Single-Frequency Ring Fiber Laser with Random Distributed Feedback Provided by Artificial Rayleigh Scattering

Abstract

Femtosecond (fs) laser inscription technology allows for the production of in-fiber disordered structures with an enhanced level of Rayleigh backscattering with relatively few induced losses. These properties enable the application of these structures as reflectors in fiber lasers. In this study, a narrow-linewidth erbium fiber laser with random distributed feedback provided by a fs-induced random structure in a ring cavity configuration was developed. A single-frequency regime was observed over the entire lasing power range. At a maximum output power of 7.8 mW, the linewidth did not exceed 0.75 kHz.

Keywords

• single-frequency fiber laser
• random distributed feedback
• femtosecond refractive index modification