• Chinese Journal of Lasers
  • Vol. 48, Issue 20, 2001002 (2021)
Hong Liang1、2, Fang Wei1、*, Yanguang Sun1, Guangwei Sun1, and Haiwen Cai1、2、**
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Space Laser Communication and Detection Technology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 2Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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    DOI: 10.3788/CJL202148.2001002 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Hong Liang, Fang Wei, Yanguang Sun, Guangwei Sun, Haiwen Cai. A 1310 nm Band Narrow Linewidth Hybrid Integrated External Cavity Semiconductor Laser Based on Fiber Bragg Gratings[J]. Chinese Journal of Lasers, 2021, 48(20): 2001002 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Objective With the development of modern communication network technology, people’s demand for communication capacity has increased dramatically, making the ultra-large capacity and long-distance optical fiber network transmission system a research hotspot in the field of optical fiber communication. As a light source with a comb-shaped spectrum in the frequency domain, the optical frequency comb can significantly increase the transmission capacity of a single optical fiber, make full use of the limited available bandwidth of optical fiber transmission, and become an ideal light source for large-capacity transmission in optical fiber network transmission systems. To improve the stability of large-capacity optical fiber communication system, it is necessary to examine the changes of the optical fiber link in the optical fiber communication system. However, the frequency coverage of the optical frequency comb is relatively wide, about dozens or even hundreds of nm, and the wavelengths needed for monitoring should avoid the band that carries information. Therefore, for a 1550 nm band optical frequency comb conventionally deployed in the current optical fiber communication system, a 1550 nm band laser cannot realize the monitoring of the optical fiber link in the optical fiber communication system. As another essential window of optical fiber communication, a 1310 nm band can realize the transmission with low attenuation and dispersion and has become an essential channel for optical fiber link detection. Therefore, it is necessary to study 1310 nm band narrow linewidth laser to improve the stability of the optical fiber communication system.

    Methods In this study, we have developed a 1310 nm band hybrid integrated external cavity diode laser based on the single angle facet semiconductor gain chip and fiber Bragg grating. First, the design and fabrication theory of the external cavity diode laser is presented. The fiber Bragg grating and ceramic substrate with V-groove are packaged by full-glue packaging process, which improves the fiber Bragg grating’s thermal sensitivity and mechanical stability. Then, the single angle facet semiconductor gain chip and fiber Bragg grating are coupled with a fiber-tapered lens polished at the front of the fiber Bragg grating. The fiber at the back of the fiber Bragg grating can be used directly as the output fiber. The narrow linewidth laser output is realized by the negative feedback of the sloping edge of the fiber Bragg grating reflection spectrum. The performance of the obtained external cavity diode laser is tested through experiment. Finally, our fabricated external cavity diode laser is applied in an optical fiber sensing system.

    Results and Discussions Our fabricated external cavity diode laser in the 1310 nm band uses the single angle facet semiconductor gain chip to provide gain and fiber Bragg grating as the frequency-selective element. It has the advantages of flexible wavelength selection, simple structure, and low cost. The performance of the fabricated external cavity diode laser is tested. At the operating temperature of 25 ℃ and operating current of 280 mA, the external cavity diode laser center wavelength is 1309.8 nm (Fig. 2), and 3 dB Lorentz linewidth is 18 kHz (Fig. 4). Moreover, under this operating temperature and current, the power and frequency fluctuation of the external cavity diode laser in 3 h is 0.6 mW and 315 MHz (Fig. 5). Additionally, the tuning characteristics of the external cavity diode laser are measured. When the external cavity diode laser operates at 25 ℃, the laser mode-hopping free current tuning range is 7 GHz, and the tuning coefficient is 47 MHz·mA -1 (Fig. 3).

    Conclusions A narrow linewidth hybrid integrated external cavity diode laser at the 1310 nm band is developed using a single angle facet semiconductor gain chip and fiber Bragg grating. The external cavity diode laser is integrated in a compact butterfly package. When the external cavity diode laser operating temperature and current are set to 25 ℃ and 280 mA, we obtain a wavelength, 3 dB Lorenz linewidth, power fluctuation, and frequency fluctuation of 1309.8 nm, 18 kHz, 0.6 mW, and 315 MHz, respectively, for 3 hours. Additionally, the laser mode-hopping free current tuning range is 7 GHz, and the tuning coefficient is 47 MHz·mA -1 with an operating temperature of 25 ℃. The external cavity diode laser can be used in fiber sensing and communication.

    Hong Liang, Fang Wei, Yanguang Sun, Guangwei Sun, Haiwen Cai. A 1310 nm Band Narrow Linewidth Hybrid Integrated External Cavity Semiconductor Laser Based on Fiber Bragg Gratings[J]. Chinese Journal of Lasers, 2021, 48(20): 2001002
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