High-Stability Superfluorescent Fiber Source Based on an Er³⁺-Doped Photonic Crystal Fiber

A superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) based on an Er³⁺-doped photonic crystal fiber (EDPCF) is reported. Owing to the temperature insensitivity of the EDPCF, we show that it is possible to improve the mean wavelength stability of an SFS. Using single-backward configuration, the EDPCF SFS mean wavelength variation at temperatures from -40°C to 60°C is less than 100 ppm, indicating that the thermal coefficient of the EDPCF is smaller than 1 ppm/°C and 3–6 times smaller than those of two conventional Er³⁺-doped fibers under the same experimental conditions. The best performance of the EDPCF-based SFS is obtained between 0°C and 60°C, at which the change in the mean wavelength is only 17.445 ppm.