Mode Locked Fiber Lasers and Their Applications

摘要

A modelocked fiber laser design was fabricated and tested at Rome Laboratory.Significant features are a fully integrated portable assembly and complete freedom from polarization sensitivity. A remarkable low threshold power of 50 mw enables use of single element laser diode pumping. Extensive optimization of the Multiple Quantum Well Saturable Absorber has resulted in stable 10 pico second pedestal free modelocked pulses in a passive self-starting configuration. Active modelocking was also investigated but was found to generate longer pulses. Synchronization with a second fiber laser was demonstrated to increase the repetition rate by more than order of magnitude. Soliton pulse shaping in the cavity is indicated but requires further work to establish. The signal pulses are transform limited and can support data rates exceeding the limitations of present state of the art diode based laser sources.