Continuous-wave single-frequency holmium-doped fiber laser based on saturable absorber

Abstract

The single-frequency holmium-doped fiber laser with spectral filtration based on a dynamics filter formed in heavily holmium-doped fiber is presented. The continuous wave lasing on a single longitudinal mode in the spectral region of 2.1 μm with an output power of 1.6 mW is shown when the filtering fiber is cooled with liquid nitrogen. The optical signal-to-noise ratio and the relative intensity noise were more than 30 dB and — 62.8 dB Hz−1, respectively. The developed source can be used for gas spectroscopy as well as for remote atmosphere sensing of such gases as carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, carbon monoxide and others.