Showing papers on "Fiber laser published in 2004"

Ytterbium-doped large-core fiber laser with 1.36 kW continuous-wave output power

Abstract: We have demonstrated a highly-efficient cladding-pumped ytterbium-doped fiber laser generating 1.36 kW of continuous-wave output power at 1.1 µm with 83% slope efficiency and near diffraction-limited beam quality. The laser was end-pumped through both fiber ends and showed no evidence of roll-over even at the highest output power, which was limited only by available pump power.

Demonstration of a silicon Raman laser

Abstract: We report the demonstration of the first silicon Raman laser. Experimentally, pulsed Raman laser emission at 1675 nm with 25 MHz repetition rate is demonstrated using a silicon waveguide as the gain medium. The laser has a clear threshold at 9 W peak pump pulse power and a slope efficiency of 8.5%.

Laser mode locking using a saturable absorber incorporating carbon nanotubes

Abstract: This paper describes a new class of saturable absorber device based on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)-the saturable absorber incorporating nano tube (SAINT). The device possesses ultrafast optical properties comparable to that of the industrial standard semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). Passively mode-locked picosecond fiber lasers in different configurations are demonstrated using SAINTs as mode lockers. This is the first demonstration of optical pulsed lasers based on the carbon nanotube technology, and the first practical application of carbon nanotubes in the field of applied optics.

Supercontinuum generation in submicron fibre waveguides

Abstract: Submicron-diameter tapered fibres and photonic crystal fibre cores, both of which are silica-air waveguides with low dispersion at 532 nm, were made using a conventional tapering process. In just cm of either waveguide, ns pulses from a low-power 532-nm microchip laser generated a single-mode supercontinuum broad enough to fill the visible spectrum without spreading far beyond it.

Saturable absorbers incorporating carbon nanotubes directly synthesized onto substrates and fibers and their application to mode-locked fiber lasers

Abstract: We present novel carbon-nanotube-based saturable absorbers. Using the low-temperature alcohol catalytic chemical-vapor deposition method, high-quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were directly synthesized on quartz substrates and fiber ends. We successfully applied the SWNTs to mode lock a fiber laser producing subpicosecond pulses at a 50-MHz repetition rate.

Phase-locked, erbium-fiber-laser-based frequency comb in the near infrared.

Abstract: A phase-locked frequency comb in the near infrared is demonstrated with a mode-locked, erbium-doped, fiber laser whose output is amplified and spectrally broadened in dispersion-flattened, highly nonlinear optical fiber to span from 1100 to >2200 nm. The supercontinuum output comprises a frequency comb with a spacing set by the laser repetition rate and an offset by the carrier-envelope offset frequency, which is detected with the standard f-to-2f heterodyne technique. The comb spacing and offset frequency are phase locked to a stable rf signal with a fiber stretcher in the laser cavity and by control of the pump laser power, respectively. This infrared comb permits frequency metrology experiments in the near infrared in a compact, fiber-laser-based system.

Ultrafast fiber pulsed lasers incorporating carbon nanotubes

Abstract: We present the first passively mode-locked fiber lasers based on a novel saturable absorber incorporating carbon nanotubes (SAINT). This device offers several key advantages such as: ultrafast recovery time (<1 ps), high-optical damage threshold, mechanical and environmental robustness, chemical stability, and the ability to operate in transmission, reflection, and bidirectional modes. Moreover, the fabrication cost and complexity of SAINT devices are potentially lower than that of conventional semiconductor saturable absorber mirror devices. Therefore, it is expected that SAINT will greatly impact future pulsed laser design and development.

Ultra-fast fibre laser systems based on SESAM technology: new horizons and applications

