Pulse shortening and quality improvement based on spectral filtering in a stretched-pulse mode-locked fiber laser with large third-order dispersion

We demonstrate a passively mode-locked ring fiber laser operating in the stretched-pulse regime. The ring cavity model is constructed with standard single-mode fiber and dispersion delay line for dispersion management. Here, all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fiber is used as the dispersion delay line and provides laser gain simultaneously. As the all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fiber has large third-order dispersion, it is necessary to study its impact on the stretched-pulse operation. The presence of the third-order dispersion reduces pulse quality because of the relatively small group velocity dispersion. To improve the pulse quality, a spectral filter is employed in the model. The simulation results show that spectral filtering could improve the pulse quality and shorten the pulse duration. Meanwhile, the optimum filter bandwidth is studied.     

Characteristics of wave-breaking-free operation in a passively mode-locked all-fiber ring laser based on AS-Yb-PBGF

A passively mode-locked all-fiber ring laser is constructed based on all-solid Yb-doped photonic bandgap fibers (AS-Yb-PBGF), which provides the laser gain and anomalous dispersion simultaneously. Without any other dispersion compensators, the cavity is simple, compact, and maintenance- and alignment-free. The characteristics of wave-breaking-free operation in the laser are investigated by means of numerical simulations using the split-step Fourier method. The approximately parabolic pulses can be generated and evolved for maintaining the normal group-velocity dispersion intracavity, when the length of the single-mode fiber is between 2 and 4 m. The obtained highest energy of the output pulse is up to 2.27 nJ with the pulse duration of 8.61 ps, corresponding to the time-bandwidth product of 10.05. By dechirping out of cavity, the pulse duration is 0.70 ps.     

Influences of cavity dispersion distribution on the output pulse properties of an all-normal-dispersion fiber laser

In this paper, the influences of the dispersion distribution in the cavity on the output pulse properties of the all-normaldispersion(ANDi) fiber laser are investigated. Our simulations show that, as the relative length of the dispersion fiber increases, the temporal width and the spectral bandwidth of the output pulse for an ANDi fiber laser with fixed total cavity dispersion or fiber length are decreased, while the pulse energy is enhanced and the compressed pulse width is increased.These simulation predictions have been proved by our experimental results. The reason may be that the nonlinear phase shift accumulated in the nonlinear fiber is more than that in the dispersion fiber if they have the same length.     

飞秒光脉冲在光子晶体光纤不同色散区产生超连续谱的数值分析

采用预测校正分步傅里叶方法数值模拟了飞秒光脉冲在光子晶体光纤中的非线性传输和超连续谱产生,分析了初始光脉冲的中心波长、峰值功率和光纤长度在光子晶体光纤正、反常色散区对超连续谱形状和带宽的影响。结果表明,当初始光脉冲的中心波长在光纤的反常色散区时,产生的超连续谱宽要远宽于正常色散区,但是光谱的平坦性较差;当光脉冲中心波长在靠近零色散波长的反常色散区且其他脉冲参数不变的情况下,存在一个产生宽且平坦的超连续谱的最佳峰值功率和最佳光纤长度。对于超连续谱系统的优化设计与实际应用具有参考意义。     

滤波对8字腔掺铒光纤激光器锁模运转的影响

构建了基于损耗非对称非线性光学环镜的8字腔掺铒光纤锁模激光器,并讨论了腔内滤波带宽对腔内脉冲演化和激光器输出特性的影响.在非线性光学环镜中引入双向输出耦合器,耦合器和传输光纤位置的不对称产生非互易性,实现锁模运转.利用自制的可调谐滤波器实验研究了滤波带宽对激光器的影响.当滤波带宽为2.1 nm时,腔内脉冲的演化过程受滤波和孤子效应的共同作用,激光器顺时针和逆时针输出脉冲半高全宽分别为583.7fs和2.94 ps.随着滤波带宽增大,滤波的作用逐渐减弱,激光器两路输出脉冲参数逐渐接近,并接近傅里叶变换极限脉冲.当滤波带宽较大时,腔内脉冲的演化过程受增益谱和孤子效应的共同作用,激光器顺时针和逆时针输出脉冲均为变换极限脉冲,半高全宽约为440 fs.通过调节滤波器中心波长实现了对激光器输出脉冲光谱的连续调谐,调节范围大于30 nm.     

