Observation of optical bistability and isolator-free unidirectional lasing in an all-fiber ring laser
in: Optics Letters (2018)
We report to the best of our knowledge for the first time on the occurrence of optical bistability and isolator-free unidirectional lasing in a simple all-fiber ring laser containing only a pump-signal-combiner, an active and a passive fiber, and an output coupler. While similar power propagates in both directions at low pump powers, without enforcing a specific propagation direction the laser emits light in only one direction at high pump powers. The switch off and on of one propagation direction is sudden, distinct and exhibits a broad hysteresis.
DOI: Array