Femtosecond Tm-Ho co-doped fiber laser using a bulk-structured Bi_2Se_3 topological insulator

We experimentally demonstrate a femtosecond mode-locked thulium-holmium(Tm-Ho) co-doped fiber laser incorporating a saturable absorber(SA) based on a bulk-structured bismuth selenide(Bi_2Se_3) topological insulator(TI). The SA was prepared by depositing a mechanically exfoliated Bi_2Se_3 TI layer onto a side-polished optical fiber platform. Unlike high-quality nano-structured Bi_2Se_3 TI-based SA, bulk-structured Bi_2Se_3 with non-negligible oxidation was used as a saturable absorption material for this experimental demonstration due to its easy fabrication process. The saturation power and modulation depth of the prepared SA were measured to be ~ 28.6 W and ~13.4%, respectively. By incorporating the prepared SA into a Tm-Ho co-doped fiber ring cavity, stable soliton pulses with a temporal width of ~ 853 fs could be generated at 1912.12 nm. The 3-dB bandwidth of the mode-locked pulse was measured to be ~4.87 nm. This experimental demonstration reaffirms that Bi_2Se_3 is a superb base material for mid-infrared passive mode-locking even under oxidation.     

Passively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser using the evanescent field interaction with bulk-like WTe_2 particles

The potential of bulk-like WTe_2 particles for the realization of a passive Q-switch operating at the 1 μm wavelength was investigated. The WTe_2 particles were prepared using a simple mechanical exfoliation method together with Scotch tape. By attaching bulk-like WTe_2 particles, which remained on the top of the sticky surface of a small segment of the Scotch tape, to the flat side of a side-polished fiber, a saturable absorber(SA) was readily implemented. A strong saturable absorption was then readily obtained through an evanescent field interaction with the WTe_2 particles. The modulation depth of the prepared SA was measured as ~2.18% at 1.03 μm. By incorporating the proposed SA into an all-fiberized ytterbium-doped fiber ring cavity, stable Qswitched pulses were readily achieved.