Polymer composites are one of the most attractive near-term means to exploit the unique properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene. This is particularly true for composites aimed at electronics and photonics, where a number of promising applications have already been demonstrated. One such example is nanotube-based saturable absorbers. These can be used as all-optical switches, optical amplifier noise suppressors, or mode-lockers to generate ultrashort laser pulses. Here, we review various aspects of fabrication, characterization, device implementation and operation of nanotube-polymer composites to be used in photonic applications. We also summarize recent results on graphene-based saturable absorbers for ultrafast lasers.

Nanotube–Polymer Composites for Ultrafast Photonics

We report on the generation and measurement of a > 108 contrast ratio between main pulse and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from a relativistic kHz chirped-pulse amplified laser. We have enhanced the ASE contrast ratio as much as > 400 times by employing a pulse cleaner composed of a μJ preamplifier and a saturable absorber. A third-order cross-correlator with a dynamic range of > 109 and a scanning range of up to 4 ns has been developed for the contrast measurement. Detailed analysis of the cross-correlation trace shows that the random noise of spectral phase generates 20-ps pedestal structure starting from 10−6 level of the main pulse.

/pdf/generation-and-measurement-of-108-intensity-contrast-ratio-4b5yzmzizt.pdf

Generation and measurement of >108 intensity contrast ratio in a relativistic kHz chirped-pulse amplified laser

As ultrafast lasers achieve ever higher focused intensities on target, the problem of ensuring a clean laser-solid interaction becomes more pressing. In this paper, we give concrete examples of the deleterious effects of low-contrast interactions, and address the problem of subpicosecond laser intensity contrast ratio on both characterization and control fronts. We present the new technique of high-dynamic-range plasma-shuttered streak camera contrast measurement, as well as two efficient and relatively inexpensive ways of improving the contrast of short pulse lasers without sacrificing on the output energy: a double-pass Pockels cell (PC), and clean high-energy-pulse seeding of the regenerative amplifier.

/pdf/temporal-contrast-in-ti-sapphire-lasers-characterization-and-3hobzjgjon.pdf

Temporal contrast in Ti:sapphire lasers, characterization and control

The nonlinear optical effects described in Chaps. 4 and 5 have to be characterized for a given material up to a certain level before they can be applied in photonics. The already wide range of applications in science, technology and medicine contains analytic aspects, questions of the structure of matter, reaction mechanisms on all time scales and the production of new states, phases or even of new matter. Thus two main questions are asked in nonlinear optics:


Which nonlinear optical effect is, for a given material suitable for a new laser analytic method (analytic tasks)?


Which nonlinear optical effect is most suitable for a desired photonic application (material and light modification tasks)?

Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy

We discuss the design, construction, and output characteristics of a versatile 10-TW Ti : sapphire laser system of high stability and spatiotemporal quality. By pumping the three amplifier stages independently and running at saturation, an energy stability of 1.3% is obtained. Controls over self-phase modulation, high-order dispersion, spatial aberration, and amplified spontaneous emission are done by robust passive methods. A time–bandwidth product of 1.2 times the Fourier-transform limit with a temporal contrast larger than 5×108 in the -10-ns scale, 2×106 in the -100-ps scale, and 104 in the -1-ps scale are achieved. The beam can be focused down to 1.2 times the diffraction limit with 80% of the energy enclosed in the Gaussian focal spot. Beam-pointing stability is <13 μrad. Such high stability and spatiotemporal quality have made possible precision control over extremely nonlinear laser–plasma experiments, and the capability of computerized independent control of prepulse, pump pulse, probe pulse, and on-line diagnoses have made this system highly versatile and reliable.

A versatile 10-TW laser system with robust passive controls to achieve high stability and spatiotemporal quality

A high-dynamic-range autocorrelation technique was used to characterize the temporal pulse shape of ultrashort laser pulses produced from four separate oscillators. These lasers included two Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire oscillators as well as a Nd:glass and a Ti:sapphire oscillator, each passively mode locked by an antiresonant Fabry–Perot semiconductor saturable absorber. It was shown that the Nd:glass oscillator supported a pulse that was temporally clean over 8 orders of magnitude.

Characterization of short-pulse oscillators by means of a high-dynamic-range autocorrelation measurement.

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Characterization of short-pulse oscillators by means of a high-dynamic-range autocorrelation measurement.