Multi-wavelength random fiber laser based on a tilted parallel inscribed apodized fiber Bragg grating array

We propose and demonstrate a multi-wavelength random fiber laser (RFL) based on a novel, to the best of our knowl-edge, compact apodized fiber Bragg grating array (AFBGA). The AFBGA is fabricated by a femtosecond laser with the point-by-point tilted parallel inscription method. The char-acteristics of the AFBGA can be flexibly controlled in the inscription process. Hybrid erbium???Raman gain is used in the RFL and reduces the lasing threshold to sub-watt level. Stable emissions at two to six wavelengths are achieved with the corresponding AFBGAs, and more wavelengths are expected with higher pump power and AFBGAs contain-ing more channels. A thermo-electric cooler is employed to improve the stability of the RFL, and the maximum wave-length and power fluctuations of a three-wavelength RFL are 64 pm and 0.35 dB, respectively. With flexible AFBGA fab-rication and simple structure, the proposed RFL enriches the choice of multi-wavelength devices and has significant potential in practical applications. ?? 2022 Optica Publishing Group