Abstract: A promising route to manufacturing portable (sub-)picosecond fibre lasers is to use a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). With SESAMs, the mode-locked regime can be achieved for different values of cavity dispersion for a broad spectrum ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 μm. The fibre lasers, characterized by a high efficiency and reliability and a small footprint, are very attractive for applications traditionally occupied by solid-state lasers. The broad fluorescence spectrum makes different fibre gain media attractive for tuneable and ultra-short-pulse sources. In this paper, we discuss recent advances in ultra-fast fibre lasers. We study the fundamental properties and technical challenges of mode-locked fibre lasers operating in the 0.9–1.6 μm range, and the methods to achieve high peak-powers from all-fibre devices. The key component is the SESAM, notably, a dilute nitride SESAM. The SESAM supplies a strong mechanism for picosecond pulse generation that is entirely self-starting for a wide range of cavity dispersion and ensures stability against Q-switched mode-locking. In particular, compact mode-locked lasers stabilized by near-resonant SESAMs can be realized in a short fibre cavity free from any dispersion compensator. An appropriate dispersion delay line at the output of the master source may be used for pulse clean-up. The high-quality pulses obtained can then be compressed using traditional methods, when the pulse first undergoes spectral enrichment via self-phase modulation in an auxiliary fibre and then gets compressed in a grating pair. The fibre laser is capable of efficient wavelength conversion via second harmonic generation in non-linear crystals. Using a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal for frequency doubling, we produce sub-100 fs pulses at 0.8 μm with a 50% conversion efficiency.

Low-nonlinearity single-transverse-mode ytterbium-doped photonic crystal fiber amplifier.

Abstract: We report on an air-clad large-core single-transverse-mode ytterbium-doped photonic crystal fiber with a mode-field-diameter of 35 µm, corresponding to a mode-field-area of ~1000 µm2. In a first experiment this fiber is used to amplify 10-ps pulses to a peak power of 60 kW without significant spectral broadening due to self-phase modulation allowing for the frequency up-conversion of these pulses using narrow-bandwidth phase-matched nonlinear crystals.

Low-noise narrow-linewidth fiber laser at 1550 nm (June 2003)

Abstract: We present a compact integrated fiber laser with more than 200 mW of output power. It combines polarized fiber output with very narrow linewidth of less than 2 kHz. The coherence length of the laser is measured to be longer than 5 km. The laser features high mode stability of less than /spl plusmn/10 MHz over hours. The relative intensity noise (RIN) spectrum is dominated by a peak at the relaxation oscillation frequency and is shot-noise limited otherwise. The RIN peak at 1 MHz is reduced to /spl sim/-130 dB/Hz by integrating a negative feedback circuit. In addition to thermal wavelength tuning, the laser frequency can be modulated at a bandwidth of up to 10 kHz via the piezoelectric effect.

Two schemes for trace detection using cavity ringdown spectroscopy

Abstract: We describe and compare two schemes of high-sensitivity cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS), both functioning with telecom diode lasers The first (cw-CRDS) gives high spectral resolution, which is useful for low-pressure trace detection or for laboratory spectroscopy applications We present a compact prototype partly based on fiber technology The second scheme exploits optical feedback (of-CRDS) and results in a much simpler setup, more appropriate for realizing low-cost trace-detection devices

Bifurcations and multiple-period soliton pulsations in a passively mode-locked fiber laser.

Abstract: We observed, numerically and experimentally, multiple-period pulsations of the soliton parameters in a passively mode-locked fiber laser. Pulsation periods can vary from a few to hundreds of round trips. Short and long period pulsations can appear in combination. The new periods in the soliton modulation appear at bifurcation points related to certain values of the cavity parameters.

Frequency metrology with a turnkey all-fiber system

Abstract: The repetition rate and carrier-envelope phase offset frequencies of a turnkey, all-fiber-based continuum generator were phase locked to a hydrogen maser. The frequency of the hydrogen maser was calibrated with a highly stable cesium atomic clock, and therefore a fully phase-locked optical frequency comb with well-defined absolute frequencies was obtained. In contrast with the commonly used Ti:sapphire-laser-based systems, we have accomplished a fully turnkey system with no user-adjustable parts. To evaluate the performance of this novel system, we performed absolute frequency measurements in the telecommunications region and at 1064 nm and compared them with our traditional Ti:sapphire-based comb.

Pulsed laser sources

Abstract: Modelocked fiber laser resonators may be coupled with optical amplifiers. An isolator optionally may separate the resonator from the amplifier. A reflective optical element on one end of the resonator having a relatively low reflectivity may be employed to couple light from the resonator to the amplifier. Enhanced pulse-width control may be provided with concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers may also be included in the laser cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth may be obtained by matching the dispersion value of the grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. Frequency comb sources may be constructed from such modelocked fiber oscillators. Low dispersion and an in-line interferometer that provides feedback may assist in controlling the frequency components output from the comb source.

Handbook of laser technology and applications

Abstract: VOLUME 1: PRINCIPLES Foreword A Principles A/1 Basic laser principles A/2/1 Laser resonators A/2/2 Waveguide resonators A/3 Laser beam control A/4 Nonlinear optics A/5 Interferometry and Polarisation A/6 Waveguide theory A/7 Optical detection and noise A/8 Numerical Modeling VOLUME 2: LASER DESIGN AND LASER SYSTEMS B Laser Design, Fabrication and Properties B/1 Solid State Lasers B/1/1 Transition Metal Ion Lasers - Cr3+ B/1/2 Transition Metal Ion Lasers Other Than Cr3+ B/1/3 Rare Earth Ion Lasers - Nd3+ B/1/4 Rare Earth Ion Lasers - Near Infrared B/1/5 Rare Earth Ions Lasers - Miscellaneous: Ce3+, U3+, divalent, etc B/1/6 Lasers Based on Nonlinear Effects B/1/7 Solid State Raman Lasers B/1/8 Color Center Lasers B/2 Semiconductor/diode lasers B/2/1 Basic principles of laser diodes B/2/2 Spectral control in laser diodes B/2/3 High speed laser diodes B/2/4 High power laser diodes and laser diode arrays B/2/5/1 Visible laser diodes: Properties of III-V red emitting laser diodes B/2/5/2 Visible laser diodes: Properties of Blue Laser Diodes B/2/6 Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers B/2/7 Long wavelength laser diodes B/2/8 Diode lasers for switching and signal processing B/3 Gas lasers B/3/1 CW CO2, CO and N2O and TEA CO2 lasers B/3/2 Excimer, F2, H2 and N2 lasers B/3/3 Copper and gold vapor lasers B/3/4/1 Chemical lasers: COIL B/3/4/2 Chemical lasers: HF/DF B/3/5 Ar+ laser B/3/6 He-Ne laser B/3/7 He-Cd laser B/3/8 Optically pumped mid IR lasers: NH3, C2H2 B/3/9 Far-IR lasers: HCN, H2O B/4 Fiber and waveguide lasers B/4/1 Fiber Lasers B/4/2 High Power Fiber Lasers B/4/3 DFBG Fiber Raman Lasers B/4/4 Soliton lasers B/4/5 Erbium and other doped fiber amplifiers B/4/6 High power waveguide lasers B/5 Other lasers B/5/1 Free electron lasers B/5/2 X-ray lasers B/5/3 Liquid organic dye lasers B/5/4 Solid organic dye lasers C Laser System Design C/1 Components C/1/1 Optical components C/1/2 Optical control elements C/1/3 Adaptive optics and phase conjugate reflectors C/1/4 Opto-mechanical parts C/1/5/1 Power conditioning: Supplies for driving diodes (semiconductor lasers) C/1/5/2 Power conditioning: Supplies for driving gas discharges (gas and solid state lasers) C/1/5/3 Power conditioning: Supplies for driving flash tubes and arc lamps for solid state lasers C/2 Optical pulse generation C/2/1 Quasi-CW and modulated beams C/2/2 Short pulses C/2/3 Ultrashort pulses C/3 Frequency conversion and filtering C/3/1 Harmonic generation - materials and methods C/3/2 Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers C/3/3 Laser stabilisation for precision measurements C/4 Beam delivery systems C/4/1 Basic principles C/4/2 Free space optics C/4/3 Fiber optic beam delivery C/4/4 Positioning and scanning systems C/5 Laser beam characterisation and measurement C/5/1 Beam propagation parameters C/5/2 Detectors C/5/3 Power and energy measurement C/5/4 Irradiance and phase distribution measurement C/6 Laser safety: Introduction C/6 Laser safety VOLUME 3: Applications D Applications: Case Studies D/1 Materials Processing D/1 Introduction D/1/1 Welding D/1/2 Cutting D/1/3 Marking D/1/4 Drilling D/1/5 Photolithography D/1/6 Micromachining D/1/7 Rapid Manufacturing D/1/8 Deposition of thin films D/2 Optical Measurement Techniques D/2 Introduction D/2/1 Fundamental length metrology D/2/2 Laser velocimetry D/2/3 Laser vibrometers D/2/4 Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) D/2/5 Optical fibre hydrophones D/2/6 Optical fibre Bragg grating sensors for strain measurement D/2/7 High speed imaging D/2/8 Particle sizing D/3 Medical D/3 Introduction D/3/1 Light-Tissue Interactions D/3/2 Therapeutic Applications: Introduction D/3/2/1 Therapeutic Applications: Opthalmology D/3/2/2 Therapeutic Applications: Refractive Surgery D/3/2/3 Therapeutic Applications: Photodynamic Therapy D/3/2/4 Therapeutic Applications: Tumour Therapy D/3/2/5 Therapeutic Applications: Dermatology D/3/2/6 Therapeutic Applications: Lasers in Vascular Surgery D/3/2/7 Therapeutic Applications: Hardtissue/Dentistry D/3/2/8 Therapeutic Applications: Free-Electron Laser D/3/3 Diagnostic Applications D/3/4 Applications in Biology and Biotechnology D/3/5 Laser Safety D/4 Communications D/4 Introduction D/4/1 Basic point to point communications system D/4/2 Long haul systems D/4/3 Local area networks D/4/4 Fibre to board/chip D/4/5 Optical satellite communications D/4/6 Smart Pixel Technologies and Optical Interconnects D/5 Information storage D/5 Introduction D/5/1 Optical data storage D/5/2 Lasers in printing D/6 Spectroscopy D/6 Introduction D/6/1 Laser cooling and trapping D/6/2 Ion trapping and laser applications to length and time metrology D/6/3 Time resolved spectroscopy D/7 Earth and environmental sciences D/7 Introduction D/7/1 Satellite laser ranging D/7/2 Lidar for atmospheric remote sensing D/8 Introduction D/8/1 Lasers in Astronomy D/9 Introduction D/9/1 Holographic optical elements and computer generated holography D/10 Plasmas D/10/1 High Power Lasers for Plasma Physics D/10/2 High-power lasers and the extreme conditions that they can produce

