The authors report on the generation of optical pulses at repetition rate integer multiples of the RF drive frequency from a harmonically driven actively modelocked fibre ring laser. Optical pulses at repetition rates 21 GHz and 14 GHz are generated solely by controlling the RF drive frequency to the modulator.

High repetition rate optical pulse generation by frequency multiplication in actively modelocked fibre ring lasers

We present both experimental and theoretical investigations of the operation of a harmonically modelocked erbium fiber ring laser stabilized by an intracavity bit-rate etalon. Our model analyzes the effects of cavity components and operating parameters on laser stability and output pulse characteristics. The model predicts the output pulsewidth variation with laser cavity parameters such as cavity length, dispersion, and finesse of intracavity Fabry-Perot etalons. If the laser cavity length is not optimized, a maximum 50% increase in pulsewidth can occur at 5 Gb/s pulse rate. A repetition rate etalon with a finesse of 50 is sufficient to provide a side-mode suppression ratio of over 50 dB in the laser output. We also discuss how detuning from the optimal modulation frequency increases the excess noise that affects the laser stability. The theory predicts a maximum detuning range of /spl plusmn/100 kHz, which agrees with the experimental observations. These theoretical results can guide the design of similar lasers over a wide range of operating parameters.

Active harmonic modelocking of an erbium fiber laser with intracavity Fabry-Perot filters

A regeneratively mode-locked fiber ring laser (RML-FRL) and an active harmonically mode-locked fiber ring laser (ML-FRL) have been characterized for both amplitude and phase noise by investigating the detected RF spectra of the optical pulse trains. Quantification of noise in the optical pulses reveals that the stability of the RML-FRL in terms of noise performance is superior to its ML-FRL counterpart. The optical pulse noise was measured over a frequency band of 100 Hz to 100 kHz and it was found that the pulse amplitude noise reduced from 0.6% in the ML-FRL to 0.3% in the RML-PRL. The total rms noise in the detected optical pulses from the RML-FRL improved by more than 30% compared to that measured for the ML-FRL, with a phase noise improvement of 15 dB at 100 kHz offset frequency from the carrier. An rms timing jitter of 0.38 ps was estimated in the optical pulse train from the ML-FRL, which reduced to 0.26 ps in the RML-FRL. In addition, complete elimination of the relaxation oscillations noise spikes in the detected RF spectrum of the optical pulses from the RML-FRL has been observed.

Noise characterization of a regeneratively mode-locked fiber ring laser

The optical gain-depletion-induced mode-locking dynamics of a semiconductor optical-amplifier-based fiber ring laser (SOAFL) backward injected by a purely sinusoidally modulated or digitally encoded distributedfeedback laser diode are theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The effect of gain depletion and waveform on the mode-locked pulse width, pulse shape, and power of the SOAFL are interpreted from theoretical simulations. The shortest pulse width of 12 ps can be generated from an optically sinusoidal-wave-modulated SOAFL. By backward injecting the SOAFL with a digitally encoded optical signal of adjustable duty cycle, one can observe the optimized gain depletion time of 400-600 ps required for mode locking the SOAFL.

https://ir.nctu.edu.tw:443/bitstream/11536/26767/1/000221423800001.pdf

Dynamics of optical backward-injection-induced gain-depletion modulation and mode locking in semiconductor optical amplifier fiber lasers.

Using a fiber-optic stimulated-Brillouin-scattering amplifier as an active filter, we have demonstrated optical clock recovery from 5-Gbit/s return-to-zero-format optical data. Definite patterns and pseudorandom bit sequences were tested. This scheme requires no prior knowledge of the clock frequency and is well suited for operation at higher data rates.

Optical clock recovery from a data stream of an arbitrary bit rate by use of stimulated Brillouin scattering.

We describe the performance of a harmonically mode-locked, erbium fiber ring laser. Transform-limited pulses with durations of 20-50 ps at 5.044 GHz repetition rate are obtained. The modulation frequency can be detuned by up to /spl plusmn/70 kHz and the lasing wavelength can be varied over the entire erbium gain bandwidth. Pulsewidths and pulse bandwidths are measured as a function of modulation power and frequency detuning. The laser is actively stabilized by locking intra-cavity Fabry-Perot etalon passbands to the laser modes. >

Performance characterization of a harmonically mode-locked erbium fiber ring laser

We have demonstrated a simple technique to stabilize harmonically mode-locked erbium fiber ring lasers. This technique requires less than 40 mV to tune a repetition rate Fabry-Perot etalon and the laser can be stabilized for an extended period of time with a very small drift in the optical frequency.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel2/4484/12728/00586456.pdf

D.W. Rush

Papers

Performance characterization of a harmonically mode-locked erbium fiber ring laser

Simple stabilization technique for harmonically mode-locked erbium fiber ring lasers