scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers on "Fiber laser published in 2014"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The finding suggests that few-layered MoS₂ nanoplatelets can be useful nonlinear optical material for laser photonics devices, such as passive laser mode locker, Q-switcher, optical limiter, optical switcher and so on.
Abstract: The nonlinear optical property of few-layered MoS2 nanoplatelets synthesized by the hydrothermal exfoliation method was investigated from the visible to the near-infrared band using lasers. Both open-aperture Z-scan and balanced-detector measurement techniques were used to demonstrate the broadband saturable absorption property of few-layered MoS2. To explore its potential applications in ultrafast photonics, we fabricated a passive mode locker for ytterbium-doped fibre laser by depositing few-layered MoS2 onto the end facet of optical fiber by means of an optical trapping approach. Our laser experiment shows that few-layer MoS2-based mode locker allows for the generation of stable mode-locked laser pulse, centered at 1054.3 nm, with a 3-dB spectral bandwidth of 2.7 nm and a pulse duration of 800 ps. Our finding suggests that few-layered MoS2 nanoplatelets can be useful nonlinear optical material for laser photonics devices, such as passive laser mode locker, Q-switcher, optical limiter, optical switcher and so on.

991 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the fundamental properties and latest developments in high-power fiber lasers are summarized and reviewed, focusing primarily on the most common fiber laser configurations and the associated cladding pumping issues.
Abstract: In this paper, we summarize the fundamental properties and review the latest developments in high power fiber lasers. The review is focused primarily on the most common fiber laser configurations and the associated cladding pumping issues. Special attention is placed on pump combination techniques and the parameters that affect the brightness enhancement observed in single-mode and multimode high power fiber lasers. The review includes the major limitations imposed by fiber nonlinearities and other parasitic effects, such as optical damage, transverse modal instabilities and photodarkening. Finally, the paper summarizes the power evolution in continuous-wave and pulsed ytterbium-doped fiber lasers and their impact on industrial applications.

812 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the current state of the art in the field of random distributed feedback feedback laser (RDFL) generation, and discuss existing and future applications of random fiber laser, including telecommunication and distributed long reach sensor systems.

410 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The generation of a femtosecond pulse in a fiber ring laser by using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2) SA) saturable absorber indicates that the filmy PVA-based MoS( 2) SA is indeed a good candidate for an ultrafast saturable absorption device.
Abstract: We report on the generation of a femtosecond pulse in a fiber ring laser by using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) saturable absorber (SA). With a saturable optical intensity of 34 MW/cm2 and a modulation depth of ∼4.3%, the PVA-based MoS2 SA had been employed with an erbium-doped fiber ring laser as a mode locker. The mode-locking operation could be achieved at a low pump threshold of 22 mW. A ∼710 fs pulse centered at 1569.5 nm wavelength with a repetition rate of 12.09 MHz had been achieved with proper cavity dispersion. With the variation of net cavity dispersion, output pulses with durations from 0.71 to 1.46 ps were obtained. The achievement of a femtosecond pulse at 1.55 μm waveband demonstrates the broadband saturable absorption of MoS2, and also indicates that the filmy PVA-based MoS2 SA is indeed a good candidate for an ultrafast saturable absorption device.

351 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a few-layer Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) polymer composite is used as broadband saturable absorber (SA) for Q-switching.
Abstract: We propose and demonstrate 1, 1.5, and 2 μm passively Q-switched fiber lasers by exploiting a few-layer Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) polymer composite as broadband saturable absorber (SA), respectively. The few-layer MoS2 nanosheets are prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation method, and are composited with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The PVA-MoS2 film is sandwiched between two fiber ferrules to form the fiber-compatible SA. The few-layer MoS2 not only shows good transparency from ultraviolet to mid-infrared spectral region, but also possesses the nonlinear saturable absorption. The modulation depth and saturation optical intensity of the PVA-MoS2 film are measured to be 1.6% and 13 MW/cm2 at 1566 nm by the balanced twin-detector technique, respectively. By further inserting the filmy PVA-MoS2 SA into the cavities of Yb-, Er- and Tm-doped fiber lasers, we achieve stable Q-switching operations at 1.06, 1.56, and 2.03 μm, respectively. The output characteristics of the Q-switched pulses at the three wavelengths have been investigated, respectively. The MoS2-based Q-switching enables the large pulse energy of ∼1 μJ with a pulse width of 1.76 μs. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of MoS2-based Q-switched fiber lasers in a wide wavelength range (from 1 to 2 μm). Our results experimentally confirm that the new-type 2-D material, few-layer MoS2, is a promising broadband SA to Q-switch fiber lasers covering all major wavelengths from near- to mid-infrared region.

