A self-Q-switched all-fiber erbium laser at 1530 nm using an auxiliary 1570-nm erbium laser

We demonstrate a self-Q-switched, all-fiber, tunable, erbium laser at 1530 nm with high pulse repetition rates of 0.9-10 kHz. Through the use of an auxiliary 10-mW, 1570 nm laser that shortened the relaxation time of erbium, sequentially Q-switched pulses with pulse energies between 4 and 6 mu J and pulse widths of 40 ns were steadily achieved. A peak pulse power of 165 W was obtained. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America