Pulse dynamics in a passively mode-locked chirped-pulse fiber laser

We report experimental and numerical results on the new pulse dynamics in a passively mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser operating in the chirped-pulse regime. Due to the negligible nonlinearity of added highly-positive GVD segment in the purely-normal-dispersion regime, highly-positive chirped pulses can be formed through weak intra-cavity temporal and spectral breathing. Numerical simulations reveal intra-cavity pulse evolution with local temporal stretching phenomena and pulse shaping properties.     

Passive mode locking at harmonics of the free spectral range of the intracavity filter in a fiber ring laser

We report the passive mode-locking at harmonics of the free spectral range (FSR) of the intracavity multi-channel filter in a fiber ring laser. The laser uses a sampled fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) with a free spectral range (FSR) of 0.8 nm, or 99 GHz at 1555 nm, and a length of highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber with low and flat dispersion. Stable picosecond soliton pulse trains with twofold to sevenfold enhancement in the repetition rate, relative to the FSR of the SFBG, have been achieved. The passive mode-locking mechanism that is at play in this laser relies on a dissipative four-wave mixing process and switching of repetition rate is realized simply by adjustment of the intracavity polarization controllers.     

基于耗散孤子种子的啁啾脉冲光纤放大系统输出特性

以不同滤波器带宽下获得的全正色散光纤激光器耗散孤子作为啁啾脉冲放大(CPA)系统的种子脉冲, 研究了光栅对和光纤展宽器CPA系统输出脉冲的可压缩性. 结果表明, 对于大能量耗散孤子种子脉冲, 当CPA系统采用正色散光纤展宽器时, 光纤群速色散与自相位调制之间的相互作用不仅可抑制耗散孤子脉冲光谱调制的影响, 还可使脉冲在光纤展宽器中自相似演化, 从而可提高CPA输出脉冲的可压缩性. 通过优化光纤展宽器长度, 对于耗散孤子种子源, 采用光纤展宽器的CPA系统输出脉冲可压缩性与主脉冲所占脉冲总能量之比均优于采用光栅对展宽器时的情况.     

基于光纤中超短脉冲非线性传输机理与特定光谱选择技术的多波长飞秒激光的产生

高集成、高可靠性宽调谐飞秒激光源在超快光谱学、量子光学及生物成像等研究与应用领域具有重要价值.如在生物多光子显微成像中,具有适中能量的宽调谐飞秒激光源不仅可满足多种生物组织荧光激发所需的峰值功率与激发波长,而且也可以显著提升非线性荧光产生效率、成像分辨率以及增大成像穿透深度.采用自主研发的高可靠性全保偏光纤飞秒激光器作为抽运源,基于低色散光纤中高峰值功率飞秒激光脉冲非线性传输引起的光谱加宽机制,本文开展了多波长全光纤飞秒激光产生技术研究.通过采用中心波长在980, 1000,1050, 1070与1100 nm的带通滤波片选择性地对单模光纤输出光谱中最左边与最右边光谱旁瓣进行滤波,在上述中心波长处分别可获得203, 195, 196, 187与194 fs的激光输出.本文提出的基于全光纤飞秒激光脉冲在单模光纤中非线性传输引起的光谱加宽机制与特定光谱选择技术的实验方案为高集成、高可靠性宽调谐飞秒激光源的实现提供了新的研究途径.     

Comparison of pulse evolutions in low and ultra-large anomalous dispersion mode-locked fiber lasers

We have investigated and compared the pulse evolutions in low and ultra-large anomalous dispersion erbium-doped fiber lasers mode-locked by the nonlinear polarization rotation technique. Two lasers deliver the pulses that exhibit quite distinct characteristics such as pulse duration, spectral width, and spectral sidebands. Experimental observations show that the spectral width decreases from several nanometers to less than one nanometer whereas pulse duration extends about three times by changing the cavity dispersion from −0.03 to −15.50 ps². The solitons in ultra-large anomalous fiber laser show dips in the optical spectrum, which is quite distinct from that of conventional solitons observed in low anomalous regime.     

