Single-mode fiber lasers
One of the priority areas of research in our laboratory is the development of a domestic element base of optoelectronics and study of the fundamental physical properties of single-mode fiber lasers. Such lasers are extremely promising devices for high-speed telecommunications, quantum communications, sensors and radio photonics. Using all-fiber schemes makes it easy to control laser parameters, create tunable laser systems and lasers operating both in continuous wave and in Q-switching or mode-locking modes. While creating fiber lasers, theoretical models are developed to predict and control the lasing conditions in distributed feedback fiber lasers and lasers based on classical Fabry-Perot cavities. Moreover, the laboratory has two fundamentally different technologies for creating Bragg structures, including those with phase shift: femtosecond inscription technology, and inscription with excimer laser radiation (193 nm) using phase masks technique.
As part of the work on lasers creation, the compositions of active fiber cores are studied, various schemes for constructing single-frequency lasers are being developed for the wavelength range of 1030-1065 nm (ytterbium), 1530-1565 nm (erbium) and 1900-2050 nm (thulium). An integral part of the research is the material science component, the priority tasks of which are creation and study of new core compositions for heavily-doped optical fibers with low clustering level of rare-earth elements ions, which makes it possible to create fiber lasers with ultrashort cavities. The capability to create lasers with ultrashort cavities greatly simplifies the technology of laser manufacturing due to the feasibility of short uniform Bragg structure inscription. In addition, the stabilization of operation for such lasers is simplified. These lasers can be used as compact sensor elements or as coherent radiation sources for high-sensitive acoustic and seismic instruments for oil and gas industry, exploration, security and navigation systems.