Low jitter Q-switched fiber laser using optically driven surface-normal saturable absorber modulator

Abstract

A technique for stabilizing the repetition frequency of a passively Q-switched laser is presented using an optically driven surface-normal semiconductor modulator. A method is capable of significant reduction of the timing jitter in a passively Q-switched laser by optical triggering the saturable absorber semiconductor reflector. The experimental demonstration using passively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser shows the jitter reduction by factor of 1.66??10(3) from 50 mus down to 30 ns.

Experimental Study of the Nonlinear Dynamics of an Actively Q-Switched Ytterbium-Doped Fiber Laser

“…Such shape of Q-switching (QS) pulses is fully explained by the model of two contrapropagating waves that travel through a long fiber cavity [8], [11]- [14]. Another feature of QS-YDFLs is pulse jittering observed mostly in passively QS lasers [15], [16], which deteriorates the regime quality.…”

Recent Progress on Compact and Portable Terahertz Source Based on Parametric Conversion from Dual-Frequency Solid-State Laser Pulses

“…Such a disadvantage severely limits their applications in differential optical absorption spectroscopy [44] and THz generation [29]. In the past, several approaches for reducing the timing jitter were investigated [45][46][47][48][49]. In order to synchronize each pair of the pulses generated by two passively Q-switched lasers, specific cavities were exploited [49][50][51].…”

Role of modulation frequency in a hybrid Q-switched Nd:LuVO4 laser with an acousto-optic modulator and a Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber

“…A hybrid Q-switching technique with both passive and active elements was recently proposed to promote the pulse characteristics [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The hybrid (or dual) Q-switched laser was first used in a spinning mirror and saturable dye in 1966 [10].…”