Investigation of passively mode-locked erbium doped fiber ring laser due to nonlinear polarization rotation

Passively mode-locked erbium doped fiber ring laser was investigated. We present optimization of laser configuration where nonlinear polarization rotation was used for modes synchronization. Simulations of pulse propagation inside a laser cavity were applied in order to confirm the optimisation technique. Experimental results are presented and more than 32-nm spectral width of the output frequency comb was obtained.     

Stable multiwavelength and passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation

Based on the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique and a fiber Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI), a fiber laser which can work in two different modes has been demonstrated. In one mode, it works as a continuous wave (CW) multiwavelength laser, and stable dual-, triple- and tetra-wavelength lasing with the wavelength spacing of 1.1 nm are obtained. In the other mode, it works as a passively mode-locked fiber laser, and the generated pulses have a repetition rate of 10.6 MHz, an FWHM width of 800 ps and the largest energy of 1 nJ. The multi-functional property makes this fiber laser a very convenient, cost effective and multi-purpose laser source.     

Characterization of an ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber laser passively mode-locked by nonlinear polarization rotation

The properties of an ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber laser, passively mode-locked by nonlinear polarization rotation are investigated in this work. Cartographies of mode-locking regime versus halfwave plates orientations are presented for several values of the total cavity dispersion and for different pump powers. Bistability between the continuous and the mode-locking regimes is pointed out. The effect of the total group velocity dispersion is described with a master mode-locking equation. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.65.Re     

非线性偏振旋转锁模自相似脉冲光纤激光器的研究

利用耦合非线性薛定谔方程（CNLSE）为非线性偏振旋转（NPE）锁模自相似光纤激光器建立了一种新的数值模型.模型中,用CNLSE描述脉冲在单模光纤中的传播,在增益光纤中同时考虑了增益带宽和增益饱和作用,用传输矩阵描述构成NPE锁模的光学元件.优化了腔内净色散和光纤长度等参数,模拟了脉冲在激光腔内的演化特性,得到了典型的自相似脉冲运行区域及特点.在最佳自相似脉冲运行区域内,得到了能量约为7 nJ、脉宽约11 ps、线性啁啾的抛物脉冲.比较了不同腔内净色散条件下输出脉冲的特点,给出了三阶色散对输出脉冲的影响. 关键词： 自相似脉冲 非线性偏振旋转锁模 耦合非线性薛定谔方程 数值模拟     

Pulse-train nonuniformity in an all-fiber ring laser passively mode-locked by nonlinear polarization rotation

This paper reports the periodic power variation of the pulse-train in a passively mode-locked soliton fiber ring laser. It can obtain either the uniform or nonuniform pulse-train output by simply rotating the polarization controllers. The experimental results show that the pulse-train nonuniformity is caused by the interaction between the nonuniform polarization states of the soliton pulses and the passive polarizer in the cavity.     

Impacts of operational parameters on nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser

The operational parameters including the polarization controlling and the pump power in a nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser are studied in this paper.The carrier rate equations of the activated erbium-doped fiber are first employed together with the nonlinear Shro¨dinger equations to reveal the relation between the operational parameters and the output state of the passively mode-locked fiber laser.The numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the output state of the mode-locked laser varies with the polarization controlling and the pump power.The periodicity of the polarization controlling is observed.With given pump power,there exists a set of polarization controlling under which the ultra-short pulse can be generated.With given polarization controlling,the mode-locked state can be maintained generally except for some particular values of pump power.Three shapes of the output optical spectra from the fiber cavity can be identified when the pump power changes.The results in this paper provide a comprehensive insight into the operation of the nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser.     

Passively harmonic mode-locked erbium-doped fiber soliton laser with a nonlinear polarization rotation

Based on the nonlinear polarization rotation technique, we report on a stable passive 23rd harmonic mode-locked erbium-doped fiber soliton laser for the first time to the best of our knowledge. In this laser, 23 solitons are uniformly distributed in the cavity simultaneously, and all solitons have the same energy and duration. The increase of the coupler output enhances the dispersive radiation, and the longer cavity strengthens the interaction between solitons and dispersive waves. The two above factors play the key function to generate the 23rd harmonic mode-locked operation.     

