HIGH-STABILITY ER3(-DOPED SUPERFLUORESCENT FIBER SOURCES())

Data are presented on Er3+-doped superfluorescent fiber sources showin g the dependence of output characteristics on pump wavelength and powe r, fiber length, fiber temperature, and feedback, In particular, the b roadband operation and mean wavelength stability required for fiber op tic gyroscope applications are evaluated, Substantial improvements in the mean wavelength stability with pump power have been achieved by op timizing the fiber length, An all-fiber superfluorescent fiber source utilizing a fiber-pigtailed 980-nm diode pump laser is demonstrated, w ith a l-h mean wavelength stability better than 0.9 ppm RMS and less t han or equal to ppm drift over 20 h, The intrinsic mean wavelength var iation versus fiber temperature is measured, with values of 4.8 and 3. 0 ppm/degrees C obtained for fiber lengths of 23 and 78 m, respectivel y.