Equal-Amplitude Optical Pulse Generation from a Rational Harmonic Mode-Locked Fibre Laser

A simple technique for the generation of equal-amplitude high repetition rate pulses from a rational harmonic mode-locked fibre ring laser is demonstrated. The principle is based on the combination of the nonlinear characteristics of the modulator and the effect of rational harmonic mode-locking. The two sources act on each other and the integrated effect eventually leads to the pulse amplitude-equalization. We obtain amplitude-equalized short pulses up to the fifth-order rational harmonic mode-locking with an optimum bias level and modulation depth of the modulator, which demonstrates the efficiency of this method.