High-power Narrow-linewidth Fiber Research Articles

5 kW power-level 1050 nm narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier enabled by biconical-tapered active fiber.

Effective wavelength extension is vital in the applications of high-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers. In this work, we demonstrate a 5-kW power-level narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier at 1050 nm utilizing a homemade biconical-tapered Yb-doped fiber (BT-YDF). Up to ∼4.96 kW fiber laser is achieved with a 3 dB linewidth of ∼0.54 nm and a beam quality factor of Mx 2 = 1.46, My 2 = 1.6. The experimental comparisons reveal that BT-YDF has the advantages of improving a stimulated Raman scattering threshold and balancing transverse mode instability suppression in the fiber amplifier. This work could provide a good reference for extending the operating wavelength of high-power fiber amplifiers.

Evaluation of the impact of weak end feedback on the SBS threshold in high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers

In this work, we quantitatively investigate the SBS threshold in high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers seeded with phase-modulated single-frequency lasers in presence of weak end feedback. The impacts of the end feedback and spectral linewidths on the SBS threshold are demonstrated in detail through comparative experiments and numerical simulations, respectively. In the experiment, we have pointed out a practical method to estimate the end reflectivity in high-power fiber amplifiers. Based on this estimation, the SBS threshold characters of the high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers with different end reflectivity and seed linewidths are investigated. By reducing the end reflectivity, a 2.85 times SBS threshold enhancement has been achieved at the most susceptible linewidth (16.8 GHz). Furthermore, we propose a spectral evolution model to investigate the SBS threshold in high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers, which is even capable for calculating SBS thresholds of the systems with tens of GHz linewidth while weak end reflection is considered. The simulation results demonstrate that end reflection will obviously affect the SBS threshold when the linewidth of the seed laser is broadened beyond 5 GHz, especially for the spectral linewidth of seed lasers nearing the Brillouin frequency shift. Besides, when the end reflectivity is set to be stronger than -65 dB, the SBS threshold performs a tendency to decline and then rise with the growth of seed linewidth. The experiment and simulation results provide a new optimization sight for the SBS effect suppression in high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers.

Theoretical study of filtered and amplified PRBS phase modulation for SBS suppression in a 2.5 kW, 10 GHz monolithic fiber amplifier

We report a theoretical and experimental study on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) suppression in a monolithic fiber amplifier with filtered and amplified pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) phase modulation. Theoretically, we use a time-dependent three-wave coupled nonlinear system considering both active fiber and passive fiber to describe the acoustic phonon, laser, and Stokes characteristics in a fiber amplifier. The SBS threshold power after filtered PRBS phase modulation is numerically evaluated to obtain the optimal parameters, and the time-averaged distributions of the counter-pump power, laser power, and Stokes power at different positions along the fiber length of the fiber system are simulated. Also, we established a four-stage fiber amplifier system to verify our theory. The configuration of the fiber amplifier system includes a filtered and amplified PRBS phase-modulated single-frequency fiber laser, a three-stage pre-amplifier, and a counter-pumping main stage, subsequently. 2.5 kW output power with an FWHM linewidth of 9.63 GHz is accomplished by a domestic ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber with core/cladding diameters of 20.2/400 µm. The reflectivity of the main stage is 0.049‰ at the maximum output power, which indicates the proposed architecture is under the SBS threshold. The experiments verify the accuracy of the theoretical model, which provides a reliable reference for evaluating the SBS suppression capability of the high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier phase modulated by the filtered and amplified PRBS signal.

Key technology analysis and research progress of high-power narrow linewidth fiber laser based on the multi-longitudinal-mode oscillator seed source

Key technology analysis and research progress of high-power narrow linewidth fiber laser based on the multi-longitudinal-mode oscillator seed source

A 7-kW narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier assisted by optimizing the refractive index of the large-mode-area active fiber

Abstract The high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser has become the most widely used high-power laser source nowadays. Further breakthroughs of the output power depend on comprehensive optimization of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and transverse mode instability (TMI). In this work, we aim to further surpass the power record of all-fiberized and narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers with near-diffraction-limited (NDL) beam quality. SBS is suppressed by white-noise-signal modulation of a single-frequency seed. In particular, the refractive index of the large-mode-area active fiber in the main amplifier is controlled and fabricated, which could simultaneously increase the effective mode field area of the fundamental mode and the loss coefficient of higher-order modes for balancing SRS and TMI. Subsequent experimental measurements demonstrate a 7.03 kW narrow-linewidth fiber laser with a signal-to-noise ratio of 31.4 dB and beam quality factors of Mx2 = 1.26, My2 = 1.25. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported power with NDL beam quality based on a directly laser-diode-pumped and all-fiberized format, especially with narrow-linewidth spectral emission.

