Sub-200-kHz single soliton generation in a long ring Er-fiber laser with strict polarization control by using twisted fiber

Abstract In the present work we demonstrate a novel single-soliton ultra-low pulse repetition frequency passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser. We mitigate the residual linear birefringence of fiber by fiber twist to achieve a strict control of polarization. For mode-locking the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) was used. Special technique was applied to reduce the overdriving of NPR that allows the generation of single soliton in ultra-long cavity. The strict control of polarization yields a stable relation between the polarization state of the pulses propagating in the cavity and the regimes of generation. A 192.12-kHz train of soliton pulses was obtained with pulse duration of 4.7 ps at 1560.1 nm, the average power was 29 μW and the estimated peak power was 30.8 W with an energy of 150.9 pJ.