Fast-tuning narrow-linewidth all polarization-maintaining fiber ring laser

Abstract

This paper describes the structure and operation of a stable, fast-tuning, narrow-linewidth, all polarization-maintaining fibre ring laser using erbium-doped fibre as a saturable absorber. The optimum pump power for single-mode operation in the laser is identified. Laser output power is ~4.0mW at 1536nm for a pump power of 80mW, the polarization extinction ratio is 25.0dB, the SNR is larger than 60dB, the relative intensity noise is below -118dB/Hz at frequencies above 90kHz. The phase noise achieves −107dB at 1kHz while the modulation frequency of lasing optical frequency is 12.5kHz.