976 nm all-polarization-maintaining mode-locked fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization evolution
Yu Jiang, Shukai Zheng, Geguo Du, Linpeng Yu, Jiachen Wang, Hongyi Chen, Fanlong Dong, Xing Luo, Jinzhang Wang, Peiguang Yan, Qitao Lue, Chunyu Guo, Shuangchen Ruan
Abstract
An all-polarization-maintaining (PM) mode-locked fiber laser based upon nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) that operates around 976 nm is presented. The NPE-based mode-locking is realized using a special section of the laser which comprises three pieces of PM fibers with specific deviation angles between the polarization axes and a polarization-dependent isolator. By optimizing the NPE section and adjusting the pump power, dissipative soliton (DS) pulses with a pulse duration of ∼6 ps, a spectral bandwidth of >10 nm and a maximum pulse energy of 0.54 nJ are generated. Self-starting, steady mode-locking operation is achievable within a pump power range of ∼2 W. Moreover, by incorporating a segment of passive fiber into the appropriate location in the laser resonator, an intermediate regime between stable single-pulse mode-locking and noise-like pulse (NLP) is realized in the laser. Our work expands the dimension of the research on the mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser operating around 976 nm.