3 GHz, watt-level femtosecond Raman soliton source

We demonstrate a 3 GHz repetition rate, femtosecond Raman soliton source with its wavelength tunable from 1.15 to 1.35 μm. We investigate the dependence of Raman soliton formation on different photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs), input powers, and fiber lengths. To produce a Raman soliton peaking at the same wavelength, shorter PCFs demand higher input average powers and consequently generate stronger Raman soliton pulses. Using 30 cm PCF NL-3.2-945, the resulting Raman soliton pulse at 1.35 μm has 0.9 W average power. The integrated relative intensity noise of the Raman soliton pulse at 1.35 μm generated from the 54-cm PCF NL-3.2-945 is as low as 0.33% from 100 Hz to 10 MHz.