Intensity noise in Brillouin fiber ring lasers

The intensity noise properties of Brillouin fiber ring lasers are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The fluctuating parameters that have the dominant influence on laser intensity noise are the pump rate and the cavity reinjection rate, The transfer functions that relate the laser intensity noise to the fluctuations of these parameters are determined in a theoretical study that is performed within the framework of the usual three-wave model of stimulated Brillouin scattering. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experiments performed in a Brillouin fiber ring laser operating in a low-finesse cavity. Finally, the ability of all-fiber Brillouin lasers to reduce intensity noise of pump sources is discussed. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.