Experimental study of an all-fiber laser actively mode-locked by standing-wave acousto-optic modulation

Abstract

We report an experimental study of an actively mode-locked erbium-doped all-fiber laser, based on a standing-wave acoustically-induced superlattice modulation. Our experiments involve the characterization of the laser as a function of the active fiber length, and with different types of delay line fibers. The effect of the modulation on the laser performance was also investigated. Narrower pulses were obtained at higher modulation depths, normal dispersion, and shorter lengths of active fiber. Optical pulses of 160 mW peak power and 630 ps temporal width were obtained at 9 MHz repetition rate.