Erbium-doped fiber laser tuning using two cascaded unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers as intracavity filter: numerical analysis and experimental confirmation

We propose a new method for tuning an Er/sup 3+/-doped continuous-wave fiber-ring laser. We present a novel numerical model and confirm the model with experimental results. The numerical model relies on the implementation of the analytical solution of signal propagation over small (elemental) segments of amplifier fiber rather than using the usual Runge-Kutta algorithm. The validity of the model is verified by the good agreement between computer results and experimental data. Experiments demonstrating a 11.2-nm wavelength tuning range have been conducted using an electrooptic intracavity filter composed of two cascaded unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) integrated in lithium niobate. The numerical analysis shows that the tuning range obtained is limited by the combination of gain shape and filter characteristics. Increased tuning range can be obtained by decreasing losses or by using a more selective filter.