Fiber chromatic dispersion measurement based on wavelength-to-time mapping using a femtosecond pulse laser and an optical comb filter

A novel method for the measurement of chromatic dispersion of an optical fiber based on wavelength-to-time mapping using a femtosecond pulse laser (FSPL) and an optical comb filter is proposed and experimentally evaluated. In the proposed approach, the spectrum of an ultrashort optical pulse generated by an FSPL is sliced by an optical comb filter. The spectrum-sliced optical pulse is then coupled into the optical fiber under test. Thanks to the chromatic-dispersion-induced wavelength-to-time mapping in the optical fiber under test, a time-domain waveform similar to the sliced spectrum is generated at the output of the optical fiber, with different frequency components having different time delays. The time delay vs. frequency data are then recorded for the estimation of the chromatic dispersion by using least square fitting. Chromatic dispersions of two types of optical fibers with different lengths are tested. The measured dispersion values agree well with those measured by the conventional modulation phase shift (MPS) method.     

基于非线性偏振旋转锁模的高功率光子晶体光纤飞秒激光振荡器

为了探索大模场面积光子晶体光纤锁模激光器在全正色散锁模域内的耗散孤子锁模机理, 以获得更大的单脉冲能量和更高的峰值功率, 本文搭建了以掺镱大模场面积光子晶体光纤作为增益介质的耗散孤子锁模激光器. 激光器使用环形腔结构, 利用非线性偏振旋转以及滤光片提供的耗散作用实现了稳定的锁模运转. 实验中, 从激光器振荡级直接获得了平均功率10 W, 重复频率49.09 MHz(对应202 nJ的单脉冲能量), 脉冲宽度为1.03 ps的稳定锁模脉冲输出, 经过腔外色散补偿得到的脉冲宽度为95.5 fs.     

主动锁模光纤激光器的孤子理论分析

系统考虑了光纤激光器腔构参数与锁模脉冲参数的制约关系,建立了完整形式的振幅调制主动锁模光纤激光器的稳态方程;据此方程分析了主动锁模光纤激光器腔参数对锁模孤子脉冲参数的影响;分析了无啁啾孤子脉冲形成条件。     

氧化石墨烯被动锁模掺镱光纤激光器多脉冲现象的实验研究

利用氧化石墨烯作为可饱和吸收体,在被动锁模全正常色散掺镱光纤激光器中研究了多脉冲的现象,在同一抽运功率不同偏振态下,实验获得了矩形脉冲谐波锁模、耗散孤子谐波锁模、准谐波锁模,脉冲峰值周期性调制,脉冲簇、脉冲束、混沌多重脉冲的多脉冲现象,插入激光腔内的2nm窄带滤波器具有限制增益带宽、对脉冲塑形、诱导多脉冲产生的作用,调节偏振控制器相当于改变腔内增益,是实现不同类型多脉冲现象的主要原因,本实验研究有利于加深对多脉冲动力学行为在正常色散区域氧化石墨烯锁模掺镱光纤激光器中的理解。     

滤波位置相关的全正色散掺Yb3+锁模光纤激光器的实验研究

采用非线性偏振旋转锁模,构建了一种全正色散掺Yb³⁺光纤环形激光器.在该激光腔内采用了10 nm带宽的光纤滤波器提供附加的自振幅调制.通过改变滤波器在腔内的位置,实验证明了滤波器位置对高啁啾脉冲的整形过程起到重要的作用.在320 mW的抽运功率下,最终获得平均功率为922 mW,脉冲重复频率为266 MHz,脉冲宽度为62 ps的稳定脉冲输出,单脉冲能量达35 nJ的优化结果.通过数值模拟与实验结果的验证表明,两者相符很好. 关键词： 锁模光纤激光器 全正色散 滤波效应 高啁啾脉冲     

