High-energy soliton pulse generation with a passively mode-locked Er/Yb-doped multifilament-core fiber laser

We report the generation of high-energy short pulses from a mode-locked erbium/ytterbium-doped large-mode-area multifilament-core fiber laser operating in the purely anomalous dispersion regime. The self-starting fiber laser emits 400 mW of average output power at a pulse repetition rate of 44 MHz, corresponding to a pulse energy of 9.1 nJ. The laser produces near transform-limited output pulses with pulse duration of 1.6 ps, corresponding to 5 kW peak power. This new type of low-nonlinearity fibers demonstrates the power and energy scaling potential of fiber-based short pulse lasers in the eye-safe region.     

High-peak-power Tm-doped double-clad fluoride fiber amplifier

A diode-pumped Tm-doped double-clad fiber-optic amplifier is reported that provides up to 5 kW of peak power at pulse durations of 30 ns and a repetition rate of 33.5 kHz. When the repetition rate is increased to 123.6 kHz, the peak power drops to 1.5 kW, while the average output power of the amplifier stays at 6.5 W with a slope efficiency of 34.9%. As an amplifier the fiber can be saturated by a very low average launched input power of only 36 mW at 1.87 microm and yields the same average output power as in a fiber laser or amplified spontaneous emission source setup for all the repetition rates investigated. The peak powers reported are to the author's knowledge the highest generated by Tm-doped fiber lasers or amplifiers at repetition rates above 1 kHz with simultaneously short pulse durations of 30 ns.     

紧凑型LD端面抽运Nd:YAG内腔三倍频准连续355 nm紫外激光器

报道了一台LD端面抽运Nd:YAG晶体内腔三倍频355 nm激光高效率、高峰值功率准连续输出的全固态紫外激光器.激光腔采用紧凑型平平直腔,腔长仅106 mm.当注入抽运功率为5.73 W、重复频率为9 kHz时,获得163 mW的355 nm激光准连续输出,光光转换效率达到最高2.84％.当注入抽运功率为6.7 W重复频率为5 kHz时,获得最高174 mW的355 nm激光准连续输出,输出功率短期不稳定性为5％,光束质量因子M²为3.79.当注入抽运功率为5.73 W、重复频率为2 kHz时,获得112 mW的355 nm激光准连续输出,峰值功率最高达到9.15 kW.通过采用内腔倍频技术和设计合理的腔结构,实现了中小功率准连续输出的全固态紫外激光器的小型化、便携化,进一步拓宽了紫外激光器的应用领域. 关键词： LD端面抽运 内腔三倍频 Q')" href="#">声光调Q 紫外激光     

基于石墨烯可饱和吸收体的纳秒锁模掺铥光纤激光器

报道了一种基于石墨烯可饱和吸收体的纳秒锁模掺铥光纤激光器.该激光器采用环形腔结构,利用自制的三层石墨烯薄膜作为可饱和吸收体实现锁模.同时在腔内插入一个窄带光纤光栅,约束腔内起振的纵模数,适当调节抽运功率和偏振控制器的角度,得到了重复频率为3.8 MHz、脉宽在3.8—94.3 ns之间灵活可调的2μm纳秒锁模脉冲输出,整个脉宽调节范围超过90 ns.此外,由于获得的兆赫兹纳秒锁模脉冲时间带宽积在49—1119范围内,即存在强烈的啁啾,因而可作为2μm波段啁啾脉冲放大系统中的种子源使用.     

High power laser operation with crystal fibers

We present the very last results on the development of high-power lasers with crystal fibers in Nd:YAG and in Yb:YAG grown by the Micro-Pulling Down technique. An overview of the main optical properties of the grown crystal fibers is given as well as the principles of the diode-pumped systems are developed. The average output power obtained with those materials reaches now several tens of watts in the CW regime and in high repetition rate Q-switched operation. Pulses with an energy of several millijoules have been obtained with pulse durations from 10 to 20 ns and peak powers from 100 kW to 350 kW. In each case, the measured M ² quality factors remained in the range 2.5 to 5. In addition, the first demonstration of high-power laser emission with an Yb:YAG crystal fiber of 0.4 mm in diameter is reported. In this case, we obtained an output power of 27 W at 1030 nm under 100 W of pump power at 940 nm in CW regime. To our knowledge, those results represent the highest powers ever generated with crystal fibers obtained directly from the growth. We finally conclude this work by exposing the potential of crystal fiber lasers for a new generation of high-power laser systems.     

高重复频率、单模纳秒脉冲全光纤激光器

报道了一种基于主振荡放大技术的全光纤脉冲激光器.种子激光器使用直接调制的单纵模半导体激光器,其输出波长为1 063.8 nm,重复频率100 kHz～10 MHz连续可调谐,光纤放大器采用了多级放大器级联的方法.在重复频率100 kHz、脉冲宽度5 ns时,激光器获得了平均功率为1.2 W,峰值功率为2.4 kW的单横模激光脉冲输出.     

