Multi-wavelength fiber laser via evanescent field confinement with Al2O3 nanolaminate-coated thinned fiber

Abstract

We present the fabrication and analysis of an Erbium-doped optical fiber laser emitting at multiple wavelengths. This is accomplished via a filter constructed from a fiber taper coated with alumina (Al2O3). The taper is created using the flame brushing induction technique with a combination of Butane (25 %) and Oxygen (75 %). The diameter is reduced to a 20 µm waist and 2 mm burner displacement. The thin film of Al2O3 was deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD), resulting in a 15 nm layer. The coated fiber taper was then inserted into a ring fiber laser cavity functioning as a selector filter. This fiber laser produced an output comprising six simultaneous wavelengths: 1531.14, 1531.79, 1532.45, 1541.85, 1544.45, and 1562.22 nm. Laser signal stability tests were performed for one hour at 25 °C at the six emission wavelengths, resulting in a maximum optical power fluctuation of 0.15 to 0.33 dB, a wavelength shift variation of 0.02 nm, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 31.79 dB in average. The laser lines emitted have an average spectral width of 0.06 nm. Our results show that the typical performance of the fiber laser configuration based on an optical fiber taper was improved by the addition of the Al2O3 layer and can be further improved. Our findings demonstrate that the standard operation of the fiber laser setup, which utilizes an optical fiber taper, was enhanced through the incorporation of an Al2O3 layer and has the potential for further development.