320 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent advances of high-power continuous wave, Q-switched, mode-locked, and single-frequency fiber lasers in the 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 μm regions and their applications in such areas as industry, medicine, research, defense, and security are addressed in detail.
Abstract: Fiber lasers have seen progressive developments in terms of spectral coverage and linewidth, output power, pulse energy, and ultrashort pulse width since the first demonstration of a glass fiber laser in 1964. Their applications have extended into a variety of fields accordingly. In this paper, the milestones of glass fiber laser development are briefly reviewed and recent advances of high-power continuous wave, Q-switched, mode-locked, and single-frequency fiber lasers in the 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 μm regions and their applications in such areas as industry, medicine, research, defense, and security are addressed in detail.

318 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A mechanism, based on edge states within the bandgap, is proposed, responsible for the wideband nonlinear optical absorption exhibited by the few-layer MoS₂ sample, despite operating at photon energies lower than the material bandgap.
Abstract: We fabricate a few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) polymer composite saturable absorber by liquid-phase exfoliation, and use this to passively Q-switch an ytterbium-doped fiber laser, tunable from 1030 to 1070 nm. Self-starting Q-switching generates 2.88 μs pulses at 74 kHz repetition rate, with over 100 nJ pulse energy. We propose a mechanism, based on edge states within the bandgap, responsible for the wideband nonlinear optical absorption exhibited by our few-layer MoS₂ sample, despite operating at photon energies lower than the material bandgap.

314 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The experimental results show that multilayer MoS(2) is a promising material for ultrafast laser systems and stable mode locking is obtained at a pump threshold of 31 mW.
Abstract: We demonstrate an erbium-doped fiber laser passively mode-locked by a multilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) saturable absorber (SA). The multilayer MoS(2) is prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and transferred onto the end-face of a fiber connector. Taking advantage of the excellent saturable absorption of the fabricated MoS(2)-based SA, stable mode locking is obtained at a pump threshold of 31 mW. Resultant output soliton pulses have central wavelength, spectral width, pulse duration, and repetition rate of 1568.9 nm, 2.6 nm, 1.28 ps, and 8.288 MHz, respectively. The experimental results show that multilayer MoS(2) is a promising material for ultrafast laser systems.

282 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To circumvent the high-frequency laser noise intrinsic to amplified fibre lasers, this work presents an optimized all-fibre laser system based on the optical synchronization of two picosecond power amplifiers and further developed a high-speed noise cancellation systembased on voltage-subtraction autobalanced detection.
Abstract: Stimulated Raman Scattering microscopy allows label-free chemical imaging and has enabled exciting applications in biology, material science, and medicine. It provides a major advantage in imaging speed over spontaneous Raman scattering and has improved image contrast and spectral fidelity compared to coherent anti-Stokes Raman. Wider adoption of the technique has, however, been hindered by the need for a costly and environmentally sensitive tunable ultra-fast dual-wavelength source. We present the development of an optimized all-fibre laser system based on the optical synchronization of two picosecond power amplifiers. To circumvent the high-frequency laser noise intrinsic to amplified fibre lasers, we have further developed a high-speed noise cancellation system based on voltage-subtraction autobalanced detection. We demonstrate uncompromised imaging performance of our fibre-laser based stimulated Raman scattering microscope with shot-noise limited sensitivity and an imaging speed up to 1 frame/s.

262 citations


Posted Content
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify clear explosion signatures in measurements of shot-to-shot spectra of an Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser that is operating in a transition regime between stable and noise-like emission.
Abstract: Soliton explosions are among the most exotic dissipative phenomena studied in mode-locked lasers. In this regime, a dissipative soliton circulating in the laser cavity experiences an abrupt structural collapse, but within a few roundtrips returns to its original quasi-stable state. In this work we report on the first observation of such events in a fiber laser. Specifically, we identify clear explosion signatures in measurements of shot-to-shot spectra of an Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser that is operating in a transition regime between stable and noise-like emission. The comparatively long, all-normal-dispersion cavity used in our experiments also permits direct time-domain measurements, and we show that the explosions manifest themselves as abrupt temporal shifts in the output pulse train. Our experimental results are in good agreement with realistic numerical simulations based on an iterative cavity map.

