Open AccessStudy of asymmetric biconical fiber tapers for in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers and applications in single-frequency fiber lasers
Author(s) -
Dongdong Wang,
Yanfei Jiang,
Xiang Geng,
Bo Yang,
Li Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.419826
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , fiber laser , dispersion shifted fiber , single mode optical fiber , polarization maintaining optical fiber , fiber , graded index fiber , photonic crystal fiber , optical fiber , astronomical interferometer , plastic optical fiber , laser , multi mode optical fiber , interference (communication) , fiber optic sensor , interferometry , physics , telecommunications , computer science , channel (broadcasting) , composite material
In this paper, asymmetric biconical fiber tapers (ABFTs) for in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers (IFMZIs) are proposed and analyzed to enhance the interference effect. The proposed ABFT-IFMZIs are fabricated, tested, and demonstrated in applications of single-frequency (SF) emissions when incorporated into an all-fiber laser cavity as the frequency selecting component. In comparison with the traditional IFMZIs composed of all symmetric biconical fiber tapers (SBFTs), higher average transmittance and fringe contrast have been demonstrated with the ABFT-based IFMZIs. When applied to the SF fiber laser emission, lower pump threshold and higher slope efficiency have also been confirmed with the ABFT-IFMZI device. The theoretical and experimental results have indicated that the interference effect of IFMZIs can indeed be improved by the designated asymmetry of conical taper angles in ABFTs that can offer an extra flexibility in fiber taper design, fabrication, and applications.