Abstract

The ability to write permanent gratings into the core of amplifying fibers has made possible the recent demonstration of fiber distributed feedback (DFB) lasers.^1-4 Single-frequency operation of these lasers has been achieved at 1.5 µm in Er³⁺-doped fibers,^1,3,4 and at 1.047 µm in a Yb³⁺ system² by using quarter-wave shifted DFB structures. Because of their narrow linewidth and compatibility with fiber communication systems, such DFB fiber lasers may become useful alternatives to DFB semiconductor lasers.

© 1996 Optical Society of America