IV-VI semiconductor nanocrystals for passive Q-switch in IR

The use of semiconductor nanocrystals as a passive Q-switch in an eye-safe laser system is demonstrated. These lasers recently became popular in laser radar, three-dimensional scanning, targeting, and communication applications. Such applications require the laser to operate under Q-switching, generating a laser pulse with duration on the order of tens of nanoseconds, and a peak power on the order of a megawatt. Semiconductor nanocrystals exhibit unique physical properties, associated with the quantum size effect. The PbS and PbSe nanocrystals show a size-tunable absorption resonance in the near IR spectral region (1000-3000 nm), saturable absorbing properties, suitable as a functional Q-switch in eye-safe lasers. The quantum confinement effect and the saturable absorption can be manifested only in high quality nanocrystals with a narrow size distribution and passivated surfaces. Thus, a special synthetic procedures have been used for the preparation of PbSe core, PbSe/PbS core-shell and PbSe/PbSe_xS_i-x core-alloyed shell nanocrystals. Then, a passively Q-switched Englass laser has been assembled, while the laser output energy, Q-switch threshold energies, and pulse width have been measured.