Short-pulsed Raman fiber laser and its dynamics

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy Vol. 64; no. 1; p. 214201
• Main Authors: Liu, Jun, Wu, Jiadong, Chen, Hualong, Chen, Yu, Wang, Zhenhong, Ma, Chunyang, Zhang, Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Science China Press 2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Classical and Continuum Physics; Equipment and supplies; Fiber lasers; Fiber optics; Industrial applications; Laser mode locking; Lasers; Nonlinear dynamics; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; R&D; Raman lasers; Rare earth elements; Research & development; Review; Spectrum analysis; Switching; Wavelengths; Q-switching; Raman pulse dynamics; 42.65.Re; 42.65.Tg; 42.65.Dr; Raman fiber laser; 42.55.Wd; 42.55.Ye; mode-locking
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-020-1591-2

We provide a perspective review over the recent development of short-pulsed Raman fiber lasers (RFLs), which can provide laser emissions with flexible wavelengths for a variety of applications as well as an excellent platform to investigate various nonlinear pulse dynamics behaviors that cannot be captured in conventional rare-earth (RE) doped counterparts. Various pulse generation techniques have been explored in RFLs. However, the output pulse performance in terms of the pulse energy, duration and stability from short-pulsed RFLs is still inferior to their RE-doped counterparts despite significant advances made over the past few decades. Therefore, more efforts are required to improve these targets. In this review, we present a detailed overview of the short-pulsed RFLs based on different mechanisms from the principle to the experiment, including the Q-switching, gain-switching, mode-locking, synchronous pumping and other innovative techniques. In addition, Raman-induced pulse dynamics in ultrafast RFLs and RE-doped mode-locked fiber lasers (MLFLs) are briefly reviewed. Finally, a perspective outlook for the future ultrafast RFLs is provided based on their potential applications in industrial and scientific research areas.