Fiber Ring Resonator Research Articles

Distributed measurements of vibration frequency using phase-OTDR with a DFB laser self-stabilized through PM fiber ring cavity

Abstract We have evaluated the performance of a phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) system for vibration measurements utilizing a conventional telecom DFB laser self-stabilized through an external PM optical fiber ring resonator. This low-cost solution is directly compared with the use of a commercial, ultra-narrow linewidth (∼100 Hz) fiber laser implemented into the same setup. Both systems are tested for measurement of the frequency of vibration applied to a fiber at a distance of 3500 m. The obtained SNR value higher than 6 dB demonstrates the ability of the DFB laser to perform distributed measurements of vibrations with frequencies up to 5600 Hz with a spatial resolution of 10 m.

Characteristics and control of fiber ring resonator

Optical resonators play an active role in fundamental research and applications in atomic fine spectra, laser generation, precision measurements, and quantum information processing because of their high-resolution spectra and strong optical field enhancement. The fiber ring resonators, as a derivative of the resonant resonators, have the advantages of simple structure, small size, stable performance and easy integration. The fiber ring resonators are widely used in fiber lasers, optical communication devices, optical fiber sensing, etc. In this paper, we demonstrate the characteristics of a fiber ring resonator based on a tunable fiber beam splitter experimentally. Control of under-coupling, critical coupling and over-coupling state of the fiber ring resonator can be achieved by adjusting the splitting ratio of the tunable fiber beam splitter. The relationship between the minimum resonator reflectance and resonator loss is given. The intrinsic decay rate of the fiber ring resonator is <inline-formula><tex-math id="M92">\begin{document}${\kappa _0}{\rm{ = }}2{\text{π}} \times \left( {1.60 \pm 0.03} \right)\;{\rm{ MHz}}$\end{document}</tex-math><alternatives><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="7-20182296_M92.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="7-20182296_M92.png"/></alternatives></inline-formula>, and the quality factor is <inline-formula><tex-math id="M93">\begin{document}$Q = \left( {1.10 \pm 0.02} \right) \times {10.8}$\end{document}</tex-math><alternatives><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="7-20182296_M93.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="7-20182296_M93.png"/></alternatives></inline-formula>. The resonance frequency of the fiber ring resonator is controlled by stretching the fiber. The fiber resonator is kept straight and fixed on a self-made U-shaped holder by gluing two points. A piezoelectric transducer is used to change the distance between the two glued points. The fiber ring resonator length is changed and controlled when the fiber is stretched. The Pound-Drever-Hall technique is used to lock the resonator to resonance with the laser. The phase of the laser beam is modulated by using an electro-optical modulator, and two sidebands of the laser frequency are generated. Due to the phase sensitivity of the fiber resonator, the reflected light of the fiber resonator with an intensity modulation is observed when the fiber ring resonator is locked. The intensity modulation is caused by the interference between the resonance frequency and the sidebands of the fiber ring resonator. The reflected spectrum of the fiber ring resonator carries the same-frequency modulation as the phase modulation. This is a disadvantage for the usage of the fiber ring resonator. Thus, we reduce the phase modulation power to reduce the intensity modulation of the resonator reflectance. The linear relationship between the phase modulation power and the intensity modulation of the resonator reflectance caused by the phase modulation is obtained. The fiber ring resonator can be locked when the phase modulation power decreases to –9 dBm. The fiber ring resonator has laid a solid experimental foundation for experimental research on the interaction between the fiber ring resonator and quantum emitters such as atoms and color centers in diamond.

Experimental Demonstration of Dynamical Input Isolation in Nonadiabatically Modulated Photonic Cavities

Modulated optical cavities have been proposed and demonstrated for applications in communications, laser frequency stabilization, microwave-to-optical conversion and frequency comb generation. However, most studies are restricted to the adiabatic regime, where either the maximum excursion of the modulation or the modulation frequency itself is below the linewidth of the cavity. Here, using a fiber ring resonator with an embedded electro-optic phase modulator, we investigate the nonadiabatic regime. By strongly driving the modulator at frequencies that are significantly smaller than the free-spectral range of the ring resonator, but well beyond the linewidth of the resonator, we experimentally observe counterintuitive behavior predicted in a recent theoretical study by Minkov et al. [APL Photonics 2, 076101 (2017)], such as the complete suppression of drop-port transmission even when the input laser wavelength is on resonance with the optical cavity. This can be understood as dynamical isolation of the cavity from the input light. We also show qualitative differences in the steady-state responses of the system between the adiabatic and nonadiabatic limits. Our experiments probe a seldom explored regime of operation that is promising for applications in integrated photonic systems with current state-of-the-art technology.

