title: Smart Q-switching for single-pulse generation in an erbium-doped fiber laser.
abstract: In this paper, we report an active Q-switching of an erbium-doped fiber laser with special modulation functions and novel laser geometry. We experimentally demonstrate that using such a smart Q-switch approach, Q-switch ripple-free pulses with Gaussian-like shape and 17.3 ns width can be easily obtained. The idea behind the smart Q-switch is to suppress one of two laser waves contra-propagating along the fiber cavity, which arises after Q-cell opening, and to eliminate the minor sub-pulses.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica, A.C., Loma del Bosque 115, Lomas del Campestre, 37150 Leon, Gto., Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Escalante-Zarate
authors.forename: Yuri O
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Barmenkov
authors.forename: Stanislav A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kolpakov
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Miguel V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Andrés