Determine locking range of coherently combined fiber lasers joined by fiber couplers

When the wavelength difference of two fiber lasers, sharing a common reflection mirror with the aid of an optical coupler, is tuned to fall into a certain range, the array lasers can be locked to generate coherent radiation with a wavelength somewhere between the two constituent field wavelengths. Based on the fact that the laser should oscillate at the wavelength with the lowest losses and the band widths of the reflection curves of the laser tuning elements are finite, the locking range of the laser array has been quantified. For the tuning element (i.e., fiber gratings) selected in this work, the calculations show that the locking range is mainly dependent on the coupling coefficients of the gratings which ever is smaller.     

Threshold analysis of fiber-coupler-combined fiber lasers

Threshold conditions of coherently combined fiber lasers, joint by fiber couplers (FCs), have been studied. After considering the phase change of a light wave crossing the fiber inside the FC, it has been shown that, at the two input ports of the coupler connecting with the amplifying fibers, the phase difference between the two incoming fields should be equal to −π/2 if the threshold gain of the compound system is to be minimized. Starting from these input ports, following the circulations of waves, threshold conditions can be established. Expressions for the output and leakage powers, and optimum coupler splitting ratio nullifying the leakage when constituent fiber lasers giving different free-running powers have been derived. And, the threshold gain reductions of individual lasers after being coherently combined have been predicted.     

三能级光纤激光器速率方程组的阈值解析解

 在考虑了泵浦损耗及激光损耗的情况下，解析求解了阈值泵浦下的三能级光纤激光器速率方程组，获得了泵浦功率阈值的显函数解析表达式，泵浦功率沿光纤变化的隐函数表达式，以及用功率变化表示的各个能级的粒子数密度随位置变化的显函数表达式。并利用这些表达式对光纤激光器的阈值特性进行了研究，研究表明：泵浦功率阈值随泵浦损耗系数增大而增大；激光上能级粒子数密度随归一化位置呈下降趋势，而下能级粒子数密度的变化与此相反；泵浦功率阈值越大(光纤长度越长),净增益系数随归一位置下降就越快。所获得的结果适用于单包层和双包层光纤激光器。     

Power scaling of Tm3+ doped ZBLAN blue upconversion fiber lasers: modeling and experiments

Power scaling of Tm³⁺ doped ZBLAN blue upconversion fiber lasers was investigated by a simple model. Based on our experimental results on blue fiber lasers, we discuss the effects of photodegradation and photocuring, fiber length, the reflectivity of the coupler mirror and fiber core diameter on further enhancement of blue fiber laser, respectively. The optimal parameters (including fiber length, fiber core diameter and the reflectivity of the coupler mirror) for the operation of high power (>1 W) blue fiber laser were presented through simple numerical simulations, which are valuable for the future design of high power blue upconversion fiber laser. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.60. Lh     

Analytical solutions to rate equations including losses describing threshold pumped fiber lasers

An exact analytical expression to the threshold pump power has been deduced for rate equations including loss coefficients applicable to fiber lasers doped with quasi two-energy-level ions. Following the derivation of a closed-form expression for the variation of the pump power along the fiber, together with analytical solutions to the position dependent atom population density and laser power in terms of the pump power, we have analytically and fully solved rate equations describing threshold pumped fiber lasers. A comparison has also been made between the exact analytical result with the previous reported results, which indicates that various approximation have underestimated the threshold pump powers.     

Modeling of Q-switched lasers with top-hat pump beam distribution

For laser diode end-pumped solid-state lasers, the pump beam can be considered to be a Gaussian distribution or a top-hat distribution or between them. The rate equations for Q-switched lasers have been treated before, by considering the pump beam as a Gaussian distribution. This paper deals with the rate equations and the solutions for Q-switched lasers under a top-hat pump beam distribution. The normalized rate equation is obtained and solved numerically. A group of general curves are given and the comparison with the results under the Gaussian pump beam distribution and the plane-wave approximation is made. The results show that the solutions of the rate equations under a top-hat pump beam distribution are different from those under a Gaussian pump beam distribution, but the difference is very small. The solutions of the rate equations under both situations can give much more precise theoretical results than those under the plane-wave approximation. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Xi; 42.55.Ah     

