Abstract

The frequency response of a unidirectional ring laser containing a linear polarizer and a weakly birefringent etalon is analyzed numerically. The data obtained indicate that by sensing the changes in the polarization state of the light that is coupled from the etalon, a suitable error signal can be derived that can be used to prevent longitudinal mode hops. This idea is verified experimentally by configuration of an erbium ring fiber laser with a nonplanar $3\times 3$ fused-fiber coupler to form the intracavity etalon. When the longitudinal mode hops are inhibited and the oscillating frequency of the fiber laser is locked to a reference confocal etalon, the resulting radiation has a linewidth of 14 kHz with an associated rms frequency jitter of 2 kHz.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Theoretical model and experimental demonstration of frequency control in rare-earth-doped fiber lasers with a 3 × 3 nonplanar fused-fiber coupler

A. Gloag, R. J. Forster, and N. Langford
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14(4) 895-902 (1997)

Frequency stabilization of rare-earth-doped fiber lasers by use of 3 × 3 nonplanar fused-fiber couplers

Andrew Gloag, Richard J. Forster, and Nigel Langford
Appl. Opt. 36(18) 4077-4080 (1997)

Continuously tunable single-frequency erbium ring fiber laser

A. Gloag, N. Langford, K. McCallion, and W. Johnstone
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(5) 921-925 (1996)

Single-frequency ytterbium-doped fiber laser stabilized by spatial hole burning

R. Paschotta, J. Nilsson, L. Reekie, A. C. Trooper, and D. C. Hanna
Opt. Lett. 22(1) 40-42 (1997)

Longitudinal mode control of a narrow-linewidth fiber laser by use of the intrinsic birefringence of the fiber laser

R. J. Forster and N. Langford
Opt. Lett. 21(20) 1679-1681 (1996)