Multicore rare-earth doped fibres; application to amplifiers, filters and lasers

Abstract

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is the preferred choice for expanding the capacity of optical communication systems. Using this technique bit rates exceeding 1 Terabits/s have been demonstrated. However to fully exploit the potential of WDM several key device developments are required. This report describes the results of an experimental program, Multicore rare-earth doped fibres; application to amplifiers, filters and lasers funded under the ROPA scheme and targeted at new devices for WDM applications. The proposed program covered a three year program however funding was only awarded for two years. The key thrusts of the original submission were to introduce spatial hole burning into rare earth doped devices to controllably induce effective inhomogeneous broadening into the gain/loss medium. It was proposed to develop and optimise twincore erbium doped fibres to provide spatial hole burning and thus effective inhomogeneous broadening in the gain/loss medium. The development of channel equalising optical amplifiers, multi-wavelength and single frequency fibre lasers as well as passive tracking optical filters was targeted. These objectives were met. In addition multi-wavelength DFB fibre lasers have been developed as telecommunication sources and also applied to in-line pump a polarisation insensitive phase conjugator and as an active fibre temperature and strain sensor. Finally, a multi-wavelength (12 channel) Brillouin fibre laser has been demonstrated

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