Mode-locked Fiber Laser Based on ZnO Nanoparticles as a Saturable Absorber

A mode-locked fiber laser based on ZnO nanoparticles as a saturable absorber is developed. ZnO nanoparticles deposited on a side-polished fiber function as a proper saturable absorber in the near infrared range. Mode-locking of pulses is verified through the Fourier transform analysis which characterizes the longitudinal modes of ring cavity. Stable optical pulses of less than 1-ns (resolution-limited) pulse-width are generated at 1064 nm.N