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Journal ArticleDOI

190 fs passively mode-locked thulium fiber laser with low threshold

R. C. Sharp1, D.E. Spock1, N. Pan1, J. Elliot1
02 Jun 1996-Vol. 21, Iss: 12, pp 881-883
TL;DR: A self-starting passively mode-locked thulium-doped silica fiber laser capable of 190-fs pulses is reported, achieved with a band-gap-engineered saturable absorber fabricated monolithically along with the output coupler of the laser by MOCVD.
Abstract: Summary form only given. We report a self-starting passively mode-locked thulium-doped silica fiber laser capable of 190-fs pulses. Mode-locking of the fiber laser was achieved with a band-gap-engineered saturable absorber fabricated monolithically along with the output coupler of the laser by MOCVD. Stable, single-pulse-in-the-cavity mode-locking was observed for a 2-m-long fiber laser utilizing a nanosecond response strained InGaAs detector.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review summarizes the different rare-earth cations and host materials used in mid-infrared fiber laser technology, and discusses the future applications and challenges for the field.
Abstract: Fibre lasers in the mid-infrared regime are useful for a diverse range of fields, including chemical and biomedical sensing, military applications and materials processing. This Review summarizes the different rare-earth cations and host materials used in mid-infrared fibre laser technology, and discusses the future applications and challenges for the field.

974 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review various aspects of fabrication, characterization, device implementation and operation of carbon nanotube-polymer composites to be used in photonic applications.
Abstract: Polymer composites are one of the most attractive near-term means to exploit the unique properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene. This is particularly true for composites aimed at electronics and photonics, where a number of promising applications have already been demonstrated. One such example is nanotube-based saturable absorbers. These can be used as all-optical switches, optical amplifier noise suppressors, or mode-lockers to generate ultrashort laser pulses. Here, we review various aspects of fabrication, characterization, device implementation and operation of nanotube-polymer composites to be used in photonic applications. We also summarize recent results on graphene-based saturable absorbers for ultrafast lasers.

959 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the physical principles of ultrashort pulse generation in VECSELs are discussed, considering the role played by the semiconductor quantum well gain structure, and the saturable absorber.

402 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a ring-cavity thulium fiber laser with a single-wall carbon nanotube absorber was used in transmission, achieving an average output power of 3.4 mW.
Abstract: We report a ring-cavity thulium fiber laser mode locked with a single-wall carbon nanotube absorber used in transmission. A carboxymethyl cellulose polymer film with incorporated carbon nanotubes synthesized by the arc discharge method has an absorption coinciding with in the amplification bandwidth of a Tm-doped fiber. This laser is pumped by an erbium fiber laser at 1.57 μm wavelength and produces a 37 MHz train of mode-locked 1.32 ps pulses at 1.93 μm wavelength with an average output power of 3.4 mW.

377 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the key SESAM parameters such as saturation fluence, modulation depth, and nonsaturable losses are measured with a high accuracy to obtain stable pulse generation for a given laser.
Abstract: Semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) devices have become a key component of ultrafast passive mode-locked laser sources Here we describe in more detail how the key SESAM parameters such as saturation fluence, modulation depth, and nonsaturable losses are measured with a high accuracy These parameters need to be known and controlled to obtain stable pulse generation for a given laser A high-precision, wide dynamic range setup is required to measure this nonlinear reflectivity of saturable absorbers The challenge to measure a low modulation depth and key measures necessary to obtain an accurate calibration are described in detail The model function for the nonlinear reflectivity is based on a simple two-level travelling wave system We include spatial beam profiles, nonsaturable losses and higher-order absorption, such as two-photon absorption and other induced absorption Guidelines to extract the key parameters from the measured data are given

263 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the periodic amplification of solitons is shown to develop an instability, which is represented by the appearance of a series of discrete sidebands in the soliton power spectrum, which follow an inverse square root dependence on the amplification period.
Abstract: The periodic amplification of solitons is shown to develop an instability. This becomes evident through the appearance of a series of discrete sidebands in the soliton power spectrum. These sidebands do not exhibit the power tuning characteristic of the modulational instability, but instead follow an inverse square root dependence on the amplification period.< >

674 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
James P. Gordon1
TL;DR: In this article, a useful analysis of dispersive (radiative) perturbations of solitons of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation is developed, where the analysis is used to treat the collision of a low-intensity wave packet with a soliton.
Abstract: A useful analysis of dispersive (radiative) perturbations of solitons of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation is developed. With reference to the propagation of optical solitons in glass fibers, the analysis is used to treat the collision of a low-intensity wave packet with a soliton, the radiation field created by the local perturbation of a soliton, and finally that created by a spatially periodic perturbation of the parameters of the fiber, or equivalently by a periodic variation in gain and loss that averages to zero. Perturbations whose wavelength is short compared with the soliton period produce exponentially small radiation fields as a result of the need for phase matching.

279 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an additive-pulse mode-locked (APM) thulium-doped fiber ring laser was presented, which produces 350-500 fs pulses tunable from 1798 to 1902 nm.
Abstract: We report an additive‐pulse mode‐locked (APM) thulium‐doped fiber ring laser producing 350–500 fs pulses tunable from 1798 to 1902 nm. The laser operates in the soliton regime, where periodic perturbations cause predictable sidebands and modulation in the optical spectrum.

245 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a quantitative discussion of A-FPSA mode locking and compare it with other passive mode locking techniques such as KLM (Kerr Lens Mode locking).
Abstract: Passively mode-locked diode-pumped solid-state lasers can provide practical high-power laser sources with pico- and femtosecond pulse durations. We use semiconductors not only to optically pump but also to cw mode-lock or Q-switch a solid-state laser. A novel saturable absorber design, the Antiresonant Fabry-Perot Saturable Absorber (A-FPSA), allows of using semiconductor saturable-absorber materials even though they are generally not well-matched to the characteristics required for diode-pumped solid-state lasers, i.e., the semiconductors tend to have too much optical loss, a too low saturation intensity, and a too low damage threshold. This paper gives an overview of passively mode-locked ion-doped crystalline solid-state lasers. In particular, we present a quantitative discussion of A-FPSA mode locking, and compare A-FPSA mode locking with other passive mode locking techniques such as KLM (Kerr Lens Mode locking).

168 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a broad intracavity birefringent plate filter was used to reduce the sidebands of the soliton in passively mode-locked fiber soliton lasers.
Abstract: The periodic perturbations to the soliton in passively mode-locked fiber soliton lasers cause dispersive wave shedding, which lead to sharp spectral sidebands that limit pulse duration. By using a broad intracavity birefringent plate filter, the side-bands are greatly reduced, and the pulse duration is shortened. The filter also allows wavelength tuning, and a 43 nm continuous tuning range is demonstrated for pulses of 311-357 is duration in a fully self-starting diode pumped system. >

101 citations