Abstract

Compact low-noise subpicosecond pulse sources at 1.55 µm are currently of great interest in a number of important applications ranging from high-speed intelligent fiber networks^1,2 to quantum-limited fiber interferometry.³ Passively mode-locked erbium-fiber lasers^4,5 are an attractive candidate for these applications because of their high output power and superior pulse quality compared to diode lasers. Here we investigate passive pulse formation in erbium-fiber lasers operating at the fundamental cavity frequency and show that by appropriate cavity designs nearly the full bandwidth of erbium may be mode locked. We have demonstrated the generation of pulses as short as 100 fs, which are to our knowledge the shortest pulses obtained directly from an Er-fiber laser.

© 1993 Optical Society of America