Orthogonally Polarized Self-Mode-Locked Lasers With Repetition Rate Multiplication up to Hundreds of Gigahertz: Observation of Temporal Carpets

Abstract

Mode-locked laser sources with high repetition rates in the range of 10-1000 GHz are of considerable interest in modern communications, optical metrology, and photonic applications. Currently, developed laser systems generally suffer from the hardware complexity and energy loss. Here, we demonstrate a compact robust scheme based on a self-mode-locked monolithic Yb:KGW laser with external feedback coupling to achieve numerous repetition rate multiplications in the range of 25-330 GHz. The output pulse train consists of two orthogonally polarized components to form a vector state that is beneficial to practical applications. More intriguing, the pulse train measured as a function of the distance of the coupling feedback reveals a feature of the fractional recurrence that is like the Talbot carpet. An analytic formula is derived to manifest the formation of the temporal carpets. The developed experiment and formula not only pave a useful way for generating ultrahigh-repetition-rate femtosecond lasers but also provide new perspectives in the fractional recurrences of coherent waves.