Abstract

We present an experimental study of pulse dynamics in a mode-locked Er:fiber laser. By injecting a continuous wave laser with sinusoidal intensity modulation into the fiber laser, we are able to modulate the gain. Measuring the response of the pulse energy, central frequency, central pulse time, and phase to the gain modulation allows determination of the parameters that describe their coupling. Based on the experimentally derived parameters, we evaluate the free running comb linewidth and frequency uncertainty with feedback included, assuming quantum noise is the limiting factor. Optimization of fiber lasers is also discussed.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

The quantum-limited comb lineshape of a mode-locked laser: Fundamental limits on frequency uncertainty

J. K. Wahlstrand, J. T. Willits, C. R. Menyuk, and S. T. Cundiff
Opt. Express 16(23) 18624-18630 (2008)

Quantitative measurement of timing and phase dynamics in a mode-locked laser

J. K. Wahlstrand, J. T. Willits, T. R. Schibli, C. R. Menyuk, and S. T. Cundiff
Opt. Lett. 32(23) 3426-3428 (2007)

Chirped pulse formation dynamics in ultra-long mode-locked fiber lasers

E. J. R. Kelleher and J. C. Travers
Opt. Lett. 39(6) 1398-1401 (2014)

Frequency comb linewidth of an actively mode-locked fiber laser

F. K. Fatemi, J. W. Lou, and T. F. Carruthers
Opt. Lett. 29(9) 944-946 (2004)

Toward an all-optically stabilized frequency comb based on a mode-locked fiber laser

Tim Hellwig, Steffen Rieger, and Carsten Fallnich
Opt. Lett. 39(3) 525-527 (2014)