A self-seeded tunable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber ring laser with fiber bending scheme

A new tunable multiwavelength fiber laser is proposed. Such a laser contains a homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening media, i.e., a Fabry-Perot laser diode and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, in the laser cavity. The Fabry-Perot laser diode is used to obtain tunable multiwavelength lasing. By adjusting the injection current of the Fabry-Perot laser diode, emission at a single wavelength, dual wavelengths, triple wavelengths or quadruple wavelengths are obtained. The lasing wavelength is tuned by bending a section of fiber in the laser cavity. The tuning ranges for single wavelength lasing and dual wavelength lasing are 20 nm and 10 nm, respectively, while those for triple wavelength lasing and quadruple wavelength lasing are 7 nm and 3 nm, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.