Optimization of pumping mode for double-clad fiber lasers

A theoretical modeling of Yb-doped double-clad fiber lasers under various pumping modes including arbitrary numbers of end-pump and side-pump is introduced. Approximate analytic expressions of distributed lasers along the whole fiber are derived, and their accuracies are investigated. The effect of the pumping mode on the output performance of fiber lasers is discussed. The numerical results show that the approximate analytic solution is in excellent agreement with the exact numerical solution of the rate equations, the output power in the side-pump scheme is lower than that in end-pumping scheme, and more uniform distributions of laser and pump powers can be achieved by adopting the distributed pump mode and optimizing the arrangement of pump powers. However, further flattening the pump distribution by using more pump points can degrade the laser efficiency.     

Fused angle-polished multi-points side-pumping coupler for monolithic fiber lasers and amplifiers

We have developed theoretical model to investigate characters of fused angle-polished side-pumping coupler for monolithic fiber lasers and amplifiers. In the simulation the interplay of different couplers is considered. Five pumping fibers with different polished angles are employed in the experiment. The results showed that, the backward coupling efficiency, forward and backward pumping leakage are lower than 4%, 8% and 10% respectively, while the forward coupling efficiency is about 100%, with the polished angle suitable for commercial fibers. The experimental results agree well with the simulations. Furthermore, we fabricate a two-points co-propagating fused angle-polished side-pumping coupler, with the coupling efficiency of 94.1% and 87.9%. These couplers are quite suitable for multi-points side-pumping high power monolithic fiber lasers and amplifiers.     

掺Yb3+双包层光纤激光器的数值分析

 对掺Yb³⁺双包层光纤激光器不同参数情况下的输出功率和增益分布进行了数值模拟，分析了一端泵浦和双端泵浦方式下输出特性的差异，激光沿光纤长度方向的分布，输出功率与光纤长度、腔镜反射率及泵浦功率的关系。结果显示：两端泵浦较一端泵浦增益更加平坦，输出功率也稍高；当泵浦光波长为975nm时，输出激光功率对光纤长度更为敏感，最佳光纤长度相对于泵浦光波长为915nm时短且转化效率高；在大功率长光纤的情况下，光纤有损耗时输出功率随输出腔镜反射率的增加单调地减小，无损耗时输出功率不随输出腔镜反射率变化。     

Novel grating couplers for diode-bars multi-point side-pumping double-clad fiber

Three grating couplers for diode-bars single-point and multi-point side-pumping double-clad fiber (DCF) are presented. The principles, characteristics and coupling efficiencies of these grating couplers are described and computed by a rigorous electromagnetic theory. We show computationally that the optimized gratings can couple the high-power TE- or TM-polarized pump lights with 94.7% and 79.7% into the DCF, respectively. For an un-polarized pump light, 72.4% efficiency can be reached. We also have analyzed the leakage of pump powers for diode-bars multi-point side-pumping DCF. Besides, the fabrication tolerances and other performances of the grating couplers are analyzed.     

侧面泵浦大功率双包层光纤激光器的双凹槽金属二元光栅

 将双凹槽金属二元光栅用于侧面泵浦大功率双包层光纤激光器中,这种具有等槽深、不等线宽的双凹槽金属二元光栅可以被直接制作在双包层光纤的侧面内包层上,以实现大功率的激光泵浦。通过选择梯度优化算法（如拟牛顿算法）和微型遗传算法准确地预测出：利用这种双凹槽金属二元光栅结构能实现对TE偏振光的耦合效率为77.27%,而对TM偏振光的耦合效率为94.77%。同时,也对这种结构的制作容差和最小特征尺寸进行了分析和计算。     

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.     

Numerical analysis and experimental results of output performance for Nd-doped double-clad fiber lasers

Numerical analysis is investigated for the high-power double-clad fiber lasers and experimental results using different microscope objectives for focusing into a Nd-doped rectangular double-clad fiber also performed. The numerical analysis includes dependence of output power on output mirror reflectivity, absorbed pump power, loss, and fiber length and pump power distribution for the cases of one-end and two-end pumps with 20 dB/km loss. Calculated conversion efficiencies are 76.36%, 69.73%, and 63.84% for lossless, two-end pump, and one-end pump fiber lasers, respectively. Slope efficiencies from absorbed pump power/output powers measured using microscope objectives are 16.8%/182 mW, 53.8%/351 mW, 24.9%/1240 mW, and 13.9%/649 mW for magnifications of 5×, 10×, 20×, and 40×, respectively.     

