Stable single-mode erbium fiber-grating laser for digital communication

Abstract

In this paper we report the fabrication of a short, robust, single-mode Er/sup 3+/ fiber-grating laser. This laser is proven by the successful outcome of a long-term bit-error-rate test at the 10/sup -15/ level in a 5- G/s fiber transmission experiment. In the process we present a new pumping geometry, the elucidation of one origin of relaxation oscillations that have plagued previous lasers and the demonstration of a simple electronic feedback scheme for suppressing them. This prototype source shows real promise for use in a high-speed communications system.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>