The erbium-doped fiber ring laser (EDFL) exhibits a wavelength shift that r
esults from the variation of its intracavity parameters, namely,, the outpu
t-coupler reflectivity (R), active fiber length (L), and optical losses (a)
in the resonant cavity. A simple and fast technique for predicting the ope
rating wavelength of an EDFL is deduced. The operating wavelength shifts fr
om similar to 1530 to similar to 1560 nm for higher Values of R, longer L,
and / or lower a, and vice versa. Data from numerical simulations show a go
od comparison with the experimental results. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, In
c.