title: Actively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser by an all-optical Q-switcher based on graphene saturable absorber.
abstract: We demonstrate an all-optical Q-switcher based on graphene saturable absorber (GSA). Due to the cross absorption modulation (XAM) effect in graphene, we can change the transmittance of signal light periodically by introducing a train of laser pulses into graphene. This allows controlling the Q-factor of the cavity. This Q-switcher has many advantages such as all-fiber structure, all-optical modulation, broadband applications. With this Q-switcher, we have successfully fabricated an actively Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser. The pulse repetition rate can be tuned from 30.32 kHz to 101.29 kHz. What's more, synchronization of the Q-switched laser pulses and modulation laser pulses can be realized, which has many potential applications such as nonlinear frequency conversion, multi-color pump probe spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy.
authors.forename: Aibing
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhenguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yigang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhibo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian