A self-gain random distributed feedback fiber laser based on stimulated Rayleigh scattering

We reported a narrow linewidth (~ 4 kHz) fiber laser with a mirror-less open cavity based on stimulated Rayleigh scattering (STRS) in a non-uniform fiber. Because of its variable core size and dispersion along the fiber, the threshold of the stimulated Brillouin scattering was increased by ~ 7 dB compared with that of conventional single mode fiber, which allows higher order Rayleigh scattering. The self-gain is initiated by the spontaneous Rayleigh scattering and amplified via STRS, and the distributed feedback mechanism is formed by different orders of Rayleigh scattering counter-propagating as the “random mirror reflection” in the non-uniform fiber.