非线性偏振旋转中偏振控制器方位角的研究

提出一种基于Jones矩阵的非线性偏振旋转锁模光纤激光器数值模型, 对偏振控制器波片方位角的描述具有物理意义清晰的优点. 数值仿真得到均方根宽度为0.28 ps的超短脉冲, 时域对称且振幅稳定. 搭建了非线性偏振旋转锁模光纤激光器, 系统可以自启动, 得到了重复频率为67.35 MHz的锁模脉冲输出. 数值仿真和实验结果都表明偏振控制器两个波片的方位角α₁和α₂都具有周期性, 周期分别为180°和90°. 由于随机双折射的影响, 实验测得的波片方位角调谐范围比数值仿真的结果小, 这一点通过在数值仿真模型中加入随机双折射的作用而得到证明.     

全光纤高功率被动锁模掺铥光纤激光器

利用非线性光环形镜（NOLM）的可饱和吸收特性实现了可自启动的2 m全光纤高能量被动锁模掺铥光纤激光器。当泵浦功率大于3 W时,激光器工作在连续或不稳定脉冲运转状态;泵浦功率达到4.69 W后,输出为自启动锁模脉冲,重复频率4.26 MHz,中心波长2 061.5 nm,光谱半极大宽度18.1 nm,平均输出功率8.8 mW;继续增加泵浦功率到最大值7.56 W,可以得到中心波长2 062.2 nm、光谱半极大宽度17.1 nm、斜率效率为6.2%、脉冲宽度和能量分别为424 fs和65.6 nJ的稳定锁模脉冲。这是目前已报道的在未经放大情况下脉冲能量最高的2 m锁模脉冲光纤激光器。     

Wide-band tunable passively Q-switched all-fiber ring laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation technique

A wide-band tunable passively Q-switched all-fiber ring laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique is demonstrated. The NPR-induced intensity-dependent loss effect acts as an artificial saturable absorber, which was used to achieve the Q-switched operation with a low pump threshold of about 25 mW. Taking advantage of the intracavity birefringence-induced spectral filtering effect, the central wavelength of Q-switched pulse can be continuously tuned from 1543.4 to 1592.4 nm by simply rotating the PCs.     

Characterization of soliton compounds in a passively mode-locked high power fiber laser

We characterize soliton complexes in a high power double-clad erbium-doped fiber laser passively mode-locked through nonlinear polarization evolution. Such complexes involve some hundreds of solitons and form self-organized or disorganized patterns analogous to the states of the matter. Experimentally these soliton compounds are characterized through the autocorrelation trace, the optical spectrum and the oscilloscope trace which is limited due to its finite bandwidth. We perform here a reconstruction of the experimental results thus allowing us to identify the temporal distribution of the solitons inside the cavity. The reconstruction allows us to clarify and either to confirm or to correct the former intuitive interpretation. Especially, a soliton ‘spray’ is identified.     

Highly stable, passively mode-locked fiber laser with low pump power for subpicosecond pulse generation

We present the design of highly stable, passively mode-locked fiber lasers which are based on a simple configuration and require a low pump power for the generation of optical pulses with subpicosecond pulsewidth. Our designed fiber laser uses a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror to realize the self-starting, passive mode locking at a low pump power of 29 mW, with which a stable optical pulse train is obtained at the fundamental repetition rate of 52.5 MHz and the central wavelength of 1557 nm. The output mode-locked optical pulses have a pulsewidth of 881 fs and an average output power of 1.78 mW, respectively.     

