Generation of a noise-like pulse from an all-polarization-maintaining Er fiber laser in a Figure-eight configuration with a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror

Abstract

We have experimentally demonstrated a generation of a self-started noise-like pulse (NLP) in an all-polarization-maintaining Er-doped fiber (PM-EDF) laser with a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror in a Figure-8 configuration. By controlling the length of the normal dispersion fiber in the cavity, the NLP average output power of 5.70 mW with a spectral bandwidth of 2.2 nm at a repetition rate of 3.08 MHz was obtained. An autocorrelation trace of the NLP contained long and short pulses, typical features of the NLP. The output NLP was amplified by a homemade normal dispersion PM-EDF amplifier, resulting in an output average output power of 216 mW with a spectral bandwidth of 3.2 nm. This developed NLP is well-suitable for pump sources of supercontinuum generation.