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Saturable Absorption in 2D Nanomaterials and Related Photonic Devices
Author(s) -
Wang Gaozhong,
BakerMurray Aidan A.,
Blau Werner J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
laser and photonics reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.778
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1863-8899
pISSN - 1863-8880
DOI - 10.1002/lpor.201800282
Subject(s) - nanomaterials , saturable absorption , materials science , photonics , graphene , pulse duration , laser , absorption (acoustics) , optoelectronics , wavelength , excited state , excitation , pulse (music) , optics , nanotechnology , fiber laser , atomic physics , physics , composite material , quantum mechanics , detector
Wide‐spectral saturable absorption (SA) has been experimentally demonstrated in two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with outstanding performance, such as low saturation intensity, deep modulation depth, and fast recovery time of excited carriers. Hence, 2D nanomaterials can be utilized as saturable absorbers for mode‐locking or Q ‐switching to generate laser pulses with short duration and high repetition rate. Here, the SA properties of graphene, layered transition metal dichalcogenides, Group‐V elements, and other 2D nanomaterials are reviewed by summarizing their slow‐ or fast‐ saturable absorption behavior using the modified Frantz–Nodvik model or the steady‐state solution of Hercher's rate equations. The dependence of SA in 2D nanomaterials on excitation wavelength, linear absorption coefficient, and pulse duration is also explained. Finally, the applications of these 2D nanomaterials in a range of pulsed lasers are summarized.