Atomic-Layer Molybdenum Sulfide Passively Modulated Green Laser Pulses

Atomic-layer two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are considered as fundamental materials for next-generation nano-optoelectronic devices. Based on the third-order optical nonlinearity, saturable absorption, and band-gap structures of 2D semiconductors, 2D broadband optical switchers were proposed and experimentally constructed for modulating the laser operation, especially in the infrared range; meanwhile, few 2D saturable absorbers in visible lasers were reported. Here, we demonstrate the pulsed green praseodymium (Pr3+) bulk laser at the wavelength of 522 nm modulated by an atomic-layer molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) saturable absorber. The results represent the shortest spectral range in which 2D saturable absorbers applied. Associating with the recent development of visible lasers and previous reported MoS2 saturable absorbers, this letter provides a promising optical modulator for visible lasers and experimentally identifies that the MoS2 saturable absorber is a universal device for laser modulation in the spectral range from the green to mid-infrared.