254 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The experimental results demonstrate that the PVA could be an excellent host material for fabricating high-performance TISA, and indicate that the filmy PVA-TISA is indeed a good candidate for ultrafast saturable absorption device.
Abstract: We reported on the generation of femtosecond pulse in a fiber ring laser by using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based topological insulator (TI), Bi2Se3 saturable absorber (SA). The PVA-TI composite has a low saturable optical intensity of 12 MW/cm2 and a modulation depth of ~3.9%. By incorporating the fabricated PVA-TISA into a fiber laser, mode-locking operation could be achieved at a low pump threshold of 25 mW. After an optimization of the cavity parameters, optical pulse with ~660 fs centered at 1557.5 nm wavelength had been generated. The experimental results demonstrate that the PVA could be an excellent host material for fabricating high-performance TISA, and also indicate that the filmy PVA-TISA is indeed a good candidate for ultrafast saturable absorption device.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an erbium-doped fiber laser passively Q-switched by a topological insulator saturable absorber (TI-SA) is described.
Abstract: We report on the generation of large energy, widely wavelength tunable pulses in an erbium-doped fiber laser passively Q-switched by a topological insulator saturable absorber (TI-SA). The TI-SA is prepared through an optical deposition method. Its saturating intensity and modulation depth are measured to be about 57 MW/cm2 and 22%, respectively. We show that the high modulation depth of TI-SA allows the generation of stable Q-switched pulses with per-pulse energy up to 1.5 μJ and its broadband saturable absorption favors the tunable Q-switching operation from 1510.9 nm to 1589.1 nm. Our study suggests that TI: Bi2Te3 could be a promising saturable absorber for both the high energy and broadband optical applications.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that stable, ultrafast pulses with a temporal width of ~795 fs could readily be generated at a wavelength of 1935 nm from a thulium/holmium co-doped fiber ring cavity.
Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate a femtosecond mode-locked, all-fiberized laser that operates in the 2 μm region and that incorporates a saturable absorber based on a bulk-structured bismuth telluride (Bi(2)Te(3)) topological insulator (TI). Our fiberized saturable absorber was prepared by depositing a mechanically exfoliated, ~30 μm-thick Bi(2)Te(3) TI layer on a side-polished optical fiber platform. The bulk crystalline structure of the prepared Bi(2)Te(3) layer was confirmed by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The modulation depth of the prepared saturable absorber was measured to be ~20.6%. Using the saturable absorber, it is shown that stable, ultrafast pulses with a temporal width of ~795 fs could readily be generated at a wavelength of 1935 nm from a thulium/holmium co-doped fiber ring cavity. This experimental demonstration confirms that bulk structured, TI-based saturable absorbers can readily be used as an ultra-fast mode-locker for 2 μm lasers.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work demonstrates the first time that distributed vibration sensing is realized over such a long distance without inserting repeaters, and the novel hybrid amplification scheme in this work can also be incorporated in other fiber-optic sensing systems for extension of sensing distance.
Abstract: A phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (Φ-OTDR) with 175 km sensing range and 25 m spatial resolution is demonstrated, using the combination of co-pumping second-order Raman amplification based on random fiber lasing, counter-pumping first-order Raman amplification, and counter-pumping Brillouin amplification. With elaborate arrangements, each pumping scheme is responsible for the signal amplification in one particular segment of all three. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that distributed vibration sensing is realized over such a long distance without inserting repeaters. The novel hybrid amplification scheme in this work can also be incorporated in other fiber-optic sensing systems for extension of sensing distance.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The use of a bulk-structured Bi(2)Te(3) topological insulator (TI) as an ultrafast mode-locker to generate femtosecond pulses from an all-fiberized cavity indicates that high-crystalline-quality atomic-layered films of TI, which demand complicated and expensive material processing facilities, are not essential for ultrafast laser mode-locking applications.
Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate the use of a bulk-structured Bi2Te3 topological insulator (TI) as an ultrafast mode-locker to generate femtosecond pulses from an all-fiberized cavity. Using a saturable absorber based on a mechanically exfoliated layer about 15 μm thick deposited onto a side-polished fiber, we show that stable soliton pulses with a temporal width of ~600 fs can readily be produced at 1547 nm from an erbium fiber ring cavity. Unlike previous TI-based mode-locked laser demonstrations, in which high-quality nanosheet-based TIs were used for saturable absorption, we chose to use a bulk-structured Bi2Te3 layer because it is easy to fabricate. We found that the bulk-structured Bi2Te3 layer can readily provide sufficient nonlinear saturable absorption for femtosecond mode-locking even if its modulation depth of ~15.7% is much lower than previously demonstrated nanosheet-structured TI-based saturable absorbers. This experimental demonstration indicates that high-crystalline-quality atomic-layered films of TI, which demand complicated and expensive material processing facilities, are not essential for ultrafast laser mode-locking applications.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate the use of a new saturable absorber material, antimony telluride (Sb2Te3), for efficient mode-locking of an Erbium-doped fiber laser.
