Abstract
Quantum photon-number fluctuation and correlation of bound soliton pairs in mode-locked fiber lasers are studied on the basis of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation model. We find that, depending on their phase difference, the total photon-number noise of the bound soliton pair can be larger or smaller than that of a single soliton, and the two solitons in the soliton pair have a corresponding positive or negative photon-number correlation. It is predicted for the first time to our knowledge that out-of-phase soliton pairs can exhibit less noise as a result of negative correlation. © 2005 Optical Society of America.