Harald R. Simonsen

Highly birefringent index-guiding photonic crystal fibers

Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) offer new possibilities of realizing highly birefringent fibers due to a higher intrinsic index contrast compared to conventional fibers. In this letter, we analyze theoretically the levels of birefringence that can be expected using relatively simple PCF designs. While extremely high degrees of birefringence may be obtained for the fibers, we demonstrate that careful design with respect to multimode behavior must be performed. We further discuss the cutoff properties of birefringent PCFs and present experimental results in agreement with theoretical predictions on both single- and multimode behavior and on levels of birefringence.

Highly polarized photonic crystal fiber laser

We report on the design of a polarization maintaining, double-clad, Yb doped photonic crystal fiber and demonstrate its lasing properties. The polarizing properties of the fiber rely on birefringence and differential loss introduced by an anisotropic hole structure. Due to a slight leak from the core to the inner cladding only ~80% of the output light is in the core mode. We have demonstrated 2.9W of output in this mode with a polarization ratio in excess of 200:1.

Airclad fiber laser technology

High-power fiber lasers and amplifiers have gained tremendous momentum in the last five years, and many of the traditional manufactures of gas and solid-state lasers are pursuing the attractive fiber-based systems, which are now displacing the old technology in many areas. High-power fiber laser systems require specially designed fibers with large cores and good power handling capabilities - requirements that are all met by the airclad fiber technology. In the present paper we go through many of the building blocks needed to build high-power systems and we show an example of a complete airclad laser system. We present the latest advancements within airclad fiber technology including a new 70 μm single-mode polarization-maintaining rod-type fiber capable of amplifying to MW power levels. Furthermore we describe the novel airclad based pump combiners and their use in a completely monolithic 350 W CW fiber laser system with an M2 of less than 1.1. Finally, we briefly touch upon the subject of photo darkening and its origin.

High-birefringent photonic crystal fiber

A highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber design is analysed. Birefringence up to 10/sup -3/ is found. Random fluctuations in the cladding design are analysed, and the fiber is found to be a feasible polarization maintaining fiber.

Calibration of the electrical response of piezoelectric elements at low voltage using laser interferometry

A laser interferometric method is described by which the length‐to‐voltage sensitivity of piezoelectric elements, as used e.g., in scanning tunneling microscopes, can be calibrated. The method is based on measuring the optical frequency of a laser locked to a piezoelectrically tuned interferometer, relative to a stable reference. The high sensitivity of this technique allows the calibration to be carried out in the low‐voltage regime.

High-power photonic crystal fibers

Fiber lasers deliver excellent beam-quality and high efficiency in a robust and largely maintenance-free format, and are now able to do so with output powers in the kilowatt regime. Consequently, fiber lasers have become an attractive alternative to solid-state and gas lasers for e.g. material processing like welding, cutting and marking. The all-glass air-clad photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) combine large mode-field diameters (currently up to 40 μm), high numerical aperture (typically in the 0.6-0.65 range), high pump absorption (30 dB/m demonstrated in ytterbium) and excellent high-power handling (kW CW and mJ pulses demonstrated). These properties have made this fiber type one of the most promising candidates for the future high-power fiber laser and amplifier systems that are expected to replace many of the traditional systems in use today. To utilize the high numerical aperture and large mode-field diameters of the air-clad PCFs, special care must be taken in the system integration. In this paper, we will show examples of how these fibers can be integrated in laser and amplifier sub-assemblies with standard fiber pump-interfaces for use with single-emitter diodes or diode-bar pump sources. Moreover, we report on the most recent advances in fiber design including rod-type fibers and broadband polarizing ytterbium-doped large-mode-area air-clad fibers. Finally, we will review the latest results on PCF-based amplifier and laser configurations with special focus on high-power CW systems and high-energy pulsed configurations.

High-power photonic crystal fiber lasers: design, handling and subassemblies

We report on the latest development within active photonic crystal fibers for high power lasers and amplifiers with special focus on how the fibers can be improved with both polarization-maintaining and polarizing properties. We describe rod-type fibers for which a record-high power extraction of 250W/m is achieved. Moreover, we describe how active characterization is used to optimize fibers for laser and amplifier sub-assemblies with respect to beam quality, efficiency and robustness. Finally, we illustrate how the fibers can be integrated with high NA tapers and passive air-clad fibers containing Bragg grating to form an all-fiber, alignment-free, high-power fiber laser subassembly.

Macrobending loss properties of photonic crystal fibres with different air filling fractions

We present experimental and theoretical analysis of macrobending losses of photonic crystal fibres with various air filling fractions. A scalar, effective-index method provides a good description of the losses for fibres with limited air filling fractions, whereas the method overestimates the losses for fibres with larger air filling fractions.

Lifetime measurements and absolute oscillator strengths for single ionized thorium (ThII).

Using collinear fast beam cw dye laser modulation spectroscopy accurate lifetimes in ThII have been measured. Together with known branching ratios these lifetimes have allowed the determination of absolute oscillator strengths for ThII. This element is of astrophysical interest as a chronometer for stellar and galaxy evolution, with oscillator strengths playing an important role in synthesis of stellar spectral data.

Air-clad photonic crystal fibers for high-power single-mode lasers

Air-clad photonic crystal fibers hold promise to bring the single mode power levels past the 1kW limit through the utilization of extremely high numerical apertures, large mode field diameters and short fiber lengths. Here we discuss design, fabrication and handling issues of such fibers.