A Comparative Study on the Effect of Dispersion in Noise-Like Pulse Pumped Supercontinuum Generation

Noise-like pulse (NLP) formed in a passively mode-locked fiber laser possesses unique properties in different dispersion regimes and mode-locking conditions. To date, this ‘chaotic yet stable’ NLP lasing state has not been fully comprehended due to their complex dynamics in a PMFL. Thus, we attempt to numerically investigate the effect of net cavity dispersion on NLP and, subsequently, supercontinuum generation (SCG) through a highly nonlinear fiber. In addition, the effect of pulse amplification on the supercontinuum spectrum is analyzed numerically by employing an EDFA. A comparison with ultrashort pulses of energy comparable to the NLPs is also considered in order to emphasize the importance of NLP in SCG. Examination revealed a broader continuum in the case of anomalous dispersion generated NLP owing to its internal solitonic sub-pulses accommodating greater separation among them and successive soliton fission process. This study affirms the significance of NLP amplification and cavity dispersion in SCG beneficial for several biomedical applications.