Numerical Maps for Fiber Lasers Mode Locked with Nonlinear Polarization Evolution: Comparison with Semi-Analytical Models

We have used a fully vectorial model based on two coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations to study mode locking and pulse generation initiated and stabilized by nonlinear polarization evolution in a stretched pulse, double-clad, Yb-doped, fiber laser. The model takes explicitly into account gain saturation, finite amplification bandwidth, Kerr-induced self- and cross-phase modulations, group velocity dispersion, polarization control, and linear birefringence. Complete maps versus the orientation of intra-cavity wave-plates have been established. They comprise a large variety of pulse regimes that can be simply obtained by turning the intracavity wave-plate: stable single pulse per round tri…

Highly-chirped similaritons generation from a mode-locked fiber laser

In this communication, we report experimental and numerical results on dynamics and propagation of self-similar pulses in a passively mode-locked ytterbium doped DC fiber laser.

Potentialités des lasers à fibre dans la génération de rayonnement cohérent UV

Le premier laser a fibre dope aux ions de terres rares fonctionna au tout debut des annees 60. Il fournissait quelques milliwatts autour de 1 μm. Les decades suivantes virent tres peu d'ameliorations tant du cote des laboratoires que du point de vue industriel. La derniere decennie (1995/2005) vit se concretiser la seconde revolution des lasers a fibres. Deja kilowatt en continu, ils atteignent desormais les 10 13 watts/cm 2 avec des impulsions de la centaine de femtoseconde. Lors de cette presentation nous passerons en revue les potentialites des lasers a fibre. Nous decrirons les verrous technologiques qui ont ete leves ces dix dernieres annees pour les regimes CW mais aussi femtosecondes…

Generation of Bound States of Three Ultrashort Pulses With a Passively Mode-Locked High-Power Yb-Doped Double-Clad Fiber Laser

We report the generation of high-power ultrashort bound states of three pulses in an ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber laser. The laser is mode-locked through nonlinear polarization rotation technique in a unidirectional cavity configuration. A pair of diffraction grating is incorporated in the cavity to compensate for the normal dispersion of the fiber. The laser generates chirped bound states of three pulses with either equal or different time separations, with more than 500-pJ energy per pulse. These pulses are subsequently compressed to 100 fs with a compression factor of more than 40.

Passively mode-locked laser based on an ultra-large dispersion Yb-doped fiber

Summary form only given. We report on the first realization of a passively mode-locked oscillator featuring an ultra-large dispersion Yb-doped Bragg fiber. The gain medium is a double-clad Bragg fiber featuring a 20 μm Yb-doped core surrounded by a 120 μm inner cladding [1]. The 2 m long gain fiber is cladding-pumped with a fiber-coupled laser diode emitting at 976 nm. Passive mode locking is achieved by the combined actions of nonlinear polarization evolution and a SESAM. Mode-locking is initiated by optimizing the saturation criteria on the saturable absorber mirror using an adequate focusing lens. The emission wavelength of the oscillator is controlled using a passive spectral filter int…

On the possibility of observing bound soliton pairs in a "wave-breaking-free" mode-locked fiber laser

To generate ultrashort pulses with higher energy in passively mode-locked fiber lasers, several groups have recently focused on the development of laser cavities operating in normal path-averaged dispersion, with a view to achieve wave-breaking-free operation. The mode-locking mechanism in fiber laser play a key role in providing scalability limitation: for instance, nonlinear polarization evolution can be overdriven. Furthermore, the differential gain of the doped fiber decreases along with the traveled distance. From all of these limitations, it follows that power scalability is always bounded for virtually any mode-locked laser cavity design. In general, the consequence is the emergence …

On the possibility of observing bound soliton pairs in a wave-breaking-free mode-locked fiber laser

On the basis of numerical simulations, we explain the formation of the stable bound soliton pairs that were experimentally reported in a high-power mode-locked ytterbium fiber laser [Opt. Express 14, 6075 (2006)], in a regime where wave-breaking-free operation is expected. A fully vectorial model allows one to rigorously reproduce the nonmonotonic nature for the nonlinear polarization effect that generally limits the power scalability of a single-pulse self-similar regime. Simulations show that a self-similar regime is not fully obtained, although positive linear chirps and parabolic spectra are always reported. As a consequence, nonvanishing pulse tails allow distant stable binding of high…

Potentialities of fiber lasers in the generation of coherent UV radiation