Graphene actively Q-switched lasers. (5th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Diao; Xue, Hui; Qi, Mei; Wang, Yadong; Aksimsek, Sinan; Chekurov, Nikolai; Kim, Wonjae; Li, Changfeng; Riikonen, Juha; Ye, Fangwei; Dai, Qing; Ren, Zhaoyu; Bai, Jintao; Hasan, Tawfique; Lipsanen, Harri; Sun, Zhipei
• Is Part Of: 2D materials. Volume 4:Number 2(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-05-05
• Subjects: graphene -- electro-optic modulators -- fiber lasers -- active Q-switching; Graphene -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; 620.115
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/aa6e6b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1583

Abstract

Abstract: Graphene electro-optic modulators (GEOMs) are emerging as a viable alternative to conventional material-based modulators mainly due to their broadband and ultrafast performance. These GEOMs with combined advantages of small footprint and low energy consumption can potentially enable various high-performance applications that are not possible using conventional approaches. Here, we report the first actively Q-switched lasers with a GEOM. In contrast to the previously reported lasers that are passively modulated by two-dimensional layered material-based saturable absorbers, our actively modulated laser concept represents significant advantages, such as electrically tunable output parameters (e.g. output repetition rate, pulse duration and pulse energy) and electro-optical synchronization. Using a single GEOM, we generate broadband Q-switched pulses at ̃1.55 and 2 μ m with output energies of up to 123 nJ. This indicates the broadband pulse generation capability of the graphene-based active devices, superior to widely used bulk material-based active modulation approaches. Our results demonstrate a simple and viable design towards broadband, high-repetition-rate, electrically modulated ultrafast lasers for various applications, such as telecommunications and spectroscopy.