高功率连续波掺镱光纤激光器研究进展

高功率连续波掺镱光纤激光器因具有电光效率高、光束质量好、热管理方便等优点,在工业加工、军事国防、科学研究等领域得到广泛应用,但是高功率条件下的非线性效应和热效应限制了其输出功率的进一步提升。基于此,本文重点分析了受激拉曼散射非线性效应和热致模式不稳定现象的形成机理和抑制方法,为高功率光纤激光系统的设计与集成提供了参考,并详细介绍了2015年以来为克服两种因素的影响所取得的最新研究成果,最后展望了高功率连续波掺镱光纤激光器的发展趋势。     

LD泵浦光纤激光放大器实现13 kW高光束质量输出

光纤耦合半导体激光器（LD）泵浦的光纤激光放大器具有体积小、功质比高、稳定性好等优点,在工业加工和军事国防等诸多领域都有着广泛且重要的应用。然而,受限于器件制作工艺水平及光纤中的受激拉曼效应和模式不稳定效应,LD泵浦的光纤激光放大器难以同时实现高功率及高亮度激光输出。为实现更高功率、更高亮度的光纤激光输出,需要结合现有的器件工艺水平并同时实现对放大器中的受激拉曼散射效应和模式不稳定效应的有效抑制。报道了基于单位自研大模场增益光纤成功实现13 kW功率、高光束质量激光输出。激光器采用主振荡功率放大结构,放大级采用单后向981 nm泵浦自研大模场增益光纤,在总泵浦功率为15 kW时,输出功率达到12.94 kW,光束质量M2因子约为2.85。通过进一步优化器件性能及光纤模式控制,有望实现更高功率、更高亮度的光纤激光输出。     

驱动激光束间相干性以及对背向散射影响的研究

早期的研究表明, 束匀滑技术能够有效地抑制高功率激光与等离子体相互作用中产生的各种参量不稳定性, 大大减少受激布里渊散射和受激拉曼散射. 但在NIF最近的实验研究中发现, 受激布里渊散射和受激拉曼散射份额远远高于预期, 原因可能与驱动激光束间的相干性有关. 本文利用"神光II"装置两路倍频纳秒激光辐照金平面靶, 研究了小口径取样情况下两者背向散射的能量和光谱在不同驱动激光相干条件下的变化情况. 初步结果表明, 激光束间存在着较强的相干性, 并且随着束间相干程度的增加, 背向散射也逐渐增强.     

水中受激拉曼散射的能量增强及受激布里渊散射的光学抑制

为提高液体介质中受激拉曼散射的输出能量,提出了通过温度调控来抑制受激布里渊散射的方法,设计了532 nm多纵模宽带脉冲激光泵浦的受激拉曼散射发生系统,测量了不同温度下水中前向受激拉曼散射及后向受激布里渊散射的输出能量,分析了水温、泵浦激光线宽及热散焦效应对受激拉曼散射输出能量影响的物理机制.实验结果表明:通过降低水温可实现对受激布里渊散射过程的有效抑制,同时减小热散焦效应带来的光束畸变,从而有效提高受激拉曼散射的输出能量.研究结果对液体介质中的受激拉曼散射多波长转换具有重要意义.     

高功率双包层光纤激光器受激拉曼散射和热效应的理论研究

 受激拉曼散射和热效应会限制光纤激光器功率的提高。利用高功率光纤激光器的速率方程和热传导方程，理论研究了双端泵浦和分布泵浦下双包层光纤激光器的受激拉曼散射和热效应，得到了光纤中的泵浦光、激光和斯托克斯光的功率分布，光纤激光器的输出特性以及光纤中的温度分布。分析表明，当泵浦功率增大到一定值时，光纤激光器中出现SRS，一部分激光功率会转移给斯托克斯光，影响激光功率进一步提高;与双端泵浦方式相比，分布泵浦下光纤激光器的斜率效率和最大输出功率相差不大，但是，光纤中的温度分布被有效地降低，因此，分布泵浦方式更为有效。     

高功率掺镱光纤激光器的非线性效应和研究进展

高功率掺镱光纤激光器在精密加工、国防、科研等领域有重要的应用价值,然而随着功率的提升,光纤内部的非线性效应开始凸显。在此,详细分析了受激布里渊散射(SBS)、受激拉曼散射(SRS)、非线性折射率、横模不稳定(TMI)等非线性效应的产生过程,并提出抑制方法。另外,从光纤振荡器和主振荡功率放大器两个角度,简述了近几年学者们在抑制非线性效应基础上不断提升掺镱光纤激光器输出功率的研究进展。目前,全光纤结构的掺镱振荡器输出功率达到8kW;单纤主振荡功率放大器激光系统输出功率已突破20kW。     