Diode pumped Nd:YAG laser repetitively Q-switched with Cr4+:YAG

Based on the rate equations of passively Q-switched solid state lasers, the performance of laser at a fixed pump power can be optimized through the proper choice of output coupler and the low-intensity transmission of saturable absorber. A simple expression for optimizing these two parameters is derived in this paper. We also demonstrate the performance of an efficient diode-pumpe Cr⁴⁺:YAG passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to generate a high-repetition-ate, high-peak power 1064 nm laser pulses, which providing pulses peak power > 10 kW with high repetition rate up to 150 kHz, and the pulse width as short as 6.8 ns.     

Cr,Nd:YAG self-Q-switched laser with high efficiency output

The high efficient laser performance of self-Q-switched laser in the co-doped Cr⁴⁺,Nd³⁺:YAG microchip with 1.8 mm thickness was demonstrated. The slope efficiency is varied with the reflectivity of output coupler at 1064 nm, and the highest slope efficiency of 26% was obtained for 95% reflectivity of output coupler at 1064 nm. The pulse width, the single pulse energy and the pulse repetition rate for different reflectivity of the output couplers were measured, and the experimental results agree with the numerical calculations of the passively Q-switched rate equations. This can lead to develop the diode laser pumped monolithic self-Q-switched solid-state microchip lasers, especially for the intracavity frequency-doubled solid-state microchip lasers.     

不同脉冲重复频率下抽运方式对全光纤声光调Q激光器性能的影响

在不同初始边界条件下数值求解描述全光纤声光调Q双包层光纤激光器的速率方程,得到前向抽运结构和后向抽运结构下激光器上能级粒子数在增益光纤中的分布,以及脉冲能量、平均功率、脉宽、光纤中储能与脉冲重复频率、抽运合束器对信号光透过率、抽运功率的相互关系.从谐振腔内放大自发辐射光的产生影响谐振腔损耗的角度分析仿真结果,并实验验证两种抽运方式对输出脉冲功率和脉冲宽度的影响.结果表明：不同脉冲重复频率下抽运方式会对全光纤声光调Q激光器性能产生显著影响,为获得较好的脉冲输出性能,在重复频率较低 关键词： 光纤激光器 Q')" href="#">声光调Q 抽运方式     

Optimization of Yb:YAG/Cr<Superscript>4+</Superscript>:YAG composite ceramics passively Q-switched microchip lasers

The laser characteristics of laser-diode end-pumped Yb:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite ceramics microchip passively Q-switched lasers were studied by solving the coupled rate equations numerically taking into account the reabsorption of Yb:YAG ceramics at laser wavelength. Effects of the reflectivity of the output coupler, the concentrations and thickness of the saturable absorbers, and pump beam area on the laser performance were investigated analytically. The simulation results of the Yb:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite ceramics passively Q-switched microchip lasers were in good agreement with the experimental data. Better laser performance (high peak power, short pulse width and good optical-to-optical efficiency) of the composite Yb:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG ceramics passively Q-switched laser can be obtained by using a thin Cr⁴⁺:YAG ceramic with high concentration, suitable reflectivity of the output coupler and proper pump beam diameter under high pump power intensity according to our simulations.     

医用3μm与2μm级联振荡钬光纤激光器的工作原理与初步设计

分析了医用3μm与2μm级联振荡Ho³⁺:ZBLAN光纤激光器的工作原理,首次给出了1.1μm带泵浦下级联振荡Ho³⁺:ZBLAN光纤激光器的动态及稳态速率方程,最后给出了级联振荡Ho³⁺:ZBLAN光纤激光器的初步设计.     

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.     

Modelling of Tm3+-doped LiNbO3 Waveguide Lasers

In this work, CW laser operation of Tm³⁺-doped LiNbO₃ channel waveguides has been modelled. The model is based on time dependent laser rate equations coupled with the laser signal and pump photon flux equations. Steady state solutions for the population densities, pump and signal powers are obtained by using finite difference discretization of the active volume. The effects of spectroscopic parameters such as concentration dependent cross-relaxation and excess waveguide loss have been analyzed. We demonstrate good agreement with experimental data previously reported in Zn-diffused LiNbO₃:Tm³⁺ channel waveguide lasers. It is shown also that laser performance can be substantially improved by optimizing the cavity length.     

