Flexible rectangular wave-breaking-free pulse generation in actively mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser

We demonstrate nanosecond scale rectangular wave-breaking-free pulse generation in an actively mode locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on a combined action of active periodic cavity loss modulation and nonlinear polarization rotation effect. The pulse width of the laser can be controlled in the range of 890 ps to above 124 ns instantaneously by adjusting the electrical signal applied on the modulator. As high as 19.8 nJ wave-breaking-free pulse is achieved with maximum available pump power. The output pulse temporal dynamics exhibit various distinct characteristics under different modulation and polarization control. The laser presents unusually flexible tunabilities in pulse width, pulse energy and pulse shape.