Invited Article: Emission of intense resonant radiation by dispersion-managed Kerr cavity solitons

We report on an experimental and numerical study of temporal Kerr cavity soliton dynamics in dispersion-managed fiber ring resonators. We find that dispersion management can significantly magnify the Kelly-like resonant radiation sidebands emitted by the solitons. Because of the underlying phase-matching conditions, the sideband amplitudes tend to increase with increasing pump-cavity detuning, ultimately limiting the range of detunings over which the solitons can exist. Our experimental findings show excellent agreement with numerical simulations.

Electromagnet‐driven long‐period fiber gratings for tunable Tm/Ho‐codoped silica fiber lasers

AbstractWe report the experimental results on controlling the oscillation wavelength by inducing force‐induced fiber gratings in Tm/Ho co‐doped fiber ring resonators. The fiber grating generates the resonance loss bands that are controlled with an electromagnet. The oscillation wavelength covers from 1879 nm to 1995 nm overall by shifting the passband that appears between the neighboring loss bands.

Ultrahigh-Q and tunable single-passband microwave photonic filter based on stimulated Brillouin scattering and a fiber ring resonator.

A scheme to perform ultrahigh-Q and single passband microwave photonic filter (MPF) with tunability is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The single passband of the MPF is implemented by the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in an optical fiber. The ultrahigh-Q of the MPF is realized due to the ultra-narrow resonant linewidth of the fiber ring resonator, which compresses the bandwidth of the SBS dramatically. A MPF with a single passband and an ultra-narrow 3dB bandwidth of 825±125 kHz over the wide center frequency tuning range of 2-16GHz are achieved. The MPF also shows high out-of-band suppression exceeding 25dB and small amplitude fluctuation of ±1.8 dB within the tuning range. The maximum Q-factor of the MPF is 17778. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest Q single-passband MPF reported to date, with wide tunability, high out-of-band suppression, and a simple structure.

Fiber optic gyroscope noise reduction with fiber ring resonator.

A method of improving the angular random walk (ARW) of a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) using a fiber ring resonator (FRR) to reduce the relative intensity noise (RIN) is demonstrated. An FRR reduces the RIN near the proper frequency and improves the ARW. The analytical forms for the RIN transfer function and the power transmission of the FRR are derived when the free spectral range of the FRR is much narrower than the source bandwidth. Building the FRR using couplers and fiber with low excess loss enhances the RIN reduction. For the coupling ratios, there is a trade-off between the RIN reduction and the power transmission. The coupling ratios are 90%-10% tap in the experiment. When the FRR resonator length is shorter than the FOG coil length, the ARW improvement is further enhanced by adjusting the average window length in the signal processing. An experiment demonstrated a 7dB decrease in the RIN at the loop proper frequency, which reduces the standard deviation by 3.5dB. The ARW was reduced from 970 to 570 μdeg/h1/2, which amounts to a 2.3dB reduction.

Analysis of amplification in a fiber ring resonator with a fabry‐perot cavity

AbstractThe placement of an Erbium‐doped Fiber Amplifier and a Fabry‐Perot cavity inside a fiber ring resonator can generate a sinusoidal modulation in the optical signal obtained. The characterization of this behavior is achieved by changing the length of the Fabry‐Perot cavity, which acts as a sensing device. A theoretical model of the optical signal modulation obtained with such configuration is also presented.

Relative intensity noise reduction with fiber ring resonator

Abstract A method of reducing the relative intensity noise (RIN) using a fiber ring resonator to improve the angular random walk (ARW) of a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is demonstrated. The RIN at the proper frequency f p degrades the ARW of the FOG when the detected power reaches tens of microwatts. Adding a fiber ring resonator between the source and the interferometer periodically modulates the optical spectrum and consequently reduces the RIN at f p . The reduction in the RIN is analyzed theoretically and experimentally. An experiment demonstrated a 5.2-dB decrease in the RIN at f p , which reduces the standard deviation by 2.6-dB. The ARW was reduced from 870 to 580 μ deg/h 1∕2 , which amounts to a 1.8-dB reduction.

