Multiple-Wavelength Erbium-Doped Fibre Ring Lasers. Part 1 - Modelling and Simulation

摘要

The dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technique adds versatility, flexibility and performance to microwave photonic signal processing in Electronic Warfare (EW), high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) communications links, optical fibre sensor networking and optical beamforming of phased-array antennas. The utilisation of DWDM requires multiple- wavelength laser devices. Continuous-wave (CW) multiple-wavelength erbium-doped fibre ring lasers (EDFRLs) have been suggested as an alternative to multiple laser diodes. However, multiple-wavelength lasing in EDFRLs is difficult to achieve due to homogeneous line broadening (HLB). In this report, a new CW multiple-wavelength EDFRL design is proposed. Dynamic wavelength-dependent cavity loss is utilised to overcome the effects of HLB. Rate equations are modelled to verify the principle of operation of the CW multiple-wavelength EDFRL. Multiple-wavelength operation controlled by dynamic wavelength-dependent cavity loss is shown to be possible. The multiple-wavelength lasing is predicted to be highly sensitive to any change in the cavity loss, which indicates a requirement for an electronic control circuit to maintain a stable multiple-wavelength lasing operation.