All-fiber mode-locked laser via short single-wall carbon nanotubes interacting with evanescent wave in photonic crystal fiber

Li, Yujia; Gao, Lei; Huang, Wei; Gao, Cong; Liu, Min; Zhu, Tao

doi:10.1364/oe.24.023450

Cited by 27 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This results in unstable laser radiation parameters and eventual degradation of the polymer [8,9]. In order to circumvent this problem, various methods were proposed, which allow direct deposition of CNT onto optical surfaces through which laser radiation passes [10][11][12][13] or upon which it is reflected [14]. These methods, however, are relatively complicated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrafast all-fibre laser mode-locked by polymer-free carbon nanotube film

et al. 2016

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This work for the first time reports the results on study of a polymer-free carbon nanotube (CNT) films used as a saturable absorber in an all-fibre laser. It is demonstrated that free-standing single-walled CNT films fabricated by an aerosol method are able to ensure generation of transform-limited pulses in an Er all-fibre ring laser with duration of several picoseconds and high quality of mode locking. The optimal average output power levels are identified, amounting to 0.4-0.5 mW depending on the linear transmission of the studied samples (60% or 80%). Application of polymer-free CNT films solves problems related to degradation of conventional polymer matrices of CNT-based saturable absorbers and paves the way to longer-lasting and more reliable saturable absorbers compatible with all-fibre laser configurations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrafast all-fibre laser mode-locked by polymer-free carbon nanotube film

et al. 2016

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“…4) Hollow-core fiber: Another evanescent field interaction was presented by filling short SWCNT, graphene nanoparticle, and graphene/polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) into hollow-core fiber and hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF), which is expected to increase the light-material interaction length, α s and damage threshold. [59,239,240] The PCF fiber structure is sketched as depicted in Figure 11d. The PCF-SA structure could work for high-power laser operation even with pump power up to 7 W. [241] The PVAc maintains the original morphology of the graphene sheet, which is easily deformed on optical deposition thus preserving the intact optical nonlinearity of graphene.…”

Section: Challenges and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison for Saturable Absorbers: Carbon Nanotube Versus Graphene

Lau

Liu

Qiu

2022

Advanced Photonics Research

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Saturable absorption is a nonlinear optical phenomenon that is characterized by the reduced optical loss at high light intensity. At low light intensity, the saturable absorber (SA) absorbs light and results in an optical loss. When the light intensity is increased, the available energy states become depleted, leading to a reduction in absorption. For semiconductors, the saturated optical absorption under strong excitation is in conjunction with the Pauli expulsion of occupying carriers at the edge of the filled conduction band thus allowing photons to penetrate through the material without further absorption. [1] When incorporated into a mode-locked laser cavity, the saturable absorption process begins from the inherent noise fluctuations of a laser cavity. A dominant noise spike with the highest intensity will saturate the absorber and decreases the absorbance loss such as the pedestal peaks. [2] Next, this noise spike is amplified in subsequent round trips until a stable pulse train is eventually formed. This favors the generation of ultrafast laser pulses over continuous-wave laser operation. During the formation of ultrafast laser pulses, the SA is operated either as slow or fast SA. The main difference between these two SA configurations is their relaxation time. The relaxation time of a slow SA is longer than its pulse duration measured from the mode-locked laser. The long time constant results in reduced saturation intensity due to slow recovery of absorption. [3] Therefore, the slow SA self-starts the modelocked laser at a lower power threshold. In contrast, the relaxation time of fast SA is shorter than its pulse duration measured from the mode-locked laser. Owing to the fast relaxation time, the electrons in the conduction band will return to the valence band at a period shorter than the pulse duration. This constitutes the higher power threshold to self-start the mode-locked laser.Despite the difficulty to self-start the mode-locking, the fast SA is responsible for the stabilization of the laser. The fast SA has ultrafast carrier relaxation time for the SA to recover from bleaching with minimal time. [4] Besides stabilization, ultrafast relaxation time is also crucial to shortening the pulse duration of the mode-locked laser. [5] Before the advent of ultrashort pulse with relaxation time ranging from a few ps to a few hundred fs, semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) was demonstrated with a complex post-fabrication process. For instance, ion implantation is needed to reduce its relaxation time to ps time scale. This encourages the discovery of a material with sub-picosecond recovery time, such as carbon nanotube (CNT) [6] and graphene. [7] Both CNT and graphene have ultrafast and slow recovery from saturation. In a femtosecond laser, the CNT will typically act as a slow SA due to its recovery time of few ps, whereas the graphene will typically act as a fast SA due to its

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“…The most popular type of SWNT SA used in fiber lasers concentrates on polymer composite film, which is mechanically or optically sandwiched between fiber connectors. Another approach based on the evanescent field can be a candidate, and SWNTs can be coated on a D-shaped fiber [ 122 ], microfiber [ 184 ], or injected into micro slots [ 185 , 186 ], photonic crystal fiber [ 187 ], and hollow-core optical fiber (HOF) [ 188 ]. Choi et al demonstrated the nonlinear interaction scheme of SWCNTs with laser light by using the HOF, which offers the advantages of robust, efficient, and long interaction of guided light with SWCNTs with a simple fabrication process (inset of Figure 7 a) [ 188 ].…”

Section: Ultrafast Fiber Laser Based On Ld Samentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrafast Fiber Lasers with Low-Dimensional Saturable Absorbers: Status and Prospects

Debnath

2021

Sensors

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Wide-spectral saturable absorption (SA) in low-dimensional (LD) nanomaterials such as zero-, one-, and two-dimensional materials has been proven experimentally with outstanding results, including low saturation intensity, deep modulation depth, and fast carrier recovery time. LD nanomaterials can therefore be used as SAs for mode-locking or Q-switching to generate ultrafast fiber laser pulses with a high repetition rate and short duration in the visible, near-infrared, and mid-infrared wavelength regions. Here, we review the recent development of emerging LD nanomaterials as SAs for ultrafast mode-locked fiber laser applications in different dispersion regimes such as anomalous and normal dispersion regimes of the laser cavity operating in the near-infrared region, especially at ~1550 nm. The preparation methods, nonlinear optical properties of LD SAs, and various integration schemes for incorporating LD SAs into fiber laser systems are introduced. In addition to these, externally (electrically or optically) controlled pulsed fiber laser behavior and other characteristics of various LD SAs are summarized. Finally, the perspectives and challenges facing LD SA-based mode-locked ultrafast fiber lasers are highlighted.

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All-fiber mode-locked laser via short single-wall carbon nanotubes interacting with evanescent wave in photonic crystal fiber

Cited by 27 publications

References 38 publications

Ultrafast all-fibre laser mode-locked by polymer-free carbon nanotube film

Ultrafast all-fibre laser mode-locked by polymer-free carbon nanotube film

A Comparison for Saturable Absorbers: Carbon Nanotube Versus Graphene

Ultrafast Fiber Lasers with Low-Dimensional Saturable Absorbers: Status and Prospects

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