Self-Phase Modulation-Induced Instability of High-Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Amplifiers

In this study, we investigated the effect of self-phase modulation (SPM)-induced modulation instability (MI) on the spectral purity of high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers and established a spectral evolution model for SPM-induced MI in those amplifiers. The spectral evolution process of MI under different laser powers was simulated and analyzed. The results show that, at low power (100 W), SPM can cause a dynamic change in the spectral sideband secondary peak and the spectral wingspan. An increase in laser power led to the cascade effect of MI, forming a zigzag secondary sideband with a larger spectral width and causing the spectral main peak and spectral broadening to split. Experiments based on the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of oscillating seed sources were carried out on high-power narrow-linewidth laser amplifiers, and the above spectral evolution phenomenon was observed. The experimental results indicate that the spectral evolution model based on SPM-induced MI can effectively explain the dynamic change in the spectral secondary peak, spectral wingspan and zigzag broadening phenomenon in the power amplification process of narrow-linewidth lasers.

Towards a tapered Yb-doped fiber-based narrow linewidth single-mode fiber laser with a high signal to Raman ratio.

We demonstrate an all-fiber high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser based on a homemade tapered Yb-doped fiber (T-YDF). The laser performance is investigated and systematically compared with different seed powers and pump manners. The experimental results reveal that the injected seed power requires a trade-off designed to take into account the impact of spectral broadening, nonlinear effects, and transverse mode instability (TMI). Compared with the co-pump manner, the counter-pump manner performs well in inhibiting nonlinearities, spectral broadening, and improving the TMI threshold. Under the counter-pump manner, this narrow-linewidth T-YDF amplifier realized a 2.09 kW output power with a 3 dB spectral linewidth of ∼0.34 nm, a beam quality of M2∼1.28 and a high Raman suppression ratio over 53.5 dB, the highest reported power for such a T-YDF-based narrow-linewidth single-mode laser, to the best of our knowledge. This work provides a promising pathway towards implementing monolithic high-power narrow-linewidth single-mode fiber lasers.

Selection principle of seed power in high-power narrow linewidth fiber amplifier seeded by a FBGs-based fiber oscillator.

Here, we have experimentally demonstrated the selection principle of the seed power in a narrow linewidth fiber amplifier seeded by fiber oscillator based on a pair of fiber Bragg gratings. During the study on the selection of seed power, the spectral instability of the amplifier is found when a low power seed with bad temporal characteristics is amplified. This phenomenon is thoroughly analyzed from seed itself and the influence of the amplifier. Increasing the seed power or isolating the backward light of amplifier could effectively eliminate the spectral instability. Based on this point, we optimize the seed power and utilize a band pass filter circulator to isolate the backward light and filter the Raman noise. Finally, a 4.2 kW narrow linewidth output power is achieved with signal to noise ratio of 35 dB, which has exceeded the value under the highest output power reported in this type of narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers. This work provides a solution for high power and high signal to noise ratio narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers seeded by FBGs-based fiber oscillator.

Stimulated Raman scattering of H2 in hollow-core photonics crystal fibers pumped by high-power narrow-linewidth fiber oscillators.

The stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) process in gas-filled hollow-core fiber is mostly used to realize the wavelength conversion, which has the potential to produce narrow-linewidth and high-power fiber laser output. However, limited by the coupling technology, the current research is still at a few watts power level. Here, through the fusion splicing between the end-cap and the hollow-core photonics crystal fiber, several hundred watts pump power can be coupled into the hollow core. Homemade narrow-linewidth continuous wave (CW) fiber oscillators with different 3 dB linewidths are used as the pump sources, then the influences of the pump linewidth and the hollow-core fiber length are studied experimentally and theoretically. As the hollow-core fiber length is 5 m the H2 pressure is 30 bar, 109 W 1st Raman power is obtained with a Raman conversion efficiency 48.5%. This study is significant for the development of high-power gas SRS in hollow-core fibers.

