Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals as absorbers for a diode-pumped Tm,La:CaF2 2 μm Q-switched laser

• Published in: Optics communications Vol. 462; p. 125281
• Main Authors: Zhang, Cheng, Zhang, Feng, Chen, Keqiang, Guo, Xinsheng, Liu, Jie, Su, Liangbi, Zhang, Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals; Diode pumped; Passively Q-switched; Tm,La:CaF2 crystal; Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals; Tm,La:CaF2 crystal; Diode pumped; Passively Q-switched
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2020.125281

Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals were successfully grown via thermal implantation and applied in a solid-state pulsed laser for the first time. By applying Cu12Sb4S13 as an saturable absorber, a stable passively Q-switched Tm,La:CaF2 laser was obtained at 2 μm. Under an absorbed pumped power of 3.79 W, an average output power of 445 mW was generated with a maximum repetition rate of 26.85 kHz and pulse width of 1.24 μs, corresponding to a peak power of 11.75 W and pulse energy of 15.29 μJ. The results demonstrate the potential of Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals as economical, practical, and flexible band-gap saturable absorbers. •Cu12Sb4S13 were firstly used as saturable absorber in solid-state lasers.•Passively Q-switched Tm,La:CaF2 laser at 2 μm is demonstrated for the first time.•Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals were successfully employed in Tm,La:CaF2 laser firstly.