Passive mode locking by using nonlinear polarization evolution in a polarization-maintaining erbium-doped fiber

Abstract

By using a new simple cavity design, in which both linear and nonlinear polarization evolution are reproducibly controlled, we demonstrate passive mode locking in a Fabry–Perot-type erbium fiber laser. The laser generates stable trains of pulses as short as 200 fs with an energy content of 70 pJ at repetition rates as high as 100 MHz.