Multichannel fiber lasers anchored on the ITU grid

Abstract

We propose a multichannel erbium-doped-fiber ring laser in which the spatial separation of 40 spectral channels is produced by a pair of dispersive elements: a multiplexer and demutliplexer. Both 2- and 3-channel generation modes with the possibility of channel switching and power control were used and studied experimentally. The long-term stability of these generation modes on a several-hour time scale is at least 10%. The generation characteristics are described satisfactorily by a simple phenomenological model. In the framework of this model the interaction between the generation channels, which stems from saturation in the active media, is determined by the cross-saturation coefficients, which depend on the frequency spacing between the channels. Good agreement was found between the experimentally measured spectral dependence of the cross saturation and the spectral shape of the holes in the gain spectrum of the erbium amplifiers. In the three-channel generation mode, suppression of the central channel occurs with an increase in the pumping power. An explanation of this effect is given.