Spectral characteristics of high-power 1.5 mu m broad-band superluminescent fiber sources

The spectral variation of spontaneous emission from erbium-doped single-mode fibers is studied with the aim of producing high-power (more than 5 mW), broadband (in excess of 10 nm) amplified spontaneous emission sources for fiber gyroscope applications. In particular, the evolution of spectral shape and center wavelength with fiber length and output power in the previously unstudied high-power regime where saturation effects dominate is demonstrated. A visibility curve for a potential twin-peaked nonresonant erbium-doped fiber gyroscope source with a short (210 mu m) coherence length is also presented.<
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