the erbium fibre laser at repetition rates up to 35 kHz, limited only by our diode driver. We show that grating tuning at >300 kHz is possible with the existing embodiment, and discuss further potential to operate at MHz rates.

AB - The ability to tune the Bragg wavelength of a fibre-Bragg grating (FBG) in an all-fibre laser can offer added functionality such as laser wavelength tunability, polarization selectivity,1 and Q-switching.2 Compared to current techniques which rely on mechanically straining the FBG to achieve Bragg-wavelength tunability, an all-optical technique for tuning an FBG offers potentially faster switching speeds and a more robust and simple cavity. All-optical tuning of the Bragg wavelength of an FBG has been demonstrated previously by resonant optical pumping; however this technique has only been applied to passive systems for switching applications.3 In this work, we have further investigated this optical-tuning process, experimentally identifying three time-scale regimes, and optimised it for application to active systems. Furthermore, we constructed an erbium all-fibre laser cavity consisting of an outputcoupler FBG and an optically-tunable, high-reflector FBG. The cavity pumping and the optical tuning of the FBG were kept independent. By repetitively tuning the high-reflector FBG on- and off-resonance with the output-coupler FBG, we actively Q-switched the erbium fibre laser at repetition rates up to 35 kHz, limited only by our diode driver. We show that grating tuning at >300 kHz is possible with the existing embodiment, and discuss further potential to operate at MHz rates.

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DO - 10.1117/12.839450

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

SN - 9780819479761

VL - 7580

SP - 1

EP - 8

BT - Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications

A2 - Tankala, Kanishka

A2 - Dawson, Jay W.

PB - SPIE

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