Bandwidth optimization of a Carbon Nanotubes mode-locked Erbium-doped fiber laser

We present a new method to fabricate thin films using single-walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) and a urethane-based transparent polymer. We construct an Erbium-doped fiber laser to test our films as saturable absorbers to work as passive mode-locker. As results, pulse-trains were achieved and we carried on an optimization study involving total cavity dispersion, absorption strength of thin films incorporating SWCNT and laser bandwidth to produce broad bandwidths in passive mode-locking regime.

► We fabricated Carbon Nanotubes films with an easy-processing polymer.
► Films thicknesses between 150 μm and 300 μm can be obtained.
► Carbon Nanotubes samples have αL products ranging from 0.6 to 1.3.
► αL close to 1.0 was found to be the best value for mode-locked laser bandwidth optimization.