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的理论模型和数值分析

窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器在非线性频率变换、遥感探测和量子信息等领域有广泛的应用前景.综合考虑受激拉曼散射(stimulated Raman scattering,SRS)、受激布里渊散射(stimulated Brillouin scattering,SBS)、自相位调制(self-phase modulation)和交叉相位调制(cross-phase modulation)等非线性效应,建立了窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的非线性动力学模型.仿真分析了放大器中脉冲激光的时频演化特性,对比研究了抽运脉冲宽度、光纤长度和信号光功率等因素对放大器性能的影响.研究发现,上述因素会影响放大器的SRS阈值、SBS阈值、输出激光线宽、激光转换效率等.例如,当脉冲宽度为800 ns时,SBS随着抽运功率的增加而发生,限制了激光功率的提升;减短抽运脉宽可以抑制SBS,但是输出激光的线宽易于展宽到数百MHz以上;增加光纤长度可以获得更低的SRS阈值和更高的转换效率,但是SBS效应和光谱展宽程度也随之增强.系统搭建中需要平衡各非线性效应,选择合适的系统参数.研究内容可以为窄线宽纳秒脉冲光纤拉曼放大器的设计搭建提供参考.     

激光等离子体受激散射的线性理论研究

利用包含两种阻尼(Landau阻尼和碰撞阻尼)成分的受激拉曼散射(SRS)、受激布里渊散射线性分析程序LIP,在给定的等离子体状态下分析了阻尼成分、激光强度以及等离子体组分对点火尺度等离子体中受激散射不稳定性发展的影响.详细评估了碰撞阻尼的效应,发现碰撞阻尼在接近1/4临界密度处能有效抑制受激散射的增长,从而造成SRS光谱上的"缝"现象.同时,电子温度的升高会在特定的密度区域促进SRS的发展.研究结果可为点火实验的设计提供参考.     

简单MOPA结构窄线宽激光突破5 kW近单模输出

高功率窄线宽光纤激光器在非线性频率转换、光谱合成以及相干合成等领域有着重要的应用前景。本文基于自研的复合腔结构窄线宽振荡器作为种子,采用单级主振荡功率放大技术（MOPA）,实现了5 kW高效率的近单模窄谱激光输出。通过优化振荡器的时序特性和放大级结构,受激拉曼散射、光谱展宽和热致模式不稳定效应得到综合抑制。在最高功率时,信号光的3 dB和20 dB线宽分别为0.48 nm和2.1 nm,放大器的斜率效率约为86.1%,拉曼抑制比为28.3 dB,光束质量M2约1.35。本研究工作对于高功率窄线宽光纤激光的发展和研究具有重要的指导意义。     

双包层光纤激光器的受激拉曼散射与热应力

 建立了高功率掺镱双包层光纤激光器的速率方程模型与热应力模型，对影响受激拉曼散射效应和热应力效应的关键参数（如纤芯半径、光纤长度、泵浦波长、泵浦方式）进行了数值模拟。结果表明:对于较小的纤芯半径，光纤内的斯托克斯光功率较大且增长迅速，因此增加纤芯半径能有效减弱受激拉曼散射效应；减小光纤长度能提高受激拉曼散射的阈值，而纤芯的热应力也增大，因此在不出现热应力引起光纤断裂的情况下，可以减小光纤长度以提高输出功率；采用976 nm波段泵浦源能提高输出功率，降低热应力的影响；两端均匀泵浦方式可以有效降低纤芯热应力，同时维持高功率输出。     

(1+1)型长距离侧面泵浦光纤实现17.4 kW激光输出

长距离侧面泵浦激光光纤在泵浦光注入、热管理、非线性抑制等方面具有天然优势,是实现高功率激光输出的有效途径。研制了（1+1）型长距离侧面泵浦激光光纤,采用1018 nm同带泵浦反向注入方式实现了17.4 kW激光输出,斜率效率为82.1%,3 dB线宽为1.3 nm,拉曼抑制比为37.8 dB。研究结果展示了长距离侧面泵浦光纤作为数十千瓦光纤激光放大器增益介质的巨大应用潜力。     

单端泵浦光纤放大器获得4 kW单模窄谱激光输出

窄谱光纤激光器在光束合成等领域有着广泛的应用,然而模式不稳定效应的出现严重限制着窄谱光纤激光器的功率提升。提出并验证了采用新型981 nm稳波长泵浦方案,能够应用于窄谱激光放大并提升模式不稳定效应阈值,通过采用单端后向泵浦结构,将单模窄谱光纤放大器功率提至4 kW以上。实验中采用白噪声相位调制展宽单频激光作为窄谱种子,主放大级分别采用稳波长976 nm和981 nm两种泵浦源单端后向泵浦。在采用976 nm泵浦源泵浦时,窄谱激光最高放大至3.4 kW,出现典型的模式不稳定效应特征,功率提升受到限制。在采用981 nm泵浦源泵浦时,窄谱激光最高放大至4.05 kW,且并未出现模式不稳定效应,输出光束质量M2因子为1.3,进一步功率提升仅受限于泵浦功率。通过优化激光器设计、结合双向泵浦结构,有望实现更高功率的窄谱光纤激光输出。     

