Single-mode Raman fiber laser based on a multimode fiber

Single-mode operation of a Raman fiber laser based on a multimode fiber has been demonstrated for what is to our knowledge the first time. Single-mode operation was achieved through the beam cleanup effect of stimulated Raman scattering in multimode fibers. The Raman laser, consisting of a 50-microm-core multimode fiber and a multimode Nd:YAG laser pump, produced an output beam corresponding to the fundamental mode of the fiber.     

Beam cleanup in a self-aligned gradient-index Brillouin cavity for high-power multimode fiber amplifiers

We propose a beam cleanup setup to convert a multimode beam into a single-mode beam by use of the Brillouin effect in a multimode gradient-index (GI) fiber. Phase conjugation and beam cleanup regimes in highly multimode fibers are discussed, and the self-aligned GI fiber Brillouin cavity is presented. We report a preliminary conversion from an M2=6.5 beam into an M2=1.3 beam with 31% efficiency.     

Review of photorefractive materials: an application to laser beam cleanup

Nonlinear photorefractive materials are well suited to record dynamic volume holograms using the wave mixing of coherent laser beams. The photo-induced index modulation is due to a space charge field which modulates the crystal refractive index. The basic phenomena and beam interactions are reviewed for different types of materials operating in the visible and near infrared. In particular, we outline their ability to amplify a low intensity signal beam due to the intensity transfer of a spatially multimode pump beam. We apply this interaction to the cleanup of a multimode large core fiber amplifier. This class of nonlinear materials contribute to extending the performances of laser sources for advanced applications of photonics. To cite this article: L. Lombard et al., C. R. Physique 8 (2007).     

Degradation of beam quality and depolarization of the laser beam in a step-index multimode optical fiber

The characteristics of a laser beam are altered during propagating through large-core multimode optical fibers. The distribution of modes excited by the input laser beam is modified by means of mode coupling on transmission through the fiber, leading to the degradation of beam quality and the depolarization of the delivered beam. The relationship between the beam quality factor (M²) of output beam from a large-core multimode fiber and the fiber length, as well as the relationship between the degree of polarization (V) of output beam from such a fiber and the fiber length, are introduced in this paper. When a laser beam was well launched into a large-core step-index multimode fiber, M² of the output beam was a compound tanh function of the fiber length. A linear polarization beam that well launched into such fiber suffered depolarization. The V of the output beam was an exponent function of fiber length. And the misalignment between beam axis and fiber axis made the beam quality degrade faster but made no difference of the utmost M² in the aligned and misaligned conditions. Also, the misalignment condition made the polarization of output beam degrade faster.     

Generation of a hollow laser beam by a multimode fiber

A simple method to generate a hollow laser beam by multimode fiber is reported. A dark hollow laser beam is generated from a multimode fiber and the dependence of the output beam profile on the incident angle of laser beam is analyzed. The results show that this hollow laser beam can be used to trap and guide cold atoms.     

Spatiotemporal mode-locked multimode fiber laser with dissipative four-wave mixing effect

The high degree of freedom and novel nonlinear phenomena of multimode fiber are attracting attention. In this work, we demonstrate a spatiotemporal mode-locked multimode fiber laser, which relies on microfiber knot resonance (MKR) via dissipative four-wave-mixing (DFMW) to achieve high-repetition-rate pulses. Apart from that, DFMW mode locking with switchable central wavelengths can also be obtained. It was further found that high pulse energy induced nonlinear effect of the dominant mode-locking mechanism transforming from DFMW to nonlinear Kerr beam cleaning effect (NL-KBC). The experimental results are valuable for further comprehending the dynamic characteristics of spatiotemporal mode-locked multimode fiber lasers, facilitating them much more accessible for applications.     

The impact of the off-axis for the spatial light to multimode fiber coupling system

The electric field distribution of Gaussian beam and properties of Cassegrain optical antenna are discussed and their images have been simulated. By analysis of Cassegrain optical antenna with collimation and off-axis circumstance, laser power distribution and the curve of coupling efficiency are obtained. The question of spatial light to multimode fiber coupling efficiency with alignment and off-axis are researched. At last, taking into account off-axis situation of Cassegrain and laser beam to multimode fiber, the coupling efficiency of the whole system is discussed. These researches are necessary and useful for increasing spatial light to multimode fiber coupling efficiency.     

