Definition of saturable absorber

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saturable absorber: A saturable absorber is a type of optical device that exhibits variable absorption properties depending on the intensity of incident light. In essence, it becomes less absorbent as the light intensity increases. This unique behavior is due to a phenomenon known as optical saturation.

In a saturable absorber, when the intensity of incoming light is low, it effectively absorbs a significant portion of the light energy. However, as the light intensity increases, more and more absorbing centers within the material become saturated with photons. At a certain threshold intensity, the absorber reaches a state where it can no longer effectively absorb additional photons, leading to a decrease in its overall absorption.

This property is particularly useful in the context of mode-locked lasers. By incorporating a saturable absorber into the laser cavity, it can help initiate and sustain the mode-locking process. Initially, the saturable absorber absorbs light, but as the intensity increases due to stimulated emission, it saturates and allows the laser to emit short pulses of light. This mechanism helps generate ultrashort pulses in mode-locked lasers.

Saturable absorbers can be made from various materials, including dyes, semiconductors, and specially engineered optical elements. They are crucial components in various laser systems and optical devices used in applications such as telecommunications, spectroscopy, and ultrafast optics.

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