A 1150-W 1018-nm Fiber Laser Bidirectional Pumped by Wavelength-Stabilized Laser Diodes

Abstract

This paper presented a high-power 1018-nm ytterbium-doped fiber laser pumped by wavelength-stabilized laser diodes in bidirectional pumping structure. A record output power reaching 1150 W was achieved, along with a slope efficiency of 82.9% and a beam quality factor of M2 = 1.96. The output spectrum exhibited an efficient amplified spontaneous emission and parasitic lasing light suppression. The thermal effects were studied to verify the reliability of our 1018-nm FL as a practical 1-kW light source. Besides, an important investigation was made on the 1080-nm fiber laser tandem pumped by 1018-nm fiber lasers, the experimental result of which was reported to be 3712 W.