Manipulation of operation states by polarization control in an erbium-doped fiber laser with a hybrid saturable absorber
Journal
Optics Express
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
6
Pages
4806-4814
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
Abstract
We propose an operation switchable ring-cavity erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) via intra-cavity polarization control. By using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror in the EDFL cavity, stable Q-switching, Q-switched mode-locking, continuous-wave mode-locking, pulse splitting, and harmonic mode-locking pulses can be manipulated simply by detuning a polarization controller while keeping the pump power at the same level. AU EDFL operation states can be obtained under the polarization angles detuning within 180°. Continuous-wave mode-locking of EDFL with 800-fs pulsewidth repeated at 4 MHz has been obtained, for which the output pulse energy is 0.5 nJ and the peak power is 625 W. Interaction between solitons and the accompanied non-soliton component will lead to either pulse splitting or 5th-order harmonic mode-locking at repetition rate of 20 MHz. ©2009 Optical Society of America.
Other Subjects
Erbium; Fiber lasers; Laser mode locking; Optical pumping; Polarization; Pulse repetition rate; Q switching; Saturable absorbers; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors; Solitons; Continuous-wave mode locking; Erbium doped fiber laser; Harmonic mode locking; Polarization angle; Polarization control; Polarization controllers; Pulse splitting; Q-switched mode locking; Locks (fasteners)
Type
journal article