Article comprising a high power/broad spectrum superfluorescent fiber radiation source

摘要

A novel superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) (10) has high power and broad bandwidth, and can advantageously be used in a variety of applications, e.g., optical coherent tomography systems, sliced spectrum optical fiber communication systems, and optical position sensing systems. The novel SFS comprises a first and a second length of rare earth-doped optical fiber (11,12), with an optical isolator (13) therebetween. Light from a first pump source (14) is provided to the first length of optical fiber, and light from a second pump source (15) is provided to the second length of optical fiber. An optional reflector (16) is disposed to reflect at least some upstream-propagating light back into the first length of optical fiber, whereby generation of long-wavelength amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is facilitated. The long-wavelength ASE is transmitted through the optical isolator to the second length of rare earth-doped optical fiber, where broadband ASE is generated and the long-wavelength ASE is amplified. The resulting ASE is provided to utilization means.