Stability analysis and quantum-limited noise properties of the Soliton-similariton fiber laser

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the stability and quantum noise properties of soliton-similariton fiber lasers, revealing that the anomalous dispersion segment enhances robustness and reduces noise, with a new linear stability approach providing predictive insights.

Contribution

It introduces a linear stability analysis method for soliton-similariton lasers, linking stability margins to noise performance and pulse stabilization mechanisms.

Findings

Eigenvalues within the unit circle indicate positive stability margins.

Longer anomalous fiber segments increase laser robustness.

Quantum noise simulations show anti-correlation between noise and stability margin.

Abstract

Soliton-similariton fiber lasers have demonstrated exceptional operational stability, maintaining continuous mode-locking for weeks despite large intracavity spectral and temporal breathing. We present the first stability study of this laser, rigorously establishing that the anomalous dispersion segment that supports the soliton is the cause of this robustness. Specifically, we perform linear stability analysis of the laser employing a Jacobian-based eigenvalue decomposition and show that the eigenvalues lie within the unit circle, leading to a positive stability margin, which is indicative of the robustness of the laser against small perturbations. Furthermore, the stability margin is observed to increase with the length of the anomalous fiber segment, clearly establishing its role in pulse stabilization. Critically, integrated pulse timing jitter and relative intensity noise as obtained from quantum noise-limited laser simulations are shown to be anti-correlated to the stability margin, further validating the results of the Jacobian analysis and establishing an unequivocal link between the reported noise performance of the soliton-similariton laser to the underlying pulse stabilization mechanism mediated by the anomalous segment. The direct link of the linear stability analysis to the underlying nonlinear physics of the laser, together with its significantly lower computational overhead, establishes it as a highly effective predictive framework for assessing laser noise performance, enabling novel approaches for designing quantum noise-limited ultrafast sources.