Abstract: We demonstrate the usage of a new saturable absorber material – antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) for efficient mode-locking of an Erbium-doped fiber laser. The Sb2Te3 layers were obtained by mechanical exfoliation and transferred onto the fiber connector tip. The all-fiber laser was capable of generating optical solitons with the full width at half maximum of 1.8 nm centered at 1558.6 nm, with 4.75 MHz repetition rate. The pulse energy of the generated 1.8 ps pulses was at the level of 105 pJ.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the topological insulator (TI) Bi2Se3 as a saturable absorber (SA) is exploited to Q-switch fiber lasers at 2 μm wavelength for the first time.
Abstract: In this paper, Topological insulator (TI) Bi2Se3 as a saturable absorber (SA) is exploited to Q-switch fiber lasers at 2 μm wavelength for the first time. Few-layer TI:Bi 2Se 3 nanosheets in CS-HAc solution are prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation method, and the thin 2-D structure with the thickness of 3-5 layers is well characterized. The open-aperture Z-scan experiment shows that the few-layer TI:Bi 2Se 3 has the saturable optical intensity of 41 MW/cm 2 at 800 nm and the modulation depth of 3.7%. The optical deposition technique is used to efficiently assemble the TI:Bi 2Se 3 nanosheets in the solution onto a fiber ferrule, therefore constructing a fiber-compatible TI-based SA (FC-TISA). By further inserting the FC-TISA into a diode-pumped Tm 3+-doped double-clad fiber laser (TM-DCFL), stable Q-switching operation at 1.98 μm is successfully achieved with the shortest pulse width of 4.18 μs and the tunable repetition rate from 8.4 to 26.8 kHz. In particular, the TM-DCFL can deliver large-energy Q-switched pulses with the pulse energy as high as 313 nJ (corresponding to average output power of 8.4 mW). Our results suggest that TI-based SA is suitable for pulsed laser operation in the eye-safe region of 2 μm, and potentially develops as an ultra-broadband photonics device.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is proposed and demonstrated a MoS2-based passively Q-switched Er-doped fiber laser with a wide tuning range of 1519.6-1567.7 nm, and to the best of the knowledge, it is the first demonstration ofMoS2 Q- Switched, widely-tunable fiber laser.
Abstract: We propose and demonstrate a MoS2-based passively Q-switched Er-doped fiber laser with a wide tuning range of 1519.6-1567.7 nm. The few-layer MoS2 nano-platelets are prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation method, and are then made into polymer-composite film to construct the fiber-compatible MoS2 saturable absorber (SA). It is measured at 1560 nm wavelength, that such MoS2 SA has the modulation depth of ∼ 2% and the saturable optical intensity of ∼ 10 MW/cm(2). By further inserting the filmy MoS2-SA into an Er-doped fiber laser, stable Q-switching operation with a 48.1 nm continuous tuning from S- to C-waveband is successfully achieved. The shortest pulse duration and the maximum pulse energy are 3.3 μs and 160 nJ, respectively. The repetition rate and the pulse duration under different operation conditions have been also characterized. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first demonstration of MoS2 Q-switched, widely-tunable fiber laser.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the current state of the art in infrared Bi-doped fiber laser research is reviewed and the relevant fiber glass compositions and fiber technologies are introduced, as well as the energy level schemes of these centers.
Abstract: The current state of the art in infrared Bi-doped fiber laser research is reviewed. The relevant fiber glass compositions and fiber technologies are introduced. Lasers operating on transitions ranging from 1.15 to 1.55 μm occurring in the bismuth active centers and their energy level schemes are discussed on the basis of the spectroscopic properties of these centers. Continuous-wave fundamental-mode power levels ranging from a few mW near 1.55 μm up to 16 W near 1.16 μm and 22 W near 1.46 μm have been demonstrated in recent years.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The generation of tunable single-, switchable and tunable dual-, and stable triple-wavelength dissipative solitons (DSs) in an all-normal-dispersion mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on a graphene-oxide saturable absorber (GOSA) without additional components (such as optical filter, or fiber grating).