多点侧面泵浦双包层光纤激光器的对称夹层结构

 利用基于亚波长衍射光栅理论的介质-金属-介质的对称夹层结构,对掺杂的双包层光纤进行多点泵浦,根据严格的电磁场衍射理论和光栅方程,分析了多点泵浦时,这种耦合结构的泵浦光泄露的问题,证明了多点泵浦时泵浦光的泄露率仅为15.52%,而对信号光则不存在泄露。这种对称夹层结构可以用于多个大功率激光二极管阵列的多点侧面泵浦双包层掺杂光纤中,以制作各种大功率(数kW级)稀土光纤激光器,其最大耦合效率可以达到80%以上。     

Rate equations studies on coherently combined fiber lasers connected by an optical coupler

Attempt has been made to apply the steady-state rate equations to study two coherently combined Er³⁺-doped fiber lasers joined by an optical fiber coupler. In order to establish the boundary conditions, which are necessary for solving the equations, we have taken into consideration the fact that a constructive interference at the coupler assures that the laser radiations from both constituent lasers are directed to the coupler output port to which a reflection mirror defining both lasers is attached. Consequently, effective reflectivity, provided by the coupler-mirror combination, can be specified in terms of the laser powers of both laser signals, and the rate equations describing the compound system can be solved. Using the derived solutions, quantitative investigations can be made on the influences of different laser parameters. For example, the influence of the length difference between doped fibers, the splitting ratio of the coupler and power difference between the two pump radiations have been given in this report.     

Ytterbium-doped Y2O3 nanoparticle silica optical fibers for high power fiber lasers with suppressed photodarkening

We report efficient laser demonstration and spectroscopic characteristics of a Yb-doped Y₂O₃ (or Y₃Al₅O₁₂) nanoparticle silica fiber developed by conventional fiber fabrication technique. The spectroscopy study evidences modification in the environment of Yb ions by the Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. As a result, photodarkening induced loss is reduced by 20 times relative to Yb-doped aluminosilicate fibers. The fiber is suitable for power scaling with good laser slope efficiency of 79%.     

Transmitting spectra-temperature characteristic of single-mode fiber coupler for fiber gyro application

The relationship between the transmitting spectra characteristic of a fused single mode fiber coupler (SMFC) and the performance of interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope (IFOG) is analyzed in theory firstly. Then the transmitting spectra-temperature characteristic of SMFC is experimented, and the influence of the spectrum-stability of the SMFC on IFOG is simulated and experimented. Through the theory analysis and experiment research, it is confirmed that the spectrum output from the SMFC's throughput port is more stable than that output from the coupled port, and the bias instability of the rotation errors induced by the variation of spectrum output from the SMFC's coupled port is 10 times of that output from the throughput port. Therefore, to choose the SMFC's throughput port as the input port for navigation-grade gyroscope is an effective method to improve the IFOG's performance.     

An approximate analytic solution of strongly pumped Yb-doped double-clad fiber lasers without neglecting the scattering loss

A theoretical analysis of strongly pumped Yb-doped double-clad fiber lasers is presented and an approximate analytic function of distributed laser along the whole fiber with the scattering loss is obtained for the first time. A comparison is made between the analytic solution and the exact numerical solution. The results have shown that the analytic function of distributed laser within the fiber is accurate and explicit. With the analytic solution the losses caused by laser scattering are shown in three different pump modes. The results verify that the backward pumping can get the highest output power in strongly pumped fiber lasers.     

