Passive mode-locking at S-band by single-mode thulium-doped fluoride fiber using a thin film PtAg/N-G saturable absorber

Abstract

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, the usage of platinum silver bimetallic alloy forms on the synthesized N-Gns (PtAg/N-G) as a saturable absorber (SA) for the mode-locking of a thulium-doped fluoride fiber laser. The experimental results have demonstrated that PtAg/N-G exhibits saturable absorption in the 1.5-μm wavelength range and supports ultrashort pulse generation. Mode-locking occurred when the pump power rose to 340 mW, and the output spectrum had a peak at 1506 nm with the 3-dB bandwidth of ∼0.76 nm. The mode-locked pulse train against a cavity roundtrip time of 146 ns that corresponds to a pulse repetition rate around 6.85 MHz. The autocorrelation trace 7.43 ps with a full width at half maximum pulse width of 4.8 ps, and experimental data were closely fit with a sech2 pulse shape and it indicates the generation of soliton pulse. The output power of this fiber laser is 3.24 mW; hence, the pulse energy is 0.31 nJ and peak power is about 56.9 mW as well. We demonstrate graphene-polymer nanocomposites could be an appropriate SA for high-power fiber laser mode-locking.