Relaxation oscillation behavior in polarization-additive mode-locked Er-doped fiber ring lasers

Summary form only given. We have reported that a polarization APM EDF laser has extremely low noise characteristics. We have also found its noise performance reaches the quantum limit, i.e., the state with only amplified spontaneous emission noise. This quiet state of operation is achieved only under special conditions. In this report, we describe an investigation of how quantum-limited noise performance depends upon operation conditions.