High-power diode-pumped Yb3+:CaF2 femtosecond laser.

Abstract: We report what is believed to be the first demonstration of a high-power passively mode-locked diode-pumped femtosecond laser based on an Yb3+:CaF2 single crystal, directly pumped by a 15-W fiber-coupled laser diode With a 5-at % Yb3+-doped sample and prisms for dispersion compensation we obtained pulses as short as 150 fs, with 880 mW of average power and up to 14-W average output power, with a pulse duration of 220 fs, centered at 1049 nm The laser wavelength could be tuned from 1040 to 1053 nm in the femtosecond regime Using chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation, the oscillator provided up to 174 W of average power, with a pulse duration of 230 fs, corresponding to a pulse energy of 20 nJ and a peak power of 85 kW

Generation and detection of terahertz radiation by electro-optical process in GaAs using 1.56μm fiber laser pulses

Abstract: We report the generation and detection of a terahertz wave with a nonresonant electro-optical crystal using 1.56μm femtosecond laser pulses. Using a 0.5-mm-thick (110)-oriented GaAs wafer for optical rectification and electro-optical modulation, we detected spectral sensitivity below 3THz. We also estimated the availability of GaAs from the viewpoint of an electro-optical coefficient and phase match condition.

Flatly broadened, wideband and low noise supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear hybrid fiber

Abstract: We present wideband of 1180-2100 nm, flatly broadened supercontinuum (SC) generation using highly nonlinear hybrid fibers and femtosecond fiber laser. Stable and smooth spectra without fine structure are demonstrated. The hybrid fibers are constructed by fusion splicing fibers with different properties. The SC spectra can be properly controlled by the optimal design of the hybrid fiber based on the numerical analysis. The generated SC pulse shows the low relative intensity noise (RIN).

Comparison of Tm:ZBLAN and Tm:Silica fiber lasers; Spectroscopy and tunable pulsed laser operation around 1.9 μm

