High-Repetition-Rate Guided-Mode Femtosecond Laser
First Claim
1. A method for generating a high-repetition-rate guided-mode femtosecond laser comprising:
- providing a laser comprising the following cavity components;
a saturable absorption device, a reflector, and a waveguide extending between the saturable absorption device and the reflector;
providing an optical pulse that traverses the waveguide between the saturable absorption device and the reflector; and
producing a soliton from the optical pulse, the cavity components increasing the intensity of the pulse and providing a balance of dispersion and nonlinearity to provide the soliton with a pulsewidth of no more than 500 femtoseconds and a repetition rate of at least 500 MHz.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Femtosecond pulse trains in waveguide lasers with high fundamental repetition rates are achieved by exploiting the nonlinearity in the waveguide. Components of the apparatus include an optical resonator, a saturable absorber for starting and stabilizing mode-locking, and a gain element. Part of the laser cavity or the entire laser cavity is made of waveguide or fiber (collectively called “waveguide” herein). The net dispersion of the laser cavity can be anomalous. This anomalous dispersion in combination with the positive self-phase modulation nonlinearity in the waveguide creates soliton formation to shorten the pulse duration in the invented lasers. Conversely, a normal dispersive waveguide with negative self-phase modulation nonlinearity can also be used.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for generating a high-repetition-rate guided-mode femtosecond laser comprising:
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providing a laser comprising the following cavity components;
a saturable absorption device, a reflector, and a waveguide extending between the saturable absorption device and the reflector;providing an optical pulse that traverses the waveguide between the saturable absorption device and the reflector; and producing a soliton from the optical pulse, the cavity components increasing the intensity of the pulse and providing a balance of dispersion and nonlinearity to provide the soliton with a pulsewidth of no more than 500 femtoseconds and a repetition rate of at least 500 MHz. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A high-repetition-rate guided-mode femtosecond laser comprising:
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a laser cavity; a saturable absorption device in the laser cavity; a partial reflector in the laser cavity; and a waveguide extending between the saturable absorption device and the partial reflector in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification