Theoretical study of mode-locked lasers with nonlinear loop mirrors

Anton V. Kovalev; Evgeny A. Viktorov; Natalia Rebrova; Andrei G. Vladimirov; Guillaume Huyet

doi:10.1117/12.2307620

9 May 2018 Theoretical study of mode-locked lasers with nonlinear loop mirrors

Anton V. Kovalev, Evgeny A. Viktorov, Natalia Rebrova, Andrei G. Vladimirov, Guillaume Huyet

Proceedings Volume 10682, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics VIII; 1068226 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2307620
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2018, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

We analyze the properties of a unidirectional class-A ring laser containing a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM). The NALM is a Sagnac interferometer consisting of an amplifier and a Kerr-type nonlinear element, and has a reflectivity that periodically varies with the intra-cavity power. To model the dynamics of these lasers, we use the approach based on Delay Differential Equations (DDEs) that has been successfully applied to describe the properties of passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers. The proposed model allows us to investigate mode locking operation in this laser. The analysis of this DDE model for mode-locked operation was performed numerically and analytically in the limit of large cavity round trip times. We demonstrate that mode-locked pulses are born though a modulational instability of the steady state solutions when the pseudo- continuous branch crosses the imaginary axis. These asymmetric pulses always co-exist with the stable laser-off solution. Hence, they can be viewed as temporal cavity solitons having similar properties with localized structures observed in bistable spatially-extended systems.

Citation Download Citation

Anton V. Kovalev, Evgeny A. Viktorov, Natalia Rebrova, Andrei G. Vladimirov, and Guillaume Huyet "Theoretical study of mode-locked lasers with nonlinear loop mirrors", Proc. SPIE 10682, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics VIII, 1068226 (9 May 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2307620

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available