All-polarization-maintaining figure-eight Er-fiber ultrafast laser with a bidirectional output coupler in the loss-imbalanced nonlinear optical loop mirror

Shi, Junkai; Li, Yao; Shu-Yuan, Gao; Pan, Yingling; Wang, Guo‐Ming; Ji, Rongyi; Zhou, Weihu

doi:10.3788/col201816.121404

“…In all variants of NOLLM, the element inserting losses was placed asymmetrically, close to one of the coupler ports. The total length of the NOLLM was significantly reduced compared to 2x2 equivalents [39,41] and could be shorter than 6 meters.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Pielach,

Jamrozik,

Krupa

et al. 2023

Preprint

0

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Artificial saturable absorbers based on loop mirrors often suffer from a not self-starting mode-locking operation. It is usually necessary to provide an additional phase shift in the loop, guaranteeing repeatable initiation of the pulsed regime. 3x3 even fiber couplers have recently enabled the introduction of a phase shift in an all-fiber loop mirror architecture. Until now, mode-locking induced by a 3x3 fiber coupler has been associated only with nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors. Here, we present a self-starting ultrafast dispersion-managed all-polarization-maintaining Yb-doped oscillator that utilizes a nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror instead. We show three ways of introducing asymmetric losses in a loop via a variable optical attenuator, a fiber coupler, and a very simple lossy splice. Complete characterization of all output ports of the oscillator proves significant spectral and temporal breathing of the pulse when circulating through the net normal dispersion cavity, which can deliver nJ-level pulse energy. The system guarantees excellent stability and performance comparable to nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors while being simpler, cheaper, and providing more usable output ports with different characteristics.

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“…In all variants of NOLLM, the element introducing losses was placed asymmetrically, close to one of the coupler ports. The total length of the NOLLM was significantly reduced compared to 2x2 equivalents [39,41] and could be shorter than 6 meters.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Apart from placing an amplifier in the loop (resulting in NALM), one can also introduce asymmetric losses [37]. This approach has already been introduced in even 50/50 2x2 couplers via a nonlinear absorbing loop mirror (NAbLM [38]), bending the fiber to introduce attenuation-imbalanced NOLM (AI-NOLM [39]), implementing a variable optical attenuator (power-imbalanced NOLM [40]), or placing an additional coupler in the loop [41]. However, introducing the losses in the loop lacking any phase shift may result in moving the mode-locking threshold towards even higher pumping powers or might lead to the necessity of using extreme lengths of fiber in the loop (over fifty meters [39,41]) or using highly nonlinear fibers [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Pielach,

Jamrozik,

Krupa

et al. 2023

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Artificial saturable absorbers based on loop mirrors often suffer from a not self-starting mode-locking operation. It is usually necessary to provide an additional phase shift in the loop, guaranteeing repeatable initiation of the pulsed regime. 3x3 even fiber couplers have recently enabled the introduction of a phase shift in an all-fiber loop mirror architecture. Until now, mode-locking induced by a 3x3 fiber coupler has been associated only with nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors. Here, we present a self-starting ultrafast dispersion-managed all-polarization-maintaining Yb-doped oscillator that utilizes a nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror instead. We show three ways of introducing asymmetric losses in a loop via a variable optical attenuator, a fiber coupler, and a very simple lossy splice. Complete characterization of all output ports of the oscillator proves significant spectral and temporal breathing of the pulse when circulating through the net normal dispersion cavity, which can deliver nJ-level pulse energy. The system guarantees excellent stability and performance comparable to nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors while being simpler, cheaper, and providing more usable output ports with different characteristics.

show abstract

“…Apart from placing an amplifier in the loop (resulting in NALM), one can also interpose asymmetric losses [37]. This approach has already been demonstrated in even 50/50 2x2 couplers via a nonlinear absorbing loop mirror (NAbLM [38]), bending the fiber to introduce attenuation-imbalanced NOLM (AI-NOLM [39]), implementing a variable optical attenuator (power-imbalanced NOLM [40]), or placing an additional coupler in the loop [41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, inserting the losses in the loop lacking any phase shift may result in moving the mode-locking threshold towards even higher pumping powers or might lead to the necessity of using extreme lengths of fiber in the loop (over fifty meters [39,41]) or using highly nonlinear fibers [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Pielach,

Jamrozik,

Krupa

et al. 2023

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Artificial saturable absorbers based on loop mirrors often suffer from a not self-starting mode-locking operation. It is usually necessary to provide an additional phase shift in the loop, guaranteeing repeatable initiation of the pulsed regime. 3x3 even fiber couplers have recently enabled the introduction of a phase shift in an all-fiber loop mirror architecture. Until now, mode-locking induced by a 3x3 fiber coupler has been associated only with nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors. Here, we present a self-starting ultrafast dispersion-managed all-polarization-maintaining Yb-doped oscillator that utilizes a nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror instead. We show three ways of introducing asymmetric losses in a loop via a variable optical attenuator, a fiber coupler, and a very simple lossy splice. Complete characterization of all output ports of the oscillator proves significant spectral and temporal breathing of the pulse when circulating through the net normal dispersion cavity, which can deliver nJ-level pulse energy. The system guarantees excellent stability and performance comparable to nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors while being simpler, cheaper, and providing more usable output ports with different characteristics.

show abstract

All-polarization-maintaining figure-eight Er-fiber ultrafast laser with a bidirectional output coupler in the loss-imbalanced nonlinear optical loop mirror

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror

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