From multiple solitons to noise-like pulse in a passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser

Abstract

Operation states of multiple solitons (MS), noise-like pulses (NLP), and a special pattern of MS coexist with NLP have been observed in a passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser. By increasing the pump power or adjusting the polarization state of the cavity, the operation state from MS to NLP will go through three states: pure MS, MS & NLP, and pure NLP. The experiment results show that the state transition from pure MS to MS & NLP is mutational, while the state transition from MS & NLP to pure NLP is gradual. To our knowledge, this is the first time detailed exploration of the conversion process from MS to NLP operation in mode-locked fiber laser.