Q-switched Dy:ZBLAN fiber lasers beyond 3 μm: comparison of pulse generation using acousto-optic modulation and inkjet-printed black phosphorus.


Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Woodward, RI 
Majewski, MR 
Macadam, N 
Hu, G 
Albrow-Owen, Thomas  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0443-014X
Abstract

We report high-energy mid-infrared pulse generation by Q-switching of dysprosium-doped fiber lasers for the first time. Two different modulation techniques are demonstrated. Firstly, using active acousto-optic modulation, pulses are produced with up to 12 μJ energy and durations as short as 270 ns, with variable repetition rates from 100 Hz to 20 kHz and central wavelengths tunable from 2.97 to 3.23 μm. Experiments are supported by numerical modeling, identifying routes for improved pulse energies and to avoid multi-pulsing by careful choice of modulator parameters. Secondly, we demonstrate passive Q-switching by fabricating an inkjet-printed black phosphorus saturable absorber, simplifying the cavity and generating 1.0 μJ pulses with 740 ns duration. The performance and relative merits of each modulation approach are then critically discussed. These demonstrations highlight the potential of dysprosium as a versatile gain medium for high-performance pulsed sources beyond 3 μm.

Description
Keywords
0205 Optical Physics
Journal Title
Opt Express
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1094-4087
1094-4087
Volume Title
27
Publisher
The Optical Society
Rights
All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016087/1)
Australian Research Council (ARC) DP170100531, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/L016087/1