Abstract: Tm-doped ZBLAN and Tm-doped silica glass are compared spectroscopically and the fiber lasing of the Tm 3 F 4 →3 H 6 transition around 1.9 μm in ZBLAN and silica fibers is compared. The spectroscopy of these materials indicates that Tm:ZBLAN possesses advantages over Tm:silica glass due to the lower phonon energies. The phonon energy in these glass hosts influences both the pump manifold lifetime, the Tm 3 H 4, and the upper laser manifold lifetime, the Tm 3 F 4. The maximum phonon energy in Tm:ZBLAN, ∼500 cm-1 , compared to Tm:silica, ∼1100 cm-1, leads to better Tm–Tm self quenching towards populating the Tm 3 F 4, as well as better Tm 3 F 4→3 H 6 quantum efficiency. A spectroscopic analysis using the Judd–Ofelt theory and measured lifetimes are used to assess the merits of Tm:ZBLAN over Tm:silica as a fiber laser material. Diode-pumped fiber lasing experiments show that Tm:ZBLAN possesses advantages over Tm:silica that are believed to be due to a lower phonon energy. Data is presented for launched pump energy versus laser energy, fiber length versus slope efficiency, and output mirror reflectivity versus slope efficiency. Tm:ZBLAN is demonstrated to possess higher slope efficiencies and lower thresholds, than Tm:silicate. A grating tuned Tm:ZBLAN laser is also demonstrated for tunable operation between 1.893 μm and 1.955 μm.

High power, single mode, all-fiber source of femtosecond pulses at 1550 nm and its use in supercontinuum generation.

Abstract: We present a source of high power femtosecond pulses at 1550 nm with compressed pulses at the end of a single mode fiber (SMF) pigtail. The system generates 34 femtosecond pulses at a repetition rate of 46 MHz, with average powers greater than 400 mW. The pulses are generated in a passively modelocked, erbium-doped fiber laser, and amplified in a short, erbium-doped fiber amplifier. The output of the fiber amplifier consists of highly chirped picosecond pulses. These picosecond pulses are then compressed in standard single mode fiber. While the compressed pulses in the SMF pigtail do show a low pedestal that could be avoided with the use of bulk-optic compression, the desire to compress the pulses in SMF is motivated by the ability to splice the single mode fiber to a nonlinear fiber, for continuum generation applications. We demonstrate that with highly nonlinear dispersion shifted fiber (HNLF) fusion spliced directly to the amplifier output, we generate a supercontinuum spectrum that spans more than an octave, with an average power 400 mW. Such a high power, all-fiber supercontinuum source has many important applications including frequency metrology and bio-medical imaging.

Single-frequency thulium-doped distributed-feedback fiber laser

Abstract: We have successfully demonstrated a single-frequency distributed-feedback (DFB) thulium-doped silica fiber laser emitting at a wavelength of 1735 nm. The laser cavity is less than 5 cm long and is formed by intracore UV-written Bragg gratings with a phase shift. The laser is pumped at 790 nm from a Ti:sapphire laser and has a threshold pump power of 59 mW. The laser has a maximum output power of 1 mW in a single-frequency, single-polarization radiation mode and is tunable over a few nanometers. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a single-frequency DFB fiber laser that uses thulium as the amplifying medium. The lasing wavelength is the longest demonstrated with DFB fiber lasers and yet is among the shortest obtained for thulium-doped silica fiber lasers.

Picosecond SESAM-based ytterbium mode-locked fiber lasers

Abstract: Using semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors and a grating-pair dispersion compensator, we obtain reliable self-starting mode locking of a ytterbium (Yb) fiber laser tunable over 125 nm. The 980-1105-nm tuning range is achieved by optimization of nonlinear reflection and bandgap characteristics of the multiple-quantum-well saturable absorber and by proper engineering of the laser cavity. A short-length Yb-doped double-clad amplifier seeded with mode-locked Yb-fiber laser produces picosecond pulses with energy of 30 nJ (700 mW of average power). A compact version of the fiber laser was built using a Gires-Tournois compensator and short length (1-cm long) of highly doped Yb fiber. Using a novel semiconductor saturable abserver mirror based on GaInNAs structure, self-started 1.5-ps pulse mode-locked operation was obtained at 1023 nm with a repetition rate of 95 MHz. A mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser was also developed without using any dispersion compensation technique. Overall group-velocity dispersion was minimized by using highly doped Yb fiber in a compact amplifying loop cavity. Self-started mode-locked operation was obtained in 980-1030-nm wavelength range with a fundamental repetition rate of 140 MHz. Without using dispersion compensation, the lasers produced pulses in a range from 15 to 26 ps.

Ytterbium-doped large-core fibre laser with 1 kW of continuous-wave output power

Abstract: A ytterbium-doped fibre laser with up to 1 kW of continuous-wave output power at 1.09 /spl mu/m with a slope efficiency of 80% and a good beam quality (M/sup 2/=3.4) is reported. The fibre was pumped by two diode-stack sources launched through opposite ends. No undesirable roll-over was observed in output power with increasing pump power.

