用于光纤拉曼放大器抽运源的单级光纤拉曼激光器

抽运光源是光纤拉曼放大器应用于密集波分复用系统的关键技术,设计了一种紧凑型的808nm激光二极管抽运的基于钒酸钇（Nd^3＋：YVO4）晶体1342nm固体激光器模块,提出利用上述1342nm固体激光器抽运基于光纤光栅的单级全光纤型拉曼谐振器获得1．4μm激光输出的光纤拉曼激光器,分析了固体激光器的阈值特性、性能优化方法和单级光纤拉曼谐振器的设计方法。上述1342nm固体激光器模块在抽运功率2W时获得了最大655mW的激光输出功率和42．6％的斜率效率,单级拉曼谐振器的1342nm到1．4μm光功率转换斜率效率达75％,在1425nm、1438nm、1455nm和1490nm处的输出功率达到300mW以上。最后给出基于1．4μm光纤拉曼激光器抽运的宽带平坦放大的光纤拉曼放大器的结构参量和性能测试结果。     

High-brightness 2.4-W continuous-wave Nd:GdVO4 laser at 670 nm

We report on a diode-pumped 1.3-microm Nd:GdVO4 cw laser, intracavity doubled for highly efficient generation of red light. We obtained as much as 2.4 W of power at 670 nm (corresponding to 26% optical-to-optical efficiency) in a nearly TEM00 mode and with small amplitude noise. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the highest performance at this wavelength for cw solid-state lasers.     

Efficient diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 continuous-wave laser at 1.34 μm

We report a high-power continuous-wave(cw) diode-pumped efficient 1.34 μm Nd:YVO₄ laser. The laser properties of a low Nd³⁺-doped concentration of the Nd:YVO₄ crystal operating at 1.34 μm formed with a simple plane-concave cavity have been demonstrated. With the incident pump power of 22 W, an output power of 8.24 W was obtained, giving an optical conversion efficiency of 37.5% and slope efficiency of 40%. The thermal effects of cw end-pumped solid-state lasers were studied.     

Status of single-model optical fiber standardization in the electronic industries association (EIA)

This paper introduces and analyzes revolutionary laser system architecture capable of dramatically reducing the complexity of laser systems while simultaneously increasing capability. The architecture includes three major subsystems. The first is a phased array of laser sources. In this article, we discuss diode-pumped fiber lasers as the elements of the phased array, although other waveguide lasers can also be considered. The second provides wavefront control and electronics beam steering, as described in an IEEE Proceedings article on “Optical Phased Array Technology” [1]. The third is subaperture receiver technology. Combining these three technologies into a new laser systems architecture results in a system that has graceful degradation, can steer to as wide an angle as individual optical phased array subapertures, and can be scaled to high power and large apertures through phasing of a number of subapertures. Diode-pumped fiber lasers are appealing as laser sources because they are electrically pumped, efficient, relatively simple, and scalable to significant power levels (over 100 Watts has been demonstrated from a single diode-pumped fiber laser) [2]. The fiber laser design also lends itself to integration into a phased array. Fiber lasers have been phased. Initial phasing demonstrations have been at low power and were conducted by taking a single source, dividing it into multiple fibers, then phasing them together. To develop this technology further we need to use independent fiber lasers or fiber amplifiers, seeded by a common source, and to increase laser power. As we increase laser power, we will have to learn to cope with nonlinearities in the laser amplifiers. Optical Phased Array technology has demonstrated steering over a 90-degree field of regard [4], although this approach used additional optical components. If we use straightforward optical phased array beam steering without additional optics we can steer with high efficiency to about one-third λ/d, where d is the smallest individually addressable element. The one-third factor depends on the efficiency threshold. For example, if we use 1.5 μm light, and 5 μm center-to-center spacing, we can steer with high efficiency to about ±6 degrees, or a field of regard of 12 degrees. Last, we need to develop a subaperture receive technology. This can be a pupil plane receiver, an image plane receiver, or some combination of the approaches. When we have matured each individual technology and combined them into new laser systems architectures, we will have the ability to build simpler and more capable laser systems. The vision for an integrated, phased array laser concept is to enable a new class of laser systems with significant advantages, including high-efficiency, all-electric laser source; all waveguide beam transport; wavefront control at the sub-aperture level (enabling wavefront compensation, conformal apertures, and wide-angle electronic beam steering); random access beam pointing over wide angles; multiple simultaneous beam generation and control; and graceful degradation.     

Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers

A new, scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers is presented. The basic idea of our approach is a very thin laser crystal disc with one face mounted on a heat sink. This allows very high pump power densities without high temperature rises within the crystal. Together with a flat-top pump-beam profile this geometry leads to an almost homogeneous and one-dimensional heat flux perpendicular to the surface. This design dramatically reduces thermal distortions compared to conventional cooling schemes and is particularly suited for quasi-three-level systems which need high pump power densities. Starting from the results obtained with a Ti:Sapphire-pumped Yb:YAG laser at various temperatures, the design was proved by operating a diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser with an output power of 4.4 W and a maximum slope efficiency of 68%. From these first results we predict an exctracted cw power of 100 W at 300 K (140 W at 200 K) with high beam quality from a single longitudinally pumped Yb: YAG crystal with an active volume of 2 mm³. Compact diode-pumped solid-state lasers in the kilowatt range seem to be possible by increasing the pump-beam diameter and/or by using several crystal discs.     

Efficient corner-pumped Nd:YAG/YAG composite slab laser

A corner-pumped type is a new pumping type in the diode-pumped all-solid-state lasers, which has the advantages of high pump efficiency and favourable pump uniformity. A highly efficient corner-pumped Nd:YAG/YAG composite slab laser is demonstrated in this paper. The maximal continuous-wave output power of the 1064~nm laser is up to 18.57~W with a slope efficiency and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 44.9{\%} and 39.8{\%}, respectively. Inserting an acousto-optic $Q$-switch in the cavity, the highest average output power of the quasi-continuous wave 1064~nm laser of 6.73~W is obtained at a repetition rate of 9.26~kHz. The experimental results show that a corner-pumped type is a kind of feasible schedules in the design of diode-pumped all-solid-state lasers with low or medium output powers.     

Continuous-wave, 15.2 W diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 946 nm

A high-power continuous-wave (cw) Nd:YAG laser operating at 946 nm by utilizing a quasi-three-level transition is reported. The laser consists of a composite Nd:YAG rod end pumped by a fiber-coupled diode laser and a simple plane-concave cavity. At an incident pump power of 40.2 W, a maximum cw output of 15.2 W at 946 nm is obtained, achieving a slope efficiency of 45%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest output at 946 nm ever generated by diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers. In addition, at an incident pump power of 15.2 W, a 1.25 W blue output at 473 nm is achieved with a simple compact three-element cavity and a type-I lithium triborate (LiB(3)O(5)) crystal as a frequency doubler.     

468-W CW operation of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser with high beam quality and highly efficient concentrator of pump light

A novel design of an efficient, highly reliable, and good beam quality diode-pumped solid-state laser for precise material processing application is presented. Effort has been done to obtain a highly uniform pumping intensity in the active area, which simultaneously reduces the effects of thermal gradient. In this design a novel lens duct configuration which send the light into the center of the rod is used. By this way a uniform power distribution and a maximum absorption of pump power is resulted. Adopting this design, the maximum laser power of 468 W with optical to optical efficiency of 33% in CW mode and M² factor of less than 15 is obtained. Numerical analysis also indicates the superiority of the design to other methods such as direct and diffusive pumping techniques.     

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.      

角抽运Nd:YAG复合板条946 nm连续运转激光器

报道了一种适合中小功率输出的全固态激光器的角抽运方法, 抽运光从板条激光器中板条晶体的角部入射, 可获得较高的抽运效率和较好的抽运均匀性.采用单角抽运方式, 首次进行了角抽运Nd:YAG复合板条946 nm连续运转激光器的实验研究. 激光腔采用紧凑型平凹直腔结构, 腔长仅为20 mm. 当注入抽运功率为50 W时, 946 nm激光连续输出功率最高达5.29 W, 光光转换效率为10.6%, 斜效率为12%. 整台激光器结构紧凑, 调谐简单, 成本低, 具有广阔的应用前景. 关键词： 角抽运 Nd:YAG晶体 连续波 946 nm激光     

1.1-W cw Cr:LiSAF laser pumped by a 1-cm diode array

We demonstrate 1.1-W cw output power from a diode-laser array-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser based on a concept that allows for pumping low-gain solid-state lasers at reduced temperature rise. We discuss scaling to higher powers as a function of diode power and define a figure of merit for evaluating given diode lasers as pump sources for low-gain solid-state lasers.     

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.     

