Ultrafast walk-off-free nonlinear optical loop mirror by a simplified configuration for 320-Gbit / s time-division multiplexing signal demultiplexing

We demonstrate a simplified configuration of an ultrafast walk-off-free nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) for 320-10-Gbit/s optical time-division demultiplexing. The proposed NOLM consists of a short, 100-m length of highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber, resulting in compact, highly stable, and ultrafast walk-off-free operation.     

High-resolution measurement of fiber length by using a mode-locked fiber laser configuration

A simple method to precisely measure fiber length has been experimentally demonstrated by using a mode-locked fiber laser configuration. Since the transit time in a cavity is exactly proportional to the cavity length, it is easy to obtain the fiber length from the generation of mode-locked pulses in the fiber laser with a long-range nonlinear optical loop mirror that includes the measured fiber. Our new method has a large measurement range, over hundreds of kilometers, and a high resolution, of the order of centimeters, as well as no measurement dead zone.     

基于色散不对称光纤环形镜的锁模光纤激光器

在理论上数值计算了各种常量对色散不对称非线性光纤环形镜透射特性的影响。并分析了它作为被动锁模器件用于光纤激光器压窄脉冲的物理机制。利用8字形主被动混合锁模的结构在调制频率为9．998748700 GHz，波长为1566．65nm处获得了11ps的稳定锁模脉冲输出．对应谱宽0．297nm．同时在重复频率为9．995792825 GHz和9．996778256 GHz时分别得到了振幅均匀的二阶和三阶谐波锁模输出。证明色散不对称非线性光纤环形镜可以有效消减脉冲的尾翼和噪声．得到脉幅稳定的脉冲序列。     

Vector soliton fiber lasers

We show by simulations that a nonlinear optical loop mirror with birefringent fiber can have intensity-dependent transmission of vector soliton pulses with a 50/50 coupler. Using this result we propose two mode-locked laser cavity designs.     

Generation of cavity-birefringence-dependent multi-wavelength bright–dark pulse pair in a figure-eight thulium-doped fiber laser

We experimentally demonstrated a stable multi-wavelength bright–dark pulse pair in a mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser(TDFL). The nonlinear polarization rotation(NPR) and nonlinear optical loop mirror(NOLM) were employed in a figure-eight cavity to allow for multi-wavelength mode-locking operation. By incorporating different lengths of high birefringence polarization-maintaining fiber(PMF), the fiber laser could operate stably in a multi-wavelength emission state. Compared with the absence of the PMF, the birefringence effect caused by PMF resulted in rich multi-wavelength optical spectra and better intensity symmetry and stability of the bright–dark pulse pair.     

基于光子晶体光纤光脉冲压缩的理论研究

从理论上研究了单根光子晶体光纤的光脉冲压缩,利用较短的具有高非线性系数的光子晶体光纤可以实现较高质量的光脉冲压缩。针对单根光子晶体光纤压缩光脉冲的限制,提出了一种基于光子晶体光纤非线性环路镜中交叉相位调制效应的脉冲压缩方法。理论研究表明,这种脉冲压缩方式可以压缩自身功率较低的信号脉冲,相比于单根光子晶体光纤的方法,可以得到更高压缩质量的脉冲,通过合理选择控制光脉冲的参数,可以有效地抑制基座。     

A triple function linear fiber laser with passive mode-locking and continuous-wave single-wavelength and multiwavelength lasing

We propose a fiber laser that can operate with passive mode-locking pulse output, continuous single-wavelength emission, and continuous multiwavelength emission. It consists of a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) in a linear cavity. The NOLM is used to induce different kinds of intensity-dependent feedback, which determine the operation mode of the laser. We have experimentally demonstrated that the fiber laser can easily be switched between the operation modes. The results may find useful applications in optical communication and fiber sensing.     

Pulse-amplitude-equalized output from a rational harmonic mode-locked fiber laser

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, the demonstration of amplitude equalization of high-repetition-rate pulses generated from a rational harmonic mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser. The output pulses are injected into another fiber laser with a nonlinear optical loop mirror. This scheme provides pulse-amplitude equalization up to the ninth rational harmonic mode-locked pulse train.     

高速OCDM系统中的全光阈值技术分析

分析了高速OCDM系统中基于非线性光学环境(NOLM)和非线性放大(NALM)环境的全光阈值技术。考虑了NOLM环境输入脉冲峰值功率对其阈值判决功能的影响,数值模拟了由高非线性光纤构成的NOLM和NALM环境的脉冲整形和旁瓣抑制功能,并和实验结果进行了比较。结果表明基于NOLM和NALM环境的全光阈值技术都能有效地抑制40 Gbit/s的OCDM系统中的干扰噪声,最优的NOLM环境的脉冲峰值输入功率为2 W,而NALM环境只需要mW量级的脉冲峰值输入功率即能够更好地抑制干扰噪声。     

Flat broadband erbium-doped fiber ASE source based on symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror

A new type of flat broadband Erbium-doped fiber (EDF) amplified spontaneous emission source is proposed and demonstrated. The intensity-dependent loss induced by a symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror is used to flatten the spectrum and broaden the bandwidth. The 3 dB bandwidth over 50 nm has been obtained with 15 m EDF and 100 mW pump power based on the single-pass forward pump configuration. This spectrum flattening and broadening method is quite effective over a large range both in pump power and EDF length.     

Passively mode-locked fiber laser based on nonlinear optical loop mirror with semiconductor optical amplifier

We propose a novel passively mode-locked fiber laser based on nonlinear optical loop mirror with semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). Its operation principle is based on the creation of a polarization asymmetry between the counter propagating beams, through the use of a SOA and a polarization controller in the loop. Stable pulse train with duration of 2 ns (FWHM) and repetition rate of 257.7 MHz has been experimentally obtained. Theoretical simulation results in well agreement with the experimental results are also presented.     

