Effects of Plasmonic Au Nanoparticles on the Optical Nonlinearity of InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot Semiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirrors

Abstract

Au nanoparticles (NPs) were designed to be embedded into III-V semiconductors to form Au/GaAs Schottky heterostructures, which were used as top-modified cover layers for quantum dot semiconductor saturable absorption mirrors (QD-SESAMs). By harnessing the distinctive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect exhibited by Au NPs, a remarkable enhancement in photogenerated carrier concentration is achieved at the heterojunction interface. Consequently, this leads to a significant improvement in the nonlinear optical characteristics of the device. The modulation depth (MD) and saturation fluence of the device are optimized from the initial 2.2% and 16.1 MW/cm2 to 2.8% and 8.3 MW/cm2, respectively. Based on the optimized device, a Q-switched laser has been developed with an impressive output power of 17.61 mW and a single pulse energy of 274.9 nJ. These results unequivocally showcase the exceptional advantages offered by utilizing Au NPs to optimize the nonlinear optical characteristics of III-V semiconductor devices, thereby highlighting its immense potential for practical applications in various fields.