ObjectiveFiber lasers based on the Dissipative Four-Wave Mixing (DFWM) effect possess advantages such as high output pulse repetition frequency, narrow pulse width, good beam directivity, and simple structure. They have demonstrated immense application potential in fields including fiber communication, optical sensing, precision metrology, and microwave photonics. However, traditional implementation schemes often rely on complex structures or high-cost devices. In response to this requirement, this paper proposes a low-cost solution based on novel two-dimensional NbTe
2 nanosheets. By fabricating nonlinear photonic modulation devices and tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), the DFWM effect is achieved under low pump power. This not only provides a low-cost technical solution for the realization of high-repetition-frequency pulsed fiber lasers but also paves a new way for exploring the application of this material in the field of ultrafast photonics.
MethodsThe NbTe
2 nanosheets were prepared using the liquid-phase exfoliation method, and the closed-aperture
Z-scan technique was employed to investigate their third-order nonlinear optical properties at a wavelength of
1550 nm. A nonlinear photonic modulation device was fabricated by combining the optical deposition method, and a MZI with adjustable arm length was designed as a comb filter through the combination of theoretical simulation and experimental verification. A ring-cavity erbium-doped fiber laser based on the above-mentioned devices was constructed. By leveraging the nonlinear optical properties of NbTe
2 and the spectral regulation ability of the filter, high-repetition-rate laser pulse output based on the DFWM effect was achieved.
Results and DiscussionsThe nonlinear optical properties of NbTe
2 nanosheets were applied to a DFWM fiber laser, and high-repetition-rate pulses were successfully generated under low pump power. The innovative achievements include: 1) The
Z-scan method was used to measure the nonlinear refractive index coefficient of NbTe
2 nanosheets (at
1550 nm, the maximum value of
n2 is 1.39×10
-12 m
2/W) (
Fig.4). 2) Combining the tunable free spectral range (FSR) periodic filtering characteristics of the fiber MZI, a high-repetition-rate pulsed laser output based on the principle of DFWM was achieved (
Fig.6). 3) By adjusting the optical delay difference between the two arms of the MZI, the repetition rate of the output laser pulses can be tuned. High-repetition-rate pulses with repetition rates of 80.6 GHz and 121.9 GHz were obtained respectively (
Fig.10).
ConclusionsBased on the fabricated NbTe
2 nanosheet nonlinear photonic modulator and the MZI filter with tunable FSR, a ring-cavity erbium-doped fiber laser with tunable repetition rate was constructed based on the principle of DFWM. This provides a feasible and cost-effective technical solution for the realization of high-repetition-rate pulsed fiber lasers, and also opens up a new avenue for exploring the application of NbTe
2 nanosheets in the field of ultrafast photonics.