A. Piper

Erbium:Ytterbium Codoped Large-Core Fiber Laser With 297-W Continuous-Wave Output Power

We have demonstrated a high-power and high-efficiency erbium:ytterbium (Er:Yb) codoped fiber laser that produces 297 W of continuous-wave output at 1567 nm. The slope efficiency with respect to the launched pump power changed from 40% to 19% at higher output power due to the onset of Yb colasing at 1067 nm. However, the Yb colasing was essential for the suppression of catastrophic pulsation at high pump powers that otherwise results if the Yb-band gain is allowed to build up. Spectroscopic characteristics of the fiber and the impact of the Yb colasing on the 1567-nm slope efficiency are also discussed.

High average power, high repetition rate, picosecond pulsed fiber master oscillator power amplifier source seeded by a gain-switched laser diode at 1060 nm

We demonstrate a pulsed ytterbium-doped fiber master-oscillator power amplifier source at 1060 nm producing over 300 W of average power in 20-ps pulses at 1-GHz repetition rate. The pulses generated by a gain-switched diode were compressed by a chirped fiber Bragg grating and amplified without any distortion with excellent spectral quality. This fiber master oscillator power amplifier system offers versatility and potential for further power scaling.

Soliton transmission and supercontinuum generation in holey fiber, using a diode pumped Ytterbium fiber source

We report linear dispersion compensation, soliton pulse formation, soliton compression, and ultra-broad supercontinuum generation in a holey fiber with anomalous dispersion at wavelengths above 800nm. The holey fiber was seeded with ultrashort pulses from a diode pumped, Ytterbium (Yb)-doped fiber source operating at 1.06 microm. The results highlight the compatibility of the rapidly developing holey fiber technology with short pulse Yb-doped fiber lasers for wide application.

Advances in high power short pulse fiber laser systems and technology

We review recent advances in Yb fiber lasers and amplifiers for high power short pulse systems. We go on to describe associated recent developments in fiber components for use in such systems. Examples include microstructured optical fibers for pulse compression and supercontinuum generation, and advanced fiber grating technology for chirped-pulse amplifier systems.

321 W average power, 1 GHz, 20 ps, 1060 nm pulsed fiber MOPA source

Pulses from a gain-switched laser diode were amplified in a fiber MOPA system to produce in excess of 320 W of average power in 20 ps pulses at 1 GHz repetition rate at 1060 nm.

Short pulse high power fiber laser systems

We review the rapid recent progress in the development of short pulse high-power fiber laser and amplifier devices. Use of cladding pump technology now provides a route to compact and efficient laser and amplifier systems with high beam quality and high output powers. A new Yb-fiber CPA system incorporating a CFBG stretcher with both 2nd and 3rd order dispersion is presented for high pulse energy applications. In addition, a simplified Yb-fiber parabolic amplifier system is also shown to be suitable for producing higher average powers, here up to 25 W.

A compact 1 GHz, 16 ps pulse source operating at 1060 nm incorporating a high power gain-switched semiconductor laser and fiber grating pulse compressor

Gain-switching of semiconductor laser diodes provides a practical and potentially low cost means of generating picosecond optical pulses. In this paper we describe the use of a highly dispersive chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) to perform the pulse compression resulting in a very compact and attractive ps (1 GHz, 16 ps) pulse source.

High Average Power, High Energy, Femto-second Fiber Chirped Pulse Amplification System

We have demonstrated an Yb-fiber laser system incorporating a CFBG stretcher, bandwidth optimised amplifiers and dielectric grating compressor. The system produced 135 W average power with pulse energy of 13.5 muJ. The recompressed pulse duration was 360 fs.

High average power picosecond pulses from a fiber amplified diode laser at 1060 nm

In this paper, we demonstrate an ytterbium based fiber amplified pulsed diode system producing pulses with a duration of 52 ps at a repetition rate of 60 MHz with good spectral and spatial characteristics at average powers in excess of 70 W. The fiber MOPA configuration is presented

High pulse energy Q-switched laser in MOPA configuration

We report high pulse energy actively Q-Switched fibre laser systems in MOPA and single stage configurations. The system was comprised of a Q-Switched master oscillator and power amplifier in either GTwave or end pumped fibres. A number of different fibre lengths and core diameters were used to explore the laser capabilities. A Q-Switched master oscillator operating at 10 kHz repetition rate with typical pulse durations of 40-50 ns at ~ 1070 nm is demonstrated. The laser operation was investigated for pulse repetition rate from 10 to 100 kHz for higher average output powers. After the power amplifier pulse energies as high as 1.1 mJ were obtained.