Title :
Mode-locking by nonlinear polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier
Author :
Li, Zhonggui ; Yang, Xuelin ; Tangdiongga, Eduward ; Heongkyu-Ju ; Khoe, Giok-Djan ; Dorren, Harm J S ; Lenstra, Daan
Author_Institution :
Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Netherlands
Abstract :
This paper numerically investigates a passive mode-locking system based on nonlinear polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The principle of polarization-dependent gain saturation induced by the high-intensity part of the optical pulse in a SOA makes it possible to reshape the pulse in such a way that the low-intensity part is cut away. This will result in pulse narrowing and, when realized in a loop with sufficiently high gain, will lead to mode locking. The reshaping is realized by simple polarization controlling elements. Extensive numerical simulations have been done for commercially available SOA with a consistent pulse propagation model.
Keywords :
laser mode locking; light polarisation; optical pulse compression; optical pulse shaping; optical rotation; optical saturation; semiconductor optical amplifiers; gain saturation; mode-locking; nonlinear polarization rotation; optical pulse reshaping; polarization controlling elements; pulse narrowing; pulse propagation model; semiconductor optical amplifier; Laser mode locking; Optical polarization; Optical pulses; Optical scattering; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse shaping methods; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Space vector pulse width modulation; Tellurium; White noise;
Conference_Titel :
Quantum Electronics Conference, 2005. EQEC '05. European
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8973-5
DOI :
10.1109/EQEC.2005.1567182