AQ-switched thulium-doped fiber laser with a graphene thin film based saturable absorber

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple, compact and low cost Q-switched thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) operating at 1844.1 nm by exploiting a graphene based saturable absorber (SA) in conjunction with 1552 nm pumping. The SA is fabricated by sandwiching the graphene thin film between two fiber connectors. The thin film was produced by mixing graphene flakes, synthesized by an electrochemical exfoliation process, with polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution. The TDFL generates a stable pulse train with 6.73 kHz repetition rate, 11.41 μs pulse width and 90.64 nJ pulse energy at 513 mW 1552 nm pump power. A higher performance Q-switched TDFL is expected to be achieved with the optimization of the SA and laser cavity.

Graphene-polyvinyl alcohol polymer based saturable absorption at 2000 nm region

“…The performance of our fabricated graphene-PVA SA in 2,000 nm region is better than the result reported by Saidin et al [13], [14] and Ahmad et al [15]. We strongly believed that this maybe contributed by our meticulous preparation of the graphene-PVA film using electrochemical exfoliation technique.…”

“…Ahmad et al [15] employed optical deposition approach of graphene oxide particles and they reported a Qswitched pulse with maximum repetition rate of 16 kHz, shortest pulse width of 9.8 µs and maximum pulse Indonesian J Elec Eng & Comp Sci ISSN: 2502-4752  energy of 18.8 nJ. Saidin et al [13], [14], demonstrated a graphene-PEO based passive saturable absorber with repetition rate of 7.5 kHz, 19.7 µs pulse width and maximum pulse energy of 66.6 nJ. In this work, we produce higher range of repetition rate, shortest pulse width compared to the work proposed by Saidin et al [13], [14] and Ahmad et al [15], and higher average output power than Ahmad et al [14].…”

“…By using graphene-polyethylene oxide (PEO) film, Haris et al [12] managed to produce a mode-locker at 1.500 nm region. Meanwhile, in 1900 nm region, Saidin et al [13], [14] had adopted an electrochemical exfoliation technique in graphene-PEO thin film fabrication which produced Q-switching pulse laser. Other efforts by Ahmad et al [15], Yamashita [16] and Jiang et al [17] had produced a Q-switcher by applying other methods which include graphene oxide particles dissolution and chemical vapor deposition.…”

Graphene preparation and graphite exfoliation

“…When a voltage is applied in a conductive solution for the graphite electrodes, the graphite electrodes can corrode and produce the solvent-functioning graphite nanosheets (see Figure 11) [147]. The use of electrochemical exfoliation of graphite anode to prepare graphene was first reported by [126] using a mixed solution containing ionic liquid and water as the electrolyte.…”

Q‐switched thulium‐doped fiber laser operating at 1920 nm region with multiwalled carbon nanotubes embedded in polyvinyl alcohol

“…. They can be realized using a Thulium‐doped fiber (TDF) as a gain medium , which has a broad emission in the wavelength range of 1650 and 2100 nm due to energy transition of 3 F 4 → 3 H 6 . A significant interest has also emerged on TDF pulsed lasers.…”