title: Gain-switched monolithic fiber laser with ultra-wide tuning range at 2 μm.
abstract: We demonstrate a gain-switched thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) built in an all-fiber format producing nanosecond pulses with variable wavelength in the 2 μm waveband. The laser features tunable operation in an ultra-wide spectral region of 1765 - 2055 nm (24 THz). The nearly 300 nm tunability doubles the record tuning range of existing gain-switched fiber lasers, and to the best of our knowledge, presents the broadest tuning range that has been reported for a monolithic pulsed rare earth doped fiber laser to date. The TDFL can operate at a repetition rate of 2.5 - 100 kHz with a pulse width as short as ~200 ns. Influences of various system parameters on the laser performance are investigated in detail.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Zejin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu