Full C-band wavelength-tunable, 250 MHz repetition rate mode-locked polarization-maintaining fiber laser

We demonstrate a full C-band wavelength-tunable mode-locked fiber laser with a repetition rate of 250 MHz, representing the highest repetition rate for C-band tunable mode-locked lasers thus far to the best of our knowledge. The polarization-maintaining fiber-based Fabry-Perot cavity enables a fundamental repetition rate of 250 MHz with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror as a mode-locker. We observed a stable and single soliton mode-locking state with wide tunability of the center wavelength from 1505 to 1561 nm by adjusting the incident angle of a bandpass filter inside the cavity. The wavelength-tunable high-repetition-rate mode-locked laser covering the full C-band is expected to be a compelling source for many frequency-comb-based applications, including high-precision optical metrology, broadband absorption spectroscopy, and broadband optical frequency synthesizers.

Automated summary

We present a fully C-band wavelength-tunable mode-locked fiber laser with a record repetition rate of 250 MHz. The use of a polarization-maintaining fiber-based Fabry-Perot cavity and a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror as a mode-locker allows for stable and single soliton mode-locking, with a wide tunability of the center wavelength from 1505 to 1561 nm. This high-repetition-rate mode-locked laser, covering the full C-band, holds great potential as a reliable source for various frequency-comb-based applications, including precision optical metrology, broadband absorption spectroscopy, and broadband optical frequency synthesizers.