Relative intensity noise in a multi-Stokes Brillouin laser

Ananthu Sebastian (1) , Irina Balakireva (1) , Schadrac Fresnel (1) , Stephane Trebaol (1) , Pascal Besnard (1)

1 FOTON - Institut des Fonctions Optiques pour les Technologies de l'informatiON

We investigate the relative intensity noise (RIN) properties of a multi-Stokes Brillouin fiber ring laser. We experimentally analyse the intensity noise of each Stokes wave and study the noise dynamics of the cascaded Brillouin scattering process. We observe up to 20 dB/Hz intensity noise reduction compared to that of the RIN input pump laser. We examine the impact of the fiber ring quality factor on the laser RIN features such as amplitude reduction and relaxation frequency. We also investigate the influence of the Brillouin gain detuning on the RIN reduction. A numerical model based on a set of coupled-mode equations replicates the experimental observations. Our study enables us to determine the optimal parameter values to operate the multi-Stokes laser in the low noise regime.

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]; Instrumentations et Détecteurs [physics.ins-det]; Physique Générale [physics.gen-ph]

Ananthu Sebastian, Irina Balakireva, Schadrac Fresnel, Stephane Trebaol, Pascal Besnard. Relative intensity noise in a multi-Stokes Brillouin laser. Optics Express, 2018, 26 (26), pp.33700-33711. ⟨10.1364/oe.26.033700⟩. ⟨hal-01959527⟩