Robust, low-noise, polarization-maintaining mode-locked Er-fiber laser with a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) device as a multi-functional element.

We demonstrate a new planar lightwave circuit (PLC)-based device, integrated with a 980/1550 wavelength division multiplexer, an evanescent-field-interaction-based saturable absorber, and an output tap coupler, which can be employed as a multi-functional element in mode-locked fiber lasers. Using this multi-functional PLC device, we demonstrate a simple, robust, low-noise, and polarization-maintaining mode-locked Er-fiber laser. The measured full-width at half-maximum bandwidth is 6 nm centered at 1555 nm, corresponding to 217 fs transform-limited pulse duration.

300-MHz-repetition-rate, all-fiber, femtosecond laser mode-locked by planar lightwave circuit-based saturable absorber.

We show the implementation of fiber-pigtailed, evanescent-field-interacting, single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT)-based saturable absorbers (SAs) using standard planar lightwave circuit (PLC) fabrication processes. The implemented PLC-CNT-SA device is employed to realize self-starting, high-repetition-rate, all-fiber ring oscillators at telecommunication wavelength. We demonstrate all-fiber Er ring lasers operating at 303-MHz (soliton regime) and 274-MHz (stretched-pulse regime) repetition-rates.

Effect of zinc content on the refractive index of Co-sputtered Zn-doped ITO films.

In this study, we investigated the possibility of using Zn-doped ITO film as an alternative material for conventional SiO2 waveguides used in optical communication. The Zn-doped ITO films were deposited on quartz substrates using a combinatorial sputtering system, which yielded composition spread Zn-In-Sn-O (ZITO) films by co-sputtering two targets of ITO and ZnO. The Zn-doped ITO films deposited at room temperature exhibited an amorphous phase in the Zn content [Zn/(Zn+In+Sn)] range of 39-54 at%.