Manipulating polarization dynamics of temporal solitons in a 20-GHz micro fiber Fabry-Pérot laser

In this work, we report on manipulating the polarization characteristics of temporal solitons in a microfiber Fabry-Pérot (FP) laser with a fundamental repetition rate of 20 GHz at 1.5 μm. By controlling the temperature of the microfiber oscillator, the state of temporal solitons can be switched from vector to scalar (linearly polarized) state. Further experimental and numerical studies suggest that polarization dynamics of temporal solitons are related to cavity birefringence changes in thermal manipulation, i.e., polarization-evolution frequency of vector solitons is reduced with weakened birefringence. Finally, the 20-GHz fiber laser, operating at scalar state, exhibits a radio frequency signal with a signal-to-noise ratio of >80 dB. These efforts may provide a flexible method for controlling micro fiber FP lasers.