Linear-cavity tunable fibre lasers employing an Opto-VLSI processor and a MEMS-based device

This thesis proposes and demonstrates experimentally two novel linear-cavity tunable fibre lasers employing an erbium-doped fibre (EDF) in conjunction with an Opto- VLSI processor and a MEMS-based device for wavelength selection. The Opto-VLSI processor and the MEMS-based device along with an optical collimator, a Bragg grating plate and an optical lens, enable the realisation of an optical filter for continuous tuning of wavelengths over the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) range of the EDF. We also propose the use of a section of un-pumped EDF as a saturable absorber (SA), which suppresses noise spikes caused by the high optical pumping power. Experimental results show that by optimising a length of the SA a single wavelength, high power laser signal can be achieved. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate that the performance of the proposed linear-cavity tunable fibre lasers is better than that of ring-cavity tunable laser counterparts. Specifically, we show that linear-cavity based tunable fibre lasers can achieve higher output power, a larger side mode rejection ratio (SMRR) and narrower laser linewidth than ring-cavity tunable fibre lasers.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Michel, David Daniel

• Integrated optics
• Optical MEMS
• Very large scale integration
• Tunable Fibre Laser
• Erbium-Doped Fibre
• Opto-VLSI Processor
• MEMS-Based Device
• Saturable Absorber
• Optics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/520

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-1521