Unrepeatered transmission through ultra-long fiber laser cavities

We present a study on the potential use of ultra-longlasercavities for unrepeateredfiber communication, based on the theory of nonlinearity management. A comparison is offered between the performance of ultra-longlasers and standard bi-directional distributed amplification schemes in nonrepeated transmission. Links based on both traditional (SMF/DCF) and modern Ultrawave transmissionfibers are considered.

20-km distributed temperature sensor based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering

We report on a novel experimental setup for distributed measurement of temperature, based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering in optical fiber. We have developed a mode-locked Brillouin fiber ring laser in order to generate the dual frequency source required for a heterodyne detection of the backscattered signal. This relatively simple system enables temperature measurements over 20 km with a spatial resolution of 7 m.

22km distributed strain sensor using Brillouin loss in an optical fibre

A novel distributed strain sensor is presented utilizing the strain dependence of the frequency at which the Brillouin loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. A strain resolution of 20 µ with a spatial resolution of 5 m has been achieved with a 22 km sensing length.

Combined distributed temperature and strain sensor based on Brillouin loss in an optical fiber

We present a novel distributed sensor that utilizes the temperature and strain dependence of the frequency at which the Brillouin loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. With a 22-km sensing length, a strain resolution of 20 µ? and a temperature resolution of 2°C have been achieved with a spatial resolution of 5 m.

32 km distributed temperature sensor based on Brillouin loss in an optical fibre

We present a novel distributed temperature sensor that uses the temperature dependence of the frequency at which the loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. With a 32-km sensing length, a temperature resolution of 1°C has been achieved; it is also shown that a spatial resolution of 5 m may be obtained.

32 km distributed temperature sensor based on Brillouin loss in an optical fibre

We present a novel distributed temperature sensor that uses the temperature dependence of the frequency at which the loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. With a 32-km sensing length, a temperature resolution of 1°C has been achieved; it is also shown that a spatial resolution of 5 m may be obtained.

Phase shift keyed systems based on a gain switched laser transmitter

Return-to-Zero (RZ) and Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) Differential Phase Shift Keyed (DPSK) systems require cheap and optimal transmitters for widespread implementation. The authors report on a gain switched Discrete Mode (DM) laser that can be employed as a cost efficient transmitter in a 10.7 Gb/s RZ DPSK system and compare its performance to that of a gain switched Distributed Feed-Back (DFB) laser. Experimental results show that the gain switched DM laser readily provides error free performance and a receiver sensitivity of -33.1 dBm in the 10.7 Gbit/s RZ DPSK system. The standard DFB laser on the other hand displays an error floor at 10(-1) in the same RZ DPSK system. The difference in performance, between the two types of gain switched transmitters, is analysed by investigating their linewidths. We also demonstrate, for the first time, the generation of a highly coherent gain switched pulse train which displays a spectral comb of approximately 13 sidebands spaced by the 10.7 GHz modulation frequency. The filtered side-bands are then employed as narrow linewidth Continuous Wave (CW) sources in a 10.7 Gb/s NRZ DPSK system.

Time resolved bit error rate analysis of a fast switching tunable laser for use in optically switched networks

We investigate the use of different direct detection modulation formats in a wavelength switched optical network. We find the minimum time it takes a tunable sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector laser to recover after switching from one wavelength channel to another for different modulation formats. The recovery time is investigated utilizing a field programmable gate array which operates as a time resolved bit error rate detector. The detector offers 93 ps resolution operating at 10.7 Gb/s and allows for all the data received to contribute to the measurement, allowing low bit error rates to be measured at high speed. The recovery times for 10.7 Gb/s non-return-to-zero on–off keyed modulation, 10.7 Gb/s differentially phase shift keyed signal and 21.4 Gb/s differentially quadrature phase shift keyed formats can be as low as 4 ns, 7 ns and 40 ns, respectively. The time resolved phase noise associated with laser settling is simultaneously measured for 21.4 Gb/s differentially quadrature phase shift keyed data and it shows that the phase noise coupled with frequency error is the primary limitation on transmitting immediately after a laser switching event.

Self-seeded gain-switched operation of an InGaN MQW laser diode

Self-seeded, gain-switched operation of an InGaN multi-quantum-well laser diode has been demonstrated for the first time. An external cavity comprising Littrow geometry was implemented for spectral control of pulsed operation. The feedback was optimized by adjusting the external cavity length and the driving frequency of the laser. The generated pulses had a peak power in excess of 400mW, a pulse duration of 60ps, a spectral linewidth of 0.14nm and maximum side band suppression ratio of 20dB. It was tunable within the range of 3.6nm centered at a wavelength of 403nm.

Tunable random fiber laser

An optical fiber is treated as a natural one-dimensional random system where lasing is possible due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering by refractive index inhomogeneities and distributed amplification through the Raman effect. We present such a random fiber laser that is tunable over a broad wavelength range with uniquely flat output power and high efficiency, which outperforms traditional lasers of the same category. Outstanding characteristics defined by deep underlying physics and the simplicity of the scheme make the demonstrated laser a very attractive light source both for fundamental science and practical applications.

Optical burst-switched SSB-OFDM using a fast switching SG-DBR laser

The application of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) in an optical burst-switched system employing a single fast switching sample grating-distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) laser is demonstrated experimentally. The effect of filter profiles compatible with 50, 25, and 12.5 GHz wavelength-division multiplexing grids on the system is investigated with system performance examined in terms of error vector magnitude per subcarrier for OFDM burst data beginning at various times after a switching event. Additionally the placement of the OFDM training sequence within the data burst and its effect on the system is investigated.

22km distributed strain sensor using Brillouin loss in an optical fibre

A novel distributed strain sensor is presented utilizing the strain dependence of the frequency at which the Brillouin loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. A strain resolution of 20 µ with a spatial resolution of 5 m has been achieved with a 22 km sensing length.

20-km distributed temperature sensor based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering

We report on a novel experimental setup for distributed measurement of temperature, based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering in optical fiber. We have developed a mode-locked Brillouin fiber ring laser in order to generate the dual frequency source required for a heterodyne detection of the backscattered signal. This relatively simple system enables temperature measurements over 20 km with a spatial resolution of 7 m.

Combined distributed temperature and strain sensor based on Brillouin loss in an optical fiber

We present a novel distributed sensor that utilizes the temperature and strain dependence of the frequency at which the Brillouin loss is maximized in the interaction between a cw laser and a pulsed laser. With a 22-km sensing length, a strain resolution of 20 µ? and a temperature resolution of 2°C have been achieved with a spatial resolution of 5 m.

Raman amplifiers:distributed raman amplification speeds comunication

A key technology for future long-distance, high-capacity terrestrial optical communication links, distributed Raman amplification can increase system performance and expand the range of operating wavelengths.