This work focuses on practical analysis of the Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror (NOLM). This all-fiber device serves as a saturable absorbers for passive mode-locking in ultrashort pulse generation. It has a great potential for further development as it’s made in all fiber technology, and can be easily adapted to custom system.

We investigate and provide experimental results as well as characteristics of NOLM’s in several different setups. The all-fiber laser system used for testing produced femtosecond pulses with a positive chirp. We present reflection as a function of input power and as a function of the coupler’s coupling. Also, relevant spectral characteristics are shown. These results may be useful in further development of fiber laser systems and other applications.

Date Published: 17 February 2017
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 10094, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XVII, 100941N (17 February 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2250105

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10094:
Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Applications XVII
Alexander Heisterkamp; Peter R. Herman; Michel Meunier; Roberto Osellame, Editor(s)