Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm

Mode-locked fiber laser technology to date has been limited to sub-3 μm wavelengths despite significant application-driven demand for compact picosecond and femtosecond pulse sources at longer wavelengths. Erbium-doped and holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers incorporating a saturable absorber are em...

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Main Authors: R. I. Woodward, M. R. Majewski, S. D. Jackson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2018-11-01
Series:APL Photonics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5045799
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author R. I. Woodward
M. R. Majewski
S. D. Jackson
author_facet R. I. Woodward
M. R. Majewski
S. D. Jackson
author_sort R. I. Woodward
collection DOAJ
description Mode-locked fiber laser technology to date has been limited to sub-3 μm wavelengths despite significant application-driven demand for compact picosecond and femtosecond pulse sources at longer wavelengths. Erbium-doped and holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers incorporating a saturable absorber are emerging as promising pulse sources for 2.7–2.9 μm, yet it remains a major challenge to extend this coverage. Here, we propose a new approach using a dysprosium-doped fiber with frequency shifted feedback (FSF). Using a simple linear cavity with an acousto-optic tunable filter, we generate ∼33 ps pulses with up to 2.7 nJ energy and 330 nm tunability from 2.97 to 3.30 μm (∼3000–3400 cm−1)—the first mode-locked fiber laser to cover this spectral region and the most broadly tunable pulsed fiber laser to date. Numerical simulations show excellent agreement with experiments and also offer new insights into the underlying dynamics of FSF pulse generation. This highlights the remarkable potential of both dysprosium as a gain material and FSF for versatile pulse generation, opening new opportunities for mid-IR laser development and practical applications outside the laboratory.
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spelling doaj.art-f1d068200faf4a39a732165d940dc7d12022-12-22T03:46:38ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672018-11-01311116106116106-1110.1063/1.5045799005810APPMode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μmR. I. Woodward0M. R. Majewski1S. D. Jackson2MQ Photonics, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, New South Wales, AustraliaMQ Photonics, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, New South Wales, AustraliaMQ Photonics, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, New South Wales, AustraliaMode-locked fiber laser technology to date has been limited to sub-3 μm wavelengths despite significant application-driven demand for compact picosecond and femtosecond pulse sources at longer wavelengths. Erbium-doped and holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers incorporating a saturable absorber are emerging as promising pulse sources for 2.7–2.9 μm, yet it remains a major challenge to extend this coverage. Here, we propose a new approach using a dysprosium-doped fiber with frequency shifted feedback (FSF). Using a simple linear cavity with an acousto-optic tunable filter, we generate ∼33 ps pulses with up to 2.7 nJ energy and 330 nm tunability from 2.97 to 3.30 μm (∼3000–3400 cm−1)—the first mode-locked fiber laser to cover this spectral region and the most broadly tunable pulsed fiber laser to date. Numerical simulations show excellent agreement with experiments and also offer new insights into the underlying dynamics of FSF pulse generation. This highlights the remarkable potential of both dysprosium as a gain material and FSF for versatile pulse generation, opening new opportunities for mid-IR laser development and practical applications outside the laboratory.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5045799
spellingShingle R. I. Woodward
M. R. Majewski
S. D. Jackson
Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
APL Photonics
title Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
title_full Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
title_fullStr Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
title_full_unstemmed Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
title_short Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: Picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 μm
title_sort mode locked dysprosium fiber laser picosecond pulse generation from 2 97 to 3 30 μm
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5045799
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