120 fs, 4.2 nJ pulses from an all-normal-dispersion, polarization-maintaining, fiber laser

We present a laser architecture that simultaneously makes use of all the key features that the fiber technology has to offer, and delivers pulses that can be de-chirped into the 100 fs region. The reported all-normal-dispersion laser outputs a 10 MHz train of linearly polarized, 4.2 nJ pulses that can be de-chirped down to 120 fs. These are the shortest recompressed, nanojoule pulses obtained from an all-fiber-integrated single-polarization laser to date. The cavity can sustain a wide variety of dissipative solitons. It is mode-locked with a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror which ensures flexible self-starting operation and long-term reliability. Combined with the integrated all-PM design, the laser is environmentally robust and insensitive against temperature variations and mechanical vibrations.

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