Open AccessMagnesium diboride (MgB_2) as a saturable absorber for a ytterbium-doped Q-switched fiber laser
Author(s) -
Monir Morshed,
Haroldo T. Hattori,
Ahasanul Haque,
Benjamin C. Olbricht
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
applied optics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 2155-3165
pISSN - 1559-128X
DOI - 10.1364/ao.56.007611
Subject(s) - saturable absorption , materials science , fiber laser , ytterbium , q switching , magnesium diboride , optics , laser , doping , optoelectronics , fiber , superconductivity , composite material , physics , critical current , quantum mechanics
Magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ) is a well-known superconductor at temperatures below 39 K. At higher temperatures, it behaves as a lossy material. In this paper, we examine the performance of MgB 2 nano-particles as saturable absorber in a ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser at room temperature: we show that the nano-particles can produce pulses between 200 and 1700 ns. The dynamics of the saturable absorber are both examined as a stand-alone saturable absorber and in combination with an acousto-optic modulator. We believe, to the best of our knowledge, that this is the first time that MgB 2 is used as a saturable absorber in a Q-switched laser.