Highly stable tunable dual-wavelength Q-switched fiber laser for DIAL applications

Abstract: We demonstrate a stable dual-wavelength Q-switched fiber laser for applications in differential absorption Lidar with tunability in absolute wavelength over several nanometers and discrete tuning in wavelength spacing from 1.1 to 3.3 nm. Single longitudinal-mode operation is also achieved by employing Sagnac loop saturable absorber filter. The delayed self homodyne linewidth measurement of the dual-wavelength continuous-wave laser shows a very narrow spectral linewidth and frequency jitter (<40 kHz). The advantages of tunable wavelengths, narrow linewidth, temperature insensitivity, and high stability in an efficient, cost effective, rugged, compact and light system make it a promising technology for airborne Lidar systems.

Spectral broadening of a partially coherent CW laser beam in single-mode optical fibers

Abstract: The nonlinear propagation of a partially coherent continuous-wave laser beam in single-mode optical fibers is investigated both theoretically and experimentally, with a special attention to the zero-dispersion wavelength region where modulation instability is expected. Broadband asymmetric spectral broadening is reported experimentally and found in fairly good agreement with a numerical Schrodinger simulation including a phase-diffusion model for the partially coherent beam. This model shows in addition that the underlying spectral broadening mechanism relies not only on modulation instability but also on the generation of high-order soliton-like pulses and dispersive waves. The coherence degradation which results from these ultrafast phenomena is confirmed by autocorrelation measurement.

Real-time, ultrahigh-resolution, optical coherence tomography with an all-fiber, femtosecond fiber laser continuum at 1.5 µm

Abstract: Real-time, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) is demonstrated in the 1.4-1.7-microm wavelength region with a stretched-pulse, passively mode-locked, Er-doped fiber laser and highly nonlinear fiber. The fiber laser generates 100-mW, linearly chirped pulses at a 51-MHz repetition rate. The pulses are compressed and then coupled into a normally dispersive highly nonlinear fiber to generate a low-noise supercontinuum with a 180-nm FWHM bandwidth and 38 mW of output power. This light source is stable, compact, and broadband, permitting high-speed, real-time, high-resolution OCT imaging. In vivo high-speed OCT imaging of human skin with approximately 5.5-microm resolution and 99-dB sensitivity is demonstrated.

Efficient Raman amplification in silicon-on-insulator waveguides

Abstract: We describe a silicon-on-insulator waveguide Raman amplifier which achieves a large fiber-to-fiber optical gain of 6.8dB using stimulated Raman scattering in a 1.7-cm-long silicon waveguide. By using picosecond pulse pumping at 1557.4nm wavelength, high net optical gain at the first-order Stokes wavelength of 1694.6nm was measured. The optical loss from two-photon absorption generated free carriers was reduced by using a low pulse duty cycle and picosecond pulse pumping.

High energy optical fiber amplifier for picosecond-nanosecond pulses for advanced material processing applications

Abstract: A fiber-based source for high-energy picosecond and nanosecond pulses is described. By minimizing nonlinear energy limitations in fiber amplifiers, pulse energies close to the damage threshold of optical fibers can be generated. The implementation of optimized seed sources in conjunction with amplifier chains comprising at least one nonlinear fiber amplifier allows for the generation of near bandwidth-limited high-energy picosecond pulses. Optimized seed sources for high-energy pulsed fiber amplifiers comprise semiconductor lasers as well as stretched mode locked fiber lasers. The maximization of the pulse energies obtainable from fiber amplifiers further allows for the generation of high-energy ultraviolet and IR pulses at high repetition rates.

High-power supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear, dispersion-shifted fibers by use of a continuous-wave Raman fiber laser.

Abstract: High-power supercontinua are demonstrated in highly nonlinear, dispersion-shifted fibers with a continuous-wave Raman fiber laser. Supercontinuum growth is experimentally studied under different combinations of fiber length and launch power to show output powers as high as 3.2 W and bandwidths greater than 544 nm. Modulation instability (MI) is observed to seed spectral broadening at low launch powers, and the interplay between MI and stimulated Raman scattering plays an important role in the growth of the continuum at high launch powers. The effect on continuum generation of parametric four-wave mixing coupled with the higher-order dispersion properties of the fiber is investigated.