Abstract
Compared with conventional laser, random laser (RL) has no resonant cavity, reducing the requirement of cavity design. In recent years, the random fiber laser (RFL), a novel kind of RL, has made great progress in theories and experiments. The RFL has a simpler structure, a more flexible design, and higher reliability. It has valuable applications for earth sciences, biological life sciences, and national defense security, due to these unique properties. This paper reviews the development of RFLs in the last decade, including their configurations based on various optical fibers and their output properties, especially the method of control. Moreover, we also introduce their applications in the optical fiber sensing system, which is a very important and practical orientation to study. Finally, this paper presents the prospects of RFLs.
Highlights
Key Laboratory of Advanced Transducers and Intelligent Control System, Ministry of Education, College of Physics and Optoelectronics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
The optical fiber [115] is widely used in geophysical fields, such as oil and gas exploration, The optical fiber [115]and is widely used in geophysical fields, such as oilof and gas exploration, tunnel tunnel safety monitoring, low-frequency seismic monitoring because low cost and insensitivity safety monitoring,interference
The results showed the repeaterless sensing distance pump based on the low-noise laser diode
Summary
‘Laser’ is an abbreviation of ‘light amplification by stimulation emission of radiation’ [1]. The threshold of a half-open RFL scheme is nearly two times lower than that observed in a completely open cavity [39] Another approach that improved gain by active fiber was considered, such as erbium [56] or ytterbium-doped [57,58]. An alternative approach of introducing strong backscattering, a segment of random reflectors artificially controlled, was inscribed in the fiber by using a femtosecond laser micromachining system This process is less complicated than that of the fabrication of RFG, which can be realized by two methods. An appropriate number of reflectors that should be optimized to obtain a better output beam of the RFLs. Even though the high power emission of the RFLs is restricted by the low pump source power [63,64], many studies have been carried out to improve its experimentally [65]. We summarize the progress of RFLs in the last decade and make the prospect for future research
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