High-performance laser mode-locker with glass-hosted SWNTs realized by room-temperature aerosol deposition

Abstract

We preserve optical nonlinear properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) within SiO(2)-host employing aerosol deposition (AD) that guarantees the formation of dense ceramic thick films at room temperature without combustion and solubility limitation of the SWNTs. The intact nonlinearity is verified with transmittance check, Raman spectrometry and electron microscopes. As a saturable absorption device, the SiO(2)-SWNT composite film successfully mode-locks fiber lasers inducing high-quality output pulses with the measured pulse duration and repetition rate of 890 fs and 9.52 MHz, respectively. After experiencing the intracavity power higher than 20 dBm, the hosted SWNTs are survived to function as the pulse formers. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America