A highly efficient polarized superfluorescent fiber source for fiber-optic gyroscope applications

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel polarized superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) that increases the output power in the desired polarization by a factor of 1.96 over that of an unpolarized SFS at the same pump. This is achieved by inserting a polarizer at the optimal point in the bidirectionally pumped erbium-doped fiber of an unpolarized SFS. Stable pump-power-dependent mean wavelength operation and less sensitivity to the insertion loss, important for fiber-optic gyroscope applications, are obtained in this configuration.