Iegorov, R.Teamir, T.Makey, G.Ilday, F. Ö.2019-02-112019-02-1120162334-2536http://hdl.handle.net/11693/49258Mode 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.EnglishArticle10.1364/OPTICA.3.001312