Hybrid Mode Locked Fiber Laser Using a PDMS/SWCNT Composite Operating at 4 GHz

    Authors

    I. Hernandez-Romano; J. Davila-Rodriguez; D. Mandridis; J. J. Sanchez-Mondragon; D. A. May-Arrioja;P. J. Delfyett

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Lightwave Technol.

    Keywords

    Carbon nanotubes; fiber lasers; mode-locked lasers; saturable absorber; CARBON NANOTUBES; SATURABLE ABSORBER; PULSE GENERATION; FREQUENCY COMB; NOISE; FEMTOSECOND; Engineering, Electrical & Electronic; Optics; Telecommunications

    Abstract

    A hybrid mode-locked Erbium-doped fiber laser that provides very short pulse-widths while achieving high repetition rates is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This hybrid configuration is realized by using a thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) doped with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). This PDMS/SWCNT composite acts as a saturable absorber and is inserted within an active mode-locked laser system using angled connectors. Therefore, the effect of the PDMS/SWCNT composite is to effectively narrow the width of the pulses generated by the active system without modifying its repetition rate. A pulse-width of 730 fs was generated at a repetition rate of 4 GHz, while achieving an average output power of 4 mW. A reduction in the noise of the photodetected RF spectrum was also observed in the hybrid system.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Lightwave Technology

    Volume

    29

    Issue/Number

    21

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    3237

    Last Page

    3242

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000296016100012

    ISSN

    0733-8724

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