Ultra‐large effective‐area,higher‐order mode fibers: a new strategy for high‐power lasers

This paper describes the physics and properties of a novel optical fiber that would be attractive for building high‐power fiber lasers and amplifiers. Instead of propagating light in the fundamental, Gaussian‐shaped mode, we describe a fiber in which the signal is forced to travel in a single, desired higher order mode (HOM). This provides for several advantages over the conventional approach, ranging from significantly higher ability to scale mode areas (and hence laser powers) to managing dispersion for ultra‐short pulses – a capability that is practically nonexistent in conventional fibers. Particularly interesting is the fact that this approach challenges conventional wisdom, and demonstrates that for applications requiring meter‐length fibers (as in high‐power lasers), signal stability actually increases with mode order. Using this approach, we demonstrate mode areas exceeding 3200 μm², and propagate signals with negligible mode distortions over up to 50‐meter lengths. We describe several pulse propagation experiments in which we test the nonlinear response of this fiber platform, ranging from managing dispersive effects in femtosecond pulse systems, to reducing Brillouin scattering impairments in systems operating with the nanosecond pulses.     

高重复频率、单模纳秒脉冲全光纤激光器

报道了一种基于主振荡放大技术的全光纤脉冲激光器.种子激光器使用直接调制的单纵模半导体激光器,其输出波长为1 063.8 nm,重复频率100 kHz~10 MHz连续可调谐,光纤放大器采用了多级放大器级联的方法.在重复频率100 kHz、脉冲宽度5 ns时,激光器获得了平均功率为1.2 W,峰值功率为2.4 kW的单横模激光脉冲输出.     

High-power picosecond fiber amplifier based on nonlinear spectral compression

We report on the rare-earth-doped fiber-based generation of nearly transform-limited 10-ps pulses based on self-phase-modulation-induced spectral compression. An ytterbium-doped low nonlinearity photonic crystal fiber is used as a gain medium. An average power of as much as 97 W at a repetition rate of 47 MHz, corresponding to a peak power as high as 200 kW, was obtained. Furthermore, efficient second-harmonic generation by application of this high-power laser source is discussed.     

高峰值功率中红外2.8μm脉冲光纤激光器

采用中心波长为975nm半导体激光器泵浦高掺铒氟化物双包层光纤Er∶ZBLAN,并在谐振腔内插入主动调Q元件,获得了工作频率为1~10kHz的2.8μm激光主动调Q脉冲输出.在工作频率为10kHz条件下,获得了最大单脉冲能量为134.5μJ、脉宽为127.3ns、峰值功率为1.1kW的脉冲输出.     

A highly efficient 5 kW peak power Nd:YAG laser with time-shared fiber optic beam delivery

Here, we report on the development of an efficient, high peak power lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser with time-shared fiber optic beam delivery. A maximum average output power of 270 W with 100 J maximum pulse energy and 5 kW peak power has been achieved with an electrical to laser conversion efficiency of 5.4%, which is on higher side for typical lamp pumped solid-state lasers. We have improved efficiency by spectral conversion and water flow optimization in the pump cavity, with a resulting beam quality comparable to commercial systems of similar power level. The resonator has been designed for stable operation from single-shot to 200 Hz repetition rate. A study of pulse-to-pulse laser energy stability for different resonator configurations has also been performed. The resonator was designed to achieve a good beam quality for the whole range of operation with a maximum beam parameter product of 15 mm mrad (M²45). A simple mechanism for time-shared fiber optic port selection has also been devised. Material processing applications such as cutting of stainless steel sheets up to 14 mm thickness and welding of metals such as carbon steel with weld depths up to 2 mm using the developed laser system has also been reported.     

用于激光推进的高功率激光器的选择

 从激光推进的要求出发，阐述了用于激光推进的高功率激光器的选择原则，即激光器必须满足：（1）高的平均功率和峰值功率；（2）高的单脉冲能量；（3）高的重复频率；（4）优良的大气传输特性。主要分析了目前YAG固体激光器、自由电子激光器和TEA脉冲CO₂激光器的特点，通过上述4个方面性能的比较，认为在目前水平下，TEA脉冲CO₂激光器是进行激光推进的首选强激光源，其优点表现在：功率可达10kW量级，单脉冲能量可达0.5~1kJ，重复频率为20~40Hz；激光波长处于大气传输窗口，对大气变化不敏感；工作物质快速流动，不存在热透镜效应和破坏阈值；相关光学元件易于制造；光束质量较好；运行成本低。     

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.     

