Switchable and tunable multi-wavelength fiber laser based on a core-offset aluminum coated Mach-Zehnder interferometer. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin-Vela, J.A.; Sierra-Hernandez, J.M.; Gallegos-Arellano, E.; Estudillo-Ayala, J.M.; Bianchetti, M.; Jauregui-Vazquez, D.; Reyes-Ayona, J.R.; Silva-Alvarado, E.C.; Rojas-Laguna, R.
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 125(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Fiber optic laser -- Fiber optics -- Mach-Zehnder interferometer -- Thermal evaporation; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2019.106039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Highlights: Switchable and tunable multi-wavelength laser. Aluminum coated Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Fiber optics. Abstract: In this work, a switchable and tunable multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on a core-offset aluminum coated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (ACMZI) is presented. The ACMZI is fabricated by core-offset fusion splicing a single-mode fiber segment between two lengths of single mode fiber and then by coating it with aluminum using the thermal evaporation technique. The ACMZI is used as a wavelength selective filter in the proposed ring cavity design. Experimental results show that the laser emission can be switched among a single, double, and triple emission lines by carefully adjusting a polarization controller. Furthermore, the laser lines can be tuned by changing the temperature of the ACMZI. The laser can emit in a single-longitudinal mode and has a single-mode suppression ratio of about 55 dB, a linewidth of 0.05 nm and an efficiency slope of 0.29%. Finally, the laser arrangement is compact, robust, and requires a relatively simple fabrication procedure.