Channel-switchable single-/dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode laser and THz beat frequency generation up to 3.6 THz

We propose and demonstrate a simple approach to realize channel-switchable single-/dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) lasers and switchable beat frequency generation in the THz frequency regime. It is a compact fiber-ring laser incorporating a Fabry–Perot etalon, tunable filters, and a piece of unpumped polarization maintaining erbium-doped fiber (PM-EDF) as the saturable absorber. Two parallel-arranged tunable filters are configured inside the ring cavity to support switchable dual-wavelength SLM operation and consequent THz beat frequency generation. Switchable 19-channel 200-GHz ITU-grid-compatible single-wavelength SLM operation is implemented. Moreover, the channel-switchable dual-wavelength SLM laser and switchable THz beat frequency generation ranging from 0.2 to 3.6 THz with a tuning step of 0.2 THz are demonstrated in the experiment.