Tunable high energy giant chirped passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser

A tunable, low-repetition rate, all-normal-dispersion Yb-doped fiber laser (YDFL) that is passively mode locked based on a phase shifted long period fiber grating (PS-LPFG) is demonstrated and proposed. The mode-locking mechanism of the laser is based on nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE). Using a PS-LPFG as the spectral filter in the laser cavity, the mode-locked output wavelength can be tuned continuously and smoothly over a spectral range of 10 nm, which is the first time implementation of a tunable giant chirped pulse with all-fiber format bandpass filter in YDFL. The maximum output pulse energy is 38.9 nJ at the repetition rate of 2.499 MHz.     

光谱位相相干电场法的参数分析及测量

从光谱位相相干电场重构法（ＳＰＩＤＥＲ）的原理出发,实现了算法、讨论时间延迟、光谱剪切量、滤波窗口宽度、色散量等几个方面的优化选取。当展宽器色散和脉冲宽度一定时,脉冲对的时间延迟存在一个最佳取值范围。相对光谱剪切量在５％～１５％间,滤波窗口宽度为／３,重构出的位相误差最小。对干涉图取平均来减小噪声的影响。用ＳＰＩＤＥＲ算法还原了脉冲的电场和位相信息,由ＳＰＩＤＥＲ测量的脉冲宽度为１７.７ fs。同时为了比较,用自相关法测量了同一脉冲,由自相关曲线可估算出脉冲宽度为１６.８ fs,与ＳＰＩＤＥＲ 的误差比为５．１％,说明了实验的有效性。     

基于混合锁模的耗散孤子掺铒光纤激光器

从一种简单、全光纤结构的混合被动锁模掺铒光纤激光器中,得到了高稳定性、宽光谱的耗散孤子。激光器结合了半导体可饱和吸收体和非线性偏振旋转两种锁模机制,并运行在正常色散区内;通过色散管理,激光器能产生光谱宽度39.1 nm和时域宽度178 fs的孤子脉冲序列。激光输出的中心波长为1.55μm,重复频率约为34.3 MHz,单脉冲能量在0.33 nJ左右。与此同时,激光器的斜效率也约等于15.5%;室温工作下,激光器能实现自启动锁模,且运行在稳定单脉冲输出状态的时长在15 h以上。     

基于10 m光子晶体光纤的放大自相似锁模振荡器研究

基于单根10 m大模场面积保偏光子晶体光纤, 搭建了带有色散图的放大自相似振荡器; 通过仔细调节腔内色散量的大小以及位于色散补偿端的端镜前的狭缝位置和大小, 实现了稳定的锁模运转, 获得了抛物线形脉冲输出. 输出脉冲的重复频率为8.6 MHz, 脉冲宽度为6.2 ps, 光谱宽度为3.84 nm, 平均功率820 mW, 对应单脉冲能量95 nJ. 这是第一次在自相似振荡器中直接获得重复频率在10 MHz 以下的脉冲输出, 95 nJ也是目前自相似振荡器直接输出的最高脉冲能量. 通过数值模拟证实了在第一个光栅的零级反射处和狭缝滤波后可以分别实现抛物线型脉冲和高斯脉冲的两种锁模脉冲输出.     

基于增益诱导光纤激光器的实验研究及理论分析

利用非线性偏振旋转技术,实现了正色散掺铒光纤激光器的自启动锁模,产生了一种新型的增益诱导孤子脉冲输出.该类型脉冲的光谱近似为矩形,半高全宽光谱宽度可达19 nm以上,脉宽为皮秒量级.增益诱导孤子脉冲的形成是增益饱和、光谱滤波效应、腔内色散和各种非线性效应共同作用的结果.同时还分析了脉冲啁啾特性及峰值功率等参数.当抽运功率增加时,该激光器还可以实现双脉冲模式下运转. 关键词： 光纤激光器 增益诱导孤子 啁啾