Tunable fiber laser source for methane detection at 1.68 um

William L. Barnes; John P. Dakin; Henry O. Edwards; Laurence Reekie; Janet E. Townsend; Stuart C. Murray; David Pinchbeck

doi:10.1117/12.143502

30 April 1993 Tunable fiber laser source for methane detection at 1.68 um

William L. Barnes, John P. Dakin, Henry O. Edwards, Laurence Reekie, Janet E. Townsend, Stuart C. Murray, David Pinchbeck

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1796, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors IV; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.143502
Event: Fibers '92, 1992, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

A tunable fiber laser for spectroscopic gas detection is reported for the first time. The laser is based on a single-mode thulium doped fiber, which can operate at a wavelength around 1.684 micrometers , corresponding to a significant absorption line for methane. The fiber laser was pumped at 786 nm, a wavelength which is readily available with AlGaAs laser diodes and an optical threshold power of 43 mW was observed. An in-fiber photorefractive grating was used as the wavelength-selective output coupler for the laser. Simultaneous straining and heating of the grating induced a change in lasing wavelength, and a tuning range of up to 2 nm was demonstrated. This new tunable light source was configured within a methane detector and absorption spectra were recorded which demonstrate the presence of this gas. The large tuning range of the thulium fiber laser should allow the detection of many gas species with absorption bands in the wavelength region 1.65 micrometers to 2.05 micrometers .

Citation Download Citation

William L. Barnes, John P. Dakin, Henry O. Edwards, Laurence Reekie, Janet E. Townsend, Stuart C. Murray, and David Pinchbeck "Tunable fiber laser source for methane detection at 1.68 um", Proc. SPIE 1796, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors IV, (30 April 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.143502

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