Hybrid structure based on no-core and graded-index multimode fibers as saturable absorber for a self-starting mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser
TL;DR: The results show that the NCF-GIMF-based SA can be used as an effective photonic device for high energy wave breaking free pulse generation.
Abstract: We demonstrate an all-fiber ytterbium (Yb)-doped mode-locked oscillator using a hybrid structure based on no-core fiber graded-index multimode fiber (NCF-GIMF) as the saturable absorber (SA). The proposed SA exhibits unique characteristics such as large-power tolerance, high modulation depth of 24.7%, and low saturation intensity of 11.01MW/cm2, which help to achieve a stable mode-locking operation. The all-normal and self-starting oscillator generates stable ultrafast pulses with a repetition rate of 21.35 MHz, pulse energy/average output power of 120 pJ/2.7 mW, and a pulse duration of 2.4 ps at a central wavelength of 1034.2 nm. The output pulses are then dechirped to 300 fs using an external grating compressor and possess high stability with a radio frequency spectrum of 58 dB. These results show that the NCF-GIMF-based SA can be used as an effective photonic device for high energy wave breaking free pulse generation.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: In this article , the authors review the research status of the mechanism and technology of all-fiber mode-locked ultrafast laser with multimode fiber based saturable absorber.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a composite mode-locked mechanism based on the Carbon nanotube (CNT) film sandwiched between the multimode fiber (MMF) connectors was proposed and demonstrated.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the dispersion management of a mode-locked fiber laser is carried out by adjusting the distance between the grating pair, which typically ranges from soliton state in the anomalous dispersion regime to the dissipative soliton format in the normal one.
Abstract: Dispersion management plays an important role in improving the output performance of a mode-locked fiber laser. Therefore, dispersion management is carried out by introducing the grating pair in our experiment. Through adjusting the distance between the grating pair, mode-locked pulses corresponding to different dispersion regimes can be realized, which typically range from soliton state in the anomalous dispersion regime to the dissipative soliton format in the normal dispersion regime. Furthermore, tunable spectrum distribution can be achieved by adjusting two intra-cavity polarization controllers. The proposed dispersion management method complements mode-locking techniques based on nonlinear multimode interference (NL-MMI). The laser can operate with self-start mode locking stably and is useful for practice applications.
1 citations
01 Mar 2022
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored the potential use of graded-index multimode fiber (GIMF) in a nonlinear absorbing loop mirror (NAbLM) as an artificial saturable absorber for ultrashort pulse generation.
Abstract: This investigation explores the potential use of graded-index multimode fiber (GIMF) in a nonlinear absorbing loop mirror (NAbLM) as an artificial saturable absorber for ultrashort pulse generation. The saturable absorption mechanism of GIMF-NAbLM was based on a combination of nonlinear phase shift and multimodal interference that was satisfied by the asymmetric positioning of the GIMF in the single-mode fiber loop mirror. The proposed saturable absorber was integrated in a mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser with figure-of-eight cavity. A noise-like pulse of 164 fs spike pulse duration at 1950 nm central wavelength was attained in the net anomalous dispersion with a 10 m long GIMF. The GIMF-NAbLM structure demonstrates immense prospects as an effective saturable absorption device for generating stable ultrashort pulse in the 2 µm region due to its simplicity.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article , an all-normal dispersion configuration for the ytterbium doped fiber laser mode-locked by cascaded nonlinear multimode interference (MMI) effect is presented.
Abstract: We report dark–bright pulse pair generation from the ytterbium doped fiber laser mode-locked by cascaded nonlinear multimode interference (MMI) effect under an all-normal dispersion configuration. The MMI is implemented in a step index single mode–multimode–single mode fiber structure. The combination of two MMI structures, acting like a saturable absorber, has been used for stable mode-locking operation in the resonator. By adjusting the polarization controller attached to one of the MMI structure, stable dark–bright pulses are observed at fundamental, second and third harmonic repetition rates. The optical spectrum of the dark–bright pulses is doubly peaked at 1036.6 and 1040.6 nm with a spectral width ∼0.7 nm. The width of the dark pulses varied from 72 to 50 ns and that of the bright pulses from 30 to 14 ns when the pump power is increased from 102 to 170 mW at the fundamental repetition rate mode-locking. The darkness of the dark and intensity of bright pulses increase with the pump power. Dark and bright pulses in the pair are resolved by placing a polarizing component confirming their vector nature.
References
More filters
TL;DR: The features that distinguish each new mode-locking state are described and how the interplay of basic processes in the fiber produces the balance of amplitude and phase evolutions needed for stable high-energy pulses is explained.
