Pavel Koška

Self-swept holmium fiber laser near 2100 nm

Self-sweeping of laser wavelength corresponding to holmium emission near 2100 nm is reported. The sweeping occurred in ~4 nm interval with rate ~0.7 nm/s from longer towards shorter wavelengths. Origins of the selection of the sweeping direction are discussed. The laser wavelength drift with time was registered by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. To our knowledge it is the first observation of self-swept fiber laser beyond 2000 nm.

Enhanced pump absorption efficiency in coiled and twisted double-clad thulium-doped fibers.

Results of the first experimental demonstration of the recently proposed technique for improvement of the pump absorption in double-clad fibers by their simultaneous coiling and twisting are reported. The peak absorption (14 dB) of 3-m long hexagonal thulium-doped fiber was increased by 8 dB by its simultaneous coiling and twisting. Explanation of the effect is given by numerical modelling of the pump absorption in hexagonal and panda-type double-clad fibers. Improvement of fiber laser performance was also proved. The slope efficiency increased from 19.6% of the straight fiber to 23.9% of the coiled only fiber and 29.4% of the simultaneously coiled and twisted fiber.

Numerical Modeling of Pump Absorption in Coiled and Twisted Double-Clad Fibers

We report the analysis of multimode pump absorption in double-clad rare-earth-doped fibers under realistic bending conditions. The finite-element beam-propagation method is used for the analysis. The fiber bending is approximated by the transformation of the refractive index profile of the fiber. Double-clad fibers of hexagonal, circular and stadium-like cross-sections are studied as examples. In addition, the double-clad waveguide structure of a two-fiber bundle is investigated. Simulations show that the bending effects cannot be neglected in double-clad fiber multimode pump propagation analysis and optimization. The reported rigorous numerical model opens new way to design double-clad fibers and to optimize the pump absorption efficiency. We show that high pump-absorption efficiency better than the ideal (ergodic) limit, can be achieved by simultaneous coiling and twisting of the double-clad fiber.

Double-clad rare-earth-doped fiber with cross-section tailored for splicing to the pump and signal fibers: analysis of pump propagation

In this contribution we present numerical study of propagation of the multimode pump radiation in the inner cladding of the developed double-clad fiber. Field evolution was simulated using full vector finite element beam propagation method. Due to reeling of the fiber on the spool, the curvature of the fiber is involved in the model. The longitudinal dependence of power distribution was then analyzed. The simulations showed that after the length of propagation of about 40 mm the field becomes homogeneously distributed in the structure. Over 90 % of pump energy is absorbed in 3 m of the rare-earth-doped fiber with core-absorption of 2000 dB/m and cladding-core diameter ratio of 18.5. This confirms suitability of the tailored cross section for effective pump absorption along the rare-earth-doped fiber.

Spontaneous laser-line sweeping in Ho-doped fiber laser

Spontaneous laser-line sweeping refers to fiber laser instabilities with regular laser wavelength drift within a broad range that may exceed 10 nm; other characteristics of the laser output are sustained relaxation self-pulsing and narrow spectral linewidth. The laser wavelength drift is caused by standing-wave in the cavity; it can be regarded as a special case of mode instability of longitudinal modes of the laser resonator. Self-sweeping was observed so far in Yb, Er, Tm and Bidoped fiber lasers. We report on Ho-doped fiber laser self-sweeping in interval of 3-5 nm near 2100 nm. The sweeping rate was typically 0.7-0.9 nm/s. The thulium-doped fiber lasers at around 2030 nm and 1950 nm were tested as pump sources. The self-sweeping was registered by FTIR spectrometer and the data processing is discussed.

Transient-fiber-Bragg grating spectra in self-swept Fabry-Perot fiber lasers

Fiber laser instabilities may significantly influence fiber laser performance. Recently, we have shown that the self-Qswitching instability mode can evolve from the so-called self-induced laser line sweeping (SLLS). The SLLS effect is characterized by quasiperiodic laser line drift in a relatively broad wavelength interval. The SLLS is caused by standing-wave in the cavity. Such regular standing waves series create also significant reflection grating through resonant index change of the rare-earth doped core. We show analysis of the transient gratings spectra, including the effect of superimposed gratings. The numerical model of the fiber laser accounts for the effect of the fiber coiling and twisting on the pump absorption along the active fiber.

Optimized mode-field adapter for low-loss fused fiber bundle signal and pump combiners

In our contribution we report novel mode field adapter incorporated inside bundled tapered pump and signal combiner. Pump and signal combiners are crucial component of contemporary double clad high power fiber lasers. Proposed combiner allows simultaneous matching to single mode core on input and output. We used advanced optimization techniques to match the combiner to a single mode core simultaneously on input and output and to minimalize losses of the combiner signal branch. We designed two arrangements of combiners’ mode field adapters. Our numerical simulations estimates losses in signal branches of optimized combiners of 0.23 dB for the first design and 0.16 dB for the second design for SMF-28 input fiber and SMF-28 matched output double clad fiber for the wavelength of 2000 nm. The splice losses of the actual combiner are expected to be even lower thanks to dopant diffusion during the splicing process.

Pump absorption in coiled and twisted double-clad hexagonal fiber: effect of launching conditions and core location

Ever extending applications of fiber lasers require energy efficient, high-power, small footprint and reliable fiber lasers and laser wavelength versatility. To meet these demands, next generation of active fibers for high-power fiber lasers is coming out that will eventually offer tailored spectroscopic properties, high robustness and reduced cooling requirements and improved efficiency through tailored pump absorption. We report on numerical modelling of the efficiency of the pump absorption in double clad active fibers with hexagonal shape of the inner cladding cross section and rare-earth-doped core. We analyze both the effect of different radii of the spool on which the fiber is coiled and different fiber twisting rates. Two different launching conditions were investigated: the Gaussian input pump beam and a speckle pattern that mimics the output of the pump laser diode pigtail. We have found that by asymmetric position of the rare-earth-doped core we can significantly improve the pump absorption.

Self-sweeping of laser wavelength and associated mode instabilities in fiber lasers

Fiber lasers may exhibit instabilities and self-pulsed regimes that can have catastrophic consequences on their components. One of the self-pulsing regimes is the recently observed spontaneous laser line sweeping (SLLS). The SLLS is characterized by periodic wavelength drift over broad spectral interval of several nanometers followed by quick bounce backward. The sweeping rate is relatively slow, of the order of nm per second. The SLLS can be explained by spatial-hole burning in the active fiber and it can be considered as a special case of instability of longitudinal modes of the laser cavity. Thanks to narrow linewidth and simple construction, the SLLS fiber lasers are attractive sources for testing of photonics components, interrogation of optical fiber sensor arrays and for laser spectroscopy. We review recent advances in investigation of the SLLS in fiber lasers including its effect on the triggering of the self-Q-switched regime and the generation of giant laser pulses.

Modal-field spectra analysis of pump absorption efficiency in double-clad rare-earth doped fibers (Conference Presentation)

High-power fiber lasers became important devices in many industrial and health care fields. The key for high-power operation of fiber lasers is the double-clad fiber technology transforming lower-brightness pumps into high-brightness laser beams. Efficient pump absorption in the active core of the double-clad fiber is crucial for reliable and economic operation of high power fiber lasers. In our recent work we extensively studied the dependence of the pump absorption efficiency on bending and twisting of the fiber. For the first time we theoretically predicted and later experimentally demonstrated significant enhancement of pump absorption efficiency by simultaneous bending and twisting of the double-clad fiber. In this contribution we provide extension of our previous theoretical studies using beam propagation model incorporating laser rate equations. The effect of bending and twisting on signal amplification in the double-clad fiber is analyzed for different input signal powers, and moreover, pump field modal spectra are evaluated. The results show that in correspondence with pump absorption efficiency the gain of the amplifier is enhanced under the conditions of simultaneously bent and twisted fiber. The key to understand the effect of bending and twisting on pump absorption efficiency consists in modal spectra of pump field propagating in the first clad of the double clad fiber. Three cases of straight, bent only, and simultaneously bent and twisted fiber are compared. The comparison shows that bending causes increase of the spectral range of propagating modes, but does not bring about mode-mixing. Substantial mode-mixing is established only in simultaneously bent and twisted fiber.