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Mode-locked fiber laser using an SU8/SWCNT saturable absorber
Ivan Hernandez-Romano1, Dimitrios Mandridis, Daniel A May-Arrioja
1Photonics and Optical Physics Laboratory, Optics Department, INAOE, Apdo. Postal 51 y 216, Tonantzintla, Puebla 7200, México. heriromano@gmail.com
Optics Letters
|June 3, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed a new saturable absorber using a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite. This fiberized component enables a compact, passive mode-locked laser for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Photonics
Background:
- Saturable absorbers are crucial for passive mode-locking in lasers.
- Developing robust and easily integrated saturable absorbers is an ongoing research area.
- Carbon nanotube composites offer promising nonlinear optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a novel saturable absorber using a SU8 single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite material.
- To integrate this composite into a fiberized, inline saturable absorber.
- To demonstrate its application in a passive mode-locked fiber laser.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of thin films of SU8-SWCNT composite with controllable thickness.
- Integration of the composite film between FC/APC connectors for an inline configuration.
- Construction of an erbium-doped fiber (L-band) ring cavity laser incorporating the fiberized saturable absorber.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of a reliable SU8-SWCNT composite saturable absorber.
- Demonstration of an inline, fiberized saturable absorber.
- Generation of 871 fs ultrashort pulses with a 21.27 MHz repetition rate.
- Achieved maximum average output power of 1 mW.
Conclusions:
- The SU8-SWCNT composite provides an effective material for creating fiberized saturable absorbers.
- The developed inline saturable absorber is suitable for passive mode-locked fiber lasers.
- This approach offers a simple and reliable method for producing ultrashort optical pulses.
