Bidirectional single-longitudinal mode SOA-fiber ring laser based on optical filter assisted gain starvation

Abstract

Generation of a single-longitudinal mode (SLM) in bidirectional ring lasers has direct impact on the laser linewidth and dynamic range of operation, when used in rotation sensing applications. Besides, operating at a specific wavelength helps in optimizing the performance of the system components. In this work, we report a novel method for generating SLM in bidirectional SOA-fiber ring laser using mechanically tunable Fabry-Perot filter with 1-nm bandwidth. The method is based on gain starvation by tuning the central wavelength of the filter in the blue edge of the gain-wavelength response. By adjusting the SOA driving current, the oscillation condition is satisfied mainly for single mode and bidirectional operation can be achieved simultaneously. The SLM operation is verified by monitoring the beating signal between the modes on an RF spectrum analyzer. Using an SOA with a small-signal gain of 20 dB at 300 mA pumping current and a gain bandwidth of 100 nm centered around 1490 nm; the central wavelength of the ring laser could be tuned from 1440 nm to 1480 nm with a side-mode suppression ratio of 25 dB.