Gain dependent pulse regimes transitions in a dissipative dispersion-managed fibre laser.

Junsong Peng

doi:10.1364/oe.24.003046

Abstract

For the first time, we demonstrate the possibility to switch between three distinct pulse regimes in a dissipative dispersion-managed (DM) fibre laser by solely controlling the gain saturation energy. Nonlinear Schrödinger equation based simulations show the transitions between hyper-Gaussian similaritons, parabolic similaritons, and dissipative solitons in the same laser cavity. It is also shown that such transitions exist in a wide dispersion range from all-normal to slightly net-normal dispersion. This work demonstrates that besides dispersion and filter managements gain saturation energy can be a new degree of freedom to manage pulse regimes in DM fibre lasers, which offers flexibility in designing ultrafast fibre lasers. Also, the result indicates that in contrast to conservative soliton lasers whose intensity profiles are unique, dissipative DM lasers show diversity in pulse shapes. The findings not only give a better understanding of pulse shaping mechanisms in mode-locked lasers, but also provide insight into dissipative systems.

Highlights

Mode-locked fibre lasers have been extensively studied since their first realization in 1992 [1, 2], as they are scientifically interesting and can be an attractive source for practical applications
The input pulses converge to a new type of self-similar linearly chirped pulses in the nonlinear attractor, when s is smaller than the value, which means nonlinearity in the amplifier plays a minor role here
The laser emits HG similaritons when nonlinearity is weak in the gain fibre, which means nonlinearity does not account for its formation; when nonlinearity comes to play by increasing the gain saturation energy, the wellknown nonlinear attractor effect shapes the pulse to form parabolic amplifier similaritons; self-similar evolution is disrupted as the spectral bandwidth approaches the gain bandwidth of the gain fibre and dissipative solitons (DSs) is generated instead

Summary

Introduction

Mode-locked fibre lasers have been extensively studied since their first realization in 1992 [1, 2], as they are scientifically interesting and can be an attractive source for practical applications. Besides DSs, amplifier similaritons which rely on a local nonlinear attractor can be generated in normal-dispersion fibre lasers[7]. They were firstly observed in an amplifier[8]. The amplifier similaritons can be decoupled from average cavity parameters; for instance, they can be generated even in anomalous-dispersion regime[9], as they rely on a local nonlinear attractor. The existence of HG similariton in a laser is yet to be demonstrated

Results

Discussion

Conclusion