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.     

2μm泵浦中红外硫化玻璃光纤拉曼激光器的理论分析与优化

根据2μm掺铥光纤激光泵浦中红外硫化玻璃光纤拉曼激光器的模型,采用非线性耦合方程组对激光器的性能进行了研究与分析。同时,对激光器各参数包括光纤长度、输出耦合器反射率、光纤散射损耗对激光器性能的影响进行了分析并给出了优化结果。数值仿真结果表明,在一定条件下,2μm泵浦硫化玻璃光纤产生拉曼激光的斜率效率可以超过85%。另外,光纤长度和输出耦合器反射率不仅对输出激光功率的影响很大,而且是相互影响的,必须同时进行优化。结果也表明,输出激光的功率随光纤散射损耗增加急剧线性下降。以上的结果可以用于硫化玻璃光纤级联拉曼激光器的实验指导和优化设计。     

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.     

Tapered fused fiber bundle coupler capable of 1 kW laser combining and 300 W laser splitting

A high efficiency 7 × 1 multimode fiber coupler using the method of fusion and tapering is reported. This coupler can be applied to combine laser power, ad it can be used as a 1 × 7 splitter with reversible simultaneously. In the experiment, for combiner, coupling output power of 1032 W is obtained with the input power of 1066 W. The total coupling efficiency is 96.8%. The average insertion loss of each input fiber is 0.14 dB at ∼150 W input power. To splitter, the sum of 7 output ports power is 294 W with the input power of 341 W, and the insertion loss is about 13.8%. This fiber coupler can be applied in pumping all-fiber double clad fiber laser, as well as power combination and splitting of fiber lasers.     

Numerical analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering in high-power double-clad fiber lasers

A theoretical analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in linear cavity Yb³⁺-doped double-clad fiber lasers is presented by solving the steady-state rate equations with the SBS. The effects of cavity length, fiber core diameter, input mirror reflectivity at Stokes wavelength, Yb³⁺ concentration and laser linewidth on the SBS are discussed. Numerical results show that the SBS threshold power can be improved by shortening the cavity length, using large mode area fiber, reducing the input mirror reflectivity at Stokes wavelength, lowering the Yb³⁺ concentration and broadening the laser linewidth, and the influence of the laser linewidth on the SBS threshold power is more noticeable than other system parameters.     

谱线和耦合系数对光纤激光器相互注入锁定的影响

相互注入锁定是相干合成技术中最具发展前景的方案之一. 在两个光纤激光器相互注入锁定的基础上,利用可调节光纤光栅改变其中一个激光器的中心谱线和利用不同的分束器改变两个激光器间的耦合系数,同时监测两个激光器的远场光斑和谱线,判断激光器谱线和耦合系数对相互注入锁定的影响. 通过理论和实验得到：提高耦合系数可以提高锁定的频率差;两个激光器的谱线越接近锁定的效果越好,当激光器的谱线超过一定范围时,两个激光器将不能被锁定. 关键词： 光纤激光器 相干合成 相位锁定     

被动调QNd:YAG/Cr:YAG微晶片激光器的优化设计与实验

用数值求解速率方程的方法对被动调Q微晶片激光器进行了优化设计,并在实验中验证了这一优化效果。首先对速率方程进行数值求解,从数值求解的结果中得出了几个关键性参数,例如可饱和吸收体的初始透过率、输出镜反射率、激光器腔长、激光器腔内损耗、抽运激光光斑大小等,给出了关键性的参数对被动调QNd∶YAG/Cr∶YAG激光器的影响;然后基于数值求解的结果对微晶片激光器进行了优化设计,例如缩短激光腔长度,减小腔内损耗,选择合适的输出镜反射率、初始透过率和抽运激光光斑大小等;最后完成了两种不同参数的微晶片被动调QNd∶YAG/Cr∶YAG微晶片激光器的制作。