Mode-locking of fiber lasers using novel two-dimensional nanomaterials: graphene and topological insulators [Invited]

The paper summarizes the recent achievements in the area of ultrafast fiber lasers mode-locked with so-called low-dimensional nanomaterials: graphene, topological insulators (Bi2Te3, Bi2Se3, Sb2Te3), and transition metal sulfide semiconductors, like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The most important experimental achievements are described and compared. Additionally, new original results on ultrashort pulse generation at 1.94 mu m wavelength using graphene are presented. The designed Tm-doped fiber laser utilizes multilayer graphene as a saturable absorber and generates 654 fs pulses at 1940 nm wavelength, which are currently the shortest pulses generated from a Tm-doped fiber laser with a graphene-based saturable absorber. (C) 2015 Chinese Laser Press