Nickel nanoparticles‐based saturable absorber: Toward compact multiwavelength Yb‐doped fiber pulsed lasers near 1 μm region

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a compact pulsed dual‐wavelength Ytterbium‐doped fiber laser (YDF) based on Nickel nanoparticles (Ni‐NPs) as a Q‐switcher and optical stabilizer. By integrating the Ni‐NPs saturable absorber (SA) in the cavity, and adjust the 975 nm diode pump power to 185 mW, a self‐starting passively Q‐switched was generated at a central wavelength of 1038.5 nm. By exploiting the extra high nonlinearity of Ni‐NPs, the homogenous gain broadening of the YDF oscillator can be suppressed. Consequently, at a pump power of 195 mW, a stable dual‐wavelength passively Q‐switching laser has been generated at room temperature without any intracavity spectral filters or modulation elements. As increases the pump power up to the maximum value of 288 mW, the Ytterbium‐doped fiber laser observed that the smallest pulse width, the maximum repetition rate, and the maximum pulse energy of 1.44 μs, 100.1 kHz, and 4.45 nJ, respectively. The Ni‐NPs SA proof its potential in generating multiwavelength pulsed laser in the 1 μm region for different photonic applications.

Nickel Nanoparticles as Broadband Saturable Absorbers for Ultrafast Photonics

“…38,39 Salman and Al-Janabi applied Ni nanoparticles to achieve pulse output at 1 and 1.5 μm. 40,41 However, pulsed lasers based on Ni nanoparticles at 2 μm and the broadband absorption of Ni nanoparticles have not been explored. In this work, we prepared Ni nanoparticles by utilizing an oil-phase synthesis method with mild conditions.…”

“…In addition, metal-based nanomaterials, heterostructures, and other novel nanomaterials hold immense potential as SAs to obtain ultrafast lasers. − Metal nanomaterials have large third-order nonlinear coefficients and unique SPR effects. − The SPR of nickel (Ni) nanoparticles have proved to be significant in enhancing the third-order nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient of Ni nanoparticles. , Meanwhile, Ni nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest from researchers due to their ferromagnetic properties, which can also affect nonlinear optical properties . Current research on Ni nanomaterials is mainly conducted on their oxide or composite materials. , Salman and Al-Janabi applied Ni nanoparticles to achieve pulse output at 1 and 1.5 μm. , However, pulsed lasers based on Ni nanoparticles at 2 μm and the broadband absorption of Ni nanoparticles have not been explored.…”

Triple‐wavelength Q‐switched ytterbium‐doped fiber laser based on tungsten oxide as saturable absorber

“…Generally, the modulation can be fulfilled passively or actively . Passive Q‐switching and mode‐locking can be realized using materials with saturable absorption capability such as graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), metals nanostructures transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) and transition metal oxides (TMO) . Among TMO materials, WO 3 emerges as a new SA competitor in nonlinear applications.…”