Temperature Stability of a Hybrid Polarization-Maintaining Photonic Crystal Fiber Resonator and Its Application in a Resonant Fiber Optic Gyro.

A fiber ring resonator (FRR) constructed using a Panda polarization-maintaining fiber does not effectively solve the problem of temperature-related polarization fluctuation, which considerably limits the detection accuracy of the resonant fiber optic gyro. The polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF) can improve the thermal stability of the FRR. In this study, a structure that can simultaneously detect the polarization fluctuation of two FRRs is designed. We analyzed and verified the polarization phase shift errors of these two types of fibers, which are caused by the thermally induced birefringence changes. Theoretical simulation and experimental results confirm that a PM-PCF can be used to optimize the FRR, which can effectively suppress the polarization fluctuation.

Experimental observations of breathing Kerr temporal cavity solitons at large detunings.

It was recently predicted that, due to stimulated Raman scattering, temporal Kerr cavity solitons may exhibit oscillatory instabilities at large cavity detunings [Phys. Rev. Lett.120, 053902 (2018)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.120.053902]. Here, we report experimental observations of this behavior. To access the appropriate oscillatory regime, we construct a macroscopic fiber ring resonator with a high finesse of F≈240. By synchronously driving the resonator with flat-top nanosecond pulses, we can reach very large intracavity power levels, where Raman-induced soliton oscillations can be observed. We also surprisingly find that, in the limit of large cavity driving strengths, new soliton instability regimes that are not accounted for in the known bifurcation structure of driven Kerr resonators can emerge even in the absence of Raman effects. Our experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations.

Short fiber resonant optic gyroscope using the high-frequency Pound-Drever-Hall technique.

Optical gyros are attractive angular rotation sensors based on the Sagnac effect. The phase modulation technique is adopted to detect the weak resonant frequency shift induced by the Sagnac effect, which determines the detection sensitivity of the gyros. The Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) modulation is a mature laser frequency stabilization technique that is widely recognized. A resonant optic gyro equipped with a short and high-finesse fiber ring resonator employing the high-frequency PDH modulation technique is proposed and demonstrated. The modulation index and frequency are optimized to maximize the slope of the demodulation curve. Compared with the low-frequency modulation, the high-frequency PDH modulation increases the slope of the demodulation curve by a factor of 1.23 and achieves an extra 15.8dB of laser frequency noise suppression. The bias stability of the gyro output is improved from 9.6°/h to 8°/h, and the equivalent lock-in frequency accuracy increases 12dB.

Addressing temporal Kerr cavity solitons with a single pulse of intensity modulation.

We experimentally and numerically study the use of intensity modulation for the controlled addressing of temporal Kerr cavity solitons (CSs). Using a coherently driven fiber ring resonator, we demonstrate that a single temporally broad intensity modulation pulse applied on the cavity driving field permits systematic and efficient writing and erasing of ultrashort cavity solitons. We use numerical simulations based on the mean-field Lugiato-Lefever model to investigate the addressing dynamics, and present a simple physical description of the underlying physics.

Coupling analysis of high Q resonators in add-drop configuration through cavity ringdown spectroscopy

An original method able to fully characterize high-Q resonators in an add-drop configuration has been implemented. The method is based on the study of two cavity ringdown (CRD) signals, which are produced at the transmission and drop ports by wavelength sweeping a resonance in a time interval comparable with the photon cavity lifetime. All the resonator parameters can be assessed with a single set of simultaneous measurements. We first developed a model describing the two CRD output signals and a fitting program able to deduce the key parameters from the measured profiles. We successfully validated the model with an experiment based on a fiber ring resonator of known characteristics. Finally, we characterized a high-Q, home-made, MgF2 whispering gallery mode disk resonator in the add-drop configuration, assessing its intrinsic and coupling parameters.

Optical fiber ring resonator as a high-resolution spectrometer. Characterization and applications with single line diode lasers

Fil: Presti, Damian Ariel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia; Argentina

Single-frequency fiber laser based on a fiber ring resonator filter tunable in a broad range from 1023 nm to 1107 nm.

