All-fiber single-pulse selection and nanosecond gating.

Two functions normally attributed to Pockels cells are performed with internal-electrode microstructured fiber components. Single-pulse selection out of a 100 MHz mode-locked pulse train is demonstrated using all-fiber nanosecond polarization rotation. Additionally, off-on-off gating with duration approximately 13 ns is achieved with a polarization rotator made out of a four-hole silicate fiber.

All-fiber polarization switch.

We report an all-fiber polarization switch made out of silica-based microstructured fiber suitable for Q-switching all-fiber lasers. Nanosecond high-voltage pulses are used to heat and expand an internal electrode to cause lambda/2-polarization rotation in less than 10 ns for 1.5 microm light. The 10 cm long component has an experimentally measured optical insertion loss of 0.2 dB and a 0-10 kHz repetition frequency capacity and has been durability tested for more than 10(9) pulses.