Breathing Dynamics in a Gain-Guided Dissipative Soliton-Similariton Fiber Laser

Dispersion distribution and optical gain dynamics introduce vivid pulse evolution in fiber lasers. Here, we report on a multi-output fiber laser mode-locked by nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) in net normal-dispersion regime. In particular, the asymmetry settings of the laser parameters can introduce the spectral reshaping and pulse breathing process at different output ports. Both the transformation from gain-guided dissipative solitons (GGDSs) to similaritons and periodic stretching and compression of pulse widths are experimentally observed. Additionally, intriguing pulse fusion and splitting of GGDS molecules are recorded, which further validates the pulse breathing process during propagating in the laser cavity. To the best of our knowledge, we first experimentally investigate the pulse self-evolution based on a multi-output fiber laser in GGDS-similariton regime. All these findings can enrich our understanding towards the breathing dynamics of ultrashort pulses.