A general theoretical model of spatiotemporal mode-locked multimode fiber lasers

With the help of multimode fibers (MMFs), spatiotemporal mode-locked (STML) lasers emerged recently, with promising applications and abundant high-dimensional nonlinear dynamics inside the cavities. Various STML MMF lasers have been experimentally demonstrated, with different cavity structure and different MMFs. Some theoretical models have been proposed for STML MMF lasers. However, these models are only applicable to the MMF lasers with specific cavity structure and limited parameter space. In this paper, a general theoretical model is presented, considering the linear and nonlinear gain, linear dispersion and nonlinear optical effects, spectral and spatial filtering effects, and the refractive index distribution of the MMF. Based on the theoretical modes, the influences of cavity parameters on the 3D soliton dynamics of the MMF cavities is demonstrated.

Automated summary

A general theoretical model is proposed in this paper to investigate the abundant high-dimensional nonlinear dynamics of multimode fiber lasers. Based on this model, the influences of cavity parameters on the 3D soliton dynamics of multimode fiber cavities are demonstrated.