Passively Q-switched mode-locking Erbium-doped fiber laser with net-normal dispersion using nonlinear polarization rotation technique

We experimentally demonstrate a passively Q-switched mode-locking (QML) operation in an Erbium-doped fiber ring laser with net normal dispersion by using nonlinear polarization rotation technique. A 2 m long section of dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) with extra large positive dispersion was inserted into the cavity to ensure the fiber laser working in the region of net positive dispersion. By carefully adjusting the polarization controller, both uniform dissipative mode-locking pulses with fundamental repetition rate and QML pulse trains with tunable repetition rate from 71.58 to 98.83 kHz are achieved. It is found that the QML operation is caused by the interaction between the polarization state of the pulse and the intracavity polarizer.     

Tunable dual-wavelength passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser using SESAM

In this linear-cavity passively mode-locked laser based on semiconductor saturable absorber mirror,an Ybdoped fiber is shared by two branch cavities as gain medium.These two cavities can respectively output single-wavelength pulse with the wavelength tuning range of 1 009.7-1 057.6 nm and 1 011.6-1 052.6 nm by adjusting volume Bragg grating.When two cavities output pulses together,the dual-wavelength pulses with the maximum and minimum wavelength separation of 34.8 and 2.4 nm,respectively,are achieved by net gain equalization method to suppress mode competition at room temperature.The maximum pulse energies of dual-wavelength pulses are 0.47 and 0.33 nJ separately;their repetition rates are 11.39 and 11.41 MHz.     

Dissipative soliton resonance in a passively mode-locked fiber laser

The phenomenon of dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) predicts that an increase of pulse energy by orders of magnitude can be obtained in laser oscillators. Here, we prove that DSR is achievable in a realistic ring laser cavity using nonlinear polarization evolution as the mode-locking mechanism, whose nonlinear transmission function is adjusted through a set of waveplates and a passive polarizer. The governing model accounts explicitly for the arbitrary orientations of the waveplates and the polarizer, as well as the gain saturation in the amplifying medium. It is shown that DSR is achievable with realistic laser settings. Our findings provide an excellent design tool for optimizing the mode-locking performance and the enhancement of energy delivered per pulse by orders of magnitude.     

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.     

Rains of solitons in a figure-of-eight passively mode-locked fiber laser

We report experimental observation of rains of solitons in figure-of-eight fiber laser passively mode-locked through nonlinear optical loop mirror. Soliton pulses are created from an extended noisy background and drift until they reach a condensed phase comprising several tens of aggregated solitons. The observation of this dynamics tends to strengthen the idea of the universality of the collective behavior of solitons.     

Period-doubling of multiple solitons in a passively mode-locked fiber laser

We report on the experimental observation of period-doubling of randomly distributed multiple solitons in a passively mode-locked fiber laser. We show that after a period-doubling bifurcation, the period of each soliton in the cavity becomes doubled. However, the intensity variation of the solitons is not necessarily synchronized, indicating that their period-doubling is unrelated. Numerical simulations verified the experimental observations.     

Passive harmonic mode-locking in a fiber laser with nonlinear polarization rotation

On basis of numerical simulation and analytical treatment, we investigate the multiple pulse passive mode-locking of a fiber laser with nonlinear loss due to the nonlinear polarization rotation technique. Various additional mechanisms resulting in the ordering of ultrashort pulses inside the laser resonator and in the realization of harmonic passive mode-locking are analyzed. Among which are the active harmonic modulation of the intracavity loss or of the refractive index, the passive modulation of the index due to the inertial properties of intracavity elements, and the amplification modulation due to the depletion and the relaxation of the gain. The velocity of pulses relative to each other is determined, it results in attractive or repulsive pulse-pulse interaction, and allows to evaluate the conditions of ordering of the pulses inside the cavity.     

Multiple pulses with broadband spectrum generation in passively mode-locked fiber ring laser incorporating a highly nonlinear fiber

Multiple pulses with broadband spectrum generation are experimentally obtained in passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber ring lasers based on nonlinear polarization rotation, which is achieved by incorporating a length of highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber in the laser cavity. The temporal and spectral dynamic behaviors of multipulse bunching states are demonstrated. The maximum spectral width and flatness are attained when the continuous-wave component is suppressed under appropriate polarization states and pump powers.