Abstract: We report the generation of tunable single-, switchable and tunable dual-, and stable triple-wavelength dissipative solitons (DSs) in an all-normal-dispersion mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on a graphene-oxide saturable absorber (GOSA) without additional components (such as optical filter, or fiber grating). The tunable single-wavelength DS have a wide wavelength-tunable range of 16.4 nm. The dual-wavelength DSs not only have a wavelength-tunable range (about 10 nm) but also have variable wavelength spacing (3.8-13.8 nm). The formation dynamics of the triple-wavelength DSs was also investigated experimentally. The different operations of tunable single-, switchable and tunable dual-, and stable triple-wavelength DSs depend on the strength of the cavity birefringence. The simple, compact all-fiber DS laser with lasing wavelength tunability and flexibility can meet great potential for applications.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results provide the first demonstration of the simultaneous applications of both highly non linear and saturable absorption effects of the MoS(2), indicating that the microfiber-based MoS (2) photonic device could serve as high-performance SA and highly nonlinear optical component for application fields such as ultrafast nonlinear optics.
Abstract: We reported on the generation of high-order harmonic mode-locking in a fiber laser using a microfiber-based molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) saturable absorber (SA). Taking advantage of both the saturable absorption and large third-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the few-layer MoS(2), up to 2.5 GHz repetition rate HML pulse could be obtained at a pump power of 181 mW, corresponding to 369th harmonic of fundamental repetition frequency. The results provide the first demonstration of the simultaneous applications of both highly nonlinear and saturable absorption effects of the MoS(2), indicating that the microfiber-based MoS(2) photonic device could serve as high-performance SA and highly nonlinear optical component for application fields such as ultrafast nonlinear optics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate a mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser incorporating antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) topological insulator (TI) as a saturable absorber.
Abstract: In this Letter, we demonstrate a mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser incorporating antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) topological insulator (TI) as a saturable absorber (SA). The laser was capable of generating 270 fs-short soliton pulses at 1560 nm wavelength, which are the shortest solitons generated with a TI-based saturable absorber so far. In order to form a saturable absorber, a bulk piece of Sb2Te3 was deposited on a side-polished single-mode fiber with the presence of a low refractive index polymer. Such saturable absorber exhibits modulation depth at the level of 6% with less than 3 dB of non-saturable losses. Our study shows that TI-based saturable absorbers with evanescent field interaction might compete with SAs based on carbon nanomaterials, like graphene or nanotubes. Additionally, thanks to the interaction with the evanescent field, the material is not exposed to high optical power, which allows to avoid optical or thermal damage.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ring laser resonator based on Er-doped active fiber with managed intracavity dispersion was capable of generating ultrashort optical pulses with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 30 nm centered at 1565 nm.
Abstract: In this work we present for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a stretched-pulse mode-locked fiber laser based on topological insulator. As a saturable absorber (SA) a ~0.5 mm thick lump of antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) deposited on a side-polished fiber was used. Such a SA introduced 6% modulation depth with 43% of non-saturable losses, which is sufficient for supporting stretched-pulse mode-locking. The ring laser resonator based on Er-doped active fiber with managed intracavity dispersion was capable of generating ultrashort optical pulses with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 30 nm centered at 1565 nm. The pulses with duration of 128 fs were repeated with a frequency of 22.32 MHz.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first 2 µm region NOLM-based mode-locked fiber laser operating at two regimes with the highest single pulse energy for NL pulses.
Abstract: A self-starting all-fiber passively mode-locked Tm-doped fiber laser based on nonlinear loop mirror (NOLM) is demonstrated. Stable soliton pulses centered at 2017.33 nm with 1.56 nm FWHM were produced at a repetition rate of 1.514 MHz with pulse duration of 2.8 ps and pulse energy of 83.8 pJ. As increased pump power, the oscillator can also operate at noise-like (NL) regime. Stable NL pulses with coherence spike width of 341 fs and pulse energy of up to 249.32 nJ was achieved at a center wavelength of 2017.24 nm with 21.33 nm FWHM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first 2 μm region NOLM-based mode-locked fiber laser operating at two regimes with the highest single pulse energy for NL pulses.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed overview of the current status of fiber-based noise-like pulse (NLP) research conducted over the past decade is presented, together with a newly conducted, systematic study on their temporal, spectral, and coherence characteristics in nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR)-based erbium-doped fiber ring cavity configurations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first erbium-doped zirconium-fluoride-based glass fiber laser operating well beyond 3 μm with significant power and efficiency is reported, and it exhibited the longest wavelength of operation obtained to date for a room temperature, nonsupercontinuum fiber laser.
