Efficient simulation of the swept-waveform polarization dynamics in fiber spools and Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a computational model for simulating wavelength-swept waveform propagation in fiber systems, accurately capturing polarization effects and enabling long-term simulations of FDML lasers to study their steady-state behavior.

Contribution

It provides a new efficient numerical approach for modeling polarization dynamics in fiber-based wavelength-swept lasers, validated against experimental data.

Findings

Successfully simulates long-term FDML laser dynamics over 100000 cavity roundtrips.

Accurately models polarization effects including birefringence and cross-phase modulation.

Validates model predictions with experimental results for fiber spool propagation and steady-state operation.

Abstract

We present a theoretical model and its efficient numerical implementation for the simulation of wavelength-swept waveform propagation in fiber systems such as Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers, fully accounting for the polarization dynamics in fiber spools and further polarization dependent optical components in the setup. This approach enables us to perform long-time simulations of the FDML laser dynamics over more than 100000 cavity roundtrips, as required for some FDML configurations to ensure convergence to the steady state operating regime. The model is validated against experimental results for single propagation through a fiber spool and for stationary FDML operation. The polarization dynamics due to the fiber spool, inducing polarization-mode dispersion, bending birefringence as well as cross-phase modulation, and other optical components such as the Faraday-rotating mirror used for polarization compensation is thoroughly investigated.