Er:ZBLAN fiber laser actively Q-switched using a LiNbO3 electro-optic modulators

Abstract We have developed an actively Q-switched Er:ZBLAN fiber laser based on a lithium niobate (LiNbO3, LN) electro-optic modulator. By reducing the size of the LN crystal, the piezoelectric ring effect is effectively suppressed at high repetition rates (RRs), enabling stable pulse generation within a RR range of 500 Hz–6 kHz. At a 500 Hz RR, the laser generates stable pulses with a single pulse energy of 130 μJ and a peak power of 1.44 kW. Furthermore, we achieved a wavelength tuning range that spans from 2699 nm to 2792 nm in Q-switched operation at a 1 kHz RR. The output characteristics of the laser were also examined under different pump power and RRs. The results manifest that the employment of a LN crystal for attaining active Q-switching in an Er:ZBLAN fiber laser is practicable.