Optical chaos and hysteresis in a laser-diode pumped Nd doped fibre laser

Modulated pumping of a Nd<sup>3+</sup>doped silica monomode fibre laser has been investigated experimentally. For small modulation depths the laser exhibits a resonance at the relaxation oscillation frequency, providing pulses of a few microseconds duration at a repetition rate in the re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Phillips, M.W (Author), Gong, H. (Author), Ferguson, A.I (Author), Hanna, D.C (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 1987.
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Summary:Modulated pumping of a Nd<sup>3+</sup>doped silica monomode fibre laser has been investigated experimentally. For small modulation depths the laser exhibits a resonance at the relaxation oscillation frequency, providing pulses of a few microseconds duration at a repetition rate in the region of 10 kHz, dependent on the average pump level above threshold. As the pump modulation depth is increased, hysteresis is observed as a function of modulation frequency, along with optical bistability. For further increase in modulation depth, optical chaos and period doubling are observed. Gain-switching has also been demonstrated.