Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Sensors with Orthogonally Polarized Pulses Circulating in the Cavity

Abstract

Intracavity phase interferometry is a powerful phase sensing technique using two correlated, counter-propagating frequency combs (pulse trains) in mode-locked lasers. Generating dual frequency combs of the same repetition rate in fiber lasers is a new field with hitherto unanticipated challenges. The large intensity in the fiber core, coupled with the nonlinear index of glass, result in a cumulative nonlinear index on axis that dwarfs the signal to be measured. The large saturable gain changes in an unpredictable way the repetition rate of the laser impeding the creation of frequency combs with identical repetition rate. The huge amount of phase coupling between pulses crossing at the saturable absorber eliminates the small signal response (deadband). Although there have been prior observation of gyroscopic response in mode-locked ring lasers, to our knowledge this is the first time that orthogonally polarized pulses were used to successfully eliminate the deadband and obtain a beat note.