Analysis of Longitudinal Mode Suppression in a Fiber Ring Laser Containing Two Optical Filters

We report the results from the characterization and optimization of a stable erbium-doped fiber ring laser that uses two optical filters. The observed laser performance and the measured longitudinal mode patterns are presented. The influence of the combination of the two optical filters on the mode suppression is evaluated. We obtained the matched condition for operation of the optical filters that most improved the laser performance. An estimate of the relative intensity noise due to the introduction of the laser in a communication system is also presented. As a consequence of the mode suppression, a sharp laser linewidth narrowing is con firmed.