Low Noise Photonic Oscillator in Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Band

ABSTRACT: This is a proposal to investigate the feasibility of a high power, ultra stable, low noise and ultra narrow<30Hz linewidth and low RIN fiber laser based on a"virtual ring"laser cavity at the 1.8-2.2 & #956;m Short Wave IR (SWIR) range. This novel laser architecture enables traveling-wave oscillation in a compact, linear and all-fiber cavity. The traveling wave laser field eliminates"spatial hole burning", a feat usually achieved only in a ring laser. This significantly improves the laser power, the signal-to-noise ratio, linewidth, and the side-mode suppression. In addition, the proprietary virtual ring scheme enables the addition of a narrow intra-cavity long delay"slow light"filter that increases the laser"s quality factor Q by slowing the laser light, resulting in a narrower linewidth and dramatically lower RIN. We have already commercialized"virtual ring"lasers at the 1.5 and 1.06 & #956;m range with SBIR support, which reddened the state of the art. This proposal is to extend and improve the performance at the atmospheric window 2 micron range. BENEFIT: THis research will extend the benefits of The novel virtual ring slow light laser technology to the important atmospheric window spectrum, This has not only important application for the DoD but also for a number of gas monitoring Lidar applications. IN addition this research will improve our laser packaging technology leading to larger dissemination of our laser technology at other spectral regions.