Design of a New Family of Narrow Linewidth Mid-Infrared Lasers

Abstract

We describe the design of a new family of high spectral brightness narrow linewidth (NLW) mid-infrared (MIR) lasers of < 1 MHz anticipated linewidths with potential for operation at any target wavelength between 2.5 and 9.5 um. More specifically, we analyze the potential performance characteristics of mid-infrared distributed feedback (DFB) Raman fiber lasers (RFLs) based on Pi-phase-shifted (PPS) Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) written in appropriately chosen low-phonon-energy glass fibers. In particular, we calculate anticipated threshold pump powers for optimal laser designs and pump wavelengths for single frequency (fundamental mode) operation of specific mid-infrared DFB-RFLs operating at chosen target wavelengths, and show that these pump powers can be as low as a few milliWatts for MIR DFB-RFLs fabricated with appropriate low-loss small mode area single mode fibers. As such, we clearly establish the PPS-DFB RFL platform as a very practical approach for constructing a broad range of narrow linewidth MIR coherent sources for numerous applications, including proximal and remote sensing of molecules and various high spectral brightness and long coherence length MIR applications.