Study of a figure-eight laser generating noise-like pulses with adjustable characteristics

O. Pottiez; B. Ibarra-Escamilla; E. A. Kuzin; J. C. Hernandez-Garcia

doi:10.1117/12.901953

25 October 2011 Study of a figure-eight laser generating noise-like pulses with adjustable characteristics

O. Pottiez, B. Ibarra-Escamilla, E. A. Kuzin, J. C. Hernandez-Garcia

Proceedings Volume 8011, 22nd Congress of the International Commission for Optics: Light for the Development of the World; 801138 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901953
Event: International Commission for Optics (ICO 22), 2011, Puebla, Mexico

Abstract

In this work we study experimentally and numerically a passively mode-locked figure-eight fiber laser that includes a polarization-imbalanced Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror (NOLM), whose switching power can be adjusted through a wave retarder plate. The laser emits broadband noise-like pulses with a bandwidth that can exceed 50 nm. The pulses are actually sub-nanosecond wave packets with an inner fine structure of sub-ps pulses with random amplitude and duration. The duration of the pulses as well as their spectral width can be adjusted through the variation of the NOLM switching power. Numerical simulations are in good agreement with experimental results, confirming in particular the strong dependence of the pulse properties on the value of the NOLM switching power, although NOLM switching alone does not explain the appearance of the noise-like pulsing mode. The properties of this kind of pulses, like their wide bandwidth and energy, make them attractive for applications like supercontinuum generation and metrology.

Citation Download Citation

O. Pottiez, B. Ibarra-Escamilla, E. A. Kuzin, and J. C. Hernandez-Garcia "Study of a figure-eight laser generating noise-like pulses with adjustable characteristics", Proc. SPIE 8011, 22nd Congress of the International Commission for Optics: Light for the Development of the World, 801138 (25 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901953

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