200-W corner-pumped Yb:YAG slab laser

A novel concept of corner pumping has been developed. The corner-pumped slab design allows long absorption length and symmetric conduction cooling, making it particularly suitable for high-power quasi-three-level lasers. A corner-pumped Yb:YAG slab laser has been demonstrated for the first time. A preliminary experimental result shows that the laser produces 202 W of cw output power with 1400 W of incident pump power. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Da; 42.60.Pk     

High-power, continuous-wave, singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on MgO:sPPLT

We report a high-power, widely tunable, cw singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on MgO:sPPLT. The OPO is pumped in the green by a cw diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser at 532 nm and can provide continuously tunable output across 848-1430 nm. Using a 30 mm crystal and double-pass pumping, an oscillation threshold of 2.88 W has been obtained, and single-pass idler powers in excess of 1.51 W have been generated over 1104-1430 nm for 6W of pump power at an extraction efficiency of 25.2% and photon conversion efficiency of 56.7%.     

New solid-state lasers and their application potentials

In recent years, Nd:YAG-lasers have found increasing interest in many fields of high-power applications that formerly had been the domain of CO₂-lasers. This was mainly due to several consequences of their wavelength, such as a higher absorptivity, lower sensitivity against laser-induced plasmas and, in particular, the use of flexible glass fibres for beam handling. Disadvantages like poor beam quality and low efficiency are being effectively reduced by recent developments of diode-pumped systems. Some promising concepts based on different pumping techniques and crystal geometries — rods, discs, fibres — will be discussed in view of attainable beam quality and means of power scaling. The second part of the paper will deal with investigations aimed at utilizing the beneficial properties of Nd:YAG-lasers, especially for welding. In particular, the advantages of the twin-focus technique are discussed in some detail with regard to power scaling, process improvements and flexibility increase. Based upon experience, the extension to a multi-focus technique is proposed by presenting experimental data obtained with lamp-pumped high-power lasers and results of numerical modelling. This evidence demonstrates the potential for industrial applications and provides an idea of what can be expected from the new generation of diode-pumped solid-state lasers with high beam quality.     

Diode laser based light sources for biomedical applications

Diode lasers are by far the most efficient lasers currently available. With the ever‐continuing improvement in diode laser technology, this type of laser has become increasingly attractive for a wide range of biomedical applications. Compared to the characteristics of competing laser systems, diode lasers simultaneously offer tunability, high‐power emission and compact size at fairly low cost. Therefore, diode lasers are increasingly preferred in important applications, such as photocoagulation, optical coherence tomography, diffuse optical imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and terahertz imaging. This review provides an overview of the latest development of diode laser technology and systems and their use within selected biomedical applications. 670 nm external cavity diode laser for Raman spectroscopy built on a 13 × 4 mm² microbench (Copyright FBH/Schurian.com ).     

Diode-pumped laser and self-frequency-doubling properties of a Nd³⁺:Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈ crystal

We report efficient, diode-pumped, self-frequency doubling (SFD) in the newly developed laser crystal Nd³⁺:Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈ (Nd:NLBO). More than 730?mW of fundamental output power at 1072?nm was achieved with a slope efficiency of 16.2%. With incident pump power of 8?W, 29?mW of green cw laser emission at 536?nm was observed with proper phase matching. This initial performance and the good optical properties of the crystalline host are encouraging for the development of a high power diode-pumped SFD visible light laser source.     

Rubidium vapor laser pumped by two laser diode arrays

Scaling of alkali lasers to higher powers requires using multiple diode lasers for pumping. The first (to our knowledge) results of a cw rubidium laser pumped by two laser diode arrays are presented. A slope efficiency of 53%, total optical efficiency of 46%, and output power of 17 W have been demonstrated.     

A diode-pumped, frequency-doubled, tunable single-mode quasi-continuous-wave Yb:YAG laser emitting 70 W peak power at 515 nm

An efficient pumping scheme for a quasi-continuous-wave diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser is presented. Single-mode operation and fine wavelength tuning are assured by the use of a rubidium titanyl phosphate (RTP) Fabry–Perot étalon. When frequency doubled, the 200–420 μs duration pulses reach a peak power of 70 W at a wavelength of 515 nm. The TEM₀₀ beam is nearly diffraction limited with an M ² factor of 1.06 at full power. The tuning range spans from 512 to 520 nm and the pulse to pulse frequency stability is on the order of ±10 MHz. Laboratoire Aimé Cotton is associated with Université Paris Sud 11.     

A simple carbon dioxide laser amplifier suitable for optically pumped infra-red laser applications

A simple amplifier tube has been designed which, when used with already well-developed, stable single-frequency CO₂ laser oscillators, produces a cw power output of up to 40 W suitable for pumping far infra-red lasers.