Graphene as a Q-Switcher for Neodymium-Doped Lutetium Vanadate Laser

Abstract

We reported graphene as a passive Q-switcher in a neodymium-doped lutetium vanadate (Nd:LuVO4) crystal laser. The maximum average output power, pulse repetition rate, and pulse width were 474 mW, 795 kHz, and 56.2 ns, respectively, with the graphene used as the passive Q-switcher by using its saturable absorbing property and with its substrate SiC used as the output coupler by using its high refractive index. Our results illustrate the feasibility of using graphene as a Q-switcher for solid-state lasers.

Band-gap modulation of two-dimensional saturable absorbers for solid-state lasers

“…A similar experiment was implemented in the Nd:LuVO 4 gain crystal at 1.06 μm, and as shown in Fig. 11, the minimum pulse width is about 56.2 ns [110].…”

Graphene Q-Switched Cr:ZnSe Laser

“…The exploited graphene consisted of about 3-4 layers grown by thermally decomposing SiC surface at high temperature, which was the same process with the description in [23]. The transmission of the GSA can be described as…”

Watt-level Q-switched Nd:LuVO4laser based on a graphene oxide saturable absorber

“…where τ is the upper-state lifetime of the gain medium, I is the laser intensity on the absorber, R is the reflectivity of the absorber, r = P p /P p,th is the pump parameter, where P p is the maximum pump power and P p,th is the threshold value of the pump power, T R is the cavity round trip time, and dR/dI stands for the change of the reflectivity when the laser intensity increases from zero to the saturation intensity [2]. Here, the value of dR/dI for the graphene oxide is 1.18 × 10 −2 cm 2 /W.…”

“…Yu et al reported a Q-switched Nd:LuVO 4 laser by using a graphene saturable absorber. The maximum output power was 474mW [2]. In this paper, we report on a passively Q-switched Nd:LuVO 4 laser using a graphene oxide absorber.…”

“…Compared with active Q-switching lasers, the passive Q-switching techniques with the saturable absorbers are simpler and more convenient, with no requirement of external driving devices [1]. In addition, Q-switching is considered as an efficient technology to obtain laser pulses with short pulse width, high peak power, and high pulse energy [2]. The saturable absorber plays an important role in passive Qswitched lasers.…”