High-quality optical pulse train generator based on solitons on finite background

Abstract

We report a simple method to exploit the typical properties of solitons on a finite background in order to generate high-repetition-rate and high-quality optical pulse trains. We take advantage of the nonlinear evolution of a modulated continuous wave toward localized structures upon a nonzero background wave in anomalous dispersive fiber. After a stage of nonlinear compression, a delay-line interferometer enables the annihilation of the finite background and simultaneously allows the repetition-rate doubling of the pulse train.