Nonlinear Optical Properties and Laser Applications of Copper Chalcogenide Quantum Dots in Glass

Abstract

Absorption saturation and picosecond pump–probe measurements on oxidized copper selenide quantum dots in sol–gel glasses were carried out. The bleaching relaxation time was found to be ∼300 ps. The saturation intensities were estimated to be 2.2 MW/cm2 at 1.06 μm and 7 MW/cm2 at 1.54 μm for Cu2Se and Cu2+xSe-doped glasses, respectively. Passive Q-switching of 1.06, 1.34, and 1.54 μm solid state lasers with copper selenide-doped glasses as saturable absorbers were demonstrated.