Development of multi-wavelength microsphere fibre laser system for potential sensor applications

• Published in: Optics communications 2009-02, Vol.282 (3), p.401-405
• Main Authors: Chen, S.Y., Yeo, T.L., Zhao, W.Z., Sun, T., Grattan, K.T.V., Lade, R., Powell, B.D., Foster-Turner, G., Osborne, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Compact sensor system; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber lasers; Fiber optics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Gratings; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Lasers; Microsphere laser system; Multi-wavelength fibre laser; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optics; Other fiber-optical devices; Physics; Raman scattering; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Whispering gallery modes
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2008.10.022

A multi-wavelength microsphere laser system, using a chirped fibre Bragg grating and a microsphere resonator as wavelength-selective elements and a high dopant erbium doped fibre as the gain material, has been successfully demonstrated. The multi-wavelength generation of the laser system arises from both the microsphere whispering gallery mode selection and from the additional Raman scattering inside the microsphere cavity when the erbium laser is operating at resonance with the whispering gallery modes. Through an appropriate design and fabrication of a microsphere and of a fibre taper, a selective multi-wavelength fibre laser has been realized when the pump power is above threshold required. The laser output lines created have shown much narrower linewidths than those from conventional fibre lasers and these characteristics are particularly suitable for the range of sensor applications envisaged in the work.