Brandon G. Bale

Pulse generation without gain-bandwidth limitation in a laser with self-similar evolution

With existing techniques for mode-locking, the bandwidth of ultrashort pulses from a laser is determined primarily by the spectrum of the gain medium. Lasers with self-similar evolution of the pulse in the gain medium can tolerate strong spectral breathing, which is stabilized by nonlinear attraction to the parabolic self-similar pulse. Here we show that this property can be exploited in a fiber laser to eliminate the gain-bandwidth limitation to the pulse duration. Broad (∼200 nm) spectra are generated through passive nonlinear propagation in a normal-dispersion laser, and these can be dechirped to ∼20-fs duration.

Transition dynamics for multi-pulsing in mode-locked lasers

We consider experimentally and theoretically a refined parameter space in a laser system near the transition to multi-pulse modelocking. Near the transition, the onset of instability is initiated by a Hopf (periodic) bifurcation. As the cavity energy is increased, the band of unstable, oscillatory modes generates a chaotic behavior between single- and multi-pulse operation. Both theory and experiment are in good qualitative agreement and they suggest that the phenomenon is of a universal nature in mode-locked lasers at the onset of multi-pulsing from N to N +1 pulses per round trip. This is the first theoretical and experimental characterization of the transition behavior, made possible by a highly refined tuning of the gain pump level.

Dissipative dispersion-managed solitons in mode-locked lasers

We extend the theory of dispersion-managed solitons to dissipative systems with a focus on mode-locked fiber lasers. Dissipative structures exist at high map strengths, leading to the generation of stable, short pulses with high energy. Two types of intramap pulse evolution are observed depending on the net cavity dispersion. These are characterized by a reduced model, and semianalytical solutions are obtained.

Strong spectral filtering for a mode-locked similariton fiber laser.

We propose a novel mode-locked fiber laser design that relies on attracting similariton solutions in fiber amplifiers with normal group-velocity dispersion and strong spectral filtering to compensate increased pulse duration and bandwidth. Stable high-energy, large-bandwidth pulses are obtained that can be linearly compressed, resulting in ultrashort pulses.

Spectral filtering for mode locking in the normal dispersive regime.

A theoretical model that characterizes the physical process responsible for generating ultrashort, high-energy, mode-locked pulses in a normal-dispersion laser cavity with strong spectral filtering is developed. According to this model, two of the critical physical parameters used to achieve optimal performance are the ratio of the filter bandwidth to the gain bandwidth and the placement of the output coupler in the laser cavity. The spectral filtering plays a crucial role in maintaining a short pulse duration with high energy. This phenomenon is generic to mode locking with normal dispersion.

All-fiber passively mode-locked femtosecond laser using a 45º-tilted fiber grating polarization element

We report on the demonstration of an all-fiber femtosecond erbium doped fiber laser passively mode-locked using a 45º tilted fiber grating as an in-fiber polarizer in the laser cavity. The laser generates 600 fs pulses with output pulse energies ~1 nJ. Since the 45° tilted grating has a broad polarization response, the laser output has shown a tunabilty in wavelength from 1548 nm to 1562 nm by simply adjusting the polarization controllers in the cavity.

Effects of fourth-order fiber dispersion on ultrashort parabolic optical pulses in the normal dispersion regime

We propose a new method for the generation of both triangular-shaped optical pulses and flat-top, coherent supercontinuum spectra using the effect of fourth-order dispersion on parabolic pulses in a passive, normally dispersive highly nonlinear fiber. The pulse reshaping process is described qualitatively and is compared to numerical simulations.

Impact of third-order fibre dispersion on the evolution of parabolic optical pulses

We develop a perturbation analysis that describes the effect of third-order dispersion on the similariton pulse solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation in a fibre gain medium. The theoretical model predicts with sufficient accuracy the pulse structural changes induced, which are observed through direct numerical simulations.

Optimizing Waveguide Array Mode-Locking for High-Power Fiber Lasers

A comprehensive theoretical treatment is given of the mode-locking dynamics produced by the intensity discrimination (saturable absorption) generated by the nonlinear mode-coupling in a waveguide array. Emphasis is placed on the mode-locking stability as a function of the critical physical parameters in the laser cavity. The theoretical characterization of the laser cavitys stability and dynamics allows for a comprehensive optimization of the laser cavity parameters toward achieving high peak power, high-energy pulses in both the anomalous and normal dispersion regimes.

Analytic theory of self-similar mode-locking

A theoretical model is developed to quantify the experimental observations of self-similar parabolic pulses in a mode-locked laser cavity with net-zero dispersion. The averaging procedure used shows the pulse amplitude to be governed by the porous media equation that has the well-known Barenblatt similarity (parabolic) solution, suggesting that it is a viable theoretical description of temporal profiles observed in mode-locked cavities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analytic model proposing a mechanism responsible for generating temporal parabolic pulses.