Triple-State Dissipative Soliton Laser Via Ultrafast Self-Parametric Amplification

Laser gains, provided by either stimulated emissions, stimulated scatterings, or nonlinear frequency conversion, exclusively refer to the process in which pump waves transfer their energies to the emitted light. In these cases, the laser field could never acquire gain at the expense of the energy dissipation of itself. We introduce self-parametric amplification, a conceptually different gain mechanism for ultrafast fiber lasers. A prototype ultrafast fiber laser of this kind is realized by combining a standard linear gain with a nonlinear self-parametric gain that supports energy transfer from the spectral tails to the spectral center within the laser field. Remarkably, the ultrafast fiber laser outputs three coexisting dissipative solitons that periodically switch over consecutive round trips with quite different spectra. Our work provides a self-action gain mechanism conducive to developing advanced lasers and could shed light on the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam paradox and breathing soliton dynamics.