Abstract: We report the first, to the best of our knowledge, erbium-doped zirconium-fluoride-based glass fiber laser operating well beyond 3 μm with significant power. This fiber laser achieved 260 mW in CW at room temperature. The use of two different wavelength pump sources allows us to take advantage of the long-lived excited states that would normally cause a bottleneck, and this enables maximum incident optical-to-optical efficiency of 16% with respect to the total incident pump power. Both output power and efficiency are an order of magnitude improvement over similar lasers demonstrated previously. The fiber laser operating at 3.604 μm also exhibited the longest wavelength of operation obtained to date for a room temperature, nonsupercontinuum fiber laser.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Dispersive Fourier transformation is used to measure single-shot spectra of Raman-induced noise-like pulses, demonstrating that for low cavity gain values Raman emission is sporadic and follows rogue-wave-like probability distributions, while a saturated regime with Gaussian statistics is obtained for high pump powers.
Abstract: We report on an experimental study of spectral fluctuations induced by intracavity Raman conversion in a passively partially mode-locked, all-normal dispersion fiber laser. Specifically, we use dispersive Fourier transformation to measure single-shot spectra of Raman-induced noise-like pulses, demonstrating that for low cavity gain values Raman emission is sporadic and follows rogue-wave-like probability distributions, while a saturated regime with Gaussian statistics is obtained for high pump powers. Our experiments further reveal intracavity rogue waves originating from cascaded Raman dynamics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a nanoscale p-type Bi2Te3 powder-based saturable absorber-induced passive mode-locking of the erbium-doped fiber laser with sub-picosecond pulsewidth was demonstrated.
Abstract: We demonstrate the nanoscale p-type Bi2Te3 powder-based saturable absorber-induced passive mode-locking of the erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) with sub-picosecond pulsewidth. Such a nanoscale topological insulator powder is obtained by polishing the bulk p-type Bi2Te3 in a commercial thermoelectric cooler (TE cooler). This is then directly brushed onto the end-face of a single-mode fiber patchcord, to avoid any mis-connecting loss caused by laser beam divergence, which can result in a mode-locked pulsewidth of 436 fs in the self-amplitude modulation mode of a TE cooler. To further shorten the pulse, the soliton compression is operated by well-controlling the group delay dispersion and self-phase modulation, providing the passively mode-locked EDFL with a pulsewidth as short as 403 fs.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Application of a multilayer Molybdenum Disulfide thin film as a saturable absorber was experimentally demonstrated by realizing a stable and robust passive mode-locked fiber laser via the evanescent field interaction between the light and the film.
Abstract: Application of a multilayer Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) thin film as a saturable absorber was experimentally demonstrated by realizing a stable and robust passive mode-locked fiber laser via the evanescent field interaction between the light and the film. The MoS2 film was grown by chemical vapor deposition, and was then transferred to a side polished fiber by a lift-off method. Intensity-dependent optical transmission through the MoS2 thin film on side polished fiber was experimentally observed showing efficient saturable absorption characteristics. Using erbium doped fiber as an optical gain medium, we built an all-fiber ring cavity, where the MoS2 film on the side polished fiber was inserted as a saturable absorber. Stable dissipative soliton pulse trains were successfully generated in the normal dispersion regime with a spectral bandwidth of 23.2 nm and the pulse width of 4.98 ps. By adjusting the total dispersion in the cavity, we also obtained soliton pulses with a width of 637 fs in the anomalous dispersion regime near the lasing wavelength λ = 1.55 μm. Detailed and systematic experimental comparisons were made for stable mode locking of an all-fiber laser cavity in both the normal and anomalous regimes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the formation of various multi-soliton patterns and noise-like (NL) pulses in an erbium-doped fiber laser passively mode-locked by a new type of saturable absorber: topological insulator.
Abstract: We experimentally investigated the formation of various multi-soliton patterns and noise-like (NL) pulses in an erbium-doped fiber laser passively mode-locked by a new type of saturable absorber: topological insulator With the increase of pump power, various multi-soliton operation states—ordered, chaotic and bunched multiple-soliton—were subsequently obtained Once the pump power exceeds 401 mW, an NL pulse state emerged, with a maximum 3 dB bandwidth of about 93 nm This systematic study clearly demonstrated that a topological insulator could be an effective saturable absorber for the formation of various soliton operation states in a fiber laser cavity