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Broadband laser polarization control with aligned carbon nanotubes
1Department of Micro- and Nanosciences, Aalto University, PO Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland. zhipei.sun@aalto.fi.
Nanoscale
|June 11, 2015
Summary
We developed an aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) device for effective polarization control in fiber lasers. This simple, low-cost polarizer offers broadband performance for photonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Laser Technology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Polarization control is crucial for various laser applications.
- Existing polarizers may have limitations in cost, bandwidth, or integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) device for broadband polarization control.
- To demonstrate its efficacy in fiber laser systems.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ACNT devices by pulling from vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays.
- Characterization of ACNT anisotropic properties using microscopy.
- Integration of ACNT devices into fiber lasers at 1 and 1.5 μm wavelengths.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication and characterization of ACNT devices.
- Demonstrated polarization control in fiber lasers with a maximum extinction ratio of ~12 dB.
- Full control over output polarization direction by ACNT alignment.
Conclusions:
- ACNT devices offer a simple, low-cost, and broadband solution for laser polarization control.
- This technology is suitable for diverse photonic applications requiring linear polarization.
- This represents the first application of ACNT devices for polarization control in laser systems.
