All-fiber wavelength-tunable mode-locked cylindrical vector beams laser based on multimode interference

Cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) are of increasing concern due to their polarization and axially symmetrical distribution of field intensity. In this paper, we report for the first time an all-fiber single- and dual-wavelength tunable CVBs fiber laser using the nonlinear optical saturation absorption characteristics and filtering properties of nonlinear multimode interference (NL-MMI). In the experiment, the central wavelength of mode-locked CVBs fiber laser can be tuned from 1541 nm to 1564 nm at single-wavelength and from 1542.8 and 1562.925 nm to 1546.52 and 1563.86 nm at dual-wavelength. This NL-MMI-based wavelength-tunable ultrashort pulse CVBs fiber laser has excellent development prospects in optical communication.

Automated summary

In this paper, an all-fiber single- and dual-wavelength tunable CVBs fiber laser using the nonlinear optical saturation absorption characteristics and filtering properties of nonlinear multimode interference (NL-MMI) is reported for the first time. The experiment demonstrated the ability to tune the central wavelength of the mode-locked CVBs fiber laser in both single- and dual-wavelength configurations. This NL-MMI-based wavelength-tunable ultrashort pulse CVBs fiber laser has great potential in optical communication.