Linearly polarized, Q-switched Er-doped fiber laser based on reduced graphene oxide saturable absorber

We demonstrate generation of linearly polarized pulses from a passively Q-switched Erbium-doped fiber laser. The cavity was designed using only polarization maintaining fibers and components, resulting in linearly polarized output beam with degree of polarization at the level of 97.6%. Reduced graphene oxide was used as a saturable absorber for Q-switched operation. The laser was capable of delivering 1.85 mu s pulses with 125 nJ pulse energy at 115 kHz repetition rate. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4770373]