Direct generation of a 10 GHz 816 fs pulse train from an erbium-fiber soliton laser with asynchronous phase modulation

Abstract

By employing the technique of asynchronous mode locking, we have successfully demonstrated direct generation of stable 10 GHz 816 fs pulse trains with a supermode-suppression ratio > 70 dB from a hybrid mode-locked Er-fiber laser. When the modulation frequency deviates from the cavity harmonic frequency by 15-40 kHz, stable femtosecond soliton pulses are formed. Our results demonstrate that asynchronous mode locking can act as an effective mechanism for achieving a shorter pulse width and for stabilizing high-repetition-rate pulse trains in soliton fiber lasers. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.