Erbium-doped photonic crystal fiber distributed feedback loop laser operating at 1550 nm

An all-fiber, single-wavelength, erbium-doped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) distributed feedback (DFB) loop laser at 1550.08 nm is proposed and demonstrated experimentally for the first time. Two matched fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are used as the selective wavelength components in the loop laser. The optical signal to noise ratio and the 3 dB linewidth of lasing wavelength are greater than 30 dB and less than 0.96 nm, respectively. A low pump power threshold (similar to 17 mW) is obtained. 10-time repeated scans of the laser output spectra with 1 min interval indicate that the lasing wavelength is rather stable at room temperature. The peak power of the laser has a maximal fluctuation no more than 0.06 dBm within 30 min. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.