Abstract
High-performance stable mode-locked fiber lasers (MLFLs)
employing nano-composite polymer-graphene saturable absorber (SA) are demonstrated.
The graphene layers were dispersed by two different dispersants including
fluorinated MICA clay (MICA) and poly(oxyethylene)-segmented imide (POEM).
Using the SA made by graphene dispersed in MICA with thickness and concentration
product (TCP) of 36 (µm*wt%), the MLFLs exhibited pulsewidth, 3-dB spectral bandwidth,
and modulation depth (MD) of 393±14 fs, 6.6 nm, and 2.57%, respectively. By contrast, the graphene
dispersed in POEM provides a TCP of 38 (µm*wt%) to make the MLFLs deliver pulsewidth,
3-dB spectral bandwidth, and MD of 442±32 fs, 5.9 nm, and 1.70%, respectively. In comparison, the graphene
SA dispersed by MICA performs a better MLFL pulse quality and uniformity than
that dispersed by POEM. Both MLFLs with SAs fabricated by graphene/MICA and
graphene/POEM reveal shortened pulsewidth and enhanced MD as the TCP increases.
This observation indicates that the TCP and MD serve as key parameters for
characterizing the MLFL pulsewidth. In this study, the nano-MICA dispersant
is used for the first time to fabricate the graphene-polymer based SA film
and has demonstrated highly stable and uniform ML pulse laser output. Judicious
selection of dispersants for dispersing graphene in a homogeneous state is
essential for enhancing the MLFL performance. This stable and uniform mode-locked
pulse formation by employing the novel graphene-mediated SA has proven the
high performance MLFLs that potentially applicable for a myriad of low-cost
nano-devices.
© 2012 IEEE
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