Passive combination of multiple beams in an optical fiber via stimulated Brillouin scattering

We demonstrate passive combination of multiple beams in an optical fiber via stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Four off-axis beams are combined in a long multimode optical fiber using a novel all-optical mount. The combined beam has the high spatial coherence properties of the LP(01) mode owing to the beam cleanup properties of SBS. The threshold for SBS when off-axis pumps are used is shown to be a factor of 13 times higher than for on-axis pump beams. We propose this method would improve the brightness of an array of fiber amplifiers.     

高功率高效率光纤耦合半导体激光模块研制

采用光束整形和空间合束的方法,研制出高功率、高效率多阵列光纤耦合半导体激光模块。将波长为976nm连续工作的5个标准半导体阵列,通过对快轴进行准直和快慢轴光束旋转的方式进行光束整形,准直后进行空间合束,经耦合透镜聚焦,耦合入芯径400μm、数值孔径0.22的光纤。测量结果显示:光纤的出光功率最大可达到327 W,光纤耦合效率大于93.6%。     

Theoretical and experimental study on transverse mode competition in a partial-coiled multimode fiber laser

A model derived from propagation-rate equations with consideration of transverse-hole burning, the mode-coupling effect, and longitudinal-distributed loss for a laser signal is built up to describe the transverse mode competition in multimode fiber lasers. Based on the model, theoretical analysis on transverse mode competition in a partial-coiled multimode fiber laser, which introduced longitudinal-distributed loss, is presented. An experimental laser system applying this fiber is also demonstrated. To study the transverse mode competition, we changed the coiled length of the fiber and measured the output beam quality to compare with calculated values. The experimental results agree with the theoretical analysis.     

200W级高亮度半导体激光器光纤耦合模块

光纤激光器系统需要高可靠性、高亮度、高功率光纤耦合输出二极管激光器模块作为泵浦源。基于mini-bar二极管激光器芯片,采用光束精密准直技术、自由空间合束技术来获得高亮度、高功率光纤耦合输出,针对光纤芯径为200μm、数值孔径为0.22的多模光纤,开展了线偏振二极管激光光纤耦合实验,实验结果表明:光纤稳定输出功率达280 W,对应亮度为5.87 MW/(cm2·sr),电-光效率为45.0%。采用偏振合束技术,光纤预期输出功率可达500 W,对应亮度超过10 MW/(cm2·sr)。该方法可应用于研制数百瓦级高亮度二极管激光光纤耦合输出激光器模块。     

抽运调制条件下超窄线宽掺铒光纤环形激光器的跳模特性研究

搭建了基于光纤迈克耳孙干涉仪的跳模检测系统,对抽运调制条件下的超窄线宽掺铒光纤环形激光器的跳模特性进行了实验研究,测量了由抽运电流标定的表征跳模规律的跳模数据图。结果表明,随着抽运电流的不断增加,激光器先后经历模式稳定区、模式非稳区以及多纵模区三种状态;存在第二抽运阈值,当抽运强度超过这一阈值时激光器由单纵模跳变为非稳定的多纵模。掺铒光纤环形激光器的谐振腔因抽运热效应或外界扰动而变化时,会引发频率漂移与连续跳模现象。     

百瓦级高亮度光纤耦合半导体激光模块的研制

用3只976 nm半导体激光短列阵作为子模块,研制出连续工作的百瓦级高亮度光纤耦合模块。首先,利用光束转换器将每个半导体激光短列阵进行光束整形;然后采用空间复用技术将3个半导体激光短列阵在光参数积小的方向上叠加,并利用倒置伽利略望远镜作为扩束器进一步压缩发散角;最后利用优化结构的透镜组将激光聚焦到芯径200 μm,数值孔径为0.22的光纤中。测量结果显示:聚焦后激光的发散角为24.8°,焦平面的光斑尺寸为175.2 μm;耦合后测量光纤出光功率可达107 W,对应亮度为2.23 MW/(cm²·sr),达到了国内利用列阵进行光纤耦合的领先水平;在工作电流为52.5 A时,电光转换效率为43.1%,远高于全固态等激光器;最后测量本模块在不同驱动电流时的光谱,并以此计算出模块的热阻为1.29 K/W,说明它的散热性能良好。结果表明,本光纤耦合模块适合应用于泵浦光纤激光器、医疗和激光加工等领域。     

基于多模光纤滤波器的可调谐掺铒光纤激光器

研究了一种新型、全光纤、宽带可调谐环形腔掺铒光纤激光器。该激光器利用由单模-多模-单模光纤组成的滤波器实现波长可调谐及激光器的全光纤结构。该滤波器将多模光纤缠绕在偏振控制器上,两端分别与一段单模光纤相连,通过调整偏振控制器的状态,实现了中心波长1542～1560nm的不同激光输出。单波长连续可调谐激光器的波长可调范围为18nm,边模抑制比大于40dB,3dB线宽为0.096nm;进一步调整偏振控制器的状态和抽运功率,实验同时得到了连续可调谐的双波长、三波长等多波长激光输出。对于可调谐的多波长激光器,通过调整偏振控制器的状态,可实现波长间隔及输出中心波长两者可调。     

