Mode-locked fiber laser based on Pb3Sn4FeSb2S14 saturable absorber

Abstract

• Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 is a novel material that has not been used in laser research as we have known. • Successfully prepared and characterize Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 nanosheets, and employ Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 -SA in Er-doped fiber laser. • Realized a passively mode-locked fiber laser with Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 -PVA thin film as the SA and the maximum single pulse energy was 1.49 nJ. The research on ultrafast fiber lasers based on two-dimensional (2D) materials is of great significance, thus it is particularly important to explore new 2D materials. Multi-element materials can be easily peeled off into monolayer structures and exhibit excellent optical properties; however, the nonlinear optical properties of multi-element 2D materials have rarely been investigated. In this study, the saturated optical properties and ultrafast optical applications of the multi-element material Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 were thoroughly investigated. A mode-locked fiber laser based on Pb 3 Sn 4 FeSb 2 S 14 -polyvinyl alcohol saturable absorber, and stable mode-locked pulses were obtained when the pump power was between 200 and 1550 mW by adjusting the polarization controller. Notably, the relationship between output power and pump power was not linear, which was possibly due to the self-focusing effect. The maximum output power was 2.40 mW under the pump power of 651 mW. For the mode-locked operation at pump power of 651 mW, the pulse width, pulse-to-pulse time interval, and pulse repetition rate were 39.91 ns, 610 ns, and 1.63 MHz, respectively.