Ultrafast fiber lasers for strong‐field physics experiments

The recent demonstration of rare‐earth‐doped fiber lasers with a continuous‐wave output power approaching the 10‐kW level with diffraction‐limited beam quality proves that fiber lasers constitute a scalable solid‐state laser concept in terms of average power. In order to generate high peak power pulses from a fiber several fundamental limitations have to be overcome. This can be achieved by novel experimental strategies and fiber designs that offer an enormous potential towards ultrafast laser systems combining high average powers (> kW) and high peak power (> GW). In this paper the challenges, achievements and perspectives of ultrashort pulse generation and amplification in fibers are reviewed. This kind of laser system will have a tremendous impact on strong‐field physics experiments, such as the generation of coherent light by high‐harmonic generation. So far, applications in the interesting EUV spectral range suffer from the very low photon count leading to nonrelevant integration times with highly sophisticated detection schemes. High repetition rate high average power fiber lasers can potentially solve this issue. First demonstrations of high repetition‐rate strong‐field physics experiments using novel fiber laser systems will be discussed.     

Low-threshold lasing in stimulated Raman lasers with nanosecond pumping

We have studied the conditions resulting in maximum lowering of the excitation threshold for pulsed stimulated Raman (SRS) lasers. It has been shown theoretically that in order to achieve the lowest possible values of laser radiation pulse energy needed to excite lasing in SRS lasers, we need high reflection of the cavity mirrors and low losses at the wavelength of the 1st Stokes component, high reflection of the output mirror at the wavelength of the pump radiation, and also matching of the confocal parameters for the exciting laser radiation and the cavity with each other and with the length of the Raman-active medium. The experimentally achieved excitation threshold for an SRS laser based on a barium nitrate crystal was 6 μJ, which quantitatively corresponds well to the calculation results. Lasing of up to five Stokes components simultaneously occurred. The efficiency for conversion of the laser radiation to one component was as high as 39%. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 284–290, March–April, 2008.     

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.     

国产纺锤形渐变掺镱光纤实现6 kW宽谱激光输出

高功率高光束质量光纤激光器在工业加工等领域有着广泛的应用,然而光纤中的非线性效应和模式不稳定效应限制着高光束质量光纤激光器的功率提升,采用新型结构大模场增益光纤在同时抑制非线性效应和模式不稳定效应方面具有较大潜力。报道了基于单位自研的纺锤形渐变掺镱光纤激光成功实现6 kW功率、高光束质量激光输出。激光器采用主振荡功率放大结构,放大级采用双向981 nm泵浦纺锤形渐变掺镱光纤,在总泵浦功率为7.68 kW时,输出功率达到6.02 kW,光束质量M2因子约为1.9。通过进一步优化纺锤形掺镱光纤制作工艺及结构参数,有望实现更高功率、近单模光束质量的光纤激光输出。     

Conversion of radiation from high-power UV lasers in gases and vapors by stimulated Raman scattering

We have systematized experimental data on conversion of high-power UV radiation in gases and vapors by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). We consider the features of nonlinear processes mediated by UV photons. We formulate the requirements for the pump beam parameters and describe specific laser systems satisfying these requirements. We analyze in detail ways to optimize the SRS conversion process in hydrogen and methane from the viewpoint of both overall efficiency and the efficiency of conversion to a specified SRS component. We present results obtained in SRS experiments in vapors of different metals. We discuss in detail the optimal conditions for conversion of UV radiation to the visible range in lead vapors. We show the effect of other nonlinear processes on the SRS process, and indicate conditions in which this effect is minimal. We describe some effects observed in the experiments. In conclusion, we present data on the wavelengths and conversion efficiencies for radiation from different lasers in different gases and vapors, and briefly describe possible applications of lasers with SRS cells. Institute of High-Current Electronics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 90–116, March, 1998.     

High power fiber lasers

In this review article, the development of the double cladding optical fiber for high power fiber lasers is reviewed. The main technology for high power fiber lasers, including laser diode beam shaping, fiber laser pumping techniques, and amplification systems, are discussed in detail. 1050 W CW output and 133 W pulsed output are obtained in Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, China. Finally, the applications of fiber lasers in industry are also reviewed.      

单模光纤激光极限功率的数值研究

对光纤激光极限功率的探索和其受限因素的分析, 有利于为大功率光纤激光器的发展提供理论依据和实验指导. 本文考虑热效应、光效应、非线性效应和抽运亮度等因素对光纤激光极限功率的影响, 分析了掺镱和掺铥光纤的极限功率和受限因素. 在此基础上, 结合激光在光纤中单模传输的条件, 计算了单模掺镱和掺铥光纤激光的极限功率. 计算结果表明, 在现有技术条件下, 使用常规的976 nm和793 nm激光二极管抽运, 单模掺镱和掺铥光纤激光的极限功率分别为4.2 kW和7.8 kW, 其中单模掺铥光纤激光的功率水平还远低于它的极限功率的原因是受抽运亮度的限制. 最后分析指出减小纤芯的数值孔径和改进少模光束的光束质量是提升单模光纤激光极限功率的重要途径.