Theoretical and experimental study of harmonically modelocked fiber lasersfor optical communication systems

We study theoretically and experimentally actively modelocked fiber lasers that are used in high repetition rate optical communication systems. Using an innovative numerical technique and a reduced model, we have found that t he laser can operate in four different operating regimes when the laser int ensity was changed; three of the regimes were experimentally observed in a Laser with a sigma configuration. An excellent quantitative agreement betwe en the theoretical and the experimental results was obtained. The use of di spersion management in the sigma laser was found to significantly improve t he laser performance.