高亮度半导体激光阵列光纤耦合模块

利用2只915 nm半导体激光短列阵作为子模块,设计并研制出连续输出的高亮度光纤耦合模块。首先对每个半导体激光短列阵进行光束整形,从而提高它的光束质量;然后采用空间复用技术将这两个半导体激光短列阵出射的激光在光参数积小的方向上叠加,并利用偏振复用技术进一步提高光束质量;最后利用单片非球面透镜将激光聚焦到芯径为100 μm、数值孔径为0.22的光纤中。测量结果显示:在工作电流为52.5 A时,聚焦镜焦平面的光斑尺寸为105.4 μm;耦合后测量光纤出光功率可达72.6 W,对应亮度为6.08 MW/(cm²·sr),模块的电光转换效率为42.2%。最后测量了模块在不同驱动电流时的光谱,证明该模块的散热性能良好。     

Stimulated raman scattering up to 10 orders in an optical fiber

This paper describes the experimental investigation of stimulated Raman scattering obtained from a multimode fiber. 10 orders of stimulated Stokes scattering of wavelengths in the 546–702 nm region were obtained from a 480m multimode, low-loss, graded-index quartz fiber pumped by a 532 nm frequency-doubled YAG-Nd laser beam with a pulse duration of 7 ns, output power of 0.7 MW and repetition rates of 5 and 10 pps.     

Efficiency improvement of multimode Tm3+ doped double cladding silica fiber laser by in-line biconical tapers

Efficiencies improvement of LD (laser diode) pumped multimode large mode area (LMA) Tm³⁺ doped double cladding silica fiber lasers with different in-line biconial tapers were reported. Two types of multimode Tm³⁺ doped fiber were used in this experiment. Each type of fiber was made into three fiber lasers, a uniform geometry fiber laser and two tapered fiber lasers with different taper parameters. Biconical tapers located several centimeters from the output end of the multimode fiber lasers were made by heating and stretching method. Although the threshold of the best tapered fiber laser was added 200 mW, the slope efficiency (25.3%) and the maximum output power (1.31 W) of the fiber laser increased by 10.3% and 350 mW respectively, in comparison with the un-tapered one. Pre and post output laser power ratio was 6.3–15.6. Simultaneously, the laser spectrum moved to shorter wavelengths. The same trends of these characteristics were also observed in the other three tapered fiber lasers.     

激光注入误差对多模光纤传能特性影响分析

采用ZEMAX软件对激光光纤注入系统进行了建模,仿真分析了激光注入光纤横向偏移、角度偏移对光纤传输激光能量特性的影响.结果表明,光纤输出激光能量分布与激光注入对准误差密切相关.注入误差引起光纤初始输入段激光峰值功率密度的剧烈波动,出现了一个激光峰值功率密度极大值,这个极大值是可以达到光纤截面内激光平均功率密度的数十倍;横向偏移激发大量斜光线产生,使光纤输出激光能量分布匀化;角度偏移仅影响光纤内子午光线与斜光线的传播方向,对光纤内激光能量分布的匀化作用较弱.     

Generation of radially polarized mode in Yb fiber laser by using a dual conical prism

For the first time to our knowledge, a radially polarized beam is generated in an Yb-doped multimode double-clad fiber laser by using an intracavity dual conical prism. Up to 6.2 mW of output power is obtained from a 2 m long gain fiber with 7.4% slope efficiency. This research opens a new window to obtaining a radially polarized beam directly from an active fiber.     

260 W波长锁定光纤耦合输出泵浦模块实验研究

半导体光纤耦合输出泵浦源是光纤激光器的核心器件,其性能直接制约光纤激光器的输出水平。采用COS封装的高功率LD芯片,通过VBG外腔光谱锁定和精密光束整形变换技术,结合偏振合束与精密聚焦耦合技术将18个LD单元耦合进105 μm/NA0.22光纤,获得不低于260 W功率输出。实验表明,该模块在注入电流18 A时,可获得稳定输出连续功率264 W,对应电光效率52%,输出光谱中心波长975.92 nm,谱宽0.51 nm。该设计为获得高功率、高亮度波长稳定泵浦源提供了一条可行途径,光纤耦合输出模块工程化后可广泛应用在光纤激光器泵浦等领域。