227-W output all-fiberized Tm-doped fiber laser at 1908 nm

In this paper, we report that a diode-pumped thulium-doped double clad silica fiber laser can provide powers of up to 227 W at 1908 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 54.3%, and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 51.2%. The output power, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest output at 1908 nm. The beam quality M2 factor is about 1.56. Also discussed in this paper is the dependence of the laser performance on fiber length.     

All-fiber linearly polarized laser oscillator by fiber coiling loss control

In this paper,we demonstrate an all-fiber linearly polarized fiber laser oscillator.The single polarization of the oscillator is achieved through the careful designing of the active fiber coiling.The relationship between fiber coiling diameter and polarization extinction ratio and optical efficiency is studied,whose results lead to an optimized system.The thermal management of the oscillator is also refined,which allows the oscillator to reach a maximum output power of44.1 W with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 57.9%.A high average polarization extinction ratio of 21.6 d B is achieved during a 2-hour stability test.The oscillator also owns a narrow 3-d B bandwidth of 0.1 nm,as well as near-diffraction-limit beam quality of M~2~ 1.14.     

Fiber fuse behavior in k W-level continuous-wave double-clad field laser

In this study, original experimental data for fiber fuse in k W-level continuous-wave(CW) high power double-clad fiber(DCF) laser are reported. The propagating velocity of the fuse is 9.68 m/s in a 3.1-k W Yb-doped DCF laser. Three other cases in Yb-doped DCF are also observed. We think that the ignition of fiber fuse is caused by thermal mechanism,and the formation of bullet-shaped tracks is attributed to the optical discharge and temperature gradient. The inducements of initial fuse and formation of bullet-shaped voids are analyzed. This investigation of fiber fuse helps better understand the fiber fuse behavior, in order to avoid the catastrophic destruction caused by fiber fuse in high power fiber laser.     

Influence of mode competition on beam quality of fiber amplifier

Theoretical and experimental studies of the influence of the mode competition on the output beam quality of fiber amplifiers are presented. Rate equations and modal decomposition method are used in the theoretical model. In the experiment, the output beam-quality factor of a fiber amplifier, which is based on a Yb-doped double-clad large mode area fiber as a function of the seed beam quality and the pump power of the amplifier, is measured. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.     

Fiber core mode leakage induced by refractive index variation in high-power fiber laser

This paper presents an investigation of specific optical fiber core mode leakage behavior that occurs in high-power double-clad fiber lasers as a result of thermally-induced refractive index variations. A model of the power transfer between the core modes and the cladding modes during thermally-induced refractive index variations is established based on the mode coupling theory. The results of numerical simulations based on actual laser parameters are presented. Experimental measurements were also carried out, the results showed good agreement with the corresponding simulation results.     

Optical properties of ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillator

With the rapid development of ytterbium-doped fiber lasers, some obtrusive limitations on power scaling appeared. In order to avoid these problems, a scheme called tandem pumping is introduced into the fiber laser field. In this paper, the optical properties of an ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillator are presented. According to the oscillator profile, the proper gain fiber type and pump wavelength range are picked out, under the comprehensive consideration of laser conversion efficiency and beam quality. In addition, the photodarkening performances of tandem pumping lasers and conventional ones are compared based on practical application, with all possible impact parameters taken into account. Moreover, an all-fibered tandem-pumped oscillator centered at 1079.5 nm is built, in the way of clad pumping by a 1030-nm fiber laser. The laser power of the oscillator reaches 7 W, with an opto-optic efficiency of 82.4%.     

Theoretical study of power amplification in tapered fiber with multi-seed parallel injection

We proposed the concept of parallel injection power amplification.A tapered fiber amplifier with multi-seed sources by the way of parallel injection was studied.The lower-order modes are excited and more than 90%of the input signal power remains in the fiber core if optimal injection and taper design are set.The power in the doped-core is amplified with high optical-optical efficiency.When light is propagating along the fiber,the higher-order modes are filtered which results in the high output beam quality.Incoherent combination of multi-seed lights launched through the wide end gives rise to the output power of several kW.     

Internal Features of Fiber Fuse in a Yb-Doped Double-Clad Fiber at 3 kW

We study internal features of fiber fuse in a Yb-doped double-clad fiber. The samples of fiber fuse are acquired at the power level of 3 kW in an all-fiber forward-pumped master oscillator power amplifier configuration fiber laser that is built specially for fiber fuse analyses. At this high power level, drastic refractive-index redistribution arises in an expended high refractive index area around the bullet-shaped voids of fiber fuse. Electron spin resonance analyses on post-fiber-fuse samples of the Yb-doped double-clad fiber indicate rising Frenkel defect concentration, meanwhile showing a new resonance center that is different from the ones of the Ge-doped fibers studied previously. This new resonance center probably suggests the generation of Al-oxygen hole center, a kind of defect formed during the catastrophic fuse process.     

High conversion efficiency,high power density Q-switched fiber laser

An acoustic-optic Q-switched all-fiber laser With a high-repetition-rate, a short pulse width, a wide spectrum, and a high conversion efficiency is experimentally demonstrated. In the laser configuration, a （1＋1）x 1 side-pumping coupler is introduced to perform backward pumping, and a 10/130%tm Yb fiber is adopted. The acoustic-optic component operates in the first direction, achieving a Q-switched pulse with a repetition rate adjustable in the range of 20 kHz-80 kHz. Under a repetition rate of 20 kHz and a pump power of 6.76 W, the fiber laser obtains a highly efficient and stable pulse output, with an average power of 4.3 W, a pulse width of 56 ns, a peak power of 3.83 kW, and a power density of 1.39x 101~ W/cm2. Particularly, the optic-optic conversion efficiency of the laser reaches as high as 64%. Another feature of the pulsed laser is that the high reflection mirror reflects the pump light as well, which brings the secondary absorption of the pump power into the gain fiber.     

Optical properties of ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillatorOptical properties of ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillatorOptical properties of ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillator

With the rapid development of ytterbium-doped fiber lasers, some obtrusive limitations on power scaling appeared. In order to avoid these problems, a scheme called tandem pumping is introduced into the fiber laser field. In this paper, the optical properties of an ytterbium-doped tandem-pumped fiber oscillator are presented. According to the oscillator profile, the proper gain fiber type and pump wavelength range are picked out, under the comprehensive consideration of laser conversion efficiency and beam quality. In addition, the photodarkening performances of tandem pumping lasers and conventional ones are compared based on practical application, with all possible impact parameters taken into account. Moreover, an all-fibered tandem-pumped oscillator centered at 1079.5 nm is built, in the way of clad pumping by a 1030-rim fiber laser. The laser power of the oscillator reaches 7 W, with an opto-optic efficiency of 82.4%.