Synthesis of periodic and aperiodic arbitrary waveforms in a SOA-fibre laser

Reported is an experimental study of a new approach to laser synthesis of arbitrary optical waveforms with nanosecond resolution. This approach relies on combination of a fast-recovery active medium (semiconductor optical amplifier, SOA) and a waveguide electro-optic switch which plays the role of a variable output coupler in a SOA-fibre laser. Programmable electronical control of output coupling allowed production of periodic and aperiodic arbitrary optical waveforms profiled with a nanosecond resolution at arbitrary repetition rates ranging from single shot to tens of MHz. The proposed method is distinguished by its simplicity, high efficiency, and relatively narrow output radiation spectrum.