Shuqin Lou

Switchable multi-wavelength fiber ring laser based on a compact in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer with photonic crystal fiber

Switchable multi-wavelength fiber ring laser with an in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer incorporated into the ring cavity serving as wavelength-selective filter at room temperature is demonstrated. The filter is formed by splicing a section of few-mode photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and two segments of single mode fiber (SMF) with the air-holes on the both sides of PCF intentionally collapsed in the vicinity of the splices. By adjusting the states of the polarization controller (PC) appropriately, the laser can be switched among the stable single-, dual- and triple-wavelength lasing operations by exploiting polarization hole burning (PHB) effect.

Highly Sensitive Torsion Sensor Based on Sagnac Interferometer Using Side-Leakage Photonic Crystal Fiber

A highly sensitive torsion sensor, which can measure the torsion angle and determine the torsion direction simultaneously, is proposed and demonstrated based on Sagnac interferometer by incorporating a segment of novel side-leakage photonic crystal fiber (SLPCF). The SLPCF was designed by introducing an elliptical Ge-doped core and a symmetrical linear side-leakage defect. The experimental results show that the proposed sensor has different torsion sensitivities at different valley wavelengths and in different twist directions. The achieved maximum torsion sensitivity is about 0.9354 nm/°, which is much higher than that of the previously reported torsion sensors. In order to eliminate the temperature effect and obtain an accurate value of the torsion angle, the matrix method is adopted.

Ultrabroadband polarization splitter based on three-core photonic crystal fibers

An ultrabroadband polarization splitter based on three-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed. Two fluorine-doped cores and an elliptical modulation core are introduced to achieve an excellent performance and an ultrawide bandwidth. Numerical results demonstrate that the polarization splitter based on three-core PCF has an extinction ratio as low as -20 dB bandwidth as great as 400 nm covering almost all communication bands (O, E, S, C, and L bands). Its Gaussian-like mode-field distributions and suitable effective mode areas make it highly compatible with the standard single-mode fibers. Due to using a uniform size of circular air holes and only one elliptical central air hole, the difficulty of fabrication can be decreased to some extent.

Design and optimization of broadband and polarization-insensitive dual-core photonic crystal fiber coupler

In this paper, we propose a novel (to our knowledge) broadband and polarization-insensitive dual-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) coupler through the introduction of an elliptical-shaped central air hole to offset the slight birefringence arising from the dual core. With a full vectorial finite element method and anisotropic perfectly matched layers as the external boundaries, the impact of several fiber parameters on the coupling characteristics of dual-core PCF is investigated in detail. Through optimizing the main fiber parameters, including core diameter, size and ellipticity of the central air hole, and refractive index difference, broadband and polarization-insensitive characteristics are achieved in the wavelength range from 0.8 to 1.7 μm. The variation of the coupling ratio is stabilized at 50±1%, and the coupling ratio difference between x polarization and y polarization is less than 2% over the wavelength range. This dual-core PCF makes it easier to develop a 3 dB coupler over a wide wavelength for passive optical networks and large optical systems.

Switchable Dual-Wavelength PM-EDF Ring Laser Based on a Novel Filter

A stable and switchable dual-wavelength polarization-maintaining erbium-doped fiber ring laser is proposed and demonstrated experimentally by using a novel filter, which is formed from dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer incorporating a sagnac loop. By adjusting the polarization controllers, the output laser can be switched between single- and dual-wavelength. The wavelength spacing of the dual-wavelength can be tuned from 0.084 to 4.26 nm. Its 3-dB bandwidth and side mode suppression ratio are less than 0.015 nm and higher than 64 dB, respectively. In addition, the peak power fluctuation and wavelength shift are monitored to be less than 0.5 dB and 0.01 nm during an hour, respectively. The characteristics of the novel filter in experimental measurement accord with the result of theoretical analysis.

Bending Orientation Insensitive Large Mode Area Photonic Crystal Fiber With Triangular Core

In view of the feasibility of fabrication and application, a bending orientation insensitive large mode area photonic crystal fiber with triangular core is proposed. This fiber structure breaks the limit of bend orientation angle and realizes single mode operation under any bending orientation angle at the bending radius of 30 cm. The mode field area of the fundamental mode at the wavelength of 1.064 μm achieves 1386 μm2 at the straight state and 1154 μm2 at a bending radius of 30 cm, respectively. The decrement of the mode field area at the bent state is only 16.85% compared to that at the straight state. The large mode area at the bent state, small decrement of the mode field area, and low sensitivity of bending orientation make the fiber of great potential in compact high power fiber lasers.

Bend-resistant large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber with a triangular-core

In view of its feasibility for fabrication and application, a bend-resistant large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber with a triangular core is proposed. In our design, the fiber proposes a solution to the issue of bend distortion. The mode field area of the fundamental mode at the wavelength of 1.064 μm achieves 930 μm² at the straight state and 815 μm² at a bending radius of 30 cm, respectively. The decrement of the mode field area at the bend state is only 12.473% compared to the straight state. Furthermore, when the fiber is bent with a bending radius of 30 cm, numerical results demonstrate that the fiber conforms to single-mode operation conditions and the bending orientation angle can be extended to ±55°. A large mode area at bent state and low sensitivity of bending orientation make the fiber of great potential in high-power fiber lasers.

Design of a single-polarization single-mode photonic crystal fiber with a near-Gaussian mode field and wide bandwidth

Single-polarization single-mode (SPSM) fiber can efficiently eliminate polarization mode coupling, polarization mode dispersion, and polarization-dependent loss. Up to now, most single-polarization fibers have been designed based on form birefringence, which would result in a non-Gaussian field distribution and a small effective mode field area. In this paper, a novel structure of SPSM photonic crystal fibers based on the resonant coupling phenomena is proposed and analyzed by using a full-vector finite-element method with a second-order transparent boundary condition. From the numerical results it is confirmed that this fiber has a near-Gaussian mode field within the wavelength range from 1.46 to 2.2 μm, where only one polarized mode exists effectively, and the mode field area is about 79 μm(2) at the wavelength of 1.55 μm, matching that of the conventional single-mode fiber.

A multiwavelength Er-doped fiber laser using a nonlinear optical loop mirror and a twin-core fiber-based Mach–Zehnder interferometer

A multiwavelength Er-doped fiber (EDF) laser was proposed and experimentally demonstrated using a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) and a twin-core fiber-based Mach?Zehnder interferometer (TCF MZI). A total of 40 lasing wavelengths around the wavelength of 1560 nm with an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 28?dB and 30 lasing wavelengths around the wavelength of 1530?nm with an average SNR of 20 dB were achieved when the EDF length was 6 and 2?m, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that multiwavelength oscillations have been obtained in the wavelength range of 1530?nm by using a NOLM. The wavelength spacing is ?0.19?nm which is determined by the TCF MZI. In addition, the effects of the pump power and the state of polarization on the performance of the multiwavelength EDF laser were investigated.

Bend Resistant Large Mode Area Fiber With Multi-Trench in the Core

A bend resistant large mode area fiber with multitrench in the core is proposed. Four layers of trenches with high refractive index are introduced to modulate the mode field distribution. Low refractive index trenches in traditional designs are replaced with pure silica trenches to reduce the difficulty of manufacture. Meanwhile, the core region with a refractive index higher than pure silica cladding conforms to the practical requirement for active fibers. Numerical investigations show that single mode operation with a mode field area of 1100 μm2 is achieved at a bend radius of 15 cm. This design shows the potential of mode field scaling for multitrench fibers and makes a contribution to compact high power fiber lasers.