Comparison of the polarization dynamics of three different gain fibers in a continuous wave laser oscillator

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the polarization dynamics of three kinds of gain fiber, the single-polarizing photonic crystal fiber, double clad polarization-maintaining large mode area fiber and double clad large mode area nonpolarizing fiber, in a continuous wave fiber laser oscillator under different initial polarization directions and pumping powers. The comparison results demonstrate that there are some distinguishable differences for the polarization evolutions inside the three kinds of active fibers. The polarization operation status of the fiber oscillator strongly depends on not only the gain fiber’s kinds, but also the length of the fiber, initial polarization directions and pumping power. The results suggest that polarization instability in a fiber laser should be an inherent reason for the higher operation noise.