Passively Q-Switched Er∶YAG Laser Based on Graphene Saturable Absorber

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, the Er∶YAG passively Q-switched laser using a xenon lamp side-pumping method and based on a graphene saturable absorber was investigated. Firstly, the graphene saturable absorber was successfully prepared by transferring graphene to the Al₂O₃ substrate, and its properties such as morphology, structure, and chemical state were characterized. In addition, the characteristics of the Er∶YAG passively Q-switched laser based on graphene saturable absorber were studied. The results show that the single pulse energy increases from 0.4 mJ to 7 mJ, the output laser single pulse width decreases from 761.2 ns to 510 ns, and the maximum peak power is 13.7 kW. The central wavelength of the laser is located at 2 935 and 2 945 nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) corresponding to the main wavelength at 2 935 nm is 1.535 nm. The beam quality factors along the x and y directions are 4.45 and 5.76, respectively. This study provides an effective reference for developing lower cost 2.94 μm band Er∶YAG lasers with simple and compact resonant cavity designs.

Key words: graphene saturable absorber, xenon lamp side-pumping, passively Q-switched, Er∶YAG, ~3 μm laser

CLC Number:

TN248

CHEN Yan, ZHANG Peixiong, QUAN Cong, SUN Dunlu, LI Zhen, CHEN Zhenqiang. Passively Q-Switched Er∶YAG Laser Based on Graphene Saturable Absorber[J]. JOURNAL OF SYNTHETIC CRYSTALS, 2024, 53(7): 1127-1135.

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