Open AccessNonlinear mode-coupling for passive mode-locking: application of waveguide arrays, dual-core fibers, and/or fiber arrays
Author(s) -
Joshua L. Proctor,
J. Nathan Kutz
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.13.008933
Subject(s) - optics , radiation mode , coupling (piping) , waveguide , fiber laser , mode locking , optical fiber , materials science , mode coupling , core (optical fiber) , single mode optical fiber , laser , optoelectronics , physics , metallurgy
A detailed analysis of mode-locking is presented in which the nonlinear mode-coupling behavior in a waveguide array, dual-core fiber, and/or fiber array is used to achieve stable and robust passive modelocking. By using the discrete, nearest-neighbor spatial coupling of these nonlinear mode-coupling devices, low-intensity light can be transferred to the neighboring waveguides and ejected (attenuated) from the laser cavity. In contrast, higher intensity light is self-focused in the launch waveguide and remains largely unaffected. This nonlinear effect, which is a discrete Kerr lens effect, leads to the temporal intensity discrimination required in the laser cavity for mode-locking. Numerical studies of this pulse shaping mechanism show that using current waveguide arrays, fiber-arrays, or dual-core fibers in conjunction with standard optical fiber technology, stable and robustmode-locked soliton-like pulses are produced.