Abstract
We report an Er-doped superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) with a
record mean-wavelength stability of ±0.5 ppm over 17 h. This
breakthrough was achieved in a double-pass SFS by implementing several
improvements, namely 1) controlling all the parameters that affect its
mean wavelength, including the pump diode temperature and current, 2)
reducing polarization-induced drifts in mean wavelength with a Faraday
rotator mirror and a long Er-doped fiber (EDF), and 3) getting rid of
polarization controllers to eliminate polarization-dependent loss. The
long-term mean-wavelength variations of this SFS were due almost entirely
to variations in the EDF temperature. When the SFS temperature was allowed
to vary, by calibrating its mean-wavelength dependence on temperature, it
was possible to predict the mean wavelength to a ±2-ppm precision by
simply measuring the EDF temperature. The same configuration was also
implemented with a different Er-doped fiber to achieve an even lower
dependence on EDF temperature. When controlling the temperature of this
second SFS to about ±0.5 °C, it exhibited a stability of
±0.5 ppm over 17 h. These new developments constitute an important
step toward a practical high-grade fiber-optic gyroscope.
© 2003 IEEE
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