调Q脉冲保偏光纤激光器的研究

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,对调Q脉冲保偏光纤激光器进行了理论分析和实验研究.利用TDS5104型示波器探测输出脉冲激光的波形,并用光谱分析仪得到输出脉冲激光的光谱图.利用F-P腔型,在1060nm处获得平均功率为2.55W的脉冲激光输出,重复频率为1kHz时,输出单脉冲能量为2.3mJ,峰值功率为4.7kW.改变腔型,把二色镜倾斜放置兼作输出镜,最终获得了平均功率为3.5W的偏振脉冲激光输出,重复频率为1kHz时,输出单脉冲能量为3.3mJ,脉冲宽度为184ns,其峰 关键词： 激光技术 光纤激光器 掺钕保偏光纤 调Q     

声光调Q CO2激光器的输出特性

采用谐振腔内插入声光调制器（AOM）的方法获得了小型CO2激光器的高重频、窄脉宽、高峰值功率输出。通过分析CO2激光器声光调Q的工作原理,利用基于小信号增益和饱和光强的耦合输出数学模型给出了激光器最佳输出镜透过率的数值解,并运用相关实验装置对该数学模型进行了实验验证。理论分析和实验结果均表明：该声光调Q CO2激光器的最佳输出镜透过率为39%。研究了激光器输出性能随脉冲重复频率的变化规律,当脉冲重复频率〉1 kHz时,激光器输出峰值功率下降,这与CO2分子上能级寿命有关,并受声光调Q开关热效应的影响。实验中获得的激光器脉冲频率在1 Hz～100 kHz可调。在脉冲频率为1 kHz时,获得的激光脉冲宽度为156 ns,脉冲峰值功率为10 kW,且稳定性较好,非常适合于作激光与物质相互作用的光源。     

Versatile Raman fiber laser for sodium laser guide star

Robust high‐power narrow‐linewidth lasers at 589 nm are required for sodium laser guide star adaptive optics in astronomy. A high‐power 589 nm laser based on Raman fiber amplifier is reported here, which works in both continuous‐wave and pulsed formats. In the continuous‐wave case, the laser produces more than 50 W output. In the pulsed case, the same laser produces square‐shaped pulses with tunable repetition rate (500 Hz to 10 kHz) and duration (1 ms to 30 μs). The peak power is as high as 84 W and remains constant during the tuning. The laser also emits an adjustable sideband at 1.71 GHz away from the main laser frequency for better sodium excitation. The versatility of the laser offers much flexibility in laser guide star application.     

SESAM‐free mode‐locked semiconductor disk laser

Experimental demonstration of semiconductor saturable absorber‐free mode‐locked optically pumped semiconductor disk laser is presented. The origin of pulsed operation is attributed to the intensity dependent Kerr lens effect arising in the semiconductor gain medium. Achieved results represent a novel method to mode‐lock this type of laser opening new application opportunities. The laser worked stably in both hard and soft aperture configurations. No semiconductor saturable absorber was used in the laser cavity and the operation was self‐starting. The laser was mode‐locked at 210 MHz repetition rate with 1.5 W average output power and 930 fs pulse width at 985 nm. A record high 6.8 kW peak power was achieved. Measured data is presented along with a discussion of the Kerr lens effect in the cavity.     

Recent advances in the development of discharge‐pumped oxygen‐iodine lasers

Chemical oxygen‐iodine lasers are unique in their ability to generate high‐power beams with near diffraction limited beam quality. The operating wavelength, 1.315 µm is readily transmitted by the atmosphere and compatible with fiber optics beam delivery systems. However, applications of the laser are severely limited by logistical problems associated with the complex chemistry used to power the device. Electrical or microwave discharge excitation of oxygen‐iodine lasers offers an attractive alternative that eliminates the chemical power generation problems and has the possibility of closed‐cycle operation. A discharge oxygen‐iodine laser was first demonstrated in 2005. Since that time the power of the device has been improved by a factor of 400 and much has been learned concerning the physics and chemistry of the discharge driven system. Although our current understanding of the chemical kinetics is incomplete, parametric studies of laser performance show considerable promise for further scaling. This article reviews the basic principles of the discharge oxygen iodine laser, summarizes the most recent advances, and outlines some of the unresolved questions regarding the production and removal of excited species in the gas flow.     

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.     

飞秒光纤激光相干合成技术最新进展

飞秒光纤激光器具有平均功率高、散热性能佳、光束质量好和空间体积小等优势,在基础研究、工业加工、生物医疗等方面得到越来越广泛的应用.相干合成技术能够有效克服光纤中有害的非线性效应和热效应的影响,进一步提高飞秒光纤激光器输出的脉冲能量和平均功率.本文介绍高功率飞秒光纤激光器相干合成的基本技术路线,重点阐述相干合成技术中关于填充孔径相干合成与平铺孔径相干合成的最新研究进展,并详细介绍相干合成技术中不同类型主动相位锁定技术的基本原理.相信在不远的将来,飞秒光纤激光相干合成系统的单脉冲能量和平均功率将不断攀升,从而开创许多崭新的研究领域.