Optimizing Waveguide Array Mode-Locking for High-Power Fiber Lasers

Author

Bale, Brandon G. ; Kutz, J. Nathan ; Sandstede, Björn

Author_Institution

Photonics Res. Group, Aston Univ., Birmingham, UK

Volume

15

Issue

1

fYear

2009

Firstpage

220

Lastpage

231

Abstract

A comprehensive theoretical treatment is given of the mode-locking dynamics produced by the intensity discrimination (saturable absorption) generated by the nonlinear mode-coupling in a waveguide array. Emphasis is placed on the mode-locking stability as a function of the critical physical parameters in the laser cavity. The theoretical characterization of the laser cavity´s stability and dynamics allows for a comprehensive optimization of the laser cavity parameters toward achieving high peak power, high-energy pulses in both the anomalous and normal dispersion regimes.

Keywords

fibre lasers; high-speed optical techniques; laser cavity resonators; laser mode locking; optical saturable absorption; optical waveguides; dispersion regimes; high-energy pulses; high-power fiber lasers; intensity discrimination; laser cavity; mode-locking stability; nonlinear mode-coupling; saturable absorption; waveguide array mode-locking; Absorption; Fiber lasers; High power fiber lasers; Laser mode locking; Laser stability; Laser theory; Optical arrays; Power lasers; Waveguide lasers; Waveguide theory; Lasers; mode-locked lasers; solitons; waveguide arrays;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2008.2010268

Filename

4773320