title: 300-MHz-repetition-rate, all-fiber, femtosecond laser mode-locked by planar lightwave circuit-based saturable absorber.
abstract: We show the implementation of fiber-pigtailed, evanescent-field-interacting, single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT)-based saturable absorbers (SAs) using standard planar lightwave circuit (PLC) fabrication processes. The implemented PLC-CNT-SA device is employed to realize self-starting, high-repetition-rate, all-fiber ring oscillators at telecommunication wavelength. We demonstrate all-fiber Er ring lasers operating at 303-MHz (soliton regime) and 274-MHz (stretched-pulse regime) repetition-rates. The 303-MHz (274-MHz) laser centered at 1555 nm (1550 nm) provides 7.5 nm (19 nm) spectral bandwidth. After extra-cavity amplilfication, the amplified pulse train of the 303-MHz (274-MHz) laser delivers 209 fs (178 fs) pulses. To our knowledge, this corresponds to the highest repetition-rates achieved for femtosecond lasers employing evanescent-field-interacting SAs. The demonstrated SA fabrication method, which is based on well-established PLC processes, also shows a potential way for mass-producible and lower-cost waveguide-type SA devices suitable for all-fiber and waveguide lasers.
authors.forename: Chur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dohyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: YeonJoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Dohyeon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hwanseong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Jeong-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rotermund
authors.forename: Jungwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim