Dissipative solitons generated from a mode-locked Raman laser

Abstract

Stolen, et al. introduced synchronously pumped oscillators where gain was achieved through stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) as a method to reach wavelengths outside of the limited range covered by laser gain media [1]. Raman lasers are thus pumped by another laser source and generate a frequency-shifted Stokes (or anti Stokes) wave. Raman solitons which are generated by this technique typically require km-long cavities, require anomalous-dispersion fibers and are limited to low pulse energies [2]. Self-similarly evolving parabolic pulses have also been generated, but required km-long fibers and achieved 6 ps duration [3]. Here, we present a new type of Raman oscillator, which supports dissipative solitons, does not require anomalous dispersion and a km-long cavity.