ONSET DYNAMICS IN ERBIUM-DOPED FIBER LASERS WITH APPLICATIONS TO PARAMETERS MEASUREMENT

The onset dynamics of erbium doped fiber lasers is studied theoretical ly and experimentally. A theoretical model is firstly developed to exp lain the onset behaviors, by which the laser parameters can be measure d and determined. The lasing light has a definite delayed time from sw itching on of the pump, no matter whether the erbium doped fiber laser is self-pulsing or not. This delayed time is around 1 ms to more than 10 ms depending on the pump power. The determined parameters are then used to generate theoretical results in quantitative agreement with t he experimental findings. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.