Open AccessActively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser by an all-optical Q-switcher based on graphene saturable absorber
Author(s) -
Aibing Ren,
Ming Feng,
Feng Song,
Yubo Luo,
Shuai Yang,
Zhenguo Yang,
YiGang Li,
Zhibo Liu
Publication year - 2015
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.23.021490
Subject(s) - saturable absorption , materials science , fiber laser , optics , laser , graphene , ytterbium , optoelectronics , q switching , raman spectroscopy , mode locking , modulation (music) , transmittance , doping , physics , nanotechnology , acoustics
We demonstrate an all-optical Q-switcher based on graphene saturable absorber (GSA). Due to the cross absorption modulation (XAM) effect in graphene, we can change the transmittance of signal light periodically by introducing a train of laser pulses into graphene. This allows controlling the Q-factor of the cavity. This Q-switcher has many advantages such as all-fiber structure, all-optical modulation, broadband applications. With this Q-switcher, we have successfully fabricated an actively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser. The pulse repetition rate can be tuned from 30.32 kHz to 101.29 kHz. What's more, synchronization of the Q-switched laser pulses and modulation laser pulses can be realized, which has many potential applications such as nonlinear frequency conversion, multi-color pump probe spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy.