Single-frequency 1.7-μm Tm-doped fiber laser with optical bistability of both power and longitudinal mode behavior

The single-frequency operation of a thulium fiber laser at a short wavelength of 1720 nm is investigated in a ring resonator. Powerful single-longitudinal-mode operation was realized by utilizing an unpumped thulium-doped fiber as the saturable absorber. The fiber laser delivered 407 mW single-frequency output with a spectral linewidth of 4.4 kHz under 2.7-W launched pump power at 1570 nm, which turned to multi-longitudinal-mode operation at higher pump powers. Additionally, optical bistability of both output power and longitudinal mode behavior, originating from the saturable absorption effect, were observed and discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first efficient 1.7-μm single-frequency fiber laser as well as the first demonstration of optical bistability in thulium-doped fiber lasers.