Abstract

The operation of an unconventional, power-symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) is investigated. Its principle is based on the creation of a polarization asymmetry between the counterpropagating beams, through the use of a quarter-wave plate and highly twisted fiber in the loop. Using a very intuitive approach, we propose a simple although comprehensive description of the NOLM operation. By adjusting the angle of the quarter-wave plate, the interferometer can be tuned continuously from non-power-dependent operation to nonlinear switching, in a very convenient way. Experimental results confirm theoretical predictions. The properties of the proposed NOLM design make it very attractive for various applications, like pedestal suppression and amplitude regularization of optical pulse trains.

©2004 Optical Society of America

Experimental investigation of the nonlinear optical loop mirror with twisted fiber and birefringence bias

B. Ibarra-Escamilla, E. A. Kuzin, P. Zaca-Morán, R. Grajales-Coutiño, F. Mendez-Martinez, O. Pottiez, R. Rojas-Laguna, and J. W. Haus
Opt. Express 13(26) 10760-10767 (2005)

Multiwavelength Erbium-doped fiber laser employing nonlinear polarization rotation in a symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror

Jiajun Tian, Yong Yao, Yunxu Sun, Xuelian Yu, and Deying Chen
Opt. Express 17(17) 15160-15166 (2009)

Theory of nonlinear loop mirrors with twisted low-birefringence fiber

Eugene A. Kuzin, Nikolai Korneev, Joseph W. Haus, and Baldemar Ibarra-Escamilla
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 18(7) 919-925 (2001)

Polarization-insensitive nonlinear optical loop mirror demultiplexer with twisted fiber

Y. Liang, J. W. Lou, J. K. Andersen, J. C. Stocker, O. Boyraz, M. N. Islam, and D. A. Nolan
Opt. Lett. 24(11) 726-728 (1999)

Soliton extraction from a bunch of solitons resulting from pulse breakup by using a nonlinear optical loop mirror

M. Bello-Jiménez, E. A. Kuzin, O. Pottiez, B. Ibarra-Escamilla, A. Flores-Rosas, and M. Durán-Sánchez
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 26(7) 1456-1462 (2009)