Polarization-resolved mode evolution in TMI-limited Yb-doped fiber amplifiers using a novel high-speed Stokes polarimeter.

In this work we have developed a high-speed Stokes polarimeter method based on simultaneous 4-channel imaging with a high-speed camera. Thus, current speed limitations of imaging polarimeters for wavelengths around 1 µm can be overcome, allowing a sub-ms polarization-resolved characterization of transverse mode instability (TMI). Additionally, the Stokes parameters of each individual mode are calculated by a simultaneous 4-beam mode reconstruction algorithm during post-processing and can be analyzed with unprecedented temporal resolution. We demonstrate the measurement capabilities of this polarimeter setup by characterizing TMI of a large-mode-area Yb-doped polarization maintaining (PM) fiber amplifier with 30 kHz video frame rate. Upon thorough characterization, we have found for the first time that at the onset of TMI in a PM fiber, the modal polarization states begin to oscillate on circular and elliptical trajectories at the same frequencies as the modal energy transfer occurs. The ability to measure the modal polarization states with sub-ms temporal resolution is key to developing a fundamental understanding and subsequently possible mitigation strategies of TMI in PM-fiber lasers.

Experimental analysis of Raman-induced transverse mode instability in a core-pumped Raman fiber amplifier.

The effect of transverse mode instability is a limitation for the power scaling of fiber laser systems, that can originate due to heat caused by stimulated Raman scattering. In this contribution, we experimentally investigate the threshold of transverse mode instability caused by stimulated Raman scattering in a passive fiber. Both, the Stokes seed power and the fiber length of a core-pumped Raman fiber amplifier are varied to systematically study this effect. Mode resolved measurements reveal that the threshold occurs at approximately the same Stokes output power for all tested configurations, independent of the total Raman conversion efficiency. These results increase the understanding of this type of mode instability and show which parameters are important for a further power scaling of high-power Raman fiber amplifiers.

Continuous-wave cascaded second Stokes diamond Raman laser at 1477 nm.

We report a high brightness cascaded Stokes diamond Raman laser with a diffraction limited beam quality pumped by an Yd-doped fiber laser. The Raman laser operated at 1477 nm and reached an output power of 63 W with 214 W pump power in continuous-wave mode. Conversion efficiency over 30% was achieved using a single pump pass concentric cavity that was highly resonant at the first Stokes and had high outcoupling at the second Stokes (45%). Thermal limitations were investigated as well as the temporal behavior of the first and second Stokes intra-cavity power.

Transverse mode instability in a passive fiber induced by stimulated Raman scattering.

Transverse mode instabilities are a major limitation for power scaling of fiber lasers but have so far only been observed in laser-active fibers. In this contribution we present experimental observations of transverse mode instabilities in a passive fiber. In this fiber, stimulated Raman scattering acted as heat source. To demonstrate the effect, a kW-level ytterbium-doped fiber laser was used as pump for a Raman amplifier. Transverse mode instabilities were only observed in the case with high Raman amplification. Frequency resolved stability measurements at various fiber positions as well as spectral and mode resolved measurements pin their origin to the passive fiber. This observation might help to gain further understanding of transverse mode instabilities and shows limitations of high-power Raman amplifiers.

Highly customized 1010†nm, ns-pulsed Yb-doped fiber amplifier as a key tool for on-demand single-photon generation.

The development of highly customized technical devices is a decisive feature of technically complex setups, as frequently observed in quantum experiments. This paper describes the development and realization of an Yb-doped all-fiber amplifier system designed for such a special application, more specifically, an on-demand single-photon source based on four-wave mixing with rubidium Rydberg atoms. The laser is capable of generating bandwidth-limited configurable nanosecond pulses up to peak powers of >100 W and with pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) between 50 Hz and 1 MHz at selectable wavelengths (1008-1024 nm). Especially the amplification of the 1010 nm reference seed at the lower edge of the amplification range for Yb-based fibers is challenging and tends to produce amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at higher wavelengths. To achieve high ASE suppression, particularly at low pulse repetition frequencies, two acousto-optical modulators (AOM) are utilized both for pulse picking and for temporal filtering. The synchronization between pulse repetition frequency and AOM driver signal allows pulse amplitude fluctuations to be kept below 1%, while ASE is suppressed by at least 85 dB (PRF = 1 MHz) and 65 dB (PRF = 1 kHz).

Diamond Raman oscillator operating at 1178 nm.