Abstract: Fiber lasers mode locked with large normal group-velocity dispersion have recently achieved femtosecond pulse durations with energies and peak powers at least an order of magnitude greater than those of prior approaches. Several new mode-locking regimes have been demonstrated, including self-similar pulse propagation in passive and active fibers, dissipative solitons, and a pulse evolution that avoids wave breaking at high peak power but has not been reproduced by theoretical treatment. Here, we illustrate the main features of these new pulse-shaping mechanisms through the results of numerical simulations that agree with experimental results. We describe the features that distinguish each new mode-locking state and explain how the interplay of basic processes in the fiber produces the balance of amplitude and phase evolutions needed for stable high-energy pulses. Dissipative processes such as spectral filtering play a major role in normal-dispersion mode locking. Understanding the different mechanisms allows us to compare and contrast them, as well as to categorize them to some extent.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed investigation of the nonlinear multimodal interference in a short graded-index multimode optical fiber is presented, where the light is coupled in and out of the multimode fiber via single-mode fibers.
Abstract: A detailed investigation of the nonlinear multimodal interference in a short graded-index multimode optical fiber is presented. The analysis is performed for a specific device geometry, where the light is coupled in and out of the multimode fiber via single-mode fibers. The same device geometry was recently used to obtain ultra-low-loss coupling between two single-mode optical fibers with very different mode-field diameters. Our results indicate the potential application of this simple geometry for nonlinear devices, such as in nonlinear switching, optical signal processing, or as saturable absorbers in mode-locked fiber lasers. Saturable absorption in this all-fiber configuration is discussed and it is shown that it provides attractive properties that can potentially be used in high pulse energy mode-locked fiber lasers.
147 citations
TL;DR: A tunable and switchable dual-wavelength ultra-fast Tm-doped fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) technique in a passively mode-locked laser cavity to effectively alleviate mode competition and enables the multiwavelength mode locking.
Abstract: We propose and demonstrate a tunable and switchable dual-wavelength ultra-fast Tm-doped fiber laser. The tunability is based on nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) technique in a passively mode-locked laser cavity. The NPE effect induces wavelength-dependent loss in the cavity to effectively alleviate mode competition and enables the multiwavelength mode locking. The laser exhibits tunable dual-wavelength mode locking over a wide range from 1852 to 1886 nm. The system has compact structure and both the wavelength tuning and switching capabilities can be realized by controlling the polarization in the fiber ring cavity.
138 citations
TL;DR: This is the shortest reported pulse duration achieved from a Tm-doped laser mode-locked by graphene saturable absorber and such cost-effective and stable fiber lasers might be considered as sources for mid-infrared spectroscopy and remote sensing.
Abstract: We report an all-fiber Tm-doped fiber laser mode-locked by graphene saturable absorber. The laser emits 1.2 ps pulses at 1884 nm center wavelength with 4 nm of bandwidth and 20.5 MHz mode spacing. The graphene layers were grown on copper foils by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and transferred onto the fiber connector end. Up to date this is the shortest reported pulse duration achieved from a Tm-doped laser mode-locked by graphene saturable absorber. Such cost-effective and stable fiber lasers might be considered as sources for mid-infrared spectroscopy and remote sensing.
113 citations
TL;DR: It is found that the ReS2-covered D-shaped fiber (RDF) displays the remarkable polarization-induced absorption, which indicates the different responses for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations relative to ReS1 plane.
Abstract: Monolayer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), with lamellar structure as that of graphene, has attracted significant attentions in optoelectronics and photonics. Here, we focus on the optical absorption response of a new member TMDs, rhenium disulphide (ReS2) whose monolayer and bulk forms have the nearly identical band structures. The nonlinear saturable and polarization-induced absorption of ReS2 are investigated at near-infrared communication band beyond its bandgap. It is found that the ReS2-covered D-shaped fiber (RDF) displays the remarkable polarization-induced absorption, which indicates the different responses for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations relative to ReS2 plane. Nonlinear saturable absorption of RDF exhibits the similar saturable fluence of several tens of μJ/cm2 and modulation depth of about 1% for ultrafast pulses with two orthogonal polarizations. RDF is utilized as a saturable absorber to achieve self-started mode-locking operation in an Er-doped fiber laser. The results broaden the operation wavelength of ReS2 from visible light to around 1550 nm, and numerous applications may benefit from the anisotropic and nonlinear absorption characteristics of ReS2, such as in-line optical polarizers, high-power pulsed lasers, and optical communication system.
111 citations