Shougui Ning

Compact watt-level passively Q-switched ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AIF3-NaF fiber laser at 2.8 μm using Fe2+:ZnSe saturable absorber mirror

Abstract. A midinfrared (mid-IR) saturable absorber mirror (SAM) was fabricated by coating aluminum film on Fe2+:ZnSe crystal, based on the vacuum evaporation method. By employing the prepared SAM, we demonstrated a high-power passively Q-switched Er3+-doped ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF (ZBLAN) fiber laser at 2.8  μm. The highest output power in excess of 1.01 W was obtained with a pulse energy of 11.37  μJ and pulse duration of 0.73  μs, corresponding to a repetition rate of 88.84 kHz. To the best of our knowledge, these values represent the highest output power/pulse energy from a passively Q-switched ZBLAN fiber laser around 2.8  μm. Our results demonstrate that Fe2+:ZnSe SAM is a promising device for high-power/high-energy pulse generation in compact mid-IR fiber lasers.

Compact pulsed fiber laser at 2.78 μm with an Fe2+-doped ZnSe saturable absorber mirror

An Fe2+-doped ZnSe saturable absorber mirror (SAM) were fabricated by electron beam evaporation technique. In the Fe2+-doped ZnSe SAM, Fe2+ was doped into the bragg stack, in which Fe2+:ZnSe served as both saturable absorber and high reflection layer. By using the Fe2+-doped ZnSe SAM in the fiber laser, which operating at 2.78 μm, stable Qswitched pulse was obtained and the repetition rate was from 78.79 kHz to 162.32 kHz. The recorded maximum average output of 865 mW was achieved.

Mid-infrared Fe2+:ZnSe semiconductor saturable absorber mirror for passively Q-switched Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser

A mid-infrared (mid-IR) semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) based on Fe2+:ZnSe for passively Q-switched Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser has been demonstrated. Fe2+:ZnSe SESAM was fabricated by electron beam evaporation method. Fe2+ was innovatively doped into the reflective Bragg stack, in which ZnSe layer served as both doped matrix and high refractive layer during the fabricating process. By using the Fe2+:ZnSe SESAM, stable passively Q-switched pulses with the minimum pulse width of 0.43 μs under a repetition rate of 160.82 kHz were obtained. The recorded maximum average output power of 873 mW with a peak power of 12.59 W and pulse energy of 5.43 μJ were achieved. The results demonstrated a new method for fabricating Fe2+:ZnSe SESAM, which can be used in compact mid-IR Q-switched fiber laser.