Mode-locked all-fiber ring laser based on broad bandwidth in-fiber acousto-optic modulator

Active mode-locking of long-cavity all-fiber ring laser based on broad bandwidth in-fiber acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is reported. The proposed AOM combines the advantages of intermodal coupling induced by standing flexural acoustic waves in a double-ended tapered fiber. We focus our attention on the effects of large tapered transitions to improve the bandwidth modulation. Our approach permits the implementation of broad modulation bandwidth (13 nm), high modulation depth (50 %), and low optical loss (1.1 dB) in an 80-μm configuration. The effects of the AOM in the laser performance are also investigated. Transform-limit optical pulses of 25 ps temporal width and 2.7 W peak power were obtained at 2.46 MHz repetition rate.