Open AccessPassively Q-switched Tm^3+, Ho^3+-doped silica fiber laser using a highly nonlinear saturable absorber and dynamic gain pulse compression
Author(s) -
Samuli Kivistö,
Riku Koskinen,
J. Paajaste,
Stuart D. Jackson,
Mircea Guină,
Oleg G. Okhotnikov
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.022058
Subject(s) - saturable absorption , materials science , fiber laser , optics , q switching , laser , pulse width modulation , pulse (music) , mode locking , fiber , optoelectronics , voltage , physics , quantum mechanics , detector , composite material
We demonstrate a compact core-pumped 2 microm Tm(3+), Ho(3+)- doped all-fiber laser passively Q-switched with an antimony-based saturable absorber. The 20 ns pulses are the shortest Q-switched pulses from a fiber laser operating beyond 1850 nm and were produced at a repetition rate of 57 kHz and pulse energy of 15 microJ using a short-length (4 ns) cavity. The large absorber modulation depth of approximately 70% together with transient gain compression is shown to provide an efficient mechanism for Q-switched pulse shortening.