ZnS Nanospheres for Optical Modulator in an Erbium‐Doped Fiber Laser. Issue 3 (13th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jie; Li, Xiaohui; Feng, Jiangjiang; Zheng, Chuang; Wang, Yamin; Wang, Aocheng; Liu, Xinfeng
• Is Part Of: Annalen der Physik. Volume 532:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-02-13
• Subjects: nonlinear optical materials -- optical modulators -- ring cavity fiber lasers; Physics -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1002/andp.201900454
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3804

Abstract

Abstract: Zinc sulfide (ZnS), which belongs to transition metal monochalcogenides, is a semiconductor material with wide direct band gap. It can potentially show some special applications (such as luminescence, phosphor, sensors, infrared window materials, photocatalysis) by changing the morphology, size, and crystal structure of semiconductor materials. However, ZnS nanospheres have not been studied as optical modulators until now. Herein, ZnS nanospheres are synthesized by the hydrothermal method and are used to realize optical modulators in an Er‐doped fiber laser. The evanescent field effect is utilized to incorporate the ZnS nanospheres on a tapered fiber. Furthermore, with the increase in pump power, the modulation interval gradually decreases to a minimum of 34.36 ns corresponding to the modulation frequency of 29.1 MHz, which is the highest modulation frequency to our knowledge in a ring cavity all‐fiber laser. These results demonstrate ZnS nanospheres together with the interaction of dispersion and nonlinearity in optical fibers can modulate the proposed lasers. This not only provides a new method for controlling the power and frequency of all optical modulators, but also marks an important step for ZnS materials in optics research and device applications. Abstract : Using the saturable absorption capacity of the ZnS nanomaterials in an Er‐doped fiber laser, the pulse repetition frequency can reach 29.1 MHz and the minimum pulse width is maintained at the nanosecond level. It not only provides a new way to control an all‐optical modulator, but also marks an important step for ZnS materials in optics research and device applications.