Direct generation of high peak power noise-like pulse from an all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator at 1550 nm

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Mamyshev oscillators (MOs) are fiber lasers capable of generating unique pulse formats.
• Achieving high peak power directly from fiber laser cavities is crucial for nonlinear applications.
• Noise-like pulses (NLPs) offer broad spectral bandwidth and high energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate direct generation of high peak power NLPs from an all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator.
• To investigate the performance of offset spectral filters as artificial saturable absorbers in MOs.
• To explore the potential of the generated NLPs for nonlinear optical applications, such as supercontinuum generation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator (MO) mode-locked with offset spectral filters acting as an artificial saturable absorber.
• Optimized pump power and filter characteristics to control NLP properties.
• Characterized the output pulse energy, peak power, coherence spike, pedestal width, and repetition rate.
• Employed the generated NLPs to pump a 1 m nonlinear optical fiber for supercontinuum generation.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated noise-like pulses (NLPs) with 0.565 µJ pulse energy and 80.7 kW peak power at 1550 nm.
• Achieved maximum average output power of 1.9 W with a coherence spike duration of 157 fs and pedestal width of 7 ps at a 3.36 MHz repetition rate.
• Obtained the highest peak power NLP directly from an all-fiber laser cavity at 1550 nm to date.
• Generated a supercontinuum spanning 750 nm (1285 nm to 2035 nm) by pumping a nonlinear fiber with the all-fiber NLP source.

Conclusions:

• The developed all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator provides a compact and efficient source of high peak power noise-like pulses.
• The use of offset spectral filters enables precise control over NLP characteristics, including peak power.
• The high peak power NLP source shows significant potential for driving nonlinear optical processes and applications, including broadband supercontinuum generation.