Mode-locked fiber laser generating cylindrical vector beams based on an all-polarization-maintaining fiber structure

• Published in: Optics and laser technology 2022-02, Vol.146, p.107592, Article 107592
• Main Authors: Dai, Chuansheng, Dong, Zhipeng, Zhang, Yimin, Lin, Jiaqiang, Yao, Peijun, Xu, Lixin, Gu, Chun, Zhan, Qiwen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: All-polarization-maintaining fiber structure; Cylindrical vector beams; Fiber lasers; Laser mode locking; Lasers; Mode-locking; Noise levels; Polarization; Pulse duration; Signal to noise ratio
• ISSN: 0030-3992; 1879-2545
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2021.107592

•A mode-locked laser with cylindrical vector beams is demonstrated experimentally.•All-polarization-maintaining fiber structure is adopted.•The cylindrical vector beams is obtained by the principle of mode superposition.•The self-starting cylindrical vector beams pulse has a high stability. We propose and demonstrate a mode-locked fiber laser generating cylindrical vector beams based on an all-polarization-maintaining fiber structure. The radially polarized mode (TM01 mode) with a mode purity of 92.4% has been achieved by the principle of mode superposition. And the self-starting mode-locked pulse operate at 1067.01 nm with a spectral width of 0.069 nm at 3 dB based on a semiconductor-saturable absorber mirror. Stable pluse train with a repetition rate of 40.83 MHz, signal to noise ratio of 53 dB and pulse duration of 74.82 ps has been obtained. This laser has the advantages of compact structure and high stability, which may have the potential in practical application.