Development of tunable multiwavelength fiber laser sources for photonic applications

205 p.Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is an attractive technology that enables the transmission of multiple wavelength channels on the same large-bandwidth optical fiber, resulting in a huge increase in transmission capacity. For implementation of the next generation of optical networks to meet the ever increasing demand of the end-users, it is essential to develop low-cost WDM optical sources with tunable features for flexible control of the wavelength channels such as the ability to tune the center wavelengths and the wavelength spacings of the wavelength channels. Considering that the complexity and cost of the WDM optical sources will increase as the number of wavelength channels (or subscribers) increases, multiwavelength optical sources capable of simultaneously generating multiple lasing wavelengths are highly desirable in the WDM networks. Furthermore, multiwavelength optical sources have other useful applications, which include fiber-optic sensing, and test and measurement of WDM components.DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (EEE