Wavelength-Flexible Thulium-Doped Fiber Laser Based on Digital Micromirror Array

Xiao Chen,Genxiang Chen,Dezheng Dai,Yi Zhang,Yunshu Gao,Hongyuan Wu,Yiquan Wang

doi:10.3390/mi11121036

Xiao Chen, Genxiang Chen + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11121036

Copy DOI

Journal: Micromachines	Publication Date: Nov 25, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Minzu University of China

Abstract

Wavelength-tunable thulium-doped fiber laser is demonstrated employing a digital micromirror device (DMD) in combination with a fixed grating. The diffraction property of four typical models of DMDs and its steering efficiency for the laser system are analyzed based on two-dimensional grating theory. By spatially modulating reflective patterns on a DMD, the stable, fast, and flexible tuning of lasing wavelength from 1930 nm to 2000 nm is achieved with wavelength tuning accuracy of 0.1 nm. The side-mode suppression ratio is larger than 50 dB around the 2 μm band with 3 dB linewidth less than 0.05 nm. The wavelength drift and power fluctuation are lower than 0.05 nm and 0.1 dB within 1 h at the room temperature, respectively.

Highlights

Space laser communication has the advantages of large transmission capacity and anti-electromagnetic interference
The tuning time of thulium-doped fibers lasers (TDFL) depends on the flip speed of micromirrors on a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip
Wavelength-tunable thulium-doped fiber laser is demonstrated based on a DMD chip

Summary

Introduction

Space laser communication has the advantages of large transmission capacity and anti-electromagnetic interference. Li et al reported the characteristics of Tm3+ -doped fiber amplifiers in optical communication with high gain (>35 dB), low noise (5 dB), and 100 nm bandwidth at 2 μm band [7]. The laser system consists of a fiber-ring resonator and an optical filter module. The fiber module includes a thulium-doped fiber amplifier (TDFA), a 90/10 coupler, a polarization controller, a fiber circulator, and a collimator. The fiberspectrum module includes a thulium-doped mirrors to tilt +12°, so thatand thean corresponding of ASE landing on the white area fiber amplifier (TDFA), a coupler, a polarization controller, a fiber circulator, and a collimator. After coupler,leading, 90% ASEafter lightseveral energy through the collimator into pumped a ring cavity bya fiber the TDFA, returns into a ring and continues to be coupled into optical filter module via a collimator.

Schematic

Diffraction Performance of DMD

Diffraction distribution ofof

Loss components used used in in TDFL

Typical

Conclusions

Findings