Single- to three-wavelength switchable ytterbium-doped fiber laser based on intracavity induced loss by a long-period holey fiber grating

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a versatile and simple single-, dual- and three-wavelength switchable ytterbium-doped fiber laser using the intracavity induced-loss generated by a mechanically induced long-period grating (MLPFG) in a holey fiber. The laser net gain in the cavity is reshaped through the MLPFG by adjusting the twist rate and the pressure of the holey fiber in the long-period grating. In this way, the twist response of the MLPFG enables the laser to switch between the single-, dual-, and three-wavelength operations and the tuning of the simultaneous two- and three-wavelengths. These results are of great interest in the design of flexible multiwavelength sources with a tunable capability on their wavelengths. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.