Cavity-resonance-activated wavelength selectable fiber and diode lasers

Abstract

Summary form only given. Wavelength-controllable components, such as laser sources, which can operate at several selectable wavelengths, can be very attractive for many applications, especially for dynamic wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks in fiber optic communication. It is difficult to obtain fiber lasers and even diode laser-based systems with several wavelengths, which can be tuned and selected at high speeds. We report on wavelength selectable fiber and diode lasers, which can operate at each of several chosen wavelengths, with the possibility of switching between them at high speeds. The obtained selection time was /spl sim/5 ns for the diode laser system and /spl sim/150 ns for the fiber laser. The method is based on mode-locking or cavity-resonance-operated wavelength selection (CROWS). It is done by applying the suitable mode-locking frequency of a multiple-length fiber laser cavity, formed by multiple successive fiber grating reflectors, each with a different Bragg wavelength. It allows selection and high speed switching between these wavelengths. Such lasers can be useful for dynamic wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) in fiber optic networks.