$Q$ -Switched DFB Fiber Laser Based on a Shape Memory Alloy Optical Fiber Phase Modulator

Author

Fraser, Alex ; Vallée, Réal ; Deschênes, Jean-Daniel ; Bernier, Martin ; Genest, Jérôme ; Weynant, Éric

Author_Institution

Phasoptx Inc., Montréal, QC, Canada

Volume

29

Issue

14

fYear

2011

fDate

7/15/2011 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2156

Lastpage

2165

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the behavior of a DFB fiber laser based on a high-speed tunable intra-cavity phase-shifter is presented. The phase-shifter made of a specially designed shape memory alloy is inducing a birefringence, thus allowing the laser to operate on either x or y polarization mode in the CW regime or in the Q -switched regime. The spectral characteristics of the laser are analyzed in detail for both regimes and the cavity properties are derived from the relaxation oscillation frequency.

Keywords

Q-switching; alloys; birefringence; distributed feedback lasers; fibre lasers; high-speed optical techniques; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; optical fibre polarisation; optical materials; optical modulation; phase modulation; shape memory effects; Q -switched DFB fiber laser; Q -switched regime; birefringence; continuous wave regime; high speed tunable intracavity phase shifter; polarization mode; shape memory alloy optical fiber phase modulator; Fiber lasers; Frequency modulation; Laser modes; Optical fibers; Phase modulation; Pump lasers; $Q$-switched DFB fiber laser; phase modulator; polarization;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2011.2157459

Filename

5772893