Characteristic Test Analysis of Graphene Plus Optical Microfiber Coupler Combined Device and Its Application in Fiber Lasers

• Main Authors: Yang Yu, Hao Chen, Zhenfu Zhang, Dingbo Chen, Jianfei Wang, Zhengtong Wei, Junbo Yang, Peiguang Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: optical microfiber coupler; graphene; fiber laser; filter
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/6/1645

In this study, a graphene and optical microfiber coupler (OMC) integrated device (GOMC) was proposed and fabricated. After its characteristic analysis and testing, it was applied to the development of adjustable multi-wavelength fiber lasers. By integrating the OMC with graphene, the polarization dependence of OMC was enhanced. Meanwhile, the novel GOMC was given the capabilities of filtering, coupling, beam splitting, and polarization correlation. When the GOMC was integrated as a filter and beam splitter into the ring cavity of the fiber laser, the proposed GOMC-based fiber laser could achieve single-wavelength and multi-wavelength regulated output. The laser had a 3 dB linewidth of less than 30 pm, a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 40 dB, and an output power fluctuation of less than 1 dB. The GOMC could also be used for the development of functional devices, such as adjustable mode lockers and mode coupling selectors, which provide an excellent experimental platform for new fiber lasers and the research of multi-dimensional light-field manipulation.