Direct control of mode-locking states of a fiber laser
Date
2016
Authors
Iegorov, R.
Teamir, T.
Makey, G.
Ilday, F. Ö.
Editor(s)
Advisor
Supervisor
Co-Advisor
Co-Supervisor
Instructor
Source Title
Optica
Print ISSN
2334-2536
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
Optical Society of America
Volume
3
Issue
12
Pages
1312 - 1315
Language
English
Type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Series
Abstract
Mode locking is a non-equilibrium steady state. Capability to control mode-locking states can be used to improve performance as well as shed light on non-equilibrium physics using the laser as an experimental platform. We demonstrate direct control of the mode-locking state using spectral pulse shaping by incorporating a spatial light modulator at a Fourier plane inside the cavity of an Yb-doped fiber laser. We show that we can halt and restart mode locking, suppress instabilities, induce controlled reversible and irreversible transitions between mode-locking states, and perform advanced pulse shaping while using pulses as short as 40 fs.