Fiber and nonlinear optics. other topics in quantum electronics

Laser fiber-optic heterodyne interferometer with frequency display of a phase advance of an optical signal in a fiber waveguide

V. V. Grigor'yants, Yu. B. Il'in, V. N. Konstantinov


Abstract: An analysis is made of spontaneous oscillations in a laser fiber-optic heterodyne interferometer utilizing single-mode fiber waveguides forming a closed ring. A theory is given of steady-state single-frequency lasing in such a system, which represents a characteristic spontaneous oscillator with a delayed optical feedback. The condition for self-excitation and steady-state lasing are found and the frequency and amplitude of steady-state spontaneous oscillations are deduced. It is shown that a high stability of the lasing frequency is possible in a self-oscillatory system with heterodyning of optical oscillations in a reference laser. It is suggested that such a lasing interferometer can be used as a highly sensitive interferometric sensor of external perturbations of a fiber waveguide distinguished by a higher precision of manifestation of such perturbations in the frequency of spontaneous oscillations, i.e., in the quantity which at present can be measured more accurately than any other physical parameter.

UDC: 681.7.068

PACS: 42.62.Eh, 07.60.Ly, 42.81.Qb, 42.60.Lh, 07.60.Vg

Received: 08.12.1987
Revised: 22.03.1988

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1988, 18:9, 1198–1200

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