Dual-parameter femtosecond mode-locking pulse generation in partially shared all-polarization-maintaining fiber Y-shaped oscillator with a single saturable absorber

Abstract

We present a design of a mode-locked fiber laser based on a polarization-maintaining (PM) Y-shaped fiber structure, which employs a single semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) and a common polarization beam combiner (PBC) to achieve dual- parameter mode-locking femtosecond pulse in two orthogonal polarization states. The two output pulses have different characteristics, such as repetition frequency (87.3 MHz and 91.3 MHz), average output powers (2.1 mW and 1.9 mW), pulse durations (299 fs and 377 fs) and spectral profiles (centered at 1565.6 nm and 1563.6 nm with spectral width of 9.96 nm and 9.93 nm). The properties of the two pulses are experimentally characterized and their potential applications in areas such as bistable frequency lasers and dual femtosecond optical frequency comb is discussed.