Optimizing the spectrum of high power narrow linewidth fiber amplifier through the same complex degree of coherence

The spectra of narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers are closely related to both the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold in power scaling process and the combining efficiency in coherent beam combining (CBC) system. In this manuscript, the SBS thresholds of fiber amplifier with different spectral distributions (Gaussian, sinc2 and rectangular) have been compared under the same spectral complex degree of coherence (CDC), which could promise the same combining efficiency in CBC system. A SBS dynamic model is established to analyze the SBS process in fiber amplifier and a comparing experiment is also performed by measuring the SBS thresholds of different spectra that have the same CDC set to be 0.96. The FWHM linewidths of Gaussian, sinc2 and rectangular spectra are adjusted to be 1.1 GHz, 0.5 GHz and 1.06 GHz, respectively. The corresponding SBS thresholds are measured to be 108 W, 77 W, and 135 W. By contrast, the rectangular spectra could have most excellent capacity on improving SBS threshold in fiber amplifier under the same combining efficiency in CBC system. Overall, it could provide a feasible method on spectra designing in high power narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers used in CBC system.

Temporal characteristics of the light output from optical fibers with PRBS-modulated laser injection.

Pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) phase modulation is an effective method to promote the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold of high-power narrow linewidth fiber lasers. Most studies focus on the subjects of PRBS pattern selection, filter parameter optimization, threshold promotion, etc. In this paper, the temporal characteristics of the light output from optical fibers with PRBS modulated laser injection are investigated theoretically. We found that serious temporal fluctuations, i.e., high intensity pulses, existed in the output laser and backward Stokes light, even though the time-averaged backward Stokes power is only 1% of the input laser power. Based on the transient three wave coupling equations, through exploring the influence of clock rate and PRBS pattern, we demonstrate that this phenomenon arises from the long dwell times in PRBS patterns. Finally, modified PRBS patterns are proposed to significantly eliminate the intense pulses without decreasing the original SBS threshold.

4 kW narrow-linewidth fiber laser based on a simple one-stage MOPA structure

One-stage master oscillator power amplification (MOPA) structure is a simple and robust way to acquire high-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers (NLFLs), which have wide applications in spectral/coherent beam combination. In this work, an NLFL system was established based on a home-made fiber oscillator seed. By using this one-stage MOPA system, a 4 kW output power was achieved with 3 dB linewidth of about 0.53 nm and optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 76.9%. The signal to Raman ratio was ∼22 dB. The measured beam quality (M2 factor) was about 1.6 at the output power of 3780 W then degraded to 2.8 at the maximum power of 4 kW. To the best of our knowledge, the 4 kW is the highest output power for such narrow linewidth one-stage MOPA fiber lasers.

Real-Time Definite Sequence Modulation Based Spectral Broadening Scheme for High-Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Laser

High-power narrow-linewidth continuous fiber lasers have wide applications in the fields of power synthesis, nonlinear frequency conversion, and industrial processing. The output power of kW or even MW can be achieved by adopting spectral synthesis. However, in the power amplification process, the nonlinear effect represented by the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) effect limits the further increase of the laser power. And the accompanying self-pulsing effect poses a threat to the safety of the laser system. A high-order phase modulation scheme using a definite time sequence has been proposed to realize the controllable spectral broadening of the seed source, so as to suppress the SBS effect and improve the output power in the amplification stage. In this paper, we demonstrate a real-time definite time sequence generation scheme by using an integrated field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Combined with a single-stage phase modulator, the broadened bandwidth up to 30 GHz and controllable spectral shape can be achieved by adjusting the output waveform of the DAC directly. The generation principles and waveform control methods of real-time sequence are introduced in detail. Proven by a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) structure, the laser output power has increased by 30% under the extended bandwidth of 10 GHz compared to the cascaded white noise modulation case. This scheme provides a compact real-time control module for spectral broadening, which lays the foundation for implementing low-cost, compact, and standardized high-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers.

Effect of the seed power spectral density on spectral broadening in kW-level narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers

Narrow-linewidth high-power fiber amplifiers are demanded in the spectral beam combining technique for power scaling. This article has experimentally studied the seed power spectral density (PSD) effect on the spectral broadening in all-fiber high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure. It was found that the spectral bandwidth of the amplifier output reduces by increasing the PSD of the seed source. During the experiments, a ytterbium-doped fiber (YDF) amplifier was injected by three seed sources with the PSDs of 1.27 W/pm, 1.5 W/pm and 1.8 W/pm to scale up the seed power. After amplification, the resultant 3-dB spectral bandwidth of the amplifier was measured to be 88 pm, 61 pm, and 41 pm, respectively, at kW-level power. Meanwhile, we developed a 990 W fiber amplifier with a 3-dB spectral bandwidth of 41 pm; the narrowest spectrum achieved using a simple FBG-based master oscillator power amplifier configuration at this power level.

High Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Laser Based on Double-Tapered Fiber

A homemade double-tapered Yb-doped fiber is employed in a high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier to improve the thresholds of nonlinear effects and transverse mode instability (TMI) effect. A bidirectional pumping configuration is employed, and a phase-modulated single-frequency fiber laser serves as the seed laser. As a result, an output power of 3630 W with 0.21 nm linewidth (stimulate Brillouin scattering limited) and an output power of 4180 W with 0.59 nm linewidth (TMI limited) are realized, corresponding to the slope efficiency of ∼77%. The beam quality at the maximum output power is <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\rm M}_{\rm x}^{2}= 1.57, {\rm M}_{\rm y}^{\rm 2} = 1.39$</tex-math></inline-formula> . The results could provide a well reference for the power scaling of narrow-linewidth Yb-doped fiber amplifier.

3.1 kW 1050 nm narrow linewidth pumping-sharing oscillator-amplifier with an optical signal-to-noise ratio of 45.5 dB.

In this paper, the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) suppression in a 1050 nm fiber laser with a pump-sharing oscillator-amplifier (PSOA) structure is studied theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model of a fiber laser with a PSOA structure is established. The characteristics of the ASE for the PSOA structure and the pump-independent oscillator-amplifier (PIOA) structure are compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that the ASE can be effectively suppressed by utilizing the PSOA structure, which agree with the simulation results. A 1050 nm high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser with PSOA structure is demonstrated, in which the gain fiber lengths of the oscillator and amplifier are 1.6 m and 9 m, respectively, to ensure the interconnection of pump power between the oscillator and amplifier. Finally, the maximum output power of 3.1 kW has been achieved, the linewidth is 0.22 nm at 3 dB, the beam quality M2 ≈ 1.33, and the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) is 45.5 dB.

High-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers using optical spectrum broadening based on high-order phase modulation of inversion probability-tuning sequence.

Continuous fiber laser with ultra-high power and narrow linewidth is one of the key devices in the field of high-precision industrial processing, beam combining, and nonlinear frequency conversion. Under the premise of ensuring the signal quality, continuously increasing the output power is the focus of high-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers. Driven by the white noise or pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS), using cascaded phase modulations to broaden the spectrum of the seed source to suppress the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) effect in the master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) structure is an effective solution to increase the output power. However, this type of optical spectrum needs to be optimized, and the randomness of the driving signal causes a self-pulsing effect, which limits the further increase of the output power. In this paper, the influence of the frequency interval and randomness of the driving signal on the SBS effect in the laser system is analyzed. The modulated spectral type can be simply adjusted through changing the bit rate and inversion probability. Combining with high-order phase modulation, an approximate rectangular spectral broadening of the seed source with a tunable bandwidth up to 30 GHz is achieved. Compared with the cascaded white noise case, the output power of this scheme is increased by 600 W under the extended bandwidth of 27 GHz. It is fully verified that the seed source spectrum with high in-band flatness and low randomness can effectively suppress the SBS effect in the fiber laser and increase the output power.

Research Progress on Ytterbium-Doped Silica Glass Fiber for High-Power Narrow-linewidth Fiber Lasers

Research Progress on Ytterbium-Doped Silica Glass Fiber for High-Power Narrow-linewidth Fiber Lasers

Investigation of Sbs Threshold in High-Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Amplifiers in Presence of Weak End Reflections

Investigation of Sbs Threshold in High-Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Amplifiers in Presence of Weak End Reflections

Six kilowatt record all-fiberized and narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier with near-diffraction-limited beam quality

Abstract In this work, an all-fiberized and narrow-linewidth fiber amplifier with record output power and near-diffraction-limited beam quality is presented. Up to 6.12 kW fiber laser with the conversion efficiency of approximately 78.8% is achieved through the fiber amplifier based on a conventional step-index active fiber. At the maximum output power, the 3 dB spectral linewidth is approximately 0.86 nm and the beam quality factor is M x 2 = 1.43, M y 2 = 1.36. We have also measured and compared the output properties of the fiber amplifier employing different pumping schemes. Notably, the practical power limit of the fiber amplifier could be estimated through the maximum output powers of the fiber amplifier employing unidirectional pumping schemes. Overall, this work could provide a good reference for the optimal design and potential exploration of high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser systems.