In this contribution, we report high-power Raman frequency downconversion based on an Yb-doped fiber amplifier and a linear external diamond Raman cavity. A maximum output power of 136 W with nearly diffraction-limited beam quality was achieved by pumping in quasi-continuous-wave mode with 10% duty cycle and 10 ms on-time duration. For continuous-wave operation, we achieved record average power of 46 W centered at 1178 nm. The emergence of stimulated Brillouin scattering in diamond is further investigated. This technology shows the potential to extend the spectral range of fiber lasers to reach uncommon wavelengths at high power levels.

Ring-up-doped fiber for the generation of more than 600 W single-mode narrow-band output at 1018 nm.

We present the amplification of a narrow-bandwidth signal at a wavelength of 1018 nm to a power exceeding 600 W with a stable output polarization state. The beam showed an excellent, nearly diffraction-limited beam quality. The high-power output could be realized using an in-house designed and fabricated fiber with a core-cladding diameter ratio of 32/260, ultra-low NA of 0.041, and ring-up doping. A seed source with high amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) suppression was also required, which was realized by a double-pass pre-amplifier with 13 W output power.

Measuring thermal load in fiber amplifiers in the presence of transversal mode instabilities.

We report on detailed in situ distributed temperature measurements inside a high power fiber amplifier. The deducted thermal load and the transversal mode instability (TMI) threshold of a commercial large mode area fiber with 25 µm core and 400 µm cladding were measured at various seed wavelengths. By matching these results with detailed simulations we show that photodarkening has a negligible impact on the thermal load and, therefore, on the TMI threshold in this fiber.

Monolithic thulium fiber laser with 567 W output power at 1970 nm.

We report on a monolithic thulium fiber laser with 567 W output power at 1970 nm which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest power reported so far directly from a thulium oscillator. This is achieved by optimization of the splice parameters for the active fiber (minimizing signal light in the fiber cladding) and direct water cooling. Dual transverse mode operation is visible from the optical spectrum and can be deduced from the measured beam quality of M2=2.6.

Experimental realization of femtosecond transverse mode conversion using optically induced transient long-period gratings.

We present the experimental realization of transverse mode conversion in an optical fiber via an optically induced long-period grating. The transient gratings are generated by femtosecond laser pulses, exploiting the Kerr effect to translate intensity patterns emerging from multimode interference into a spatial refractive index modulation. Since these modulations exist only while the pump beam is present, they can be used for optical switching of transverse modes. As only a localized part of the grating was written at a time and the probe beam was co-propagating with the pump beam the required pulse energies could be reduced to 120 nJ which is about a factor of 600 lower than in previous quasi-continuous-wave experiments. Accompanying numerical simulations allow a better understanding of the involved effects and show excellent agreement to the experimental results.

Optical repetition rate stabilization of a mode-locked all-fiber laser.

We designed an all-fiber mode-locked Erbium laser with optically stabilized repetition rate of 31.4 MHz. The stabilization was achieved by changing the refractive index of an Ytterbium-doped fiber in the resonator via optical pumping at a wavelength of 978 nm; and for long-term stability the local temperature of the fiber was additionally controlled with a thermo-electric element. The repetition rate was stabilized over 12 hours, and an Allan deviation of 2.5 × 10⁻¹² for an averaging time of 1 s could be achieved.

Multimode interference filter for tuning of a mode-locked all-fiber erbium laser.

We present a mode-locked all-fiber erbium laser that can be tuned in wavelength while in pulsed operation. A low-cost multimode interference bandpass filter based solely on standard fibers was employed in a sigma-shaped cavity design. By bending the fiber filter, the spectrum could be continuously shifted by up to 11.6 nm without interrupting pulsed operation, and output powers of more than 3.3 mW at pulse durations below 350 fs were achieved.

Experimental investigations on nonlinear dynamics in supercontinuum generation with feedback.

A system for supercontinuum generation by using a photonic crystal fiber within a synchronously pumped ring cavity is presented. The feedback led to an interaction of the generated supercontinuum with the following femtosecond laser pulses and thus to the formation of a nonlinear oscillator. The nonlinear dynamical behavior of this system was investigated experimentally and compared with numerical simulations. Steady state, period doubling and higher order multiplication of the repetition rate as well as limit cycle and chaotic behavior were observed in the supercontinuum generating system.

Nonlinear dynamics of femtosecond supercontinuum generation with feedback.

We numerically study the impact of feedback on supercontinuum generation within a microstructured fiber inside a ring resonator, synchronously pumped with femtosecond pulses. In certain parameter ranges we observe a steady-state oscillator-like operation mode of the system. Depending on pump power also period doubling up to chaos is shown by the system. Even with the inclusion of realistic pump noise as perturbation, the periodic behavior was still achievable in numerical modeling as well as in a first experimental verification.