Observation of vector- and scalar-pulse in a nanotube-mode-locked fiber laser.

We report the experimental observations of vector pulse trapping and scalar dissipative soliton in a compact nanotube-mode-locked all-fiber laser for the first time to our best knowledge. The vector pulse exhibits a smooth Gaussian spectral profile without any sidebands. Although two orthogonally polarized components of the vector pulse have different central wavelengths, they copropagate as a unit in the laser cavity with the same speed. The scalar dissipative soliton shows a rectangular spectrum with pulse duration of ~13 ps, and can be compressed to ~320 fs external to the cavity. This flexible laser provides stable, ultrashort vector- and scalar-pulsed sources, which is convenient and attractive for practical applications.