Simple Nd:YAG laser generates vector and vortex beam

We report a simple Nd:YAG laser that emits radially polarized beam with helical wavefront. The laser cavity consists of a piece of laser crystal and a plane output coupler, and there is no additional polarization component inside it. The pump light is converted into annular profile through de-focal coupling into a multi-mode fiber. For the continuous-wave(CW) operation, the laser emits radially polarized vortex beam, and it is observed that the helical wavefront of the laser beam is switched from right handedness to left handedness when the output coupler is tilted slightly. For the Q-switched operation under the insertion of a Cr4t:YAG saturable absorber inside the cavity, we obtain radially polarized outputs with left-handedness helical wavefront. By tilting the laser crystal slightly, the laser output switches to azimuthal polarization at pump power larger than 4.5 W and left-handedness helical wavefront of laser beam is preserved.     

Impacts of operational parameters on nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser

The operational parameters including the polarization controlling and the pump power in a nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser are studied in this paper.The carrier rate equations of the activated erbium-doped fiber are first employed together with the nonlinear Shro¨dinger equations to reveal the relation between the operational parameters and the output state of the passively mode-locked fiber laser.The numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the output state of the mode-locked laser varies with the polarization controlling and the pump power.The periodicity of the polarization controlling is observed.With given pump power,there exists a set of polarization controlling under which the ultra-short pulse can be generated.With given polarization controlling,the mode-locked state can be maintained generally except for some particular values of pump power.Three shapes of the output optical spectra from the fiber cavity can be identified when the pump power changes.The results in this paper provide a comprehensive insight into the operation of the nonlinear polarization rotation-based passively mode-locked fiber laser.     

Theoretical study of Pr3+:ZBLAN upconversion ultraviolet fiber laser based on 4f5d state

A theoretical study of the kinetics of two-step-excitation upconversion ultraviolet cw fiber laser based on the 4f5d state in Pr3+:ZBLAN is performed using steady population rate equations and light propagation equations. Under different Pr3+ concentrations, the dependence of the threshold pump powers on the other pump power, the variations of laser output power with reflectivity of output coupler, pump powers and fiber length as well as the dependence of the optimum fiber length on pump powers are investigated.The results predict some optimum laser parameters for maximizing output power.     

分布式抽运连续光纤激光器研究

为了避免高功率光纤激光器中光纤端面出现热效应问题,依据多点级联结构的耦合器,对分布式抽运的光纤激光器进行了研究。首先,介绍了实验室自主研制的级联耦合器。然后,分析了耦合器插入对光纤激光器的影响。最后,选用自制的耦合器搭建了分布式抽运的光纤激光器。实验结果表明:对耦合器插入损耗的研究,能够促进高功率级联耦合器的实现。在光纤激光器结构中,975 nm泵浦功率注入1.1 k W时,1 080nm激光功率输出为770 W,光-光转换效率为77%。在主控振荡功率放大结构中,激光功率输出为635 W,放大级的光-光转换效率为78%。分布式抽运方式可以使泵浦光多点注入,避免了热量的集中,能够获得千瓦级的激光功率输出。     

All-fiber single polarized Yb-doped fiber laser with a high extinction ratio

We present an all-fiber design for a single polarization Yb-doped fiber laser with all-fiber connections spliced. Single polarization with a high extinction ratio was achieved by the design of a laser cavity consisting of a fiber Bragg grating inscribed on a single-polarization fiber as a high reflective mirror and a piece of end-cleaved single-polarization fiber as an output coupler. The fiber laser operates at 1063.25 nm with an output power of 1.7 W, an optical signal- to-noise ratio of 70 dB and a narrow bandwidth of 54 pm. The laser output has a polarization extinction ratio of 700:1 or 28 dB, and a very stable power output.     

Theoretical analysis and heat dissipation of mid-infrared chalcogenide fiber Raman laser

Based on the structure of mid-infrared chalcogenide fiber Raman laser, the nonlinear coupled equations and heat dissipation equations are constructed. The effects of laser parameters including pump power, fiber length, reflectance of output coupler and fiber loss coefficient on laser performance are numerically analyzed. The results show that the Raman laser pumped at 2 μm can operate at high slope efficiency using the optimized structure parameters. In addition, the output laser power decreases dramatically with the increasing of fiber loss coefficient. Moreover, the temperature distributions along the fiber radial and axial directions and the maximum temperature versus launched pump power are calculated according to the heat dissipation equations. The results show that the maximum temperature in the fiber increases dramatically with the increasing launched pump power, which is above 300 °C for launched pump power of 21 W. The above obtained results can be used for theoretical guiding and optimizing design of practical chalcogenide fiber Raman laser.     

