Abstract

The dynamics of a Nd doped fiber laser (λ = 1.08 μm) pumped by a diode laser at 820 nm has been investigated under various conditions of pump modulation. The polarization of the emitted radiation appears to play a key role in the observed phenomena. First, the optical fiber laser (OFL) presents two thresholds associated with orthogonal linear polarizations. In the region between the two thresholds, the laser light is linearly polarized and its response to pulse excitation appears as a single damped relaxation oscillation. Above the second threshold, laser emission is obtained in the orthogonal linear polarization and the observation of polarization resolved intensities reveals slow oscillations which are hidden when the total intensity is observed.

© 1992 IQEC