RANDFIELDS · Random fibre lasers for telecommunications and distributed sensing

Random fibre lasers for telecommunications and distributed sensing

The Randfields is a 4-year project of knowledge transfer and networking between Aston University, UK (Aston), the Tampere University of Technology, Finland (TUT), the University of Mons, Belgium (UMONS), and 3 Institutes of Russian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Novosibirsk (IAE), Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Moscow (IRE), and Institute of Computational Technologies, Novosibirsk (ICT) in an emerging area of ultra-long fibre lasers and random fibre lasers. Partners effectively shared theirs knowledge in following fields: Aston – in high-speed communications, telecom applications, fibre grating fabrication, sensing and Raman technologies; TUT – in fibre lasers and in design and fabrication of semiconductor elements for laser systems; UMONS - in random lasers and distributed fibre laser technologies temporal and noise properties of fibre lasers; IRE - in fibre design and manufacturing; IAE - in laser science, fibre laser technologies, nonlinear phenomena and optical wave turbulence; ICT in advanced modeling of complex communication and laser systems. As a result of the complementary knowledge and expertise consolidation, a number of important R&D results have been achieved which are published in 52 journal publications and more than 50Conference talks as well as in 2 book chapters. Here we highlight the main scientific achievements: 1. A number of papers have been published in the leading international research journals, including one in Nature Photonics, 2 in Nature Photonics and a review article in Physics Reports. 2. Random distributed feedback Raman fiber lasers are demonstrated for a range of fibres operating in a different regimes (tunable, narrow-band, multiwavelength, pulsed regimes). 3. New ways of generating multi-wavelength, pulsed random generation are proposed and an ultimate quantum conversion efficiency is achieved. 4. New types of fibres (multi-core, tapered, W-shape, fibers with enhanced Rayleigh scattering) including those for mode-locked operation are designed and tested in various applications. 5. Laminar-turbulent transition in fibre laser is observed and explained. 6. New numerical models for description of different types of fiber lasers (including random and ultra-long lasers) are proposed and implemented. 7. The concept of the active cyclic wave kinetics is proposed and developed. 8. The spectrum of the random fibre laser is explained within the wave turbulence approach. 9. The theory of random Brillouin fiber lased is developed. 10. Advanced numerical methods to model multi-parametric fibre laser systems (including laminar-turbulent systems, pulsed lasers, random lasers) are developed. 11. Different properties of random generation (statistical properties, noise properties, spectral properties) in various random lasers operating via different mechanisms (Brillouin, Raman) are studied both experimentally and theoretically Several meetings and workshops have been organized within the Randfields project including: Summer school on advances in the optical technologies (TUT), Winter school on optical wave turbulence (IAE), Workshop on random fibre lasers (UMONS), Workshop on nonlinear spectral broadening in fibre lasers and fibre systems within the Advanced workshop on Nonlinear Photonics, Disorder and Wave turbulence (Trieste), Workshop on advanced numerical modelling of fibre lasers and fibre systems (IAE). In addition, the discussion on on knowledge transfer from Russia to EU and from EU to Russia has been triggered at multiple occasions, including at British Council Workshop on New Advanced Materials and Systems for Photonics and Sensors (IAE), at workshop “Light around the world” (IAE). This is of great importance in view of recent political challenges between Russia and EU which could affect scientific collaboration as well. In addition to these activities, a number of knowledge transfer lectures and seminars have been provided. Basically, during almost each visit the visiting researcher made a seminar at host institution. In addition, several lecturers for knowledge transfer especially to ESRs have taken place. To conclude, the knowledge sharing and networking within the Randfields project proved to be successful and efficient and triggered further joint projects and collaboration.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union