Threshold characteristics of linear cavity Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser

The threshold characteristics of linear cavity Yb³⁺-doped double-clad fiber laser have been studied theoretically and experimentally. By solving rate equations, the expression for threshold pump power is obtained. The effects of fiber length, mirror reflectivity, pump wavelength, laser wavelength and Yb³⁺ concentration on threshold pump power are discussed. Then, the Yb³⁺-doped double-clad fiber laser with linear cavity is developed. By using various output couplers, threshold pump power has been measured. The experimental results are in accord with theory.     

Characteristics of the distributed Bragg reflector fiber laser sensor for lateral force measurement

Characteristics of the distributed Bragg reflector fiber laser sensor for lateral force measurement are investigated. The distributed Bragg reflector fiber laser operates in dual-polarization modes and converts the lateral force into a corresponding shift in the beat frequency generated by the fiber laser. The sensitivity dependence on the angle between the force direction and the polarization axis orientation of the fiber is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The impact of the force action location and force length on the sensor response is also discussed. Good agreement between the theoretical data and the experimental results was obtained. A maximal sensitivity magnitude of ∼10 GHz/(N/mm) is recorded.     

掺镱双包层高功率光纤激光器热效应的理论研究

针对高功率掺镱双包层光纤激光器（DCFL）的热效应,由热传导方程并借助速率方程模型导出温度分布的解析解,研究了泵浦方式和泵浦吸收系数对DCFL腔内温度的影响。结果表明：温度沿径向的变化与轴向相比可以忽略;采用传统端面泵浦会导致DCFL局部温度过高,实际中应使用两端对称泵浦方式;而减小泵浦吸收系数虽可改善温度特性但会降低系统的输出功率。进一步分析得出,综合采用分段泵浦方式和不均匀泵浦吸收系数可实现温度分布和输出功率的最佳匹配。     

一种实现高功率输出的新型光纤激光器

介绍了一种实现光纤激光器高功率输出的新方法--采用螺旋芯光纤,这种光纤是在光纤制作过程中按照一定的弯曲半径使纤芯呈螺旋状排布在光纤包层中.介绍了这种螺旋芯光纤的原理和其提高输出功率的能力,以及目前的理论与实验研究现状.基于该光纤,提出了一种光纤激光器相干合成新思想.     

一种实现光纤激光器高功率输出的方法

 介绍了一种实现光纤激光器高功率输出的新方法——采用螺旋芯光纤，这种光纤是在光纤制作过程中按照一定的弯曲半径使纤芯呈螺旋状排布在光纤包层中。介绍了这种螺旋芯光纤的原理和其提高输出功率的能力，以及目前的理论与实验研究现状。基于该光纤，提出了一种光纤激光器相干合成新思想。     

Core temperature in super-Gaussian pumped air-clad photonic crystal fiber lasers compared with double-clad fiber lasers

In this paper we investigate the core temperature of air-clad photonic crystal fiber (PCF) lasers pumped by a super-Gaussian (SG) source of order four. The results are compared with conventional double-clad fiber (DCF) lasers pumped by the same super-Gaussian and by top-hat pump profiles.      

A study of a Q-switched double-clad ytterbium-doped fiber laser with amplifying effect

A high repetition rate ytterbium-doped double-clad (YDDC) fiber laser with amplifying effect is described by using acousto-optic modulator. The characteristic of Q-switched pulses are studied with accurate control of opening gate time of modulator. The stable Q-switched pulses with tens of nanoseconds width can be observed at high repetition rate varied from 50 kHz to 500 kHz using this laser. The stable operation area of the Q-switched fiber laser is discussed and the analysis results agree well with that of the experiment.     

掺镱双包层高功率光纤激光器热效应的理论研究

 针对高功率掺镱双包层光纤激光器（DCFL）的热效应,由热传导方程并借助速率方程模型导出温度分布的解析解,研究了泵浦方式和泵浦吸收系数对DCFL腔内温度的影响。结果表明：温度沿径向的变化与轴向相比可以忽略;采用传统端面泵浦会导致DCFL局部温度过高,实际中应使用两端对称泵浦方式;而减小泵浦吸收系数虽可改善温度特性但会降低系统的输出功率。进一步分析得出,综合采用分段泵浦方式和不均匀泵浦吸收系数可实现温度分布和输出功率的最佳匹配。