Passively Q-switched Erbium Doped All-fiber Laser with High Pulse Energy Based on Evanescent Field Interaction with Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Saturable Absorber

We report a passive Q-switching of an all-fiber erbium-doped fiber laser delivering high pulse energy by using a high quality single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber (SWCNT-SA). A side-polished fiber coated with the SWCNT is employed as an in-line SA for evanescent wave interaction between the incident light and the SWCNT. This lateral interaction scheme enables a stable Q-switched fiber laser that generates high pulse energy. The central wavelength of the Q-switched pulse laser was measured as 1560 nm. A repetition rate frequency of the Q-switched laser is controlled from 78 kHz to 190 kHz by adjusting the applied pump power from 124 mW to 790 mW. The variation of pulse energy from 51 nJ to 270 nJ is also observed as increasing the pump power. The pulse energy of 270 nJ achieved at maximum pump power is 3 times larger than those reported in Q-switched all-fiber lasers using a SWCNT-SA. The tunable behaviors in pulse duration, pulse repetition rate, and pulse energy as a function of pump power are reported, and are well matched with theoretical expectation.