100 μm core diameter monolithic fiber side-pumping coupler for 10 mJ 10 ns all-fiber laser

In this paper, we report a monolithic fiber side-pumping coupler that allows for very large mode area double clad fiber designs. This coupler is constituted of a multi-mode pump fiber and a double clad fiber (DCF). The pump power is coupled to the DCF through the side of DCF. The pump coupling peak power of 163.7 W @ 560 ??s with the coupling efficiency of 98.0% is achieved, and the signal coupling energy of 10 mJ @ 10 ns (??1 MW @ 10 ns) with the coupling efficiency of 96.3% is obtained, when the core diameter of the DCF is 100 ??m. Furthermore, this side-pumping coupler is successfully applied to a high peak power pulse all-fiber laser with the output energy of over 10 mJ @ 10 ns.     

High-power linearly-polarized tunable Raman fiber laser

In this study, we demonstrate an all-fiber high-power linearly-polarized tunable Raman fiber laser system. An inhouse high-power tunable fiber laser was employed as the pump source. A fiber loop mirror(FLM) serving as a high reflectivity mirror and a flat-cut endface serving as an output coupler were adopted to provide broadband feedback. A piece of 59-m commercial passive fiber was used as the Raman gain medium. The Raman laser had a 27.6 nm tuning range from1112 nm to 1139.6 nm and a maximum output power of 125.3 W, which corresponds to a conversion efficiency of 79.4%.The polarization extinction ratio(PER) at all operational wavelengths was measured to be over 21 d B. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a hundred-watt level linearly-polarized tunable Raman fiber laser.     

Output Characteristics of High-Power Continuous Wave Raman Fiber Laser at 1239 nm Using Phosphosilicate Fiber

A high-power singlemode Raman fiber laser (RFL) with maximum output power of 4.11 W and maximum power conversion efficiency of 47.40% at 1239 nm is realized using continuous wave 8.4 W Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser as a pump, 700 m phosphosilicate fiber, and a Raman cavity formed by a pair of fiber Bragg grating mirrors at 1239 nm. The output characteristics of the RFL at 1239 nm for different fiber lengths and output mirror reflectance are reported. Theoretical simulation is done to numerically optimize for fiber length and output coupler reflectivity to obtain maximum first Stokes power.     

光纤激光泵浦MgO:PPLN高功率中波红外光参量振荡器

为实现高效率、高功率中波红外激光输出,研制基于MgO:PPLN晶体的中波红外光参量振荡器（OPO）,泵浦源为基于主振荡功率放大（MOPA）结构的线偏振掺Yb光纤激光器（YDFL）。实验结果表明:YDFL可实现最高79.1 W的1064.1 nm脉冲线偏振激光输出;在YDFL泵浦下,通过优化输出镜曲率半径和泵浦光束腰直径,该OPO实现最高9.15 W的3.754 μm脉冲激光输出,光光转换效率为11.57%,重复频率为300 kHz,脉冲宽度约为110 ns。     

250 W single-crystal fiber Yb:YAG laser

We demonstrate an Yb:YAG single-crystal fiber laser with 251 W output power in continuous-wave and an optical efficiency of 44%. This performance can be explained by the high overlap between pump and signal beams brought by the pump guiding and by the good thermal management provided by the single-crystal fiber geometry. The oscillator performance with a reflectivity of the output coupler as low as 20% also shows high potential for power amplification.     

Low-cost low-threshold diode end-pumped Tm:YAG laser at 2.016?μm

We report a low-threshold continuous-wave Tm:YAG laser that can be excited near 785?nm with low-cost, single-mode AlGaAs laser diodes. Low-threshold operation was achieved using a tightly focused, astigmatically compensated x-cavity containing a 2-mm-thick Tm:YAG crystal with 5?% Tm³⁺ concentration. Two linearly polarized single-mode diodes operating at 785.8?nm were polarization coupled to end pump the resonator. With a 6?% output coupler, as high as 32?mW of output power could be obtained at 2016?nm with 184?mW of incident pump power. The output could be further tuned in the 1935?C2035?nm range. Slope efficiency measurements indicated that cross-relaxation was very effective at this doping level. With a 2?% output coupler, lasing could be obtained with as low as 32.3?mW of pump power. In the limit of vanishing output coupling, the incident threshold pump power could be reduced to as low as 25?mW. To our knowledge, this is among the lowest lasing thresholds reported to date for continuous-wave, room-temperature thulium lasers.     

Experimental demonstration of novel end-pumping method for double-clad fiber devices

We present experimental demonstration of an end-pumping scheme based on splicing the multimode pump and single-mode signal fibers directly to a double-clad fiber with a tailored cross section. The method is used to pump a double-clad, erbium- and ytterbium-doped, fiber ring laser. The efficiency of the end-pumping method is tested by determining the slope efficiencies of the fiber ring laser and the fiber laser in a Fabry-Perot configuration. Comparable slope efficiencies are found when both laser configurations have similar output coupler ratios. The developed pumping scheme and double-clad fiber can find applications in cost-effective power fiber amplifiers and lasers.     

