Actively Q-switched mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser with high mode-locking contrast

Abstract

Reliable Q-switched and mode-locked operation of Yb-doped fiber lasers is investigated by employing an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) in a linear cavity configuration. The widths and shapes of the Q-switched envelopes mainly depend on the external modulation frequency of the AOM and near symmetric Q-switched pulses can be generated. Within the Q-switched envelopes, harmonic mode-locked pulses with near 100% modulation depth at the 40 MHz repetition rate are experimentally observed.