Progress in Semiconductor Saturable Absorption Mirror Mode-Locked Laser
Semiconductor saturable absorption mirror(SESAM)is the most commonly-used passive mode-locking device in ultrafast laser technology.Owing to its advantages of self-starting,low insertion loss,high integration,and flexible design,SESAM has a wide range of applications and excellent commercial prospects.This study introduces the mode-locking principle and current development status of SESAM and summarizes the current epitaxial structure,growth mode,and parameter performance of SESAM.It also provides a detailed description of its latest progress in mode-locking in solid-state,semiconductor,and fiber lasers.Moreover,the performance characteristics and future-development direction of various types of mode-locked lasers are presented.