540 fs light pulses at 1.5 /spl mu/m with variable repetition rate using a tuneable twin guide laser and soliton compression in a dispersion decreasing fiber

A novel and simple method to generate ultra short light pulses with variable repetition rate is demonstrated. A wavelength modulated tuneable twin guide laser, emitting blue-chirped light, together with pulse compression in a standard single mode fiber is used to generate light pulses of 3 ps width. Amplification and further compression in a dispersion decreasing fiber leads to Fourier transform limited pulses of 1.87 ps width or to 540 fs pulses with a small pedestal.>