Coherent light generators – Particular beam control device – Q-switch
Patent
1998-02-11
2000-06-06
Healy, Brian
Coherent light generators
Particular beam control device
Q-switch
372 18, 372 6, 372 19, 372 69, 372 70, 372 75, 372105, 372106, 385 11, 385 37, H01S 3113, G02B 634
Patent
active
060728116
ABSTRACT:
Stable operation of an ultra-compact modelocked fiber laser generating short optical pulses generally without use of any non-fiber, intra-cavity polarization-manipulating elements is obtained by employing a saturable absorber coupled to one end of a highly-birefringent fiber serving as the laser cavity. Once the laser is modelocked in one of the polarization axes of the highly-birefringent fiber, the degeneracy of the polarization axis is eliminated and cw oscillation along the other polarization axis is also prevented. Without a polarization-dependent loss in the cavity, the modelocked polarization axis is indeterminate, i.e., modelocking can occur on either of the polarization axes. However, the introduction of only a small polarization dependent loss is sufficient to ensure the reliable start-up of modelocking on only the low-loss axis. Such a small polarization dependent loss can be introduced by tightly coiling the highly-birefringent fiber, which generates a higher loss along the fast axis; thus, reliable modelocked operation along the slow axis is obtained. Alternatively, single polarization operation is obtained by employing a saturable absorber with a polarization-dependent loss or by introducing polarization-manipulating elements external to the laser cavity.
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Fermann Martin E.
Harter Donald J.
Healy Brian
Imra America
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