title: Ultrafast all-fibre laser mode-locked by polymer-free carbon nanotube film.
abstract: This work for the first time reports the results on study of a polymer-free carbon nanotube (CNT) films used as a saturable absorber in an all-fibre laser. It is demonstrated that free-standing single-walled CNT films fabricated by an aerosol method are able to ensure generation of transform-limited pulses in an Er all-fibre ring laser with duration of several picoseconds and high quality of mode locking. The optimal average output power levels are identified, amounting to 0.4-0.5 mW depending on the linear transmission of the studied samples (60% or 80%). Application of polymer-free CNT films solves problems related to degradation of conventional polymer matrices of CNT-based saturable absorbers and paves the way to longer-lasting and more reliable saturable absorbers compatible with all-fibre laser configurations.
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobtsev
authors.forename: Aleksey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivanenko
authors.forename: Yury G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Gladush
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nyushkov
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokhanovskiy
authors.forename: Anton S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Anisimov
authors.forename: Albert G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nasibulin