Optical modulation of microfibers and application to ultrafast fiber lasers. Issue 17 (1st March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Ruwei; Li, Guoru; Zhang, Baitao; He, Jingliang
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 8:Issue 17(2018)
• Page Start: 9120
• Page End: 9124
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ra00740c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Microfibers with suitable diameters were used as saturable absorbers, realizing an all-fiber-structure mode-locked fiber laser. Abstract : Microfibers with different waist diameters were prepared successfully by a flame-brushing technique. Their saturable absorption properties were investigated. The non-saturable loss and modulation depth both decreased with the increase of the diameter. According to the mode distribution of microfibers with a waist diameter of 25 μm, it could be supposed that the evanescent field effect may be useful for microfibers being saturable absorbers (SAs). Based on the 25 μm-diameter microfiber, an all-fiber-structure mode-locked fiber laser was achieved successfully with long term stability in the span of a week. The results indicated that microfibers with suitable diameters were excellent SAs. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report on the usage of microfibers as a SA for building ultrafast fiber lasers.