Broadband Metallic Carbon Nanotube Saturable Absorber for Ultrashort Pulse Generation in the 1500–2100 nm Spectral Range

Abstract

Herein, we report on the possibility of ultrashort laser pulse generation in the broadband spectral range using a saturable absorber based on free-standing metallic carbon nanotube thin film. Erbium, thulium, and holmium-doped all-fiber lasers were mode-locked with a single saturable absorber containing a 300 nm thick material layer. Subpicosecond pulses were generated at 1559, 1938, and 2082 nm. Our work validates the broadband operation of metallic carbon nanotube-based saturable absorbers and highlights the suitable performance of nanomatematerial for ultrafast photonic applications.