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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 15, Iss. 20 — Oct. 1, 2007
  • pp: 13155–13166

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 15 > Issue 20 > Page 13155

A passively mode-locked fiber laser at 1.54 μm with a fundamental repetition frequency reaching 2 GHz

J. J. McFerran, L. Nenadovic, W. C. Swann, J. B. Schlager, and N. R. Newbury  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 20, pp. 13155-13166 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.013155


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Abstract

We demonstrate a fundamentally mode-locked fiber laser with a repetition frequency in excess of 2 GHz at a central wavelength of 1.535 μm. Co-doped ytterbium-erbium fiber provides the gain medium for the laser, affording high gain per unit length, while a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SAM) provides the pulse shaping mechanism in a standing wave cavity. Results are shown confirming cw mode-locking for 1GHz and 2GHz repetition frequency systems. The response of the frequency comb output to pump power variations is shown to follow a single pole response. The timing jitter of a 540 MHz repetition-rate laser has been suppressed to below 100 fs through phase-lead compensated feedback to the pump power. Alternatively, a single comb line of a 850 MHz repetition-rate laser has been phase-locked to a narrow linewidth cw laser with an in-loop phase jitter of 0.06 rad2. The laser design is compatible with low-noise oscillator applications.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

OCIS Codes
(120.3930) Instrumentation, measurement, and metrology : Metrological instrumentation
(140.3510) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, fiber
(140.4050) Lasers and laser optics : Mode-locked lasers
(230.0250) Optical devices : Optoelectronics

ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics

History
Original Manuscript: August 8, 2007
Revised Manuscript: September 17, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: September 23, 2007
Published: September 26, 2007

Citation
J. J. McFerran, L. Nenadovic, W. C. Swann, J. B. Schlager, and N. R. Newbury, "A passively mode-locked fiber laser at 1.54 μm with a fundamental repetition frequency reaching 2 GHz," Opt. Express 15, 13155-13166 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-20-13155


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