Supercontinuum generation by nonlinear polarization rotation mode-locked fiber laser with pulse type switchable

•Three supercontinuums (SCs) are generated by three pulses pumped HNLF.•The width of traditional soliton bunch pulses (SBPs) SC is 950.9 nm.•The width of coexistence of NLSPs and SBPs SC is 1009.7 nm.•The width of multi-longitudinal mode NLSPs SC is 887.1 nm.•The width and output power of three SCs can be switched through PC and pump power. We report on the generation of a supercontinuum (SC) by nonlinear polarization-rotating (NPR) mode-locked fiber laser, which includes a pulsed switchable NPR mode-locked fiber laser, an Er-doped fiber amplifier, and high nonlinear fiber (HNLF). In the experiment, by adjusting the polarization controller (PC) angle and pump power, we obtained three different pulses. They are traditional soliton bunch pulses, the coexistence of soliton bunch pulses and square pulses, and multi-longitudinal mode noise like square pulses. All three pulses can generate SC with spectrum width be about of 1000 nm. We fixed the pump power in the laser and observed the influence of amplifier power on the spectrum width and output power of SC. The SC width of soliton bunch pulse reaches 950.9 nm, the SC of soliton bunch pulse and square pulse coexisting pulse is 1009.7 nm, and the SC spectrum width of multi-longitudinal mode noise like square pulse is 887.1 nm. Our results demonstrate the generation of SC with three types of switchable pulses, opening up possibilities for various application requirements.