We present a broadly tunable single-frequency ytterbium-doped fiber laser. Its broadband tunability is made possible by low resonator losses. The wavelength is determined by a grating filter, while the single-frequency regime is achieved by filtering the longitudinal modes in a fiber ring resonance filter. We obtained a tuning range from 1023 nm to 1107 nm. A feedback loop driving a fiber stretcher actuated by a piezo-element prevents mode hopping. Based on the coherent delayed self-heterodyne interferometry, the laser linewidth is estimated to be 600 Hz with feedback open and 11.7 kHz with feedback closed.

Linear and nonlinear behavior in single-ring resonators

This study has been focused on the linear and nonlinear behavior and investigative in single-ring resonator. Optical fiber ring resonators have great interest due to different applications, especially in communication, secured communication, slow light, fast light and light storage in optical buffers. There are many proposed applications of optical ring resonators. Optical fiber ring resonators can be readily constructed from standard optical fiber components, which allow their properties to be studied in a systematic manner. In this paper, we describe our studies of the optical transmission, intensity, shift phase and group delay characteristics of a family of such devices. In this case, Gaussian beam has been used as an input pulse inside to microring resonators. In this paper, transmission, intensity, shift phase and group delay characteristics of device have been investigated. It has been compared together in different coupling coefficients in frame of linear and nonlinear.

Photonic Generation of High Power, Ultrastable Microwave Signals by Vernier Effect in a Femtosecond Laser Frequency Comb

Optical frequency division of an ultrastable laser to the microwave frequency range by an optical frequency comb has allowed the generation of microwave signals with unprecedently high spectral purity and stability. However, the generated microwave signal will suffer from a very low power level if no external optical frequency comb repetition rate multiplication device is used. This paper reports theoretical and experimental studies on the beneficial use of the Vernier effect together with the spectral selective filtering in a double directional coupler add-drop optical fibre ring resonator to increase the comb repetition rate and generate high power microwaves. The studies are focused on two selective filtering aspects: the high rejection of undesirable optical modes of the frequency comb and the transmission of the desirable modes with the lowest possible loss. Moreover, the conservation of the frequency comb stability and linewidth at the resonator output is particularly considered. Accordingly, a fibre ring resonator is designed, fabricated, and characterized, and a technique to stabilize the resonator’s resonance comb is proposed. A significant power gain is achieved for the photonically generated beat note at 10 GHz. Routes to highly improve the performances of such proof-of-concept device are also discussed.

Stimulated Raman Scattering Imposes Fundamental Limits to the Duration and Bandwidth of Temporal Cavity Solitons.

Temporal cavity solitons (CS) are optical pulses that can persist in passive resonators, and they play a key role in the generation of coherent microresonator frequency combs. In resonators made of amorphous materials, such as fused silica, they can exhibit a spectral redshift due to stimulated Raman scattering. Here we show that this Raman-induced self-frequency-shift imposes a fundamental limit on the duration and bandwidth of temporal CSs. Specifically, we theoretically predict that stimulated Raman scattering introduces a previously unidentified Hopf bifurcation that leads to destabilization of CSs at large pump-cavity detunings, limiting the range of detunings over which they can exist. We have confirmed our theoretical predictions by performing extensive experiments in synchronously driven fiber ring resonators, obtaining results in excellent agreement with numerical simulations. Our results could have significant implications for the future design of Kerr frequency comb systems based on amorphous microresonators.

Reduced thermal sensitivity of hybrid air-core photonic band-gap fiber ring resonator

A novel hybrid air-core photonic band-gap fiber (PBF) ring resonator with twin 90° polarization-axis rotated splices is proposed and demonstrated. Frist, we measure the temperature dependent birefringence coefficient of air-core PBF and Panda fiber. Experimental results show that the relative temperature dependent birefringence coefficient of air-core PBF is 1.42×10-8/°C, which is typically ~16 times less than that of Panda fiber. Then, we extract the geometry profile of air-core PBF from scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Numerical modal is built to distinguish the fast axis and slow axis in the fiber. By precisely setting the length difference in air-core PBF and Panda fiber between two 90° polarization-axis rotated splicing points, the hybrid air-core PBF ring resonator is constructed, and the finesse of the resonator is 8.4. Environmental birefringence variation induced by temperature change can be well compensated, and experimental results show an 18-fold reduction in thermal sensitivity, compared with resonator with twin 0° polarization-axis rotated splices.