Random fiber laser based on an artificially controlled backscattering Erbium-Doped fiber

Abstract We report on a novel artificially controlled backscattering Erbium-Doped random fiber laser (ACB-EDRFL) based on an artificially controlled backscattering Erbium-Doped fiber (ACB-EDF). The ACB-EDF is fabricated by using a femtosecond laser micromachining system, where a number of reflectors are fabricated in the EDF to enhance the distributed feedback. The proposed ACB-EDF helps to shorten the length of feedback fiber and reduce structural complexity of the random fiber laser. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a segment of ACB-EDF constitute the half-open cavity structure. The laser gain and random distributed feedback are provided by the EDF and the ACB-EDF respectively. The maximal output power and the efficiency of the ACB-EDRFL are about 7.5 mW and 1.88%, respectively. The random lasing at the wavelength of 1530 nm with the extinction ratio of 55 dB is achieved at the output of the ACB-EDRFL.