Flat supercontinuum generation by a F8L in high-energy harmonic noise-like pulsing regime

We propose the use of a figure eight fiber laser cavity in fundamental and harmonic mode-locking noise-like pulsing regimes, with output pulse energies as high as 302.8 nJ, as an improved supercontinuum source. The absence of a polarizer in the laser setup, so that the state of polarization along the cavity is not restricted, allows enhanced performances compared to other similar schemes. Noise-like pulses with durations of a few tens of ns were generated and a coherence length in the order of ps. For proper adjustments, self-starting passive mode-locking is obtained and a supercontinuum spectrum is observed at the laser output. We observe that the spectrum flatness is significantly improved in the harmonic mode-locking regime of the fiber laser. These results were achieved without the need to insert any high-nonlinearity propagation medium in the setup or at the laser output.

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