Multiple pulses with broadband spectrum generation in passively mode-locked fiber ring laser incorporating a highly nonlinear fiber

Multiple pulses with broadband spectrum generation are experimentally obtained in passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber ring lasers based on nonlinear polarization rotation, which is achieved by incorporating a length of highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber in the laser cavity. The temporal and spectral dynamic behaviors of multipulse bunching states are demonstrated. The maximum spectral width and flatness are attained when the continuous-wave component is suppressed under appropriate polarization states and pump powers.