Generation of longitudinal modes in an active Fabry-Perot fiber interferometer pumped by a low-power single-frequency semiconductor laser

Abstract

The results of experiments on taking beat spectra at the exit of a stationary (modulator-free) fiber Mach-Zender interferometer are presented. The interferometer is excited by a single-frequency semicon-ductor laser with an output power varying from 0.65 to 2.00 mV and a line-width of less than 20 kHz. The observed line beat spectrum is explained based on the fact that the extended (several kilometers long) arm of the interferometer serves as an active fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer. In this case, the effects of enhancement of stimulated Mandel’shtam-Brillouin scattering in the fiber and the Fresnel reflection of light from the end faces of the fiber play a decisive role. Remarkably, these effects are observed at a low (less than 0.3 mW) power deposited into the fiber. The features of beat signals are considered, and the feasibility of applying this effect in high-sensitive field and displacement optical sensors is indicated.