Abstract
Black phosphorus (BP), an emerging narrow direct band-gap two-dimensional (2D) layered material that can fill the gap between the semi-metallic graphene and the wide-bandgap transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), had been experimentally found to exhibit the saturation of optical absorption if under strong light illumination. By taking advantage of this saturable absorption property, we could fabricate a new type of optical saturable absorber (SA) based on mechanically exfoliated BPs, and further demonstrate the applications for ultra-fast laser photonics. Based on the balanced synchronous twin-detector measurement method, we have characterized the saturable absorption property of the fabricated BP-SAs at the telecommunication band. By incorporating the BP-based SAs device into the all-fiber Erbium-doped fiber laser cavities, we are able to obtain either the passive Q-switching (with maximum pulse energy of 94.3 nJ) or the passive mode-locking operation (with pulse duration down to 946 fs). Our results show that BP could also be developed as an effective SA for pulsed fiber or solid-state lasers.
Highlights
In order to achieve pulse emission of lasers, Q-switching and mode-locking based on saturable absorber (SA) are the widely used techniques due to the advantages of excellent mechanical stability, easy implementation and low cost
We have demonstrated the fabrication of Black phosphorus (BP) 2D-material by the mechanical exfoliation method and the application of the 2D BP material as a new type of effective SA for ultra-fast photonics
We have demonstrated that BP can be developed as an effective SA for the ultra-fast laser photonics
Summary
In order to achieve pulse emission of lasers, Q-switching and mode-locking based on saturable absorber (SA) are the widely used techniques due to the advantages of excellent mechanical stability, easy implementation and low cost. The broadband nonlinear optics response of few layer BPs had been recently reported by our research group [31], while BP-based nonlinear optical devices were still untouched In this contribution, we have demonstrated the fabrication of BP 2D-material by the mechanical exfoliation method and the application of the 2D BP material as a new type of effective SA for ultra-fast photonics. Through mechanical exfoliation approach just by scotch tape, bulk BPs could be peeled into 2D thin layers, which could be attached onto the end-facet of a fiber ferrule, making it into a SA device By placing such optical saturable absorber devices inside different Erbium-doped all-fiber laser cavities, either the passive Q-switching or mode locking operation of the fiber laser could be obtained, which suggests that 2D BP material could be developed as an effective SA for ultra-fast photonics
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