Noise-like mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser in a linear cavity based on SnS2 nanosheets as a saturable absorber

In this study, a high-energy noise-like mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser in a linear cavity was achieved with SnS₂-polyvinyl alcohol film as the saturable absorber. In addition, the nonlinear saturable absorption characteristics of the SnS₂ were investigated experimentally. The saturation intensity and modulation depth were about 6.01 MW/cm² and 8.68%, respectively. Under pump power of 422 mW, stable noise-like mode-locked operation with a maximum output power and largest single pulse energy of 9.50 mW and 18.1 nJ, respectively, was obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to observe and experimentally investigate noise-like operation in a linear laser cavity. Our study may provide some valuable design guidelines for noise-like operation and create new directions for advanced photonic devices based on SnS₂.