Optimization of passive Q‐switched fiber laser employing MAX phase chromium aluminum carbide film
Mustafa Mohammed Najm, Pei Zhang, Aya A. Almukhtar, Jassim K. Hmood, Mohammed Najm Abdullah, Sulaiman Wadi Harun
Abstract
Abstract In this work, we proposed a mechanical exfoliation technique to compose a saturable absorber (SA) from MAX phase chromium aluminum carbide (Cr 2 AlC). The performance of a passive Q‐switched erbium‐doped fiber laser (EDFL) based on Cr 2 AlC‐SA was experimentally demonstrated. The optical properties of SA showed appropriate nonlinear absorption, with a non‐saturable absorption of 92.5%, and saturable absorption of 1.2%. The proposed EDFL was investigated using 50:50 and 80:20 output couplers (OCs). At 167 mW pumping power and 3 dB OC, the EDFL produced pulses with 2 μs width, and 163 kHz repetition rate. Moreover, with 80:20 OC, the EDFL produced shorter laser pulses with 1.46 μs width, and 135.2 kHz pulsing rate. The results reveal that the higher repetition rate with high energy can be obtained with a 3 dB coupler, while narrower pulse width is achieved with an 80:20 OC.