Experimental evolution of the temporal and spectral profiles of noise-like pulses within the mode-locked regions of a figure-eight fiber laser

We present an experimental analysis of the pulse profile variability within the mode-locked regions of an erbium-doped figure-eight fiber laser (EDFEFL). The tuning of the mode-locked regions was carried out by varying and recording the values of the angle of the polarization controllers in the ring section and in the nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). Within the mode-locked regions, we obtained a large variability of the temporal profile, specifically amplitude and width of the noise-like pulses (NLPs). Subsequently, we recorded and studied the changes in the spectral domain. We identified the mode-locked regions where the temporal profile of the pulse remains constant (stationary state), and where it expels sub-packets (non-stationary state). Finally, a theoretical analysis of the power transmission through the polarizing in the ring section and in the NOLM switching characteristic as a function of wave plate angles is also performed, which allows an understanding of the existence of the multiple mode-locked regions and pulse profile adjustability. We analyze NLPs with a carrier wavelength of 1560 nm with duration of the order of nanoseconds and a repetition rate of 0.9 MHz. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America