RESUMEN
A detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of optical feedback effects in Nd-doped fiber lasers is presented. Of particular interest is an output-intensity reduction attributed to the broadband nature of the laser spectrum combined with a mode-selection mechanism of the external Fabry-Perot cavity. The theoretical approach, based on a simple multimode rate-equation model, provides an excellent description of the experimental results.
RESUMEN
A simple theoretical modeling of the static properties of a fiber laser that includes distributed losses and inhomogeneous pumping is presented. Closed-form expressions for both the output and the backward (at the input mirror) intensities are obtained. The model is based on an extended formulation of the Rigrod's theory. It is shown that the laser responds differently depending on the length of the fiber. In particular, we show that for long (short) lasers optimal output power is achieved with low (high) output-coupler reflectivities. Experimental evidence of these results is obtained with Nd-doped fiber lasers with various lengths.
RESUMEN
We demonstrate a switching effect between the two polarization eigenstates of a Nd-doped fiber laser when it is subjected to an optical feedback signal. Conditions for an optimization of this effect are recognized to depend on the relative orientation of the fiber eigenaxes and the polarization states of the pump and feedback beams.