Exploiting nonlinear properties of pure and Sn-doped Bi₂Te₂Se for passive Q-switching of all-polarization maintaining ytterbium- and erbium-doped fiber lasers.

ABSTRACT: Due to their broadband nonlinear optical properties, low-dimensional materials are widely used for pulse generation in fiber and solid-state lasers. Here we demonstrate novel materials, Bi₂Te₂Se (BTS) and Sn-doped Bi₂Te₂Se (BSTS), which can be used as a universal saturable absorbers for distinct spectral regimes. The material was mechanically exfoliated from a bulk single-crystal and deposited onto a side-polished fiber. We have performed characterization of the fabricated devices and employed them in polarization-maintaining ytterbium- and erbium-doped fiber lasers. This enabled us to obtain self-starting passively Q-switched regime at 1?µm and 1.56?µm. The oscillators emitted stable, linearly polarized radiation with the highest single pulse energy approaching 692?nJ. Both lasers are characterized by the best performance observed in all-polarization maintaining Q-switched fiber lasers with recently investigated new saturable absorbers, which was enabled by a very high damage threshold of the devices. This demonstrates the great potential of the investigated materials for the ultrafast photonics community.

SUBMITTER: Boguslawski J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5547047 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature