Highly efficient superfluorescent fiber laser/amplifier for interferometric sensors

Apparatus comprising:

• a pump source for emitting pump light signals at a first wavelength;
• an optical fiber having one and other ends thereof and being doped with laser material and possessing a laser transition at a signal wavelength for producing broadband superfluorescent emission of a first light signal at a second wavelength when said one end of the doped fiber is illuminated with pump light of sufficient intensity to induce superfluorescent emission of laser light;
• means for launching pump light into said one end of said doped fiber;
• means for rotating by a predetermined amount the polarizations of the first light signal in a backward wave from the other end of said doped fiber;
• and
• means for directing the polarization rotated first light signal back into the other end of said doped fiber for amplifying the polarization rotated first light signal moving in the forward direction.

Apparatus comprising:

• a source of pump light having a first wavelength;
• an optical fiber doped with a laser material, said doped fiber being responsive to said pump light of launched into one end of said fiber for causing superflourescent broadband emission light to be generated therein at a second wavelength;
• and
• Faraday rotator mirror means for rotating by a prescribed amount the polarizations of said superfluorescent emission in a backward wave first light signal from the other end of said doped fiber and launching a polarization rotated first light signal back into said other end of said doped fiber for further amplification by the latter.

Apparatus comprising:

• an interferometer;
• a broad band light source comprising:
• a lasing medium;
• a pump light source that pumps said lasing medium for causing said lasing medium to emit signal light from one and other ends thereof;
• and
• first means for rotating the polarizations of signal light from said other end of said lasing medium sufficiently to substantially suppress regenerative amplification and oscillation in said lasing medium and redirecting the polarization rotated signal light into said other end of said laser medium for amplification in the latter;
• and
• second means for coupling an amplified and polarization rotated light signal from said one end of said lasing medium to said interferometer.