High-power photonic crystal fibers

Kim P. Hansen; Jes Broeng; Anders Petersson; Martin D. Nielsen; Peter M. W. Skovgaard; Christian Jakobsen; Harald R. Simonsen

doi:10.1117/12.660174

23 February 2006 High-power photonic crystal fibers

Kim P. Hansen, Jes Broeng, Anders Petersson, Martin D. Nielsen, Peter M. W. Skovgaard, Christian Jakobsen, Harald R. Simonsen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6102, Fiber Lasers III: Technology, Systems, and Applications; 61020B (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660174
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Fiber lasers deliver excellent beam-quality and high efficiency in a robust and largely maintenance-free format, and are now able to do so with output powers in the kilowatt regime. Consequently, fiber lasers have become an attractive alternative to solid-state and gas lasers for e.g. material processing like welding, cutting and marking. The all-glass air-clad photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) combine large mode-field diameters (currently up to 40 μm), high numerical aperture (typically in the 0.6-0.65 range), high pump absorption (30 dB/m demonstrated in ytterbium) and excellent high-power handling (kW CW and mJ pulses demonstrated). These properties have made this fiber type one of the most promising candidates for the future high-power fiber laser and amplifier systems that are expected to replace many of the traditional systems in use today. To utilize the high numerical aperture and large mode-field diameters of the air-clad PCFs, special care must be taken in the system integration. In this paper, we will show examples of how these fibers can be integrated in laser and amplifier sub-assemblies with standard fiber pump-interfaces for use with single-emitter diodes or diode-bar pump sources. Moreover, we report on the most recent advances in fiber design including rod-type fibers and broadband polarizing ytterbium-doped large-mode-area air-clad fibers. Finally, we will review the latest results on PCF-based amplifier and laser configurations with special focus on high-power CW systems and high-energy pulsed configurations.

Citation Download Citation

Kim P. Hansen, Jes Broeng, Anders Petersson, Martin D. Nielsen, Peter M. W. Skovgaard, Christian Jakobsen, and Harald R. Simonsen "High-power photonic crystal fibers", Proc. SPIE 6102, Fiber Lasers III: Technology, Systems, and Applications, 61020B (23 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660174

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