Experimental investigation of self-starting operation in a F8L based on a symmetrical NOLM

We experimentally analyze the self-starting operation of a figure-eight mode-locked fiber laser. The design is based on a power-balanced nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) with highly twisted low-birefringence fiber and a quarter-wave (QW) retarder in the loop. The NOLM operates by nonlinear polarization rotation. Self-starting mode-locking requires a careful adjustment of the NOLM low-power transmission, which is easily realized with our setup by adjusting the angle of the QW retarder. The laser is capable of generating ∼20 ps pulses at the fundamental repetition frequency of 0.78 MHz.     

Passively mode-locked fiber laser with kilohertz magnitude repetition rate and tunable pulse width

We propose and demonstrate a strictly all-fiber, erbium doped passively mode-locked figure-eight fiber laser (EDFL). In the laser structure, we use the nonlinear optical loop mirror combination with a variable ratio coupler (VRC-NOLM) to achieve mode-locking. Due to the nonlinear effect in the nonlinear fiber, stable self-starting pulse is obtained. In order to reduce the repetition of pulse, a segment of nonlinear fiber (NLF) has been incorporated into the VRC-NOLM. The laser generates stable rectangular pulses with a low repetition rate (kilohertz magnitude) by extending the length of the cavity. Furthermore, the output pulse width of the fiber laser can be varied by changing the coupler ratio of the variable ratio coupler.     

Wideband All-Polarization-Maintaining Yb-Doped Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Using a Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror

We report on a wide-band and stable mode-locked all-polarization-maintaining fiber iaser configuration using a noniinear optical loop mirror.The central wavelength of the laser is 1080.14 nm and the 3dB bandwidth is 20.29 nm.The repetition rate of the pulse is 3.28 MHz and the pulse width is 848 ps.By tuning the pump power,which is centered at 980 nm,from 300 mW to 380 mW,we obtain a linearly changed output power from 6mW to 7.12 mW.The all-polarization-maintaining fiber configuration is fundamental to the stability of the output power.     

Mode-locked fiber laser based on an attenuation-imbalanced nonlinear optical loop mirror

We propose a mode-locked figure-eight fiber laser by utilizing an attenuation-imbalanced nonlinear optical loop mirror (AI-NOLM) for the first time. Stable self-starting passively mode-locked pulses as short as 296 fs are obtained. We have also confirmed that the pulse width of the laser can be varied by changing the amount of attenuation in the AI-NOLM.     

Picosecond soliton transmission using concatenated gain-distributed nonlinear amplifying fiber loop mirrors

Stable picosecond soliton transmission is demonstrated numerically by use of concatenated gain-distributed nonlinear amplifying fiber loop mirrors (NALMs). We show that, as compared with previous soliton transmission schemes that use conventional NALMs or nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) and amplifier combinations, the present scheme permits significant increase of loop-mirror (amplifier) spacing. The broad switching window of the present device and the high quality pulses switched from it provide a reasonable stability range for soliton transmission. Soliton-soliton interactions can be reduced efficiently by using lowly dispersive fibers.     

自启动被动锁模掺铒光纤激光器的研究

在非线性光纤环形镜非线性开关效应和块状半导体波导饱和吸收效应的共同作用下，实现了掺铒光纤激光器的自启动被动锁模，获得了十分稳定的锁模脉冲序列，观察到高次谐频锁模脉冲输出。分析了非线性光纤环形镜的非线性开关反射特性。     

Simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using a highly birefringence fiber loop mirror and a long-period grating written in a photonic crystal fiber

We present a new design for simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using a high-birefringence fiber loop mirror (HiBi-FLM) concatenated with a temperature-insensitive long-period grating (LPG) written in a photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The FLM acts as a sensor head, while the LPG in PCF serves as a filter to convert wavelength variation to optical power change. By measuring the wavelength variation and the power difference of two near peaks in the spectral response of this configuration, simultaneous strain and temperature measurement is obtained.     

Experimental investigation of a passively mode-locked fiber laser based on a symmetrical NOLM with a highly twisted low-birefringence fiber

We experimentally investigate the passive mode-locking operation of a figure eight-fiber laser based on a symmetrical nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) with a highly twisted low-birefringence fiber in the loop. NOLM switching is achieved by the polarization asymmetry between the counterpropagating beams in the loop. The most efficient switching is obtained when we have linear polarization for one of the beams and the circular polarization for the other. We used a quarter-wave retarder (QWR) in the NOLM loop to break the polarization symmetry. Through the QWR position, it is possible to adjust the transmission behavior from a maximum to a minimum at a low input power. With our configuration, it is possible to get self-starting mode-locking operation at a specific position of the QWR. This QWR position corresponds to a value close to the minimal transmission. The pulse repetition frequency was 0.8 MHz. The mode-locked laser ran in a stable operation for hours. We achieved a stable generation of picosecond pulses with milliwatts of an average output power.     

Chaotic dynamics of erbium-doped fiber laser with nonlinear optical loop mirror

We experimentally and numerically demonstrate the chaotic dynamics of the erbium-doped fiber laser with a nonlinear optical loop mirror. When the polarization controllers are fixed at an appropriate orientation, we observe that the fiber laser exhibits a period-doubling route to chaos with increasing the pump power in the experiment and simulation. The numerical simulation shows a good agreement with the experimental results. The results show experimentally and numerically that the chaotic dynamics of the erbium-doped fiber laser is related to the polarization state and the pump power of light in the cavity.