Generation of 22.7-fs 2.8-nJ Pulses From an Erbium-Doped All-Fiber Laser Via Single-Stage Soliton Compression

We have demonstrated experimentally that few-cycle pulses can be achieved from an Er-doped fiber laser via single-stage soliton compression. Adopting negative prechirp amplification is to avoid the high-energy pulse break-up and increase the spectral width. Through optimizing the fiber length and pulse energy in different parts of the fiber laser system, the generated pulse can be as short as 22.7 fs, which is about four cycle duration at 1550 nm. The average power is up to 120 mW with the corresponding pulse energy of 2.8 nJ. Numerical simulation has been carried out to illustrate the dynamic of pulse prechirp, amplification, and compression.