Mode-locked Er:Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser with 75-nm tuning range

We demonstrate a widely tunable Er:Yb-doped double-clad multiple-soliton fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR). Based on both an artificial birefringent filtering effect of the cavity and population inversion related gain variation, the central wavelength can be continuously tuned over 75 nm range (1545-1620 nm). Wavelength tunability is achieved by controlling both the linear loss of the cavity and the polarization controllers (PCs). This is the widest tunable range yet reported in tunable passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber lasers.