Q-switched Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Incorporating Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as a Saturable Absorber

C Huda,M Yasin,A H A Rosol,Sw Harun,A A A Jafry

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/854/1/012059

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of Q-Switched erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) by employing a multi-walled carbon nanotubes-polyvinyl alcohol (MWCNTs-PVA) as a saturable absorber (SA). The SA was prepared by embedding MWCNTs into PVA via stirring and ultrasonication. A stable Q-Switched pulse train operating at 1559.4 nm was successfully generated by employing MWCNTs-PVA SA into a laser cavity. The repetition rate and pulse width of the laser were 52.85-151.9 kHz and 6.313-2.395 μs, respectively. The maximum output power and maximum peak power obtained are 52 μW and 142.94 μW, respectively at a pump power of 63 mW. This demonstration proves that the MWCNTs-PVA based SA is suitable for the generation of Q-Switched fiber laser at 1.55 μm region.

Highlights

Pulsed laser is a potential device for vast industrial applications including biomedical, micromachining, and laser cutting technology
We demonstrate the generation of Q-Switched erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) by employing a multi-walled carbon nanotubes-polyvinyl alcohol (MWCNTs-PVA) as a saturable absorber (SA)
A stable Q-Switched pulse train operating at 1559.4 nm was successfully generated by employing MWCNTs-PVA SA into a laser cavity

Summary

Introduction

Pulsed laser is a potential device for vast industrial applications including biomedical, micromachining, and laser cutting technology It can be realized using passive or active technique. Various materials are incorporated inside an all-fiberized laser cavity as a SA such as nanoparticles [1], inorganic compound [2], and 2-dimensional materials [3, 4] Those materials possess few limitations such as low-operating bandwidth, complex fabrication procedure and immature SA device. CNTs is an atomically arranged carbon with sp hybridized hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure. It owns an outstanding physical and chemical characteristics alike graphene.

Findings

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Conclusion