Multifunctional tunable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on tunable comb filter and intensity-dependent loss modulation

A multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser based on tunable comb spectral filter and intensity-dependent loss modulation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The laser allows fine and multifunctional tunable operations of channel-spacing, peak-location, spectral-range, and wavelength-number. More specifically, channel-spacing switch from 0.4 nm to 0.2 nm and peak-location adjustment within half of free spectrum range are obtained via controlling the tunable comb filter. The wavelength-number and the spectral-range of the lasing lines can be accurately controlled by intensity-dependent loss modulation in the laser cavity, enabled by a power-symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror. In addition, fine control over the wavelength-number at fixed spectral-range is realized by simply adjusting the pump power. More important, the tunable operation process for every type of specific parameter is individual, without influences for other output parameters. Such features of this fiber laser make it useful and convenient for the practical application.