Optimizing polarization states in a figure-8 laser using a nonreciprocal phase shifter

Author

Lin, Hong ; Donald, D.K. ; Sorin, Wayne V.

Author_Institution

Hewlett-Packard Labs., Palo Alto, CA, USA

Volume

12

Issue

7

fYear

1994

fDate

7/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1121

Lastpage

1128

Abstract

The polarization states in a figure and laser are analyzed using Jones matrices. The analysis shows that a figure-8 laser in CW operation does not give enough information to allow the optimization of the birefringence for mode-locking. A switchable nonreciprocal phase shifter is proposed to provide a simple way to optimize the birefringence for a mode-locked figure-8 laser. Using this device, the mode-locking of a diode-pumped figure-8 laser was started, with a probability better than 99%, by following a sequence of predetermined mechanical adjustment. With the proposed nonreciprocal phase shifter, the optimization and starting of a figure-8 laser can easily be automated

Keywords

birefringence; fibre lasers; laser mode locking; light polarisation; matrix algebra; nonlinear optics; optical fibres; optical pumping; CW operation; Jones matrices; birefringence; diode-pumped figure-8 laser; mode-locked figure-8 laser; mode-locking; nonreciprocal phase shifter; optimization; polarization states; predetermined mechanical adjustment; switchable nonreciprocal phase shifter; Birefringence; Diodes; Erbium-doped fiber lasers; Isolators; Laser mode locking; Optical fiber polarization; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Phase shifters; Pump lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.301803

Filename

301803