Tm:fiber laser in-band pumped Ho:LuAG laser with over 18 W output at 2124.5 nm

We describe efficient operation of a Ho:LuAG laser in-band pumped by a cladding-pumped narrow linewidth Tm fiber laser at ∼1907 nm. With 1.0 at % Ho³⁺-doped LuAG and an output coupler of 6% transmission, the laser had a threshold pump power of ∼0.85 W and generated 18.04 W of continuous-wave output power at 2124.5 nm for 35 W of incident pump power, corresponding to an average slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power of 53.4%.     

高功率全光纤保偏主振荡功率放大型光纤激光器的实验研究

进行了全光纤保偏主振荡功率放大型光纤激光器的实验研究. 采用两级级联放大的方式, 利用纤芯为5 μupm 的小芯径双包层保偏光纤, 在最大抽运功率为88 W 时实现了67 W的1083 nm保偏激光输出, 纤芯内的激光功率密度约为3.4 W/μupm², 光-光转换效率为76%．分析结果表明, 进一步提高抽运功率有望获得更高功率的激光输出．     

A linearly-polarized tunable Yb-doped fiber laser using a polarization dependent fiber loop mirror

A Ytterbium-doped linearly-polarized fiber laser is constructed with a polarization maintaining fiber Sagnac loop mirror. The fiber loop mirror made of polarization maintaining fiber coupler has a polarization dependent reflectivity, which provides the necessary polarization discrimination between the slow and fast axes. With a fiber Bragg grating written in normal polarization maintaining fiber as an output coupler, laser output of up to 5.6 W at 1070 nm is generated with a polarization extinction ratio of > 20 dB and an overall efficiency of 55%. The broadband polarization dependent reflection of the fiber loop mirror offers advantages of easy spectral tuning and simple linearly-polarized laser generation.     

Modeling and optimization of stable gain-switched Tm-doped fiber lasers

A numerical model that describes the operation behaviors and output characteristics of stable gain-switched Tm-doped fiber (Tm:fiber) lasers resonantly pumped at 1.56 mm is presented in this paper. Effects of some important laser parameters, such as repetition rates, pump power levels, transmission of the laser output coupler, fiber core sizes, fiber lengths, Tm concentrations, etc., on laser output were investigated. The model and simulating results were verified by preliminary experiments and good agreements have been achieved, suggesting that the model are useful for design and optimization of stable gain-switched Tm:fiber lasers at 2 mm wavelength region.     

掺钕保偏光纤激光器的研究

对掺钕光纤激光器输出功率沿光纤的分布以及不同光纤长度下抽运功率和输出功率沿光纤的分布进行了数值模拟.以808nm半导体激光器为抽运源，掺钕双包层保偏光纤为增益介质，对保偏光纤激光器进行了探索性的实验研究.分别就光纤不同弯曲形状和弯曲半径对激光器输出功率指标和偏振特性的影响进行了研究，实验中发现在1060nm和1092nm处有两个峰值.在波长1060nm处得到了7.35W的连续偏振激光输出，斜率效率为58.3％. 关键词： 激光技术 光纤激光器 掺钕保偏光纤 偏振     

In-band pumped Er:YAG ceramic laser with 11 W of output power at 1645 nm

We report on a high power polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser in-band pumped by a cladding-pumped Er, Yb fiber laser wavelength locked at 1532 nm with a volume Bragg grating. Using 1.0 at % Er³⁺-doped ceramic as the gain medium and an output coupler of 10% transmission, the laser had a threshold pump power of ∼1.5 W and generated 11 W of continuous-wave output at 1645 nm for 23.3 W of incident pump power at 1532 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power of 51%.     

Linewidth narrowing and polarization control of erbium-doped fiber laser by self-injection locking

A novel and simple self-injection locking (SIL) configuration of distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser is presented. By injecting the feedback light into the cavity of the fiber laser, it can realize that the line-width can be narrowed by half compared with the same system without SIL. Meanwhile the stable single-polarization lasing is achieved and the degree of polarization is improved from 0.165 to 0.989. Then the self-pulsation behavior of the DFB fiber laser is investigated in the injection-locked and unlocked system respectively and the output power fluctuation is reduced from about 4 to 0.1 dBm by injection locking. And the power output characteristics of the DFB fiber laser are also researched by changing the pump current. With increasing the pump current from 30 to 275 mA, the output power of the DFB fiber laser increases linearly and the injection-locked output increases slightly more quickly than the unlocked output. The results have a great potential application in optical communication and high sensitive fiber sensors.