Dual-state dissipative solitons from an all-normal-dispersion erbium-doped fiber laser: continuous wavelength tuning and multi-wavelength emission.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate switchable operation of dissipative solitons (DSs) in an erbium-doped fiber laser. By managing normal dispersion of laser cavity, the 3-dB spectral bandwidth up to 8.1 nm can be obtained with the help of a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Using an inline polarizer, the fiber laser can be separately operated at either wavelength-tunable or multi-wavelength emission. The central wavelength of DS can be continuously tuned from 1554 to 1561 nm with its spectra maintaining standard rectangular shape. Alternatively, triple-wavelength DSs at 1535, 1544, and 1553 nm can be simultaneously obtained.