Abstract: A specialized, dispersion-controlled fiber is particularly configured to exhibit a relatively uniform dispersion (D) over a broad spectral range (for example, 1000 nm to 2000 nm). The specialized fiber exhibits an essentially constant attenuation (?) over this same spectral range so that the fiber is defined as having a high “figure of merit” (FoM) where FoM is defined as |D|/?. The specialized fiber is well-suited for use as a pulse stretcher, providing the ability to separate out wavelength constituents of an extremely short (fs, ps) broadband pulse into the ns range, for example.

Abstract: A self-starting, passively modelocked figure-8 fiber laser is specifically configured to self-start into a low noise mode by controlling one or more operating parameters of the laser including, but not limited to, the coupling ratio between the uni-directional fiber loop and the bi-directional mirror loop, the accumulated dispersion within the figure-8 structure, and the amount of power present in the laser cavity. A self-starting passive modelocked figure-8 laser may also be made to self-start by initially increasing the pump current above its lasing threshold. Including a band-pass filter in the uni-directional loop has been found to ensure that the laser will enter a low noise lasing mode.

Abstract: A specialized, dispersion-controlled fiber is particularly configured to exhibit a relatively uniform dispersion (D) over a broad spectral range (for example, 1000 nm to 2000 nm). The specialized fiber exhibits an essentially constant attenuation (?) over this same spectral range so that the fiber is defined as having a high “figure of merit” (FoM) where FoM is defined as |D|/?. The specialized fiber is well-suited for use as a pulse stretcher, providing the ability to separate out wavelength constituents of an extremely short (fs, ps) broadband pulse into the ns range, for example.