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Q-Switched Yb-Doped Fiber Ring Laser with a Saturable Absorber Based on a Graphene Polyvinyl Alcohol Film

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Journal of Russian Laser Research Aims and scope

Abstract

We propose, design, and demonstrate a Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser (YDFL) employing a thin graphene polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film as a passive saturable absorber (SA). The graphene is synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite at room temperature in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution. Graphene flakes obtained from the process are mixed with PVA solution as the host polymer to produce a thin film, which acts as a passive Q-switcher in the YDFL ring cavity. The laser generates a stable pulse operating at a wavelength of 1,076.4 nm with a threshold pump power of 73.7 mW. At a maximum 980 nm pump power of 113.6 mW, the YDFL generates an optical pulse train with a repetition rate of 25.53 kHz and a pulse width of 10 μs. The maximum pulse energy of 50.9 nJ is obtained at a pump power of 109.9 mW. A higher-performance Q-switched YDFL is expected to be achieved with optimization of the graphene saturable absorber and the laser cavity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Photonics Research Centre, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    A. H. H. Al-Masoodi, H. Ahmad & S. W. Harun

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    F. Ahmad

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    F. Ahmad

Authors
  1. A. H. H. Al-Masoodi
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  2. F. Ahmad
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  3. H. Ahmad
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  4. S. W. Harun
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Correspondence to S. W. Harun.

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Al-Masoodi, A.H.H., Ahmad, F., Ahmad, H. et al. Q-Switched Yb-Doped Fiber Ring Laser with a Saturable Absorber Based on a Graphene Polyvinyl Alcohol Film. J Russ Laser Res 36, 389–394 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10946-015-9515-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10946-015-9515-y

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