Abnormal noise-like pulse fiber laser for disruptive sensing applications

Noise-like pulses (NLPs) are of interest as they can provide low temporal coherence, smooth and broad spectra and high brightness. Owing to these merits, NLPs can facilitate many optical sensing applications, such as hybrid interrogation of high-count low reflectivity fiber Bragg grating arrays. In this paper, we report the abnormal NLP evolution in a passively Er-doped mode-locked fibre laser, of which the optical spectrum, the pulse energy and the pulse distribution in the fibre laser cavities are controllable as desired. Both experimental results and theoretical investigation of the dynamics of the inner pulses have been demonstrated.