Programmable spectral peak generation by a mode-locked Er-fiber laser with an intracavity LCOS-SLM filter

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Intracavity spectral modulation in mode-locked lasers offers control over pulse characteristics.
• Liquid crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulators (LCOS-SLMs) provide high-resolution spectral filtering capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser incorporating an LCOS-SLM for programmable spectral control.
• To demonstrate the generation of narrow linewidth spectral peaks directly from the laser oscillator.
• To investigate the effects of simultaneous spectral and group delay dispersion (GDD) control on pulse output.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a high-resolution LCOS-SLM as an intracavity spectral filter in an Er-doped fiber laser.
• Programmable control of spectral phase and intensity modulation using the LCOS-SLM.
• Simultaneous adjustment of intracavity group delay dispersion (GDD).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated programmable generation of narrow linewidth spectral peaks directly from the mode-locked laser.
• Achieved generation of 20 distinct spectral peaks with 100 pm linewidth over a 17 nm bandwidth.
• Observed burst-like pulse trains with intra-burst repetition rates up to 252 GHz due to spectral modulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed LCOS-SLM-based fiber laser enables precise control over spectral properties.
• This technique allows for the generation of complex pulse structures, including multi-peak spectra and high-repetition-rate bursts.
• The findings open possibilities for advanced optical signal generation and processing applications.