Optimal conditions for self-starting of soliton mode-locked fiber lasers with a saturable absorber
Shaozhen Liu, Yu Chen, Le Huang, Tao Cao, Xuanchao Qin, Haoqing Ning, Jikun Yan, Kailin Hu, Ziyue Guo, Jiahui Peng
Abstract
With the recently developed single-shot time-stretch dispersive Fourier transform technique, we investigate the buildup process of an all-polarization-maintaining soliton mode-locked fiber laser. Considering the multi-pulse competitions and the evolution of the survived pulse, we find an optimal range of intra-cavity energy for self-starting related to the saturation energy of the employed saturable absorber. Under the conditions, one dominant pulse can build up quickly against the others, and it finally drives to single-pulse operation. The conclusions drawn here hold for other soliton mode-locked lasers.
Topics & Concepts
Saturable absorptionOpticsFiber laserLaserSolitonMode-lockingPulse (music)Pulse shapingMaterials scienceDissipative solitonPolarization (electrochemistry)PhysicsNonlinear systemDetectorPhysical chemistryQuantum mechanicsChemistryAdvanced Fiber Laser TechnologiesLaser-Matter Interactions and ApplicationsPhotonic Crystal and Fiber Optics