Bi₂Se₃ Q-switched Nd:YAG ceramic waveguide laser

Using a topological insulator (TI) Bi2Se3 as a saturable absorber, highly stable Q-switched laser pulses were realized in an Nd:YAG ceramic waveguide fabricated by carbon ion irradiation. The laser operation was at a wavelength of 1064 nm, with a repetition rate ranging from 2.7 to 4.7 MHz. The minimum pulsed duration was 46 ns. The maximum output power was up to 168.6 mW corresponding to the pulse energy of 31.3 nJ. This work opens up a practical way for implementation of TI modulated pulsed laser devices in dielectric waveguide platforms.