Wavelength-switchable and multi-pulse bound state based on a hybrid mode-locked mechanism

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Fiber Laser Technology
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Mode-locked fiber lasers are crucial for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
• Nonlinear effects like multimode interference and polarization rotation are key to advanced laser dynamics.
• Controlling pulse characteristics and generating complex pulse structures remain active research areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To combine nonlinear multimode interference and nonlinear polarization rotation in a single fiber laser cavity.
• To experimentally investigate the generation of stable optical soliton and multi-pulse regimes.
• To explore the creation and tunability of bound-state optical pulses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a fiber laser incorporating both nonlinear multimode interference and nonlinear polarization rotation.
• Experimentally tuned intra-cavity conditions to alter laser dynamics.
• Analyzed the generated optical pulses for stability, pulse number, and spectral characteristics.

Main Results:

• Achieved stable generation of optical soliton and multi-pulse regimes at a constant frequency of 11.44 MHz.
• Observed diverse properties of bound-state pulses by modifying intra-cavity parameters.
• Reported, for the first time, a bound-state pulse composed of over thirty sub-pulses.
• Demonstrated wavelength switching of bound-state pulses across the entire C band.

Conclusions:

• The combined nonlinear techniques enable robust control over mode-locked fiber laser output.
• The novel bound-state pulse generation represents a significant advancement in ultrafast optics.
• The demonstrated wavelength tunability broadens the potential applications of such fiber lasers.